It's now almost a month since I wrote this post, but I haven't posted it yet because of the lack of pictures. My computer is just about dead and doesn't want to cooperate to upload photos. So sorry for the lack of pics, but I'll try to do better for the 17 month post...which should be next week.
Our little boy is growing up so much! He's really a toddler now, not a baby any more. Since he started walking he just seems so much older. He's learning and doing more all the time.
Words Jackson says:
-hi
-bye
-doggy
-duck
-daddy
-mom (this is a new one, and pretty exciting to me!)
-baby (no, not in reference to a future sibling)
-thank you
-eye
-no
-cheese
-shoe
-stuck (sounds like uck)
-cookie
Signs these words:
-more
-banana
-music (his own sign that he made up)
-baby
-milk/drink
...I know there's more, but that's all that comes to mind right now
Can identify body parts:
-nose
-eye
-tongue
-ear
-fingers
-toes
He is such a funny little person, I just love being with him all day! It's amazing to me the things he picks up on and learns, even when I don't realize he's that much attention. I have a hoodie that says "BYU" on it, and I've pointed to the letters and said "BYU" a couple times to him. The other day he was in his high chair eating lunch and I said "BYU" and he pointed to his shirt like I have done to my hoodie. Funny kid!
He's still a scrawny little kid, though ya wouldn't really think so by looking at him. When I took him in for his 15 month check up (he was really 14 1/2 months) he was 19 lbs 8 oz, which isn't even on the growth charts. The doctor was concerned and had me try and beef him up, and then we went back to three weeks later and he'd gained an ounce. Woo hoo? Another three weeks later (on Tuesday of this week) he was 20 lbs 5 oz so we're making progress. He's still not on the charts, though he's getting closer. It's the holidays so I'm sure he'll pack on the pounds..ha. Probably doesn't work that way for little people.
He's got 14 teeth now--- the four front ones on top and bottom, the two eye teeth on top, and then 4 molars. Those were fun coming in...all within a week. At least we got it over with at once I guess.
I had other things I was going to say about this little guy, but my mind is blank right now. I guess I just need to post more frequently.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Walkin' man
Jackson has decided to start walking now. He first took a few steps over a month ago, and then must have thought it wasn't too exciting because he went back to only crawling for a few weeks. 1 1/2 weeks ago, he figured he'd give it another try and seemed to like it a bit more. But for the next few days, he'd only walk in the family room in the same spot where he first (the second time) started walking. Maybe that's the only place it works? 
He gradually became more and more confident and would walk in other places if he felt like it. This past Sunday he started standing up in the middle of the room (as opposed to pulling himself up on something) and then walking. And since then he's just walking more and more. He's getting faster and less wobbley every day.
He still sometimes acts like he can't do it on his own and wants to hold onto our fingers, but he's getting more confident. It catches me off-guard and surprises me whenever he comes walking into the room. For half a second I think "Oh! He's walking!" and then I remember that he knows how. It's so fun to see him learning new things and growing up. Along with learning to walk, he's also learning to climb. Yikes.
He gradually became more and more confident and would walk in other places if he felt like it. This past Sunday he started standing up in the middle of the room (as opposed to pulling himself up on something) and then walking. And since then he's just walking more and more. He's getting faster and less wobbley every day.
He still sometimes acts like he can't do it on his own and wants to hold onto our fingers, but he's getting more confident. It catches me off-guard and surprises me whenever he comes walking into the room. For half a second I think "Oh! He's walking!" and then I remember that he knows how. It's so fun to see him learning new things and growing up. Along with learning to walk, he's also learning to climb. Yikes.
Friday, November 13, 2009
On a Jet Plane
I took a flight to Charlotte on Thursday for the final round of Bank of America internship interviews. I'll let you know if I get an offer...
But the real miracle is that I'm posting this post from the airplane. No joke. Delta now has on-board WiFi (free the first time you use it). I couldn't not give it try. So, yes, the in-flight entertainment is broken...no movies, music, anything. But who needs it when you can watch YouTube or listen to Pandora stations while you're on the plane? (I guess I should be doing homework, but having gotten up at 4 am, I'm at that stage where I can neither sleep nor do anything productive...it helps that I have a mega-super-hyperactive four-year-old behind me, kicking my seat).
I don't think I'll pay the $13 fee the next time I'm flying to use it again, but for now I'm on cloud nine. Pun intended.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Rocks in the bathtub?
