OLIVER AARON IS HERE!
March 2, 2009

The wait is finally over and now we know that Tyler has a baby BROTHER!  Oliver Aaron Cantrell was born at 11:37 AM on February 25, 2009, weighing in at a healthy 6 lbs, 2 oz and 18 inches long.  After a roller coaster of a pregnancy, we are so happy to have him here, safe and sound.

A few of the first photos of our new addition are now up on the Oliver page, and there are lots more pictures of Oliver up in his first gallery on the Pictures page.  There's also a new video up on the Videos page, so click over to watch the big brother announce his baby brother's arrival!

P.S.  Before Oliver arrived, I did manage to finally get our Christmas pictures done and up on the Pictures page and a new monthly update up on Tyler's page, so don't forget to check out those, too!

34 WEEK BABY UPDATE!
February 3, 2009

I'm still plodding through Christmas pictures, so in the meantime, there are a few baby-related updates.  There's a new ultrasound picture up in the ultrasound gallery and a 34 week belly picture in the belly gallery.  Everything is looking good with the baby so far, and we've made it to 34 weeks, which is amazing!

Since we're nearing the end, we've also put up a "Guess That Baby!" contest.  Click here to enter the contest and take your best guess at the baby's sex, birthday and weight.  And if there's anything else you'd like to guess or fun name suggestions, etc., feel free to leave a comment along with your guess. 

Results and winners will be announced as soon as possible after the newest little Cantrell arrives!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008!
December 28, 2008

This year, Tyler really understood Christmas, so it was even more fun to experience all the Christmas festivities through the eyes of a very excited three-year-old.  Even by our ninth Christmas, it was still fun to see his eyes light up when he realized there were more PRESENTS! to open every place we went.

In the past few weeks, there have been updates all over the site...  The About page has been revamped to include our new additions, both animal and human.  The Videos page has a new video of Tyler trying to steal the show during his preschool Christmas program, plus a short clip of Baby #2's recording debut.  And the Pictures page has Tyler's 3rd birthday pictures, plus a 28 week belly shot in the Belly Pictures album.  So, click around and check out what's new around here!

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and we wish you a happy 2009!

HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
December 8, 2008

It's hard to believe, but our baby is turning three!  And surprise, surprise, the Tyler update is actually done on time this month.  So, click over to Tyler's page to watch a "Three Years of Tyler" slideshow.  It's definitely been a fun (and funny) past three years!

Also, there are new pictures up on the Pictures page.  Uncle John & Aunt Megan's wedding pictures are now up, and if you haven't seen them already, there are a few new pictures up in Baby #2's ultrasound gallery and the belly gallery, too.

And last but not least, there's a new video up on the Videos page.  Make sure your speakers are turned up and check out Tyler proving he's already got great taste in music!

Happy three years to Tyler Graham!

MONTHLY UPDATE #35, SAM'S BIRTHDAY PICTURES AND MORE NEW PICTURES COMING SOON!
November 22, 2008

It's a few weeks late, but a new monthly update is now up on Tyler's page.  We've had an eventful month, from pie making to head injuries.  Click over to Tyler's page to read all about it!

There are some new albums up on the Pictures page.  If you haven't seen them already, check out our Adventures in Houston from back in August and Sam's 1st Birthday Party from back in October.  And if you really haven't been to the Pictures page in a while, don't miss Baby #2's Ultrasound Pictures and Belly Pictures.

It seems I'm always behind on pictures these days, but I'm always trying to catch up.  Uncle John & Aunt Megan's wedding pictures are still in the works and should be up very soon.

MONTHLY UPDATE #34, SUMMER 2008 PICTURES & A NEW LOOK FOR JAKEABBY.COM!
October 8, 2008

A new monthly update is up on Tyler's page, so go read all about what he's been doing this last month.  We've had an exciting month, from playing in the mud to getting all fancied up for Uncle John and Megan's wedding.

Also, I got a little (okay, a lot) behind on the "Best of" albums, so I let a few months slide and caught up by cramming all of our summer fun into a "Best of Summer 2008" album.  Go check it out to see the best shots of May, June, July & August.  Because you can never have too much summer, right?

Last but not least, JakeAbby.com has a new design, courtesy of Jake with a little design advice and photography by Abby.  And of course, we couldn't have done it without the amazing modeling skills of our favorite little photography subject.  So, click over to the Contact page and tell us what you think of our new look!

BEACH PICTURES, TYLER UPDATE & BABY VIDEO!
September 8, 2008

Beach pictures are finally up on the Pictures page!  In celebration of the fact that it only took me two months (instead of the predicted six months) to get them done, I left a few captions blank and I'm letting everyone else finish up my work for me.  It's the second JakeAbby.com caption contest!

Anytime you see a picture captioned with ****, like this one or this one, it's fair game.  Enter your best, funniest or sweetest caption (by clicking "add comment" under the picture) and you could win a fabulous (and probably some sort of chocolate) prize!

Also, I got a little behind on Tyler's page, so there's a two-for-one update up now to catch us all up.  So, go check out what he's been up to for the past couple of months -- right after you check out the beach pictures and enter the caption contest, of course!

And last but certainly not least, if you haven't seen the newest video yet, click over to the Videos page to check out the newest little Cantrell wiggling around for the ultrasound camera and even waving a quick hello!

MONTHLY UPDATE, ZOO PICTURES & A NEW VIDEO, OH MY!
July 15, 2008

There's a new monthly update up on Tyler's page, new pictures on the Pictures page, and last but certainly not least, a new video up on the Videos page.  So, go on, click around and catch up on us!

We're headed to the beach this weekend, so that means there will be lots of kids at the beach pictures coming soon.  And by soon, I mean sometime in the next six months, of course!

MONTHLY UPDATE #30!
June 16, 2008

The latest monthly update is now up on Tyler's page, so check it out to see what we've been up to this past month.  Here's a preview:  outside, outside, OUTSIDE!

Also, I put up a new album of fall and winter nature pictures last week, so if you're into nature pictures from 8 months ago, you can check out the Pictures page for those.

