Work Weekend

As I was saying before, we are getting ready to put our house on the market. Although we think we have someone who wants to buy it without having to go through a realtor, we still had a few projects to finish up and some cleaning ouy and staging to do, just in case she falls through.

On Saturday, Mom and Dad and Aunt Tacey came over to help out with the work load. Mom and I cleaned and cleared out the rooms and the boys followed behind touching up paint, caulking, fixing things, etc. Jackson and Aunt Tacey played outside ALL DAY! The kid was a mess! He was covered in sidewalk chalk (including his teeth after he took a bite out of it!) , and he had a good time coloring all over one of mommy's old backdrops that we laid out for him. I also had gotten him a bubble gun and he had a blast blowing bubbles all over the place! And while we were in the garage moving some boxes around, Jackson was being quiet and decided to color all over Daddy's company car. That's right--the Mustang he brought home for the weekend had red crayon on the bumper! YIKES!! He fell late in the afternoon and really skinned up his knees. Between the bruises and the scraped up knees, he was a mess!



I had to leave for a photo shoot in the afternoon, but we got the bathrooms, our room, closet, hall closet, and Jackson's room cleared out and cleaned for show. When I got home, Adam and I recreated a play place for Jackson in the garage--all his big toys are now set up for play, along with a box of little toys. I'd rather he be playing out there making a mess than in my house while we are showing it--and he loves it! It's like a new playground to him, so he was out there til LATE last night. Adam laid down to do an "ab" workout and Jackson stood staring at him, then followed suit! He just laid their kicking his legs--so cute!


This morning, we woke up and had a breakfast of champions--donuts and juice! Jackson kept saying "Choo-Cha, Cha-Choo" for his chocolate milk (no clue).


Then we were off for more work--I power-washed the walkway and driveway, while Adam tackled re-grouting the kitchen counters. As soon as that was done, it was time for lunch and cleaning of the pond (for the millionth time we have lived here--I HATE THAT F***ING POND!!) The entire time we were outside today, Jackson was right next to us. He helped me power-wash, then rode on his Cozy Coupe for about an hour, then mowed the lawn for another hour, then played with his bistro set. Literally, he was outside with us from 10:00-3:30 just playing, not whining, not asking for anything, just playing. He took time to eat 2 pieces of left over pizza and an Uncrustable (healthy, I know, but he was hungry and that's what we had time for!) but other than that, he was on the move playing. And getting DIRTY!! My kid was FILTHY for 2 days! His face was a mixture of snot and dirt! Uhhh! He's a boy, alright!! He LOVED being DIRTY!!

We headed to the backyard where he discovered the Tangelo tree. It's been there forever, we just don't do much with it. Jackson wanted to pull ALL of the oranges off of there! Adam peeled one to give to him and he chowed down!







And, he rediscovered his swingset. He's always loved the swing, but he enjoys the teeter-totter and the slide now! Oh, and riding on Daddy's shoulders!










Grandma Netty and Aunt Tacey brought us chili for dinner--and brownies! They knew we had been working all day and needed a break! Thanks girls! We ate, we chatted, we played in the garage while Jackson made us cocktails at the bistro grille....

And now, we are exhausted. Jackson did NOT take a nap today, so him and Daddy took their bath, got some milk, and Jackson was out COLD in about 2 minutes after laying down with Daddy--Adam said he took about 3 sips of milk and dropped it out of pure exhaustion! It was a great day!!

Play Date Friday

Today was a play date friday with our MOPS group (Mothers of Preschoolers) and our destination: Lupe Tortillas! It's a great Mexican food place that has a giant sand pit/play gym place in the front. Why other restaurants haven't come up with this idea, I have no clue, but all of us moms piled onto the patio and let the kids run wild while we enjoyed our Sangria Margaritas and, chips, salsa, and tacos! Jackson was enthralled by the "big" boys that came today-they were 5 and Jackson wanted to do whatever they were doing! He also had a great time on the teeter-totter with Miss Hannah Grace, our walking buddy. Right now, Jackson is covered in sand, yet asleep in his bed (I'll have to wash sheets tonight...lovely) and I am covered in sand and pinto beans (because he sat on my lap and when he would miss his mouth, my jeans would catch them, along with the juice...again, more laundry)




We are heading out the door after his nap for our daily walk with the girls--we live so close to my friends Paige and Melissa that we have been meeting up every day to work on our "dead sexy bodies!" by walking for an hour. Hopefully, we'll all be bikini ready by April 1st when Paige gets her new pool!

Ash Wednesday

We had quite the day yesterday. We started the morning with an appointment with the realtor to see 8 houses...we found one. And, still not 100% sure about it. After our running around with Miss Pam (the realtor) we ate tuna sandwiches with GG Jane, then headed home for a family nap--which turned into a Jackson nap and a Mommy and Daddy running around cleaning the house and getting emails sent before Jack Jack woke up (it always happens like that!) I had made Jackson a doctor's appointment for Thursday, but he was really tugging on his ears, so I decided to take him for a walk-in appt. at 3:30. Daddy headed to work as we ran to see Dr. Perona.

