A Random Collection

WE LOVE HOODIES!

it runs in the (extended) family...

Ok, this is my cousin, Sue's baby, Zeke, he's also a bit on the "big" side to say the very least... Ah, maybe Jackson's not be the biggest baby after all.... way to go Zeke!

In this picture, the quilt that Zeke is laying on was made by Jackson's Nana - my mom, Kathleen! Gotta give Nana a shout out every now & again.

Shake & Bake Baby....Shake & Bake!

Don't mind Auntie Julie's face.. she's not a ghost, just some SPF on her face from a recent walk w. Jackson... the Florida sun in February can be quite scorchin'.


Where did I put those chocolate chips???

Auntie Julie's recent visit included baking oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!

A recent venture on the road

A voracious reader at the early age of 11 months... so astute he can even read upside down!

Auntie JuJuz is snapping the pictures... He LOVES his Auntie JuJuz. They had so much fun together on the ride from Nana's house in Yankeetown to our house in Alachua.

Enough pictures already.. enough with the Paparazi.

I need a moment to myself please...

This picture's gonna cost ya!

We're Walking... We're Walking...

It is official... SOUND THE ALARMS... Jackson is on the move.

He's on foot & he's off. The first 2 steps began on Christmas Day and it's been a roller-coaster of walking, crawling, mixing it up, bumping into things, falling down on his butt, and weebeling and wobbeling ever since.

I call his walk "The Frankenstein" walk... it's so funny. He walks with his arms stretched out just like Frankenstein... Needless to say, the word on the street is "batten down the hatches trouble just walked into my life"

Ps. I'll get the video (of him walking) loaded this weekend... I tried to do it the other day but Blogger has been uncooperative.

Jackson & Ryan Ashton

These are from Thanksgiving 2007... they are so cute I had to share them. Jackson & his cousin Ryan Ashton are having some fun before the big feast.

Bathtime

There are a few things that Jackson loves, one of them being Bathtime. He/We take a bath at least once a day sometimes 2, sometimes 3 times a day. It all depends on how crazy messy he gets at dinner time, which if I allow him to he will get super crazy messy. He enjoys this, so I allow him to do it when we're home. These were taken during his Saturday evening bath time on the 5th of January.


Getting soaked!

That's me in the tub w. Jackson.

So happy.

Just chillin' (I like how Jackson strategically placed that squeezy bottle & his hand to protect that family jewels - atta boy!)


This is why Jackson loves bath time... Mommy & Jackson sportin' the mowhawk - lookin' like "Mr. T". This is my take on the "mother-child" let's dress & look-a-like thing.

Post-bath - all clean & pretty ready for play time.

The first few steps...

The video is a bit dark, but you can still see our boy taking a few steps. The first 2 steps were taken on Christmas Day. He's been taking more & more every day since. We filmed this Saturday night, 1.5.8, during the debates on ABC. We are so proud of Jackson - he's doing great.

10 months old today!

Jackson is 10 months old today!

Great news developmentally, he's started walking! YEAH. He took 2 steps on Christmas day last week, and last night before bed he was taking a few steps at a time for about an hour. Today, he's been taking 4, 6, and more steps each time. It's so amazing to watch this developmental milestone & transformation. It's truly awesome, as a Mom, to witness Jackson progressing and to see the look of accomplishment, joy & satisfaction on his face.

Other news, Jackson is using sign language. Of course he knows how to say Hi & Bye, but he also knows how to say more. This is VERY evident when we are eating & drinking. In fact last night, I woke up to Jackson (wanting to nurse)making his nursing noises - gesturing for "I need you Mommy" and low & behold what did I see, but yes, in deed, I saw him signing more... as in more milk! It was hard to believe my eyes at 2, 3, & 6 am, but I promise that he was signing more - way to go Jackson... great use of your words.

Anyway, I have been trying desperately to post Christmas pictures & the fun times we had over Christmas break, but Blogger has been giving me quite the hassle in uploading my pictures. I will do my best to get that up soon. Along with video clips of Jackson walking & signing.

Ps. Happy New Year!

Happy 1st Christmas!

