Christmas Time!!!

Christmas has come and gone this year.  Jackson had a wonderful time and received lots of gifts and lots of family time!!!  On the Friday before Christmas we traveled South to have Christmas with Mee Maw and Paw Paw.  We had lunch at their house and opened gifts.  Jackson received some money for his savings account and a John Deere tractor.  He had so much fun running around their house and exploring every little nook and cranny.  Friday night we had dinner at Nana and Papa's house.  Before dinner, Jackson opened his presents from Nana, Papa, and Uncle Tyler.  He got a John Deere tractor book, John Deere stackable tractor, a table and chairs, garbage truck and dump truck, Auburn t-shirt, two outfits and two shirts.  For dinner, Uncle Tyler's girlfriend and some of his other friends came, Aunt Katie, Kathy and all her crew spent the evening having dinner and laughing.  Jackson was so worn out from all the events of the day. 

On Christmas Eve, Jackson and I loaded up the car and drove home.  After lunch we went over to Nanny Toot and Uncle David's house.  They gave him some house shoes, socks, and a book.  His big present from them was a riding race car that is remote and manual control.  Jackson was hesitant about it at first but then he warmed up to it and loved it!!  Later that afternoon Jackson's Mimi and Pops arrived.  We spent the afternoon playing and then opened more gifts from Mimi and Pops, Aunt Vicki and the girls, the Phillips', and Mee Maw.  Jackson got a set of puzzles, Christmas bear, remote control CAT bulldozer, ride-on John Deere tractor, John Deere tractor tool belt, John Deere flashlight, proof set of coins, silver dollar, a polo shirt, chair made out of PVC pipe, and money for his savings account.  The ride-on tractor was the hit of the night!!!  Later that evening Nana and Papa and Uncle Tyler came.

On Christmas day, we woke up and waited for Jackson to get out of bed.  We started getting everything ready to take to Aunt Glyn's for breakfast.  When Jackson woke up he got to see what Santa left for him.  He got a Mickey Mouse tricycle and set of books, Cars 2, CAT dump truck with blocks, a box of 100 blocks, sit-n-spin, slide, elfkin book for next Christmas, PJs, socks, two t-shirts, one outfit, and a John Deere dump truck.  He had so much fun exploring his new toys.  We left and rode over to Aunt Glyn's house for breakfast.  We enjoyed visiting and the food was great!!  When we got back home Jackson slept for about an hour and a half while the rest of us opened our gifts.  We spent the afternoon napping and playing with toys.  We then got dressed and went to Granny and Granddaddy's house to have Christmas with the rest of the family.  Jackson had so much fun playing with everyone and running around the house.  He wasn't too interested in opening his gifts but he got a bubble mower, two sets of puzzles, and money for his savings account.  Jackson didn't have too much trouble going to bed that night.  He had had a very busy day!

We certainly enjoyed our Christmas this year.  We are very blessed with family and friends that love us and we enjoy spending time with them.  I can't close this post without commenting about Jackson's great-great grandmother and my great grandmother.  This year was the first Christmas of my 33 years of life that we didn't have Grandmother with us on Christmas day.  I think that everyone probably felt the way I did but didn't really mention their thoughts and feelings.  We missed her being there with us this year.  It was my prayer that even though she wasn't their to join us she was able to feel our love and hugs.  She is still in the nursing home at the age of 101 and doing as well as someone that age could expect to be doing.

A Couple of Milestones

A huge milestone has occurred in our household over the past couple of weeks.  Jackson has taken a liking to his sippy cup over a bottle.  On Tuesday, December 13, he decided to take up using his sippy cup while at his mother's day out program.  Since that time he has been drinking his juice and milk from there except at bedtime.  We still let him take a bottle of juice when going to bed.  And our definition of juice is a sip of juice mixed with several ounces of water.  He has also picked up using words such as uh oh and hot.  He knows right where the crackers, cookies, granola bars, and cheerios are in the cabinet as well as juice and milk in the fridge.  He loves to unplug the Christmas tree and if the lights and lamps are not on he will go around the room pointing until we turn them on.  I can't wait for Christmas and to be able to share stories and pictures.  Until then...Merry Christmas to our readers/followers.

Thanksgiving and More

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday in South Alabama with family.  We had a great time.  The weather was warm one day, rain the next, and cold the next...imagine that!!  Jackson got to spend lots of time running and playing outside.  He rode on the lawn mower and ran all over the yard.  Also, we had the opportunity to take his picture in one of my sweaters I had when I was a little older than he is.  I washed the sweater and it is in great shape for being 30 years old.  I know it is an Alabama sweater but there is something sentimental about letting your little one wear something you wore as a young child.  Recently we decided to tear out the "fireplace" and install a multimedia cabinet with a tv over it.  Jackson had fun with a screwdriver pretending he was helping out with the demolition process.  Another thing Jackson enjoys is riding on his Uncle David's yard toy when he is at their house.  Also, Jackson has some Christmas PJs with a Boston Terrier on them.  I was so excited when I found them online that I ran out to the store and bought them.  He look so cute in them.