I Almost Forgot

At my baby shower last April in Atmore, my Mee Maw gave me an outfit that belonged to my dad.  It was a size 18 month and I am not sure of my dad's exact age when he wore the outfit.  It was my intention for Jackson to wear the outfit to at least have his picture made.  Well, I almost forgot about it.  We tried the outfit on Jackson and could barely get it on him.  So, we got it on him enough for him to sit and have a picture made.  I believe if I had waited any longer he would not have been able to wear it even long enough for a picture.  I must also say that Jackson wasn't in a very good mood the day we did the pictures.  It was well past his nap time.  Here are some pictures I attempted to take:

Almost One Year....

Jackson's one year birthday is just around the corner and we are making lots of plans for his first birthday party.  I will post a copy of his invitation soon along with details about the party.  What is Jackson up to this week?  He has been trying to stand alone more and more.  He has learned to climb on top of one of his toys to reach the tv...imagine my response when I first saw that little maneuver.  He absolutely LOVES going outside.  In fact, if he hears me go out to the garage or to let Queenie in or out, he pitches one of his little fits!  He is eating more table food and we have introduced whole milk to his diet.  He makes some of the funniest faces when eating table food.  He love the whole milk and juice but still doesn't want to hold his bottle or drink from a sippy cup.  He loves Cheerios and cookies.  His vocabulary only include MaMa, BaBa, and DaDa.  I am waiting on him to just wake up one morning and start a conversation.  He loves playing in the kitchen cabinets and slamming the drawers and doors.  He has taken a liking to head butting Queenie or anything else for that matter.  He loves to be rock to sleep at night and for naps on occasion.  He enjoys the nursery at church and plays like no one is around.  He is quite independent.  I will have more to share as the party draws near and I get more pictures.  Here is a picture of his Easter outfit and one of him playing around the house.

11 Months Old!

Jackson is 11 months old today...my head is spinning when I stop and think about that statement.  Where in the world did the time go?  I know my head will be spinning even faster when he turns 18 years old.  What is Jackson up to these days?

• He is crawling all over the place and pulling up on anything that stands still.
• He loves the kitchen - an excellent place to explore drawers, cabinets, the dishwasher, and of course all the rubbermaid and tupperware products.
• He is recovering from his first ear infection (his right ear) and eye infection.  When we visited the doctor, he weighs 26 lbs.
• He is "talking" more and more.
• We are officially in a size 4 diaper and still wearing size 24 month clothes.
• He has three teeth...one on top and two on bottom.
• He is still eating baby food but we have introduced several different table foods.  We are getting ready to introduce him to whole milk and try to incorporate a sippy cup.  However, our obstacle at the moment is that he doesn't want to hold a bottom for himself.
• He loves Gerber cookies.
• He has been out to eat at several different restaurants so far and had an awesome time!  He was absolutely wonderful.  He enjoyed smiling and the waitresses and making faces at the waiters.

We are in the planning stages of his 1st birthday party.  We aren't going to do a particular theme this year.  We are going to just have a fun birthday party with lots of food, family, friends and fun times.  We will probably be using a more focused theme for his second birthday.

Here are some pictures from today:

Another Message from Jack

I received another email message from Jack yesterday.  Here is part of what he wrote along with a picture:

Hey Mom.  Hope you're having a good day.  Nanny Toot decided we needed to go shopping today.  First we went to Ross.  That was a quick trip - I guess she didn't see what she was looking for.  Then we went to GR.  We have been there before.  I curious why these old ladies keep flirting with me.   Do I look like I am in the market?  I know I'm cute but GEEZ, enough already!  I was really good in GR.  We kept riding up and down the aisle with mirrors and playing hide and seek.  That was fun.

Then we went to Wal-Mart.  I rode in the buggy there and was really good.  But I got tired of that shopping.  While we were sitting in the check out line, I decided I would drink my juice - so I picked up the bottle from beside me and started drinking.  Don't get too excited because I'm not into holding that thing myself.  It is just too much trouble.  Besides, it come out better when you are holding it for me.  Evidently I'm not tilting it high enough.

I ate all my lunch and played in the cabinet drawers.  I like to open and close them because they squeak.  Now I am pooped so I think I will take a nap until you get here.

Love you mom, Jack

An Email From Jack

"Jackson" sent me an email today along with a picture.  Here is what he had to say about his day:

Hey mom, I'm having a good day. I ate all my breakfast and then I pooped my pants - not bad though. Nanny Toot took me outside and I ran those 2 little hairy dogs all over that deck. I took an hour nap this morning. And you will be so proud of me I didn't fuss or cry. I just laid down and went to sleep. I was tired. I ate all my lunch too. Then I watched Nanny Toot eat hers. I kept opening my mouth but she wouldn't share any of hers with me. What's up with that? I've often shared mine with her...well, I can't help it if it landed on her shirt or in her lap....the point is I SHARE. We went back out on the deck for a little while then ms. susan came by. Nanny Toot always has that camera out. So to make her happy I'm gonna send you a photo she took of me while I was trying to chill. Hope my expression doesn't show my annoyance too much. Na, I don't mind her always taking my picture - I think she thinks I'm pretty cute. I love you mom, see you soon. Hope you're having a good day.  Jack

Spring Break...Jackson Style!

