Big Boys

We went to visit our friends, the Blacks, in Hartsville after Christmas. Bennett, their 4 year old, had gotten an educational video game for Christmas and was playing a Dora the Explorer game. Jackson loved it!! He tried to play, but he really couldn't do much other than push the buttons... he didn't "get" the game. So, he was completely fine watching Bennett play. I love these pictures... Jackson looks so into the game!! I thought boys were much older before they got into watching other boys playing video games!! Maybe Santa will bring Jackson one of those games next year!!

Christmas #4

Baby Connor playing with new toys from Santa.
Harris "borrowing" Connor's new and exciting play table.
Lindsey and Harris.
Ganny, Grandaddy and Harris playing in the kitchen.
Granny is stealing a hug from Jackson.
Ganny and Lindsey made wonderful quiches for breakfast.
Kaila entertaining Harris.

Our fourth Christmas was on the 26th with Jason's family. Lindsey, Kaila, Connor, Aunt Amy and Uncle Scott trooped over to Ganny and Grandaddy's house for the big celebration. There were, again, tons of presents to open and smiles to go around. We were given a DVD player for the car... I can't tell you how nice and quiet the trip home was!! We had a yummy brunch of quiche, grits, bacon, biscuits and cinnamon rolls... we ate way too much once again!!

After a rest from the food and fun, we went to Amy and Scott's house just to sit back, relax, and let the kids play. Jackson and Harris were wildmen, checking out every toy they could find. It was a wonderful, relaxing way to spend Christmas #4!!

Christmas #3

Christmas #3 was at Ganny's family's house in Oates. It definitely made up for our quiet Christmas morning!! There were probably at least 30 people there, many of them children. Harris and Jackson did great amidst the chaos... they both enjoyed watching everything go on around them. The food was so yummy... fried turkey, rice & gravy, butter beans, corn on the cob, cheese bread, BBQ, and lots of desserts. I think we all ate way too much! It was great to celebrate Christmas with family we don't get to see very often... hopefully we will see them more often this year!

Christmas #2

Mrs. Clause came on Christmas Eve to bring everyone new, freshly cleaned pj's.
Santa visited Jackson...

... and Harris, too!! Jason is excited to see his new fire pit.

Christmas #2 was at our house on Christmas morning. It was the first Christmas that we have spent with just our family... usually we have lots of family around. While we missed all of our family that morning, it was very nice just to celebrate it ourselves. The boys got up early, and of course, Santa had been there, eaten his cookies, drank his milk, gave an apple to Rudolph, and left lots of presents. Both boys were thrilled by all of the paper, excitement, and goodies that he had left behind!

It was a great morning... I feel incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful husband and such beautiful, amazing children.

It's Slinky...

Harris loved checking out the new slinky that Jackson got in his stocking!!

"All I Want For Christmas...

is my two front teeth..." Well, Harris got half of his wish. He woke up Chirstmas with a new top front tooth. Hopefully the second one will pop through any day now!!

Happy Birthday, Lindsey!!!

We hope you had a great 10th birthday!!!

Lots of hugs, kisses, and love,
Uncle Jason, Aunt Amanda, Jackson & Harris

JICP Christmas Lights

Every year the James Island County Park puts on a huge Christmas light display. Of course I didn't get any good pictures of the lights, but they were beautiful, as usual. Harris was working on a tooth, so he wasn't too into the lights, but Jackson loved watching the animated displays, especially the Jack-in-the-Box. That is one of his new favorite games to play!

I did get some good ones of Jackson at the big greeting cards. Each school in the Charleston area creates an over-sized greeting card. Jackson loved the greeting cards! He ran from card to card, feeling the different materials used, and playing "Jack-in-the-Box" at each one. Maybe next year he will be into the carosel or sitting on Santa's lap...

