Snowed In

It was predicted that snow would arrive on Sunday night and last until Monday.  Jackson and mom headed over to Aunt Glyn and Uncle Rex's on Sunday night because we were afraid that the power would go out and we would be cold since we are an all electric house.  We stayed overnight and ended up staying until Tuesday morning because of road conditions.  While there, Jackson had a great time explorer the house in his walker.  He was all over the place and into everything he could get his hands on.  He enjoyed having so many people interested in his every move.  He is quite a character.  Pictures from Glyn and Rex's yard:

Saturday Afternoon at Home

No need to miss a photo opportunity on a Saturday afternoon.  Jackson received a number of toys for Christmas.  He was particularly interested in the one that plays music and sings songs.

Arrival of First Tooth

Jackson has been teething for the past couple of weeks.  His first tooth finally broke through on Thursday, January 6.  I wonder when the next tooth will decide to make an appearance!

Jackson is 8 months old...

Yes, Jackson is 8 months old today!!!  I can hardly believe it.  This time last year we were frantically planning and awaiting his arrival.  Now he has been with us for 8 months.  Time flies when you are having fun!!  What is Jackson up to these days?

• He is wearing 18 month size clothes.  
• He has two teeth just waiting to make their appearance.
• He has tried several different table foods but still enjoys turning his nose up at them.
• He is doing this squinting expression with his face.
• He is rolling all over the place.
• He enjoys walking around the dining room and kitchen in his walker.
• He is beginning to scoot more and more...but no crawling yet.
• He reaches up when he wants to be picked up.
• He does a motion with his hands like he is riding a motorcycle.
• He is picking up and throwing things down.

Here are some pictures taken today:

And 2011 is Here!!

Well, 2011 is here.  It is time to start another chapter in our lives.  Last year was full of so many wonderful blessings and some difficult times (but I must say that the good outweighed the bad!).  I am still going back to a comment that was made to me by a friend of mine about book she was reading.  In short, the book is about how we say we HAVE to go to Plan B sometimes (and we tend to groan as we say it because it is not what we had planned) and all the while we are not recognizing that our Plan B was God's plan all along...now that is a different perspective.  I want to look at Plan B from that perspective in the new year.

On Thursday evening (Dec. 30), my brother, his fiance, and her two boys came up for the weekend.  They stayed until New Year's Day.  On New Year's Eve, we spent the evening grilling hamburgers and hot dogs and having some good laughs.  Trey and Logan enjoyed the playroom and running up and down the stairs.  Jackson has been teething so his evening wasn't quite as enjoyable as Trey and Logan's but he managed to fall asleep and slept through the night.  We stayed up until 1:15 am watching Wild Hogs and The Fast and the Furious (it was on Encore) and just laughing and telling stories.  That is the latest I have stayed up in forever!!!  I have to include that on this evening we had to turn on the air conditioner in order to stay comfortable.  Now, one week before it was snowing and a week later we are running the air conditioner. 

On New Year's Day was spent the day at home because the weather was so rainy and nasty.  Jackson and I watched an episode of The Flintstones and took a nap while Ray watched football.  Ray and I stayed up after Jackson went to bed and watched "New Moon" and "The Expendables".  Or at least one of us watched the last movie - Ray slept through it.  It was a nice weekend and a great way to start the year.

Some pictures from New Year's Day:

Trey, Logan, and Jackson watching a video

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.