Look out, here he comes!

Jackson is 9 months old (tomorrow) and boy what a month this has been. Just when I was starting to think that cold/flu season was over and spring on its way...wrong! We all got hit with the bug. My mom started off with catching bacterial pneumonia, followed by Sean getting a bad cold, then Jackson, and then me. We're all sick-and-tired of being sick!

Now for the updates on our big little man. He's moving and grooving! His crawl has graduated from a one arm body drag to a efficient army crawl to occasionally crawling on his hands and knees. It's so cute to watch him explore. He's already found the fun in sticking his arm through the doggy dog and chases the Roomba (irobot vacuum) but he also likes power cords and Josie's tail so we have to keep a very close watch on him!

Jackson loves to stand up and is beginning to actually pull up on things. He loves to push his airplane around the room (with mom/dad help of course) and he also likes to hang onto the handles of his bouncing zebra toy. Unfortunately with this love for standing and his lack of balance come lots of tumbles and a few tears. He doesn't know that letting go means falling down and bumping his head, in fact we're usually there ready to catch him when he lets go so he thinks it's a game.

Jackson has two itty bitty bottom teeth that are working their way in. He loves playing with his toothbrush but he hates when I try to brush his teeth. Actually anything involving his face makes him furious (wiping a dirty face after meals, etc.). So much attitude!

He's a funny baby because he isn't among the majority when it comes to putting everything in his mouth. I rarely see him put anything but a wash cloth during bath or his sock covered foot in his mouth. While most would see this as a no-slobber blessing it's actually making it hard for us to teach him how to pick up food and put it in his mouth. He can pick up little pieces of food but he doesn't know to put them in his mouth! He'll learn soon enough I guess.

As for baby talk, his new favorite thing to say is "hi dada". He says it over and over when Sean comes home from work. How cute! He's got such a special relationship with his daddy. No one makes him giggle quite like Sean does.

That's all the updates for now; hopefully we'll all be back to healthy for my next blog.

Love you baby boy!

He's a wild one!

Well Mr. Jackson is about 8.5 months old! He started crawling this month and we have his cousin Logan to thank. The two of them were playing on Super Bowl Sunday and Logan kept chasing after toys and it didn't take long for Jackson to figure out how to go forward. Hard to believe they are already competitve at 8 and 9 months old!

Jackson's little army crawl is pretty funny to watch since he drags his whole body across the floor. (Sean says he looks like a baby sea turtle having just hatched trying to make its way to the ocean) He's able to get up on his hands and knees but when he wants to cruise he goes back to belly crawling.

Jackson weighs about 25 pound now and his appetite is just as unbelievable!

He's really come a long way since we brought him home from the hospital and I can honestly say we love him more everyday :)

7 months old ... a la la mum ma ma da da

Jackson is now 7.5 months old and still growing like a weed! He went in for his 6 month doctor appointment around Dec. 30th and (big surprise) he weighed 22.5 pounds and was 29" long. 95-97% for everything. The doctor was saying most 1 year olds are his size but that we just have a big baby on our hands! I'm sure he's gained at least another pound since then.

Jackson is making big strides (literally) and is getting more mobile every day. He rolls all over the floor and goes in some nice circles on his belly! He can get up on all fours and rock back and forth and sometimes goes backwards. I always laugh when I get him out of his bed after a nap because he is never in the same position as when I layed him down. I bet he crawls when we aren't looking!

This month also marked Jackson's first hair cut. We hated to cut his precious baby hair but it was really getting in his eyes and frustrating both of us. Sean did a good job given the circumstances... Jackson screamed and tried to escape the whole time. Poor guy.

Our little man is getting so talkative these days and when he's in the mood he can chatter up a storm "a la la ma ma na na ba ba da da" He is such a happy little guy!


I'm also happy that Jackson has decided to give food a try again. He went about 3 weeks refusing to eat baby food or pureed adult food. Just one of those weird things I guess! Here's a picture of him just finishing up some apple/carrots and blueberry smoothie.

Well I think that's all for now. Gotta enjoy the rest of nap time while it lasts. We love you baby boy!!

6 months oh my!

My little boy is 6 months old now! Where in the world has the time gone?

Jackson continues to amaze me every day and I just love watching him grow into a little boy. The biggest change I've noticed over the last 4 weeks has been his motor skills and ability to sit up by himself. Not only does he enjoy sitting up and playing with toys but it makes bath time a lot easier!

