Harris Time

Harris looks like he is ready to go, go, go, doesn't he? We had a great time this morning... after we dropped Jackson off for school, we parked and went to the Parents' Coffee at Little School. It was nice to meet other parents at school and to see some of his classmates' moms.

From there, we met my friend Dorothy, and her daughter, Mary Kathryn, at the aquarium. Mary Kathryn is just about two, and she is such a talker (since Jackson doesn't talk much, I just love to hear Mary Kathryn!) I really didn't think that Harris would be that interested in the fish, but I was wrong! That boy just laughed and laughed at all of the fish... I enjoyed watching him see the fish for the first time.

Lounging

It was a long hard morning at school today! Jackson got to be the "line leader"... it is so cute... they have a rope that the children all hold on to whenever they walk to Chapel or music! He also got to lead the Pledge of Allegiance (I'd love to have heard that!!!), and he got to extinguish the candles at Chapel! What a big boy! All of that work just wore him out... maybe, with any luck, he'll take a long nap...

Cereal

Harris had his first bite of cereal on Saturday, and he seems to like it so far! He had been reaching for our food any time he could, so we figured it was about time to start. I couldn't get the spoon to his mouth fast enough... he kept reaching for my hand and pulling it to his mouth! He might be my big eater since Jackson certainly isn't!

And yes, we think he is going to keep his blue eyes!

Project Chia Homer -- Day 6

Day 6 and Homer's hair is really starting to come in now! Jackson is excited about it again, and he and Jason check it out every day before breakfast to see the progress. At this rate, Homer will have a full head of hair in just a few days!

Harris' New Friend

Today Harris met a new friend, Allie. Allie's mom and dad, Elizabeth and Matt, are good friends of ours from Clemson (they actually went to high school with Jason for a year). They live in Greenville now, but Matt had meetings here this week. Elizabeth and Allie tagged along and spent yesterday afternoon with us. Allie is about a month and a half younger than Harris. Harris had a great time with her (can you see his smile??)! He loved just watching her and showing her all of his tricks.

It was so nice to see Elizabeth and talk Mommy talk with her! She is a great mommy, and I look forward to getting together with her again soon...

Harris and Allie

Look at how happy Harris is to be with his new friend, Allie!! We will definitely have to get together again soon and play... he loved rolling over to look at her and touch her!

Day 4 -- Project Chia Homer

Homer is starting to sprout hair. I know this isn't a great picture, but I think you can tell that there is actually some green there. What does Jackson think? He has lost interest, of course. Maybe tomorrow, when hopefully the sprouts will be more evident, he will get excited about it again. I hope, anyway!

Swinging

I got fussed at today, because there wasn't a new Harris photo... I'm sorry. There is just so much going on with Jackson right now. Harris is still here, and he is doing well. He can now roll continuously... he was rolling across the bed today. It won't be long until he is rolling across the room! Here he is in his swing, happy as can be. Can you see those sweet dimples??

First Day

Today was Jackson's first day back at school... he was so excited to go! His bag was loaded down with diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes (he tends to find a puddle everywhere he goes!), and of course he has his colors in hand! My mom always says that you can't start school without a new pair of shoes, so he has those on, too.

Miss Way Way came and took him out of the car, and he was eager to go... he was climbing out of his carseat faster than she could get him. Yesterday was child orientation at school, and after we left, he kept crying, "Go back!", so I think he was more than ready to go today to see and play with his old buddies.

He was such a cutie this morning... hopefully he has a great day!

Studying

Jackson was studying on the way to school this morning. Just in case you can't tell what he is reading, it is a Wiggles book, of course!

Day 2 -- Project Chia Homer

This is now the centerpiece on my kitchen table... aren't you jealous? On Day One, you are supposed to soak Homer's head and the seeds that go on it for 24 hours. So, today was the big day in which Homer got his seeds. Jackson was so excited to watch Daddy apply the soaked seeds! Now, we just keep Homer's head filled with water and watch the hair grow. I'm not sure how soon it will start to sprout, but don't worry... I will keep you posted!

Jackson's Camp Project

Yes, this is a shoebox full of grass. When Jackson went to camp a couple of week ago, his class put these together. We started watering it regularly, and Jackson was excited to see the results. Why is this important? Why am I posting about a box of grass?? Check out the next entry and you will understand!!

New Project

This is Jason and Jackson's new project, spawned by the shoebox of grass. Yes, it is a Chia Homer ( I am shaking my head as I write this!). Santa left this for Jason this year, and it has been under our bed ever since Christmas. I guess the box of grass inspired Jason to pull it out and help Homer with his hair issues.

So, I am going to document this new project for you... it should be pretty amusing!!

