Video of Jackson Reciting Brown Bear / In Honor of Anna Louise

Every day Jackson asks to go see Anna Louise recite Brown Bear on the computer( here.)

After eating some cookies after lunch, he asked to be on video saying it like Anna Louise. So here it is...in honor of Anna Lu. Enjoy!

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Abigail's First Hair Cut!

Abigail's first hair cut was not that planned. I had tried to get a hair cut appointment with Maree before Christmas but my schedule was just so crazy we could not get it in. Anyway, she cut my hair nice and quickly early Tuesday morning and we had time for Abigail to get a trim. I honestly, do not know when we will get back out there! I do want Abigail's hair to be long eventually and I do not want her to have bangs since she has a short forehead.

Maree gives the best hair cuts ever! She gave Abigail the cutest little bop hair cut and I have gotten lots of comments on how cute her hair is (before the hair cut she was definitely sporting a mullet). When I was in Sumter, the only person my hair stylist recommended was Maree Lynn, and believe it or not she goes to our church and is VERY active in our church and in the youth group. Columbia is not that small of a town...ha! She is out on Lake Murry Blvd with her own salon now and call her at (803) 920-9645, for the best hair cut in town!

Today was the day Abigail took her First Steps!!!!

Just want to write a quick blog post on this special day.

She took a half step this morning. Tonight, poor thing she felt terrible and really wanted Jackson's pirate outfit (specifically the eye patch). Her first two real steps she took while fussing/crying, and I do not think she really realized she was walking. The only thing that was on her mind was getting that eye patch. Later on, when she tried to walk, she was too afraid to do it.

I thought she would take her first steps at 10 months old since she crawled a little early as well. She has congestion on the outside of her nose and her seventh tooth broke through this week. She was drooling like crazy and then came the clear running nose. I am worried that it might be settling now into some sort of infection now...sad.

Today was a big day for my baby girl! Time is flying with her...

Jackson's First Soccer Practice!

Yes I know this picture is blury, and I am not sure why. I have a Sony Cyber Shots. If you could tell me what I did wrong I would love to understand why my pictures turn out blurry sometimes. Oh how I long for a professional camera...

Last night was Jackson's first ever sports practice. Jackson has always loved balls. When he was 9 months old he would throw a ball against the wall and try to catch it. He can throw a small spiral with a football, and will play any sport that has a ball for hours. So, I was talking to Jackson's speech therapist about how he might not qualify for the Preschool now at Oak Grove since he has made so much progress and she said I should enroll him in soccer to get all his energy out. Last year, for his two year old birthday he got a soccer goal and has been kicking it a goal from whenever he could run which I think was about 14 months old.

So, we signed him up way late, and Charlie checks that he would like to be an assistant coach (there is a discount involved). The nice S.O.A.R representative called us when she got Jackson's application and really needed Charlie to be the head coach. You know Charlie could not say no, and he was excited.

We get out to the field last night and Jackson was so excited he could barely contain himself. He did not fuss when he had to wear shin guards, he was too excited to fuss. In fact, I do not think I have ever seen him so elated over something. He did really great the first half of practice and copied what the other kids were doing, but then when it was time to play a real game, he was not interested in taking the ball from the other kid. We teach him over and over again not to take things from other kids, so it might take a while for him to understand that the point of the game is to take the ball from the other team. However, I do not think many three year olds take the ball from the other team, so next practice I will just say to run, run, run, and wait till it is our team's turn to say to go get the ball.

He was not interested in taking the ball from the other team, or waiting his turn, so he went and got his own ball to kick and then rolled down a hill in the mud, while I was changing Abigail's dirty diaper in the car. I definitely could have used some help with Abigail since the parents are really suppose to be out there when their child does not understand something. It is a good thing that at this age there is no goalie and no officials. I guess they do not take score either but I am sure Charlie will know the scores of the games.

Overall, he had the best time of his life, and that is all that really matters at this age. He kept saying," no hands." And all today all he can talk about is how much fun he had at soccer. He keeps saying, "fun soccer, I kicked ball, no hands, daddy the coach, one ball."

Charlie and Drew T did a great job and all the kids had a blast. His first game is on his third birthday. I am sure I will have some stories.

Fun Times!

Caroline and Jackson are so cute together! Wow, I cannot believe we have kids...it just seems like yesterday me and Katherine were in high school.

(2) Of course he has to play with her hair.

(3) Here is Jackson and Caroline (Katherine Kinard's little girl). It was so good to see them! She is having a little boy due the end of January. He had to wear his Carolina jersey that day because it was the Carolina Kentucky game.

(4) He is a big hugger.

(5) Here's Jackson and Sophie (Meg's daughter) at the park. Is he really playing with her hair?

(6) This is Jackson walking with his new stride rite shoes! Every time I put shoes on Jackson he cried. So we went to Stide-rite (the only certified shoe fitters for children) and we found out that Jackson has an extra wide foot. No wonder he was crying! He is walking really well in his shoes now ,and I would strongly recommend going to Stride-rite for your baby's first pair of shoes (they fit perfectly)! But first let them learn how to walk real well barefoot or with sock (this way the arches on their feet can form well). He also has 6 teeth now. 4 up top and 2 in the botttom .

(7) Here we are on a hay ride with First Baptist Columbia's children's ministry

(8) Here's Jake and Jackson are with their Mimi on her birthday!

How to Have a Devotion with a 1 Year Old

This has been on my mind a lot recently, so I thought I would share.

1. Jackson loves music, and he especially loves it when children are singing the music. I recommend the Cedarmont Kids cds. They are only $3.99 and kids sing. We just got the cd entitled “Gospel Praise Songs.”and “Bible Songs.” I actually enjoy them and I play them in the car and at home throughout the day

2. Get them a Baby’s Bible. Make it the most important book they have, and get all excited when he reads it. You can even make it a fun game and hide the Bible and try real hard to find it (advice I got from a sheet First Baptist Columbia gave me when he went to nursery there). I got Jackson a Bible entitled Baby’s First Bible (Standard is the company) by Colin and Moira MacLean. This Bible has a handle on it and he likes it. Make it a habit now of reading the Bible to them daily. I try to read him his Bible daily. Charlie has not seen Jackson in 10 days, but will see him Friday and Charlie cannot wait to read him his Bible.

3. Pray with them. The only time I can do this with Jackson is right before he goes to bed, he is real tired here. I read him a night night book (I bought Good Night Boz but I think this book is too old for him) and then we say a quick prayer.

If anyone else has suggestions I would love to hear them!

I know schedules and eating seem like the most important thing in the world now, but in eternity most of that will not make a difference. I would have loved some recommendations before spending hours at the Christian book store, so I thought I would share what has worked for us.

Ps— Lots of moms have asked me which cup works best on Jackson, believe me I have tried them all! The best cup for Jackson is the Playtex-spill proff cup (The First Sipster 7 ozs). I have to fill juice to the top and he actually drinks out of it! Pear juice helps him go to the bathroom (he drinks only like 2 ozs a day). I wish I had started him on this cup at 9 months along with many real food (although my doctor says that they only need 1 tablespoon of "real" food per serving at this age).

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!