I think we have to loose the bumper...

I think he hates it.... 

but how am I going to sneak out of his room at bedtime if it is gone?! lol.

"Mommy, you're the best!"

I never tire of hearing this.  Jackson, I think you're the best too!  I love you my Little Man!

Zoo Fun and Even Some Dinosaurs!!

Last week I met up with my sister, our friend Mary and all the little kiddos at the zoo.  It was an absolutely perfect day, weather-wise and wanted to take advantage of it while we still can.  Due to the older ones coming home from school, we couldn't make it a very long visit- just long enough to get the kids tuckered out.

Monkey's looking at monkey's....

We were almost ready to head home, when I realized that the Dinosaurs were going to be leaving this coming weekend and not coming back for quite a while.  Well this is one of Jackson's most favorite parts of the zoo, so I decided to take him for one last look.  Just me and him.

He was sooooooo excited!  Honestly, words can not describe his excitement.  We had to look at all of them of course, but there is one guy in particular that Jackson had his eye out for.... Sharp Tooth.

The mean, and nasty T-Rex.  What can I say, Jackson loves his bad guys!  He was dying to have his picture taken with him, but he didn't want to get too close.  We had to walk on the opposite side of the dinosaurs, you see.... So I told him to go stand on a leaf that was in the middle of the walkway.  He looked over at it, looked back at me, back at Sharp Tooth and then noticed right in front of me was a leaf on the ground.  "How about this leaf Mommy?"  Perfect, honey.

Then we noticed Spike (you have seen The Land Before Time, right?  Oh goodness, if you haven't go and rent it!  Such a sweet animated movie all about Dinosaurs.  A HUGE favorite in our house...)  Anyways, so we saw Spike.   Since Spike is a nice dinosaur, Jackson agreed to go a little bit closer for a picture with him.

Toward the end we came to this guy that has a body like a T-Rex, but a mouth like a Crocodile.  He was pretty cool looking.  Jackson really liked him- he actually got pretty close to this one!  He is called a Suchomimus.  We found a really neat guy at the gift shop on our way out and I just had to get it for him.  Yeah, I was a bit of a sucker like that.  Can't help it!  Aside from his construction toys, dinosaurs are a huge favorite these days.

Jackson and the Suchomimus

Then at the very end they have a dinosaur that you can pose on to have your picture taken.  Jackson decided he could do this since "It's OK Mommy, he isn't real 'cause he has no legs."

"I was really brave, wasn't I Mommy?!" 

It was a really great day, and so fun to do something special- just me and him.  I love this Little Man so much I think I feel my heart stretch larger each and every day.  

I Get to Join the Ranks of Mimi and Papa!

So last night while eating dinner, Scott said he had an announcement to make.  A very important one, so we all needed to listen.  When I go into work on Wednesday, I am to give my two weeks notice- I don't have to work anymore!

Hallelujah!!!  

I had been only doing two nights a week, and then most recently I dropped down to one, working me down to nothing at all.  But I didn't expect it to happen until closer to Owen's birth, maybe sometime in the end of September or October.  But here it is- two nights left and I am done.  Jackson got this silent grin on his face, and you could tell he was thinking about something.  "Retired" he whispered.  We both got a huge grin on our faces and Scott said "Yes Jackson, just like Mimi and Papa, Mommy will be retired and not have to work anymore.  Do you think you will like that Big Guy?"  His smile stretched from ear to ear and said a big, loud "YES!"  

So who would have thunk it. Only 31 years old, and already retired. Now I get to live the Good Life.  *grin*

Who am I kidding, my life has always been good.  

23 week Doctor's Appointment

I had my monthly Owen check up today, so I brought my favorite big Brother along with me so he could hear his little brother's heartbeat again.  Oh how excited he got when he heard it!  He immediately jumped right off of his chair and came next to me on the doctor's table with a huge grin across his face.  It was awesome.  I love that I can bring Jackson to these appointments.  It really connects him to his little brother in a whole new way.  Plus he is such a good boy!  He sits so nice, eating his animal crackers and never interrupts the nurses or the doctor when they are talking.  He is even answering them now when they talk to him (our sweet shy boy!)  He loves looking at the bulletin boards they have in the hallways full of pictures of the babies delivered by their doctor's; always asking if Owen will be there when he is born.  He did tell me today though that he doesn't want to ever have to go pee-pee in a cup.  "Mommy, I really don't want to!"  Made me smile. Oh the things that bother them....

