July 4th

I think i had more fun with Jackson this year on the 4th than i remember having as a kid. We just kinda talked about it a lot with jackson and had more fun with it. These are hats we made for fhe monday night.

They have a kid parade every year in Brents old neighborhood so we went to that. The kids decorate their own bikes and stuff and ride behind a firetruck that comes every year. It was really a lot of fun.

So i'm feeling bad after reading other blogs about their kids loving fireworks. We were all prepared to keep jackson up, but then I was exhausted. We just went home and went to bed. pathetic huh? oh well. We loved celebrating our country all day!

I just wanted to post

Life has really slowed down here. i'm sick and crazy exhausted. I haven't taken pictures recently so I'll just post a picture from when we were in Alabama a few weeks ago. This is Jackson asleep on my parents boat. We were all skiing so I find it pretty amazing that he fell asleep out there. (The next week he fell asleep on the lazy river at splash country.)

Maybe we were pushing him too hard? Maybe its a good thing we've slowed down.

I'm pregnant!!

So a few of you know just how exciting that phrase is it to say. We are absolutely thrilled. I'm horrible at keeping it a secret. I know lots of people don't tell until after the first trimester. I haven't even been to my first appointment yet so I don't even have a real due date. Our guess is late January or early February. I've thought for a while now about the different ways of announcing it on the blog. The truth is though, I've gotten sicker sooner and frankly I feel my creative energies, as well as all other energy has been zapped out the window. So I'll share the differences between the first and second pregnancies.

Typical early pregnancy snack right?

This time around with a little twist.
And what happens when we share a snack with a 2 year old? That's right, a cracker in our drink.

Thankfully there's no picture for the second story. No more throwing up alone. Jackson was right there with me, holding his own hair, trying to do the same. yuck. I know.

Early Father's Day

This video is for Jackson's papas, both of them. Grandpa Barnes because he wants videos and pictures for holidays. Grandpa Hutchison, well for many obvious reasons, but not the least of which is he sang this song to Jackson the first day they met. Now I sing A LOT of songs to Jackson A LOT of the time but I think its appropriate that this was the first song he learned.

I wonder

How many moms say this. "Now if you pick up your toys you can help me sweep and mop" and then the child actually squeal and giggle in delight.
It just makes this feel so long ago.

maybe it's just rubbing it in...

but we're having fun.

Well, it did take my neat freak of a son a bit getting used to the messy sand. This is him sitting on my lap trying to hold up his feet and hands screaming "icky icky ICKY!"

We're here!!

The first leg was rough...we don't have air conditioner in my car. my poor pathetic baby but I will say, he wouldn't let me roll down the windows and he wouldn't let go of his 4 blankies one of which is a fleece blanket. i know, it's still child abuse.It was really nice to stop at my grandma's house in Dothan on the way down though. Jackson hasn't seen her since summer 2007 so I was kinda holding my breath hoping he was in charming mode, and he was. Always makes a mother sigh in relief and just say so casually "he's always like this." It's mothers day and I'm so thankful to be with my mom and sister. It's been one of those Sundays full of tears, those of gratitude and struggles. I am grateful for their positive influence in my life.I'll keep you posted with more of our shananagins later and just leave you with this...so refined.