Jackson had a blast w. the packages, ripping the paper, eating the paper, ripping off the bows, eating the bows... all sorts of fun to be had.

here are a random sample of pictures from the past few days, including today.

This is Grandpa Eddie or Grandpa-grumples as he's more affectionately know! Jackson & Grandpa are down at the Farm in Romeo, Florida. This was a few days before Christmas.



Here are Jackson & Grandpa on his Harley down at the farm.



I'll have to give the backdrop to these next few pictures. We took Jackson to Buddy DeGraff's house in Melrose Florida. He decorates his house with "a lot" of lights, and he dressed up as Santa on this very special night. Jerrod knows Buddy from working at Gator Door these past several years. Anyway, when we first arrived this is how Jackson felt about "Santa"...



Seeing this we didn't want to be those cruel parents who force their kid like totally bizarre looking -jolly old red faced & white bearded strangers, so we walked Jackson around took in all the sights, sounds, & smells (Santa has an fire pit outside - the aromas from the fire were fabulous). Then we found this wooden Santa, and from the looks of this picture it would appear that Jackson was "cool" with Santa.... oh, just wait. (I'll post these pictures later - blogger has really been a pain lately when uploading pictures!)

We were invited to spend Christmas in St. Augustine this year. With it being a "quiet" Christmas, at least that's what we were told by those who've had their children, that we would do something different this year before the craziness hits next year & every subsequent year after that. So, here are a few pictures from Christmas Day with the Carters, Jerrod's cousins. Ellie, the youngest Carter, gave Jackson a nickname.... "Jacksy" - it's hilarious!

Here's Jackson w. Catie Carter - he LOVED Catie, was really taken w. her.

Catie, Jacksy & Ellie & the sweet dump truck Auntie Julz gave Jackson for Christmas.

Catie & Jackson

Jacksy & Ellie

Daddy & Jackson all tuckered out from the mornings doings.


Jackson just woke up from his nap. Mommy & Jackson talking on the phone w. Nana & Grandpa Eddie - wishing them a very Happy Christmas!


Here are a few from out ventures out & about in downtown St. Augustine, at "The Fort". Daddy & Jackson - as we make our way around The Fort.

Mommy & Jackson half-way around The Fort, overlooking the Matanzas.


The Fam at The Fort


On our way home from St. Aug we had to take Clarissa, our cat, to see Dr. Lynn Peck, a holistic Vet- she's fabulous with animals. Anyway, this is when Daddy & Jackson where hanging out in the car waiting for Bubb's to be done w. her appiontment.


Another sweet one of "Jacksy"


This is one of our finds in St. Aug - a swing for Jackson! He LOVES to swing. Daddy hung this up this past weekend. He swings at least once a day on it. Laughs, giggles, & loves being on his swing.

9 months old...

Finally, an update! Jackson is 9 months old, well he's actually 9.5 months old, but who's counting?

At his 9 month check, on 12.3.07, up he was 23 lbs, 30" long or 2 1/2 feet tall! Way to go for our big boy. He's 95% for both height & weight for his age.

He has 8 teeth - the last 3 have already broken through the gums & are now in the descending process. This is how it makes him feel!



He's making all new sounds all the time, for the past 3 days is been a "W" sound, as in we-be or we-bay or as I like to say "we-bay-jammin Mom"!

He's been cruising for over a month now. He's already stood, own his own w. out any supports, for several seconds at a time. He's walking w. assistance, either holding onto one of our hands, or legs, or his walker/rider/scooter thingy.

He's just figured out how to clap his hands all on his own. So today he's been totally enjoying me singing "if you're happy & you know it", and boy is he happy. I have a video of it & I will try to post it.

Other Jackson news, His Daddy graduated from Acupuncture school yesterday!!!!! Yeah for Daddy. We are SO VERY PROUD of him. He finished all 3.5 years with a perfect 4.0, and he was/is essentially class valedictorian, as they do not actually grant that honor at his school.

He's signing too. He knows how to wave Hi & Bye, say "more" with his hands, tell me he wants something, like my drink, by extending his arm & then opening & closing his hand.

