Pool Days....

On Tuesday, Emily and I decided to take our amazing neighbors up on their offer to come get in their pool anytime we want!!! So that's what we did! They 2 amazing kids hung out w/ us too - (funny - her name is Emily too and her brother is Jacob). I'm really glad they did too cuz Jackson really warmed up to "little" Emily and she was a total mother hen for him! Which is a good thing considering Jackson HATES the water (literally - hates! Baths are even a nightmare for him) and he really just wants to run around the outside of the pool... which never worried me at all until about 10 minutes after we got there. He was running around and decided he wanted the basketball out of the water and bent down to get it and went head first into the water! Thank the LORD that I was within a step or two from him (I was in the water) and just yanked him up out of the water. It scared me to death though. I mean, when he fell in, his little head bobbed up once and then he went clear in and sat there for about 1 second with his head completely under water. I'm SO thankful I was there so close! As soon as I grabbed him out, he started coughing so I knew he was ok! I seemed like slow motion but I know it was probably less than 2 seconds. From then on, sweet little Emily followed him around in the water as he moved all around the pool area. I'm thankful for that since I'm just WAY slower than I want to be right now.

This is Emily playing with the basketball with Jackson. He would throw it in and she would grab it and hand it back and on and on.... she stayed glued to him - she'll definitely be my most useful babysitter in a few years!


Yes, I know - his little shorts don't fit him well. They are 24 mos! He is just shaped like my brother w/ NO booty at all - even with a diaper!

I heart those curls!

Mommy Emily and her pride and joy - Ben!

This is what I mean -he kept running around the pool - scaring me to death but Emily stayed right there w/ him after our big scare. Thank you little Emily!



So then today, we were invited over to our other other neighbor - Lisa's house, home of Holiday! :) The kids had fun - but Jackson was being a bit of a stinker. He kept throwing her rocks into the pool. Boo. But I got some cute pictures anyway!

Lowell Park

Last week, Jenny, Emily and I took the boys to the park. Jackson has started becoming a bit of a stinker. He is "testing" me and the truth is - like I've told many people - I just have no fight left in me. I'm just exhausted! So grabbing him and putting him in time-out and/or spanking his little bottom when he hits and grabs a toy away and throws sand in someone's face (oh yes, he does all of these things) is just like running a marathon to me right now. And it seems like once he starts misbehaving, he gets in a zone and doesn't stop! Needless to say, it makes these playdates WAY less relaxing for me than they should... But, either way, I'm so thankful for good friends who are patient enough to let my ornery boy continue to play with their kids! I know Jackson doesn't have poor intentions - he's just a toddler! And if I weren't 8 mos pregnant, I know I would be much more consistent disciplining him. But for the next few weeks, we both have to suffer. :)

Regardless, he's still the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life. :)

34 Weeks

Well, here's my 34 wk update: I. Am. Huge. I feel enormous and I look enormous and that's just that. Everyone - and I mean everyone - keeps telling me that I'm probably going to have him early but seriously people... I didn't have Jackson early and I was huge w/ him too. It's all good though. I'm praying for a healthy baby who comes when he's ready to come, on his terms and so I'm just telling myself 6 more weeks or so!!! If he chooses to come earlier, WOOHOO! :) I've had TONS of contractions - all random and strange and uncomfortable, but nothing to get excited about. Jackson has really picked up on the whole "baby is coming" vibe cuz he's gotten very very attached to me lately... which is unusual for him and I'm silently (ha!) LOVING it. :) He's always been a daddy's boy so I'm really enjoying this extra love and attention from my 2 yr old.
All in all, no news to report - which I consider a good thing.

34 weeks with JACKSON (4/9/08)


34 Weeks with ETHAN (6/13/10)

Sidewalk Chalk

Despite the BLAZING heat, I do have a toddler who truly loves to be outside. He let me know yesterday - it was time to go outside and play! So that's what we did. Jackson's favorite outdoor activity (until we get a fence and open up the new putt putt course!) is to play with the bubbles and sidewalk chalk! I always have fun doing these things too...

