JJ's contagious laugh!

Mommy trying to get JJ to crawl for the 2nd time in his life:)

JJ met his Texas family for the first time...it was a surprise for Papa John!

JJ had many "1st time" experiences this last week:
1. He had his first airplane ride: Mommy and JJ flew all the way to
Dallas,Texas. The flight attendents and other passengers said that he was the perfect and cutest little passenger. Mommy would have to agree.
2. He met his Texas family: The whole family was in on surprising Papa John(Jonnique's Dad). Papa John was just about to dose off around 11:00pm when NaNa Briggs showed him a picture of JJ on the phone and said "JJ looks so much like Wes,look at this picture". Then about ten minutes later(when we arrived from the airport) Nana Frances brought JJ in their bedroom and said"John who does this baby look like?" Papa John looked so confused and then behind them came Jonnique, into the room. Papa Briggs screamed like a little boy and covered his mouth. With all the excitement from everybody screaming JJ got startled and cried really loud. It took a while for JJ to calm down, but it was all worth the special moment the whole family shared together.
3. JJ played in his new swing and highchair: Papa John and Nana Frances was so excited to have JJ that they bought him a brand new swing and highchair. Papa John woke up the next morning and picked them both out all by himself.
4. JJ attended a Texas Country Western Banquet: The whole family(Papa John, NaNa Frances, Franiesha(JJ's Aunt), James(JJ's Uncle), Johnathan(JJ's Uncle), and DJ(JJ's cousin)) took JJ to this Banquet while Mommy rested from being jet lagged. Mommy was told later that Papa John let JJ suck on a chicken bone and that JJ really enjoyed it.
5. JJ went to church with Nana Frances: Nana Frances and Auntie Franiesha really wanted to show off JJ to their church family, so he attended a morning service with them last Sunday. They said he was a good baby and only wined when they changed his diaper!
6. JJ celebrated with his Uncle James for his 12th Birthday: JJ shared the whole day with his Uncle James as he turned the big 12. JJ fell asleep as the family sang the 2 versions of the Happy Birthday song and Uncle James blew out his candles.
7. JJ got a little taste of Papa John's farm animals: Papa John's mama chicken had birthed baby chicks so Papa John brought some in the house for JJ to see and pet. JJ also got to see Papa John's horses, goats, and rabbits from the house window.
8. JJ got to see Mommy relax Texas style: Nana Frances and Auntie Franisha was so excited to have JJ in the house, so they held, played, fed, changed, and rocked JJ to sleep for Mommy.

JJ at 6 months!

We can not believe it, but it is true. JJ is 1/2 a year old! He is keeping us busy and we are having so much fun seeing him grow. Here is one day in the shoes(or I should say socks) of our 6 month year old that I recorded this week:
0630- Wakes up cooing and talking in his crib. Mommy and Daddy smile at eachother and continue to sleep until he wines.
0730am- JJ has his first bottle
0800am- JJ goes for a walk with Mommy around Lake Murray
1000am- JJ has his first baby food feeding(peas,pears, rice cereal mixed together) followed by a bottle
1100am- JJ takes his first nap
0100pm- JJ wakes up to another bottle and then is placed in his swing
0200pm- JJ has tummy time and plays with his toys
0300pm- JJ is read a book by Mommy and then placed in his pack n play, where he takes his 2nd short nap
0400pm- JJ has another solid feeding
0500pm- JJ is placed in his walker and watches Mommy cook in the kitchen
0600pm- JJ is placed in his bouncer to watch Momma and Daddy eat dinner
0630pm- JJ has playing time with Daddy
0730pm- JJ is given his last bottle and falls asleep in Daddy's arm. JJ is then placed in his crib and prayed over to have a good night rest!
*JJ is not actually eating the pear in the picture above...he loves to suck the juices from apples and pears...no teeth yet to eat:)

My First Christmas by JJ

My Christmas week was very eventful. Two days before Christmas Grandma and Grandpa Bell came and picked me up and drove me all the way to the Bay Area. Grandpa and Grandma said that I was a very good boy and very close to perfect for the whole 8 hour ride. Mommy and Daddy got 1.5 days to themselves. They missed me but enjoyed the time alone.
On Christmas Eve I spent the evening at Great Aunt-Kits' and Uncle Dennis' house where a wonderful dinner was prepared and a great family photo was taken. On Christmas morning I helped open my presents at Grandpa and Grandma Bell's, but got pretty tired after the first few. Mommy and Daddy had to open the rest up by themselves. I then traveled over to Nana T's house for lunch and to open more presents. My milk suited me well, but I will be excited to eat some of the great food Nana T prepared next year. My last stop was over at Titi Mariya's house where dinner was prepared and my big cousins were running around playing with their brand new toys!
I stayed in the Bay Area for 5 extra days after Christmas with Daddy and Mommy. It was very relaxing and fun spending time with family 24/7! I even got to meet Uncle T's new puppy, Manny. Another highlight was celebrating Aunt Kits birthday! What a great 1st Christmas!

JJ's Thanksgiving Week!

JJ had a long, fun, and eventful thanksgiving week, that all began on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. JJ, his Dad, and Grandma drove from San Diego to Hollywood to have dinner with Cousin Grant. He then continued on the 5 freeway to arrive in the Bay Area at 0145 am on Monday morning.On Monday Grandma enjoyed a whole day with JJ. Monday night JJ had Uncle Dennis, Aunt Kit, Uncle T and Uncle Matt over as Dinner Guest. On Tuesday morning JJ and Daddy picked Mommy up from the airport after she got off of work at 1130am. JJ then enjoyed time a Nana T's(Jonnique's Mom) house on Tuesday where Nana T prepared an early Thanksgiving Feast for all of her children that were in town. JJ enjoyed spending time with cousins, Aunt's, and Uncles that Tuesday night. JJ then traveled on Wednesday with Momma,Daddy, Grandpa Jim, and Grandma Donna all the way to Ashland, Oregon to meet Daddys' extended family. JJ was the life of the party on Thanksgiving Day being passed from Cousin to Cousin! JJ then drove from Ashland, Oregon to Sacramento, California to meet some dear friends of his Parents for dinner. Later he returned to his Grandparents' to sleep from a day of travel. JJ then spent all day on Saturday back at Nana T's house. Last but not least, JJ met his maternal Great Grandmother Briggs for the 1st time on Sunday, before heading back to San Diego. With all this being written you would think JJ, Mommy, and Daddy were stressed out with the extensive and extreme traveling. To all of their surprise JJ was a happy and great traveler. Eventhough, he was entertained by Mommy, Daddy, and/or Grandma Donna in the back seat the majority of the time.

Mommy and Daddy was so Thankful this Thanksgiving to spend it with all of their family and with a Happy, Healthy, and Handsome Baby named JJ!

JJ's Dedication

In biblical time, it was a very big deal to bless and anoint your first-born child in front of many witnesses, especially if it was a son. In fact there were laws that required every firstborn male to be set apart to God because they were considered holy and therefore symbolically belonged to the Lord. When Jesus was dedicated the Bible says that Joseph and Mary marveled at what was said about him....

Our own little JJ was dedicated to the Lord at our church service in San Diego today. It was a proud moment for Wes and I. We presented JJ to the Lord and stood before a congregation of witnesses as a public declaration of our desire to raise JJ in such a way that is honoring and pleasing to God.

JJ, sweet baby boy...we pray the below scripture for you ....

("When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord they returned to Galilee...And the child grew, and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.")