Sleeping Angel!!

Need I say more? 

Brotherly Love

Jackson just cannot get enough of his baby brother.....
Sweet little boys, and I love them so much!!

Big Brother to the Rescue!

This morning I enlisted the help of "Big Brother".  Since Charlie has come to stay, we have noticed how much Jackson LOVES to help out with different things when it comes to his baby brother.  So, in order to encourage his helping attitude we have come up with a name and a song that we sing when we need his help.  Like for instance, when I am on the couch nursing Charlie and I need my water refilled, I say "BIG BROTHER TO THE RESCUE" and he comes running in eager to see what needs doing.  And his FAVORITE thing to help with is refilling my water from the water dispenser!  Anyway, while he is doing his job we sing a song that goes like this, "Big brother to the rescue, big brother to the rescue (uh-huh) big brother to the rescue, big brother to the rescue (uh-huh)!  (I know, real creative!)  So whether it be fetching diapers, burp rags, or refilling my water he is always my big helper!  (Won't I be sad when the day comes that he realizes that it is actual work that he is doing and refuses to help me out...I am sure that day will come soon!) So I asked Big Brother to the Rescue to help me make some cupcakes for our ward/neighborhood Halloween party tonight....he can never turn down an opportunity to make cookies or cupcakes!  
He did a great job helping and snuck in a few licks here and there.....And finally he got to be my taste tester!  I think I got the nod of approval!  

Fun with Dad!

Last night Matt took Jackson to Jump and Bounce for a much needed release of energy!  He had a great time. 
That smile! 
Future basketball star in the making. 
We need one of these cages at home so I can keep the kid contained!!
And I caught a little smile from my Charlie!!  What a cutie!  

Just Hanging Out

We finally found a use for Jackson's big boy underwears since he refuses to potty train!  They make a great beenie!


Happy boy. 

Sweet Baby

Nana and Charlie
What a sweet boy.  

Fun at the Circus

While Charlie and I were recovering at the hospital, Matt gave my mom a little break and took Jackson to the circus.  He had been asking to go for two full weeks before the circus even came. Of course, we had thought that Charlie would have been here long before that.  
Matt should get the "Father of the Year" award.  After waking up at 5 a.m on Wednesday, sitting with me through a very LONG day of labor and delivery, and not having a very restful night sleep that night, Matt still took Jackson to the circus on Thursday for their special daddy date. And Jackson was thrilled.  
He didn't like the cotton candy.
He barely ate the giant ball of sugared ice! 
But he loved seeing the animals and just being with his dad.  He's  such a good kid!!  

Cute Boys!

Jackson Matthew
Charles Robert

First Meeting

Well, Charlie and I are home now and doing really well.  He is such a good baby, sleeps all day and eats enough to feed a small village!  Jackson is loving having his brother here finally!  He cannot get enough of Charlie. 
When Jackson first came to see us we planned it so that Charlie would be out of the room. (He was getting his vitals checked).  So when Jack came into my room I was there alone and could give him a nice warm welcome without him being distracted by the baby  After a little reunion they finally brought Charlie into the room and Jackson was so excited to meet his baby brother.  
He instantly wanted to hold him and give him lots of kisses.  After a little bit of time together Matt took Jackson down to the cafeteria to get a donut.  Before leaving the room Jackson turned about three times and said, "Bye Charlie, bye mommy I love you!"  It was soo cute!  
So to say the least he is adjusting well, but we are only a couple of days into this! We'll see where it goes from here!  

CHARLIE!!! 8LB 3OZ - 21 IN 10/01/08

Charles Robert French (Charlie) joined our family yesterday, October 1, 2008.  He's 8lb 3oz and 21 inches long.  Ericka did an amazing job!  We got to the hospital at 6am and Charlie didn't actually arrive until 8:25pm.  It was a long day to say the least.  Ericka was really exhausted but the actual delivery only took her about 20 minutes.  It was such an awesome experience to see this little guy come into the world.  The nurses, doctors, and everyone else who helped were outstanding.
For some reason he didn't want to pose for the camera 3 minutes after birth...I hope he won't be a difficult kid.
Starting to warm up to the camera here.  He's got beautiful skin and pretty blue eyes.