Well, he has no ear infection any more, but he had molars coming in as well as a red throat--lovely. After our 3 minute session with the pediatrition and the $20 co-pay (3 minutes, $200--why am I not a pediatrition?!?!?!) Jackson and I had the evening to ourselves, so we went to Fudrukkers for dinner! Me a salad with no meat (it was Ash Wednesday and us Catholics don't eat mean today) and Jackson a hot dog ( I know, REAL nutritious huh?!) and as we were leaving, we could hear the bells from St. Paul's ringing.....I took this as a sign. I NEEDED to go to church on this Holy Day of Obligation.

So we headed to St. Paul's. Now understand that the 3 other times that Adam and I have tried to make it to St. Paul's, it's been the Spanish mass...so we leave. And I told Jackson, "If this is a freaking Spanish mass, we are never going back to St. Pauls--ever." Sure as shit, it's a Spanish mass. We sat for a minute and I high tailed it out of there...I wouldn't have gotten anything out of it no being able to understand a WORD.

So I called my aunt to see if she knew when St. Mary's mass was--I was already in the mind set for mass, might as well drive all over town to go to it. It was at 7:00pm, my clock said 6:15--we had time! So we picked up GG Jane and went to church.

Jackson usually does well in mass, but today, he didn't. He wanted to run around, and it was hard keeping him in the pew. He sat on my Uncle Russ' lap a lot (he's a man's man) and shook every one around us' hands and said "peeees" to them during the sign of peace. And then, he pointed at everyone that walked by that had ashes on their head! After he got his ashes, he sat on all our laps and would point and poke our ashes. Then, GG Jane let him have her travel lotion bottle and he proceeded to give everyone a dab of lotion on our row--he was active. It was exhausting.

**RANT** I always wonder if people are irritated by the distraction of a little man not paying attention, or if they are thankful that he made the time pass quickly and was entertaining, or if they think "Why did they even come to church, they aren't getting anything out of it?" But, I was THERE. I heard the gospel--every word. I can remember what Father told us to do, and I'm doing it. I received communion and ashes--I was THERE. So, if you've ever been in church and were irritated by the little distraction in front of you--don't be. Just know the effort it took to get there and that the mother is just as embarassed that her child won't sit still like an angel. And, just be happy he didn't cry or scream or say the word "shit" in church, okay?!**END OF RANT**

We met up with Grandma Netty and Grandpa Scott after their dance lesson (yes, they are dancing in a class! How fun!) for ice cream, then came home to take pictures of our "now rubbed off" ashes. Needless to say, we both crashed the minute we got home! What a day!

A Day with Daddy

We got up this morning with the excitement of going to the Little Gym! It's Tuesday--I cam honestly say that I look forward to this day each week. Jackson gets the biggest smile on his face when we remind him that we are going to the Little Gym and start singing. Adam is off of work every other Tuesday (random, I know) so he had the pleasure of going to week 3 with us! Last week, taking pictures of Jack Jack AND assisting him AND spotting him AND chasing him got a little crazy, so I thought Adam could participate this time and I would just watch--but that didn't happen! Jackson was so proud of the fact that his daddy was there, that he kept running up to him and hugging on him and patting him! And oddly, Adam was the ONLY daddy there this week--last week, there were 4, this week, just Adam! Although I did get some fun shots of him--they worked on Donkey Kicks and, he did a somersault off the big wedge with no problem! "Touch your toes! Look at your belly button! Arms up--TA-DA!" This class really makes me miss the days that I taught gymnastics--I love the kids and I love watching their faces when they've done something new!!


















We went to lunch, then off to our stock broker for our bi-annual meeting. With the market like it is, we needed to check up on Jackson's custodial stuff--the account he will never know he has until college or marriage!

We stopped by to see GG Jane, then to Grandma Netty's, then home. I am uploading TONS of wedding images and ordering prints and ordering books and finishing up creating books for clients that I am WAY behind on, and Jackson is sound asleep in his big boy bed. Ahhh...the best thing we ever did! He woke up last night while I was still working in the office and I could hear him fuss, then the pitter patter of little feet on the hardwood, then a fuss again, and "Momma?! Momma?!" After a little cuddling, I put him back in his bed and laid my head down next to him til he fell asleep--he grabbed my face and pushed me out of the bed!! What? Attitude? Fine! I'll leave you alone!!

Also, I didn't post yesterday b/c I'm sure no one wants to see pictures (I DID NOT TAKE ANY) , but Jackson pooped in his potty for the first time yesterday! We are super excited! We called Daddy and Grandma Netty--then we got 3 stamps on our hand!! He was so proud of himself--he kept pointing to it "dat dat there" "dat dat there" ("that right there"). Just a little victory in our house for the day....

