Sweet Cheeks

I've been trying and trying to get pictures of Jackson while the plants are blooming, but between the nasty weather, muddy ground and a toddler who doesn't want to stand still , I haven't had too much luck! I haven't been able to get that "ideal" picture that is in my mind, but I have been able to get these!

Frustrated that the camera is still out!

Busted

Actually busted twice.

I walked around a corner this morning and found Jackson engaged in some serious artistry. He chose a fine tip ballpoint pen as his tool and the living room wall as his canvas. Yes, the wall! Since it was a ballpoint, it's actually pretty light and had I not interrupted him, it probably would have been a few days until either one of us noticed.

Pointing to his mural

Last week I walked into Jackson's room and found him on top of his changing table--he was on the floor when I walked out 30 seconds earlier. And I thought he was safe in his bedroom! This morning I walked into his room and happened to have a tube of toothpaste in my hand, so I set it on his changing table. He saw where I put it and had to have it. Here he is in action--

Where's Jackson?

If you look close in the picture above, you can see an eye staring back!!

Our plumber making sure everything is in order

He's really very thorough!

Shoes to Fill

So sweet!

Lions, Tigers and Bears

Can you tell where we went today?

Maybe this will help also!!

Yep, we headed to the zoo! I think it was in January that I told Zach that the first weekend where the weather is great, I wanted to take Jackson to the zoo! So, I've been watching the weather for weeks now and turns out that trip happened today. I had thought earlier in the week we would head to the zoo in Little Rock, but the weatherman forecasted scattered thunderstorms and highs in the low 60s. That was a little too chilly and not wanting to take a chance on rain, we went south to Monroe where the weather was beautiful!

Hungry hippos!
To Jackson, all of the birds were "quack, quack" and all of the larger animals were either cows or horses!

Jackson and another little boy discussing the animals!

Um, this isn't the petting zoo! He kept trying to stick his hand through the fence to pet this beast!

About to head home!


And on to the picture attempts I usually don't post! We couldn't get Jackson to stay still or look towards Zach while I was holding him, so at one point I put him on my shoulders just in an effort to maybe get one decent picture! This is what Zach caught--

Good expression on Jackson, but I'm blinking, so it continues--

And here he is yanking my hair out of my head, but I'm still smiling . . .

Great expression, huh? Although the picture caught him pointing, a split second earlier he was trying even harder to yank my hair out. He thought it was funny. Thanks sweetie.

Then and Now

I was looking in the cabinet for a sing-a-long DVD for Jackson when I noticed the video montage that I did around his first birthday, so I pulled it out and watched it. Twice actually. And both times I teared up. What a little cutie he was and what a sweet and handsome little fella he's becoming. I look at his arms and legs now and the baby rolls are disappearing. I was just telling Zach last night that I wonder what he'll look like this time next year! Anyway, if you're interested, click here to see the video again!

And on to a couple of recent pictures of Jackson--

Creating a masterpiece!

Granddaddy, don't be upset, but the first colors he used were blue and orange! Oops! The coloring actually didn't last too long--he was more interested in trying to put the tops of the markers on and then take them off. Following that, he figured out how to pull the felt tip out! Boys!!

After his nap and hugging his monkey! I'm sure he's staring at trains on the tv . . . he wakes up now saying, "Toot, toot!" over and over until we turn on the trains!

Thought I'd throw in a couple of recent pictures of him with each of us!

It can be so hard to get him to cooperate with the camera!

He's Back!

What a week! Jackson has been sick with croup all week and it has been HORRIBLE. We didn't end up in the er in the wee hours of the morning like before, but I think the toll it took on Jackson and us was worse than before. The poor little fella couldn't quit coughing, wouldn't sleep, wouldn't eat, wouldn't play, would not do anything except sit in our laps. If we put him on the floor for a moment, he started crying. The only time he seemed to feel better was when he was outside, but we didn't want him to overdo it and have another coughing spell, etc. This morning was particularly miserable for all 3 of us. He didn't sleep well at all last night, which of course means we don't sleep either. After several nights of this, Zach and I were a bit cranky. Jackson took a nap this afternoon and after he woke up, our sweet and active little boy started to reappear! It was really like night and day.

Outside Friday and starting to get tired and miserable. In the middle of the night earlier in the week I was trying to clean his nose out so he could breathe (which he hates) and he was crying and all of the sudden started bellowing, "Maammmaaaaa, Maammmaaaa" over and over. Zach was there and it broke our hearts.

Peeping through.
I realize that in these pictures he doesn't appear to be sick, but all of the pictures were taken when he was having his "good" moments. These were few and far between all week.

After the ball he got from the dr's office after getting shots. He couldn't keep the prescription medicine down, so we had to head back for dreaded shots. I wish I could get him on tape saying ball! He's draws it out like a true Southerner!

His new rain boots that he doesn't care for!

Feeling a little better yesterday and having fun. Zach was washing his car and Jackson found a brick and started throwing it in the water so water would splash all over him. And yes, we made sure he didn't aim the brick toward the car!

And tonight! Our little boy is back!
During his baths this week, he would just sit in the tub--no splashing water, no playing with any toys, just sitting there with his little legs crossed. He really has been pitiful.

2 for 2

Over the last two days Jackson has become a student of the art of nosediving off of furniture.
Good news--he gets an A.
Bad news--he gets an A.

Yesterday, he took a nosedive off of a bed and this morning he took another off of the couch. Thankfully there have been no goose eggs or worse . . . just a couple of bruises on his forehead this morning.

Still red and before the bruises made their debut :(