Cousins part 1-Keeping Lennon

When Jenna and the kids arrived they stayed at our house for one night and then Jenna and Mia went with Gaga and Uncle Jer to a wedding in Austin. We were super excited because we got to keep Lennon for 3 days. The boys had so much fun and Lennon did really well having never been away from his parents and sister for so long.


Here are the guys all playing in the rain. Lennon and Jay were especially close during the 3 day stay. Lennon helped Jay clean the pool and work in the yard and they had a great time together.
It was insane how hard it was raining but the kids had a blast.



Lennon and Jackson took turns walking around and saying "tut tut, it looks like rain!"

Lennon was telling me, "I'm having a good day!"

The next day Nana and Papa met us for some fun at chuck e cheese.
Jackson is very into his game.
Papa played lots of game with the boys and Nana helped out a ton with Baron.
Here are the boys enjoying their green smoothies. They were a huge hit and the boys even asked for refills. . .twice! Lots of greens consumed that day:)
My little smoothie monster.
Lennon was so sweet to Baron and always wanted to check on him and talk to him.
Jay bought the boys play dough and lots of fun things to play with that afternoon. And if you are wondering, they were dressed at several points that day. Unfortunately it is VERY hard to keep these guys in their clothes. Every time they go to the restroom it's a fight to get their clothes back on them.
I love that hair.
Lennon and Uncle Jay wrestling.
Happy Jackson with his "crazy eyes."
More wrestling fun.
Jack and Lennon with Bill and Grandmommy.


One afternoon we went to Nana and Papa's for some fun in the pool.

The boys were having a water gun fight with Papa. Notice his shield.
Nana and Bear.
Freckles waiting for someone to throw her the ball. Mia calls her Aunt Freckles:)
The boys with their Nana and Papa.
The boys were so sweet together despite ganging up on Jay and I at certain points. They had some very funny conversations and as soon as I remember them I'll post a few:) Thanks so much for letting us have our sweet little nephew for a few days.

Random Play Pics

I am so behind in blogging! I'm going to try to catch up at least a little bit. . .I know that camping will put me right back behind pretty soon. Anyway, here are some fun play pics from our last few weeks.




Here's Jack's buddy Cain over for some fun in the pool.
This summer we've been keeping Emma every Wednesday and sometimes Thursday. Jackson loves it and it actually makes my day easier to have her around. Their favorite activity is jumping off of the coffee table onto the sofa cushions. They will seriously do this for at least an hour EVERY time they are together.


Sweet little Bear just watches them. He really loves to just watch Jackson do anything.



Jackson pretty much begs Gaga to come over every day after work. This day she had worked over a 12 hour shift and still stopped by for some love. It's such a blessing to live so close!
Bear loves his exersaucer. It also made me laugh that the first time I put him into it I had to adjust the height. He's such a tall little baby.
Here, Jackson is explaining to me why he wants to water the plans in Gaga's yard, naked.
Would you hire this man to water your plants?
Baron is obviously shocked by his brothers constant nudity.
My goofy little guy.

Prayer

Several weeks ago, on Friday, June 18th, Jay was on the phone with our insurance company. After he got off of the phone he came into the room where the boys and I were and jokingly said, "well, I just raised all of our insurance limits so we can go get in a wreck!" For some reason that statement instantly gave me a bad feeling (yes, I know I am sometimes paranoid) and I told Jay that I really wanted to pray that we not get into any car accidents and that if we did we would have full physical protection. I'm sure he thought I was being silly but he sat down right then and we prayed for physcial protection from car accidents together.


The next day Baron and I had been at a birthday party and were going over to a friends house to meet Jay and Jackson for dinner. I was happily on my way when all of the sudden a car making a left turn drove right into us. We were hit on the front drivers side and then we spun around and were hit again in the back drivers side. My first thought was panic knowing that Baron was in the back seat and not knowing exactly where we had been hit. Being in a car accident with my 4 month old baby in the back seat was pretty terrifying. Luckily, the result is that my car was totalled but Baron and I were ok.


