Monday, September 17, 2012

My little man is TWO!

Parenting is incredibly bittersweet.  I now know the full definition of that word.  In every new stage there are feelings of intense grief - so much magic and beauty gone forever, only to be remembered in our minds, hearts and in pictures and videos.  But, of course, with every new stage also comes new magic, new moments of bliss.  I always think parenting Jackson could not get any better....and then it does.   The two year old stage is amazing!



Jackson understands SO much more now.  He can actually help with things around the house...like if we are trying to leave the house and I need his or Addy's sippy cup to fill with water, I can tell him to go find it and bring it to me...and he does!  He has SO much language now (I almost can't believe I worried about language for him, lol!).  He uses 2 and 3 word sentences (i.e. Mommy, more meat!).  He knows how to tell us what he wants (more water please) or what he doesn't want (no, no night night!).   He absolutely loves to sit and read books now, and I have waited for this for a long time!  Jackson has taken leaps and bounds cognitively.  He has great problem solving skills and can figure out puzzles and his nesting cups and boxes now with ease.  This is one area where you can see the 6 months difference between him and his sister.  Jackson is also learning how to do somersaults (he calls them flips) and he finds it hilarious when daddy and I do them to show him how.  


Jackson is our social butterfly.  He loves everyone (except nurses and doctors, lol!).  He does take a few minutes to warm up to new places, but once he is settled, he is confident, secure and independent.  It is amazing to watch him become a big boy right before my eyes.  Jackson makes everyone he is around feel special and loved.  Whenever family or friends spend time with him, they have to tell me afterwards how Jackson hugged them, kissed them, reached for them and loved them.  He has such a gift, and I am so excited to see where he takes this gift in his future.  


This picture really sums up his personality to me:).

I love this one - he is playing with me in the midst of pictures - it really shows our relationship.


Jackson loves his family.  When he wakes up, he asks for each of us and wants to know where everyone is (including Rory, our dog).  He gives the best kisses and hugs, you can tell he really means it.  Jackson LOVES to dance, and we have found his favorite - Michael Jackson, lol!  He tries to mimic every move and his GG even taught him to moonwalk.  It is a riot!

He is making me laugh as usual:).


Jackson is kind, generous, goofy, charismatic and perfect in every way.  I enjoy every moment of being his mommy.  I look at him and wonder at how things work out just as they should.  He is my proof that miracles happen and that life is good.  

This is one of my favorites - me and my angels.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Our Trip

Our trip to visit family in MI was wonderful.  We got back about 3 weeks ago and we are still adjusting.  Jackson has not gone back to his previous beautiful sleeping habits and it has affected all of us.  We are all tired and grumpy for the most part.  Other than that, we have wonderful memories of our two weeks back home!  The beach was my favorite part....

What a beauty!

He loved the hole daddy dug for him!

Walking the pier as a family of four - amazing!

We have a picture of Jackson and me on this pier when he was just a newborn so this was a special photo op for me:).

I don't know why I love it so much, but this picture is just too cute.

I know I look silly - but this is me and Addy watching the Coast Guard parade - I marched in this parade for more years than I can count so it was such a sweet moment to watch it with my children.

 
Jackson and I waving at the helicopter at the parade:).  He waved at everyone and everything - it was a riot!

Another day at the beach - so sweet!

Addy meeting her great-grandma K.  This is Jason's all time favorite grandma and we are so glad she finally got to meet Addison (she met Jax when he was a newborn).

Jax had a huge birthday party too!

He was so excited about his presents:).

This is Jason's family (one side of his family anyway) - I love this picture!

Addy fell in love with her "Papa Jim," who is really her great-uncle.  

We have so many special memories from our time in MI.  I have over 500 pictures to prove it:).  I will say, the time there made us all the more determined to move back to MI as soon as an opportunity arises.  We always felt it was hard to be away from family - but going back and realizing how much we are truly missing, how much our kids are missing, was hard.  Overall, the travel went ok (we did have some pretty rough "traveling with grumpy toddlers" moments,  one special one with Addy that was straight out of my travel themed nightmares, lol), and they slept well away from home for the most part and had a wonderful time.  Jackson did return with an ear infection, though...just in time for his second birthday:(.  More to come on my big 2 year old boy (I am already 2 weeks late on that post:)).