26 Months

I feel like so often people will ask how old Jackson is and then always say, "Oh that was my favorite age". I feel like people have done this for awhile. While I have enjoyed every stage I have also found that different ages have different challenges. I really feel like this age has been incredible though. He is old enough to understand most everything I say to him, is building his vocabulary to communicate with me, has the best reactions to things, and is so funny! Sure, there are tantrums and frustrations when things don't go his way, and he doesn't always listen to me when I tell him "no" but overall we are having lots of fun! We are getting out most every day to do something fun before nap and then either hang out around the house/yard in the afternoon or go meet some friends somewhere after he wakes up. We have been going to the splash park, story time and playing at the park with friends.

Jackson is still a good eater and still obsessed with fruit. Sometimes I save it for later in the meal just so he'll eat some of his sandwich or dinner first! Since we are on the go a lot we have been eating lots of pb&j. But he also eats chicken and cheese and sometimes grilled cheese or quesidillas for lunches. Pb&j is just easiest for in the car. I can give it to him on the way home so we can play as long as possible before heading home for nap. He'll eat his lunch in the car and then we are ready for a nap as soon as we get home. Not always ideal eating in the car but it saves time and he's usually pretty hungry after playing!

He is sleeping from 7:30 or 8pm until anywhere from 7:30 or 8:30 am. His nap is usually around 12:30 or 1 and he sleeps for 3 or 3 1/2 hours. Growing boy needs his sleep! He is so tired at the end of the day that most times after reading a few books he gets out of the chair to turn his music on and then walks over to his crib. He is ready to go nite nite!

I'm not sure of his stats but he must be getting taller. His "baby belly" is going away and his clothes are starting to get looser on him. I don't think he's lost any weight, I just think he is spreading out more. He is turning into more of a little boy everyday. Jackson wears mostly 18 month shorts and 2T shirts for the length. He is a size 6.5 or 7 shoe now and wears size 4 diapers.

There are so many moments I wish I could bottle up to remember for later. I can't always get photos or videos of things he does and he is such a character sometimes!! I'm glad I have tried to document lots of things here though, I would forget so many little details if I didn't write them down. I definitely need some more videos of his sweet little voice. I am so used to hearing it that when I talk to him on the phone if I am out he sounds different to me. He loves to talk on the phone to Jimmy if he's at work or Nana and Papa. His conversations are so funny to hear - he points at things he sees and says random words so I'm sure its hard being the other person on the phone trying to figure out what he is saying.

I was all set to take him to a speech therapist for an evaluation about a month ago. Then all of a sudden he started saying more words and repeating some of what I say. He also started putting words together saying things like "Mommy car" or "Daddy go". He'll now string together words most of the time. He still doesn't have the biggest vocabulary but I see a definite improvement. I still think he might have some trouble with processing words. I think what he hears and says are still pretty different sometimes. But for now we will just continue to work on it on our own for a couple months and see how much progress we make.

Bubbles

Jackson's "surprise" face

 My helper at the doctor each week.

 Somebody loves when they get a cookie at Rising Roll.

 King of Pops popsicle after dinner at Moxie Burger one night

 Yummy ribs! We love GC BBQ!

21 Months

It is so hard to remember all the funny/silly/sweet things Jackson does each month. I try to keep a list of things I want to remember to blog about but I still always forget things!

It took a long time but I guess it was around 18 months that I could confidently say we were down to one nap a day. Little guy needed his beauty rest I guess, huh? Where he used to fall asleep in the car immediately after going to play at the gym while mommy worked out, now he stays awake even on the car ride home from lunch so we read stories before nap now. I can't tell you how many times he fell asleep and I'd have to wiggle him out of his carseat and carry him up to his crib keeping him asleep while also taking off his shoes and jacket! He will go down around 12:30 and typically sleeps until 3:30 or 4. Night time he goes to bed at 7:30 and wakes around 8 or 8:30am. He goes in phases but for a while wanted to sit on the floor in his room for us to read to him, then he went back to being cuddled up in our lap and now he sits on the ottoman while we sit in the big chair. He loves to choose which books we read and sometimes gets so excited about the next one that he'll close the one we were already reading. We love a new one we got called "I Love Stinky Face" and also a new alphabet book. He still sleeps with his Curious George doll every night. He has other stuffed animals and a blanket in his crib but he always pushes them to the bottom.

