Planning the Party

The final plans have been made for Jackson's 2nd birthday party. The little guy will be having a barnyard birthday breakfast at Chick-Fil-A. I think that having his party at CFA is a win/win situation for everyone. Who doesn't love the place? The have great food, nice employees, and a clean play area. Plus, I won't have to stress out about cleaning the house or coming up with a way to entertain a bunch of toddlers. I am very excited about the party and hope we have a great crowd. The invitations have been sent. I just need to buy some party favors and find a cake design to go with his theme. Let's party!

Sky Top Orchard

On Saturday, September 24, we headed out to Sky Top Orchard. Apple picking seems to be a really big thing around here, and we had never been. I thought it would be a good adventure for us, so we decided to load up and check out the place. It took us about an hour to get there. Jackson was an extremely pleasant rider and even fell asleep the last ten minutes. When we arrived, we made a few pictures in those things that have a cut-out for your head. Then we headed to the play area. Jackson had a great time swinging, running, and going in and out of a playhouse. Then we headed to pick some apples. We only picked about a dozen because we really don't eat that many apples. I plan to make a pie with the ones we picked. Jackson thought he was such a big shot picking apples and tossing them in the bucket. He ran pretty much the entire time we were there and started wearing out toward the end. He wanted to be carried, then down to run, then carried, then down to run, etc. His little legs just weren't strong enough for all the exploring he wanted to do. We paid for our apples and bought some apple cider donuts for the road. Let me say that it was worth the drive just for the donuts. They were amazing! In all, we were there for about an hour. We had a fabulous time and will definitely plan on making this a yearly event.

20 Months

It's hard to believe that my "baby" is now 20 months old. He has certainly become "Mr. Independent" and has a mind of his own. We have had to re-babyproof the kitchen cabinets. He figured out how to push down on the clip to get the doors open, so we had to invest in magnet locks. We also have covers on most of the door knobs in the house. He spends most of his time playing, watching Sesame Street, and giving treats to Alex. He loves swinging at the park, playing and eating at Chick-fil-A, and playing at the mall. I try my very best to keep him busy. He takes one nap each day, and it usually lasts no more than one hour. I have no idea how he goes so strong all day on such little sleep. Once September rolls around, we will be super busy. We will have Kindermusik, Toddler Time at CFA, Mother Goose at the library, and MOPS. I'm sure I will be the one who is exhausted. We started attending a different church about two months ago, and we all love it! Jackson has never cried in the nursery, which has been a huge improvement. I think (fingers crossed) that the crying phase might be coming to an end. He has become much more social and interacts really well with other kids. I have started making plans for his second birthday. As of right now, we are thinking a birthday breakfast at CFA. Since his birthday is in December, it will be too cold to have a party outside. This way, the kids can eat and play in an indoor environment. Jackson loves books, eating cheese and croutons, riding in his stroller, fastening his own carseat, putting on his shoes, and helping me with the laundry. He will soon need haircut #4. I am so thankful for this sweet, loving, healthy, happy toddler!

Summer Lovin'

Well, summer is officially here. Even though it has felt like summer for quite some time, the first official day of summer was last week. The temperature is already reaching the 90s on most days, and it is H-O-T around here! Jackson and I have been doing a little walking/jogging on most mornings. I usually take a little break on Wednesdays for Kindermusik and Sundays for church. I started the couch to 5K a few weeks ago and have really grown to enjoy jogging (at least most days). Jackson absolutely loves being outside, and he especially loves swinging at the park. Whenever we pass by the playground area when he is in the stroller, he points, oohs, and aahs. We finally broke down and ordered him a basic little swing set to put in our backyard. I am sure we will be spending a great deal of time out there once it arrives.

Nap time has become a huge battle. Jackson usually goes down easily but it up after only an hour of sleeping. One hour is simply not enough. He is a huge grump for the rest of the day, which makes the minutes drag on like hours. He does have several teeth coming in, so I think that might have something to do with his short naps. He has also been waking up around 5:00 each morning, which is no fun at all for Mommy and Daddy. He has done much better the past few nights, so we are hoping it was just a short little phase that has now passed.

Jackson's newest food obsession is sweet potato fries. I bake them in the oven, and he absolutely loves them! He has become a pro at opening re-sealable bags. He loves opening the pantry door and getting out the oreos and goldfish. He managed to get a bottle of red food coloring out of the cabinet last week and had it all over himself. Sometimes there is nothing you can do besides laugh!

