Vacation at Grandma Mac's

We had a wonderful vacation at Grandma's in New Jersey. I did so well flying on a plane for the first time, too. At first I wasn't too sure about the beach and ocean, but after a little exploring, I decided I loved the sand!

I was a very busy boy at Grandma's. Between going to the beach, swimming in the pool, and exploring every inch of Grandma's house, I just didn't stop going going going! My Auntie Kady and cousin Hannah came to visit, too! It was so nice to spend time with them.

Here are a couple videos of me in the pool. In the first one, Hannah is on the other end of the noodle. :)

Grandma cooked so many yummy meals! Thanks for all the delicious food, Grandma! When Grandma wasn't cooking, she was playing with me.

Aunt Kate helped with the cooking, too, and it was wonderful spending time with her!

All this fun and excitement made for some healthy naps.

What a great family vacation it was!

Until next time...

Love,
Jackson

XOX

My First Kiss

Let me tell you about my first kiss. Mom and I went to the park the other day and I was just walking around exploring all the fun things to do. This little girl comes up to me, and Mom thought she just wanted to play, but oh no... she kissed me! On the lips! I didn't really know what to do. The next thing I knew, though, she had a handful of sand and threw it at me. Dad told me later that girls can be very confusing. In any case, I wasn't prepared to have my first kiss at almost 14 months.

We'll post more soon!
Love,
Jackson
XOX

Summer Fun

I love summer. Although the weather has been unseasonably cool, I don't mind because I am just enjoying each and every day. I am becoming more confident in my walking.

My hair is very long. Thankfully I am getting a haircut Wednesday. Mom took some pictures of my scraggly hair in the bathtub the other night.

My cousin Isabella came over for a sleepover Thursday. First we met at a mall that was playing live music. My Aunt Audrey and cousin Cohen were there, too.

Then Mom took us to the park in Waukesha and we rented a really cool bike. Isabella got to steer, I got to ride in front, and Mom had to work hard to keep us going!

Mom and Isabella did more fun things together while I stayed home with Dad. The next morning, though, I watched Isabella dance. Wait until I can teach her the moves Dad has taught me (yikes!).

We went swinging at the park, too.

Today was my cousin Cohen's baptism. God bless you, Cohen. It was nice to spend time with family. Dad wasn't there, though, because he's in DC. I am so proud of him! He is there presenting for work. I am really lucky to have such a wonderful Daddy that I get to see so much! I miss you, Dad!

The other big news is... I am going on a plane in about a week! Mom and Dad found really reasonable flights to Grandma Mac's, so they decided instead of traveling so long in the car, to try flying. I am excited for this new adventure.

Have a great week... oh, I almost forgot. Happy 2nd Anniversary Mom and Dad. I love you!

Love,
Jackson
XOX

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