Jackson is TWO

On January 31st, Jackson turned TWO!

 He loves his "sis-tur" as he lovingly refers to Ellie

 Cheese!  It's my birthday!

 He put this hat on himself but refused to wear a jacket. We're hitting the "picky days" of toddlerhood!

 TWO

 His sweet teachers at MDO made him this hat.  Andy and I surprised him and took cupcakes (actually, banana bread muffins...I'm trying to present a healthier option!) and candles and sang Happy Birthday. All his little school friends were so cute!

I didn't have the drive, energy, or desire to do a big party for him, and he really doesn't grasp much of the concept of what a birthday actually is.  But this spring, when it's warmer, I'm planning to do a delayed 2nd birthday party.

Another pic from his teacher at MDO.

He finally has hair!  Crazy curls, and crazy yogurt slashed across his face

 Enjoying a rare treat....a cookie!  Not so sure what to make of the sprinkles

 Below, his new way of saying "Cheese!"  Celebrating our friend Will's birthday a few weeks ago.  These sweet boys share the same birthday

 

 

 A few weeks ago we had a crazy little snowstorm. Above pic is 24 hours after the snow stopped. This is about as close as he got to the snow. He had MDO on the day it snowed, and it was blizzard-like conditions (at least, for this Southern girl) when we got home, so we all took naps, and I snapped some iPhone photos from inside the cozy warmth of my home.

Mohawk

Jackson is adjusting well to having a baby sister.  He is always asking where she is, looking for her, making sure she has her pacifier, and wants to hold her on the couch. He will occasionally get upset when I'm holding her and he wants to be held, but other than that minor regression, he's doing well.

He is such a fun, funny, smiling boy, a good eater, loves bath time, loves to spend the night at GiGi and GoGo's, always runs and never walks, and he's really growing in leaps and bounds.  He is finally stringing together words ("Thank you momma" rather than just "Thank you," but it really sounds more like "gank gu"), and he really does understand most of what we say. Jackson is a big help to me in that he can get me diapers, burp cloths, and can occasionally reach things off the kitchen counter. He loves to pray with us a family before he goes to bed, and he snuggles into Andy's chest, hold his lovey, sucks his pacifier, and squeezes his eyes shut really tight. Melts my heart.
He is also starting to sing small bits and pieces of the blessing (we sing "God our Father").

We love this sweet boy so much!  Happy Birthday Jackson!