Memorial Day 2011

We had a fabulous Memorial Day! After four and a half years of being married, we finally took the plunge and bought a grill. Fred grilled out for the very first time yesterday, and everything was delicious. We had grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, baked sweet potato fries, and homemade peanut butter cookies. Yum, yum! It was really nice to have a long weekend, especially since we were all out of town last week. Fred had to go to Connecticut on a business trip, so Jackson and I headed to Wilmington, NC, to visit my sister. Jackson went to the pool and the beach for the first time and did really well. We ate some very tasty food and just enjoyed hanging out. Jackson and I got home on Friday a little after lunch, and Fred got home about 7:30 p.m. He was supposed to be home before lunch, but he missed his original flight. It looks like this week is going to be another busy week for us. Jackson is scheduled to have a speech evaluation tomorrow. I am hoping everything will go smoothly and that we can find out if there is anything we can do to get the little guy talking. I have to prepare 100 cupcakes to be picked up on Saturday morning, so I will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen later this week. :)

Mother's Day 2011

I can truly say that I had a fabulous Mother's Day! Being Jackson's mom is such a blessing, and Fred did a fabulous job of making me feel extra special on May 8. Jackson gave me a necklace, earrings, Express gift card, peanut M&Ms, and a cookie cake. Fred made French toast for breakfast, which was super yummy. We had lunch from Jason's deli and enjoyed an afternoon treat from 32 degrees. All of the Moms at church received a carnation. It was really nice to feel so loved an appreciated. I am so very blessed! :)

It's Time to Say Goodbye!

The time has come to say goodbye...to the pacifier! Jackson has recently become a pacifier addict. He will have one clipped to him, one in his hand, and another in his mouth at the same time. I couldn't even make a picture of him without the pacifier in his mouth. I decided it was time for paci to go! The pacifier now lives in Jackson's crib, which means he can only have it when he takes a nap or goes down for the night. We are now on day four, and I think things are going pretty well. Unfortunately, he has some molars coming in and is extremely ill. I was somewhat tempted to let him have the pacifier today in order to give my pounding head a break from his screaming. However, I stood strong. He is now napping, and I am hoping he starts feeling better.

Mississippi Visit

Jackson and I spent last week in the small town of Louisville, MS, visiting my family. Fred had to make a last minute business trip to Cincinnati, so Jackson and I decided to hang out with GiGi and Pop while Fred was gone. We had a really good time and managed to stay away from the hospital and the doctor's office. This is a big accomplishment! Jackson made himself right at home everywhere we went. It took him a couple of nights to adjust to the new sleeping environment, but he adapted just fine. We ate lots of good food, saw some familiar faces, and had lots of laughs. My mom was off on Good Friday, and we went to Starkville for a delicious lunch at Harvey's and some yogurt at Local Culture. We hope to visit again soon! :)

Breakfast Date

This morning I had a breakfast date with the cutest guy ever. No, I'm not talking about Fred. (Haha!) I'm talking about my sweet Jackson. Chick-fil-A has offered a free breakfast item each morning this week, and today was a sausage biscuit. I thought it would be fun for Jackson and I to go and have some breakfast together. It was a blast! He each got a free sausage biscuit, and I ordered us a box of hash rounds to share. I didn't give Jackson the sausage, but he ate about three fourths of his biscuit and more than half of the hash rounds! He was the cutest little thing! After we finished our breakfast, I took him to the playground area at Chick-fil-A. There were no other children playing, so I knew I didn't have to worry about him getting hurt. He was a little unsure at first, but ended up having fun. After we left Chick-fil-A, we headed to Publix for our weekly shopping trip. I managed to save over $40 with sales and coupons! Yay! It was a fabulous morning, and we will definitely have to have more breakfast dates! :)

One of THOSE Days!

Yep, that's right. Today has been one of THOSE days! I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It all started at 2:30 a.m., when I was awakened by a crying baby. I went upstairs and glided him back to sleep. However, when I placed him back in his crib, he screamed. I waited outside his door to see if he would stop. Sometimes, if I just leave, he will have stopped crying by the time I reach the bottom of the stairs. Then I heard the dreaded sound...the pacifier hitting the floor! Without the pacifier, you can kiss any chance of sleep goodbye! I went back in his room, picked him up, and put him in the bed with me. He slept until 5:30, when he decided it was time to get up and go wild. I, on the other hand, was NOT ready to get up! I knew that if he got up now, he would be exhausted. We would BOTH be exhausted. I took him up to his crib. He cried off and on until around 7:00. I went upstairs and glided him until 8:15. Isn't it amazing how babies can drift to sleep instantly in your arms, but it takes them hours in a crib?