As you can see from the pictures of the week, we took a trip to the Tulsa Zoo, so lots of pictures of little boys and big animals will be coming soon!

MONTHLY UPDATE #29!
May 20, 2008

I've gotten a little (okay, a lot) behind on the website lately, so the monthly update is just now going up on Tyler's page.  Better late than never is my motto!

And speaking of late, I'm still working on Spring Break pictures, two months later.  They're like the pictures that will never end (maybe because we took 2000 of them?), but I'm hoping to finally have them done in the next few days.  So, check back on the Pictures page soon!

MONTHLY UPDATE #28!
April 13, 2008

It's a few days late, but this month's update is up on Tyler's page, so click over to see what he's been up to this past month.

Also, if you haven't seen it, click over to the Pictures page to check out the third annual photo diary.  A day in the life of a two-year-old -- and his mom, dad and dog!

BEST OF WINTER ALBUM IS UP!
April 2, 2008

I got a little behind on the "Best of..." albums a few months ago, so I've finally caught up with the best, funniest and most memorable moments of November, December, January and February, all rolled into one big album.  Yes, that makes for a lot of pictures at once, but just think of it as four months worth of fun!

So, find a comfortable chair, grab a snack and click over to the Pictures page to check out the Best of Winter!

26 & 27 MONTH UPDATES ARE UP!
March 14, 2008

Oops, looks like I forgot to post a news entry with last month's Tyler update, so if you haven't read it yet, now you get two updates for the price of one!  Click over to Tyler's page for the 26 month update and the 27 month update.

Also, if you missed them, the Christmas pictures finally went up on the Pictures page last month, so if you have a few minutes (or hours), check out how we spent our Christmas(es).  And last but not least, Major's 2nd birthday party pictures are now up on the Pictures page, too.  Lots of fun new stuff around here, so sit down, stay a while and don't miss anything!

MONTHLY UPDATE #25!
January 8, 2008

I wasn't sure if I would continue the monthly updates after Tyler turned two, but I've decided they're too much fun (and too much embarrassment potential in the years to come) to stop now.  So, monthly update #25 is now up on Tyler's page.

Go check it out to see the highs and lows in the life of a two-year-old.  Oh yes, he's definitely TWO -- with a capital T, W and O!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
December 8, 2007

Our little man is 2 years old!  This last year has flown by, so I guess it really is true that time flies when you're having fun because we've certainly had a lot of that in the past year.

Don't forget to check out the 24 month update on Tyler's page.  Birthday party pictures will be coming soon on the Pictures page.  And two fun birthday videos are up now on the Videos page, so turn your speakers up and check them out!

Happy second birthday, Tyler Graham!

HAPPY 23 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
November 8, 2007

Our little man is 23 months old!  Click over to Tyler's page to read about his latest adventures, including our first 911 call and trip to the ER.

Also, check back tomorrow for the Movie Fest 2007 gallery on the Pictures page!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
October 31, 2007

Halloween pictures are up on the Pictures page!  Tyler never would say "trick or treat," but he did have a very cute "roar!"  He came home with a truckload of treats, so he must have done something right!

Also, if you haven't voted for Movie Fest 2007 yet, there's still time.  Click on the banner on our homepage (or just click here) and rock the vote!

We hope you all had a very safe and happy Halloween!

BEST OF JUNE, JULY & AUGUST!
October 20, 2007

The Best of June, July & August 2007 gallery is finally up on the Pictures page!

I know, summer is kind of old news by now, but what better way to warm up when it's starting to get cold outside than to relive summer, right?

So, check out some of our favorite moments of the summer, and don't forget to leave us some comments!

HAPPY 22 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
October 8, 2007

Our little man is 22 months old!  Check out Tyler's page for the monthly update and to find out about his latest addiction.

Also, check out the Pictures page for some new albums -- and more coming soon!

WE HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!
October 2, 2007

Samuel Grayson Cantrell arrived at 9:02 p.m. last night weighing it at a healthy 8 lbs and 13 ounces!  Kevin and Kelli are now the proud parents of three of the cutest little ones around.

He's got a head full of dark hair just like his big sister and brother, and he looks like he'll have no problem standing up for himself around all the Cantrell cousins!

An album with some pictures of the newest Cantrell cousin will be up soon.  Also, the Best of June, July & August gallery is in the works, so watch our Pictures page for updates!

HAPPY 21 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
September 12, 2007

The 21 month update is up on Tyler's page, so click over and check it out to see what he's been up to this past month.

Also, the Cantrell family lake pictures are up on the Pictures page, so be sure to check them out, too.

Don't forget to leave a comment or two to let us know you were there!

BEACH PICTURES ARE UP!
August 28, 2007

After many, many hours of hard work, the beach pictures are finally done!  Our pictures are always a labor of love, but these were definitely more labor than most.

Believe it or not, less than 10% of the pictures from our trip actually made it to the website and there are still almost 200 pictures in the beach album.  I'll let you do the math on that one.  I'm too exhausted from captioning nearly 200 pictures to think about math right now.

You've been forewarned, so pull up a comfortable chair, grab a drink and a snack and click on the Pictures page to see the beach through our eyes!

HAPPY 20 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
August 8, 2007

Our little man is 20 months old!  Check out the 20 month update on Tyler's page and watch the Pictures page for new albums coming soon!

As you can see, our almost 2-year-old is in need of another haircut.  Prayers, positive thoughts and helpful tips will all be gladly accepted.

We're also starting on a new yard project, so be on the lookout for pictures of that soon, too.  And if you're one of our neighbors, we're sorry about all the noise!

HAPPY 19 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
July 8, 2007

Our little man turned 19 months old!  Don't miss the 19 month update on Tyler's page and be sure to check out the Pictures page for lots of fun in the sun pictures from our most recent beach trip.

Happy 19 months to Tyler and happy summer to everyone!

HAPPY 18 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
June 13, 2007

Our little man is 18 months old!  The 18 month update is now up on Tyler's page, so check it out to see what he's been up to this past month.

