So I feel like recently my blog has been heavy on my thoughts and light on Jackson.

We really have a lot of fun together.

I have a history of this

taking on projects that are too big for me. I decided to make Jackson's quilt for his new bed. I let him pick his main theme fabric and I'd make a simple quilt. I thought it's no big deal. I've been wanting to learn how to quilt but needed a motivation. a good kick in the pants. the problem is i have a tendency to get in a project and see nothing else in my life. I thought I'd do squares 7x5. They're 11" but now laying it out it doesn't seem big enough. That means 14 more squares (b/c i was one shy anyway.) Then there's the fact that I want to loosely piece the back. Then I can't even let myself think right now about the actual quilting, the piecing is my favorite. All that said, I'm still happy with what I have so far. Sometimes making a project public makes me feel more accountable. I know I'm silly but fear of being asked motivates me. It's very loosely based off of this design. I said loosely!! I of course am no professional. I really like the white lines separating the squares.

Jackson's art!

I just wanted to show some of the really cool crafts we've copied from No time for flashcards. A couple were interpreted our own way for our needs. She has really cute craft ideas for toddlers to do. It's been fun to watch Jackson learn how some new skills. Some of those we just did during the day but a lot of them we've made for Family Home Evening. We really weren't good at it, thinking Jackson was too young to care but boy were we wrong. He loves it! Last night he was begging all through dinner and us getting ready to start family home evening. These are some of the other things we've made. He's really liked the games (matching, red light/green light) and wants to play them all the time.

Now this is obviously Brent's creation. I thought it was pretty far over his head but he loves it too. He'll walk up to the fridge and talk about what happens (well we just did it last night.) I love it because it's SO Brent. He is not a simple quick artist. If he's drawing he's really gonna draw it.

I ask you how!

How do you get your kids to poopoo in the potty? I've bribed him. I've sat him in front of the TV. I've even given him a suppository when he got himself sick. He can keep his underwear clean and dry all day (well still not for naps or nightime) except for a #2 accident or he'll get constipated. Too much to share? Is he just not ready?

preparing for the real thing...

Three days a week I've started watching one of Jackson's friends from nursery Iris. She's about 6 months younger than Jackson which I didn't think Jackson would even notice a difference. He does though and it has given me glimpses of the type of big brother he will be. It's funny to see my characteristics/behavior in how he treats her. Now imagine this in a high imitating mommy type of voice, here are some of my favorites..."Honey, you want some juice." "Are you drinking juice? say yeah. say yeah." "Who am I? I'm Jackson. say Jackson." (when she picked up the remote control) "that's not for you Iris." "that's not safe Iris." He'll pick out books to show her and teach her how to... well jump on the bed or play red light/green light (a new favorite since our fhe on obedience.)

I know its not exactly the same but it's an idea of maybe how things will go and it makes me more excited. I'm grateful to see the patience and kindness he has shown her. I think, really I do, he'll be a great older brother.

my mom came

and basically this is all we did.

because the rest of the time was spent doing this.

That is popping beans and potty training (see the pants.) no--he isn't potty trained.

so pretty

It's been a while since I publicly vowed my love of fabric. I thought, nah they don't care, but...I'm sorry....I just thought these Arcadia fabrics by Sanae (Moda) were gorgeous! I couldn't choose which picture I liked best. The bottom two are for sell on Etsy.

Oh and by golly it's a two posting day! Amazing!

Jackson at 2 1/2

So this post is really for future me to look back and remember the Jackson that is singing/moaning in his crib right now as he is today. I know I forget things and he does lots of things I want to remember but I don't have a picture or story to blog about.

Favorite tv shows are Curious George, Bob the Builder (although I'm a mean mom right now. He used to ask for it constantly but then something about this movie, while I was sick, I swear made my nausea worse and I've now told him "sorry, its broken" just b/c it makes my head spin. i know im horrible!) Super Why, and Little Einsteins. My favorite is Word World but we lost our movie at the beach and the show comes on during his naptime.

Lines he says that will always get a laugh: "Oh my goodness! Are you serious!?" Come on mom/dad/whoever is there whose name he knows, This'll be fun!" "bridge" (now this one we all try really hard not to laugh at but inevitably somebody will snicker, it sounds really naughty) "no way jose!" and i'm sure countless others but those are the most common ones.

Favorite books: "Go Dog Go" is way high up there now but he also likes "Ready set skip", Elmo books, "The Cat in the Hat", and truck books. We go to the library weekly too so we always get new books there.

Jackson is a great sleeper. I thank the healthy sleep habits happy baby book. He has his routine and will go to bed without crying. He may resist starting the routine and even avoid getting into bed but when we leave there are no tears. That is, as long as he has white kiki (a ragged waffle blanket that as it appears is more irreplaceable than I thought. can't find another anywhere.)and big blanket. Recently he has started sleeping mostly with Elmo and any other random toy he thinks which reminds me of this one.

When we play he loves going outside. He normally will ask for a walk so he can pick up sticks/rocks and drop them in holes (which are drains.) We also play with balls a lot. Gma and papa barnes now have an empty room in their house where great-gmas bed used to be where he loves to play corners. What's corners? who knows all we do is laugh and run from corner to corner. We've barely started trying to have craft projects too which are fun. Maybe I'll do a post on those?

He loves all members of his family, even those he doesn't get to see often and will get so excited when we mention anything exciting that they're doing. He desperately needs a sibling (which I'm working on) b/c he always has to try to drag us old people around. A summary of Jackson 2.5 isn't complete without mentioning tantrums. I love you despite them future Jackson but wow you can throw a bad one. I'm sure other moms have left the mall with screaming toddlers in their arms but when it happens, you feel all alone in the world. Often the only thing that will calm you down is a blanket and primary songs. I love how primary songs can soften both our hearts though and I love you more b/c of it. I love how already the church means something to you and you assume all big pretty buildings are temples and all people who wear robes or have beards are Jesus. You learned how to drink from an open cup by the sacrament. You say irreverent but sincere prayers (praying for books, toys, and even Joe working). You demand to be included in morning scriptures and will refuse anybody who tries to put you to bed without prayer ON THEIR KNEES! You teach how pure and forgiving real love is. Sorry this turned into a different post than I intended but I'll let it stand.