Where have I been?! Probably wishing I was sleeping, or tagging along on my mom's "to-do" list because Jackson insists on going everywhere she does.
I can't say a lot has changed. Actually, it probably has. Jackson is just growing like a weed. He's just the brightest and most intelligent boy I've ever met. For real, not just because he's mine. :) My mom describes him as "scary smart". I swear there are things that he does that we just look at each other and say, "how did he know to do it that way?!".
Like bowling. My mom and I took the kids bowling. I was so excited to help Jackson bowl, but he had other plans. Emilie and I were up at the snack bar, (getting a warm, gross soda as it turned out) and I ended up giving Em the money and rushing down because I didn't want to miss his first bowling experience. Well, we ALL missed it. My mom looked down to put the names in the computer, and my clever son (who's never seen a bowling ball in his life) already had his ball down his lane AND he actually knocked pins down. (Better than his mama!)
He also gets VERY upset when we tell him that he cannot drive. Yes, 80% of the time we go somewhere, we have to explain to him why he has to sit in his car seat and why he just can't drive yet. He's also refusing to sleep in his bed, sit in his booster seat (he prefers Papa's chair at the table), and he frequently asks for a knife to cut his food. Do I have a 21 month old or a 13 year old?! I feel like the arguments are going to be the same.
Jackson's favorite word seems to be "Papa". My dad is only home for about 9 days a month, so J absolutely cherishes that time. When my dad left this last time, he took my mom over to the coffee pot and called it "Papa's". My mom and I are working on getting him to say our names, but he doesn't. Well, he's never really said "Momma". He calls me mom and it's usually when he's very upset.
Jackson is sick right now, but thankfully it seems to be far less severe than the last illness. My healthy kid never got sick until he was 15 months old, and I think this is his 3rd illness since then. He was refusing to let me wipe his nose (which just turned into a big, snotty fight), so I got clever and got the Puff's with Vicks. Turns out, if you let the kid smell the tissues before using one, he'll lay down on his own and actually give you an appropriate time to clean him up. Who woulda thought?! Jackson is just a creature of habit and he has little tricks about him that make life a whole lot easier once you know them.
What else is new? Jackson now folds his hands during prayers. He ASKS to say prayers a few times a day now. It's also a requirement for every person who's in the room at that time to also fold their hands, otherwise he'll (no joke!) interrupt the prayer and physically move your hands for you. Cutest thing I've seen in a while.
Jonathon and I firmed up leave days FINALLY. You'd think they never wanted him to get out of there. After all is said and done, and a million dollars later, it's going to be an amazing month for our little family. I'm so excited to get the ball rolling on all of our plans. I think we all need a little break and thanks to my mom, Jonathon and I can take a few days and just relax on our own. I know I'm already dreading leaving my little guy - but I'll be a better mommy for coming back rejuvenated and ready to have some fun with J. I must have told my mom a hundred times in the last 6 weeks or so how bad I just want to sleep and do nothing.
So if anyone is interested, Jackson's birthday is TENTATIVELY scheduled for September 10th, 2011. It will stay that way unless something serious happens with Jonathon's leave. I'm only planning this far in advance because we have SO many people's schedules to consider, and Jonathon has to fit a lot in that first week he's here. I promise I'm not THAT crazy - - but yeah, kinda sucks having to figure out so much stuff this far in advance. But pencil us in! :)