We've had an eventful past month or so, too.  At the end of April, we found out we were pregnant again, and everything seemed to be going well.  The baby was growing and had a heartbeat at 7 weeks, but when we went in for another ultrasound at 9 weeks, we found out we had lost the baby.  We escaped to the beach for a week, and spending time with Tyler in the sand and the sun was definitely good for all of us.

Happy 18 months to Tyler!  Don't miss the newest video on the Video page of our little beach boy!

HAPPY 17 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
May 8, 2007

Our little man is 17 months old!  Check out the 17 month update on Tyler's page to see what Tyler's been up to lately. 

Also, don't miss the Jeep before and after album on the Pictures page if you're into that sort of thing.

Happy 17 months to the cutest little website advertiser ever!

HAPPY 16 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
April 8, 2007

Our little man turned 16 months old today on Easter Sunday!  Check out the 16 month update on Tyler's page for lots of pictures of Tyler doing some of his favorite things.

Also, click over to the Pictures page for our photo diary to take a peek at what exactly we do all day around here.  The Best of February & March 2007 gallery is in the works and will be up in the next couple of days, so be sure check back soon for that.

We hope you all had a very happy and blessed Easter!

HAPPY 15 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
March 8, 2007

Our little man is 15 months old!  The 15 month update is up on Tyler's page, so check it out to read about Tyler's newest tricks.

A special video will be up soon on the Video page, so be sure to check back for that soon!

Happy 15 months to Tyler!

HAPPY 14 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
February 8, 2007

Our little man is 14 months old!  Check out the 14 month update on Tyler's page, and don't miss the newest video on the Video page!

Also, there are two new albums up on the Pictures page -- the Doodlebops Live! concert and the Best of December & January!  Check them out and leave us some comments!

HAPPY 13 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
January 8, 2007

Our little man turned 13 months old!  We've had a busy past month or so with another birthday or Christmas every time we turn around.  Tyler's done great with all the traveling and hustle and bustle.  Unless we're trying to get him to sleep, he's a pretty happy camper!

Check out the 13 month update on Tyler's page to see what he's been up to for the last month, besides opening presents!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
December 8, 2006

Our little man is 1 year old!  Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that he was born, and sometimes it seems like he's been part of our family forever.

And then sometimes it still feels surreal that he's actually here and that he's ours.

We've loved watching him grow and change so much in his first year, and we are so blessed and thankful to have him in our lives.

Happy first birthday, Tyler Graham!

PICTURE OF THE DAY ON KODAK.COM!
December 7, 2006

One of Abby's photos has been chosen as Kodak.com's picture of the day on Friday, December 8th!

The picture of the day will be up on Kodak's website (http://kodak.com) on Friday (look at the bottom left of the site to find it) and will also be up on Kodak's big screen in Times Square in New York City.  It's supposed to flash up on the screen every few minutes throughout the day.

It's not exactly a Pulitzer prize or anything, but it's still pretty exciting to know someone (besides Jake and my mom) likes my photography!

HAPPY 11 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
November 8, 2006

Our little man turned 11 months old today!  It's been another busy month around here, so be sure to check out the 11 month update on Tyler's page to see what we've been up to! 

There's a new picture up in the "Watch Tyler Grow!" album, so don't forget to check that out, too.  Also, there will be more new pictures up soon, so stay tuned!

T-minus one month until our little guy turns one year old.  I guess we better start planning the first birthday bash!

HAPPY 10 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
October 8, 2006

Our little man turned 10 months old today!  We've had lots of new developments this past month, so be sure to check out the 10 month update on Tyler's page.

Also, don't miss the "Best of August & September 2006" album on the Pictures page.  Check back tomorrow for a new picture in the "Watch Tyler Grow!" album.

JAKEABBY.COM THEATER PRESENTS...
September 26, 2006

It's time for Movie Fest 2006!  Everyone is invited to the grand opening of our movie room -- a weekend full of movies and all the popcorn, cokes and candy you want.  Tyler had a hard time picking out the movies we'll be showing, but he thinks he did a pretty good job, and he can't wait for everyone to come see them!

If you didn't get an invitation in the mail, check it out on our homepage and RSVP by calling or emailing us to reserve your seats.  We hope to see you all this weekend!

In other news, we had to say goodbye again to John David.  He left headed back to Afghanistan on Sunday.  It was so hard to let him go again, but we know it's the last time we'll have to say goodbye until he's home for good next summer.  We can't wait for his homecoming day!

HAPPY 9 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
September 8, 2006

Our little man turned 9 months old today!  For his 9 month birthday present, his Uncle John came home from Afghanistan on his 2 week leave.  It was a big surprise for Gammy & Papa Joe and lots of fun to see their reaction when John walked through the door.  Watch the video for yourself on our Video page!

Check out the 9 month update on Tyler's page and check the Pictures page tomorrow for an album of Tyler's professional pictures.  There should be a new monkey picture in the "Watch Tyler Grow!" album tomorrow, too!

Happy 9 months, baby boy!  And welcome home, Uncle John!

WE'RE MOVED IN AND ALMOST DONE!
September 4, 2006

We've moved into the new living room!  We just have a few finishing touches and a little cleaning up to do and it will be finished.  Finally!

We're still playing around with the furniture, and we have a few more things to move into the room, but rest assured the projector, screen and all the computers are set up and in working order already.  The webcam is also in working order and is set up to show the room from a different angle, so be sure to check it out to see what we're up to.

When the room is done, we're planning on a weekend-long grand opening movie fest, complete with non-stop movies, popcorn, candy and Cokes.  Everyone is invited, so stay tuned for more details and plan on dropping by to join the fun!  Where else can you get all the free movies, popcorn, candy and Cokes you can watch, eat and drink?

HAPPY 8 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
August 8, 2006

Our little man turned 8 months old today!  Time flies when you're having fun and getting no sleep!

Check out the 8 month update on Tyler's page and check the Pictures page later tonight or tomorrow to see the long-awaited "Best of June & July 2006" album!