After we ate breakfast, we headed out to run some errands. We got home around 11:00, and I decided to feed Jackson his lunch early because I knew he was tired. He did not take a morning nap, and I knew that he didn't get much rest last night. The little booger refused to sleep. He finally gave up around 1:00 and slept for a whopping 30 minutes! Needless to say, he has been grump and clingy all afternoon! I put him back down around 4:00, and he is currently sleeping. I would really just like to cry right now, but I know that it won't do any good. I am just hoping and praying that tonight and tomorrow go much better.

Sweet Baby

Jackson and I had a super fun time at MOPS today! I feel so blessed that there was an opening so that we could join. He lasted longer in the nursery this time than the time we visited, so he is making progress. I think he is really starting to enjoy mingling with other kids. He has always been very clingy, but he seems to be letting go now. I am so proud of how he has participated at Mother Goose and Kindermusik and how he has mingled with the other kids.

I was attempting to empty the paper shredder this afternoon, but ended up just making a big mess all in the floor. I went to grab the broom and headed back to the living room. As I walked in the room, I saw Jackson sitting in the floor picking up the tiny pieces of paper and putting the in the trash can. It was one of those moments that reminded me how blessed I am to have such a sweet baby. Just thinking about Jackson makes me smile. :)

The Little Gym

Today Jackson and I went to a free trial class at The Little Gym. We had a really good time, and I think it would be beneficial for Jackson if we joined. We worked on all kinds of skills involving different parts of his body and his muscles. We worked on walking, grasping, clapping, stomping, rolling, etc. We even sang and blew bubbles. The classes have just started for this semester, and we were the only people at today's session. We are going back on Monday to see how Jackson will act in an environment with a few other kids. I'm sure the class will grow as the semester progresses. They accept children all throughout the semester. We are also going to a trial session of Kindermusik on Monday. Jackson is getting so busy these days! I hope I can keep up with his busy schedule. It looks like I might have to start hitting the bed a little earlier.

Giggle Bugs & Mother Goose

Jackson has been a busy boy this week! Yesterday we went to Giggle Bugs for the first time. They have different inflatables that are fun for kids to jump around in and burn off some energy. Jackson is still a little small for those, but that didn't stop him from having a good time. They had toys for the little ones, and Jackson made himself right at home. He spent most of his time in a little playhouse. I was beyond amazed at how well he played and interacted with the other kids. He was not clingy at all. If you know my child, you will understand that this is a major accomplishment. It was really nice to get out of the house and mingle with some other people. We will definitely have to go back.

Today we went to the library for Mother Goose on the Loose. This class meets on Wednesdays at 10:00 and 11:00. We got to the library around 9:50, and all of the tickets for the 10:00 class were already gone. I had no idea Mother Goose was so popular! We went back for the 11:00 class and got there about twenty minutes earlier. We had no problem getting a ticket. In fact, the class was only about half full. We sang, played instruments, learned body parts, and clapped. It was a lot of chaotic fun!

Cabin Fever

The snow and ice are finally starting to melt. Jackson and I have not left the house since Sunday, and it is now Thursday. It's not like we have anywhere that we NEED to go, but it would still be nice to get out. Until the aftermath of this "winter storm" is completely gone, I don't plan on doing any driving. Fred had to make a milk run this morning before heading to work. Between Fred and Jackson, it looks like we are going to be going through three gallons of milk per week! I was hoping to save a good bit of money each month now that Jackson no longer takes formula, but it looks like we might actually spend about the same on whole milk.

Due to the inclement weather, schools have been out all week. Many parents have been ranting on Facebook about how they can't wait for the kids to go back. All of this complaining somewhat disturbs me. Believe me, as a SAHM, I know how important it is to have some time to yourself and a break from your kids. However, I really don't understand why parents haven't taken this week to have fun with their kids and just enjoy being with them. After all, it has only been one week. I'm not sure how they survive during summer break. I know it has been harder because everyone has been stuck inside. However, there are still things you can do with your children. Make cookies, drink hot chocolate, play board games, play video games, make crafts, etc. It really is okay if the house is a mess, the dirty clothes are stacking up, and the beds aren't made. Life goes on. Trust me on this one!

Snow Days :)

We woke up yesterday morning to a winter wonderland. We got at least four inches of snow, and it it beautiful! All of the schools in Greenville County were closed, and many of the businesses were closed as well. Fred stayed home, which was great! Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, I have really learned to appreciate having another adult in the house. I had someone to talk to, help out with Jackson, and do some chores. It was nice. Fred got up early this morning to shovel the driveway, thinking he was going to venture out to work. After watching the news report on TV and walking out to a driveway covered in ice, he decided staying home was a much better idea than going to work. I am glad he is here! He has been on his GE laptop all morning, but I have still enjoyed just having him home. Jackson has entertained himself very well this morning and has now gone down for a nap.

