Loving Fall-9 Months

Jackson will be 9 months on Saturday (10/14). We took him out to the Apple Barn in Chatham for some cute pictures : ) Enjoy!

ILL-INI

Jackson got to experience his 1st Illini Football game on Saturday. We were hopeful until the very last second that they would pull it out, but not this time. However, we still had a great time and it was a beautiful day. Here is Jackson cheering on the Illini and posing with Grandma and Grandpa! He'll be 9 month this Saturday (10/14). We are going to a pumpkin patch this week for 9 month pictures . . . . hopefully they turn out GREAT and we'll post some soon : )

A Couple More Pictures from the Game

Here are a couple more pictures from the Cardinals game.

Claire (19 Months) taking a ride on her daddy's shoulders (my brother-in-law Brent).

Go Cardinals!

We took Jackson to his 1st Cardinal's game on Friday. He must have been their good luck charm . . . . they won 14-4. Chris Duncan and Scott Rolen had 2 home-runs each!!! They have a "Build-a-Bear" workshop where you can build a Fredbird. So guess what we HAD to get : ) Yeah, well his room is Cardinals decor . . . . how could I say no?
He did awesome at the game. Just looking around at all the people and lights. And the music, fireworks and cheering was pretty exciting too : ) David has been wanting to take him with us to a game all season. Since he was born in the inagural year of the new Busch Stadium. So as you can see from the pictures, he had to capture EVERY moment! We had GREAT seats thanks to people from Courtney & Brent's church (thanks guys!).

Swinging . . .

Almost 8 Months

Jackson is so busy these days! Here he is pulled up to one of his favorite toys : )

More Vacation Pictures

Taking some time away . . . . .

We had a WONDERFUL time on vacation this past week! We were able to spend some time with Jen & Joel (THANKS GUYS!) in Gainesville, FL. And then went up the coast to Jekyll Island, GA with David's aunt & uncle. As you can see it was BEAUTIFUL! And Jackson enjoyed the beach : ) I'll post more pictures when we get home! But couldn't resist putting these up for now.

Jackson-7 Months

Jackson turns 7 months old today!! I CANNOT believe that it has already been 7 months since we brought Jackson home. It doesn't seem possible. We, of course, can't imagine what our lives would be like without him!

He officially has 2 teeth now . . . . as you might be able to see in one of the pictures. And he continues to LOVE bathtime!!!

Nathanael Turns 1

We went down to TH last Sunday evening for our nephew Nathanael's 1st Birthday (Karen & Derrick's youngest). Thought you might enjoy the pictures! The first of the 2 birthday boys! Josiah just turned 6. Nathanael had a little help from his daddy getting the icing all over! And Jackson & Nathanael enjoyed riding around in the Ritchie's new wagon.

On the Move . . .

Jackson is "army" crawling his way all over our living room! This past week he even pulled up to standing at our fireplace and in his crib. So to say the least, we have to keep our eye on him these days : ) We went this past Monday for his 6 month checkup and she said he weighed 16 lbs, 4 oz. and was 27 inches long. It is crazy to think how BIG he is getting! We have been trying to get him use to using a sippy cup. So we give him a little diluted juice in it at supper time along with some fruit puffs. He likes to hold the cup and chew on the spout, but I'm not really sure how much juice he is really getting! He is so precious and we just love him SO MUCH!!!!

6 Months

Here are some of Jackson's 6 month pictures. We felt his first little tooth on Monday . . . . and it's a sharp little thing too : )

Jackson Eating Squash

Jackson wasn't sure when he had squash for the first time on Monday! What do you think? : )

Happy 4th of July

We spent the weekend in Tower Hill. As always, we went to the Herrick Parade and Fireworks in Pana. Jackson did NOT like the sirens at the parade. It was nap time on top of it all, which didn't help the situation! : ) So I wasn't sure how fireworks would go that night, but he didn't mind them at all. He would jump every once in a while at the loud booms, but he liked watching all the lights! Some of them were a little too bright and he would close his eyes : )

Jackson Goes Swimming

Jackson went swimming for the first time this past Thursday. He usually loves to splash around at bath time, but I thought with the colder water that he might not like it as much. But he actually REALLY liked it! He was so content getting pushed around in his little floatie : )

Jackson-4 months

Day at the Zoo

On Sunday before Memorial Day, we headed down to my sister and brother-in-law's in Waterloo. We took the kids to the St. Louis Zoo on Monday and had a GREAT time! It was hot . . . but we had a lot of fun! Here is Jackson with Daddy watching the penguins play and swim. It is so amazing watching them see and experience things for the very first time!! Not that he will ever remember this trip, but to be in the mind of a little one trying to figure things out would be so amazing. : )

Look Mommy . . . I'm a Big Kid Now!

