Jack's First Birthday Party

We celebrated Jackson's first birthday with a party a few days before his actual birthday. We chose to do a smaller party with mostly family. Smaller as in 13 adults + 2 kids plus our family of four! It was such a great evening, even I was surprised at what a great time we had! While everyone was getting settled Jack + Gabby played on the floor. At one point gabby reached out and touched Jackson, which caused Jack to burst into tears! I guess he found her forwardness a little too much! We started with presents, in which Lincoln was so great at opening all the gifts for Jackson. Jack was far more interested in all the cards anyways, which really gave me a laugh. We did cake right after as a few guest needed to leave a little early. We set Jack up in his highchair and gathered everyone around. He smiled and smiled as we sang to him. We didn't really want him to dive into the amazing shark cake that Stephen and I had made for him so I gave him a cupcake to try. He didn't really eat very much of it and stayed super clean. Slightly disappointed but I will try again on his real birthday to get him into some cake! After that he just spent the evening playing with his various aunts, uncles, grandparents that came! It was a great evening, Jackson really enjoyed himself and we all had a good time!

Little doings...little sayings...here today...gone tomorrow

having a two year old is almost always pure joy. the things that come out of his mouth are amazing. but, despite my wishing, he continues to grow. and as he grows his cute sayings and doings cease. at least they are followed by new ones.
here are some of my current favorites
"babe" - lincoln calls me this when I don't respond to mom. he has heard stephen and i call each other this countless times each day, so it is not surprising but still makes me crack a grin every time he pulls it out
"are you kidding me?" - this one he just says randomly - but it makes me laugh because i know he heard me say it in frustration to Stephen many, many times. his voice goes so high, and all the words run together. priceless
"mommy" or "daddy" mimicked with same no nonsense tone when I am about to put my foot down and say, "lincoln." a warning inside my tone. funny most of the time when he uses the same tone back at me, not so funny when he has done it several times a day.
"heh heh heh" linc has this super funny, devious laugh he does when he is playing with his dinosaurs and one them eats another.



Jacks does some cute things as well - when ever he sees our giant blue stuffed snake he goes "sssssssss".

i lub you mom

Today Lincoln said "I lub you mom" for the first time of his own free will. It was right after we had spent a good chunk of time in the bathroom while he sat on the potty after he first woke up. I read him books, got him juice, covered him a blanket because he was cold. He was successful and after great rejoicing between the 2 of us, we got him dressed for the day. "I lub you mom!", as he threw himself into my lap. It was an amazing moment, one I have been waiting for a long time.

I have been potty training Lincoln for the last 3 days. The first 2 days were only half days, but today was our first full day. He has been doing so great, and only had 2 accidents today. To goes to show that if you wait long enough they practically train themselves! :)

Jack is going to be 1 in 3 weeks. It is absolutely unbelievable too me. This year has flown by. I have stopped looking at him like my little baby and now see him as my almost one year old - and my how he was developed in the last few months! He is pretty much sleeping through the night (YEA!) and is getting better at communicating what he wants. I taught him the sign for 'more' just last week and he is already using it regularly. He loves to play with the music table - he sits and claps his hands and bounces to the songs. He is so patient + content - just follows us around the house, dragging his little body as he still refuses to crawl properly, even though he is completely capable.

I daily fight the tears as I realize my baby is turning 3 soon and my other baby is turning one. Life goes so quickly once kids enter the picture. It is bitter, bitter sweet.