We already love our little Charlie more than life itself!!!  Jackson can't wait to see him and give him kisses.  We can't wait until all of our friends and family get to meet him too!  ***A special thanks goes out to Nana (Shaunna) for taking care of us this week... especially for making Jackson feel comfortable while we were at the hospital... thanks a million Nana!!!*** 

The end is in sight

I really didn't want to post this, but here it is....hopefully the last picture of me pregnant you'll see for awhile!! I had an appointment today and since I am almost 41 weeks they are going to induce me on Wednesday at 7 a.m. That was the earliest time available, otherwise we would have done it for tomorrow so Charlie could share Matt's birthday!  Of course, I could go earlier than that, or I could be moved up the induction list, but I can't tell you how nice it is to KNOW for sure that he will be here on Wednesday!!!   We are soooo excited!!!!!!!

Ways to entertain a two year old!

The ole' put your head to the baseball bat and spin around and around trick. I think he picked this up from watching his "favorite" show, America's Funniest Home Videos.
Put a bunch of stickers on their faces and make them look at themselves in the mirror!  He thought he was pretty funny!
Pile bubbles on his head so that he looks like a smurf!  

Update!!

Yes, I am still pregnant!  Today was my official due date Charlie is still nice and comfy inside his little cocoon!  However, I am dilated to a three and hopefully that means that he will be here very soon!!!    

Hats! Hats! Hats!

Jackson's latest obsession is wearing all of his hats at the same time! I love the ears in this picture!  (And of course they are all backwards.)

Haircut, military style!

Jack got his haircut the other day and it reminds me of a Marine!!  The line between the shaved part and the top part of his hair is a little harsh!  
But he sure is a cutie! 
It's hard to get a two year old to hold still for a picture!  
We had to call for reinforcements!  Daddy had to hold him still to get a good shot!  

Line em up!

By far, Jackson's favorite things to play with are his hotwheel cars.  They are the first thing he pulls out in the morning and the last thing that is left on the floor for us to step on at night!  
I find it funny that everywhere I go in my house I see these lines of cars; they are on  the couches, the t.v. table, my dresser.....they are everywhere.  
I guess it doesn't help that he has about 500 of them (okay slight exaggeration) but I am starting to wonder if my OCD tendencies have really started to rub off on the kid.  He has to have them lined up and if they are not lined up the way he likes them he says "Mommy, they are not perfect" and he fixes them so that they are.......

My child, the liner upper!  

"Mommy, I just planted a seed in my ear!"

So, you may be wondering what this is a picture of.  Well, let me tell you the story.  Jackson and I were sitting on the couch today eating a snack of popcorn and string cheese.  I noticed Jackson picking out all the unpopped kernels and holding them in his hand. I didn't think much of it since I had just told him we don't eat those.  After a minute I noticed him playing with his ear.  He kept shoving his finger in there.  Finally I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I have a seed in there."  I said, "You had better not have a seed in there" and I went to look fully expecting NOT to see a popcorn kernel but low and behold, there it was pushed nicely and cozily into the back of his ear.  Of course, being the calm person that I am I immediately start freaking out and call my mom.  I asked her what I should do, I even asked her if I should put the vacuum up to his ear.  She said to just take him to the Urgent Care.  So, that's what I did.  In the midst of me freaking out I kept asking him "why did you do this?"  And his reply to me was "Mommy, I just planted a seed in my ear!"    
You can tell from Jackson's pained expression how horrible this experience was for him.  He skipped and jumped all the way into the Urgent Care and all the way back to the little room.  It didn't phase him at all, I wish I could say the same for me! I had horrible thoughts going through my head about him having to live with a popcorn kernel in his ear for the rest of his life and how this would effect him, or about how they would have to take him in for surgery just to remove this little seed and my son would be in horrible pain for days.........BUT I am happy to say, it was much easier to remove than I thought!  
He's just looking at me like, "It's gonna be okay mom!"  (Lucky for me I had a good enough head on my shoulders to remember to grab my camera! ) 
The doctor came in, made some not so funny jokes and went to work.  It took him all of about 3 seconds to remove the kernel from Jackson's ear.  Jackson thought it was great that he got to hold the ear thing and help out!!  I was just glad the seed came out easily and that he didn't have to go into emergency surgery!  I truly hope this doesn't become a habit!!