0 2012 Favorites

A year end recap of Mommy's favorite photos...can't believe where this year has taken our family and how much our little boy has grown. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope 2012 brought your family as much joy and happiness as it did to our family.  I end each year feeling more blessed than the last.  Many hopes and dreams for the 2013 year for this little family, can't wait to see what it brings!!

Happy New Year!!

XOXO,
Jenn

0 My Snow Bunny at 21 Months

Jackson is just a little over a week shy of 21 months but with this latest snow and our very first opportunity to show Jackson what snow is all about I decided I could post a little early for once. 

Here is our little snow bunny playing in the snow for the first time at 21 months...

His expressions are priceless!!

Jackson is very much into music this month.  He is getting very good at singing songs and dancing.  He knows all of the actions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "The Wheels on the Bus."  He is singing phrases out of the songs and we can't forget the resounding "YAY!!!" at the end of each song.  He also loves to dance around the room to lots of different kinds of music.  It's no surprise with as much as his Daddy loves music that he too would love music. 

Jackson's vocabulary is exploding!!  I am amazed at the words he can say and his ability to communicate.  He can speak in small phrases and he repeats every single word I say.  Even more than his speech he is able to comprehend so much better this month.  He seems to understand the most complex things like when I am stressed or sad.  He comes over to me and loves on me and looks at me in the face very intent on my expressions. 

Big boy is growing strong weighing about 28 pounds, about 33 inches tall, size 24 month clothes, size 6 extra wide shoe, and size 5 diaper.  He is an agile little thing, running fast, and jumping like a pro.

Jackson continues to show his independent side wanting to dress himself, brush his own teeth, even get his own snack or drink.  He still loves to help as well and was sure to shovel the snow with Daddy. 

Toys he likes this month, post Christmas, are his tool bench and drill, his choo choo trains and tracks, his Woody doll, and his new puzzles.  He continues to love to be physically active.  He will wrestle and make all kinds of crashing boy noises.  He cracks me up when he gets out a couple of cars and bangs them together making crashing noises.  He saw a gun toy playing with one of his cousins over Christmas and I was astounded when he picked it up and made shooting noises while pointing it.  He has never seen a gun and I had no clue he would just know what to do with one. 

Pink cheeks means its time to go inside...he gave me quite a fight getting back inside.

Hands down favorite part of this month...my little boy learned to pray!!  He folds his tiny hands at the dinner table and each night before bed.  He listens quietly while we say the prayer and then at the end he says Amen.  It warms my heart reading to him out of his Bible each night and saying prayers with him.  I hope I am raising a sweet God fearing little man that will lead his family well someday. 

We love this little boy and there isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't have us laughing and smiling at each other in pure delight. 

XOXO,
Jenn

0 Christmas 2012

Our Christmas 2012...One of the best Christmas seasons my husband and I have ever celebrated.  The magic, the tradition, and the surprise left me with such pure happiness and joy. 

In the days leading up to Christmas Jess and I relished in all the traditions we have enjoyed year after year and added a new one or two. 

Our Polar Express date night with hot cocoa and sugar cookies was a huge hit.  Jackson was completely mesmerized by this movie and his excitement over the magic made me so very happy.  Through the entire movie he kept making these surprised faces and looking at me with these bright eyes.


Seeing the lights at the park is a tradition we have celebrated for several years.  Last year we made our way through the line with a snuggled up sleeping baby in the back seat.  It is hard to believe that just one year later Jackson was sitting on my lap in amazement. 

Our Christmas flowed just as many have in the past, Christmas Eve at my parents, Christmas morning at home, then to Grandma B's, and finally back to my parents.  The days are busy but oh so fun!! 

As with most things these days it was all about Toy Story and Choo Choo trains. 

Meeting Woody for the first time...

 

 

 

Trains have taken over our house...





And a new bike that he calls his "sickle bike"

Jackson was very excited Christmas morning seeing his new tool bench from Santa.  He played and played...in fact it was a bit difficult to get him to move to something else once he saw a gift.  He wanted to play with each thing for a bit and then move to another present.  Good thing we only had three wrapped gifts for him or it could have taken us all day. 

Good Morning Sweet Boy!!

 

 

Our family Christmas morning...

 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

XOXO,
Jenn

0 20 Months

His December post (I have been behind on photo edits)...

