"It's a buggy-bug world out there..."

'a bug's life,' the movie --have you ever seen it?


We have...only a few thousand times!
Ever since Grandma Chris introduced this movie to Jackson about a month ago, we have been "needing" to watch it at least once, sometimes twice, a day. Jackson will sit and watch the entire movie from beginning to end at night when he is tired, but during the day, he just likes to have it on while he plays.
It is a fantastic film. One of the better children's movies I've seen. Jackson definitely gives it an "enthusiastic two-thumbs up!"

Tatoos.

I introduced my son to tatoos today...something I may live to regret someday.
Jackson picked out the tatoo he wanted (giraffe), and where he wanted it (on his hand). He also picked out a gorilla tatoo for mom and a skull and cross-bones tatoo for dad.
So, what do ya think of them??

Havin' a bad day...but you'd never know it!

Jessica had a "bad" day today. She decided to spend her morning naptime playing with her blankets and her socks while she was in her crib (I know this because I was able to watch her on the video monitor we have in her room). So, after about an hour and a half, I went in and got her hoping to keep her "lunchtime" and "playtime" on schedule for the day.
No such luck!
She didn't want to eat, she didn't want to play --she just wanted to be crabby. At 12noon she finally fell asleep, after being awake for almost six hours (which, in baby-land, is equivalent to a full day for an adult).
I snapped a few pictures of her after she woke up from her one and only nap of the day (btw, only lasted for a little over an hour) because I was amazed at what a good mood she seemed to be in. Go figure. Tired, hungry, probably had a headache from all the crying she had done earlier, nonetheless, she was her usual, happy self.?

"I was a little stinker for my mommy today."


"Gimme that camera mom!"


"All done with that toy."
Once Jessica is done "playing" with a toy, she tosses it behind her head (as pictured below) and then moves onto the next toy.

Anyone up for a swim??

Here is a picture of Jackson taken just today; it was his 3rd swimming lesson.

Jackson is now able to enter the water (from a seated postion along side the pool) all by himself. He is able to independently walk around in the water and chase after his toys. Although he loves to "play" in the water with balls and other float-able toys, he is still pretty scared to get his face and head wet. We are working on laying 'flat as a pancake' on his back (ideally with his ears underwater), and 'going under' - which we are really no where close to being able to do yet. Jackson will blow bubbles but that is all the further he likes his face to be underwater. He is, however, having fun with either mom or dad (depending on who takes him to swim lessons) in the water, and learning some new skills--and that's what's important. We are very proud of him!

Inauguration 2009

What were you all doing today when Mr. Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th President of the United States?

Because it was such a joyous and exciting moment in our nation's history, I decided to write about it, and post a few pictures of the kids. Hopefully, someday down the road, Jackson and Jessica will look back on this and be able to see what they did and what they looked like during the 2009 Presidential Inauguration.

Jackson, Jessica, and I were home alone (my two daycare boys were home sick today). Jackson and I began watching the televised event in our basement while we waited for Jessica to wake up from her morning nap. Once she was up, I threw in a VHS tape to record the event, and we headed off to a friend's house for an "Inauguration Luncheon."
Jason was teaching today. He was a little upset he couldn't show the event to his students; Officer J.J. was there to discuss the G.R.E.A.T. program. Jason plans to show the recorded event to his students tomorrow.

So, Jackson my son, here is what you and your mom looked like on January 20th, 2009...



Here are a few pictures of Jessica and Jackson "watching" the Inauguration on T.V.

"Shhhhh...don't tell big brother!"

As everyone is well aware, Jackson is absolutely in love with his trucks. So much so, in fact, that he has a hard time sharing his "prized posessions" with his sister.

When Jackson is napping, however, guess what becomes Jessica's "toys of choice?"...
Lil' stinker!

Once Bitten... Twice Shy!

Jessica has officially become a "biter." She bites everything that goes into her mouth. --EVERYTHING!
So, from this day on, no more breast-feeding. Ouch. I've made the executive decision to quit "cold-turkey" with her and introduce her to the bottle. So far, she's handling it quite well, this being the first day and all... she has been a little crabby, and her napping schedule seems to be off as a result, but no major melt-downs (yet).
In the meantime, while she is getting this whole bottle thing figured out (which she may never do and we may just decide to continue on solely with a sippy cup), Jessica is eating table foods like a champ. She loves her noodles and green beans! Here is a picture of her "devouring" her food...