Construction on our new room is in the final stages, so stop by the webcam to see the progress and the finished product here in a few weeks!

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES!
June 21, 2006

Our new addition is taking shape very quickly!  We have a floor, walls, even half a roof as of today (and the rest of the roof will be up tomorrow).  The webcam is still catching all the action and has been moved to a better viewing angle, so don't forget to check it out!

In other news, there's a new album up on the Pictures page.  You might want to have some Kleenex handy, just in case.  John made it to Afghanistan safely and even has phone and internet access where he is now.  He may be moving to a different base soon, so we hope he's able to stay in touch easily wherever he ends up.  We love you and miss you, John!

HAPPY 6 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
June 8, 2006

SAYING GOODBYE...
June 3, 2006

We said goodbye to John David yesterday.  We all knew the day was coming, but that didn't make it any easier to watch his bus pull away.  We hugged, we cried, we told him we loved him, and we let him go.

If you have a spare prayer, please pray that John will be safe in Afghanistan and will return safely home next summer.  Tyler can't wait to welcome his Uncle John back with lots of sticky hugs and slobbery kisses!

WE'RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
May 31, 2006

Starting this week, our house is officially under construction.  We're adding on a new living room, which will take the place of our upstairs den (where we spend 90% of our time now.)  When the new addition is finished, the upstairs den will then become our master bedroom and bathroom.  This will be a much more practical arrangement and give us a 4-bedroom house where the 4th bedroom can actually be used.

Since we've been depriving our webcam viewers for the last 6 months, we decided to make up for that by turning the webcam into a construction cam.  Now, everyone can check in on the building progress and watch as our new room takes shape.  Click on "Webcam" to check it out!

Updated to add:  To see the construction cam properly, you have to look at it when it's light outside.  After it gets dark, all you can see is a reflection of our kitchen in the window. So, really, it's a construction/kitchen cam, depending on the time of day.  Two for the price of one!

HE'S ON A ROLL!
May 15, 2006

After many frustrating attempts, he's finally done it -- Tyler rolled from his back to his belly today!  He's been so close for awhile now, and his persistence paid off today.  It took several tries and lots of squealing, but he did it.  Go see Tyler's newest trick for yourself on the Video page!

In other news, we had a great Mother's Day yesterday.  Daddy and Tyler even let Momma sleep in, which was a very nice present.  There were other presents, too, but sleep is always appreciated!  We had lunch with the Cantrells and dinner with the Sherberts, and it was a nice, relaxing day.  Tyler must have been saving his newest trick for a belated Mother's Day surprise!

Of course, this means we can't just put Tyler down on the floor and expect him to be in the same place when we come back anymore.  And now the real fun begins...

HAPPY 5 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
May 8, 2006

Our little man turns 5 months old today!  Check out Tyler's page for his 5 month update and the Pictures page for a couple of new albums and a new monkey picture in the "Watch Tyler Grow!" album.

As always, please leave some comments on the pictures.  Tyler just loves reading comments!  They make him feel good about himself.  And don't you want Tyler to feel good about himself?

SQUEAL!
April 30, 2006

Tyler has found his voice!  And now that he's found it, he's making sure he doesn't lose it by using it as much as possible.  His favorite thing to do at the moment is squeal.  It is very cute and also very ear-splitting.  Just ask anyone who's heard him!

It's hard to believe our little squealer will be 5 months old in just a few days...

HAPPY 4 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
April 8, 2006

Our little monkey turns 4 months old today!  He is such a happy baby, and he keeps us laughing every day.  He's getting so big, too -- it's hard to believe he was a tiny 5 pound baby just a few months ago.

We have our 4 month check-up on Monday, so I'll post an official update on Tyler's page after that.  I'm guessing Tyler weighs about 14 pounds by now.  He's turning into quite the chunky monkey!

Be sure to check back next week for Tyler's 4 month update, and check the Pictures page for the "Best of March 2006" album.  Really, go check it out.  Go on.  Why aren't you gone already?

SPRING BREAK PICTURES!
March 22, 2006

The Spring Break 2006 album is now up on the Pictures page!  Go check it out and make some comments while you're there!

Tyler did great on his first road trip (thanks to Gammy entertaining him in the backseat the whole way), and he had lots of fun meeting everyone he hadn't met yet -- and seeing those he had met again.  We can't wait for this summer to get everyone together again!

TYLER HAS A NEW COUSIN!
March 1, 2006

Ty has a new cousin to beat up on...I mean, play with!  Major Jackson Cantrell was born yesterday, weighing in at 7 lbs, 9.9 oz and 19 inches long.  Major is very cute and has a head full of dark hair.  Tyler wonders if he'll ever have as much hair as his cousins.

We should have some pictures of the newest little Cantrell up on the Pictures page soon, so check back for those.  Also, the "Best of February 2006" album is coming soon, so stay tuned!

ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN'!
February 18, 2006

Tyler learned a new trick -- he can roll from his tummy to his back!  He was having some tummy time this morning and when he first rolled over, he looked very confused, like he was thinking, "Hey, what just happened here?"

It was very cute, so of course, out came the video camera.  Click on "Video" to check him out!

HAPPY 2 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
February 9, 2006

Our little man turned 2 months old yesterday!  He is more and more fun every day and is smiling and "talking" all the time now.  Ty can imitate some of the faces we make at him and can "Oooohhhh" and "Aaaahhhh" at us and at his toys.  Sometimes we wonder what we might actually saying to him and what he's saying back to us.  I guess some things we'll never know!

We have Tyler's 2 month check up this afternoon, which means his first round of shots.  We're not looking forward to this at all, but we're sure we'll all make it through.  We are looking forward to finding out how much Tyler weighs now, so be sure to check Tyler's page later today or tomorrow to find out!

Also, be sure to check the Pictures page for a fun, new album.  We've put up a "Watch Tyler Grow!" album, so everyone can watch as our little one gets bigger and bigger!

SMILE, TAKE TWO!
February 1, 2006

We did it!  We caught a whole smile on camera!  And isn't it the cutest smile you ever saw?  Well, in our totally unbiased opinion, of course...

