BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS EVER!

I just wanted to let everyone know about this really great author/illustrator that I love. His name is Matthew Van Fleet and his books are amazing. The illustrations are awesome and they are really fun books for toddlers. The age range is usually from 2-5 years old but Jackson has two of his books and he absolutely loves them. They have bright colors, touchy-feely pages, peek-a-boo pages, and pull tabs that are so much fun for kids. Plus some of the animals he uses I have never even heard of so I know they are educational. I know you can get the books in any book store, or Target, but Walmart has the best prices. They are a little pricey (at least I think so because I usually don't want to spend more than $10 on a book) they range from $12- $20 but they are totally worth it.

Here is his website: http://www.dragonflys.com/index.shtml

I would like to recommend Tails or the Alphabet because those are the ones we own but I am sure they are all great.

The Adventures of Captain Toilet Paper

Today was the best day! It was one of those days when I couldn't help but smile all day long, and at the end of the day I just kept thinking how lucky I am to be a mom and have such a great family. So what made it so great? Well Jack woke up early (8:00am) which isn't too early thankfully but I was still a little tired. We played for awhile this morning and then we decided to make yummy french toast and bacon. This was the really good french toast out of Texas toast bread. Suffice to say, it was delicious and Jackson really enjoyed the french toast.

Then after I cleaned up we went down to the pool for a bit of a dip. There was no one there so we had the whole pool to ourselves. Jackson played on the steps for awhile while I got some much needed sun, then we swam together and he even jumped in (from a sitting position) to me a few times. We played for about an hour and I think that was enough because Jack was looking pretty tired. So we came back up to our apt and Jackson took a good 2 hour nap while I did some work, played on the Internet, and took a shower. After Jackson woke up from his nap we had some late lunch and I am so proud to say Jackson ate a whole baby bowl of mixed veggies and a string cheese. He never eats all of it without me reminding him about it like a million times but today he ate it happily. Then I rewarded him with a few fruit snacks which made his day!

***SIDE NOTE: everyday Jackson goes into the pantry and brings me a bag of fruit snacks pretty much telling me to open it. I say thank you and put them behind the couch or somewhere else that he can't see. Then he goes back to the pantry and gets another bag. This will happen about 5 times before I finally give in and give him a few. It is pretty funny actually. OK back to my day. After lunch we played in his room and listened to music. I did some scrap booking and Jack decided he was going to help me put some stickers on the pages. He loves the scrapbooks. He also read the Hungry Caterpillar or I guess looked through the book all by himself for like 20 min. He is so funny. Then we played a rousing game of peek-a-boo where Jack held the blanket up in front of his face over and over again and just laughed at himself.

After that we started to make dinner. Jackson helped his dad get ready for his meeting while I made spaghetti and meatballs which is my all time favorite meal. I am cooking when all the sudden Jack comes out draped in toilet paper waving his arms around and yelling (talking loudly). It was SO FUNNY because the toilet paper was draped all over him and there was a long strip down his back that looked like a cape. Then Brandon had to leave for his meeting so Jack and I ate spaghetti together. He ate all of his meatballs, along with another piece of french toast, and another bowl of veggies and a whole cup of milk. I was so proud of him. We finished our day with a bath, books, and a little bit of video taping peek-a-boo. Then around 8:00 Jack quietly went to bed with his puppy dog and blanket in hand. All I got today was smiles and fun. It was the best. Here's hoping tomorrow will be just as good.

Mother's Day

So my first year as a mother has truly been the most gratifying of my life. I love Jackson and I really do miss him when I am away, even if it is only for a few hours. With the next one on the way I wanted to reflect on what I love about being a mother.

1. I love seeing a smiling face when you walk into the room
2. I love snuggle time, even if it is only for a few seconds
3. I love taking care of someone that is more important than myself
4. I love watching my son learn, and knowing that I taught him that
5. I love having someone to kiss goodnight, every night
6. I love having a person to hangout with all the time. . .I hate being alone
7. I love sharing food with Jack, he eats just enough to cut the calories but not too much that I am still hungry
8. I love the innocence of children
9. I love feeling the new baby grow and move inside me
10. I love how close our family has become with the addition of 1

One thing that I hate about motherhood is the out of control feeling you get when you can't fix something or make it right. Jackson was walking around and he tripped and got a bloody lip (from his own teeth) yesterday and I felt totally helpless because I couldn't stop the bleeding or make it feel better. All I could do was hold him and let him know that I was there. I feel that way whenever he is sick or hurt and I know that this is only going to get bigger and harder as he gets older. I just need to remember that ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE and everyone has their own agency. All I can do is be there and hopefully that will be enough.

