bare necessities, the simple bare necessities

Quick update on the boys.

Will - is amazing of course! He giggles and smiles constantly when alert and fed ... and is a bear when it comes to getting him to sleep. At his 2 month check up he weighed in at 14 pounds and 10 ounces and was 24.2 inches. Our Dr in Chicago (Dr. Potter) is a hoot. I think all pediatricians have to be, right? I mean think about it - parents come in with the most ridiculous scenarios and unrealistic worries about their children. Tony put it perfectly when he said "pediatricians get paid to tell parents what they want and need to hear ... that everything is fine!". The hardest thing for me to juggle is putting the boys down at night because I fly solo. Even nights that go smoothly I still feel guilty about not giving Jackson enough attention and feeling like he gets the short end of the stick. When explaining this feeling to our odd (but very nice and friendly) pediatrician, he said "you give all that you can possible give and then when you can't give any more they (meaning kids) seem to get it." Wise guy, although we all know this in our minds but need to feel it in our hearts (which is what I'm working on). Dr Potter also says things like "don't worry, he won't turn into a ax murder". Ah, what? Luckily Tony and I aren't first time parents and get a good chuckle out of his "interesting" quotes/isms.

 Swing fun.

 

 Jackson wore this OSU shirt when he was 6 months old. Will is getting big!

 Double chins are oh-so-fun!

 

Hey there, Pop-eye!

 Milk Gut.

Jackson - is turning out to be one really funny guy! He loves being outside and in the water. He also loves You Tube videos and PBS (particularly Cat in the Hat, Curious George, Super Why, and Sid the Science Kid). Oh and anything Thomas and Cars related. A part of me is torn because I don't want him to watch TV but it does help at times when trying to give attention to Will and especially during those hot, hot days. I worry sometimes but I know that he would choose outside and painting over TV anytime. His speech/vocab/sentence structure is amazing and getting better and better each day. He still has a tendency to lose focus and ignore but what toddler doesn't. Here are a few of his latest and greatest:

• I YouTubed the song "Bare Necessities" from the Jungle Book one day. A few days later I asked Jackson if he wanted me to play the song again ... and he replied "the one about the bear and, and, and the boy with the undies".

• We asked Jackson if he wanted to play tee-ball this fall ... and his reply was "No mom, I'm a baseball player."

• Listening in on him playing with his cars one day, Jackson was having a conversation with the cars (this happens a lot lately). This is what I over heard ... "come this way" "we need to get gas" "Oh yeah, over here!" "vrooooommm" "come, come" "oh, you have to be 14 to drive" "no, no, I am 14!" "Oh yeah!"

• When putting Jackson to bed I usually have Will with us. One night (just recently) when I asked Jackson the usual question "would you like to kiss Will goodnight?" His response was "No, he's going to spit-up all over me."

• Jackson is paying attention a lot and remember more and more. For example, we checked out a book at the library about a Mom and Daughter, in which the Mom is losing her patience because the Daughter won't clean up her room. Just yesterday Jackson recited "your losing your patience". I asked Jackson who says that (because although Tony and I do lose our patience with Jackson I don't recall ever saying that particular phrase) and he said "Mom says it (pause) in the Block Mess Monster." That's the title of the book.

 I love this boy!

 Building blocks. 

A couple weekends ago we took the train downtown. And what do you know we found the same Target Family Fun Tent as last year (click here and scroll down to last years holahoop photos).

 We didn't build this structure but sure had fun knocking it down.

 

Really, this kid loves water!

Daddy was explaining to me that Jackson and the other kids would wait by the structure (when the water wasn't flowing down) and they would wait and wait until the water came rushing down. Daddy said all the kids would run quickly as the water was falling but Jackson would just stay put and let the water fall on him. Daddy said he loved it!

 

Jackson continues to be a great big brother - and we aren't surprised one bit.

This is the best photo. Look at daddy sleeping.

We love our family of 4, even during the trying moments. We love our guys!

 

 

 

Oops ...

I forgot to add these photos to the last post! Enjoy!

bay beach

We can't believe its already August. About 2 weeks ago we were back in Kaukauna enjoying a relaxing weekend with family. Jackson always has a blast - Aunts, Uncle, backyard fun, bay beach, ice cream, sparklers.

 Great grandma Mary and Will.

The next series of photos are awesome. Jackson loves, loves, loves the water and Aunt Lucy (as you can see Aunt Lucy is so fun):

 

 

 

 

 

Uh-oh! Hair cut time. Jackson hates getting his hair cut. I think its easier to go to the barber (esp for the person giving the hair cut). 

Nothing better then sparklers and ice cream after a hair cut.

Bay beach!! Awww, Aunt Becky and Uncle Don.

Before the ride: "Jackson, what ride to you want to go on first" 

"That one (pointing to the scrambler)" 

"Really?" 

"Yeah, Yeah!"

After the ride: "I don't like that one"

 

 The helicopter ride was much, much better.

 Bond, Jackson Bond.

Alright, the only reason I'm posting this picture is to point out to 2 things: 1, this little boys name was also Jackson and they both wanted to ride on the same plane and 2, this boy is 6 years old. Yes, that is right. He is 6 and Jackson turns 3 this September. 

The whole family rode on the Train Ride, even Will.

The last ride is always the best ... good ol' marry-go-round!