Sunday morning I was already running a little late for church... it was our Primary program and I'm in the presidency so I was planning to get there early to make sure everything was set up and ready... anyway, I took a shower and then Jackson was playing in the bathtub while I put on my makeup and stuff. I looked over at Jackson and thought, "Where did he get rocks in the bathtub?" Nope. Not rocks. Poop. And not just a little bit. Yes, it was gross. So I got him out, cleaned up the tub, and bathed him again real quick, and then got to church 15 minutes late.Monday morning... Jackson's playing in the tub while I do my hair & makeup. He's splashing and playing and having a jolly old time. Then he's a little bit more quiet. And red in the face. Yep, pooped again. In the tub. Gross.
Tuesday: tub-pooping reprieve.
Wednesday morning...I half-way jokingly tell Jack if the tub pooping happens again, our child may never get another bath again. I wait until after Jackson has gone in his diaper and then put him in the bathtub. He was playing happily, and I glance over and see this:
You have got to be kidding me! No more baths for this kid! I begrudgingly move in to clean it up and have a big sigh when I realize it was just a button that he found in the dryer before his bath and must have still had in his hand. I take a picture on my phone to send to Jack so he can have a chuckle with me. But then... Nooooo! He did it for real. Third time in four days. And this time was the messiest of all.Uggh. He isn't usually so "regular" with his pooping times, but has been fairly consistent this week! I thought I'd figured it out with waiting til after he went in his diaper, but apparently that wasn't good enough. He might take baths in swimming diapers until he's potty trained. Any suggestions?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Trick or Treat!
We had a Halloween party with the MBA people on Thursday night that was a lot of fun. They had lots of carnival games for the kids, which Jackson didn't really care about too much, but he did have fun seeing everyone in their costumes.
Saturday night we went around to maybe 5 houses on our street, mostly just to say hi to friends.
Anything good in there? ...Jackson took the whole pumpkin from our neighbor's house. It was empty, sitting inside their door....so he borrowed it for the rest of his trick-or-treating excursion.
I tried to get a picture of Jackson sitting by the pumpkins, but he didn't really want to sit.
Here are the pumpkins...where did the dragon go?
Watch out! Dragon on the loose!
And finally, an organ-playing dragon. Kind of like Phantom of the Opera, right?
We had a fun Halloween. It was fun to get dressed up and to actually have a Halloween party to go to and trick-or-treaters come to our house (neither of which we had last year or the year before). I'm sure it'll get more and more fun as Jackson learns what's going on in the future.
Knight in shining armor, dragon, damsel in distress
Saturday night we went around to maybe 5 houses on our street, mostly just to say hi to friends.
Anything good in there? ...Jackson took the whole pumpkin from our neighbor's house. It was empty, sitting inside their door....so he borrowed it for the rest of his trick-or-treating excursion.
I tried to get a picture of Jackson sitting by the pumpkins, but he didn't really want to sit.
Here are the pumpkins...where did the dragon go?
Watch out! Dragon on the loose!
And finally, an organ-playing dragon. Kind of like Phantom of the Opera, right?
We had a fun Halloween. It was fun to get dressed up and to actually have a Halloween party to go to and trick-or-treaters come to our house (neither of which we had last year or the year before). I'm sure it'll get more and more fun as Jackson learns what's going on in the future.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN
I learned early on in our marriage that it is an inherited trait in Natalie's family to love Fall. I'm glad, because it runs in my family, too. My mom used to recite this poem for us at least once each Fall. The words came to my mind this morning as I walked to Church in the fresh, crisp air. I couldn't find a suitable image to match the poem--you'll just have to picture it in your mind.
WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN
by James Whitcomb Riley
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys and the cluckin' of the hens
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O it's then the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock
They's somethin kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here -
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock -
When the frost is on the punkin and fodder's in the shock.
The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries - kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A preachin' sermons to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below - the clover overhead! -
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!
Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too!
I don't know how to tell it - but if sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me -
I'd want to 'commodate 'em - all the whole-indurin' flock -
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!
No, no, no!
Jackson has learned a new word, and it seems to be a favorite: No! He furrows his brows, shakes his head, and gives a stern look while saying "No, no, no, no, no!" It's cute and funny for now...hopefully that doesn't change too quickly. The funniest part is he usually says it when he's telling himself no, like throwing food off his tray or touching something he shouldn't.
He has also started saying "soother" (what we call a pacifier)... usually it's "uh-on, soosah" when it falls or he throws it.
