Safari!!

Today, Daddy took Jackson, Ben and I to the safari!! The boys had a blast!

Walking over to see the monkeys!

Ben loved the puppies!

While Jackson just wanted to chase the chickens!!!


The boys loved this turtle!

Jackson will chase anything - even ducks while he screams "quack quack" at them and they scream it back! Pretty funny!

Checking out the bunnies!

Jackson drifted a little too far away from us but he was chasing these chickens - I think the chickens won!

Time to chase the giant bunny!

We took many juice breaks! It was hot!


In the car - one of the first animals we saw was this zebra!


Jackson found the emu's VERY funny!!!

Best Buddies!

Last Day Of School (in Fayetteville)

Wednesday was Jackson's last day at Mother's Day Out - or at least his "normal" place to go! He starts at another MDO location in 2 weeks - which is about 2 miles from our house (thank goodness). The summer program only lasts 6 weeks, but since it's the VERY end of my pregnancy - those 6 weeks are going to be crucial! I need to take advantage of any chance I have to not lift and tug him through grocery stores, etc!

This is how I found him at school on Wed when I went to pick him up! What better than a blue popsicle and a white shirt!?


Jackson and his 2 teachers - Ms. Sadeta and Ms. Tasha who have been INVALUABLE to Jackson starting school. Up until January, when he joined their class, he had NEVER been away from mom/dad and w/ strangers (except for the short stints at the gym). I don't know that he would have transitioned as well w/o them! He will miss them so much!


Jackson's best buddies! Cole and Ben!

Jackson's Graduation Program

On Monday, Jackson had his first little "graduation" program at his school (Mothers Day Out school, that is). They had the ones in his class wear green and they got up and sang a song. Well, what you'll see from this video that this is what happens when your boy plays outside all morning and doesn't get his ample "choo-choo" time so refuses a nap OR dinner and then has to go "perform" a program in which he's supposed to be happy and sing a song! haha! Not happening w/ Jackson! Oh well -still precious to me! :)


Fortunately, Mimi went w/ me to see Jackson's program since Daddy was in Chicago.

Ben's Daddy Jim gets "Daddy of the Day" for being there at the graduation. Poor Cole's daddy was at work too. These boys don't seem to mind as long as they have their mommies!

Jackson's 2nd Birthday!!!

Sunday, my sweet baby boy turned 2 years old!!! It's really really hard for me to believe it's been that long but at the same time, I can't remember life without him! The weather could not have been better for a fun day at Wilson Park!! Ben and his family were the first to arrive to the party - so Jackson and Ben took a turn in the swing!

Poppie came in later w/ on his motorcycle!

Mimi followed and Jackson was super excited to see her "Mimi! Mimi!"

After some playing on the playground, we pulled out the bubbles and the kids chased them around!

Jackson could chase the bubbles for HOURS! Lauren acted like she could too!






Ben likes to do the bubbles himself.... Eden probably thinks both of these boys are nuts.

Lauren showed the kids how to blow the bubbles too!



Cake time!! Jackson got his own cake w/ a James ring on top.... Thank you Ricks. We heart you.


Bella and Jaci anxiously awaiting some cake!

Time to light the candles and sing Happy Birthday to sweaty Jackson!

Mommy and Daddy help blow out the candles!



This is my mom - basically the entire time. She's "practicing" again for our upcoming arrival by holding Connie's baby Colton the whole time!

The crew getting ready for cake!

Presents!!!

Connie and Lauren

Burrow Family - I can't believe Ben sat there so perfect the whole time! Most 2 year olds (including mine) could not have done that!!


Jackson could have dug in w/ his hands and made a huge mess but instead, he prefered to eat the cake the way everyone else was... w/ a fork. Surprisingly, he didn't want too much of it.


Little Brooklyn (who turned 2 in March) and her mommy Stacy.

Jackson was very excited about the presents! He opened one "choo-choo" thing after another and wanted everything opened right away so he could start playing!


Thanks Connie for this outdoor game kit - I'm hoping we can be outside quite a bit this summer!

Megs holding sweet little Kipton so his mommy could eat some cake.

Papa and Nana got Jackson a singing Elmo - so Jackson gave it a kiss!

Ben got Jackson an AMAZING piece for his train set where Sir Topham Hatt calls out the engines name!!! So Jackson wanted this open right away!!!

And of course, being that he's in love w/ Ben's Mommy Emily - She got him the "Emily" engine!! He was SOOOOO happy!!!

My brother showed up at the end - so Meg took a picture of him to prove that he was actually there.

Sarah and Kipton

Time to say goodbye to Jackson fiancee! (Jackson actually gave Anna Kate a pink ring that glows!) So time to hug goodbye and for some reason, Jackson NEVER gives me any trouble with giving Anna hugs!



On the drive home - Little man was wiped out. He slept for the 15 minutes in the car, but that's it!!!


Because as soon as he got home, he wanted to play w/ his loot. :) Can't blame him. Happy Birthday Jackson! I'm glad you had a great day! Mommy and Daddy LOOOOOVE YOU!!!