Jackson is 3!

Happy birthday to my crazy, silly, clever, sweet 3 year old!

It seems like yesterday you were brand new in my arms.

And now you've been in my arms for 3 years! Time got so weird once I became a mother...some days the hours go so slowly, but always the years go by quickly. One thing is for sure though. Each moment is precious and the moment you entered my world, it became filled with vivid color.

I love you so much, Jackson Wayne! Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet Pea!

About You Today:

Weight: 29.2 lbs
Height: 38 in
Clothing Size: 2T
Shoe Size: 7

Favorite colors: red and green
Favorite movies: Madagascar and Cars
Favorite animal: Hippo
Favorite TV shows: Blue's Clues and Dinosaur Train
Favorite book: Little Mr/Little Miss books
Favorite song: Jingle Bells (by "Mr Michael Buble)
Favorite food: pizza, mac and cheese, and cake
Favorite toy: LeapPad
Favorite instrument: tuba
Best friends: Natalie and Dylan

You like to play outside...especially at Myles' baseball practices. You like to "go to work with Mommy" and listen to the orchestra. You like to play with your cars, trucks and trains. You like to pretend you are animals (dog, cat, monkey and pig are the most common). You like reciting "5 Little Monkeys". You love listening to music in the car. You know all of your ABCs and numbers up to 12. You are beginning to sound out words. You are a wild sleeper! If you aren't in your crib, you wiggle EVERYWHERE. You are very quick at learning songs and are a very good mimicker. You can work 24 piece puzzles by yourself and 48 piece puzzles with help. You love your brother and give him "little hugs" often. You like to dance (tap dance) and do cartwheels.Your vocabulary is enormous and your speech is clear. My favorite words you use are "yester-morning and yester-night" to refer to anything that happened in the past. I also like "bobbom"...or bottom. You give the best hugs and the gentlest kisses.

We Like To Party

You got TWO parties for your birthday. The first one was on your actual birthday. You and I spent all day together. First we went to see Aunt Holly at her work, then we went to see Nana at her work, and then we went home to play a bit before having an early nap. After your nap, we went to Grandmommy's apartment to hear the ESQ from my work perform. 

You loved hearing the music. You were such a good listener and sometimes you even sang along!

Next we went home and opened presents, ate dinner, and then got out your cake (Nana was in charge of this one). She got you a mini cake from the Donut Bank.

At first you weren't so sure about it, but eventually you got the hang of it and started shoving it into your mouth.

And just for future reference, red icing = red poop.

Your second birthday party was on Saturday with all of the family. We went to the Chinese Buffet and you enjoyed snacking on animal crackers. We came home and opened presents. Holly and Myles got you an elephant that blows balls in the air. It was a very popular present. You had a hard time getting to play with it due to the interest it attracted from Myles and Jackson.

Finally we had cake. I made this one for you.

It was a big apple cinnamon muffin with caramel buttercream filling and icing. The rocks were chocolate.

You wore your crown and bib all day both days. I can't believe you are 1. Happy birthday, sweet boy!

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to my Dad!


We went to Bonefish to celebrate (even though I felt like I had been hit by a train...dosed up on Advil...thanks flu).

While there, Jackson got to try a big boy booster seat for the first time.


He did great. And the meal was delicious. (I got a little snap happy while we were waiting on the food to be served).





After, we went back to the house for pumpkin torte (Dad doesn't like cake) and presents. Jackson picked out a pair of Broby houseshoes for Dad.


You're welcome.

The Birthday

It's my birthday!

I woke up to wonderful little boys (who I had to force to take a picture with me)





I got to celebrate later in the day with my sister, nephew, mom, dad and, of course, the boys.



I chose Nagasaki for my birthday dinner...more specifically, I wanted to sit at the Hibachi Grill and order Sake. I got an Apple Martini instead. It wasn't incredibly "kid friendly", but Jackson was a good sport and tried all the adult food, including his salad and soup.


Jackson really enjoyed watching the chef cook our meal in front of us. He didn't take his eyes off the grill.


The chef was very entertaining. And Jackson was delighted when he made fire shoot up in the air.


Everyone went back to the house for presents and cake.


I got everything on my list: a slow cooker, enrollment in the Cake Decorating Class at Michael's, and giftcards to Kohls and Amazon.

Jackson helped me blow out my candles...


...on the cake I made for myself :)


When I became a mother, I felt that birthdays should be equally about celebrating the mother of the birthday person as it is about the person who's birthday it is.
So, because I had a spare cookie cake lying around, I decorated it for my mother:


So happy birthday to me! And, thanks Mom, for pushing!