Motherhood is the most humbling and rewarding experience in life, and I wouldn't change anything about it.

Girl or Boy?

Today was my mid-point ultrasound and I have a feeling that Brandon and I are going to have our hands full with this next one. The baby was moving the entire time, so much in fact that the ultrasound technician had to follow the baby around my tummy just trying to catch a picture. He got a couple of good ones, however to our dismay the baby would not stay still enough to see if it is a boy or a girl. I am a little bummed because I wanted to start picking out baby room stuff (I am going to make everything this time. . .maybe you have some tips for me Jor), and the name game is easier when you can narrow done the sex of the baby. This wiggly baby syndrome is not a first in my pregnancy. Every time I have a checkup we can hear the baby kicking so much that it is sometimes hard to hear the heartbeat. Thankfully the ultrasound technician said that if we want to come back when the place closes or opens he will check it out to see if he can figure out the sex for free. I wasn't so sure about having a guy do the ultrasound, but he was really nice and funny so I am happy with the results. Here are a few pictures of the pregnancy, Jackson, and the new baby. Happy weekend everyone!




19 1/2 weeks and feeling good



Jackson and me hanging out on the porch in the 105 degree weather. . .that's right 105 today!

Shabby Blogs

I found this new website thanks to a wonderful photographer and friend from the HOT MAMAS! It is awesome for blogs. It has really cool designs and backgrounds that are free, which is great for MEEEE. Hope you all check it out.

http://shabbyblogsblog.blogspot.com/

Worst Week EVER

This was the worst week for Jackson. He has been such a pill and I am sure it is because he is teething but MAN won't these teeth just come through so we can move on. Here are some of the symptoms he has had over the past week:

• Inflamed mouth
• restless sleeping
• early morning wake-ups (6:30 am when he usually sleeps until 9 or 10)
• refusing to eat
  
• refusing to drink
• slight fever
• rash on his face (pink face)
• crying when we refuse to hold him and carry him around
• loss of balance. . .falling over....crying from falling over
• nothing seems to please him

It doesn't help that we stayed at the Stoker's for a few days so he couldn't sleep in his own bed, it has been super hot this past week, and the early light keeps him awake.

Thankfully I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel. He slept in today (because I bought blackout curtains), ate some of his favorite things (animal crackers and yogart), and he has been taking a 3 hour nap. Hopefully it will be over soon. He has 10 teeth so you think that he would be used to it by now but this past month with the molars coming in has been the worst time. POOR KID!

Walk the Line

Jackson is officially a free walking man now! He has been trying it out for around 2 months, walking from furniture to furniture, holding onto the walls. . .that sort of thing but this week was the breakthrough! He finally got the courage and the awareness that he can walk, on his own, very well I might add. Now he is walking everywhere. All around the apt, church, anywhere we are he wants to walk. Not a big fan of shoes though. He just needs to get used to them.

Another funny thing that he does lately is stick his legs through the crib bars (wood bars) when he sleeps. He loves his crib, he never tries to climb out and when I put him down he snuggles into the corner and falls right to sleep. But when I go in to check on him he always has at least 1 leg through the bars. It is really funny because I think he is really comfortable in that position. The bumper is still in the crib because he tends to shove his head in the corner and he uses it a little like a pillow, so the leg out the bars is also propped up a little. What a funny kid.

On another note I started to feel the new baby this week. Tiny butterfly kicks. I have to admit I don't really feel like I am pregnant most of the time (other than being tired) so when the kicks come it is reassuring that the little bug is still in there. We still don't know if it is a lady bug or a man bug but we will let you know soon.


Crazy epiphany of the week: Not all lady bugs can be ladies if you really think about it.