Speaking of our camera, surely it won't come as a surprise to anyone that it's always clicking when Tyler's around.  We're going to try to be considerate new parents, though, when it comes to putting pictures on the site.  We've decided to have a monthly "Best of..." album, which will include what we think are the past month's best shots of our little boy.

That way, everyone will get to enjoy the most memorable and cutest pictures from the last month without being too overwhlemed.  You're welcome!  As a thank you for all the extra time you'll have, we expect lots of comments in return.

The "Best of January 2006" album will be up in the next day or two, so check back soon for it.  And don't forget to make comments.  We love comments!

SMILE!
January 26, 2006

Slowly but surely, Tyler is starting to smile -- and not just in his sleep anymore!  We managed to catch a half smile on camera this morning, and now we're determined to catch a whole smile, so stay tuned!

In other news, there are finally some new pictures up on the pictures page!  If you haven't seen them already, go check out our Christmas 2005 album and Ty's First Bath album.  Another new album is in the works and should be up in the next few days, so check back soon!  As always, be sure to make some comments when you check out the new pictures!

HAPPY ONE MONTH BIRTHDAY TO TYLER!
January 8, 2006

We can't believe it, but our little man is one month old!  In honor of his one month birthday, Tyler had his first photo shoot, Jake & Abby style, yesterday.  We took tons of pictures, some of which we'll be putting up on the pictures page as soon as we can.

Of course, we're still working on getting our Christmas pictures and Ty's first bath pictures up...  Maybe someday we'll get back up to speed!  Until then, enjoy the sneak preview here on the news page and on the webcam when it's turned off.  And keep checking back -- there WILL be new pictures soon.  Really, there will!

TY'S FIRST ALBUM IS UP!
December 27, 2005

Tyler's very first album is finally up on our pictures page!  There are 6 albums inside the main one, including pictures from before Tyler was born, the night he was born, our stay in the hospital, coming home, Ty's first bath, and last but certainly not least, Tyler meeting his Uncle John for the first time.  If that sounds like a lot of pictures, that's because it is, but what else would you expect from us?

So, go check out the pictures when you have a couple of hours to kill and be sure to make lots of comments to let us know you were there!

OUR LITTLE STOCKING STUFFER'S PICTURE IS UP!
December 24, 2005

In case anyone is dying for a new picture, Tyler is up on our hospital's website.  To see him, click here and don't forget to sign his guestbook while you're there!

Tyler says he hopes everyone has a very Merry Christmas!  At least we're pretty sure that's what that burp translates to...

BABY CANTRELL HAS ARRIVED!
December 15, 2005

Tyler Graham Cantrell made his debut on Thursday, December 8th, 2005 at 8:05 p.m.  He weighed in at 5 lbs, 10 oz and was 18 1/4 inches long -- a tiny but perfect little boy!  Tyler had some trouble with jaundice but was finally able to come home on Tuesday, December 13th.  It is amazing to finally have him here, and we are loving getting to know our son.  Ty is 1 week old today, and we think we're starting to get the hang of this whole parenting thing!

We are also working on getting Tyler's very first gallery up on the picutres page, but somehow we don't have as much time to play on the computer as we used to, so it may take a little longer than usual.  Be patient and never fear -- soon there will be more pictures than you'd ever want to see!

As always, check back often for updates and pictures.  And be sure to stop by the webcam -- you might even catch a glimpse of of our adorable little boy!

BABY CANTRELL WATCH - 37 WEEKS!
December 4, 2005

One more week down and we're all still anxiously awaiting the arrival of Baby Cantrell.  No real signs of labor (unless you count constant and annoying Braxton-Hicks contractions) and no more trips to the hospital yet, but we've got our bags packed and we're ready to go when it's time or on December 20th, whichever comes first.  (We'll have a scheduled C-section if Abby doesn't go into labor before then.)

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, we have a new page on our site where you can take a guess at Baby Cantrell's sex, birthday and weight.  Just click on "baby" at the top of the page to make your predictions.  Be sure to sign your name when you guess -- you can't win if we don't know who you are!

We can't wait to be announcing the birth of our little one.  Stay tuned -- 16 days or less and Baby Cantrell will be here!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HAPPY 36 WEEKS!
November 27, 2005

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we're down to the last few weeks before we get to meet our little one.  We thought he or she might try to come for Thanksgiving, but again, baby was just teasing us.  We're starting to get to know the Labor & Delivery nurses at the hospital pretty well, which should definitely come in handy when it's finally the real thing!

As excited and anxious as we are to meet Baby Cantrell, we would really like him or her to stay put for at least another week or two.  We'll hit the 36 week mark on Tuesday, and then once we make it past 37 weeks, baby won't be considered premature, which would be a huge relief and an answer to lots of prayers.

Abby's getting pretty uncomfortable and certainly moving around a lot slower these days, but she tries not to complain too much.  At this point, she's cherishing every last kick, roll and hiccup and even the nightly heartburn because she knows she'll miss being pregnant soon enough.

If you haven't seen them already, our baby shower pictures are up, and we'll have a new belly picture up this week, too.  Above is a sneak peek at some more pictures we'll have up soon, so stay tuned.  And be sure to check back often for news -- the next update could very well be a birth announcement!

WE'RE AN AUNT & UNCLE AGAIN!
November 14, 2005

The newest member of the Cantrell family arrived yesterday!  Toren Silas Cantrell was born at 9:02 a.m. with a full head of bright red hair.  Toren weighed 6 lbs and 15 ounces and was 20 inches long and is so handsome and tiny.  Of course, Uncle Jake & Aunt Abby are already blinding the poor little guy with our camera flash, so click over to the pictures page to see some of Toren's first pictures!

As for the next addition to the Cantrell family, he or she is doing great at almost 34 weeks.  We did have another little scare last week that took us to the Dr.'s office to be monitored and checked, but everything was fine.  We'd all just rather be safe than sorry at this point, even if it means driving my Dr.'s office crazy -- and I think we're doing a pretty good job of that!

