Happy 11 months, Jackson!

Like I've said many times before, "Wow, how time sure flies!" I cant believe how rapidly Jackson's one year birthday is approaching. Plans are in full effect for a fun celebration here at our house. I will blog more about that after the big day. For now, I must recap the past couple weeks. Jackson is getting around the house so quickly. He has modified his movements into a more efficient crab-like crawl. He will stand on his own every once in awhile. It usually occurs the longest when he is distracted and doesnt realize he is doing it. When he finally notices, he falls to his bottom. He has not taken his first steps yet but our prediction is that it will happen by his first birthday. We will see! Jackson is continuing to eat well. We are supplementing with formula because my milk supply has declined tremendously. He doesnt mind the formula at all, thank god! Now that he is 11 months we are going to slowly start introducing whole milk. As far as I can tell he is gaining weight, although his little frame still fits into 6 month clothes! This past weekend Jackson and I went with grandma to visit the Schroeder's. We had a great time and Jackson was such a good traveler. He stayed in his first hotel room, where he also slept in the bed with me for the first time ever, for two nights in a row! It was really difficult keeping him in the pack and play while sleeping in the same room as him. He would wake up crying and see me right there, so I felt as if  I had no other choice. Since we have been home he slipped back into the routine of sleeping by himself. We look forward to a trip to Florida to see Toby's parents at the end of the month.

Playing in grandma and grandpas backyard

One of his favorite past times, pushing the chair around the house

Enjoying the Jeep walker at Aunt Chris' house. Delaney is letting him borrow this until she is big enough to use it.

Jackson reaching out to touch Delaney. They dont have much to do with each other now but hopefully they will be good friends one day, considering they are only 6 months apart.

Grandma reading Jackson his bedtime story

4th of July fun!

Jackson had a wonderful first 4th of July. We spent the weekend in the mountains between the cabin and Warren and Stephanie's lake house. It was a hot and sunny weekend which was perfect for the type of activities we were partaking in. Saturday morning we relaxed at the cabin while Toby went mountain biking. On Saturday afternoon Toby and I floated down the river in Cherokee while grandma and grandpa stayed back with Jackson. Sunday morning we headed over to the lake. We spent the day eating,drinking, riding jet skis and playing in the water with Sugar and Jackson. That night the boys set off fireworks in the backyard. Amazingly, Jackson was able to sleep through them all!

Bath time in the sink at grandma and grandpa's cabin

Arriving at the lake house

Jackson's favorite friend at the lake, Krista

Floating in the lake with mommy

With grandma on the deck

Jackson's first big trip

Two weekends ago we took a trip up to Wisconsin with mom and dad to see grandma and grandpa Miller for their 60th wedding anniversary. Chris and Hannah met us up there as well. This was the first time Hannah got to meet Jackson. Overall it was a wonderful, relaxing trip despite the delay and mishap with our flights on the way there. Other than not sleeping well (or at all really) on our last night, Jackson was an excellent traveler. The plane ride did not bother him one bit! We did alot of visiting, eating, drinking, playing cards, shooting, and 4 wheeling. On Saturday afternoon they put on a surprise party for Toby's birthday, which later turned into a water balloon fight. The weather was beautiful even with a couple of cozy thunderstorms. It was so much cooler than the heat wave we have been having down here. We wish grandma and grandpa Miller did not live so far away but it sure is fun to go visit them!

Jackson traveling through the airport with daddy

Jackson with his aunt Hannah

Trying out the 4 wheeler

Ready to go shooting

Family photo (we set the camera timer for this one)

Jackson with uncle Chris

The boys (for some reason Jackson didnt want grandpa to hold him, but we had to get a photo anyway)

This was our last morning when he finally started to warm up to grandpa

Jackson's 9 month appointment

I still cant believe how fast our little boy is growing up! This morning he had his 9 month checkup. His stats were as follows......

