The Beach

At the beginning of August we took our summer vacation to San Destin. We normally go to Gulf Shores so this was a little different for us but it was so much fun. We hadn't been to the beach since last summer so it took you some getting used to again.


Sometimes you were willing to walk on the sand and sometimes you weren't.



You loved being out in the ocean but you didn't love where the ocean came up to your feet on the sand. You loved the pool and wearing your water wings. You love being able to "swim" by yourself.


While we were there we had you sleeping in a pack and play. By the third day you figured out that you could climb out of the pack and play at your own will. Needless to say one day you did not get a nap. Thankfully you were too tired at night to climb out but naps were a challenge. And yes this new climbing behavior came home with you and you climbed out of your crib at home. All of this led to our big transition to the big boy bed... Your big boy room is so cute and you are doing well in your new bed. A post on that later...

News

Our latest news: You are going to be a big brother! You are very excited but I don't think you know what you are excited about yet. :) We made a big deal about your "big brother" shirt so you really like it. Whenever we ask you, "where is the baby" you rub my tummy and when we ask you, "where is my big boy", you point to yourself. It's really cute. I wonder what you will think when the new baby arrives sometime in mid-February.

Swimming

We didn't do much swimming last year but now that you are older I am trying to take you more. You LOVE the water. You have no fear! You already think you can swim with no help. You just want to jump out into the water. You don't love to be stuck in your float- you would rather be float and hands free all on your own. Maybe this will be motivation for you to learn to swim. Daddy was trying to teach you to kick your legs and you were so cute. You really got the hang of it. We have had a lot of fun this summer visiting MayMay's pool.

Happy 4th

We spent the 4th of July at the lake with Gigi and Pop. It was your first time to the lake- can't believe it took us so long to get you there. Like everything else, you loved it! You had so much fun running around the grass and playing in the water. I was a little nervous about taking you out on the boat but you warmed up to it pretty fast. You had to be either in my lap or daddy's lap. At first your face was terribly frightened but you eventually began to smile and laugh and relax. We enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs and beautiful weather. It was so nice to be out in the sun on the lake. Thanks Gigi and Pop!

"Where did the boats go?"

Very Cute:

Even Cuter:

Stats

We went to the doctor for your two year check up and here are your new stats:

Weight: 27.4 pounds (50th percentile)
Height: 34.25 inches (50th percentile)

Old House/New House

Last Saturday we officially said goodbye to our townhouse and hello to our new house. It was exhausting and stressful but here we are trying to make our new house into our home. I've been excited for awhile now about finding a new house, but it was definitely bittersweet leaving the townhouse- where Kevin built our sun room, where we brought Jackson home from the hospital, etc. This new house doesn't feel like home yet but I'm sure in time it will. You've adjusted pretty well. At first you weren't sleeping well but you seem to love all the new space. We are remodeling the kitchen and hall bath so hopefully pictures of that to come soon. Meanwhile...

Goodbye Townhouse:


Hello Meadowbrook:

Jackson Turns Two

On Saturday, June 5 you turned two! Wow! Can't believe how fast time has flown. Due to the fact that our house is a mess (we are moving soon) we had a small family party. Gigi, Pop, Aunt Erin, Nana, MayMay, Walt, Mimi, Papa and Aunt Amanda all came over for grilled out hot dogs and cake. You got some really great gifts, including a train table and set from Mommy and Daddy, a small trampoline from Gigi and Pop, a small basketball goal from Mimi and Papa and a few other things. It was a crazy day and you were definitely all wound up. I think you had a little too much sugar because you were a wild man! It was fun to get together with everyone and to celebrate my baby boy's birthday.

Getting Ready for Cake:


The Cake:


Sweet Birthday Boy:


Enjoying some cake:


Ready to Play:

Summer Break

Thursday was my last day of school so yesterday began our summer break! I am really looking forward to this summer and being home with you. Yesterday we kicked off our summer break by splashing in the pool. You had so much fun and got very upset when we had to dump the water out of the pool at the end of the day. You cried, "pool, water, pool, water". I'm sure we'll be in that pool a good bit this summer.

You had fun pouring the water out of the watering can:

But then that led to this:

And you really don't like water in your face. But you were still happy:


You are talking so much more and have lots of new words. You will now call a lot of animals by their name instead of just their sound. You will say, "kitty", "dog", "sheep" instead of just "meow", "woof", etc. You will name many of your body parts when I point to them, "eye", "ear", "hand", etc. And you are saying more and more two word phrases on your own. Yesterday while eating you asked for "more cookie" and today you wanted "more car". I'm so excited to hear you talking.

It's really fun when you get excited too- and you get excited a lot. All I have to say is, "Do you want to go eat Mexican?" (yes you love Mexican food) or "Do you want to go see Gigi?" or even "Do you want to go to Publix?" and you wave both hands up in the air and say "yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!". I guess you just love to GO!

Can't believe you will be two.....one week from today.

A Few Favorite Things

1. Reading Books- You continue to love books. You will sit in the floor and look at one book after the other. You love story time before bed and any other time of the day. You love books that are 'lift the flap'.

2. Playing Outside- You love to find rocks, sticks, berries, acorns and anything else you can get your hands on.

3. Balls- You love to hit your baseball and you love to throw footballs.

4. Helping- You love to help Mommy and Daddy around the house. If I am sweeping you HAVE to sweep too. If I am folding clothes you have to 'help' pull all the clothes out of the basket. If I am cleaning the kitchen you run for the dishwasher to help load the dishes.

I don't know what I would do without my big helper.

Laughter, The Best Medicine

You LOVE to play hide and go seek. This afternoon you had so much fun with Daddy. When Daddy went to count I helped you hide in the stairs and then in the basket. You like to watch Daddy try to find you. You think it is so funny when Daddy looks in silly places like in my shoe or in the computer. I just love your laugh. Here are some pictures of you playing hide and seek with Daddy.

Hiding on the stairs:

Waiting for Daddy to find you:

Hiding in a Basket:

Laughing Hysterically: