Jackson- 3 months old!

Tuesday marked Jackson's "12-week old birthday". Wow...his personality has really developed over these last few weeks from "newborn fussy" to "content, happy baby". It seems that both he and Lily were fairly fussy in the first few weeks until their vision improved, and now it's a whole new world! I have determined I have very curious and energetic children that want to be a part of the world...and NOW!

Jackson is now cooing and having "conversations" with us all the time. He loves his activity mat...especially the star that lights up in the middle and enjoys smiling and cooing at it. He is batting at the birds that dangle from it as well. He has excellent head control and does great with tummy time. As I have mentioned before he LOVES looking up. In fact, it is difficult to get a picture with him of his head upright without him arching backward toward the ceiling! He has also figured out that Daddy has two deer heads hanging on our wall. He loves to smile at them and has a look of concentration as if to suggest he is thinking, "Now how do I get one of those?!" I think Justin is enjoying his son's interest!

We are really enjoying all of his grins and occasional giggles. Jackson is completely enamored with his big sister Lily. Every time she enters the room, he follows her with this eyes and loves her attention.

We have no doubt that once he figures out his crawling coordination, he will be GONE! I'm thinking we may need to baby-proof our house a little more this time around :-)

Enjoy a few recent "happy Jackson" pictures!

9 weeks

11 weeks

the Elf on the Shelf

On Lily's birthday, Grandma B. brought over this wonderful book. It comes in a kit with a little stuffed Elf.
In reading the book, you learn that the Elf is one of Santa's helpers sent to your house every day until Christmas Eve to watch and listen to you and report back to Santa every night what he has seen and heard to determine if you have been bad or good that day.
You are to name your Elf and go onto the website to register him for your family.
You cannot touch the Elf or he "loses his magic" and will not be able to report back to Santa nightly.
Lily just LOVES this Elf. His name is "Elmo" and she talks to him daily.
The kicker of this book for the parents is that the Elf flies to the north pole nightly and returns back to your house by the morning. So....he has to be in a new spot every night!! It has been quite funny the panic this little Elf has caused Justin and I when we have forgotten to move him.
In fact, earlier this week we did forget!
Lily walked in the living room and said: "Daddy, the Elf did not move!"
Justin replied: "He didn't? (nervous pause) Well, maybe he got tired and just wanted to go back to his old spot! Hey Lily, did you remember to turn your light off downstairs?"
Lily: "No"
Dad: "Well, go turn it off please."
(Justin quickly moves the Elf)
Lily returns: "Daddy, he moved!!!"
Dad: "He did?!?"

Here are a few places "Elmo" has been in our house so far:



This will be such a fun tradition for years to come. And I know Lily and Jackson will be on their toes every year as to where "Elmo" will be next. Thankfully, Mommy & Daddy have smartened up and set alarms on our cellphones so we don't forget! (Thank you technology!)
And thank you Grandma B. for introducing us to a new fun activity for the Christmas season!

Lily's 4th Birthday- Princess Party!

Last Saturday, Lily celebrated her 4th birthday! She is such a big girl now and we are enjoying watching her personality develop.
We celebrated with a princess/dress-up party! All the kids were invited to dress up in their favorite costume. Aunt Sarah B. and her friend Jennifer were both "Princesses" for the day and did a fantastic job leading a couple of games (find the "poison apple", freeze dance, and hot (potato) "slipper"). The kids LOVED having the princesses there. Lily didn't know what to think seeing her Aunt Sarah all dressed up with her princess attire!
Aunt Sarah from California was in town as well and she painted all the kids' faces. They also decorated their own crowns to take home.
Grandma B. sent them off with fabulous gift bags that she made with their names on them.
Lily continuously thanked us for the "wonderful party" and she is still talking about all the fun she had!
Happy Birthday Lily! We love you, Princess!

Jackson the Electrician?

Jackson is now 10 weeks old! My how time has already flown by.
A couple of weeks ago, we noticed he has a new "friend". He has a minor obsession with one of the can lights in our living room. And when I call the light a "friend", I mean it. He is ALWAYS looking up at it, smiling at it, and has recently started cooing at it!
We are not sure what the fascination is with the light, other than the contrast of the dark center to the light ceiling.
Makes me wonder what he is thinking? We might have a future Electrician on our hands!