Our newest addition to the family

2 weeks ago I was on my way to the cities for my guard weekend and I stopped to go to the bathroom at the SuperAmerica in Glencoe.

On the corkboard next the bathrooms I see a picture of some puppies and the big: PUPPIES FOR SALE words. 

Marty and I have been thinking about a puppy, but everything we found online was way out of price range, so was I ever delighted to see this sign for a local person selling their Golden Retriever puppies at an affordable price.

I was hooked from the get-go.

Marty was hooked from the get-go.

So Sunday night when I get home from guards was all bundle up and travel to look at these adorable puppies. 2 weeks ago it was cold and snowy outside.

2 weeks later we travel again (this time in spring t-shirts and sundresses) to go pick up our newest family member.

This is his first picture of our adorable puppy on my lap in the vehicle.

Gracie picked him out and we all decided on a name:

Marley Willard Malecek

Born: 1/23/2012 with 11 littermates

Adopted to the Malecek Home:  3/16/2012

Gracie and Zach have a new best friend.

Not quite sure if Marley is enjoying this as much as Gracie is.

Marty reading the "Golden Retriever" book to figure out what we are suppose to be doing with a puppy.

It has been a long time since we have had a puppy in the house.

He is 8 weeks old and weighs 12 pounds.

He has a nice golden color. 

Jared likes him too!

Welcome our home sweet Marley. We are looking forward to many, many, many, fun times with you!!!!

Jared 6 1/2 months

My baby is growing up so fast. 

Here are the latest and greatest of my dear son.

He can now get his toes to his mouth. I always think that is soo cute when they discover this.

He can roll over from front to back and back to front, but hasn't quite figured out how to put it all together to roll across the floor.

He can kinda sit-up unsupported, but only for a couple of seconds.

He loves to smile and giggle.

He is a very content little guy.

He has started solid food and we are feeding him 2 times a day. He does great at eating.

He likes everything we have given him so far: rice and oatmeal cereal, sweet potato, squash, apple, pear, plum, peaches, banana, and yams.

 I have gotten into making homemade baby food this time around. I never did this for Gracie and Zach, but thought I would give it a try.  I am kind of enjoying it.

We are still doing good with the breastfeeding. He takes a bottle great at daycare with frozen breastmilk and for Daddy on Mommy's guard weekends.

He has 2 teeth that he got at 3 months old. He bit me a little a first, but after a few stern talks we managed to get over this (thank goodness)!

He hasn't managed to sleep through the night yet. Still getting up about 1 time to eat. 

I think he likes to cuddle with him Mom... that is why he does this. Although he seems to get up for Daddy too when Mommy is gone at guards.

He generally takes about 2 naps a day (depends on the events of the day).

He does a pretty good job of falling asleep if we put him in his crib awake and night I usually nurse him to sleep (again, we like to cuddle!).  He usually sleeps on his tummy in his crib.

He is such a big boy!

His stats for his 6 months appointment with the doctor are:

Wt:  16# 4oz (21 %)

Ht: 27 1/2 in  (79 %)

Painting Fun

Once in a great while I get brave. When I get this bravery what comes out is the painting supplies.

Well this happened last week. It was a drizzly day outside and the kids have been asking for about a month to do finger painting.  Soooo I put on my BRAVE jeans and launched into the adventure.

We had a blast.

We painted with paintbrushes and with fingers.

We painted people and rainbows.

I got to practice some of my very amateur photography skills.

We got really messy.

We wore Daddy's old t-shirts.

And Again: WE HAD A BLAST!

My sleepy guy.

I love babies. They can fall asleep at the most odd and random times. 

They get tuckered out... so they just shut there eyes and fall asleep.

Too much jumping... so take a little nap.

Eating time is over and the toys are getting boring... so take a little nap.

Daddy is always up for taking a little nap and well, Jared is following in those footsteps.

Now if only he could sleep all night with out waking up.

6months old and still getting up 1-2 times a night to eat. Generally just once and randomly he may sleep all night. It might have happened like 5 times since he was born and then he also randomly throws in a 2 or 3 a night wake up!  

Jared - Solid Foods

Well, it is time.  Time for solid food for this little guy. Here are snapshots of his first exposure to something other than milk.  Overall he didn't do to bad. He didn't gag but most of it came back out.  

I think he will catch on pretty quick though. 

Big sister and brother think it is great!

One Hit Wonders On Ice

February brings about Gracie's Ice Skating Show.

The first performance was in Redwood Falls and the second show was in Sleepy Eye.

This is Gracie's second year in ice skating. She has improved quite a bit and she seems to enjoy it.

The theme for this years show was:

ONE HIT WONDERS ON ICE

She is the little one in all these pictures.

She had a solo with 3 other girls her age.

They were adorable.

The ice skating group.

We ordered a video too, so if you are visiting be sure to ask to watch it! Gracie will be thrilled to show you!

Now on to next year!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Sweetheart and I had a date night last Friday. It was a Valentine's Banquet that some friend's of ours invited us to at their church. We got a babysitter for the kids and off we went. It was a lot of fun. We don't get out much alone (without kids) so it was a treat. We had a great meal, played some fun games, and then got to listen to some wonderful songs by a great singer.

To top it off... we got our picture taken!

12 years together with this guy, 8 1/2 years married.

 Seems like it was yesterday we a group of college kids

at some small-town bar playing an old PacMan video game....

Who knew 12 years and 3 kids later we would still be together???

Happy Valentine's Day!