Nativity Play

Jackson LOVED dressing up as Joseph and was so sweet with the baby Jesus.  The funniest part was the angels breaking into "glory to God"  and Jackson just HAD to start dancing through the room . . . I never realized it was a dancing carol!

Christmas Morning

Jackson is at the age where he mostly understands Christmas and the excitement and fun that surround it. We have been so excited all month as we have planned and bought things to make him happy. And we weren't disappointed! Here are his first moments with his Santa toys.

Another of Jackson's favorite gifts . . . scriptures (even without pictures he loves reading the story of Jesus)

Christmas Sweets

Indecent ABCs

About half way through he realizes we are watching and then REALLY shows off.  I love my little dancing, jumping, singing boy!

KOHLS

Smart kid right?

How I know I am 9 months pregnant . . .

When walking, there is more movement side to side than forward

I know where every bathroom in Utah county is located

Haven't even thought about cutting my toenails in months

Walking a flight of stairs is harder than the Boston Marathon . . . if it was run on the Alps.

Remember the fat lady fanning herself in church with the program while everyone else is bundled in their coats, scarves and mittens?  That is me.

Becoming acquainted with the "wee hours of the morning" as I wake to roll over

My nightly desert . . . TUMS! yum!

Yesterday, one of my students told me that I 'sure was getting TALL' - pretty sure I haven't grown an inch in 10 years.

Nesting . . . spending more $ on a baby that isn't actually here than I am on Christmas for my living loved ones

When was the last time I got to hug my husband?

STRESS and WORRY:  I knew long before we conceived that this child's due date may just fall in a time when I really didn't WANT to have a baby.  Not that I didn't want a baby, but that I wanted it in October, or November, or February, but NOT in December.  When I realized the due date was January I breathed a sigh of relief, but as every fat and heavy pregnant lady knows, by 37 weeks, you just want the pregnancy to be over.  BUT despite the physiological cravings to have this baby out, my mental and emotional Being wants this baby IN as long as possible.  Not that I have ANY control over it, but that is what is just so stressful . . . no control.  I have no say in when, where and how she appears into this life.  I worry that if she DOES come before Christmas, she will be emotionally scarred that we didn't want her here then.  I worry that the rest of her life she will hate the fact that she has to share her special day with the Christmas hullabaloo.  Then again,  if she waits until Jan 11 (induction date) I will be so antsy and  tired of being pregnant.  Plus, I don't even think we can figure out a name by then!  AUGH!!  so much to stress over and so little time with the Christmas season fully engulfing us!   And by stressing over it, I can somehow control the situation more right?

heehee, those were the inner workings of my mind at this current time, I understand if you faded out on line 2 . . .
But really I am excited for this little girl to come.  Lots of things I am nervous about, but after Dec. 25th (and even more after Jan 1) I will be ready and waiting for her arrival (with the exception of knowing her name).

Look at me, I'm crafty!!

I usually don't interact with any sort of craft that requires cutting, glueing or sewing, but I made an exception to make some cute things for our baby girl and a few Christmasy items.  What do you think?

Car seat canopies
(The red one is for my Sister in Law, brown and pink is for my little one)

An Unfinished quilt top- this was quite the project because the fabrics I first picked out didn't go well together and we had to try and get new fabrics to go with what I had already sewn.  Luckily, Dave helped me to figure out what I like and was patient with me (and did lots of unpicking) so I didn't give up. 

Christmas Advent calendar - this took me the ENTIRE Super Saturday time, but it is done!

These aren't crafts, but still it is a project!  We tend to get into doing different puzzles during the holiday season and up to this point these are the ones we've completed.

What do you think Jackson was for Halloween?

 

An overexcited missionary?

 

A "skinny- jumping" kid?

 A animal cage fighter?

Happy toddler?

Mad?

Surprised?

Nope, he was a tiger! or a jumpy tigger!

And our little girl was humpty dumpty 

Dave and I were party poopers and didn't dress up :)

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of . . .

Even though I am not sure I am ready for a newborn, I also am excited to have a new little "Jackson" in our lives.  I am also excited to not be pregnant any more.   I have been feeling like it has been SO long since I've held a little tiny baby I am not sure I'll know what to do with her when she gets here.  But hopefully in the next 12 weeks I'll get myself prepared and be ready to be a newborn mom again.

This is her at 12 weeks along:

Profile

We got a great video of her sticking her tongue in and out.  It reminded me of the cute little baby faces we loved to stare at. 

 Her beautiful face

 Showing off her biceps for the camera!  

We are still hoping to figure out a name for her.  Jackson has decided her name is Allison.  Any other name we say, he replies, "No . . .  I like Allison!"

More funnies

 I have a complete lack of pictures and events in our lives right now, but it is FULL of fun with Jackson around.  Here's a few more for memories sake.

