Visit From Papaw and Mamaw!

Mamaw and Papaw came in last weekend to see us. Jackson and Mamaw had so much fun playing on his train table.

Jackson and Papaw played with this little velcro ball and mitt game that Mamaw bought for them at Target. Jackson loves it and we play with it pretty much daily now. Papaw did pop Jackson in the eye once with a ball, but he got over it pretty quickly!

Then they played with Jackson's race track, which he loves. He is so into winning, no matter what, so he would get so excited when his car would beat Papaw's! He loved having Papaw to play with.

Jackson and I are heading to Missouri this weekend, which is my birthday weekend. On Sunday, I'll be (choke) 41! No worries. 41 is the new 31, right? That's what I keep telling myself. My brain buys it, but my body ain't listening.

Jackson and his ADCs

This is a funny video of Jackson saying his ABCs, or as he says, his ADCs. But what's funny and what you can't see is that he has no pants on, not even underwear. He's holding his underwear in his hand and at the end, after he slaps his naked hip, he holds his underwear up in the air. I guess he got sidetracked on the way to the bathroom. He wanted me to do several videos of him saying his ABCs and each time he got a little sillier until I finally just had to stop.

A Play Date

We had a play date with Wesley on Friday and Jackson had a lot of fun. We haven't been able to play with Wesley in a long time, so I was glad they could get together. I'm afraid that soon they'll not see much of each other at all. Michael is being transferred to Northern Illinois and they are going to be moving at the first of the summer, or sooner really. It will be sad for Jackson because Wesley was his first little friend really. They will be missed! But they will come back for visits from time to time.

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I had a great Valentine's Day. I did not expect anything from Tom and Jackson and did not want anything from. I really just wanted everybody to save their money. It's a silly holiday, I think. Anyway, Tom and Jackson got me a lens that I have been wanting for my camera. It's a 50mm prime lens, which means it doesn't have a zoom on it. I like it a lot! I only played around with it some last night, but it seems to take good pics. Here are a few that I took.

I have the best husband and son ever! I love you both very much.

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I asked Amy if I could post this video of Sadie dancing because it is pretty funny. She and Addy had their little dance leotards on. And the music moved Sadie so much that she had to jump on the ottoman and dance! Enjoy!

Valentine's Party 2009

Jackson's Valentine's Day party was today at preschool. I went a little early to "decorate." I only had a tablecloth and some balloons. There were some rooms that were decked out. I really don't think three-year-olds care about decorations, they just want candy and cupcakes. Or at least Jackson does!

Here is Jackson's little paper plate crown that he made. He thought it would be great fun tonight to put it on Buster's head, but he forgot how much Buster loves to eat paper products and Buster got it off his head and chewed it up. Jackson swiftly melted down.

That is Jackson on the other side of the table eating his cupcake. He was in his own little world on a sugar high. He was really into his cupcake and cookie and wanted his treat bag immediately.

Jackson getting a hug and kiss from Ms. Connie. She is so loving, and I have really enjoyed that about her. Jackson doesn't give out hugs easily, but he really loves Ms. Connie and hugs her whenever we leave.

I have had A LOT of work here lately, so that's why I haven't posted much. Mom got her electricity back today, finally. Hopefully things will start getting back to normal in SE Missouri soon.

We're going to the park tomorrow if the weather is nice again, and I'll take some pictures there. There is a pirate ship playset and I took Jackson at the beginning of the week. He was having a ball playing on it by himself, but then a couple of little girls his age ran over and started playing. Here was the conversation that ensued:

Little girl: Is there treasure?

Jackson: (Hesitantly) Yes.

Little girl: Where is the treasure?

Jackson: In the treasure chest. (Well, of course.)

Little girl: Thanks, Captain!

Jackson: (Cute little grin.)

I told the girl's mom that she had just made Jackson's day by including him, and by calling him "Captain."

