Day 98- Fish Sticks and Tummy Time

I'm sleepy, but Jackson was a good Catholic today and had fish sticks for dinner. He loved them, of course, and had 3. He also did 3 minutes of tummy time before losing it today! He did not sleep well at all last night, so I'm headed to bed, but here are the pictures of fish sticks and tummy time.

Don't you mess with my fish sticks!

Yum

First ever tummy time smile

Uh oh, he just realized where he was

Day 97- is it spring break yet?

Well, I'm definitely counting down the days until spring break. I think everyone has cabin fever and life is just crazy at school. I'm working hard to get all the paperwork done and trying to make sure I have enough fun lessons to keep the kids from killing each other! This means, though, some pretty long days at school and less time hanging out with Jackson :(

I was able to get the four of us (me joe bernie and jackson) out for a walk this evening. We only did half of our normal route b/c it was late by the time I got home, unpacked, dogs fed, pumped, and Jackson fed but it was still a beautiful day. Now all of my boys are crashed out- fresh air does the body good!

This weekend is Spring Weekend at WVWC, I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone who comes in. I won't be going out this year, but I do hope to catch up with friends. I have found being one of the first of my friends to become a mom (though many are joining me now!) becomes kind of isolating. We end up in two different worlds. My world now revolves around school, the dogs, and Jackson. My day starts at 5:30 AM feeding the dogs and letting them out then it's usually around 9:00 when I finally get to sit down from cleaning up dinner, getting bottles, clothes, diapers, and food ready and achieving my goal of one household chore a night. That leaves little time for the things I used to live for- like dinner and drinks with friends and impromptu get togethers. I'm OK with all of this, but I do look forward to when Jackson's at an age where it won't be so difficult to leave him for a few hours at night to go out and have a few drinks. I do admit, I get jealous when I see all the pics of fun trips and late nights that my non mom friends post.

One thing that I have found that helps with this conflict has been online friends that I have made from thebump.com. These are a group of women that I went through my pregnancy with and now we share pictures, stories, and videos daily of our babies. I love that no matter what country or state they are in, most are going through the same things and don't care if I go on and on about the cute little thing that Jackson did. I'm so thankful that I have met these ladies because it does help to fill that fun aspect of my life, even if it is just for 1/2 an hour at night :)

Well enough typing, because the first wash of diapers is almost done and I can do the hot wash and go to bed soon! Here are a few pics of Jackson from today. The first ones are from where his father woke him up early and I still had to get ready. I put him in his room with toys and put the gate up to keep the dogs out. He played and played- I love that he is learning how to play by himself. Don't worry- we are treating his pinkeye and it looks the worst in the morning. The second group of pictures is Jackson showing off all the trouble that he can get in while in his walker. He loves to pull the trash can down and chase the dogs. Bernie does not think it's very funny and Joe just deals. But they do have fun together! Well tomorrow is Friday- so sweet weekend dreaming!

Day 96- Spaghetti Monster

Today was a very long day, so I'm so glad I got to come home to a very happy baby. He's been introduced to enough foods that, so long as we are having a healthy meal, Jackson's ready for full fledged baby led weaning. He's ready to eat what we eat, minus salt or high allergen foods. Tonight was pasta- which ironically, was the word of the day from Sesame Street today. Jackson did really well with it until there was one piece left (from his second helping). Then, he got tired and rubbed his eyes. He loved his pasta so much he had two bowls, plus a piece of toast, five yogurt puffs and half of a banana.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from tonight:

Day 95- Stand up tall

Jackson loves to stand up. He can't do it on his own yet, but he loves to hold onto me and pull himself up. Then just stand. I have a hard time getting him to sit now. I'm excited that he has learned this new skill, but it makes things like bath time a little tougher. He will stiffen his legs and his body when you try to make him sit, making it very difficult to put him any other way than standing.

His other new favorite thing- mustard. He is so his momma's boy. He had a little mustard with a pretzel this past Sunday. He loved it so much, he actually ate some right off my finger and said "more" (which at this point and time ranges from "Mmm" to "mo" but it is consistent when he wants more food). Now he didn't get any more then, but I did put some mustard on his cauliflower tonight to encourage him to eat it. The little booger sucked off all of the mustard and then through the cauliflower onto the floor. He definitely has no trouble communicating his likes and dislikes when it comes to food.

He had a very vocal night last night, so while he got a lot of sleep-I did not. So I'm headed to bed early tonight!

Concentrating hard b/c I'm only holding him up by his belt loop

Happy Baby

Sucking the mustard off of the cauliflower

Messy mustard face

You want me to sit? I don't think so.

Day 94- B-e-a-u-tiful day!

I love, love, love weather like we had today. I even love the thunderstorms that will be putting me to sleep shortly. Today Jackson, Joe, Bernie and I enjoyed a nice long walk around the neighborhoods. Then Jackson and I played out front while Joe and Bernie lounged in the back. Jackson just looks so much bigger and older in shorts than he does in pants (at least to me). I don't know, maybe it just hit me that he's getting bigger. He's in 6-9 month clothing and they are a little big on him, so he's not super big- but he seems it to me. He's getting stronger- I have a feeling he's going to get mobile on me pretty soon. He loves to stand and is pulling up using me any chance he gets. He's starting to take steps while holding my hands too.

He got to enjoy bare feet this afternoon. He wasn't so sure of the grass at first, but he warmed up to it. He loved being able to play with his toes in the stroller. I can't wait until summer!

Not so psyched for the ride, but he did enjoy it once we got moving

Conked out by the time we got home- he did stay up and chat through 1/2 of it though

No so sure about the grass

His sad face- he didn't like the grass touching his legs

All better- standing up and watching a car- holding on 1 handed :)

Much happier with the grass now

Mom- I'm bored and tired, can we go inside yet?

Decided picking grass was a good way to pass the time

Day 93- Happy Birthday Russell

We had a busy day in Clarksburg today and I've finally got everything done, so I'm headed to bed. Here are some pictures from after Jackson got home. I did get to see today that both of his top teeth have broken through now :)

Don't you try and take my ring

Sleepy boy

I'm gonna get you Bernie!

Happy kid

Jackson's cheese face

Day 92- Jackson's Favorite Trick

Tonight's a short one because I've got a nasty cold and I'm headed to bed. Here is a picture of Jackson with his new favorite trick- pulling off his socks and eating them. Sorry- it's not a very good picture, we had a lot of fun playing today, but not much camera time. He also had 3 1/2 hours worth of napping in there- so we missed a lot of playtime too.

Day 91- Happy Boy and snow

Jackson is back to his old self, happy and hungry! The top tooth has officially broken all the way through. I'm not sure how long this happy period is going to last though b/c he's drooling like it's his job. However, I will enjoy this time while I can. Oh and for dinner tonight- he ate an entire fish fillet and a yogurt cup. He's a bottomless pit. Almost all of my paperwork is done so I am going to enjoy the weekend. Jackson has started to take small steps while holding on to me. This is a big move forward for him b/c he used to be content just standing, now he'll take a few tiny steps to try and get something!

On another note, it's April 1st, it snowed and will continue to snow all weekend. I wore flip flops because it's supposed to be spring- take that mother nature ;). Now it's off to cuddle with Joe and the Bern and relax this Friday night. 14 days until spring break y'all!

Goofy kid trying to do a Michael Jordan

He's starting to like his touch and feel books- he loves to feel the "straw"

Happy baby before bedtime

He was like this anytime you looked at him today

5:30 AM 4/1/11-- I thought I moved south of erie and out of snow :(