End of 2011

2011 has definitely been a year of blessings for my family. As I reflect on this year, I am so grateful for everything that I have.  Jackson has been our biggest blessing. Having a baby changes everything, and I can't imagine my life without him. He is the most perfect and precious baby ever, and I am not the least bit partial! I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband. I always knew that Tim would be a great dad, but I never realized how wonderful he would be with Jackson. That baby absolutely adores him! I am also blessed to have such wonderful parents who are the best grandparents to Jackson. They love him so much. Since I am not able to stay home, there is no one else I would want to take care of my child. I am so blessed and grateful that my mom keeps Jackson. He is absolutely spoiled rotten, but I would not have it any other way! Even though Jackson only gets to see them on Skype, he is lucky to have grandparents in Wyoming who absolutely adore him. Hopefully, we will get to see them in person soon.  Jackson is also blessed to have lots of aunts and uncles-Brent, Whitney, Charlie, Mary, and Susie!

Even though Tim and I often get frustrated with our jobs, we are both blessed to have jobs, have a nice place to live, have food on the table, and clothes on our backs. Too often, we take all of this for granted.

Our plan for News Year is pretty simple.  We plan to stick to Jackson's schedule and then curl up in our pajamas to watch the ball drop with a glass of champagne.

I am a little depressed because I was supposed to run in the Resolution Run with First Flight.  However, since I had my melanoma surgery, I am not able to do it. Hopefully, I can run in the next 5k

Happy New Year! We hope that you have a blessed 2012!

December 30, 2011

Jackson is 30 weeks old!
 
Wow!  It is hard to believe that it is almost the end of the year.  We have enjoyed a relaxing week doing not much of anything. It has been wonderful!  It is going to be hard to get out of vacation mode.  Our typical day starts between 7:30-8:00.  Jackson eats 5-6 oz, and then we cuddle on the couch for a bit. After about 30 minutes, he is ready to play. We play on the floor with all of his new toys.  He is loving his telephone and Elmo right now.  He also likes his monkey mirror.  Jackson eats again around 11:00.  He has rice cereal and a bottle. He will usually take a short 15 minute nap.  Then he is ready to play again.  We finally get dressed around noon. Jackson has another bottle around 2 and might take a longer nap (anywhere from 15 min-2 hours). Then he is ready to play again. He eats again around 5 and enjoys his veggies.  He has tried peas, squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots.  Sweet potatoes are still his favorite. He plays again until 7:30 when he gets a bath.  Then it is time for our last bottle at 8:00.  He has been falling asleep while eating, but if he doesn't, then he and Tim hang out in the bed and read stories.

I have really enjoyed spending all of this time with my family.  We have been visiting my parents each afternoon too.  My mom has cooked for us and kept Jackson some so we could get some stuff done around the house.  We got to have a "Date Day" too.

Jackson does not usually like to nap. However, he was jumping so hard that he jumped right to sleep!

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas!

Like any other child, Jackson got up early this morning-around 6:00.  He has been sleeping until around 8:00.  The poor little thing has a cold though, so he ate at 6:00, and then we fell back to sleep on the couch. It was around 9:00 before we headed downstairs to see what Santa brought!  My parents came over to watch Jackson open his presents, and Tim fixed a wonderful breakfast casserole. It was fun watching Jackson open the presents. He liked ripping open the paper and then trying to eat it. Jackson must have been a good boy, because Santa was very good to him! He also opened his presents from Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa John, and Susie and Mary. He loved the pillow pal and the Star Stacker.  The crucifix from his grandparents is beautiful!

Santa came to see me!

I love Elmo!

My new chair!

Look what Santa brought me!

My Christmas Breakfast!

I love my train!

After my parents left, Tim and I exchanged our presents. Tim was worried that I wasn't going to like my presents, but I love them!  He did a great job! I love my new charm for my Pandora bracelet, my new necklace, the frame, and all of my giftcards! He spoils me, and I don't know what I would do without him.  His gifts were not as fun, but he did get two new pairs of shoes, new pants, and a new book to read to Jackson.

Then we began our marathon of Christmas gatherings!  We headed to my parents to open gifts with them and Brent and Whitney.  Jackson got lots more good stuff.  My mom also spoils us.  She did way too much! She got me the Happy Everything plate that I have been wanting forever but never bought for myself. Brent and Whitney got Jackson a Tiger mat that is so soft.  He is going to love playing on that.

Then we went to Joyce and Ernie's for a late lunch. Jackson enjoyed being around the other little kids.  He loves to be entertained by other little ones. He especially liked watching Kelin run around. He loved riding in the back of Kelin's new truck.

After that, we headed to Greenville for the annual Griswald Christmas.  Thankfully, Jackson slept the whole way (his only nap of the day!). We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and Jackson did good getting passed around to everyone. The kids had fun opening their gifts, and Jackson loved his bath toys from Tu Tu. He also got a Snowbaby, and Jingle the dog.  We played our annual game of White Elephant, and Tim and I didn't make out too bad this year. Then Santa showed up like he does every year!  Jackson got more pictures with him.  Then Jackson and I went to go get Santa cookies, and by the time we got back, he was already gone and heading back to the North Pole!

Jackson's new Elmo shoes!

We didn't leave until 10:00, and Jackson fell asleep on the way home and stayed asleep even when we got him out of the car.  He had a long day!  I think that Jackson enjoyed his first Christmas.  I hope that he felt how much love everyone has for him.  He is one lucky little boy.

Christmas Eve

We had a busy Christmas Eve.  We spent the day getting together last minute gifts and running some errands. We got to Skype with the Van Heules in Wyoming.  It is hard not being able to celebrate holidays with them too.

Jackson and I made cookies for Santa.  Then we took pictures in front of the tree and then by the stockings. We also read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and read about the birth of Jesus.

Jackson is opening his Christmas Eve present.

Getting ready for the cookies!

Then we got ready for dinner and church.  Tim always makes shrimp and grits for Christmas Eve dinner, and they are always delicious!  This year we took them over to my parents' house.  Then we attempted to take Jackson to church at Midway Presbyterian at 8:00.  Now we knew this could be rough because that is bedtime!  We actually made it 20 minutes before he started crying. He was really into it at first.  He wanted to sit up and look around at everyone.   We thought he would fall asleep on the way home, but he didn't. It was so funny because he was like any typical kid on Christmas Eve.  He would not go to sleep!  It was close to 10:00 before he finally fell asleep.

Jackson a.k.a. Scooter

Jackson is up to some new tricks.  It is nice being home with him all of the time because I get to see all of his new tricks!  It is going to be so hard to go back to work.  I am not even going to think about it yet, because it breaks my heart!

One of Jackson's new tricks is scooting on his bottom.  I put him down on the floor and sit in front of him. Before I know it, he has scooted to right in front of me. He is so proud of himself.  He also looks to scoot up and snuggle with you in the bed.

Since he now has two teeth, he is also starting to rub his fingers over his teeth and suck his thumb. Jackson has also tried some new vegetables. He tried squash, but he did not like those.  Then we tried sweet potatoes, and he loves them!  He does not want to eat just half the jar; he wants the whole thing!
 Jackson has lots of Christmas outfits, so we are trying to wear them all before Sunday. 

Yummy sweet potatoes!