Jackson has been a very busy little man since he turned 10 months old.  For spring break we traveled to Atmore to visit with family and friends.  We spent most of our time shopping, eating, and visiting (notice I didn't mention napping).  While in Atmore, Jackson got to sleep in his mom's old crib because his nana decided to get it together for him.  It was really quite funny.  At the end of spring break, Jackson's MiMi and Pops came for the weekend.  We all went out to dinner at The Bright Star...it was Jackson's first official trip out to eat at a nice restaurant.  He was quite a sight.  He did a pretty good job of flirting with the waitresses.

What is Jackson up to these days?

• He has 2 shiny white teeth on the bottom and it appears there is one coming in up top but it hasn't arrived.
• He enjoys sticking his tongue out or sucking on his lip while trying to accomplish something.  He usually has quite a determined look on his face.  It is quite hysterical.
• He is crawling anywhere in the house he wants to go (within reason). 
• We are having to childproof some of the cabinet doors.
• Queenie is a nervous wreck at the moment.
• He is pulling up on just about everything.
• He has become quite clingy to his mom.
• He is not napping as well as before but is still sleeping through the night for the most part.
• He enjoys being outside and going to the store.
• He is wearing a size 4 diaper and size 18-24 mo. and sometimes 2T clothes.
• He is laughing more and more.
• He discovered the stairs and made it up a couple (with lots of supervision) but the baby gate is already up to prevent injury.

I have some pictures below from different times during the past couple of weeks.

10 Months Old

Jackson is 10 months old today!!!  In two months he will be a year old and will be able to face forward in his car seat!!  I will post more later.

Family, Fun, and Food!

This past weekend we celebrating Granddaddy's 80th birthday.  Saturday we went to the lodge and had a birthday brunch.  It was such a surprise to him because he thought he was coming to the lodge for a breakfast meeting.  He had no idea that we were planning a party for him.  There were about 50 people that attended the party.  Jackson had a great time running around the lodge in his walker and charming all the ladies that were at the party.  He played so hard that he fell asleep at the end of the party in my arms.  He napped there for about 30 minutes and we headed over to my grandparents house to continue visiting.  We all sat out on the deck and enjoyed the beautiful weather and some great laughs.  Jackson ran all over the deck in his walker.  After our visit we left and returned home to rest before going out to dinner with the family.  Because our reservations were so late, Jackson stayed at home with his Nanny Toot.  He had an awesome day and seemed to have so much fun!!

Did I mention that Jackson discovered Queenie's water bowl this week?  I think the picture pretty much sums up that story.

On Sunday evening Jackson was playing in his walker and this is what I discovered.  He was walking around carrying our tax papers we just received this week.  One must understand that everything he puts in his tray on the walker usually ends up in the floor or pushed up under the couch.  It was kind of funny that we discovered him carrying around that purple folder.

I also have to mention that Jackson has selected a stuffed animal out of his basket in his room.  He picked out a white lamb and doesn't mess with the other animals.  He carries the lamb around with him when he is in his walker and it never ends up being thrown in the floor (as most other toys do).

Toomer's Corner...What a Sad Week for Auburn Fans!!!

Below is an article copied from CBS Sports.  It was written February 16, 2011.  Such a sad day for Auburn fans.  A tradition that Jackson will never get to see or experience with the same trees his daddy and I walked past as well as his Papa.

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn University says someone deliberately poisoned trees at Toomer's Corner, where fans have long celebrated big wins and hundreds gathered after the Tigers won the football national championship on Jan. 10.
The university said in a statement Wednesday that a herbicide commonly used to kill trees was applied "in lethal amounts" to the soil around the two trees, and that they likely can't be saved.
Auburn discovered the poisoning after taking soil samples on Jan. 28, a day after a man called a syndicated radio show based in Birmingham saying he had used the herbicide on the trees.
"The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees," the caller told The Paul Finebaum Radio Show, saying he was at the Iron Bowl.  Calling himself "Al from Dadeville," he said he used Spike 80DF, also known as tebuthiuron, and the trees "definitely will die." The caller signed off with, "Roll ****Tide."




 Auburn fans traditionally celebrate by using toilet paper to roll the Toomer's Corner trees, which are estimated to be more than 130 years old.
"We will take every step we can to save the Toomer's oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community," university President Jay Gogue said in a statement.
City police are investigating the incident. The use of Spike 80DF is also governed by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university said it doesn't use the herbicide.
"We are assessing the extent of the damage and proceeding as if we have a chance to save the trees," said Gary Keever, an Auburn University professor of horticulture and a member of Auburn's Tree Preservation Committee. "We are also focused on protecting the other trees and shrubs in Samford Park. At this level the impact could be much greater than just the oaks on the corner, as Spike moves through the soil to a wide area."
A small group gathered and rolled the trees Wednesday afternoon.
The soil samples were tested at Mississippi State.
The amount of herbicide detected in four samples ranged from 0.78 parts per million -- described by Auburn as "a very lethal dose" -- to 51 parts per million.
"This herbicide is extremely active and persistent," Keever said. "It's very likely to be in the soil for three to five years."

A Good Week!

 It has been a beautiful week.  We have been getting a preview of spring and it is so nice.  Jackson has been able to spend a great deal of time outside.  He has also learned to pull himself up in his bed so we had to lower his mattress.  We have been strolling through the neighborhood in the wagon in the afternoons/evenings.  His hair is out of control.  We celebrated his first Valentine's day and Queenie's 8th birthday.  Jackson got a race car toy and a set of keys.  Queenie got 2 toys a several packages of treats.  His second tooth has broken through.

Valentines Day:

Playing and Pulling Up:

Crazy Hair: