2 Year Old Pictures!

It's so hard for me to believe, but Jackson is now TWO!! Wow, time flies when you are chasing a very active little Monkey!! He has been in daycare for almost a month now. He started when Daddy had to leave for training for the Army. At first, it was a little iffy, but he has adjusted pretty well thanks to a very patient and awesome daycare teacher. Now he has his little routine down and knows that morning time is time to get ready to go see his new friends.

Daddy came home for a few days on a break, and while he was home, we took some family pictures. Jackson is not known for his willingness to sit still, so there weren't many posed shots that made it, but our photographer was amazing, and she got some really good shots. Here are a few of them.

Well, hello again

Wow, it's been a while since Jackson's blog has been updated. The last post I did was when he was four months old, and as of yesterday, he is now 22 months old. Sorry for my slacking off. I've been busy. And well, to be honest, once Daniel came home and could see and keep up with Jackson in person it was just very easy to not do the blog anymore. But now I've decided to blog again, and will do a better job at keeping it up. I've also revamped a bit. Before Jackson was born and when he was wee little, we called him the Munchkin, and the blog name reflected that. For a long time now, his nickname has been Monkey. And for good reason, I might add! So now the blog name/address has been changed. But don't worry, I imported all the old posts from the Munchkin blog, so none of those have been lost. In addition to staying current with this blog, I'll also be going down memory lane to fill in what's gone on with Jackson during my blogging break.

If you have read Jackson's blog before, welcome back! And if you are new, thanks for visiting! Check back in once in a while to see what the Little Monkey is up to!

4 Months

My Sweet Baby Boy,

Every time I go to write you another letter to mark you being one more month older, I marvel at how it feels like the time has just flown by. Here we are again at another month.

Happy First Father's Day, Daddy!!!

For Father's Day, Mommy took me to have some new pictures made to send to Daddy. He got them in his latest care package, and he said he really liked them. Since he's seen them now, Mommy is putting them here to share with everyone who reads to keep track of how I'm growing. (We had to wait until Daddy got his copies in the mail cause we didn't want to ruin the surprise.)

Daddy, Mommy & I both love and miss you very much. I wish you could be here with us for Father's Day, but Mommy says you will be home in a couple of months and we will make up for it then. We can't wait until you come home and I can show you in person just how big I've grown. I love you and I love when Mommy puts in the video you made for me before you left. Mommy says I grin like crazy when I see the video or hear your voice on the phone. I love you and can't wait to see you again on the day we bring you home.

Three Months

Dear Jackson,

I can hardly believe that you are already three months old!! Where, oh where did the time fly away to? You are such a sweet boy, and you just get sweeter each and every day.

I'm not quite sure where you get it from, because neither Daddy nor I are very big "morning people" but you are so animated, giggly, and happy in the mornings when you wake up. You usually greet me with that sweet, sweet smile of yours every morning. You almost always have one dimple that shows, but when the smile gets bigger, they both show, and it's the cutest smile I think I have ever seen. You find amusement in the funniest things. I have yet to hear it, but a few days ago, Nana got a true laugh out of you. Of all things, you laughed when she sniffed her nose. We've tried doing it again to see if you will give out that laugh but I still have yet to hear it. You will grin and giggle a little bit, and there are times when I can see that you want to let out the full laugh but you just can't quite do it yet. I will wait patiently for the day when I can hear it for myself.

You are growing bigger and stronger each and every day, and are now weighing in at 16 pounds!! You are getting much better at keeping your head held up and you love to stand up on someones lap while they help support you. Earlier this week, you discovered that the toys on the front of your bouncer seat make the lights and sound start once you hit them. You hit it a couple of times and had this look of amazement each time the lights started. By the third time, you had figured out that your kicks was making it go, and you squealed with delight when it started again. (Mommy has since made a mental note to try & always have the video camera battery charged so future events won't be missed.)

There have been several times now that Mommy has put in the video that Daddy made for your while he was home just after you were born. Each time you look towards the television and sit still, just watching and listening. When Daddy calls and talks to you through the speaker phone, you look at the phone is amazement, as if you are wondering just how he got in there. I know Daddy misses you very much, and he's very excited that he will be home in less than 2 months and will be able to spend lots of time with you.

Every time I write one of these letters, I think about the last one and how much you have grown and changed. It always amazes me how much I love you more and more every day. You are an amazing little person who has changed my life forever. When you look at me with those big blue eyes and sweet grin, I know I will never be able to put into words just how much I love you. I hope by the time you are old enough to read this and understand, you will know just how special and how very loved you are.

Love you always,
Mommy

3 months old

Two Months

To My Sweet Baby Boy,

It is so hard for me to believe that you are already two months old. These last two months have flown by. Every day, I am amazed by you and the new things you are learning to do. You are spending more and more time awake and alert. As a matter of fact, you are quite the little night owl! Most nights, you don't go to sleep for the night until at least 11...and sometimes midnight. You must have inherited my patience because when it comes to waiting for things (a bottle, someone to respond to your cries and pick you up) you are not very patient at all! You smiled your first real smile about a week ago. Nana actually was the first one to get one out of you, but you gave me one later that night as I was giving you your bottle. There have been several since then, and I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before you are just smiling all the time. Everyone who sees you admires what a handsome little man you are! There are some people who say you look lots like Daddy, while others think you look like me. I can see both of us in you, and it varies based on your facial expressions at the time. Even though Daddy is far away, he still talks to you when he calls. When you hear his voice through the phone, you usually get calm and still while you listen. I've said it before, and I am sure I will say it again, but I love you more than I ever imagined I would. You are truly a blessing to our family, and you are a very loved little boy. Always remember that.

Love You Forever,
Mommy