1st Day of Summer School

Jackson started his summer Mother's Day Out program today. In the Spring, he went to a MDO in Fayetteville but this summer one is REALLY close to our house and actually, the church where we go to regularly, so I was so excited about having him there. It is a great great church. The lady in charge of the program seems a bit scattered so that makes me a little nervous cuz I didn't get hardly any information but I met a few people who take their kids there so I was able to get some answers to my questions that way. When I dropped him off today, he was very excited about going to "school" but he still thought he was going to his other "school" so he was very confused. He played inside the room w/ me for awhile while I talked to the teacher and finally got some questions answered. They are very nice teachers! So when I went to leave, I told him bye and gave him a kiss. A lot of people think this is a bad idea - but let me tell you... sneaking out just makes MY child VERY VERY angry!!! He does much better when I just say bye and jet. He was very vocal about being unhappy w/ it though. He screamed "mama, mama!!!!" over and over while the teachers tried to comfort him. Talk about ripping your heart out and shattering it. I HATE that. I really wanted to just go back in and say "nevermind. we'll skip it today" but I know - for sure - that this is only helping develop my sweet boy into a more independent, confident child. I want him to always trust that I'm coming back and in order for that to happen, he needs to be apart occasionally. I know it will get easier. It did before too. He just was in a new place, w/ strangers and that's scary for anyone - especially a 2 year old. So when I got back to the room when it was time to pick him up, he was waiting for me and watching and as soon as he saw me, he yelled MOMMA!!!! and came running... Awh, my heart is back in one piece again. :) It is such a great feeling when the person who you would give your whole life for sees you with those big eyes and huge smile and hugs you. Awh.... I can't even describe that feeling. They said he cried on and off, depending on what was going on. They said he barely ate (no surprise there - he barely eats anyway) and took a nap just fine! They actually put him on his nap mat but in a crib with his paci and he went right to sleep for an hour and a half. So that's great! :) I, however, noticed when we got home that I did not get the paci back so I emailed the lady in charge cuz that's my only spare paci!

Anyway - so here's my little man today!

Peace

A great friend reminded me of this verse...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippines 4: 6-7

AMEN!!!!

Hands Up Dance with Daddy!

Fun times with Holiday!

We were at our neighbor Lisa's house and her 3 year old - Holiday - is soooooooo cute! Jackson loves to play with her - I think it helps that she's older and she isn't in the same sassy stage as Jackson. She is much more laid back! Anyway, Jackson started making this silly noise (Goo- Gah)and thought it was the funniest thing in the world that Holiday kept copying him! So he was laughing so hard - I grabbed the camera at the tail end of it, but it's something anyway!

Ethan Chase, T-7 weeks!

Well, we had our ultrasound today. I was so anxious and nervous all the way up to this point but we learned that we have a completely normal, healthy baby boy. He's measuring perfect - actually his size indicates he should be here around Aug 1 - so a few days after my July 27 due date. He is head down, which I was relieved to hear since he wasn't at our last ultrasound. The tech was super sweet. She put it in 4D and let us just watch Ethan for awhile... He kept was funny - he smiled and licked his lips and stuck his tongue at us and then yawned... and then yawned again... Apparently, we were boring him! :) He looks just like his big brother based on what I can tell.

His HB was 141 and weighs in 3lbs, 15oz as of now. Doc said everything looks "perfect." YAY for good Lord's blessings!!!!

I still have this sharp stabbing pain in my right groin but the doc checked me for hernia since it's hard to tell the difference between that and round ligament pain, but it's not a hernia - which is a relief since I've had a hernia before. He told me to take it easy for several days (yep, not happening when I have a toddler to take care of!) but hopefully it will go away. Can you believe I forgot to ask him about the contractions I've been having... oh well.

Poor baby boy has "stuff" all over him. I kept asking what is that on his head and what is that and she said it's "stuff" if you know what I mean. All normal.

His eyes are closed here but he did blink for us several times.


Little smile!!!

This is a super zoomed in close up - which is cool... Keep in mind, there is "stuff" all around his nose and mouth that almost look weird in this pic but when in motion, you can tell the shape of his face better.

I have a thing for baby feet so I wanted to see his! This is definitely a Jackson foot! :)


And MAJOR proof that we're still having a boy!!!

Summertime!!

