We are almost 2!!!!

Jackson's second birthday is going up very soon.  We have been making plans for the party and for his birthday for quite a while now.  We have decided on a construction theme with constructions hats, dump trucks, and everything else that goes along with that theme.  Pictures will be posted very soon!!

While we are waiting for the party date to arrive, we have been making some rather extensive preparations to the yard for Jackson's birthday present.  The back yard got a complete makeover with a new patio and swing set.  Jackson loves the swing set and really enjoyed helping with the yard makeover.  We spend many days playing in the dirt, shoveling sand and grass, and building!  Here is our finished product.

Here are some other pictures from the past couple of weeks.

Spring Pictures!!

Here are some of Jackson's spring pictures taken on March 31.

23 Months Old - Almost 2!!

Jackson turned 23 months old on April 4!!  We are fast approaching 2 years old!!  Time is flying by like crazy!!!

Birthdays, Playtime,and Bedtime

Jackson went to his first birthday party over the weekend at an indoor play place.  He had a ball.  He really enjoyed running around and playing on the "roller coaster", throwing balls at the skee-ball machine, sliding down the slide, and playing in the ball pool.  He was exhausted when we left there.  We then went to have his spring pictures made.  I can't wait to see them and post some of them on here.  I think they will turn out great!  Some of the other pictures below are from his bedtime and playing with his daddy's tractors.  He is really growing fast, TOO fast!!!

March in and March out....

This month has marched in and marched out and left its mark.  Where do I begin?  I have pretty good reasons for not writing a post this month.  It has been a crazy time for our families this month.  On March 1, we lost great grandmother.  She was 101.5 (I included the half because I felt it important to know how long she lived).  She left us with a great legacy:  2 children, 7 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchilden, and 1 great-great grandchild-Jackson.  There is a great deal to be said about a lady that lives to hold 4 generations in her arms and was an icon for 5 generations in our family.  She left us with memories of her quiet ways, soft-spoken voice, great wisdom, and wonderful cooking.  Her funeral and burial were on March 3.  While I was away at the funeral, Jackson spent a couple of hours with his friend Will.  They had a great time.  I have included pictures below.

On March 5, we lost Jackson's Pops, Ray's father-Buck.  He left us after a battle in the hospital for six weeks.  His kidneys went into renal failure and there was no recovery for him.  He left us with memories of him spending time reminiscing about the past, working on things with Ray, his love for Alabama football, John Deere, and NASCAR, playing with the grandchildren, and visiting people around town.  His funeral was on March 7 and he was buried on March 8.  He was a loved man all over town.  This was evident because of the 350+ people that came through the funeral home.  During the time we were home, we got to spend time with family and friends.  Jackson was able to spend some time getting to know his cousins.  Although we were together because of a sad occasion, we did enjoy the quality time we were able to spend with family and friends.  We spent one day working on repainting the living room and rearranging furniture for Ray's mom.  Jackson enjoyed helping with that.  While at home Jackson got to spend some time with his Mee Maw and Paw Paw.  When Jackson sees his Mee Maw, he immediately looks around and starts calling out Paw Paw's name. 

Jackson and I spent part of my spring break visiting with family and friends and the other part at home.  Jackson has a new cousin that was born this month.  His name is Sutton.  Jackson hasn't gotten to see him yet but he is a handsome little one.

"Where Did It Go?"

Well, here we are at the end of February.  I can honestly say I agree that time flies by as you get older.  I can hardly believe that Jackson is almost 2 years old.  That is crazy!!!  It seems as though he does something new everyday.  On Friday, February 24, he said something that sounded like his first phrase.  He was busy taking Queenie's dog food into his room and putting them on the four posts of his bed.  Queenie would go behind him and steal the food back.  He would then come back in his room to find the dog food missing.  He came out of his room and put his hands up and shrugged saying "Where did it go?"  It was absolutely hilarious.  I think he said that phrase (our his version of that phrase) a thousand times before the day was over.  He is beginning to play more independently with is toys and does well entertaining himself for short periods of time.  He has started enjoying playing with puzzles and pushes his tractors all around the house.  The other day he was standing near Queenie's food bowl and signaling to us that it was empty.  He went to the washing machine and pointed up at the container where we keep her food.  So, I got some food out and then he went and pointed at Queenie's bowl.  If one of us goes and gets the ironing board out, he immediately goes to the laundry room and points up at the iron.  We take the iron and the he goes back to the ironing board and points for us to put it on the ironing board.  He has discovered how to come and crawl in the bed with us in the middle of the night.  The funny part about that is when he climbs in, Queenie can't get out of the room fast enough.  He has started wearing 3T shirts because the 2T shirts are too short.  I have included a couple of pictures from the past few weeks.