A quick visit at the airport

Last night Jackson and I met my parents and my brother at the Phoenix Airport.  They had a two hour layover on their flight home from Italy, (I wish I could have gone to Italy!)  It was just enough time to grab a bite to eat at the airport.   
Jackson hadn't seen Uncle Sam in a long time, but he warmed up to him pretty quickly.  
So cute! 
Now, keep in mind they had been on two different airplanes for more than 10 hours. Jackson was very sad to see them go, but don't worry a little ice cream stop on the way home turned his mood around!  It was fun to see them even if was just for an hour!  

Sweet Redemption

Nap time has been a lot better around here lately. For those of your who read my last nap time post it made Jackson out to be a little monster!! So, I figured I would redeem him with this post.  Today I said, "Okay, time for a nap" (fully expecting a war). He got up from playing, went in his room, grabbed his favorite blanket and two pillows (he HAS to have his geeby and pillows) and laid himself down on the couch and went right to sleep.  It was so nice!!  He can be such a sweet boy. 

A visit to the Dinosaur Museum

Today we met up with Katie, Lauren, and Emma at the dinosaur museum here in Mesa. I was happy to see that Lauren had a "backpack" too.  Those little leashes work wonders!!  Jackson could walk around free as a bird and I didn't have to worry about him bolting, which is what he does! 
So happy to see each other again! 
Jackson had a lot of fun!
We had a fun day at the museum!  We came home exhausted! 

Panning for gold!

Katie, Lauren, and Emma had fun panning for gold!! 
Jackson just played in the water!
This is Elvis the crocodile.
Jackson enjoys pretending he is a crocodile, so he was very excited to actually get to see a real one!
The fact that this dinosaur was huge and had big teeth had no effect on Jackson.  He wasn't scared of it at all!  

My Big Boy

Jackson is showing off the new outfit his Great Aunt Becky got him.....and I can't help but think that he looks like a boy rather than a toddler in these pictures.  It makes me so sad that my baby is no longer a baby.   I always think that every stage is my favorite and then he moves on to the next stage and with it comes new adventures and sweet moments and I end up loving that stage just as much as the last!  Well, minus the attitude and the temper tantrums!
He sure is a cutie!  He loves this silly face.  

My Tired Boys!

I had a very relaxing, quiet evening.  Jack and Matt fell asleep around 7ish.   Ahhhhh....peace and quiet! 
I do have to admit, I got a little bored without my boys to entertain me!  

Terrible Twos!

My little man has developed quite the attitude lately.  He seems to think that he can fly off the handle whenever he wants and tell me where to stick it (in his two year old way of course)!  Well, nap time is the time of day that I have come to dread most!  He has started throwing these horrible tantrums every time I say it is time to go to sleep.  He cries and screams and rolls around on the floor and kicks and it is awful.  So, I usually give him a choice to sleep in his bed or on the couch (his room is like an oven in the afternoon cause it faces the sun so I prefer him to sleep on the couch or my room)  anyway, yesterday he was having his usual tantrum, he was screaming on the couch and throwing is head back and crying and all of that fun stuff and I didn't have the energy to haul him into his room to let him have it out there (which is what usually happens) so I just ignored him and let him have his scream fest. Well, after about five minutes of me ignoring him he finally looked at me and screamed "GOOD NIGHT" then he grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch, laid himself down and was asleep in two seconds.  It took everything I had to not burst out laughing which would have just prolonged his tantrum!  The way he screamed good night was like he was telling me "fine I will take a nap, but I am not gonna like it!"  And I just thought "you sure told me!!" I was just glad he finally fell asleep.  Is this what I have to look forward to with two children???  The fun never ends!!  

My poor little invalid!

We made a visit to the Urgent Care on Saturday night because earlier in the day Jackson fell on his foot while playing basketball with Matt.  We didn't think much of it at first because he fell asleep right after, but when he woke up he couldn't walk.  In fact, he refused to even put his foot on the ground and he cried every time we tried to get him to walk.
 After an X-Ray the doctor determined that there were no broken bones and that everything looked normal, but Jackson still refused to even put his foot on the ground.  The doctor said that there is so much cartilage in his foot that maybe he had bruised it.  
At any rate, the kid still cries anytime his foot touches the floor and has had to revert to crawling.  It has been nice having Matt home during all of this because he has been carrying him everywhere.  I am sooo looking forward to carrying Jackson everywhere tomorrow since Matt will be at work!    
Matt and Jack stayed home from church today and in order to entertain the poor kid who had gotten sick of sitting on the bed watching movies, Matt made him a "little house" as he calls it!  
Jackson sure knows how to milk his injury! Daddy even went out and bought him a new movie and has pretty much given in to anything and everything he wants!!  I am afraid at this point his foot will never "heal"!!! 

