Oh the Fun is just beginning

Oh my . . . I don't know if I am ready for this. Tonight after school Jackson stood on his own for a few seconds. It was really exciting . .and Kurt was even here to see it. THEN, we went over to hang out with Dani & the kids (our neighbors) and I turned around to see Jackson CRAWLING UP THE STAIRS. He was a pro. I swear he looked like he had been doing it for days, and he made it all the way to the 5th stair with no help. Emmy and Ty were at the top of the stairs saying, "come on Jackson, you can do it." It was really cute, but man are we in for trouble. Looks like we might be going to buy another gate tomorrow. . .

Just out for a Saturday drive

A four hour drive . . . where Jackson threw his toys on the floor repeatedly. . .and screamed until we picked them up. He's pretty spoiled now that we have been car pooling to work each day. On most days, there is someone in the back seat with him to keep him entertained so he has learned to just scream until he gets what he wants. . . Boy was that fun!!
Anyway, our trip was to St. Louis (or close to it) to see Annie, Abby, Scott, and the new Miss Olivia. Olivia is just as beautiful as her big sister, who by the way looks like a mini Andrea. We had a really nice time visiting with everyone. Annie had a pretty full house so we did not stay long, but it was nice to see Annie. We live so far apart and I miss her A LOT. It is still so strange to think that both of my best friends have TWO girls now. We are really growing up . . . hee hee.
Abby took a little while to warm up to Jackson, but she had a lot going on . . . and after a while they were good buds!
While I wish that I lived closer to Annie and Sarah and their girls, I realize that it's not going to happen anytime soon. . . and I cherish the times I get to spend with them . . and I look forward to the times that our kids get to play together. BUT . . .I also realize that while the distance sucks, it doesn't matter how far apart we are. I have two of the best friends a girl could ask for and whether we are four minutes or four hours away, they will always be my best friends and I am grateful for that. :)

It's been way too long. . .

It has been way too long since my last post. Jackson has been busy learning all sorts of new tricks and keeping me busy chasing after him so I have not really had much energy to do anything after he goes to bed (including adding to the blog). Jackson is "talking" more than ever. He just jabbers all the time, and we love it. He has recently started pointing at things. . .all the time. Sometimes, it is easy to tell what he is pointing at but sometimes I have NO idea what he is pointing at or why. Oh well. . it's fun . .and super cute. . so I just talk about whatever is in the general direction of his finger pointing. He is getting closer to walking every day. He has started cruising pretty easily and this weekend he was standing while barely holding onto the couch with one hand.
He's also been helping with chores around the house. This usually consists of him opening drawers while I am washing dishes or crawling under my legs while I am loading or unloading the dishwasher, but on occasion he really tries to help. . . and it is too too cute. Kurt and I were cleaning the house last Sunday when we got home from our visit with Annie (while I will talk about later) and I walked around the corner to find Jackson helping Kurt sort the laundry. It was too cute.
Life just gets more and more fun everyday. I find myself looking at him when he sleeps and wondering how in the world there are mothers out there who can give up their babies. He is such a miracle and blessing from God. We are truly blessed and we are reminded of this with every smile, kiss, or sweet hug that Jackson gives us.

Thoughts and prayers

I think I need some prayers this week. Wednesday will mark the 3rd anniversary of Phillip's death, and I have really been struggling with it this year. I'm not sure why this year is different than the last two, but it has really been getting to me. I have found myself getting really grumpy and short with everyone, and I cry almost every time I think about him. Anyway, I anticipate that Wednesday will be very difficult for me & my family. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray that God will give us all the strength to get through the day and that he will help us remember the good times we had with Phillip instead of our anger and sadness that he is no longer with us.
I miss my brother very much . . . this is one of the last few times that I saw him . . . we had such a good night. . . I am grateful that God blessed me with this experience so I have this memory to look back on. Please keep us in your prayers this week.

A day at the park and a visit with Hunter

Mom and Dad and Hunter came up last weekend to visit. It's funny how often we see them now that Jackson is here. They never came up this much before he was born. . .It is so fun to see Hunter with Jackson. He just loves him. Every time he sees him, he hugs and kisses on him. . .too cute. . . especially since he can be so rotten at times. He has really been doing much better at school. . . he started off rocky, but he seems to be getting the hang of it.. .maybe the consistency is going to be good for him. :) Kurt and Jackson and I met Chris, Heather, & Rees at the park on Labor Day. It was a lot of fun. . .
Daddy and Jackson in their matching hats and glasses. . .what studs!!
Jackson went down the slide for the first time. . .and he did not really have much of a response to it . . like most things, he couldn't care less one way or the other. . .
Daddy took him on the carousel. . .it was so cute, but again, he had very little reaction.
And at the end of the day, he was sleepy. . . fell asleep before we even made it out of the park. . . It was a really good day. ..we always love hanging out with the Knapps. And...I did not even know this park existed so I am pretty excited about taking him again . . maybe next time Mom and Dad and Hunter come up for a visit. . .we'll see.

just Jackson

Jackson continues to move everywhere lately. . . and fast. Every time I turn around he is crawling after something that he doesn't really need to be crawling after. . .

Or, he is pulling up on things. . . sharp things. . .and I am freaking out that he will fall and poke an eye out. . . okay so I know he is not going to poke an eye out but he could choose softer surfaces to pull up on . . .

Oh the joys of being a mommy . . . who worries. . . A LOT!!