Back In Time

Couldn't resist posting this video of him giggling. He did awesome on a long car trip to and from Orlando, Florida, for my cousin's wedding at the end of December 2011.



First steps ever (with a walker, of course). I think I took this end of January 2012, beginning of February.



First time trying edamame. Not a fan.



Testing out the new child locks



More baby-proofing

I told you I'd be posting way too many videos :)

Walking?!

Not quite, but almost. Hey, my son is creative, what can I say?

Part Two



Jackson has been helping me organize this week



Fun fact this week...I've been working a little bit on instructions and trying to let Jackson do them. This week I told him to "put the lid back," I showed him how to do it once, and now he'll usually put it back in the tupperware drawer when I tell him to. One small step...

He also barks at the neighbor's dogs



(Excuse my commentary in all my iPhone videos)



And he "go go go"'s on his new riding toy from GiGi


*Note, I apologize for all of you reading this blog. Posting videos has freed me from being a "granny" on the computer, and I have a whole 13+ months of videos to catch up on! (mostly for my own record) So bear with me and skip past the ones you don't care to view. However, I think they're all pretty cute. I'm biased.

**Does anyone else think that Jackson looks like the E-Trade baby? We get this statement almost weekly. I also hear a Gerber baby. I think it's the bald Buddha-head. Everyone is intrigued by it, wants to rub it, etc. Weird (the strangers, not my child).

Videos Galore

Here are some videos below. I'm slowly but surely learning how to do this.

My oh my, how fast little man is growing up.



This is a calm moment of Jackson playing with his spoon after dinner (covered in strawberries, mind you). It sounds like the spoon has become some sort of vehicle as he makes a "vroom" sound, saying "Go Go Go" all the while.

First time eating a lemon (and Tucker is trying to get in on the action)



Lemon Part II. He keeps shaking his head "no" like he doesn't want anymore, but I guess he's addicted to the sweet sourness of the lemon :)



I filmed this next one backwards in the car as he were driving home from church. I had to send it to Andy as a little pep-up, since he was out of town. Jackson is trying so hard to say "War Eagle!"



A big thanks to Mary Beth Ely for helping me figure out how to do this!

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

A friend of mine at work, Tanna, gave me this great, easy crock pot recipe. While I know the weather is warming up, this is still a delicious and easy dinner idea (and my boys ate it right up!).

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 can Rotel
1 to 1.5 c water
1 pkg powdered Ranch dressing
8 oz cream cheese (cut it up so it will dissolve easier in the crock pot)
2-3 c cooked chicken, or 1 Rotisserie chicken
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 Tbsp chili powder

Mix it all together and place in crock pot on LOW for 6 hours.

Makes a big batch, so freeze some or take to friends.

Happy Eating!

Memorable Moments II

Memorable Moments from my day today:

1) Jackson doing the sign for "more" when eating. A first!

2) Jackson bowled over dog Tucker. Tucker barked at Jackson (first time). Jackson's response, he barked back. Hysterical! I wish I could have captured it on my phone.

3) Jackson took a half step all by himself after balancing for a good 60 seconds on our kitchen floor. (granted, his half step was in the direction of the Publix plastic bags littered over the kitchen floor. he's such a good helper in assisting me in unloading groceries)

4) It's not uncommon for Jackson to feed himself with the plastic baby bottles (the glass ones are too heavy for him to tilt upwards by himself), but I left him (gasp!) on the couch for 2 seconds while I ran to grab my camera. I turned on a good ole 1990's Christian kids' show, so he was enthralled (gotta love cable TV), and I captured this cute picture.



5) This morning, I was quickly vacuuming our sun room, and I left Jackson grinning mischievously next to Tucker's dog bed. I stepped back in the room after hearing Tucker yelping, Jackson half-heartedly whining, but there was no blood and no scratch marks. So I guess both boy and dog were okay. (Maybe Jackson warranted a bark from Tucker this afternoon. He keeps pestering the dog.)

6) Jackson has been taking 2 hour naps these past few days. I gave myself the freedom today to stretch out on the sunroom couch, windows wide open enjoying this 70 degree breeze, and reading Rick Bragg's "All Over But The Shoutin'"



7) Jackson, sticking tongue out to dog, imitating dog, giggling when dog draws near to sniff, lick. Melts my heart to hear that giggle.

Memorable Moments

Memorable Moments of My Day

1) Driving down the road, windows rolled down, jamming out to Led Zepplin's "Stairway to Heaven." Reminiscing on my guitar-playing high school and college days, jamming, rockin' out. Then Jackson's cry for more Cheerios brought me back to reality. But a good reality, a great reality.

2) Jackson sticking his hand in the toilet.

No picture of that, so you get to gaze at these cute baby feet.

Mango Madness

Jackson had the best time gnawing on a mango core today. Enjoy the pics!









*note, this is also the messiest I've ever let him get when eating. mango was e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.

(I think gnawing on the mango feels good on his teeth, as he's cutting his first molar on the left side.)