Just last night I watched Jackson playing with his gumball machine toy and he surprised us by picking up the ball (about 3 in in diameter) and dropped it into the opening of the gumball machine! He also can clap his hands to the "patty cake" rhyme and has figured out how to put his toe in his mouth. I'm such a proud mama!

My job is going well, but I'm still having a tough time being away from him during the day. I miss simple things like the way he smells and holding him in my arms. I absolutely live for the weekends and our special morning time when Sean, Jackson and I can sleep-in together. I love when he wakes up next to me and coos and touches my face to wake me up too.

The other day he was sitting in his high chair when I came home from work and when he saw me he threw his hands in the air toward me. It just melted my heart!

Well the holidays are here and we have really enjoyed spending time with family and friends. For Thanksgiving we traveled down to La Grande to see my mom's family. Jackson napped during most of our meal but he did wake up in time to try some swee potatoes and a little dollop of cool whip. My mom gave him an early Christmas present - his very own wooden rocking chair. Since he was still a little wobbly sitting up at the time my mom used a scarf as a seat belt to keep him upright (grandparents are so smart!).

This weekend Sean, Jackson, and I are moving into our own place. Up until now, the Rae's have graciously let us stay with them while we have been transitioning back home.

My dad surprised us all when he told us he was planning to retire in Richland in a few years and was going to buy a house. We'll be his renters until he is ready to come down here. Needless to say, we are very excited and so grateful to have such wonderful families!

5 months old

Jackson turned 5 months old this week! I need to get him on a scale to see how much he weighs, but we do know that he is almost 27 inches long. He is growing through his clothes so fast I can harldy keep up!

It has been three weeks since I started my new job and Jackson has taken very well to spending the weekdays with his Nana & Cappie or Grammy & Randy. Sean and I are so thankful that he is being watched and cared for by the best!

Just about 2 weeks ago we started him on baby food and he has been doing great. So far he's tried rice cereal, oatmeal, applesauce, peaches, pears, sweet potato, and peas. Feeding him is really fun but we both get covered in food because he thinks it is really funny to blow bubbles with food in his mouth!

Jackson is also starting to sit up on his own (although mostly hunched over resting on his belly) and he also discovered his feet! He hasn't pulled them in his mouth yet, but I'm sure that's not too far away.

He is also becoming much more interactive and starting to make new sounds. So far we've heard a little "da da" and "mmmma". I don't think he realizes what he is saying yet, but it's very cute anyway!

I can't believe the holidays are just around the corner. This Thanksgiving we plan to go to La Grande with my side of the family and spend Christmas here in the Tri-Cities. For now I just can't wait to see what the rest of month 5 has in store.

Love you baby boy!

4 months old

Dang it I got lazy about updating my blog again! Jackson is now 4 1/2 months old and weighing in at a hefty 20 lbs.

I can't believe how quickly he is growing and learning. He is like a sponge! Some of his biggest accomplishments in month 4 have been learning to "johnny jump" and roll over by himself! It is the cutest thing to see him bouncing and giggling in the door way!

It's a good thing that my mother-in-law, Dawn, kept her johnny jumper from when her kids were babies. It may be almost 30 years old, but it works like a charm! The new ones in stores just don't work quite the same... believe me... my mom and I have tried about 3 other brands but none of them are quite as springy.

Well Halloween is almost here and I can't wait for the festivities to begin! We had a fun time going to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago. Jackson had his first hayride and trip through a corn maze. We are planning to dress him up as a tiger (as long as he hasn't grown out of his costume) and the Rae's are having a Halloween party so that should be fun!

Growing up so fast!

Jackson is about 3 1/2 months old now and learning so many new things! His biggest accomplishment this week was learning to roll over from his back to his tummy. He's doing a lot better about tummy time and doesn't fuss about it as much. He's also starting to reach for toys while he's on his belly.

Every morning he gets up with me and sits in his chair while I get some coffee. Then we usually spend some time playing on the floor or reading books. The look on his face while I read to him is precious - he is just mezmorized by the colorful pages!

Over the last few weeks he's been taking a little bit longer naps and doesn't cry for very long if I put him in his crib. When I'm really struggling to get him to go to bed I just take a nap right alongside him. He loves to cuddle!