His canine teeth are finally coming in. The top two and one of the bottom ones have cut through. Another thing that magically stopped in the past month or two is his drooling! yay! Jackson had been a drooler since he was about 4 months old. Once he got older I passed on the bibs and just accepted that he would always have a wet shirt. It is so nice now that he stays dry!

One of the sweetest things he does is he always wants us to sit next to him. He will pat the seat of the sofa or floor or the next chair over at the island telling us he wants us to sit next to him.

He has learned how to lock the doors in the house and loves to close his bedroom door at night and locks it and then turns the knob to unlock it. Over and over and over! Time to find those little "keys" we got when we bought the new doorknobs in case he locks himself in! Lots of mornings I'll be in the shower and he will play upstairs and in his room but he has yet to close and lock himself in yet. *knock on wood*, I hope it doesn't happen anytime soon!

Jackson is still obsessed with keys and light switches. As soon as Jimmy walks in the door he runs over screaming "daddy!" but then says "keys" wanting his keys. We try to distract him and put the keys away before he notices so that he doesn't run off and play with them. He has already worn down the batteries in our clickers from constantly locking the cars. Oh and he knows which sets of keys work and won't play with an old one or some for a car that isn't here! I know this like every other stage will end soon. He used to grab my phone at any chance and now hardly pays attention to it. Oh, he is obsessed with credit cards right now too. He always wants to hold it and hand it to the cashier to pay when we are out. He carries our gym cards in and hands them to the front desk. What a big helper, huh? He loves helping in the kitchen stirring cookie batter or eggs or just playing pretend with his empty bowl and wisk.

He is still all about helping out and wants to put the cap back everything! He puts the cap on the milk jug (and even wants to put the milk jug back in the fridge - when its not all the way full!) He also puts the top of his sippy cup on and I tighten it for him. He's always coming into the office trying to find pens or markers laying on my desk. He loves to take the cap off and then put it back on. It is great for his hand eye coordination but I don't want accidental pen marks everywhere! One day I gave him dry spaghetti noodles and cheerios and he "threaded" the cheerios on.

His balance is always improving and he loves to walk up and down the stairs holding my hand or just holding onto the railings. He runs faster than ever before and loves practicing his jumping. He twirls round and around until he falls and then laughs and laughs before doing it all over again.

When Jackson was younger I always tried to make sure he had some independent play time. Thinking back I'm pretty sure he was never fond of that just as he isn't fond of it now. He wants me to sit and play with him. How can I resist when he walks up to me takes my hand and guides me to the playroom? Sure I have lots of things to get done and sometimes I do have to take care of things or finish a phone call but more often than not I sit and play with him. I'm sure one day I'll be sad that he never wants to play with me anymore! Jackson's attention span is pretty short but every now and then an activity will keep him occupied for more like 20-30 min instead of 5-10. I worry about it but in the end at this age they just don't have a long attention span. I am also considering starting speech therapy. He does say lots of words but I do think he could really benefit from it. I guess we will look into it and decide soon. People have told me if I have concerns starting earlier is better.

Overall we have lots of fun days and some hard days when I struggle to keep him entertained and happy. I guess that's the typical life of an almost 2 year old!

One day he had a runny nose and I asked him to go get a tissue. He did a good job! Might have gotten a little more than he needed!

Lots of Mr Potato Head playing. Please notice how one has 3 sets of eyes. Ha!

Locking the door

Loves his "big hands" i.e. oven mitts!

Such a good helper

We hung out with Nick and Sara (and met baby Cade) Jackson and EV had lots of fun and snuck a few kisses in.

Jimmy got Jax dressed one morning and a pair of my socks were in Jackson's drawer so he put them on him. I have no idea but he somehow even managed to put his tennis shoes on. When I went to get Jackson up from his nap I literally couldn't stop laughing when I saw the socks.

Mellow Mushroom pizza face

Go Falcons!

Jackson loves watching boo ball! (football)

Playing with his new workbench while drinking his morning milk

Loves loves loves to brush his teeth. I catch him in here probably 4 times a day!

Found some clean dog bowls in the cabinet and they were pure entertainment for at least 20 min!