Owen's heartbeat was fast and strong at 147, right where it has been pretty much throughout the pregnancy.  This was so cool- as soon as the nurse found Owen's heartbeat he must not have liked the pressure she was putting on him with the doppler so he pushed right back.  She could feel him moving and pushing her hand away the whole time.  Baby Owen is getting so strong!  With each of her pushes he was doing two right back at her, you could just imagine him saying "Hey!  Cut that out already!"

We got the results to all of my tests, and everything is perfect and normal, so that is a relief.  I go back in about two weeks for my glucose intolerance test where I get to drink that flat orange pop again. I am not worried, I didn't have any issues with gestational diabetes with Jackson, so I will probably be fine again this time.  But we shall see.  Fingers crossed.  Other then that, pretty quick appointment.  I go back in 4 weeks on August 19th for our next one.

Goodness, this pregnancy is moving so fast.  I can hardly believe it.  Next week is an important milestone for Owen.  If something were to happen and I were go into labor, he would be able to survive outside of the womb!  It is always somewhat of a relief hitting this point in pregnancy.

Littlest Man is now about as long as an ear of corn *grin*

"A mother's body remembers her babies-the folds of soft flesh, the softly furred scalp against her nose. Each child has it's own entreaties to body and soul."— Barbara Kingsolver

A Test of Wills....

Jackson washing the wall after he colored all over it in crayon

A while back Jackson and I had a test of wills- who was going to give in first.  It was a quiet afternoon, filled with coloring, Wizard of Oz and just enjoying each other's company.  I started getting dinner ready since little man was happy and occupied.  About 10 minutes later I realize it is awfully quiet.  Too quiet.  I call to Jackson and he yells that he is upstairs (in my bedroom).  I ask what he is doing, and again I am met by quiet.  Not usually a good sign.

Of course I am elbow deep in raw chicken so I figure he is probably jumping on the bed like he usually does, and let it go for a few more minutes.  I know what you are thinking.

All of a sudden Jackson comes running down the stairs and says......

 Jackson: "Mommy, I need some paper towels."

 Mommy: "What do you need paper towels for, buddy?"

Jackson: "Nothing, it is nothing."  long pause... "Can I have a paper towel now?"

Mommy: "Jackson what do you need the paper towels for?  Did you do something upstairs that you shouldn't have?"

Jackson: "I said NOOO!   It's fine!  Nevermind!!!" 

Mommy:  "Jackson, I need to know what happened upstairs."

Jackson: "I just need a paper towel!  It is nothing!" 

At this point I tell him to wait there and I go upstairs to check things out.  Over on the side of my bed I see the chair is moved away from the wall a little bit and on the cushion of the chair, on the floor and smeared on the carpet is chap-stick.  I come back down stairs for some more conversation....

Mommy: Jackson I need you to be honest and tell me what you did upstairs.

Jackson: "I SAID I DID NOTHING!" 

Mommy: "Now I just went upstairs and know that you aren't telling me the truth.  I need you to go in the corner until you can be honest and tell me what happened."

Jackson: "Mommy, I didn't do anything!" 

Mommy: Jackson you can stand there as long or as short as you want.  The sooner you are honest the sooner you can get out of the corner.   Uh Oh!  You don't want your nose to grow like Pinocchio's nose!  I think I see it starting to grow!"

Jackson: (throwing his hands over his nose) "No!  It isn't growing!  Mommy, NO!"

Mommy: "Well are you being honest or are you telling a lie like Pinocchio did?  Tell me what you need the paper towels for and your nose will go back to normal and you can come out of the corner." 

Jackson: "I don't want to" 

Mommy: "OK, then you get to stay there in time out until you can tell me the truth." 

TWENTY minutes later!.....

Jackson: "Mommy....."

Mommy: "Yes Jackson?  Are you ready to tell me what happened and tell the truth?"

Jackson: "Yes...." 

Mommy: "Ok, then let's go upstairs and you can show me and then tell me what you did." 

Jackson: (in a whisper) "I spilled your chapstick...."

Mommy: "OK, I need you to show me.  Let's take the paper towels and you can clean it all up." 

Jackson: "OK.  I'm sorry Mommy" 

Mommy: "Thank you for being honest.  It is soooo important to tell the truth!  Nobody likes a friend that tells lies.  Now I need you to clean all of this mess up.  And no more touching Mommies chapstick."

Jackson:  "I don't want to be like Pinocchio, Mommy."  

Mommy: "I know, buddy."

Jackson: "I love you, Mommy." 

Mommy: I love you too, Buddy. 

Now, ever since this day if Little Man tries to tell a lie all we need to say is "Is your nose going to grow like Pinocchio's?"  And he changes his mind and tells the truth.  Thank you very much Walt Disney!