Happy Birthday Erica!

We hope today's birthday is as special as this one (you look very happy). Sorry we couldn't bake you a Barbie cake, but today we'll treat you to whatever birthday cake you'd like.

We love you, Jerry and Jackson

First Haircut

Jackson's hair was really getting out of control so we took him last Friday to get his first haircut. He got to sit in an airplane, watch Shrek, and eat snacks while he got his hair chopped off. We weren't sure how he'd react but he did GREAT! Me, not so much! It's taken me a week to come to terms with his shorter hair. I absolutely loved his shaggy hair and all the sweet little curls he had in back. I miss it so much but like everyone has reassured me, it will grow back. I don't think we'll have cut so short next time around. The best thing out of the entire process was the balloon Jackson received after his haircut. He loved that thing and wouldn't let it go, not even to take his nap! So sweet!

Easter Festivites

Jackson had a really fun Easter weekend. I was excited for him this year as he'd be able to really participate more than he did last year. He was just a measly 4 month old who just sat in his Bumbo seat last year. This year he could really do an Easter egg hunt, or so I thought!

Saturday morning we went to our neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Jackson's friend Daniel (and mommy Wendy) came along. We met up with Jackson's other friend Lucas (and mommy Bridget) there at the park. As soon as we pulled up in the wagon, Jackson wanted to take off. It took everything I had to keep him contained. I thought, cool, he's going to get a lot of eggs! Yeah right, as soon as the countdown was up, Jackson headed straight for the sticks. He hunted a couple of leaves, sticks, and about 8 eggs! Daniel fared the same so we didn't feel so bad. Lucas, on the other hand, went home with a basket FULL of eggs. Hmmm!?!? I have a sneaking suspicion he got a lot of help! ;)


Me trying to keep Jackson contained!


3 Easter eggs around him and he went for the stick!


Scoring some candy


Daniel was going crazy shaking his Easter basket. This was too funny, I had to share. Hope that's okay, Wendy! ;)


Sunday we headed over to my Uncle Mandy & Aunt Denise's house. Jackson had a blast there! Again, he wasn't too interested in hunting eggs. He was way too distracted with his cousins, Zach & Ashleigh, and all their cool toys. Jackson did get a little help from his Mimi & Poppa (see pics below). We got a good laugh out of that. In addition to his eggs, he got all sorts of great Easter presents: two bat & ball sets, stuffed animals, books, a Mr. potato head, a giraffe tunnel, and lots of sweets! It was fun day for a little guy. He was zonked by the time we left!


This is how Jackson went Easter egg hunting!


Getting help from Poppa & Mimi


;)


Jackson's rock!


Jackson with his cousins Ashleigh & Zach


Trying to crack the cascarone on his own head


Hmm...how does this thing work?


Got his Mimi!


Now Tia Annie...ha, ha, ha!


Aw man, he got himself with help from his Mimi


Sorting through the confetti on Uncle Mandy's head


Hmm...seriously, how does this work?


Ah, there we go!

Happy Easter!

Jackson wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Easter! Have fun!

Picasso

Austin Zoo

Last week my mom & stepdad were on spring break so we decided to get together and take Jackson to the Austin Zoo. It was a lot of fun and Jackson had a great time! He loved all the animals, rocks, and dirt! ;) I think it was a toss up between what he enjoyed the most...feeding the llama and riding the train. Here's a few pics from the day:


Mimi & Jackson checking out the giant Tortoise


Stopping off for a break.


Wolf


Whatcha looking at?


Ahh, this is the life.


Jackson & Daddy

The llama has our kid's hand in his mouth!


Check out the teeth on this guy!


Jackson's face cracks me up.


Check out the llama totally up in our faces!


Here dude, just eat the food!


Checking out the snakes!

Kleenex

Amber

Zoe

This blog is supposed to be about the cats as well and I've done a really bad job at including them. Poor Amby cat and ZoZo cat! Here's a picture of sweet Zoe that I took the other day. She was trying to sleep but I was busy practicing with my camera. :)

Cookie

Jackson has a set of sign language cards that his Grandma Flo bought him. They have a picture on the front with the name of that picture and a lady showing the sign on the back. Well one day Jackson was sitting at his book basket looking through his cards while I was on the couch messing around with my camera. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him get up and walk over to me with the cookie card. He handed it to me and signed more. I looked at the card and laughed! I asked him what he wanted so he pulled on my leg to get me to stand up. He took the card back and led me through the kitchen straight to the pantry. He then started pointing and knocking on the door! I said, "Do you want a cookie?" and he just smiled!

For the record, the kid only eats Earth's Best vanilla cookies, he's never had a chocolate chip cookie before! I guess it just looked pretty darn good in the picture! And out of all the picture cards to bring me, it was the cookie card. He totally passed up the banana, apple, and other healthier food cards of the bunch! What a little stinker!

Rock Star Jackson

15 Month Update

So our sweet little baby has turned into a full fledged caveman, err..toddler! What's it like having a little caveman at home, you ask? One word...CrAzY!!!

Here's the latest on Caveman Jackson:

• He's no longer walking, he's running! Running so fast that he trips up on his feet and falls down...A LOT!
• He's using sign language and picks it up pretty quickly. He knows: eat, leche (milk), agua (water), all done, cracker, cookie, banana, pancake, cat, dog, light, bath, toothbrush, guitar, ball, hat, car, more, music, and bye. I think that's it. We're working on a few more right now.
• He understands so much! A lot more than we realize sometimes. He responds to simple commands like "Bring mommy your shoes." or "Put your book in the basket." "No hit Amber" and "Let's change your poopy diaper" are ones that seem to go in one ear & out the other.
• He's obsessed with brooms! He kept wanting to play with ours which I didn't allow since it's so dirty so we had to get him his own including a mop & a duster!
• He loves, loves, loves music and guitars! Every time we go upstairs where Jerry's guitar is, he signs guitar. We usually keep the guitar in the extra bedroom with the door closed so he'll even go to the door and point or hit on it just to get to the guitar. He also loves to watch someone playing a guitar on TV. We watch The Biscuit Brothers every day so Jackson can see Buford & Dusty playing their guitar (and banjo). We often have to watch the opening sequence over & over again! Oh and he'll let me know he wants to see The Biscuit Brothers by bringing me the remote and signing guitar! What a silly goose! Not only does he like to hear the guitar and see the guitar but he likes to play the guitar as well!
• He's now able to get on his Bounce & Spin Zebra and his ride-on toys. He can't quite move anywhere just yet but he's close. Well, I take that back, he can move backwards!
• He's definitely asserting his independence and threw his first real temper tantrum today! Oh what fun!
• He's great at stacking nesting blocks, he still loves reading books, he loves playing outside, he loves running around naked after bath time, he HATES getting his teeth brushed, he likes to brush his hair & my hair, he'd rather I have my glasses on than off and he'll be more than happy to tell me so, he loves to wrestle with us when we try to get his clothes & shoes on, he's become incredibly picky with his eating habits, he likes digging in dirt and putting rocks in his mouth, he likes eating scraps off the floor, he likes to bounce his basketball, he likes to try to run out into the alley way, he loves dogs, and best of all, he loves us and we love him!

The Best of Friends

Hmm...something is missing!


It's my friend Pooh! Come on Pooh, get in!


Sheesh Pooh, help a brotha out! You're bigger than me!



There we go. Now stay there, don't move!


Mommy, Pooh & I are best friends! I love Pooh!

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
"Pooh!" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you."