Christmas #1

We celebrated Christmas about 5 times in two weeks this year. Number 1 was with Nana and Papa T the weekend of Jackson's birthday. There were way too many presents and a little bit of craziness, but we all enjoyed it... especially watching the boys with their gifts!
Jason is excited about his new toy from Papa T.
The train table was a big winner with Jackson!
Harris loved opening his walker, and I think Jackson loves it as much as he does!
Harris tries out the new walker.
Jackson opening the train table.

Jackson's Third Birthday

Jackson's birthday party was December 17, and he was so lucky to have a fire truck come and help him celebrate. He was also joined by about 12 of his good friends. The firemen did a fantastic job of showing the kids around the fire truck, alowing them to touch and play with everything! They even took everybody for a ride around the neighborhood!

Sounds like a great party, huh? Well, Jackson didn't think so!! He was pretty freaked out by the fire truck. We aren't sure why, but he was ready for it to leave as soon as it arrived. He was the only child not to go on the ride! Poor guy.

It wasn't a wash for him, though. As soon as the fire truck left, the kids all went out back to play on Jackson's new playset, and he had a blast then. The Thomas cake was also a winner for him! Overall, I think he enjoyed himself, but he probably could have done without the fire truck!!

Spencer tries out the passenger seat.
The Thomas birthday cake was a hit with Jackson.
Even Harris got in on the fun!

I have been trying to post more pictures from the party, but for some reason, blogspot isn't posting them. So, I will have to quit here and try again later!

The Christmas Pagent

On December 15, The Little School had a great little Christmas pagent! The church was packed full of proud and excited parents, many of us ready to watch our children in their first school performance. The boys in Jackson's class were cows and sheep (except for one lucky boy who got to be the donkey!!), and the girls were angels. Jackson was the sweetest cow ever! We were treated to the Christmas story, followed by various Christmas carols and songs performed by the children... what a wonderful way for us to start the holidays!!

Jackson was so excited when he realized we were in the crowd.

He enjoyed hanging out and singing with the angels.

He was a little nervous that we were going to leave without him!
Look at that boy sing!!!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas...

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

and a Happy New Year!!

Harris at 9 Months

Jason and I were looking forward to Harris' weigh-in at 9 months. We were sure that he had gained a couple of pounds and was making progress on the pediatrician's growth chart.

No luck.

Harris weighed 15lbs 15oz, which was no longer even on the chart... less than the 3rd percentile. Ugh... he seemed to be eating like a little pig, but I guess in being so active, he just burns it all off.

To top it off, Harris was a bit anemic. So, he is taking iron-loaded vitamins every night. I feel terrible, like I am doing something wrong!!

He seems just fine, though. He is clapping like crazy, crawling, pulling up on everything, chatting away, and everything else a 9-month old should be doing!!

So, ultimately, I guess he is fine. Those dumb charts really have done nothing for us but stress us out. I think, from now on, I am just going to watch Harris, not the pediatrician's "numbers". He is a very healthy, lively little boy, who is just fine being a peanut!!

Behind

I promise we are all still here. I am just falling so far behind with blogging. Harris has been extremely clingy lately (the ped. said it will probably go on for another 9 to 15 months... um, not if I can help it), I have been sick, and we have just been so busy with the holiday "bustle". So, I have fallen behind. I know, excuses, excuses. I'm sorry. I need to catch you up on Jackson's Christmas pagent, his birthday party, Harris' 9 month appointment, and the holiday season in general. Hopefully I will feel more up to it in the next couple of days.

I promise to be better once things slow down in January. I have to. The boys' worlds are passing us by, and I need to catch up and record it!!

Happy Birthday, Jackson

Three years ago today, Jason and I were in a hospital room welcoming our new little boy into our lives. Little did we know, our lives would be changed in ways we never knew. Jackson has brought us many hugs, laughs, smiles and tears (of course more smiles than tears!!), and he has made our hearts triple in size out of love and pride in him. He amazes me more and more every day, and I am loving getting to know the boy he is becoming.

What an amazing gift God has given us.

Happy birthday, Jackson!!! We love you so much!!!