Busy, Busy!

Hi there! Sorry we didn't post last weekend. Time is flying with how busy we are. Between packing and getting ready for the school year, we are busy, busy bees!

A couple Sundays ago my cousins Isabella and Cohen came over to play. We had a good time together!

Good luck on your first day of kindergarten, Isabella!

Dad has been really helpful playing with me so Mom can pack. A few days ago he went to take me for a walk, but it started to rain. We saw a rainbow!

Dad has become my best friend and we always play together. We even relax together, too.

Mom, Dad and I went to meet Mom's friends for dinner. They have a 9-month-old name Sam. Our new house is really close to where they live! Here's a picture of Sam and his dad, Joe.

I can tell Sam and I are going to be great buds when he gets a little older. (Next time we'll take pictures of our Mommies.)

Last weekend we went to an outlet mall that had some cool rides! Check it out!

We have been going to the park a lot lately. I really enjoy going down the slide!

We've had usually cool weather lately. Yesterday when Dad took me for a walk, I needed a coat and hat!

Today was much more beautiful and we spent the morning at the zoo.

We went to a special bird exhibit where you held a stick of food and the birds came right on to the stick! Two birds went on Mom's hand - she was a little scared, but not as scared as Nana would be (she doesn't like birds much)!

We also fed some goats.

We saw many animals again. I think my favorite animals were the birds, spider monkeys, and all the fishies!

Mom starts another school year Tuesday. This is her 4th year teaching 2nd grade at the same school! We hope everyone is doing well. I wish all my cousins a successful school year, whether it's elementary, middle, or high school, or college!

Love,

Jackson
XOX

Happy 41st Birthday, Da-Da!

Happy 41st Birthday, Da-Da! So yesterday was my Daddy's birthday. You know what made it so special? He got the BEST present ever. He and Mommy bought a house! I can't wait to explore all the rooms! Is my Daddy the best ever, or what?



Mom had a technology class Tuesday through Thursday last week, so Dad stayed home with me. We went to the zoo two days in a row! We saw lions and tigers and bears, oh my! We saw many other animals, too. Dad said I am really starting to pay attention and watch the animals.








Dad is really getting around well now with his hurt foot. He doesn't go to PT anymore! Way to go, Dad!



Great pics, Dad. Thanks for taking so many! Dad also took me to the park. Do you recognize where we were?

We were where Mom and Dad had their wedding pictures taken!

We would really like a picture of the three of us walking through there.

Only one more week of swim lessons, which means summer is officially coming to an end. Although that makes me sad, the coming fall means Mom's favorite season (cooler), football (Go Bears!), and moving (yippee!). Plus I get to join all my friends at Robyn's again. I hope you are enjoying your last few weeks of summer.

Happy 35th Anniversary to Nana and Papa on Monday! Thanks for coming to visit last night. It was so much fun seeing you. I love you!

Love,

Jackson

XOX

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