I tell Jackson that when he doesn't fold his arms or stay focused in his prayers that he makes Jesus sad. Yesterday,  Jackson folded his arms and stayed folded the whole time.  After I finished he said, "Mom, I fold my arms!  I make Jesus happy!"  I smiled and said, "You make ME happy, too!"  He smiled and replied, "And I make Joseph Smith happy too!"  What do you think?  Did he?

In the car Dave and I like to talk and lately it is driving Jackson crazy, he keeps yelling at us "NO TALKING"  so I told him that if he wanted to say something he could politely ask, "Mom, dad I want to say something please."  A few moments later I hear the politest, kindest voice, say "I want to say something please mom."  (I know that is alot of words!)  I am so impressed at how quickly he learned it, I ask what it is.  Slowly, clearly (loudly) he says, "STOP . . .  TALKING!!"

We worked so hard to teach Jackson to say President Thomas Monson so he would at least have 5 seconds he could pay attention to in General Conference.  Then on Monday we took him to his first movie (Toy Story 3).    He was glued to the screen and couldn't get enough of Buzz Lightyear.  Later, he found something at the store with Buzz on it and couldn't remember his name.  I said Buzz . . . and he replied "Oh, Buzz Monson!"

We found an Eeyore and I told him who he was and that he was sad.  Jackson said, "Don't be sad Eeyore!  I'll be your friend!"  I am amazed at his ability to put words together and come up with his own thoughts.

I told Dave I was mad at Jackson for taking his shoes off (so they were left at the church).  He said, "He's only two, you can't be mad at him."  Then Jackson says, "MOM!  I'n only TWO!  (Slowly and commandingly) Don't  . . . get . . .  mad  . . . at . . . ME!!  Well when you put it that way . . .

Explitive

A couple more Jacksonisms that are funny . . .

He can say dog and says doggie  is "goggie"  but any time he says hot dog it comes out "hot god"

He can say GAS just fine, but for some reason everytime he is looking for his little play gas can he says, "Where my ASS?"  and when we fill up the tank he says "we put ass in the car".  As soon as I correct him he says it perfectly, but can't seem to remember it the next time . . .

At least he is saying firetruck just fine :)

Jacksonisms

This morning my hand brushed Jackson's back and he said, "Mommy, I want a massage" ( how many 2-year-olds know that word?)  I rubbed his back as he cuddled up to me and he said, "Thanks mom, that feels good!"  It doesn't get any better than those moments!

He was trying to get a drink of water from a water fountain and said, "Mommy, I want a drink"  I said, "Ok, Get one." After repeating this several times, he said, a bit frustrated, "Mommy, HELP me get a drink!"  It is so nice to have him tell me what he wants!

Lately I've been having Jackson get things for me and help me (it must be a first child thing to demand help from others)  I asked him to run upstairs and get me my purse.  He happily skipped upstairs and as he was coming down with it he said, "I get your purse mommy, I make you happy!"

Last night in my prayer I said, "Help Jackson to obey"  (We've taught this concept in FHE and are trying to help him understand it).  As I laid him in bed he said, " Mom, I obey SOMETIMES"  And he is right, he does obey . . . sometimes.

Proof I've been doing my yoga

Complete with a snazzy outfit, Jackson shows off what he learns each morning as mom does yoga.

UPDOG

Back extension (he is all the way up on his head) Leg extension -if only I had this kind of flexibility!

Thanks for being my yoga buddy!

When cousins come to play

Dayton came to visit for a couple of days (yes, JUST Dayton). He and Jackson had so much fun together! (Even if they hated each others guts periodically and had "MINE!" yelling wars. We enjoyed the farm together

and riding the horsey . . .

Since the video where the two boys were making each other laugh hysterically was tragically erased, Dayton will HAVE to come again and create even more memories! Thanks for sending your boy!

Southern Utah . . again . . . and again . . . and again!

We headed to Southern Utah 3 weekends in a row!  First we went to a Shields Family reunion at Ponderosa ranch.  We felt really lonely as only 75 of the 100+ relatives were able to make it :)  There was excellent swimming and family time, but Jackson was a terrible sleeper (only slept from 12-5 am!)

Next weekend we went to a condo in St. George.  It was a great get-away to have some time with just our little family.  It was HOT but we did alot of swimming, some shopping and game time.  We also visited the local historical church sites (not a great idea with a 2 year old that wants to touch everything).  We were so glad to relax together for a few days!

The Dixie narrows (narrow enough that our new little baby almost couldn't fit through!)

St. George Temple

Finally, we got to hike the infamous "subway" in Zions.  We have been trying to do this hike since right after we met (Dave did it without me the weekend after we started dating because I already had plans).  It has never worked out and we were worried that being 18 weeks pregnant might thwart our plans again, but thanks to a helpful husband we were able to complete this incredible hike.