Wow!!  This month has flown by.  With the business of the holidays upon us I barely recognized this as a month.  It has felt like a week or two. 

Jackson is enjoying the Christmas season to the fullest.  We have been doing all kinds of fun activities to prepare like shopping, and baking, putting up the Christmas tree and wrapping gifts.  One thing we enjoyed this month was baking a batch of sugar cookies and decorating them with icing.    This showed me how much his fine motor skills have come along lately and ever since Jackson will ask for a cooo-kie at all hours of the day.  He can do many activities without much help these days. 

The newest thing Jackson is doing this month is joining his words together.  He can say many two word combinations like "Jackson up" or "more please."  My favorite new words are "luh you," and when he says those magical words my heart melts.  His vocabulary continues to expand and he can interact with language in a whole new way.  He watches what you are saying very carefully and thinks about it before reacting or responding. 

Jackson is obsessed with helping out Mommy and Daddy.  He likes little tasks like throwing something in the trash, putting away his toys, and stirring something I am going to cook.  He likes to feel like he is involved in everything!! 

Jackson spent about two weeks this month really testing his limits and throwing some massive fits.  It seemed like every night he would get upset about exerting his independence and it would spin out of control.  He would spend the whole night upset and easily thrown into a fit.  Those evenings ended with Mommy exasperated on the couch upset and Jackson into bed early.  It is so frustrating to feel like the time you get with your little one is spent in such an uproar.  I am glad we are finished with that little phase. 

Another thing we have been enjoying this month are art projects.  When we are home together we do a project each day.  He really likes to color, paint, and work with STICKERS!!  He really loves stickers the best.  He knows when we are going to have art time and he goes to get out all of his stuff.  He sits very still and quiet while he makes his masterpiece.  When he is finished he will babble on and on telling me what he created.  I love that he has a creative side and I hope to expand it this next month with playing with some play-doh. 

Christmas is on the Horizon and I have never been more excited!!  I know it is going to be a blast this year!! 

XOXO,
Jenn

0 19 Months

A post from November...

When I started this crazy year I told myself I would go with the flow, take pictures of our life as it came and continue to document Jackson's growth and progress with the compilation of photos.  This may have been a bit of a mistake as I have been so slow to get these posts updated.  Something more formal may need to be in the works for his next year or I will continue to lag behind. 

This month the shift from baby to toddler was felt in this Mamma's heart.  He is so BIG and the reality of the baby days being over are upon me.  His independence astounds me and makes me so proud as a Mother. 

Jackson is talking with more ease and picking up words left and right.  He mostly repeats what we say and has been gaining a bit of comprehension as the months progress.  He understands our routine, and flows from one thing to the next, never missing a beat.  That being said he doesn't much like his routine changing lately.  It's usually not like him to be upset at a change in plans but this month especially he has been hooked to his routine. 

As usual Jackson is mobile as ever.  He loves climbing, and hiding, building, and crashing.  He will climb up in a chair to sit down and have a snack, look at me and say "Big".  He too is proud of his growth and accomplishments.  We are getting ready for the holidays around here and he is liking having new things to explore and play with. 

Blocks are a favorite toy this month.  He and Daddy will build some elaborate tower of blocks and then Jackson will come swooping in to knock them all down, only to rebuild them again.  We have made many visits to Chik-fil-A this month to give him an opportunity to climb the play place while I watch.  That place is so clean and designed perfectly for his age.  I have a feeling we will be there many times over the winter months because I am not a fan of playing in the freezing cold. 

Jackson is growing quite a bit lately.  As I put on his clothes and see the pants are too short or the top is too tight I am reminded that as this season changes over I will need to buy him a new wardrobe in 24 month sizes. 

We spend our days relaxed, staying in our PJs until lunch when we can.  I so enjoy getting on his level and playing with cars and trucks.  He loves to drive his cars around his Little People garage or put together a puzzle.  Seeing him learn before my very eyes makes me want to stay home even more.  Jackson also enjoys 30 minutes or so of television each day.  I try to restrict it but some days he sneaks in an extra 30.  He enjoys watching Sesame Street, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo. 

Well I suppose after the holiday it is time for this Momma to begin birthday party planning, or at least get a theme in mind.  I can't believe in just a short 5 months he will be a two year old.  I will miss referring to him as so many months old.  He will just be 2...

XOXO,
Jenn