The down side to more Jackson freedom, as in crawling, cruising, etc... he's into EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!! the toilet, the garbage cans, you name it. One of his favorite things to do is to go in our room or his room, go to an open drawer & start pulling out the contents 1 by 1... my job is clean-up crew!

Food - Jackson is all about feeding himself. He is so over being spoon fed. Looks like I'll be returning those last 10 baby food jars to Publix. Oh well, at least they will give me a full refund without any hassles.

Jackson LOVES to eat (of course) whatever we are eating, which makes it rather challenging if it's something that his system can't handle, like cheese, or other dairy products, which if any of you know me at all you know my love of cheese/dairy!!! We have also discovered that he has horrible gas from Cayenne pepper... boo-hoo. We love cayenne, as I use it in lieu of black pepper, which is actually harder on the digestion than cayenne.

Jackson LOVED spending time with both of his grandmothers. My mom, Nana, & Jerrod's mom, Gramm's came up every week, at least once a week, to stay w. Jackson while I went to UF to teach Youth Development to Juniors & Seniors in my Department. It was great to see how much they love Jackson & how much he loves his grandmothers. I love that this special bond has already taken shape. We have been blessed by both of our parents in numerous ways this year.

Things Jackson enjoys:
Reading (YEAH), Jackson really & truly loves to read, just ask either of his grandmothers. His personal favorites include: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, Polar Bear, Polar Bear & The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Nursing, yes, still a very big fan of nursing, he nurses 3-4 times a night still.

Sitting in his backpack, he loves to be in his backpack when I am cooking, or washing dishes, or going to Lowes to work on finishing up our Kitchen remodel. He LOVES to watch & take everything in. He is super curious & wants to know all that's going on.

Bathtime, he loves taking a bath. He could be in there for hours.

Brushing his teeth, another personal fav of Jackson.

Washing his hands, this a recent discovery... running water in the sink = play time! it's not just for getting those pesky germs off your hands!

Exploring boxes and cabinets, loves to open, close, get in, crawl on & over any type of box we have in the house.

Folding laundry, he loves helping me or my Mom fold laundry, especially neatly folded laundry, now why is that???

Paper, he loves to eat paper. Whether it's toilet paper (not used) or scrap paper, or magazines, or whatever he can get his hands on he wants to chew on it...much to my chagrin!

Loves to say Momma & Dadda & does it to the right person too, not just to any old fool!

He's figures out how to use "stuff" to climb higher & higher (scary). He's used a can of olive oil to stand on to reach up to a higher shelf in the back kitchen. He's used several of his toys to stand on to get on top of the coffee table or get up on the couch.

Jackson loves the vacuum cleaner. We have an electrolux cannister vacuum cleaner & he loves to chase it around, help me vacuum & then try to eat the cord.

Jackson has figured out, for the most part, his body. He know's where his penis is (this is very important for mankind, right???) and he knows how to duck his head when crawling through something or under something.


I (highly) suggest turning the volume way down, as my voice & singing are just HORRIBLE! Apparently, I have 1 fan!

UF Homecoming...

I had to share this... it's a short one, but sweet. Jackson & I watched some of UF's Homecoming parade on Friday. Jackson is now 8 months old. He's pictured here in his brand new Kelty Backpack (Thank You Auntie Julie!!!)

Jackson at Jax beach 10.14.07

We went to Jax beach on 10.14 to visit w. our friends Tim & Cat... Here are a few fun pix of Jackson enjoying the beach.

7.5 months

Sorry for the delay in between posts.

Growth & Development Updates....
Jackson is pulling himself up to stand - all the time - crawling faster than most people walk, and he's even been standing for a second or two completely unassisted. The best part is, is that he's already figured out how to sit back down!

His 4th tooth is decending...he has 2 teeth on top & 2 teeth on the bottom - so cute.

He's recursive babbling -saying "dadah" babah" "mamah" "cah" & so many other sounds..

He's huge, he looks more like a year old, than a 7.5 month old....

These are pictures that our friend Glenda took of Jackson when he was 6.5 months old...