Yesterday, Jackson had his friends Ben, Cole, Holiday and Eden over to play in the back yard! We set up the sandbox that Mimi got Jackson for his birthday and we had a kiddie pool set up and the wacky sprinkler and also ended up moving the FAMOUS roller coaster over into the back yard cuz what's the party w/o the roller coaster!? We should get our fence put up in the next few weeks or so and then we're going to have another BIG party when Jackson opens up his birthday present from Uncle Dave and Aunt Carla - a Par 3 putt-putt golf set up!! I wanted to set it up for this playdate, but unfortunately, it was SO windy and I have to lug everything from the back yard back to the garage when I'm done and I just don't have it in me to move stuff right now. It took me almost an hour just to move THIS stuff back to the garage.... I'm REALLY anxious to have that fence! :)

Holiday - cheesing it up!


Eden and her mommy Heather!


Jackson will only look at me if I catch him off guard - like this.


Cole was working that sandbox!

Bubbles!!!

Lisa was helping "facilitate" the kids on the roller coaster - everyone wants to go down at the same time....

32 Weeks!

OK - Baby update this week: I'm feeling like a MESS. I have felt pretty decent this entire pregnancy but the last week or so, not so much. I'm feeling very uncomfortable. I keep getting these "ligament" pains in my groin that don't really want to go away (which I know that lugging around a 28 pound child doesn't help) but overall - I'm having trouble sleeping, my back hurts a LOT, I can't bend down hardly at all and everything just feels like such a chore. I know - boo, hoo, hoo. I don't mean to sound so whiny but that's just how I feel.

On Thursday, Friday and some on Saturday, I had some pretty obvious contractions. I know they are just braxton hicks contractions because there was no rhyme or reason for them but dang, a couple of them were really really noticeable! I could actually see my belly tense up and let down each time! I think Ry got a little worried and started timing them but they were not evenly spaced at all or anything... and they went away after less than an hour so no biggie.... Just another thing that didn't happen w/ Jackson. Pregnancies really ARE very different from one to the other.

I cannot wait until Friday's ultrasound to hear what's going on w/ Ethan and his size but honestly, I think they are going to say "you're right on time - everything is normal for a due date delivery." I got my hopes up so high that Jackson would definitely be born early cuz I remember FEELING like he was so big but nope. He was late (induced at that) and he was only 6lb,7oz. So I know that even though I feel bigger, that doesn't mean squat. I will say, he is WAY more active than Jackson was and just this past week, he has started having hiccups - which are adorable at first and annoying after several minutes of it. :) I had a dream that I was feeling my belly and felt his little hand reach out for me and I was able to grab it and hold it... May sound weird but it was a sweet moment in my dream. I think I've been having lots of dreams lately and that may be why I wake up almost every night and can't go back to sleep for over an hour. On top of that, Jackson has been waking up earlier and earlier!!! He is now up almost every morning at 615am (normal is 700am), takes an hour, half nap if that (normal is 2 - 2.5 hrs) and goes to bed later - like 830p (normal is about 800p). So literally - I go to bed shortly after putting him down and he is the one who wakes me up. Thank GOD Ryan is done traveling with work!!! I think I've put the fear of God into him if he leaves anymore!!!

So more news on Friday (or no news!) - I'm so anxious I can barely stand it!

32 weeks with JACKSON (3/26/08)
(notice the swollen face - that only got worse w/ Jackson!)

32 Weeks with ETHAN (6/1/10)

2 Year Pictures

Well, we are attempting to take Jackson's 2 year pictures on our own. Ryan reminds me that we spent all this money on this "fancy camera" so I could do the photography I wanted to do. What he doesn't understand (or maybe forgets) is that at 8 months pregnant, I don't feel like spending that much time squatting down on the ground trying to capture the very rare and SPLIT second my gorgeous toddler looks at me! Regardless, we spent an hour on Saturday morning taking on his very feat. We did succeed in spending an hour, taking 146 pictures while getting sore and in the end, capturing ONE picture that I think is worthwhile. Either way, here are the best shots but we have agreed that this weekend, we're going to make another attempt. The bigger I get though, the less likely he will have successful 2 year pictures. :)

THIS is the one, I do admit, that I love. :)