I'm working on getting some more new pictures up, so check back soon for baby shower pictures and nursery pictures (yes, finally)!

BABY CANTRELL WATCH - 30 WEEKS!
October 21, 2005

As a reward for making it to the 30 week milestone, Baby Cantrell decided to give us a little scare.  I had been having contractions since Sunday, and they started getting a little too close for comfort on Tuesday evening, so late Tuesday night, we finally decided to make a trip to the hospital to get checked out.  I knew we wouldn't feel okay until we were sure everything really was okay, so off we went...

From the ER, we got sent straight to Labor & Delivery, where I was hooked up to a fetal monitor for about 2 hours.  I was poked, prodded and swabbed (in all the places I didn't want to be poked, prodded or swabbed) and when the tests came back and the monitor strips were analyzed, it was decided that I was not going into labor -- and won't be for at least another 2 weeks.  So, the exhausted parents-to-be and the strangely excited and hiccup-y baby got to go home at about 3 that morning.

After less than 2 hours of sleep, we were up and out the door to go see John David (Abby's little brother) off to boot camp.  John is one of the newest members of the National Guard, and as you can see in the picture above, he looked so cute (sorry, I mean handsome...) in his new military style haircut.  It was so hard to say good-bye, but he does get a Christmas break from boot camp, and we can't wait to see him in December.  He'll officially be "Uncle John" by then, too, and will get to meet his new niece or nephew!

For those who are always looking for new pictures on our site, there are some up now -- and there will be more soon!  So, check out the "Cantrell Photo Day" gallery and the new 30 week belly picture for now, and stay tuned for more new pictures coming soon!

LISTEN TO BABY'S HEARTBEAT!
October 2, 2005

It's a little late in coming, but we finally got everything set up right to record the baby's heartbeat for everyone to hear!  To listen to Baby Cantrell's recording debut, click here!

(You must have Windows Media Player for the link to work.  Most of you probably already have it on your computer -- it should automatically pop up in a new window if you do.  If the link doesn't work, click here to download Windows Media Player.)

Make sure you have your speakers turned on and your volume up!  Happy listening!

LAKE 2005 PICTURES ARE UP!
September 4, 2005

Pictures from the Cantrell family lake trip are finally up on the pictures page!  Yes, I know our lake trip was almost a month ago, but better late than never, right?  At least that's what I always say -- but maybe that's because I'm such a chronic procrastinaor!

So, as usual, go check out the pictures and please leave us some comments!

A ROOM OF HIS OR HER OWN!
August 30, 2005

It took a lot of convincing (I'm still a little gun-shy), but Jake finally persuaded me to start on the nursery this past weekend.  So, off we went to Sherwin Williams to chose a paint color.  I thought we could choose a color and be satisfied to have made that first big step.  But noooo, Jake wanted to go all the way.  So, we ended up choosing a color (two colors, actually -- a pale green and a butter yellow) and painting the room on Friday and Saturday.  We still have lots more to do, of course, but it was a BIG first step -- especially for me!

We're 23 weeks today, so that means only 17 more weeks to go.  Well, really only 16 weeks because I'll have a scheduled C-section that will be done about a week before my due date.  So, it's T-minus about 4 months to baby.  It's so surreal to say that and actually believe it -- I still sometimes can't!

In other news, I'm working on getting some new pictures up.  I should have the pictures from our lake trip up later this week, and I'll put up the belly pictures gallery soon after that.  I know, I know -- I've been saying that for several weeks now, but I promise it'll be soon.  So, stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who came to look and made comments on the Beach 2005 pictures!  I love you all, and I especially love the comments.  So, keep coming back and making more comments -- and I'll keep loving you!

20 WEEKS - WE'RE HALFWAY THERE!
August 13, 2005

That's right -- we're halfway to having a baby, and we are so thankful to have made it to this amazing milestone!  This is such a fun time in the pregnancy, too.  The baby is moving around all the time now (mostly when I'm lying in bed at night -- it looks like we may have a night owl on our hands), and it's such a strange and awesome feeling to know there's really someone in there!

We had our 20 week ultrasound appointment on Tuesday, and no, we didn't change our minds about finding out the sex of the baby.  I even wore my shirt we had made specially for the appointment.  It reads:  No, we're not finding out!  (...and no, you won't change our minds!)  I'll admit it was very tempting (especially when the ultrasound tech said she had seen the sex), but we didn't cave in, so our little one is still a surprise.  We got lots of new pictures, and we'll be posting "Baby Cantrell's Ultrasound Gallery" on the pictures page very soon.  So, stay tuned for lots of grainy black-and-white pictures of our baby-to-be.  Don't worry -- they'll have captions explaining what you're looking at for the ultrasound-challenged!

In other news, we had the annual Cantrell Family Lake Trip on Tuesday and Wednesday, and we had lots of fun hanging out at the lake with the family.  The best part, though, was when we (Jake, Judy and Abby) ran out of gas on the Sea Doo and were stranded for 45 minutes in the middle of the lake and in the scorching sun.  Everyone else was either still back on the beach or off in the boat, so we patiently waited for someone to notice and come rescue us.  When they finally did, they pulled up and asked why we hadn't switched to the reserve tank.  Our response:  "What reserve tank?"  Yes, we could have made it back the whole time.  I guess we were just dying in the heat for fun for those 45 minutes!  At least we can laugh about it now...

I'm still plugging away on the beach pictures -- I think I'm about halfway done, and my goal is to have them ready by next weekend.  The ultrasound gallery will be up before then, though, so that should keep everyone satisfied for a few days.  Of course, now I've also got lake pictures to add to the to do list, so it seems the work never ends.  I love doing it, though -- the only thing that would make it more rewarding is seeing more comments on the pictures.  So, go make some comments -- they really do make my day!

WE'RE BAAAAACK!
July 30, 2005

As most of you have surely noticed from the new picture of the week (you've all checked for it every day this past week, right?), we're finally home.  We had an awesome time at Hotel Ya-Ya and at the beach and just being on vacation!