Little School

This morning, I went to parent orientation for Jackson's school (Little School)... I am so excited for him to go back. They have so much great stuff planned for him, and his teachers are so wonderful! His entire Toddler class (above in the picture at a school picnic in May) is back together, along with his teacher, Miss Way Way, and a new teacher, Miss Colleen. They are in a new building and a new classroom, but I know he will love it... it is right next to the playground!!

He will be going Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this year. The class will have music class two times a week and chapel once a week. They will also have "Show and Tell" every Friday... I'm sure his crayons and the big red car will be repeats for him!! Jackson even has the opportunity to stay for lunch and extra playtime or a book or music "club". He will get to go on field trips this year, with the first one coming up... to the pumpkin patch!

I just can't believe all of the great stuff he is already going to be doing... can you believe how quickly he is growing up???

The Jumper

We pulled out the johnny-jumper yesterday for Harris. This was originally Dean's, which was passed down to Jackson (who hated it -- go figure!), and now to Harris. He hasn't quite figured out the whole jumping thing, but he really enjoys hanging there in the doorway and watching everything! Hopefully he will soon figure out how much fun jumping can be!!

Colors

Jackson is a crayon addict... he calls them "colors". For at least the past six months, he has carried them around everywhere with him... they are almost like his blankie or his teddy bear, a comfort thing. He will carry them to school with him, he will hide them in the cushions of our furniture, he will take them in the bath with him (tub crayons), and he would take them to bed with him (if Jason and I hadn't already learned that lesson!!). They are in every purse I have, in both diaper bags, in my car, outside... I keep finding crayons wherever I go.

His new game is to go through my parenting magazines or the ads in the Sunday paper to find all of the pictures of crayons he can find. We will even ask Jason to tear them out for him, and he will carry them around throughout the day. His favorite book right now, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie", has a picture of crayons on the cover and in the story. He scouts them out in every store we go into, and I have started to avoid the school supply aisle at the Piggly Wiggly, because he knows they are there. He will even bless them at night when we say our night time prayers.

Maybe Jackson is going to follow in his Grandaddy's artistic footsteps.............?

The Wiggles

Jackson loves The Wiggles. It is crazy! Last October, we went to Atlanta to see the Wiggles in concert (if your child likes the Wiggles, it is definitely worth it!). At first, he wasn't quite sure what to think, but as soon as he saw Jeff up close (he could have reached out and touched him), Jackson "got it" and started to have a good time. While we were there, we broke down and got him a Wiggles T-shirt. To this day, if he sees it in the bottom of a laundry basket, he will dump over the entire basket, pull out the shirt and insist on putting it on. That shirt will not come off again until bath time... no matter what!! What will we do when he outgrows it??

Jackson even blesses each Wiggle at night when we say our prayers, right along with his grandparents, Mommy, Daddy and Baby Harris! He loves sleeping with his Big Red Car, and he totes along his Wiggles coloring book all over the house. Almost the entire book is colored, but that doesn't matter... he will still find one little spot that isn't colored and demand it be colored.

I wonder if poor Baby Harris will have to like the Wiggles, too... maybe Jackson will outgrow them before Harris gets to know them!

The Wiggles + "Colors" = ?

He has named his colors. It is too funny... each color in a box of 8 has a name:

Red is Murray
Blue is Anthony
Yellow is Greg
Purple is Jeff
Orange is Henry the Octopus
Green is Dorothy the Dinosaur
Black is Captain Fethersword
Brown is Wags the Dog

He is so funny about it, too! He loves dumping the crayons out of the box and putting them back in saying "Night night, Feff (Jeff)" or "Night night Geg (Greg)" etc. His four favorite colors are, of course, red, yellow, blue and purple. If he can't find the box, he will just carry those particular four crayons around with him. That boy!! It amazes me what he comes up with!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 50th Birthday, Papa T!! We hope you had a great day, and the boys are looking forward to smothering you with baby kisses when they see you next! Love you!

Boat Trip

In June, we spent the night with our friends, Beth and Jimmy, at Beth's family's house in Shellmore, which is between Charleston and McClellanville. It was a beautiful home, right on the intercoastal waterway. While we were there, Jackson got to go on his first boatride. While I didn't get to go (I was with the sleeping baby!), Jason said that Jackson loved it. He also said that Jackson was trying to reach out to "catch" the water being thrown up alongside the boat as it moved through the water... luckily Jason was holding on to his "boat coat". On his second boat trip that weekend, Jackson got a little lesson in biology... three or four dolphins were close to the boat, giving a lesson on the birds and the bees. I am so glad that he is little and had no idea what was going on...