Spring Fever

We can hardly believe this nice weather! It gives us a chance to ride the scooter,

throw around a ball (or two),

and eat popsicles!

Was the groundhog WRONG? Did Spring come EARLY?

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Here's how we celebrated our Irish friends today:

We all slept until about 8:00 (a well-deserved sleep in after all the sickness we've had here). Upon waking, we dressed in our St Patrick's Day attire and took some happy snaps.





After my McCutie had breakfast, we headed to Kids Kingdom.


Jackson had fun playing in the big wooden castles. I was amazed at his climbing skills.






Samuel chose the park as a good place to take his morning snooze.



After lunch and a nap, Emily and Christian came over to look after Samuel while Jackson and I had a special "you and me" date. We went to the Build A Bear. Jackson took FOREVER to pick out which stuffed toy he wanted to build. We had to touch and look at them all. He finally became attached to a blue bear with peace signs on it. We recorded a special message to put inside the bear's paw. Then Jackson helped to stuff the bear. He chose several red hearts to put inside his bear (it was more like 6...he really enjoyed putting the hearts inside), and then it was stitched up. Next we gave the bear a bath and brushed his hair.


After the bear was sufficiently groomed, we looked through all the different outfits. Jackson wasn't really into the outfits. He was into the accessories. He picked out some sunglasses and a guitar (this was, might I add, all his doing...no prompts from me). Then we sat down at the computer to name our bear and print out his birth certificate.


I pointed to the bear and asked Jackson "Who is this". Jackson very matter-of-factly told me "Bear". So Bear it is. Meet...Bear.

And tonight when I tucked Jackson into bed and said goodnight, I had to say goodnight to Bear, too.

We ended our date with a stop by Auntie Anne's for Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Nuggets.

The smile on this boy's face says it all.

We headed home to get Samuel so we could go to Myles's baseball tryouts. Myles had some good catches and throws! It was very windy, but the sunshine felt so good.



And Samuel chose this time to take his evening nap.



We came home, had dinner and topped our St. Patty's Day off with a green bath.



Both boys were worn out and in bed asleep by 9:00 giving me the opportunity to write this blog post and watch a couple episodes of Lost. It was a great green day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Now This Is Fun

Why is it wonderful living near famiy? Because having sleepovers at Aunt Holly's house is fun! This was Jackson's first overnight trip away from home and me. I missed him. He, obviously, did not miss me...









(Cool Hairstyle by Uncle Noel)

Thanks, Holly, Noel and Myles for showing Jackson a good time (and for giving me the night/morning/afternoon off)!

Lullabye

In the great green room
There was a telephone
and a red balloon
and a picture of -
The cow jumping over the moon
And there were three little bears sitting on chairs
And two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse
And a young mouse
And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady who was whispering "hush"
Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Good night cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light
And the red balloon
Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs
Goodnight kittens
And goodnight mittens
Goodnight clocks
And goodnight socks
Goodnight little house
And goodnight mouse
Goodnight comb
And goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody
Goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"
Goodnight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere

Goodnight Jackson. Goodnight Samuel.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

These two are so sweet together. I can't get enough of them! I love watching their relationship develop...and know that they are making memories only a sibling can share. My two beautiful boys...

Piano Man

Today while Samuel was napping, I heard Jackson playing the piano. I quietly snuck down the hall and hid behind the doorway. What I saw was my sweet little boy playing the piano just like Mommy does...even using the damper pedal.



Going with his self created interest in playing the piano, we sat down and had a little fun trying to learn to play the Alphabet Song.

Jackson was so sweet and his love for the piano (and music in general) just made me melt.

A boy after my own heart...

Oh What A Beautiful Morning

I love mornings when we aren't rushed.

Mornings where we can take time to change out of our PJs.

Mornings together. Laughing. Loving.

Forget You

Isn't this the cutest little tantrum you've ever seen?

"No Mommy. No Bath."

...and, um, my pants are too big! Forget you, Mom!

Song 2

It is the post of twos! Jackson is 22 months old - just 2 months away from being 2!

Here is what he looked like this time last year:

This post is a little later than I intended for it to be... last Thursday we were struck by the dreaded Stomach Bug. First Jackson got it. Then it went away. Then it made it's return. Then I got it. Then Dad. Then Mom. Then Mio. FINALLY yesterday we all went back to normal - daycare and work. That thing is horrible! Glad we are done with it!

So here is long overdue update on my little man, the almost two year old, Jackson Wayne!

One Tuesday afternoon before Valentine's Day after nap, we spent some time together while Samuel was sleeping making cookies. I had been looking forward to the time when I could bake with Jackson ever since I found out I was pregnant. Who doesn't like to make cookies with their Mom? So I brought out the step stool and the cookie cutters and we were off.

We even played "making cookies" while we were waiting on them to bake.

I was in Mommy Bliss. And Jackson had fun, too, though I'm not sure whether he had more fun making the cookies or eating the cookies. The step stool is now his favorite piece of furniture. He loves standing on it and watching what is going on up high.

Speaking of Mommy Bliss...Jackson will now watch a feature length movie all the way through and react to it appropriately. We have watched Despicable Me and Cars so far. He laughs and says "ought oh", and likes to cheer on Lightning McQueen with a "Go Lightning McQueen"!

The rate at which he is developing amazes me. I really do love this age. Every day it is something new. His vocabulary increases so much on a daily basis. He now uses possessive nouns (i.e. Mommy's coat, Bapa's car, Samuel's bath) as well as the word "mine". A few days ago when he was not feeling well, I told him we would go buy the Cars Movie. He wanted to do that. I then asked him if he would like to eat breakfast. He said "No Mommy. Cars Movie." (Eventually he settled for some cereal before going). He now responds with yes or no. It is actually Yes (or Yeh as he says) way more than No so I am liking this stage so far.

He likes to color and can identify the colors red, green, orange and blue.

One Friday night we went to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Myles's achievements in school. Jackson enjoyed riding on the rides, but really came alive when he learned how to navigate the playset and slide. He won the jackpot (with the help of Uncle Noel) twice. He ended up with 182 tickets. He shared them with Myles, but not before picking out his prize...crayons.

It has finally been warm enough to head outside to play. We brought out his tricycle and he has been learning to use the peddles to make himself go. I can't wait for the weather to be consistently more play-worthy! Fresh air makes everyone happier!

Jackson's love of books amazes me and makes me very happy. He likes to read, be read to, and he even sleeps with his books! One night after being put in bed, he asked for his Thomas book. Thinking he was going to read it while trying to fall asleep, I gave it to him. He then hugged it to his chest and closed his eyes. Stuffed animals? No way. Books? Yes, please!


I found him like this one night as I checked on him before heading to bed:

Just lately I pulled out the old chalkboard and alphabet magnets. He can identify an "o" correctly, and he likes to try and spell. Most all words include the letters "a", "e", and "double" (w).



Jackson has the sweetest personality and I love watching him become his own little person.

I love you, sweet pea!