With all the adorable babies and toddlers around (and mostly, just because we're us), we have hundreds of pictures from our trip.  We know you'll all try to wait as patiently as possible as we work on sorting and organizing all these pictures into albums for your viewing pleasure.  Just be thankful that we don't ever make any of you come over and watch vacation slides.  Can you imagine the horror?

Baby Cantrell is doing great and very much enjoyed his or her first beach trip.  The baby is moving pretty regularly now -- and once even kicked hard enough that Jake was finally able to feel the movement from the outside.  It was awesome!  I could sit with my hands on my belly all day, every day, just waiting to feel those tiny little flutters.  But I try to remember not to do it in public -- people tend to look at me funny when I forget...

Speaking of my belly, at 18 weeks along, I'm finally starting to notice a real change!  We've been taking pictures of my growing belly every few weeks, and now that I actually have something to show, we may put up a belly pictures album soon.  So, everyone can be on the lookout for that and for our beach pictures sometime in the next few weeks!

Finally, for all our webcam viewers who are wondering what's up, the computer that runs the webcam broke while we were gone.  So, our webcam is temporarily down until Jake can get that computer fixed or we come into some unexpected money to buy a new one.  In the meantime, we hope you can all find something else to do to occupy the time you usually spend watching us sit on our couch.

*** UPDATE (8/4):  The webcam is back up!  Happy watching!  ***

OFF TO THE BEACH WE GO!
July 10, 2005

All of our loyal webcam fans will need to find a new hobby for the next couple of weeks.  There won't be anyone to watch because we'll be gone to the beach!  We've already had a couple of mini-vacations this summer, but this will be our "big" beach vacation.  Almost two weeks of fun in the sun -- we'll be in heaven!

In baby news, everything's still going great.  We had another Dr.'s appointment this week and got the hear the baby's heartbeat.  Still going strong at 146 beats per minute.  Amazing!

Needless to say, we'll take hundreds of pictures at the beach, so for those of you who will be going through jakeabby.com withdrawal these next couple of weeks, we'll try to make up for that with all our beach pictures.  Everyone be good and stay safe while we're gone!

13 WEEKS & INTO THE 2ND TRIMESTER!
June 22, 2005

It seems there's a lot of difference of opinion on when the 1st trimester of pregnancy ends.  Some sources say 12 weeks, some 13 weeks, and some 14 weeks.  So, what's a girl to do?  I decided to split the difference and call myself in the 2nd trimester at 13 weeks -- the magical milestone I finally reached yesterday.  It's so surreal that we've made it this far, and especially that everything still looks good with the baby.

We had another Dr.'s appointment on Monday and were lucky enough to have a quick ultrasound to check on baby.  He or she was still in there and moving around like crazy.  I can't wait until I can feel those movements -- I know that will make this all seem that much more real.  I also wouldn't mind having a little bit of a belly, but I'm trying not to be too demanding...

I know if I keep up my steady diet of ice cream and chocolate, I'll get that belly eventually, right?  Ha!  Just kidding, I promise!  No lectures on healthy eating, please!

BEACH BUMS & ROAD TRIPS!
June 14, 2005

It looks like this will be the summer of traveling for us.  We made a road trip to Houston and then on to the beach last weekend, and we're turning around and making the same trip again this coming weekend.  We must be nuts -- or we must really love the beach.  I think it's a little of both!

After these 2 road trip weekends, we'll at least have a few weeks to rest before our next big trip -- back to the beach again in mid-July.  This trip will be our main summer vacation and will be for Abby's family's annual reunion and Beach Bash.  So, be on the lookout for lots of new pictures in the next few weeks.  That is, if Abby's not too exhausted from all the driving to even think about working on the website!

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!
May 17, 2005

I think it's finally time to announce our big news to the world (well, the world who reads our website, anyway).  We are finally pregnant again -- 8 weeks today!  With our history of miscarriages, we kept the news to ourselves for a while, but everything's looking good this time around, so we're feeling better and happier every day.  We felt VERY happy when we got to see our little one's heartbeat at our ultrasound last Friday!

Here's one of the first pictures of our baby.  Come December, we hope to be sharing LOTS more pictures of Baby Cantrell!  Having a happy, healthy baby will be the best birthday/Christmas/anniversary present ever.  Yes, our Decembers will be very full, but at least we get to relax the rest of the year, right?

Please keep us in your prayers -- we're going to need lots of prayers to get us through this next 7 months!

WE'RE ALL MOVED IN!
April 14, 2005

We are officially all moved into the new house!  We (well, I should say the movers we hired) moved everything from the old house last Saturday, and we just got a whole load of new furniture in yesterday.  So, it's all in -- now we just have to unpack and set it all up!

We've got a long way to go getting everything done, but we're just taking things one day -- and one box -- at a time.  Anyone who wants to is welcome to come take a peek at the new house if you're in the neighborhood.  Just give us a call first and we'll put you on the schedule for a personal, guided tour!  For anyone who needs it, our new address is:

Jake & Abby Cantrell
1301 S. Constant
Ada, OK  74820

Okay, back to wandering around the house -- I still can't believe we actually live here!

PACKING UP IS HARD TO DO!
April 3, 2005

Yes, we finally started packing, and we've spent most of the past week working.  Jake keeps insisting that we don't have that much stuff, but since I've been the one doing most of the actual packing, I have to disagree.  I've done the living room, kitchen (with the wonderful help of Candy and Judy), and the guest room so far.  It's amazing how much we've accumulated over these past 2 years!

Our official moving date is this coming Saturday, April 9th, so if anyone needs us this week, we'll probably be packing!

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!
March 27, 2005

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!  We had a busy Easter Sunday -- lunch with Jake's family and dinner with my family.  Oh, the joys of having 2 families in the same town on holidays...  At least we always get lots of good, free meals!

Anyway, happy Easter to all!  Hope you all got some good, free food and quality time with family, too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAKE!
February 25, 2005

Happy Belated Birthday to my dear, sweet husband!  Yes, his birthday was yesterday, and yes, I forgot to post anything about it on the website.  Oops!  I've been told this means I won't be paid for my "webmaster duties" this month.  Ha ha...