Weight: 15 pounds, 7.8 ounces (under 5th percentile)
Height: 27 inches (10-25th percentile)
Head: 17 5/8 inches (25-50th percentile)

He did so well at his appointment. I thought because of his age he might be more fearful but he really wasnt. He didnt have to get any shots but he did get a finger prick to check his iron level. He didnt even shed one tear and his level was good! His low weight was our only concern, if any. The doctor said its normal for breastfed babies to drop their weight at this age because they are much more active. We are just going to continue to concentrate on 3 meals of solids per day along with snacks. I do believe that my milk supply could be starting to decline so we may also start supplementing with a bit of formula after he nurses. They will just check his weight next time, at his 1 YEAR APPOINTMENT! It is scheduled for Sep 9th. I cant believe that will be his next appointment. Boy, did this first year go fast! On the way home from this appointment I was thinking about my baby turning a year old and found myself shedding some tears. I'm sure there will be even more as that first birthday rapidly approaches.

Father's Day

I venture to say that Toby's first Father's Day was just as wonderful as my first Mother's Day. We started the day with all of us,even Sugar, in the bed. Jackson gave daddy the sweetest card. We then got ready and went off to church. After church we met grandma and grandpa Reid for breakfast at a little diner down the road. Jackson slept throughout breakfast in his carseat. It felt like the old days when he was really little and would sleep just about anywhere in his carseat. After breakfast we came home to reveal daddy's Father's gift, which is actually his anniversary and birthday gift as well. We got him a nice flat screen tv to hang outside by the deck so we can enjoy our favorite shows outdoors. It will especially come in handy for those beautiful Fall days during football season when we are outdoors grilling and drinking. Anyway, my dad hung the tv while we were at church. Toby was shocked when he saw it. He absolutely LOVES his new gift. The boys spent the afternoon hooking up the tv. That night mom and I made enchiladas for Toby and dad, that we enjoyed outside in front of the new tv. It was a wonderful but extremely hot day.

Jackson with his daddy on Father's Day

Jackson with his grandpa on Father's Day

All the boys together

Meeting Delaney

This past weekend we had a visit from Uncle Bob, Aunt Chris, Stephanie, and Delaney. This was our first time meeting Delaney, and boy, did we fall in love! She is just about 3 months old and just adorable! It was fun having her and Jackson together. They didnt pay much attention to each other except when we put them in the pool together. Jackson then proceeded to whack her in the head with a cup he was playing with leaving her with a little red knot on her forehead! I'm sure she will get him back one day. It was a fun, relaxing weekend watching World Cup soccer, shopping a bit, having bonfires, and just playing with babies. Here are a few photos from the weekend.....

Delaney is ready for a swim in the pool,what a cutie!

Jackson holding the cup that will soon hit sweet Delaney,and yes, he is naked

Jackson with his visitors the morning they left

On the move....

Since I last posted something, Jackson started crawling AND pulling up on furniture!!! Lets just say, he is fast and has to be watched like a hawk. He's busy but is soooo much fun these days! He is so aware of the environment around him and always discovering new things. We are so lucky because he is such a happy baby, pretty much all of the time. He has also been sleeping so well lately. Occasioally he will cry out in the middle of the night but if we ride it out he usually stops within 5-10 minutes. The crying usually involves him losing his pacifier but eventually he finds it. I have walked in on him in the middle of the night just sitting up in his crib palying with his lovey or his aquarium. It makes me wonder how often he is up at night entertaining himself. We are now giving him 3 meals a day. He loves most foods that we give him, even some that he didnt care for when he started solids. I'm not sure what his current weight is because his 9 month check is not until June 24th. I still cant believe our baby became 9 months old on Thursday. Where does the time go?? We have started discussing plans for his 1st birthday party! Its crazy to think that before we know it, he will be a toddler. Its bittersweet to think about it.

Last weekend while mommy went away on a girls weekend, Jackson took a trip to grandma and grandpas cabin in the mountains with daddy, grandma, and grandpa. I was told he was a very good boy the entire time. At the end of this month we will be taking Jackson on his very first airplane ride up to Wisconsin to see great grandma and grandpa.We are very excited because Chris and Hannah will also be there. Hannah still has not met Jackson. I am pretty confident that she will fall in love! We are really hoping that Jackson will be a good traveler. I'll let you know after we get back. Until then.....

Jackson helping grandpa on the tractor

                                  

Checking out grandma and grandpa's new grass

Playing with Sugar, although she doesnt look very interested

Jackson and grandma on Memorial Day weekend in the mountains

Being silly on the porch at grandma and grandpas cabin

Looking out the front door with TJ at grandma and grandpas house

Pulling up on the fireplace (reason he has to be watched like a hawk)

Jackson's bedhead this morning