Blueberries!!

Yesterday one of the families in the ward (the Savages) invited us to go blueberry picking. (The dad, Sasha, also happens to be one of Matt's attendings--so he went berry picking with his boss) We came home with more than 5lbs of berries. I'm not sure what we'll do with them all--it's a lot of blueberries for two people to eat. The Savages left with 35lbs. Last week they took home 45lbs and ate enough that they needed more yesterday. (They do have six kids, but I'm watching for them to turn blue like Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. ) Here's Jack holding our bucket of berries. Don't ask why he's buckled into a seatbelt, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Jack really liked to try to grab the bushes--he didn't last long in the moby wrap (baby carrier) and spent most of the time on a blanket under the bushes.

We also took a drive up to Lake Wixom. Matt got to go boating with the other interns on a "team building day" and this is where they went. It's only about 20 minutes from us. One of Matt's classmates has a boat and he promised he'd take us skiing soon--the water sure looked glassy just before dusk!
Jack's latest trick is to sit up by himself. He can't get there on his own, but his balance is getting pretty good. His other new trick is screaming at people in public when they aren't looking at him and telling him that he's cute. (This personality trait could be trouble in a few years maybe;-)

Jack is rolling pretty consistently now. He even manages to link them now and then. It took forever to get him to perform for the camera, but this is his best take.

Fun house and cute baby

Our house is starting to come together--I promise to post pictures room by room as we finish them (or get close), as requested.. This is our bedroom--I bought a duvet cover with shams and then made the accent pillows. I bought curtains too, but we haven't hung them yet (they're the same brown as the pillows--and the bedskirt-- with a little decorative stitching.)
Our yard is HUGE! I didn't realize when we bought the house how big a half acre really is. I've had fun in the garden though (yes that's me)
This is the only picture I have with Matt's big red truck in it. He was set on getting a truck, so here it is. I hope it does ok in the snow.
Just cause he's cute...
I love the look of determination on Jack's face here. He really wants the toy he's looking at. He is going to crawl pretty soon I think. I have a video of him rolling over, but it's taking FOREVER to upload so I'll put in in another post.

Sorry about the technical difficulties.

So I've had major problems getting the pictures I want to post. For some reason, I pick one picture and it gives me one somewhere in the vicinity of the one I wanted. I don't get it. So I'll just go with what I've got. (And they are NOT in chronological order)
On Memorial Day we had the chance to see Matt's brothers family. Jack thoroughly enjoyed having his toes sucked by his cousin William. It wasn't long after that he discovered he could suck his OWN toes. (As you'll see below)

This is Jack taking a nap with his new buddy Corky, my parents Yorkie. Corky didn't know quite what to make of Jack, but was very sweet to him while we were staying with them (He even tried to give him a turn to throw his ball)

Jack finally found his toes! It took him a long time to figure out how to grab them. He looks like such a little boy and not like such a little baby to me in this picture.

My little boy stands up. This is his newest trick. He actually has pretty good balance and can stand if you just give him a finger.

Goodbye paradise...hello Michigan!

This is the awesome view from our apartment in Honolulu. Our apartment was old and tiny (I know, not as tiny as yours, Lins), but the view more than made up for it.

I decided that Matt needed to SCUBA!! I hadn't been since before we got married and it was something I really wished I'd done more living so close to the ocean. As you can tell, he was thrilled. I know he never would have done this had I not bullied him into it, but he did great. He even thinks he'd like to do it again. Yay!! (Now I have to convince him the certifications classes aren't so bad)
Jack's first encounter with a gecko...awwww.


Jack and Grandma Taylor Jack and Grandpa Taylor
n

Introducing Dr. Taylor

He did it! After four long years of hard work Matt is finally, officially Dr. Matthew Alan Taylor, MD. Jack and I are so proud of him! It's been a crazy couple of weeks with graduation events, packing and mailing many, many boxes, trying to see everyone to say goodbye... We are sad to leave Hawaii, but excited about our next adventure!

These are all the kids born during med school in Matt's class. (one girl had two!) (This is convocation--no caps and gowns)

Graduation--Dr. Taylor and family :-)

Matt with his parents at graduation
My family came for one last visit to see Matt graduate and help us move!! ( I don't know how we could have done it all without their help)

These are the best giggles/belly laughs we've heard from him yet. Luckily he kept going after we turned the camera on! (it gets really good at around the 1:00 mark:-))