Speaking of naps, it seems that Jackson is trying to convert himself to a one nap per day kinda baby. Yesterday he slept from 12:00-1:15 and then went to bed around 6:00. He didn't wake up until 6:45 this morning! Wow is all I can say! I'm not sure if that will happen again today since he fell asleep at 10:15 this morning.

Many people around Greenville are starting to wonder if school will be out all week. The students are out Friday anyway for a teacher workday. School is also out next Monday for Martin Luther King day. I am guessing there will be no school this Wednesday and a two hour delay on Thursday. I guess it really depends how much ice is still on the roads.

One Year Old

Jackson turned one on December 30. Today we went to the pediatrician for his one year well-check. He now weighs 24 pounds, 7 ounces and is 31.5 inches long. He is developing well, and his pediatrician was pleased with the progress he has made since his last visit. The only word he is currently saying is "mama." We are hoping to broaden his vocabulary before his next visit, which is in three months.
The little cutie pooped in his diaper today, which is a very regular thing. However, the funny thing is what he did while I was changing him. He grabbed a wipe and tried to wipe himself. Then he grabbed a diaper and laid it on himself. I am not making this up! I am starting to wonder if we should work on our potty training a little early. :)
I know you are probably in shock that I have posted two days in a row, especially after the very long span of posting nothing. Honestly, the only reason I am able to post right now is because Jackson just went down for a nap. He has become my shadow, literally! He hangs onto my pants and follows me everywhere I go. It is very difficult to get anything done these days!
Jackson had the brilliant idea to get up at 5:00 this morning. I tried to convince him to go back to sleep, but he wouldn't listen. Imagine that...a child not listening to his parent! Haha! He ended up crashing in his highchair at 8:30. He slept in it for 45 minutes! He finally went down for nap #2 at 3:40. I'm really not sure how he has gone so strong today. I had to have an extra cup of coffee this morning to keep my eyes open! I need to borrow some of his energy! :)

Home for the Holidays

Fred and I have been planning to spend our first Christmas as a family of three at our own house since before Jackson was born. Fred was fortunate to have two whole weeks off for Christmas break, and we planned to lounge around the house in our pajamas and bake Christmas goodies. Instead, we made two quick dashes to Florida and Mississippi to visit with our families before coming back to South Carolina for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While we were extremely rushed and tired when we got back, we were glad we made the trip. Jackson was able to meet his family in Florida for the very first time. He was so well-behaved and barely cried at all. The only hard part of the trip was nap time. We ended up driving him around in the car so that he could sleep. He napped fine in Mississippi, but he has been there several times in the past. Both sides of the family were glad to see him.
Jackson's first Christmas was so much fun! He slept a little late Christmas morning, and Fred and I both rushed up to his room the minute he made a peep. We brought him down and showed him what Santa had left. He played with his toys while I cooked a breakfast casserole and muffins for our Christmas breakfast. After we ate, we started opening presents. Jackson's GiGi and Pop sent him so many gifts that he had to open some, then nap, then open some more. We didn't do a big meal for Christmas day because we had so much "holiday" food in Florida. We were kinda burnt out on dressing and such.
GiGi and Pop came up to our house on December 30 for Jackson's first birthday. We had cake and ice cream, and Jackson got lots of good presents. I think he was a little overwhelmed with all of the gifts he received. He didn't want to nap while GiGi and Pop were here because he wanted to spend every minute with them that he could. He stayed up late and played hard while they were here. He was very sad to see them leave. We hope they will visit again soon.
In current news, we are trying to transition from bottle to cup and from formula to whole milk. I think the switch to whole milk will be the easier of the two. We have been giving Jackson a cup since he was six months old, but he has never gotten the hang of it. He doesn't know how to suck on it so that liquid will come out. He usually just chews on the spout and then throws the cup in the floor. I think we have just about every cup that one can buy. We have tried hard spouts, soft spouts, handles, no handles, and straws. He goes to the pediatrician tomorrow for his one year check-up, and I'm sure we will get the lecture about how he should be off the bottle. We have tried! I am hoping she will have some suggestions that will work.
Jackson took his first steps a few days ago and has also started saying "mama." I was looking at some pictures last night from several months ago, and I can't believe how much Jackson has grown. It makes me sad that Jackson is growing up so quickly, but I have enjoyed watching everything he has learned to do. He is such a little cutie, and I love him more than anything!