Number 2 is on the way!

If you haven't heard yet...baby number 2 is on they way. We are so excited! I think it is more fun this time because we know what we are getting. We know that it will be hard (labor and delivery, ahhhhh) but it will also be so much fun.
This pregnancy came as a little bit of a surprise. We were trying to get pregnant, but after 4 negative pregnancy tests I told everyone that unfortunately we were not pregnant. About a week after all the negative tests I was feeling very tired and sick to my stomach and didn't want to eat anything. I still figured that I wasn't pregnant so I drank a few Diet Dr Peppers (which are my absolute favorite) and tried to just wait it out. The next day I decided to take one more test at the urging of my doctor, and I was shocked to find that it was positive! (I hope all that Diet Dr Pepper didn't do anything.) Josh was equally shocked but then proud that he "got one past the goalie".
I added the little ticker to the blog so you can keep track of where I am in the pregnancy-as I will again be painfully aware of how long this process is.

Halloween

Well it came, my favorite day of the year! I just love Halloween. It is so much fun to see everyone dressed up and having a good time. This year we went to Trunk R Treat at the church. As usual Jackson just wanted to do his own thing, but when it came to getting candy he was a little more willing to go where we asked him to go. Jackson got way more candy than he needed especially because mean mommy and daddy don't let him eat very much. (I think he has had 2 pieces so far.) Overall it was a fun day and he was the cutest pumpkin ever in my opinion.

Picture Time!

I just LOVE this picture. Jackson just started to smile in pictures. He will say CHEEEEEESE and then I take the picture. Here he is at his friend's house and he is just relaxing in his recliner and reading.
The weather in Arizona is just beautiful right now. We are back to our walks at night and every Sunday morning. It is by far the best part of our day is the time we spend together walking to the park and playing. I don't know who is more excited to go when we say we are going Jackson or Paca.
Last week Jackson got his Halloween costume and he is so excited! Just about once a day he says, "pumpkin?" and then we put on his costume. I can't wait to go trick or treating with him this year because he understands that he is getting candy now, so I think he will be much more interested in the whole process.

Playing with the Cousins

This summer Jackson went to North Carolina to see Nana and Papa and to meet Uncle PJ for the first time. While he was there he spent a lot of time playing with his cousins; Olivia and Isaac. One day it was so hot Papa set up the slip and slide for the kids to play in. They had a blast! As you can see Jackson can "rock the hawk", but no matter how much fun he is having he always takes his serious picture. Jackson has become very selective with his smiles. Half our ward thinks Jackson doesn't like them because he always gives them the stink eye. Oh! Speaking of church, last week was Jackson's official first week in Nursery! Hallelujah!!! I finally get to listen to two meetings in church with out getting up to take my loud child out of the room. The nursery leader said that he did great and he was already ahead of the rest of the kids because he knew "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes", and "Popcorn Popping". Luckily I was informed by one of the other moms in the ward that I wouldn't want to be the mom that picks him up last. Apparently, because I am new to this mom thing, kids love to have their mom be first to pick them up. She was right. Jackson smiled ear to ear, yelled "mommy", and then turned to smugly wave goodbye to the other kids (whose mom's were late). Score 1 for Jackson's mom!

The Beach

A few weeks ago we drove to California and went camping on the beach. What an adventure! We had such a good time. During the day we played on the beach and at night we enjoyed smores. We could even hear the waves crashing on the beach as we were in our tents. Jackson was a little nervous about the fast water, but by the end of the trip he was comfortable putting his feet in. It was so hard to leave the nice weather and come home. But in the end, it was the perfect vacation to take before Josh starts the Masters program at ASU.





Since Jackson was born we have constantly given him books. I have always hoped that if we started early he would love books as much as I do. Well... the other day as I was checking my email I noticed that it was abnormally quiet. I came around the corner and found him in his bed room sitting on his bean bag chair reading! I was so proud! He was reading, "I'm Not Going to Get Up Today" and "Goodnight Gorilla". As he read "Goodnight Gorilla" he would turn each page and say, "nigh-nigh". It was so adorable I just had to get a picture of it. I just love being a mom. Each day he does something that warms my heart and makes me smile. I am so blessed to be the mother of such an amazing child!

Jackson's First Hair Cut!!!

Here are some photos of Jackson's first hair cut. He did so great! As long as he could hold a ball he was going to sit through it. I would like to say that he got a full hair cut, but as you all know Jackson's hair just doesn't grow. They just trimmed over the ears and a little in the back. What a trooper! I am glad I took him here, if I left it up to daddy Jackson would have just gotten a buzz cut! No thanks dad.
We are so proud of our little guy. The pediatrician says that he is the smartest 15 month old he has seen. This week he added to his wide vocabulary; woot snak (fruit snack), pweeze (please), and ashwee (Ashley). Although his favorite word remains to be no. (Of course!) The most exciting news of all is that last week Jackson folded his arms to say prayer for the first time. I have to admit I cried for 10 minuets, I just couldn't believe it. Finally a sign the he is learning about his Heavenly Father, and how to pray. I guess all that hard work is starting to pay off! Great job little dude!!!

Jackson is 1!

I can't believe my little peanut brittle is a year old! What a year it has been. When Jackson was first born I was so scarred to be a mother. I didn't know what to do or when to do it! I guess I did okay because he survived. Everyday I love being this little guy's mother more and more. I is so amazing to see how they grow and learn. I love a lot of things about Jackson but one of the things I love the most is how everything he does, he does with his whole spirit. He loves to play basketball with his daddy. (And he can slam dunk and then rock the rim like no ones business.) Early on Jackson developed a love for books. Jackson will "read" a book in his car seat, in the stroller, in his highchair and anywhere else you let him. Jackson also loves to walk, and walk, and walk, and walk. Although he won't do it on his own yet, he likes to hold one hand and check out the house. Jackson can say some words that are somewhat recognizable like; mom, Dada, Baba (bottle), dog, and all done. Josh and I are just so proud of him and we can't wait to see what he will do this next year. Two or bust!