Various things in my life have caused me to wonder if God was listening to me. It could be a complete coincidence but having specifically prayed for physical protection in car accidents one day prior seems pretty wild.


God is so amazing and I feel so blessed every time I look at my husband and my precious boys. I still don't have another car which is a huge hassle but when I think about the inconvenience of no car I just thank God for the safety of my sweet baby Bear.


I have always felt very blessed to have such a great life but experiences like this really magnify it. Knowing full well what could have happened in that wreck I look down at little Bear (sometimes at 4 a.m.) and just feel grateful that all I am dealing with is an inconvenience.


I know God heard that prayer and I don't know if it changed anything or not but I do know that it's made me even more grateful for what I have.

Big Boy Bed!

Last night Jackson slept in a toddler bed for the first time. He's been able to get out of his crib for ages now and just stayed in out of obedience (thank goodness!) But now that he's potty trained he's been getting us up multiple times each night when he has to go to the bathroom. So, Adrienne suggested we try a toddler bed and then loaned us Charlie's super cool fire engine bed (thanks SO much!). Damian brought it by last night and Jackson couldn't have been happier. We explained that he was only allowed to get out of his bed if he had to use the restroom and still had to call to us to get out after his nap or in the morning. So far he's done perfectly. He's also so happy. He laid out his fireman outfit and boots and has them ready in case our fire alarm goes off. Last night as I was tucking him in he said, "mom, firemen are cool. I'm cool to be sleeping in a fireman truck."

Jackson was so excited to be in the toddler bed. And of course, he hasn't slept one night without Molly since he received her at my baby shower.

My sweet boy.
When Jackson got up from his nap today he wanted to show Baron his fire engine bed. I laid Baron down and Jackson kissed him and then started telling him that when he was bigger he could sleep with Jackson. It's so cute how Jackson always takes so much time to explain things to Baron.

Jackson showing me where he will put his fireman uniform.

Can you tell he's happy? Thanks again to Charlie for the loan:)

Talking with Jackson

Jackson: Gaga always does stuff for me.
Me: I know, that Gaga sure does love you.
Jackson: Yeah, Gaga just dores me. I dore her too

Baron was screaming in the car and below is what Jackson said to him after singing and being sweet failed to get results.
Jackson: Chill Bear. Gee, either chill or go to sleep. We're just driving. It's not that bad.

Jackson: We have a nice house. We have three bathrooms. . .and three penis's. We sure have a nice house.

Jackson: Is Mickey Mouse a man? Does he have a penis?
(Can you tell we have a lot of anatomy talk at our house!?!)

While doing yard work the other day.
Jackson: you know what we need out here? Some beers and some tunage! -Tunage is tunes, also known as music:)

Last Sunday at church Jackson had a new teacher. She was a very cute 16 year old named Katelyn. He LOVED Katelyn and was by her side the whole time. He even cried when Jay came to pick him up. Upon being told that he had to come home with us he turned to Katelyn and said, "what are you doing this afternoon? You want to come over?!" She told Jay we needed to really watch out for Jackson with the ladies:)

About a month ago Jackson and I were watching Cinderella. He turned to me and said, "Cinderella is so beautiful, I will marry her and protect her forever."

Last week Jay was babysitting for the Hirst's for their anniversary. Jackson was so sad that Jay wasn't able to put him to bed that he wanted to sleep with Jay's blanket and pillow. And then he asked which side of the blanket and pillow Jay usually slept on so he could do the same. Sweet little guy sure does love his daddy.

A few days ago Jackson heard Baron stirring in his crib and as he usually does immediately said, "Don't move mom, I've got him!"
Of course I don't let Jackson pick up Baron but he always wants to. I help him hold him and Jackson just adores him. When ever Baron starts crying Jackson will let us know he will handle it. He goes over and sweetly sings or does whatever he thinks will make Baron laugh. He said to me the other day, "some guys are mean to their brothers. Some guys are bad guys. I'm a nice guy and I am always sweet to my brother. I won't even let him have sugar until he is 8!"

Jackson: I have to go to work mom. I work for Papa. I travel with him. He works on a computer and I carry his toothbrush.

