Taylor Look-alike Meter

I totally ripped this from my cousin Kelsey's blog. I have to say though, I don't know that it is very accurate...only 6% more like Matt?!? maybe I'll have to find a picture of Matt without facial hair to try.

Matt's brother's wife Rebecca came to visit with Jack's four little cousins while we were in Utah earlier this week. She offered to take some pictures with her fancy photography equipment and expertise. These are some of my favorites!

This look is Jack's personality shining through--I get the feeling he's going to be a bit of a tease when he's bigger!
Soooo big!!
He's got kind of an Elmer Fudd head going on here, but I love the wrinkled forehead (this one's for you mom)
All the Taylor grandkids--how fun forJack to have a cousin just his age!!
Thanks Rebecca!! I love the pics--they turned out great and it was fun to see you and the kids!!

We bought a house! (almost--- haven't closed yet)

This is our street as seen from the park across form the house



dining room to right of door
window to right of door
living room to left of door
window to left of door
walls seem brighter to me in the picture, maybe not though
nursery
3rd bedroom/office, lots of closets/ actual wood, not cheap paneling
Kitchen was completely redone last year. Really nice cabinets, corian countertops...
pantry on right has pull out shelves/drawer type things, lazy susan in corner
backyard/deck (obviously) property goes back to second birdhouse (you can see it if you click on the picture)
main basement room, Full basement is being used as storage/ gym / air hockey/ laundry (1300 square feet down here!)


laundry room is through doorway, lots of storage shelves staying

Across the street park (click on it--very cool playground)

Our little water baby

Jack may have inherited all his physical characteristics from his dad(except his thumbs!), but he got his love of the water from his mom. (Is that genetic? I'm just going to say yes) We took him for his first swim in the ocean yesterday. We thought since he was born in Hawaii, he needed the experience as early as possible. He may not be smiling, but he didn't cry at all and after the initial shock didn't even seem to mind the cool water.



Matt was a little more brave about putting him in (Jack was also a bit more relaxed when Matt had him)(Please ignore the audio on the video...I need to learn to stop.)

He likes the bathtub the best...I love the second picture with him "flexing". He gets in the bath and kicks his legs and splashes with his arms. He doesn't get upset when his face gets wet and even turns his head and tries to drink the bath water.














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Jack has developed a social smile. It is the cutest! He is really happy in the morning and has even laughed a few times. (of course I never have the camera when he laughs) I couldn't figure out how to turn the picture, oh well. You can just ignore my dorky noises (maybe watch with the sound off ;) He's also "talking" more and more. I think he's finally figured out that he can control the sounds that he makes.

So we are off to Midland, Michigan! Matt is starting a family practice residency program at MidMichigan Medical Center on June 23rd. It will be quite a drastic change for us! It's a pretty small town (pop. 50,000) and then there is the snow... but it is surrounded by water on three sides, so not much different than Hawaii...right? The cost of living will be a welcome change. If we decide to rent an apartment we can get about twice the space for about a third of what we're paying here!
We are excited for our new adventure and only wish there was more to attract visitors to our new little town (it doesn't have quite the same tourist appeal as Honolulu). If you come visit we can take you to see the "tridge", Dow Chemical and Dow Corning Corporate Headquarters, H. H. Dow Historical Museum, Alden B. Dow Home and Studio, Dow Gardens, Dow Library...are you seeing a trend?

I'm suppressing the urge to post every picture I take, but they're all so cute it's hard to choose! We've had lots of first the past couple weeks...1st bath, 1st nap in the moby wrap, 1st interaction with the guinea pigs, 1st jeans, 1st whole day without having to change Jack's or mommy's entire outfit because of various incidents (usually 2 or 3) at the changing table, 1st outing with mommy that's not to the doctor (it took us 2hours to find a window to go to the bookstore between changing and feeding and changing again). But...I never thought this stuff would be so fun, I'm enjoying every minute (just don't ask me to repeat that at 3am).

Jack is always so happy after his bath--he loves the water! I guess we can count that as something he got from mommy!
Jack's 1st jeans. He is growing into and out of his clothes so fast! He barely keeps these on right now and I bet by the end of next week they won't fit, but he sure looks cute now.
The hat was obviously not my idea--it's completely the wrong color (and four letters off), but he was watching BYU basketball with daddy. He'll learn when he's older where his loyalties should lie.
Matt likes to call Hammie and Porky (the guinea pigs) Jack's brothers. They seemed to get along ok.
I got these cute wrist rattles because he is getting so good at controlling his hands, but he hasn't really discovered them yet. (we have some for his feet too, but he hasn't figured out he has feet yet, so we won't try them yet.)