Jackson's Adjusted Birthday!

December 31st is Jacksn's Adjusted Birthday. Each year we do something special on that day to celebrate his amazing journey from being a tiny preemie to being a where he is today. This year we let him choose. His choice......Wingstop! He has pretty good taste for a three year old. We ate at Wingstop and then drove around for one final look at Christmas Lights.

Jackson - I am so proud of you! You are doing so many exciting things. Here are a few of your recent likes and accomplishments:

1. You love Rudolph, Santa and Snowmen and you can say their names

2. You love playing on my laptop and can pretty much put in a CD, click on the game to start it and play the game by yourself

3. You can start and stop a DVD of your choice (in fact I think this is really more fun to you than watching the DVD)

4. Your favorite thing to say is "Baby, Oh Baby" or on somedays "Baby, Oy Baby"

5. You think it is so funny to call someone a baby

6. You like to wrestle and withhold hugs and kisses to pester whoever really wants one

7. You like to listen to music in the car and try to sing along

8. You are much better about playing with friends and often ask for them when we are home by ourselves

I am looking forward to all of the fun things we will do this year. I can't wait to see what you pick for our outing next year! I love you to the moon and back!!!

My Little Picasso!

Jackson got an art set for Christmas He couldn't wait to try out all of the great paints, stamps and crayons! He had so much fun painting and mixing the colors. Thank you again Aunt Gigi, Uncle Guy, Katie and Cooper!

Christmas 2010 Rewind

We had a great Christmas this year. We followed some family traditions and tried out some new things. We shared Christmas Eve with my family at Granka and Papa's house. Jackson was so excited about the robot construction set and Thomas the Train memory game he got from Granka and Papa. He also loved his vacuum that he got from Karli and Emma. He had so much fun playing with his cousins that night.

Emma and Madeline showing off their new Justice Outfits

Karli and her Pillow Pet

Jackson helping Papa opening his gift

He got really excited about Santa's visit when we got home that night. He had gotten a very special call from Santa earlier that day. Santa let Jackson know that he would like a grilled cheese later that night, so Jackson and Daddy whipped up one and set it out with the cookies we made. Jackson also counted out a carrot for each reindeer and left them some oats to munch on too. Matt read "The Night Before Christmas" and I read "Snow Dream" as we tucked him into bed.

The next morning Jackson slowly woke up. I asked him if he remembered making something special the night before. His eyes got really big and he slid off of the bed really fast! He ran to the bay window to see if the cookies he left for Santa were gone. He was so excited when he turned the corner and saw his special gifts. He had asked Santa for a "Pih Peh" (pillow pet) and a "Tah" (Thomas the Tank). Granka and Papa stopped by to see him on Christmas morning and then we got ready to make our trip to Stephenville.

We had a special lunch with Matt's family at Nana's house, and then went back to Granny and PaPa's to open presents. Jackson loved his Follow me Thomas, Wheely Bug and other great presents from Granny and PaPa. He was also so excited about his art set from Aunt GiGi and family! We all spent the night together and enjoyed each other's company.

(can you tell he was a little excited?!)

It was so nice to relax and enjoy the company of our family. It was also so wonderful to see Christmas through the eyes of our sweet little boy.

Until Next Year "Oh Oh" and "No-Man"

It is hard to believe that this our third Christmas with Jackson. He made the holidays extra special this year. Our neighbor put up an inflatable snowman right after Thanksgiving. I think it would be accurate to say that Jackson and that Santa had a love a first sight relationship. Each night we drove by he would cry until we figured out he wanted us to stop and see the Santa for a second. After he made his sweet pouty face & talked his Daddy into taking him down the street in his pajamas to see Santa we decided to get one for our yard. We settled on a small inflatable snowman and Santa and some lights for the yard. I am so glad we put up the decorations. They became part of our daily routine during the holidays. Each morning Jackson would ask about "Oh, Oh" and "No-man" He would also want to introduce them to everyone that came to our house. He loved them so much that he cried for hours one night as he feared for their safety when he heard a clap of thunder (which he thought was the Abominable Snowman). Needless to say we were very anxious about how he would take their departure when Christmas came to an end. We cautiously took him outside and had him give hugs and say good bye. He still brings them up all of the time, but is handling it pretty well. So, when Thanksgiving comes around next year we will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of our new holiday guests!

This is Jackson telling about what happens when Daddy plugs them in

( he would hold up his and and say poof!)

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!

My Nephew Cooper was cast as an elf and a reindeer in Casa Manana's production of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Way to go Cooper! We were so excited to get to go watch him and see the great show. I was a little nervous as to how Jackson would do at a live show. He noticed each time Cooper was on stage. He loved the show and cried when it was over. Jackson is usually pretty shy since he is not very verbal yet. However after the show, he wanted to go around and meet the other actors and get their autographs. I was so proud of how brave and outgoing he was!

In front of Casa's tree

Meeting the Actors

Getting Cooper's Autograph ( After Cooper signed his program he smiled and rubbed the signature because it was so special to him)

Jackson and Aunt Gigi

PaPa Reindeer

December Fun ... At the Zoo!

Each year my Dad buys us all tickets to the zoo. My sister had not used her tickets and knew that we hadn't either so she asked us to go with them. Although it is December, the weather was perfect. We were completely comfortable and sometimes a little warm in short sleeves!

Jackson and my niece had so much fun together. The animals were all out enjoying the weather too!

Congratulations Matt!

Three years ago Matt decided to go back to school to get his Masters in Information Systems. That was right before we found out that I was pregnant. He has persevered through so many obstacles while maintaining a great GPA. I know he wanted to quit several times but he kept going. I am so proud of him and excited for him to get to relax and not have to study any more!