He has also started saying "soother" (what we call a pacifier)... usually it's "uh-on, soosah" when it falls or he throws it.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A step in the right direction
The day Jackson turned 14 months old, we decided it was time to start coaxing him to walk a little bit more...It took me a while to decide that I really was ready for him to start walking...I didn't push him down every time he stood up or anything, but we just weren't encouraging him and trying to get him to walk between us and stuff, until he hit 14 months and I realized that it really is time. So on Saturday the 10th, we started trying to get him to walk and he took a few steps! For the next few days he'd take some here and there, with a lot of coaxing. His record was 10 steps! ... and then he wouldn't take any for a week or so. He'll take one or two if he feels like it, but he'd rather just crawl if he has to move on his own. He loves to walk around holding our hands. He'll now do it just holding onto one finger and I can tell he really doesn't need it. It's a confidence thing.
He was holding onto just the handle of the push toy, and I guess it made him feel like he was holding onto something and gave him the confidence he needed, because he took quite a few steps holding onto it.
...and Jackson really does wear pants most of the time. I'm not sure why we have so many pictures of him without pants on.
He was holding onto just the handle of the push toy, and I guess it made him feel like he was holding onto something and gave him the confidence he needed, because he took quite a few steps holding onto it.
...and Jackson really does wear pants most of the time. I'm not sure why we have so many pictures of him without pants on.
My special assistant
I've done quite a bit of canning this fall, and I think I'm finally done. I did tomatoes, salsa, and spaghetti sauce, then grape juice and apple sauce with a friend, and then on Monday I did apple slices with the help of Jackson...and what a helper he was!
First he emptied the apples out of the bucket and threw them on the floor...we had quite a few bruised apples. Then he helped me wash them in the sink
Next, we used the spiffy peeler-corer-slicer. Jackson would help put the apple in the bowl of water and take the core off the prongs and then eat it.
He'd also throw the apples out of the bowl of water (and a good amount of them onto the floor) so I could cut the rings into chunks. He'd help himself to some along the way.
While I was doing all the hot stuff on the stove---boiling the apples, filling the jars, processing the jars---Jackson was having a great time standing on the stool, playing in the bowl of water that the apples were in. When I started the next batch, I found my hawaiian toast in the bottom of the bowl of water. Gross. While I was working on the second batch of hot stuff, Jackson was less content to just play in the water. He started putting everything from the counter into the toaster oven (which was unplugged, don't worry). Then I turned around and found him like this:
I think it was time to get down and do something else.
I finished up the last batch later when Jack was home. It was fun to have Jackson involved and "helping" even if it did make it a much bigger mess...(but) I'm really looking forward to him being a little older so the help will be more helpful!
First he emptied the apples out of the bucket and threw them on the floor...we had quite a few bruised apples. Then he helped me wash them in the sink
Next, we used the spiffy peeler-corer-slicer. Jackson would help put the apple in the bowl of water and take the core off the prongs and then eat it.
He'd also throw the apples out of the bowl of water (and a good amount of them onto the floor) so I could cut the rings into chunks. He'd help himself to some along the way.
While I was doing all the hot stuff on the stove---boiling the apples, filling the jars, processing the jars---Jackson was having a great time standing on the stool, playing in the bowl of water that the apples were in. When I started the next batch, I found my hawaiian toast in the bottom of the bowl of water. Gross. While I was working on the second batch of hot stuff, Jackson was less content to just play in the water. He started putting everything from the counter into the toaster oven (which was unplugged, don't worry). Then I turned around and found him like this:
I think it was time to get down and do something else.I finished up the last batch later when Jack was home. It was fun to have Jackson involved and "helping" even if it did make it a much bigger mess...(but) I'm really looking forward to him being a little older so the help will be more helpful!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
scroll down
...I finally just posted Jackson's 14 month post that I started a week ago, so scroll down a post or two to see it!
Having a ball!
We were playing round tonight...I'd toss the ball and Jack would bounce it off his head. Jackson thought it was sooo funny. It was really funny to watch him laughing so hard about it! By the time we started videoing, Jackson wasn't laughing quite as much, but it's still cute. It's really fun to be able to interact with him more. He's such a little person.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Pumpkin Patch
First, just a little flash back to last year's little pumpkin. What a chunk!
Yesterday Jackson and I went with a bunch of the MBA wives & kids to a pumpkin patch. We had a lot of fun!
So stoic, don't you think?
He had fun looking at all the different animals. He called most things "doggy" but he did say "chicken"!
Jackson loved riding in the wagon with Ty and Mac (they live across the street and their dad is doing the MBA thing too). I couldn't believe how still Jackson sat in the wagon. He didn't try to climb around at all.
One of his favorite parts was playing in the rocks and swinging at the playground.
While he is learning to climb (yikes!) this was a little too steep for him :)
Yesterday Jackson and I went with a bunch of the MBA wives & kids to a pumpkin patch. We had a lot of fun!
So stoic, don't you think?
