I'm Walking!

Hi there! I am a walker these days. I tend to bounce from furniture to furniture that helps me stay up, but I am definitely walking more than crawling.

Mom and I have been busy bees. We spend as much time outside as we can. We like to walk to the park every day. We also go to Gymboree a few times a week. It's a gym designed just for toddlers like me! We sit in a circle (well, we're supposed to, I don't like to sit... I want to play with all the cool stuff!), sing songs, and go through planned activities. I have two clear favorites (besides not sitting when I am supposed to). First, we push an air log. All of us toddlers get behind this long air log and push it across the room. It is so much fun! My second favorite activitiy is the busy box. Miss Erin sings a song and shakes the busy box and I get so excited to see what's inside to play with on that day. Mom says we're only doing Gymboree for July. She wants more "freedom" in August before she goes back to school.

Of course I am still taking swimming lessons on Saturdays. I do not like to go on my back and have water touch my ears, so we are working on that a little in the bathtub. I am getting better at safely exiting the pool, but most of all, I am just becoming more comfortable with swimming.

Speaking of swimming... I will get to go swimming at Grandma Mac's in a couple weeks! I am really looking forward to our vacation! It will be my first time in the ocean. Can't wait to see you, Grandma!

Mom had to work on Monday, so Dad took the day off. He took me to the park and we fed a goose! We also fed a duck, and then Dad read some sign that said, "Do not feed water fowl." I clearly don't know what that means, but I do know the goose and ducks loved my food.

Today I was a very lucky boy. Mom and I went to Robyn's house and had a playdate with Mya and AJ. I showed them how well I am walking now. I really miss them and it was nice to spend a couple hours with them. Thanks for having us over, Robyn!

Tomorrow my cousin Isabella is coming over for a sleepover. She and Mom are going to go to Chuck-E-Cheese after dinner. I am hoping Dad will take me, too. Saturday Mom and Dad have a "date night." They are going out to dinner for their 2nd year of being married. That's a REALLY LONG TIME! Dad leaves for DC on Sunday, and Mom and I will be going to my cousin Cohen's baptism. Mom always says that even though it is the summertime, we sure seem to have a busy schedule. I like to stay busy, though.

I am sure all of you are busy, too. Hope you are enjoying your summer. I wanted to wish my cousin Sean a late Happy Birthday. I know it was at the beginning of July. I hope you had a very special day!

Love,

Jackson

XOX

Technical Difficulties

So Mom sincerely apologizes for it being so long since our last post. However, we've had some technical difficulties... our old computer crashed. We are using Mom's work computer, but please be patient while we decide what we are going to do.

A couple weekends ago was Fiesta Waukesha. Mom, Dad, and I went on Sunday to take in some music, yummy Mexican food, and gorgeous weather. We bumped in to Tony and Mya at the park (Robyn, my sitter's, husband and daughter). What a nice surprise! She pushed me on the swing and I just couldn't stop smiling at her.

Mom's friend from Colorado, Nicole, was visiting last week and through this past weekend. She was a lot of fun. Dad was a good sport taking good care of me while Mom went out with Nicole. Thanks, Dad. I enjoyed our boy time!

We've had such beautiful weather lately that I have been spending as much time outside as possible. A couple evenings ago, Mom, Dad, and I went to the park.

This has to be the best video ever. It's the first time I gave Daddy a kiss.

I hope you had a good 4th of July. We cooked out and had one of my favorites... hotdogs! Have a great week and thanks for your patience!

Love,

Jackson

XOX

First Swimming Lesson

Hi there! I had my first swimming lesson today. I really enjoyed it. Elliott and her mom were there, too. Dad took a video to share with you.

Mom and Dad took me to a city pool today, too! It was called a zero depth pool or something like that. Although I had fun, Mom and Dad think it's best to wait to get a pass until next summer. It was nice to see what it was like, though.

A couple days ago, Mom took me on a long walk to Frame Park. That is the same park where we had Daddy's 40th birthday party. On the way, we stopped by the waterfall. It was smelly (like fish)!

Then we decided to feed the ducks. Guess what we fed them? Well, Cheerios, of course! Let me tell you... they gobbled them up! They came so close that Mom was afraid they were going to hop in the stroller with me!

We've had a summer-filled couple of days. I hope you are all doing well, too.

Love,

Jackson

At the Lake

I have so much to share with you! We had such a nice long weekend at the lake. We spent a lot of time on the boat.

I also played in the lake for the first time! It was so much fun that I can't wait to try the ocean at Grandma's this summer!

While we were boating, we saw many things! First of all, my Mom went water skiing and I am excited for her to teach me to ski when I get a little older. We also saw a bald eagle and a deer swimming across a channel in the lake!

Of course we celebrated Papa's birthday and Father's Day.

And I played with my Uncle David and cousins Isabella and Cohen a lot!

It was a fantastic weekend. Between driving the boat with Papa, playing in the lake with Nana, and spending time with my family including Great-Grandma Mary and Great-Grandpa Bob, I just couldn't ask for a better weekend!

Then, just as we were leaving, a big turtle was crossing Nana and Papa's driveway!

What a weekend!

Love,

Jackson

XOX

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all Dads out there! We are going to Nana and Papa's tomorrow, so Mom thought she would help me post on the blog tonight.