Saturday Date Night

After our long nap, Adam, Jackson, and I had a family date night. We went to Chilis for dinner and my little man had the best manners! He just sat there and colored and then ate his hamburger and mandarin oranges like a champ! After dinner, we stopped by PetCo (although we have no pets) to see the birds and the bunnies and the kitties. Jackson enjoyed all the animals! He even mimicked the birds as they "sang". We got ice cream at Cold Stone and then drove around one of the new neighborhoods looking at model homes. It was a great, relaxing, nonchalant night!

Yard Work

This morning, after a great FULL night of sleep with the little man in his little man bed, we got a head start on spring yard work. We mowed, edges, weeded, trimmed, pruned, raked, swept, drained the pond, cleared out the backyard....we worked hard. It looks a little better, although it's still winter, so none of our plants look decent yet...

Jackson helped out ALOT! He took his shirt off and got down and dirty! He followed me with his mower, he played baseball, he picked up leaves, he pulled leaved off the plants, he put my gloves on and dug in the dirt...he's such a good helper!! We are heading in to take naps--all of us!!

Big Boy Bed

We have yet another milestone for Jackson today. Not only is he a big boy and going potty on the big boy potty, he got to sleep in a big boy bed tonight. The last few nights, Jackson has NOT wanted to sleep in his crib--he will wake up 3 or 4 times just whaling and when I would go to check on him, he would gather up all of his stuff (Leo, his blanket, and his pillow) and want to be carried into our room. It all started with that stupid ear infection--we let him sleep in our bed 2 nights in a row b/c he was in so much pain and would not rest soundly--it made me nervous. So, I think now he feels that his is allowed to sleep with us--NO, I don't think so.

At MOPS, some of the ladies suggested to put convert his bed and that might help him. They thought maybe he didn't want to be in a crib any more. (we have a grow-with-me crib that converts from the crib, to a toddler bed, to a day bed, and then a full size bed) My mom thought the same thing. "give it a try, it can't hurt"...so when Daddy got home from work, we made a HUGE production that Jackson was getting a "BIG BOY BED!!" Yeah!! You get to sleep in a big boy bed like all the older boys!!" Hurray!! "You are getting so big!! Wearing big boy pants and sleeping in a big boy bed! Oh WOW!!" You get the point...
Jackson helped Daddy with all the tools and sang the little song with us! He was psyched!!






Well, it worked! He went to bed like a champ! So excited! To be safe, I put the baby gate up in the hallway to block him from going into the living room or kitchen if he wakes up, and closed all the doors except for his and ours--the bathrooms, office, closets, etc are shut. He has nowhere to go but our room if he decides to wander! And after all that, I grabbed the camera to capture him sleeping sounds by the glow of the hall light and blue nightlight--love these shots!






And right now, I am sitting here a little sad--crying actually. You always want the best for your kids. You WANT them to become independent and learn to do things on their own--you want them to succeed at things. But right now, I am saddened by the fact that Jackson IS becoming so big so fast. It's a double edge sword--I want him to still be my little baby that I rock to sleep at night and nurse in the middle of the night (remember when I would just hold that precious TINY angel and cry?! I could stare at him all night!)

...but he's not anymore. He's a growing, learning, exploring, curious toddler. And before you know it, he'll be a curious, wide-eyed preschooler running off to his teacher and not even looking back...God, they get big fast.



THIS is why people have more kids!!


(and I'm sad because the highlight of my Friday was a guy not pissing his pants and a guy going to sleep ALONE in his own bed...oh, what my life has come to!....okay, it's great!!)

Potty Training 101

So I've been reading like crazy--including Dr. Sears' website--as well as asking lots of mommies at MOPS for advise on potty training. After our meeting this morning, and lunch with the girls, Jackson and I headed home on a mission--to get peeing on that potty! After his nap, we put the big boy pants on for a second day. Then we had our first accident--and it was s doozy! Pee and poop on the floor! Oops! Mommy was not fast enough!

So we set up that every 5 minutes, we were on the potty. At first, we wore the pants. And then after 3 wet pants later (literally, he would put on a pair and then soak through them about a minute later) we ditched the pants and just decided to "rock out with our cock out!" This way, I could HEAR him if he started to potty on the floor (remember, we have wood floors throughout the house) and it WORKED! We were in the office and I heard the piddle--so we RAN to the potty! We made it!

Jackson has not peed on the floor again. He grabs his pee pee when he has to go and we RUN to the potty in the living room. We've been sitting watching Backyardigans and peeing a little at a time! Every time he goes, he gets a stamp on his hand! He's so proud!

I know it's gross, but we are leaving the pee in the potty til Daddy gets home! Jackson keeps walking over and pointing and saying "WaWa" because it looks like water in there!

We are heading to meet up with a friend of mine, and possible stop at Target for some new stamps and a small toy! Not bad for our first official day of potty training! (I'm also getting a new mop and some lysol for the floors...!HA!)