Happy 4th of July

We had such a fun 4th.  We had Ryan's family over for pizza and then we headed out to the fireworks. For our first attempt we drove out to Tempe for the big show but a storm rolled in and we were warned to take cover. We drove back to Mesa and ended up at a high school where the kids danced to a live band and we sat back and relaxed.  Last year it was about 110 degrees, we were dripping with sweat, even at 10:00 at night.  This year was perfect, the storm cooled everything down and we were in the low 90's!  It was such a fun night.  Happy 4th of July, we live in the best country in the world! 

The Big Firework Show

When they started, Jackson was in awe of the fireworks.
Then after a couple loud booms and some ashes falling into the crowd (and the crowd screaming and getting ready to run for it) Jack didn't like the fireworks so much.  He would look the other direction when they went off. 
Then he decided he liked them again. 
Hmm...after awhile they got a little bit scary and he would only peek through his hands.
And the last couple of rounds he got comfortable and started cheering and clapping.  Then for the finale he got enough courage to leave Matt's lap and he crawled up and sat next to Lauren and the two of them squealed and giggled!  Good times! 

4th of July Fun!

Ryan's family hanging out waiting for the fireworks.   

Lauren and Jackson hadn't seen each other in so long, they couldn't get enough hugs!  
I know this pic is blurry, but I couldn't resist posting it..what a silly kid! Jackson didn't stop moving, shaking, dancing, jumping, all night! He had so much fun.
Another hug from his best friend. 
Jackson put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem. He's my little patriotic man. 

Large and in charge!!

I have been getting requests to see the big ole' belly so here it is!  I am huge!

My boy and me! 

For today's wardrobe choice we chose.....

A lovely knitted winter cap (in Syracuse colors no less), a super silly face, and.........

a vacuum to accessorize with!   He kind of reminds me of a smurf! 
What a good little helper!  
Shortly after taking these pictures he accidently turned the vacuum on and scared himself half to death! It was funny! 

Very Stylish!

I have been sorting thru all of Jackson's old clothes and stuff to make room for all of the baby's stuff and while I was doing this I watched Jackson come out of his room with his old snow boots on and this silly hat!!  And to top it off he found his golf clubs that had been confiscated due to the fact that he seemed to hit everything BUT the golf ball!  
For those of you who are wondering why my child is never dressed,  it is because it is 115 degrees outside and too hot to wear clothes! At least for Jackson anyway!  Well, it's too hot for me too, but I deal with it and keep my clothes on!  
My silly little golfer!!  

For those of you who wish to leave your condolences...

feel free to do it here!  I watched it happen to my team (The Suns) and poor Matt had to watch it happen to his team tonight.  The Lakers got smashed and were unable to claim that victory trophy!  Oh poor French family....I feel your pain!  So, for all you Laker fans........too bad!  So sad!

 

Elmo's in trouble!

Jackson came into my room this morning, while I was getting ready, and informed me that Elmo had stepped on his muffin!  Just to make sure I had heard right I said "Who stepped on your muffin?" And he repeated, "Elmo!"  (His voice was very upset!!)  
So I went out with Jack to survey the damage and I said, "Jackson, what should we do to Elmo for stepping on your muffin?"  I was thinking a timeout or maybe a loss of playtime, something along those lines :) He said, "Mommy, he stepped on my muffin and SMASHED it!"  (In his growl voice) and I asked again what we should do to Elmo and my sweet boy said, "Be nice to him!"  So, we let Elmo off the hook this time!   That silly Elmo, always making my life more difficult, now I have to vacuum!!     p.s I know it's hard to tell where Jackson's skin ends and his diaper begins, but he is not naked!! He is in a diaper!! 

Just Breathe!!

I am that mom who says, "My kid will NEVER do that" whatever "that" may be.  Well, he done it, and he done it good!!!
Yeah, a WHOLE tube of Desitin! 
Now, Desitin is a liquid repellant, which means, it doesn't just wipe off with water!!  I had to scrub the poor kid in the bathtub after I ruined one of my good towels wiping off the excess.  
What a little stinker!!  Normally, Jackson can't stand to have his hands dirty, but of course when he is playing with a whole tube of Desitin he can't get enough!