February / March Pictures

Hopefully, I will have a post about Annabeth turning one year old up this week! #imissmycomputer

Thanksgiving 2009

This year we went over to Charlie's parents house for Thanksgiving lunch. We obviously had a great time, but Abigail did not have a morning nap, and then they both decided not to really nap at all this day, so needless to say it was a long day. Abigail is walking up a storm now. She hardly even crawls anymore.

This year I am extremely thankful. Last year being one week from having Abigail (and extremely large), and Jackson not speaking, I was not a very thankful person (I am constantly working on trying to be as positive as I can). Jackson said this year that he is thankful for church, and mommy and daddy (and in this order..ha!).

Here are my top three things I am thankful for:

1. Jesus healing Jackson and him being able to talk. I get very emotional thinking and talking about the first time he was able to tell me he loved me. Jesus is our only hope. He is the one who healed Jackson. Jesus is the one who heard our cries and healed him. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and his righteousness.
2. My baby girl being so much more healthier than my baby boy was at this point. She has had only one ear infection and she has been congested and able to fight illnesses off. Baby girls seem so much stronger than baby boys.
   
3. My very patient husband (and parents)! They are always there for me no matter what and in so many different ways.

This year I am extremely thankful.

Fun Friday: Their First Time on Santa's Lap

We had a great time at Vista Lights last night. They had so many fun things for the kids to do. Jackson has never been to see Santa Clause. We just have never wanted to stand in long lines at the mall for someone he did not even know about. However, this year Jackson is a little crazy about Santa Clause (I think from the Wiggle's Christmas DVD). Most morning he comes into my room and whispers "Santa Clause" in my ear (I will write what we do about Santa later). Jackson was in a complete trance seeing Santa Clause, and well you can see Abigail's reaction to Santa. Ha!

My Babies are Little Hams!

I was trying to get a picture of Abigail by herself with her fun pony tail that her teachers did for her at church last night. Jackson gets jealous of Abigail getting any attention now, so he came to pose for the shot. I love them more and more every day which I did not think was possible. I am so thankful for their lively, fun, energetic, happy personalities that God has given them!

PS- Abigail took 6 steps in a row yesterday. Only two more weeks and my baby will be 1 year old!

Picture Monday: KK is in our "Family"

Jackson is really starting to understand what having an extended family is all about (aunts, uncles, etc). He was so excited to see Aunt KK (my sister Kelly). He kept saying, "KK is in our family." We also have this family puzzle that has helped him also understand that Kelly is his aunt. We had a great visit with her this weekend, and I was so thankful she was able to keep Abigail while we went to the GI doctor with Jackson.

Jackson is doing so well talking right now and is really started to say sentence all day long. We are having some discipline issues with Jackson (more on that later), but I am so thankful on how he talks in 4 or 5 word sentences all day long, it is hard to be too frustrated with Jackson right now because I just thank God for loosening his tongue all day (he has great tongue movement which is such a huge answer to our prayers).

Pictures Taken at Swan Lake in September 2007

Here are some pictures we had taken in Sumter at the beautiful "Swan Lake" park right before we left in the beginning of September. So, Jackson was 11 months old here. Carodel Photographers did them and they did a great job for a wonderful price. These pictures are Christmas gifts for many of our family members, and Charlie just recently scanned them at work. Enjoy!

Video of Jackson Laughing/August 2007

Jackson's First Hair Cut!

Jackson got his first hair cut last Thursday. His hair was sticking up every day and he was pulling the hair around his ears all the time. It was driving me crazy so I got the girl who cuts my hair in Sumter to cut it. He did so well....Kim gave him a curler and he did not even seem to notice what she was doing. Kim did a great job and had a certificate made for him and everything.

Fun Labor Day Weekend!

Well, we have had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. We decided not to go to the game Saturday since we were making so many trips to Columbia to look at houses. Alyssa and Sammy, friends from college, came over Saturday night and we had a fun visit with Jane Mac and Asher (Asher and Jackson are 1 day apart in age). Then, last night our entire immediate family came to see the house that we love and we celebrated Jackson's Birthday early with Charlie's sister Lauren. Jackson will be 1 September 12th! Last night we also offered on the house so pray that no one else has already made a better offer. Jackson is doing great. He loves Yo Baby yogurt and bread. I have given him 2 ozs of whole milk mix in with his bottle heated up today. I am going to add 1 oz of whole milk every day now. Pray that he starts to eat more food though...we offered him a waffle this morning and he wanted no part of it. Any suggestions with how to get Jackson to eat more food, I am all ears! He also cannot figure out how to drink out of cup so we have a lot of work to do this month. I am going to be consistent with trying the cup 3 times a day for 2 weeks. He still loves his formula and would eat 32 ozs every day and no food and be happy. Enjoy the pics!

Video of Jackson Walking a Little

Jackson took 10 steps in a Row! Walk, Walk, Walking?

Well last Thursday, August 16^th, Jackson walked to Edna, the church secretary, up at the church offices. She had a cool box that she was playing with and he walked straight to her---I counted like 10 or 11 steps. From that point on he has taken 4 steps or so in a row but nothing like with Edna. However, since Jackson is into everything and I think I say “no” a million times a day, I am not anxious for him to start walking before his 1^st B-day which is right around the corner. Once he starts walking we will have to buy many baby gates.

Today in church I was thinking about how proud I am when Jackson walks. Isn’t that how God is with us? Isn’t he very proud of us when we walk with Him or just show Christ’s love through our actions? I just cherish every time Jackson hugs me and whatever he is interested in, I become interested in. Sometimes we don’t pray to God about “little” things in our life because we don’t think that He will care. He does. And it takes having a child to understand that.

Something else that has been on my mind is that I want to give my heavenly Father a hug…but how does that exactly work? I am sorry but Jesus is NOT my boyfriend and I am not madly in love with Him in ‘that way’ – contrary to some modern worship songs. I love God and Jesus with all my heart, but how do I exactly show him that. I guess by telling him how much I love Him, and doing things that please Him. My son gets so excited when he does something that pleases me…isn’t that how God is with us?

Ps-Jackson said "Mama" today after I said it to him and he has 5 teeth!