We were using a gift card at a restaurant the other day and Jackson looked at a table in the corner and said, "that family is cool. They have 5 people to talk to at their table. We only have 4. If I had a sister than we would have 5 people to talk to all of the time. I want a sister. And a dog. And a kitten. And for Baron to be bigger bigger bigger to play with me."

Jackson continues to be the biggest joy (and sometimes challenge) we could ever imagine. While he is a major stinker at times he is also the sweetest and most loving little guy ever. And the way he treats his little brother makes me so happy. I'm sure they will bicker like crazy later in life but right now it's just so sweet to watch!

Baron's 4 month check up

I took Baron in today for his 4 month check up, it's hard to believe he's already 1/3 of the way through his first year. He is doing very well and he's actually not that far from where Jackson was at this age. The stats are: Baron at 4 months is 27 3/4 inches tall which puts him in the 97+%. He weights 17 pounds and 8 ounces putting him in the 93%. Jackson at 4 months was 27 inches, also 97+%. And Jackson weighed 19 pounds and 9 ounces which put him in the 97+%.
After all of the struggles I've had with nursing I am so happy that Baron is growing so well! He also has at least one tooth coming in on the bottom so that explains some of his recent fussiness. Baron is still a very happy little man who is full of smiles. The only time he is really unhappy is in the car. He will scream about 80% of the time that he is in the car. He was sleeping through the night (9-10 hours) for quite some time, which was awesome. I quit taking my prescription medication (for nursing) recently and ever since Bear has been waking up to eat between 2 and 6 times per night. I am praying that soon we will both adjust and he'll go back to sleeping through the night! Jackson is so sweet to him and begs to hold him and share food, toys, etc with him daily. I am a very happy mommy who is really enjoying this time, despite being pretty tired lately. Since we are still undecided on a 3rd baby we are trying to really relish every baby moment just in case Baron is our last. Thank you God for the blessing of two happy and healthy boys!

Rain drops falling on my head!

Jackson loves rain and always begs to go outside with the mickey mouse rain boots and umbrella that Gaga bought for him. Here he is enjoying the rain last Wednesday. Someday maybe I will remember not to turn the camera so we can watch videos upright!

Jackson and Ellie

Last Sunday we had lunch at the Hirsts' and got to visit with Damian's best mate Graham who is here on vacation. I thought this picture of Ellie and Jackson was so funny. They kind of remind me of a married couple here. It looks like Ellie is clearly embarrassed by Jackson's joke. He obviously thinks he is hysterical.
By the way, on a very exciting note, this was Jackson's LAST DAY to wear a diaper!!!

Emma's 5th Birthday Party

Last Saturday was Emma's 5th birthday party. Originally we were going to be out of town but when Jackson found out we weren't going to make it he got hysterical. As Gaga pointed out it's hard to believe that Jackson is old enough to be bummed about missing a party but it's true! Anyway, Nanny and Paw Paw were awesome about us changing the dates of our visit so that we could make it back for the party.

Jackson, Dylan and Bear. The kids were waiting for the pony rides.
Jackson LOVES Dr. Grant. Grant was nice enough to take Jackson on his pony ride. Jack was so excited.
The birthday girl.

Jackson riding the pony. Notice the cute hat Jackson got from Paw Paw. Emma's party was so cute! Not only did the kids get to ride ponies but they also each got a sheriff star and cowboy hat and got to mine for treasure. Jaclyn even monogrammed each treasure bag with the kid's names.
Jackson was so excited that his BFF Ellie was hunting for treasure next to him.

One of Jackson's favorite things about the party was the water sprayer. Jaclyn had bought a bug sprayer and filled it with water. It was SO HOT at the party that the kids had a blast spraying each other and themselves. Jackson of course is the one who spearheaded the project!
Dylan helping Jackson to cool off.
Baron was a champ despite the heat.
My crazy little man.
I love this picture of Jackson having a blast playing with the water sprayer. And yes, several people have commented about how this picture might also be compared to that of a college student. . .

Happy birthday Emma and thanks for inviting us to your super fun party!