He had fun looking at all the different animals. He called most things "doggy" but he did say "chicken"!
Jackson loved riding in the wagon with Ty and Mac (they live across the street and their dad is doing the MBA thing too). I couldn't believe how still Jackson sat in the wagon. He didn't try to climb around at all.
One of his favorite parts was playing in the rocks and swinging at the playground.
While he is learning to climb (yikes!) this was a little too steep for him :)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
14 months
What happened to 13 months? I missed that one somehow. ...probably because we were in Georgia for Bently's wedding. A lot has changed in these past two months!
Jackson still isn't walking yet, but he's very close. I've been thinking that for over a month now. One of these days he'll just take off. He loves to walk holding our fingers...He'll run across the room holding onto Jack. I'll have to video it some time. He recently discovered how to use his push toys to walk. He'll cruise all over the room. When he runs into something, he'll go around to the other side and push from the front. Pretty smart, I'd say.
-When he pinches his fingers or bonks his head, a kiss from mom makes everything all better.
-He knows the actions to patty cake, twinkle twinkle little star, and sort of to itsy-bitsy spider
-He folds his arms for prayer and sometimes says "Ay" at the end for amen.
-After 6 months of no new teeth, he's working on tooth number nine. And it's hard work!
-He's kind of in between clothes sizes right now, but I'm not sure what sizes he's between. Most of his 12 month pants fall off his little waist, but 9 month ones would be too short. He can wear 12 or 12-18 month shirts. Still size 3 diapers and size 3 shoes.
-He likes to wash his tray after he eats. When I get him out of his high chair, he tries to take the tray off, then we carry it to the sink. I wash his hands and then he grabs the scrub brush and uses it to clean his tray.
-I have to trim his hair about every other week. It grows so fast, but it is so hard to get him to stay still and not grab the scissors, so I usually try to cut it while he's asleep.
-He's moved up to a big-boy car seat (about 2 weeks ago), though he still fits in the infant one. We got the new one because it was on sale, and then I tried it out in the car to see how it worked, and just never switched back again. I don't love the seat though so I still might return it. He loves playing in the box though!
-If he wants us to go somewhere with him, he'll grab our hand and hold it while he crawls wherever he wants us to go, like inside the car seat box. Or he'll take our hand and put it on a door knob or something he wants us to do for him.
-He's discovered that he has two little holes in his face that are the perfect size to stick his little fingers in, and he thinks it's funny when we pull them out.
Words he says:
-Hi
-Doggy
-Boo!
-uh-oh
-Thank you (day yah-ooh)
-Cheese (ch-chsss)
-Seems like there's more, but I can't think of them right now
Signs he does:
-more
-milk
-baby
-flower
-light
-fan
-Again, I'm probably forgetting some
I know there's probably more to post, but it has taken me a week to get this much done so if I don't post it, he'll be 15 months before it's done!
Jackson still isn't walking yet, but he's very close. I've been thinking that for over a month now. One of these days he'll just take off. He loves to walk holding our fingers...He'll run across the room holding onto Jack. I'll have to video it some time. He recently discovered how to use his push toys to walk. He'll cruise all over the room. When he runs into something, he'll go around to the other side and push from the front. Pretty smart, I'd say.
-When he pinches his fingers or bonks his head, a kiss from mom makes everything all better.
-He knows the actions to patty cake, twinkle twinkle little star, and sort of to itsy-bitsy spider
-He folds his arms for prayer and sometimes says "Ay" at the end for amen.
-After 6 months of no new teeth, he's working on tooth number nine. And it's hard work!
-He's kind of in between clothes sizes right now, but I'm not sure what sizes he's between. Most of his 12 month pants fall off his little waist, but 9 month ones would be too short. He can wear 12 or 12-18 month shirts. Still size 3 diapers and size 3 shoes.
-He likes to wash his tray after he eats. When I get him out of his high chair, he tries to take the tray off, then we carry it to the sink. I wash his hands and then he grabs the scrub brush and uses it to clean his tray.
-I have to trim his hair about every other week. It grows so fast, but it is so hard to get him to stay still and not grab the scissors, so I usually try to cut it while he's asleep.
-He's moved up to a big-boy car seat (about 2 weeks ago), though he still fits in the infant one. We got the new one because it was on sale, and then I tried it out in the car to see how it worked, and just never switched back again. I don't love the seat though so I still might return it. He loves playing in the box though!
-If he wants us to go somewhere with him, he'll grab our hand and hold it while he crawls wherever he wants us to go, like inside the car seat box. Or he'll take our hand and put it on a door knob or something he wants us to do for him.