Random Thoughts

Well, we sold Jackson's crib this weekend. If I hadn't reported it, Jackson is sleeping in his big boy bed full time now! Anyway, Tom sold it while I was at a wedding on Saturday afternoon. He said the couple talked about it for quite a while before they talked themselves into buyng it. It almost makes me wish I had kept it and sold it to someone who REALLY wanted it. I mean, it belonged to MY baby, the most important person in the world to me. And as crazy as it sounds (all moms will agree with me, I know), I wanted someone to buy it that really wanted it.

It was a pretty important piece of furniture to me. It was the first piece of furniture I started thinking about and looking for when I found out I was pregnant. It was Jackson's safe place for three years. It's where I picked him up from every morning and put him down into every night. Jackson and I would play peek-a-boo through the slats when he was first starting to pull up. Anyway, the crib's gone now, and I'll get over it...in time! I have decided to never sell the glider I rocked him in, though!

I was thinking the other day that I don't have any pictures of Jackson sleeping. I mean none. As a newborn, he was SUCH a light sleeper that if we were rocking him and he fell asleep, if we got up to put him in the crib and any bones of ours creaked, which it was common for my knee to pop, he would jerk awake like we had pinched him. It was horrible. So I wouldn't have dared take his picture as an infant. But now he is a little better. He's still a light sleeper, but I am able to sneak into his room on occasion without waking him. Anyway, I wanted to get a picture of him sleeping.


It's funny, because he has slept with his arm up like that since he was a newborn. Sometimes it's both arms, but usually just one.

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Here's a picture of John and Rhonda Nicholson. I do some scoping work for Rhonda, so I was invited to their wedding. It was a nice, small gathering and I was glad to be invited. I had a really nice time. I'm going to frame this and give it to them as a gift.

Congratulations guys!

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This picture of Barney reminds me of the picture I saw on the Internet eight years ago of a wet little puppy that had been found wandering the streets of Clarksville. Well, it was Barney as a puppy, and he was the cutest thing I had ever seen, next to Buster as a puppy of course. Anyway, I cleaned the kitchen floor on Friday and Barney got out in the back yard and got muddy, so Tom put him in the tub. He is SO hard to wash because of all his hair. It's never fully rinsed! And now the house smells like wet dog. Thanks, Barney.

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And this is so bad, but I just remembered we missed Buster's birthday. It was January 29. That's also my mom's birthday. I picked that day because Love At First Sight was not sure when he was actually born because he and his siblings were found somewhere and brought in. Anyway, Happy Birthday, Buster! We love you! You are a great friend.

Ice Storm 2009

These are pictures of my mom's house in Southeast Missouri. I am really hoping it looks better than this by now. I think these pictures were taken last Wednesday. I mean, I know that the ice is all gone, so now it's just piled up tree limbs, I guess. It's been a week tomorrow that Mom's been here with us in Tennessee, and she's going home tomorrow to still no electricity. I am really praying for those people in Southeast Missouri and Kentucky who are still without heat, power, baths, normalcy.

There is a house behind all that...

I promise, there is...

There it is!

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There's not been a whole lot going on here. Just trying to stay in and stay warm. It's COLD outside! Tom has been on the road a lot here lately, but he'll be home tonight and I know he'll be glad to slow down a little!

I am SOOOOOO happy to say that we have finalized our summer vacation plans. We are going to Gulf Shores for five days to meet up with our good friends who live in Texas. I am more than excited about it! We haven't met their twins, who will be four in March! And they've never met Jackson. Here is a picture of the place where we're staying.

You would think this would be spurring me on to get on that treadmill. Well, some days it does; others, not so much. I haven't even taken very many pictures here lately, shame on me, but here are a few from last weekend. Jackson in his 3D glasses, even though he didn't even watch the Superbowl!

And this boy loves his cake! I got Mom a little cake from Kroger for her birthday. It was red velvet with cream cheese icing. And Jackson seriously went nuts over the cake. He absolutely loves sweets, and cake is one of his favorites! After he ate it, I swear he talked so fast we couldn't understand a word he said. He was wired for sound!