Not so little anymore

We are only 2.5 months away from Jackson's 2nd birthday and where has time gone?! He is getting so big and learning so much! His recent kick is animal noises: cow, cat, monkey, goat, horse, lion, dog, duck, bird... He can also say two and holds up two fingers. Jackson is such a smart kid and so well-behaved. Of course he has his moments - usually when we don't get what he is trying to tell us, but then he'll take our hand or pull on our legs to get us to go where he wants us to go. He loves his big boy bed - as you read below in the Easter blog. Our tub is broken so Jackson will usually take showers, but last night he wanted to take a bath and demanded we use the sink. No joke! When I pointed to the sink, he started doing his white-boy slim dance and was once again happy! Although our little man is super skinny, he is really tall so he is quickly outgrowing the sink as a tub! Daddy will just have to get the tub fixed. We are in the process of finishing our basement. Thanks to my brother for studding the walls and my dad for the electrical work, we are able to afford new furniture and fixtures. We are one week away from the rough-in inspection and then on to sheet rocking and painting. Jackson will love all the extra space to play and mommy will love to get a scrapbooking room. Oh and daddy will finally be able to have his own office - not the dining room table anymore.

As Mr. Independent continues to grow, we are all learning new things about life. The following list is some things that Jackson has taught Jared and I over the last 20 months. 1. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. 2. patience is a definite virtue. 3. love can be found in the humor of a child. 4. A "muah" makes all owies better. 5. kids are flexible and prove it often when they continuously fall(jump) off furniture. 6. Daddy is the softy and Jackson knows it! 7. "Go now" means now or endure a screaming toddler. 8. Laughter is the best medicine for a tantrum 9. Cash is a good, well-mannered dog and can handle Jackson's love and affection aka - squeezes and collar pulling. 10. Jackson is an amazing disciple for Christ - he loves for us to pray with him at night.

Easter 2009

Jackson finally understood the whole Easter basket idea - eat everything as fast as you can before mommy finds you! We set his basket down for him to see and get quick pictures and before we knew it, he was digging into the bunny and eating its ear off. After church he dove into the basket again and ate more chocolate marshmallow bunnies. Then we were off to the Spencer house for Easter lunch. Jackson didn't eat much there but after his sugar high wore off, he crashed for a good 2 hour nap. The photo right above - is of Jackson's big boy bed and his cousins, Doran and Addison. Jackson loves his cousins and had a blast playing with them all night. Jackson's big boy bed has been an easy transition - he doesn't ever get out of bed until we come get him. Even if he is up earlier than us, he plays with the music player next to him or gets a toy and gets back in to bed. He is such a great kid - listens so well and his tantrums aren't too bad. He is currently caught in the communication hole - he wants to say something, but is not clear in his words so he does get frustrated at us when we don't get it. But we are working on it and he is learning more words everyday. Jackson is so smart!