-He's discovered that he has two little holes in his face that are the perfect size to stick his little fingers in, and he thinks it's funny when we pull them out.
Words he says:
-Hi
-Doggy
-Boo!
-uh-oh
-Thank you (day yah-ooh)
-Cheese (ch-chsss)
-Seems like there's more, but I can't think of them right now
Signs he does:
-more
-milk
-baby
-flower
-light
-fan
-Again, I'm probably forgetting some
I know there's probably more to post, but it has taken me a week to get this much done so if I don't post it, he'll be 15 months before it's done!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Cousins
Last Sunday we were up at Jack's parents for Conference and dinner. Jackson was the center of attention for his older cousins! He was sitting in his chair and said "hi" as one of them walked by, and they thought it was funny so they said "hi" back, and then Jackson said it back again. This attracted some other cousins who wanted in on the fun. Pretty soon there were 5 of them surrounding Jackson's high chair and having a blast talking to him
When that got old and Jackson wanted out, I put him in a cardboard box in the other room so I could finish eating. I thought he'd climb out right away, but he liked it. Gabbi started pushing him around the house in the box and then Addie joined the fun. Again, everyone wanted in on the action!
It was so fun to see them all interacting with each other and with Jackson. We probably won't always live this close to family, but I'm grateful for this time that we do have here with cousins!
When that got old and Jackson wanted out, I put him in a cardboard box in the other room so I could finish eating. I thought he'd climb out right away, but he liked it. Gabbi started pushing him around the house in the box and then Addie joined the fun. Again, everyone wanted in on the action!
It was so fun to see them all interacting with each other and with Jackson. We probably won't always live this close to family, but I'm grateful for this time that we do have here with cousins!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Alive & well
Two posts in the last month...I guess I haven't really been in a blogging mood lately. Life has continued to happen though, and we've been quite busy.
We went to Georgia for my brother's wedding last weekend. Bently & Bonnie were married on Sept. 11. It was fun to see them so excited and happy :) Here are a few pictures from the wedding:
I'll probably post more when they get all the pics back from the photographer.
I'm not sure what else we've been up to. Jack is in school (MBA program at BYU) and is enjoying it. ...and ya know, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be for me. I had gotten very used to Jack being home all the time since he worked from home. I'd heard too many stories or people saying how they never saw their husbands any more once school started and I was kind of dreading it. Maybe once things get going more and he has tests to study for and everything it'll be worse, but so far it's been fine. Jack leaves for campus every morning at 7:40; he has his group meetings, goes to class and all the other extra lectures and meetings they have, and does his homework and studying in between. It depends on the day, but he's home around 5:30 most days. He plays with Jackson, we have dinner, spend a little time together, then I put Jackson down and Jack does homework for a couple hours. I'm sure Jack would say it's stressful and a ton of work, and I know he isn't getting as much sleep as he should, but so far we're managing. We're already getting into applications and trying to get interviews for next summer's internship. It's kind of wierd to me that they're applying and interviewing for things when school has just started three weeks ago...they haven't even had a chance to prove themselves at school, and they're already looking for jobs. Jack's major, OB/HR, does their recruiting very early...and that's ok with me. I like to know where we're going and what we'll be doing and to be able to plan things out.
Wish us luck!
We went to Georgia for my brother's wedding last weekend. Bently & Bonnie were married on Sept. 11. It was fun to see them so excited and happy :) Here are a few pictures from the wedding:
I'll probably post more when they get all the pics back from the photographer.I'm not sure what else we've been up to. Jack is in school (MBA program at BYU) and is enjoying it. ...and ya know, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be for me. I had gotten very used to Jack being home all the time since he worked from home. I'd heard too many stories or people saying how they never saw their husbands any more once school started and I was kind of dreading it. Maybe once things get going more and he has tests to study for and everything it'll be worse, but so far it's been fine. Jack leaves for campus every morning at 7:40; he has his group meetings, goes to class and all the other extra lectures and meetings they have, and does his homework and studying in between. It depends on the day, but he's home around 5:30 most days. He plays with Jackson, we have dinner, spend a little time together, then I put Jackson down and Jack does homework for a couple hours. I'm sure Jack would say it's stressful and a ton of work, and I know he isn't getting as much sleep as he should, but so far we're managing. We're already getting into applications and trying to get interviews for next summer's internship. It's kind of wierd to me that they're applying and interviewing for things when school has just started three weeks ago...they haven't even had a chance to prove themselves at school, and they're already looking for jobs. Jack's major, OB/HR, does their recruiting very early...and that's ok with me. I like to know where we're going and what we'll be doing and to be able to plan things out.
Wish us luck!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
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