Merry Christmas! and so much fun....

Jackson has had a Christmas full of firsts.  First gifts, first adventures, first greetings, first visit from Santa, first family Christmas gathering, and first white Christmas.

Jackson and I left Moody and traveled to Atmore the Tuesday before Christmas.  Ray joined us on Wednesday evening.  Tuesday evening Jackson stayed with Nana and Papa so I could go and have dinner with an old friend.  Then on Wednesday, Jackson spent most of the day outside with me and his Papa.  It was a beautiful, warm day and he loves being outside so much.  Wednesday night we went over to Jackson's MiMi and Pops' house for Christmas with Ray's sister and the girls.  Jackson really enjoyed being around the girls.  They certainly kept him entertained.  Jackson got an elephant, a toy story flashlight, and a baseball toy from Vickie and the girls.  On Thursday (Christmas Eve Eve), we went out to breakfast with Nana, Papa, Aunt Katie, Kathy, and Kathy's friend.  After lunch and a short nap, we went to see Santa at United Bank.  We saw my high school English teacher and lots of MiMi's co-workers.  On Thursday evening, we had Christmas at Nana and Papa's house.  Jackson got several outfits, a cement truck, a John Deere tractor set, and some other toys and books.  On Friday morning (Christmas Eve), Jarrad and Uncle Joe came by to see Jackson and bring him a gift.  He got a weeble penguin.  We went over and visited with Aunt Becky and Piper.  After visiting with them we went to lunch at Great Mee Maw and Great Paw Paw's house.  Jackson got some money and a new sleep sack (he had outgrown the first one).  After opening gifts and visiting, we left and returned home to Moody.  Friday evening MiMi and Pop came to spend a couple of days and we had dinner and opened gifts from the Sellers family.  Jackson got an outfit, blanket, bib, and an insulated sippy cup.

Christmas morning Jackson woke at his normal time and had breakfast.  Then we showed him what Santa had brought him.  He got a light up basketball goal, a walk behind toy that plays all kinds of music, a building block village, a Polo outfit, a jacket, and pjs.  Jackson loved all of his gifts and he was particularly interested in the building block village.  We then headed over to Aunt Glyn's house for breakfast and that is when the snow started and it didn't stop all day.  A first White Christmas for all of us.  It was so awesome!!!  We returned home after breakfast to take a nap and get ready for the family gathering at Granny's.  Jackson got some bathtub toys, learning trucks, and a little Bible with his name on it.

The day after Christmas, we spent the day taking down the tree and other decorations and getting ready to travel to the mountains.  MK came by and brought Jackson a couple of outfits, some alphabet blocks, a train, and ornament.  Aunt Katie came up to go with us to the mountains.

The Monday after Christmas we were supposed to leave for the mountains but out trip was delayed because of snow.  They were snowed in so we were snowed out.  We waited until Tuesday to try and make the trip again but the snow situation wasn't much better.  So, our trip to the mountains was canceled and Jackson and I have been hanging out around the house. 

Here are some pictures from the past few days.

 Christmas in Atmore

 Christmas Eve

Christmas Day!!

Santa came to visit.

White Christmas

Christmas at Granny and Granddaddy's

After Christmas

What Has Been Happening....

Jackson and I spent last weekend in Atmore.  Jackson did great on the trip down and the trip back home.  It was our first official trip away from home together.  In the past we have always had someone else with us.  We went shopping while we were there and Jackson is becoming a pretty good little shopper. 

Tuesday night, Amanda brought Will over to play.  We had a great time.  Will enjoyed playing with Jackson's toys and attempting to ride on Jackson's toy tractor.  It was so funny!!!  He doesn't understand that the tractor is too small for him to ride.  Will sat in the floor with Jackson and played.  I put Jackson in his bed while we ate because he was quite fussy.  We looked in Jackson's room and Will had move the stepstool over to the crib and was standing on it looking over in the crib.  It was too cute.  Will gave Jackson 4 little books that will be great for carrying in the diaper bag and some pjs.  I told Amanda that Jackson's mom hasn't finished the Christmas shopping so we will be late getting Will's gift to him.  In the midst of toys and boys, Amanda and I did manage to get in a little bit of normal adult conversation.  Amanda took some pictures because I was a little frazzled and could not remember where I put my camera.  When I get those from her, I will post them.

I have finally posted some pictures of Jackson from a couple of weeks ago.  These are his 7 month pictures.

7 Months Old

Jackson turned 7 months old on Saturday.  We went into Leeds to meet our photographer for pictures.  We had a great time.  The weather was great for pictures and it started to rain just as we headed to the car.  Mary Kay joined us for our little adventure that day.  Jackson did great.  He was so laid back and would smile on occasion.  He was so cooperative.  I can't wait to post some of the pictures.

Some of the things Jackson is doing these days:

• Making lots of sounds - squealing, clicking his tongue, saying bah bah and mama (I like to pretend he is calling for me even though I know he doesn't realize that I am mama), laughing more and more, blowing bubbles with his mouth.
• Eating lots of vegetables and fruits (even though her prefers to drink from is bottle); we were having trouble getting him to eat but one day he just decided to be cooperative so he does really well.
• He is reaching for the bottle and attempting to grab it and put it up to his mouth.
• He is wearing 12 month clothes.
• He is sitting up more independently now.
• He is grabbing everything.
• He loves being outside.
• He is scooting across the floor and attempting to crawl.
• He is growing and growing....really fast!!!

 A couple of pictures from this weekend.  He enjoys the dancing snowman.  In celebration of the Auburn tigers winning the SEC championship, Jackson is wearing his Tiger pjs.  I have included our Christmas decorations and Jackson light up yard ornaments.  There is also a photo of the nativity and santa in his room.  The santa is special because my granddaddy gave it to me when I was about 2 of 3 years old.  It is simply a plastic santa that plays Jingle Bells (or at least is tries to play - time has taken its toll on the music box part of it).  It has great sentimental value to me and I want to share it with Jackson.   And Jackson is showing off his sleep sack because our house is so draft with our high ceilings. 

Trying out Mom's old rocking chair

The Dancing Snowman

War Eagle!!

Showing off the Sleep Sack & Staying Warm!!