So, if you happen to see Jake around town or if you feel like sending him an email, be sure to wish him a happy late birthday!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
February 14, 2005

A very Happy Valentine's Day to all our wonderful JakeAbby.com fans!  We hope everyone had a fabulous day filled with lots of love and, of course, lots of chocolate!

Oh, and just for the record (since people always seem to be interested), my Valentine's present from Jake was a box of Camp Fire Girls peppermint patties candy (bought yesterday from a little girl selling door-to-door on our street) and a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream (bought from Love's when I just HAD to have ice cream at 9:00 tonight).  What can I say?  My husband knows me so well...

WOW, A WHIRLWIND WEEKEND IN NYC!
January 16, 2005

I've always wondered what kind of people get to take amazing trips to places like New York City on a whim.  Well, apparently, we do!  Jake decided on Wednesday night that since we had a 4-day weekend, we should take a big trip somewhere.  I had no idea he was actually serious...  After some surfing on travel sites, he found a great last-minute deal we just couldn't pass up.  So, off to NYC we went!

It was definitely a whirlwind weekend (although it felt like we were gone at least a week!), but we had so much fun and it was a truly awesome trip!  In the 2 days we were there, we did the Empire State building, Madame Tussaud's wax museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, LOTS of walking and sight-seeing around New York City, and even saw an off-Broadway show and went to a stand-up comedy club.  Wow, maybe THAT'S why it feels like we were gone a week!  We also took tons of pictures, of course, which will be up on the pictures page as soon as I can sort through them all.  So, stay tuned!

Click here to read the full NYC story!

CHRISTMAS PICTURES ARE UP!
January 7, 2004

After several days of hard work (on Abby's part), the Christmas 2004 album is finally up on on the pictures page!  There are 7 albums full of pictures inside, so if you have a few hours free, go check them out.  If you saw us for Christmas, you might even be in a few of them!  Happy picture viewing!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January 1, 2005

Wow, another year gone by...  We want to wish all our family, friends and loyal JakeAbby.com fans a very Happy New Year!  We hope 2005 will be a year full of blessings and happiness and dreams come true!

WE SURVIVED CHRISTMAS...BARELY!
December 30, 2004

With a whirlwind weekend trip to Houston, 8 Christmases between the two of our families, and a wedding (where Jake was a groomsman) in the middle of it all, it's amazing, but we actually survived the holidays!  It's been a wild couple of weeks, but we are so thankful for all our wonderful family and friends.  Yes, all you who helped make the holidays so crazy for us -- we love you all!!!

Oh, and if we looked like we weren't enjoying ourselves during any of the holiday festivities, please don't take it personally -- we were probably just sleeping with our eyes open!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
November 25, 2004

Thanksgiving was a very busy, but wonderful, day for us!  We spent the afternoon with the Cantrell family, eating lunch and watching movies, and we spent the evening with the Sherbert family, eating dinner and playing cards.  We were very full and exhausted by the time we made it home, but we are so thankful for all the family and friends we got to spend time with - and we missed those we didn't get to see.  Now, I guess it's time to start thinking about Christmas...

WE WENT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE!
October 8-11, 2004

Jake & I made a trip to New Hampshire last weekend for Brian & Hannah Harrison's wedding.  The wedding was beautiful, and we saw some amazing scenery while we were there, so it was a wonderful trip, all in all.  We, of course, took tons of pictures, which you can see on the Pictures Page, as always!  Enjoy!

ANA BETH TURNED TWO!
September 18, 2004

My cousin Jill's daughter, Ana, turned two years old on September 18, 2004, so Jake & I took a weekend trip to Austin, TX to celebrate with one of our favorite little girls!  Ana Beth had a Strawberry Shortcake party, complete with hot dogs, cupcakes, presents and swimming, and everyone had tons of fun!  There are party pictures up on the Pictures Page, so be sure to check out the festivities! 

FUN AT THE LAKE!
September 7-8, 2004

The Cantrell family (including Bob & Judy, Kyle & Jen, Kevin, Kelli & Gracie, and Jake & Abby) took a fun-filled trip to Lake Eufaula last week.  We all stayed at Kevin & Kelli's new lake house right on the lake, and we had lots of fun hanging out, skiing (some of us), riding in the boat, fishing off the dock, and of course, playing with Gracie!  Go check out the Pictures Page to see for yourself!

OUR HOUSE GOT A MAKEOVER!
July 15, 2004
We decided our house needed a makeover, so we had it painted a pretty, buttery yellow, and added new white shutters.  It looks beautiful!  Go check out start-to-finish pictures on the Pictures page!

ANOTHER SURGERY FOR ABBY...

May 2, 2004 Just a little update on what's been going on in our lives the past couple of months.  Most of you know that Jake & I have had two miscarriages in the past 6 months.  Since then, I have had lots of testing done in the past couple of months to try to determine possible causes.   The good news is, my Dr. has found what's most likely causing the miscarriages (a small abnormality in my uterus), and luckily, it can be fixed!   The bad news is, this means I have to have another surgery.  So, I'll be having surgery next Tuesday, May 11th.  It should be a minor surgery (done laparoscopically), so everything should be fine and recovery should be quick. Then, maybe Jake & I can put the sadness of these past 6 months behind us and move on to some good news, finally.  Thanks so much for all your prayers and support these past few months, and thanks for your continued prayers this next week as I go through another surgery.  We hope this will be the last one for awhile!

WE MOVED...ACROSS THE STREET!

Dec 29, 2003 Jake & I have moved, but only across the street. It's a strange story, but basically Jake's mom owns the house across the street and uses it for a rent house. It's much bigger than our house, so we decided to trade her and we moved into her rent house (which we're not actually renting from her) and she now gets to rent out our house (which we still own). If none of that makes sense and you really want more details, you can email us and we'll explain better! For anyone who needs our address, it's now: 1028 E. 7th Place, Ada, OK 74820.