Well, my first week with Mommy was really fun! We had my 1-year pictures taken, we went for walks, and we went to the park. We also ran a lot of errands and did some shopping. Daddy said if Mommy stayed home all year he would have to get a second job, but he was just kidding.

Mom says I am such a busy boy. I walk now while holding on to just Mom's or Dad's two fingers. I'll be on my own in no time. I am not as excited about the stairs anymore. I took quite a tumble. Although I was not hurt, it scared me enough to not play on them for now. Today I figured out how to turn the bottled water on. I thought it was funny... Mom did not. My favorite thing to do, though, is chase my kitties! I could follow them around all day long. They just won't let me catch them. Mom and Dad tell me to be gentle, but I just can't help but screech and get excited when they let me near them. Then they run away.

I have also begun to "push the limits" as Mom calls it. When I am frustrated or don't want to do something, I clearly express so. If I don't want to wear my hat, I don't, and if I can't get it off, I let Mom have it. I have started to become a picky eater... overnight. I have at least two more teeth trying to come in, which fuels my unhappiness at times. And between you and me, I really don't like to hear the word "NO," although Mom and Dad sure seem to use it a lot.

I was supposed to have my first swimming lesson this Saturday, but since we'll be up north, I have to wait until next weekend. Mom also signed me up for a class at Gymboree for the month of July. It gives me a chance to play with other kids my age and play with some really cool stuff! I am looking forward to some upcoming playdates, too. I can't wait to see my cousins Isabella and Cohen this weekend!

Happy Father's Day, again. I know I am lucky to have the BEST Daddy in the whole wide world!

Love,

Jackson
XOX

P.S. It's Papa's birthday Saturday. Happy Birthday, Papa. I am so glad I get to spend it with you.

School's Out for Summer!

School's out for summer! Mom, Dad, and I celebrated by going to the zoo yesterday. What a beautiful day! We saw elephants, hippos, cheetahs (it came right up to the window at me!), giraffes, all kinds of monkeys, gorillas, lions, rhinos, bears, peacocks, and a lot more. This is Mom and I at the end of the day before we left.

I have been so busy exploring everything I can. My favorite thing to do now is go up the stairs. This is one of the first times I did both flights...

Dad's been taking such good care of me on Wednesdays. He even took me for a walk (in my pjs) last Wednesday when Mom was at grad school. He has been getting around pretty well, although fortunately, he used a wheelchair yesterday at the zoo. You can imagine how funny it was when Mom was pushing Dad who was pushing me up a hill yesterday. Dad makes me laugh during dinner, too. I was laughing at his dance moves - you'll notice at the end I tell him "No," meaning "No, Dad, you can't dance. Ha ha."

Today Dad is at grad school for 11 hours. That way he doesn't have to meet as much over the summer. Tomorrow we are getting my 1-year pictures taken. Next weekend we go north to Nana and Papa's. Uncle David, Aunt Audrey, Isabella, and Cohen will be there, too! I am looking forward to it! At the beginning of July, Mom's friend, Nicole, is coming to visit from Colorado! It will be my first time meeting her!

Oh! I almost forgot. Dad keeps talking about his albino squirrel we have outside our townhouse. He even took pictures of it. I promised him I would post one for him.

He is so into wildlife. Sometimes I think he enjoys the zoo more than I do. This is me at the end of the day yesterday. The zoo wore me out...

Have a great week!
Love,
Jackson
XOX

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bill!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bill! Do you remember this? I can't wait until the next time we can read books together. I hope you enjoyed your special day!

Speaking of birthdays... I went to my first birthday party yesterday, and it was a big bash! My Uncle David and Aunt Audrey had a combined birthday party for my cousins Isabella (5) and Cohen (1). It was such a fun time. I was able to see a lot of family that I rarely see or hadn't even met. Although I enjoyed swinging with Nana and my cousin Nicholas, I have to say my favorite part was playing in the inflatable!

Yes, they had two inflatable castles there! The big kids jumped around, but I was happy as ever crawling around. It was a cold and rainy day, but no one noticed because of all the fun!

Uncle David and Aunt Audrey did a really nice job putting the big party together. The big kids did the limbo, hit a pinata full of candy, decorated cookies, and got their faces painted. The adults sat in large tents or stood around the firepit, enjoying all the yummy food and drink. Instead of a cake, they had cupcakes for everyone! They were the biggest cupcakes ever! I did have a couple bites, but prefer my veggies still, which makes Mom and Dad thrilled. Although Cohen was busy at his party, we did have a chance to play together a little!


This week is Mom's last week of school. We are really excited about all the time we get to spend together this summer. We're lucky, too, because Dad's schedule is so flexible. We are going to get my 1-year pictures taken next week. Mom will be sure to send them to you or give them to you when she sees you.
One evening last week Mom and Dad took me outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. It also gave me a chance to practice my walking skills.

That was the first time I walked so far! It was also the first time I kept my shoes on. I was tired after all that walking!

I want to say congratulations to my cousins Hannah and Alex on their graduations. Mom and Dad are always saying what good role models you are for me! Congratulations to cousin Molly, too, on all her recent success with track! I have BIG shoes to fill!

We'll keep you posted on all our upcoming outings. Hope you are all doing well and have a great week!

Love,

Jackson
XOX