So we still haven't gotten food mastered yet, but we are trying!! This is Jackson a few weeks ago . . . his first attempt at solid food. He "opens up wide" when the spoon is approaching, but we are still working on it all staying in his mouth!!!

In other news . . . he can officially roll both ways now . . . which is great for naps. He is a tummy sleeper and when he would roll himself over to his back (which he has been doing since 6 weeks) he would get mad and cry. But now he can roll himself all over his crib and get comfy when settling in to sleep : ) And he scoot himself too . . . if he could figure out how to use his hands instead of his face, I think he would be crawling . . .

My 1st Mother's Day

My sister and brother-in-law graduated from LCC on Saturday before Mother's Day. So David took the weekend off and we spent it down in Tower Hill with my family. David (and Jackson) got me a necklace with the mom and child charm and Jackson's birthstone. David even took his little hand to sign my Cookie Monster Card . . . . yes that will definitely go in the scrapbook : )

Our Family

We had to get a family photo in honor of Jackson's first Easter! Of course that will make it into the scrapbook : ) I have had a little time lately to start on his scrapbook, but still have MORE to do! It is so fun looking back on the last 3 months and remembering how much he has changed. When I look back at him right after he was born, it seems SO LONG ago!! David and I can't imagine our lives without him!! He is such a precious blessing that I thank God for every night.

David's brother & sister-in-law, Brian & Jenny, are expecting their 5th child in August. They just found out this week that they are having a little boy . . . Cian (pronounced Key-an) Bruce will be his name. They currently have Ciara (6), Aidan (almost 4), Riana (2), and Anwen (will be 1 in July).

Jackson-3 Months

Happy Easter!

Jackson--2 Months

I've Been Tagged

Jackson Isaiah--2 months

Four jobs I've had:
-Administrative Assistant at an accounting firm
-Office Assistant at LCC in Admissions and Student Services Offices
-Factory worker at Justrite in Mattoon (the summer before I got married . . . the things we do for money)
-Cashier at IGA in Pana

Four places I've lived:
-Tower Hill, IL
-Lincoln, IL
-Naperville, IL
-Rochester, IL

Four TV shows I love:
-Gilmore Girls
-Alias (when it was on)
-Friends
-Everybody Loves Raymond

Four places I've vacationed:
-Washington DC
-Townsend, TN
-Wisconsin Dells, WI
-NYC, NY

Four of my favorite dishes:
-Lasagna
-Dumplings from Cracker Barrell
-Grilled Pork Chop
-WI Cheese Soup from the Feed Store

Four places I'd rather be right now:
-On the beach
-in my bed asleep
-at my parent's house
-curled up on my couch with the electric throw

Four sites I've visited today:
-yahoo mail
-babycenter.com
-Jen's blog
-Kim's blog

Tackling Josiah . . . .

It is so fun that Jackson will grow up with cousins close by!! Check out Nathanael (6 months) and Jackson tackling Josiah (5 1/2).

One Month Old

I can't even believe he is already 1 month old!! How crazy is that!

Here is a new picture : )

Go Cardinals : )

Yes, I am afraid daddy has already made him a little Cardinals fan. He doesn't really have much of a choice in the matter at this point : )

I can't believe he is already 3 weeks only this past Saturday. It is crazy! This Saturday he will be one month old!!!! He is doing really well. Just trying to get our routine figured out! I tell ya, he really is a pretty good little baby.

Well, I gotta run! Just wanted to show you a new picture of the little man!

--Kristin

Jackson Has Arrived!

Jackson arrived a little early . . . . January 14th at 10:42 pm. He was 7 lbs., 6.6 ounces and was 21 inches long!

We are still in awe that he is ours : ) It is amazing to think this little person came from us. Of course we think he is perfect, but we might be a little bias : ) He has his 2 week appointment this past week and is back over his birth weight at 7 lbs, 8 ounces. I can't believe how much he changes everyday!

He is such a blessing : )

36 Weeks . . . .

Yes, this past Sunday (1/1/06) I was 36 weeks . . . . can you believe it? I have a baby shower at work on Friday and then one at the church on Sunday afternoon. I think after that I will finally feel ready. At my dr. appt. last week, she said I measured a week ahead. Of course, she just says maybe he is just long, so to not get my hopes up! I just have a few things I want to get finished at home before he arrives . . . . mostly just prepping his announcements. However, the work front is another story! I think it is finally sinking in that I am going to be gone. Everyone has been going crazy this week knowing that any day might be my last. I may have a 40 week picture or it may be pictures of Jackson . . . . we shall see! Take care : ) -- Kristin