13 Months

Happy 13 Months sweet Jackson! (do I dare still call you my baby?!)

When do you stop chronicling your child's age in months? At age 2?

Anyways, we are still having the best time with our sweet little buddy. Rather, I am enjoying my time. Poor Andy doesn't see much of any of us these days, as he's holed up in various offices all over the country, madly working on tax returns for his big March and April deadlines. But I keep saying over and over how grateful I am that he works so hard so I can stay home with my precious baby. Even on the trying days of cutting teeth and runny noses...I'm grateful that I'm the one holding a fussy baby and wiping another nose for the 1,000th time. Thank you, my love, for being such a wonderful, hard-working, loving, respectable husband.




Jackson is still as funny as ever, and he's definitely "testing the boundaries" at home. He'll sit in front of the dog bowl, smiling and shaking his head "no." He knows he's not supposed to touch it. Hence the hysterical-ness of him shaking his head "no." But the sin nature is out in full force. Sometimes he feels like obeying and crawls on to another fun thing to play with. Sometimes he reaches for the dog food, testing me. Other "no touchies": the book cases, the VCR/DVD combo player (yes, you heard us right...I can't bear to part with my VCR, even though I never watch my videotapes that we still have. Do they even make VCR players anymore?), electrical cords (of course, Jackson's favorite to play with), trash cans, toilet bowls, toilet paper (loves to pull it). For some reason he LOVES to watch us vacuum the house and he's fascinated by the Dyson. At least he'll pretty much sit still while I vacuum, so that's one way to get the house clean.



He'll eat anything we put in front of him, but he'll also let you know when he doesn't want to eat something. We've tried to teach him baby sign language for "all done," and he has his own version of waving his left hand back and forth to signal that he's "all done" with that particular food. Jackson loves his whole milk, only out of bottles, mind you. I'll get to a sippy cup, but the days can be long enough as is, when I'm all on my own during this tax busy season. I'll tackle sippy cups after April. After all, it's not like I'm going to let him take his bottle with him to kindergarten! Am I flawed in my philosophy? I call it survival mode/happy baby/happy momma for now.



Jackson is actively walking with his walker, but crawling is still the preferred method of movement. We love this little guy so much, and we're so grateful that he's truly a happy, healthy baby. God is so good and gracious to us!

View-Changing Books

I'm so grateful to be reading some quality books as of late. These two featured below are life-changing/view-changing/amazing/must-reads.

1)
"One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp
See this review from Barnes and Noble of this spectacular New York Times Bestseller:
Overview
Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. 'How,' Ann wondered, 'do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long---and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?'

In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It's only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted ... a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved --- by God.

Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive.

Come live the best dare of all!


2)
"Margin" by Richard Swenson

Review from Barnes and Noble:
Overview

Margin is the space that once existed between ourselves and our limits. Today we use margin just to get by.

This book is for anyone who yearns for relief from the pressure of overload. The benefits can be good health, financial stability, fulfilling relationships, and availability for God’s purpose.

Reevaluate your priorities, determine the value of rest and simplicity in your life, and see where your identity really comes from.


Now go grab that hot cup and tea and soak up the truths in both of these books!

Baked Potato Soup

Picture courtesy of myrecipes.com

Here's a recipe for a delicious Baked Potato Soup

5 large baking potatoes (~4.5 lb), peeled and cubed
1/4 c chopped onion
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 c butter, softened
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream chicken soup, undiluted
2 c milk
2 c water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
8 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
shredded cheddar cheese
chopped green onions

1) Combine first 4 ingredients in a large Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 12 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain.

2) Beat cream cheese & butter in a medium bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add cream of chicken soup, beating well. Gradually add milk, beating until smooth; add milk mixture to vegetable mixture. Stir in 2 cups water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mash with potato masher to desired consistency.

3) Top each serving with bacon, cheese, and green onions.

Makes 13 cups.
From Southern Living's "Homestyle Cookbook"

Sunny Days

Psalm 100

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."















I'm SO grateful for sunny days, warm weather, and a fun new toy from GiGi so we can play outside! (Thank you Sweet Repeats Consignment Sale for supplying the "new" toy and the "new" smocked outfit!)

Cousins

Sweet cousins!

A Glimpse of My Day

A glimpse of my day in the York household:

Jackson walking with his walker

Exhibit A:



Exhibit B:



Exhibit C:



Why, oh negligent mother, did I not button up Jackson's romper? You see, I learned to never paint your nails when you think your child is napping. That's right, he wasn't napping, and I had to interrupt my nail-painting session of Revlon's (new!) Bold Sangria to go change a diaper. Heaven-forbid I mess up my hastily-done nails, let alone get LSU-colored purple on his precious romper.



Plus, boys travel more slowly when they wear rompers. This is what Northern folks are missing out on. THIS is the way to keep up with your kids...put them in rompers! Just so you won't think we Southern women are nuts for the (cute) clothes we dress our baby boys in, yes ladies, even our future kings of England wear smocked clothing!


The adorable Prince William

Okay, back to our day. Jackson started actively walking (with walker) on February 10, 2012, although crawling is his preferred (and fastest!) way of getting around


"Look at me, Tucker!"


"You're right Mom, Tucker doesn't really care!"



Just checkin' out the maintenance of my vehicle




More playing






Then tackle Mommy, which is the most fun ever

Helping Mommy to unpack Daddy's suitcase



Heading for the open hall closet where the beloved vacuum lies



Jackson loves the Dyson almost as much as Mommy does



Then crawling caterwampus-like down the hallway (again, the inhibited crawl from my beloved romper)






I am beyond grateful (to Andy!) for these precious moments I get to have at home with my son.

Best Consignment Sale

Hey Birmingham friends!

Come out and support Mountain Brook Community Church's

Sweet Repeats Consignment Sale

This Friday, February 17th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

And Saturday, February 18th from 9 a.m. to noon (50% off day for some items)

I just got back from organizing some of the consignment things, and there are so many adorable clothes there, as well as toys, baby bedding, kids' shoes, swimsuits, leotards, maternity clothes, etc. Plus, all proceeds benefit MBCC's Missions!

Go here for more information