We miss you daddy!!

But we're doing the best we can to deal til you join us.

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.