Grandma and Grandpa are here!

Tim's parents otherwise known as Grandma and Grandpa arrived Thursday afternoon. Jackson went to right to them.  It was like he already knew trusted them.  He doesn't do that with everyone.  Skype really does form relationships!  We enjoyed dinner at Carson's on Thursday night.  Jackson loved the bread and the train.

On Friday, we headed up to Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Mountain.  The long drive was perfect for Jackson's nap.  He of course loved being outside! We stopped in Clemson and enjoyed some Spill the Beans.  Jackson is definitely a fan of ice cream!  He makes the funniest faces because of the coldness, but he always wants more!

On Saturday, we got up early and headed to the Saturday Market in Greenville.  It was truck day, so there were all sorts of vehicles-fire truck, police car, school bus, bulldozer things (I don't know the official names!), etc.  Going there is one of my favorite Saturday activities!  We ate yummy pancakes at Mary Beth's and then ran some errands to get ready for the party. Of course, there is a storm system coming in and it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow!

We went to the Smokin' Pig in Sandy Springs for dinner.  It was well worth the wait!  I think that is the best barbeque we have in the Anderson area!  Jackson loved the banana pudding!  He got so jacked up on sugar!  We headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's hotel for a swim.  It has been relatively cool here lately (not HOT like it was back in May), so the water is really cold.   Jackson did not seem to notice.  Tim and Grandpa did though!

Playing Catch-Up

We have been very busy so I am going to catching up on blog post tonight.  I will add pictures later!

So last Tuesday was my last day with my students.  I have never had so many cry before.  Then on Wednesday, I had a workday.  Then Jackson went to therapy and screamed.  We are still at 5-7 degrees, and we need to get to at least 2 degrees.  We will keep working!

On Thursday, I had to go to Summer Institute to earn my day off in October. Jackson stayed with Noni again while Tim cleaned up around the house. Jackson has been very excited, because he knows something is going on.  His grandparents are coming for a visit, and his birthday party is right around the corner!

12 Months = 1 Year

I have always known that time goes by really fast, usually faster than we want.  However, I think I have finally witnessed it for the first time this past year.  I can't believe that Jackson is already 1.  It seems like just yesterday I was lying awake waiting for the alarm to go off to head to the hospital.  It seems like I blinked and my little newborn turned into to a baby and now a toddler! I am excited about all of the new things that Jackson can do, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss my little newborn baby boy (I don't miss waking up every 2 hours though!). Thank goodness he still loves to cuddle!

Tim and I are so blessed to have such a precious and sweet little boy. We are so thankful that he is happy and healthy.  I can't even remember what our lives were like before Jackson Raymond.

Jackson

• wears mostly 12 month and 18 month clothes (depends on the brand)
• (We will find out weight and height next week at his 12 month appointment)
• wears size 4 diapers
• wears size 3-4 shoes (hates to wear shoes)
• loves to play with his toys especially his ball, puzzles, cookie jar, phone, and trains
• still loves to read especially Llama Llama and Peek-a-Boo books
• plays Patty Cake and now tries to do the Itsy Bitsy Spider
• says Ma Ma, Da Da, and bye bye
• also says something for paci and tries Noni
• loves our cat Abby and mom's dog Rudy
• loves to play with Charlotte, Murphy, and Maria
• loves his cousin Berkley
• has started some whole milk, and we are working on cutting out the bottle
• drinks from a sippy cup, but we have to tip it up for him
• loves to play Peek-A-Boo
• still loves his blanket and paci
• Loves his monkey Wubanub (We bought this when he was a newborn, and he did not like it.  We were cleaning his room last week and found it. Now he loves it!)
• still loves to swing
• Noni is his number 1, and Daddy is his number 2.  I am in third, but he does get excited when I get home!
• still has separation anxiety!
• crawls more now on his own
• can pull up on the bannister and some short furniture.
• cruises around all furniture!
• loves to eat and doesn't usually turn down food!  He usually has a bottle early morning right when he wakes up, breakfast of pancakes, cereal, and a biscuit, for lunch a meat and veggie, and for dinner fruit and what we have.
• loves to eat biscuits!  This boy is like his momma and daddy-he loves bread!
• still has 8 teeth but might be teething (He is drooling A LOT!)
• usually sleeps 10-12 hours a night, takes a short morning nap, and a late afternoon nap
• still goes to therapy once a week
• just finished swimming lessons and loved them!

Awww!  Look how he precious he is!

I can't believe this is my last time taking pictures with his month stickers!

 We celebrated Jackson's birthday tonight with my parents and Brent and Whitney.  We went to Mellow Mushroom where Jackson ate lots of cheese pizza.  He loves the pizza there.  Then we came home to eat cupcakes. I think Jackson had eaten too much, because he was not that interested in the cupcake. He acted like he didn't know what to do.  It was a long process!  He had more fun spreading it all over his tray.  Then we opened presents on the screen porch.  He wasn't that into opening presents either.  He was more exciting about scooting and crawling all over the porch!  We had a great time celebrating his first birthday.  I still can't believe he is one already!

Busy Weekend!

Wow!  We have had an extremely busy weekend! Tim fixed us pancakes for breakfast.  I cut Jackson's into small pieces, but he grabbed my big pancake instead! Then we went to my aunt's surprise birthday party on Saturday!  She turned 70 and doesn't even look close to that!  It was fun being around all of the family. Jackson of course loved on everyone and enjoyed his cake!  We also took some of Jackson's baby stuff over for Will. I have to admit that I was a bit sad leaving it all behind!

We also went to Buy Buy Baby to go stroller shopping.  Jackson has not enjoyed riding in his stroller lately. In fact, he gets grouchy in it.  His shoulders are too wide for it now, so we have been looking for a new one. Of course, we found one and had decided on that one when another couple showed us how easy the one they had packed out was.  We left the store with nothing, because we could not decide!  Of course, Jackson has expensive tastes and wants the most expensive!

Then we went to visit Kristi who is recovering from foot surgery.  We stayed there for awhile and watched the Clemson baseball game.  Then we finally headed home.

On Sunday we headed to church and then Jackson stayed with my mom and dad while Tim and I packed up my classroom.  It was much easier to pack up since I was not 9 months pregnant this time! Tim and I also made cupcakes for Jackson's birthday tomorrow.  They are cute monkeys!  Then we went to play with the Iveys and eat dinner!

Time flies

Even though this week has seemed incredibly long to me, I guess it has gone by pretty quickly. Jackson screamed through therapy, but he was better when we left. He acts like he is being tortured. Of course, today was check offs, but I am not sure how many checks he got. We enjoyed a long walk to the swings and that put him in a better mood. Friday was an exhausting day at school. We had our big party! I did survive though, and my class gave me a really sweet scrapbook. Three of my kids from last year came to visit me. I work really hard not to have favorites or show favoritism, but there are some you like better then others. These three happened to be ones I loved. Especially with teaching fifth grade, these kids leave and you don't get to see them. When they come back to visit, I am always amazed at how much they have changed and grown. For me, they will always be fifth graders. I think about my current class. Some of those kids I will never again while some will come back to visit. You are with these kids for 180 days, and then they move on. I am usually always a little sad to see them go. This summer will be different with Jackson. I am looking forward to a much needed break and the chance to stay home with my little man. I am in denial that Jackson will be 1 on Monday. I can't believe it!