Toddler Tidbits

Hi Everyone, We are in the dog days of summer here in Texas. It is so Hot. I know it has not been exactly nippy at home in Tennessee (or in New York for Uncle Jake), but the Texas heat is just oppressive in the afternoon sun. So, we've been trying to play outside in the mornings and keeping it cool with shades drawn and ac running in the afternoons. What has also been heating up is Jackson's little mind. He says and does some of the funniest things. I hope to start sharing a few of them with you more often through the blog so that you can follow what is going on with us and we can record all of these little things that make life so colorful that we may soon forget as life whizzes by...

Three Sunday mornings ago he had really tested the limits of my patience, and found it. I had been burned out by his constant disobeying and diversion tactics. -- Here is an example: Jackson, It's time to brush your teeth. "I want Jackson's toothpaste." Ok, here you go. "No, I want Mommy's toothpaste." Jackson, your's is already on here, open your mouth. "NO! I want Mommy's toothpaste!" Open your mouth. "No, I don't have to." Yes, you do. Open your mouth. "No I don't." BOY! Open your mouth or lose a book [we usually read two books before a sleep cycle]. "I want three books." Jackson, we only have two books before bed and now you only have one for disobeying. TEARS... "NO, I want two books!" (Toothbrush buzzing)... Open your mouth. -- I angrily told him that Daddy's patience was gone and he would have no more timeouts and no more losing privileges, all tuss-tusses for the rest of the day. We went to Church that morning and in the moments of spiritual reflection, I realized that I was at the end of what I had to give of myself in being Dad to Jackson. I prayed for God to renew me so that I could just level out emotionally and react more appropriately, but I also prayed for God to use me as a means of showing His love for Jackson through me that went beyond what I had the capacity to give. I didn't want God to fill me up so I could then pass it on, because my capacity is limited. I wanted God to fill me up so I could be kind again and then I wanted Him to keep pouring so that the Love that came to Jackson through me was not from me but from God Himself, which is worth a whole lot more. I left the service and God had indeed renewed me and replenished my reservoir of Love/patience and I was trying to think of a way to tell Jackson in a simple way what had happened. When I picked him up from his class I said, "Hey Jackson, Daddy got his patience back. God helped me. I found it." He seemed to understand and we decided to start the day over, with a peaceful result. Then yesterday morning, after another trying weekend in which I had to discipline him a lot and he had clearly been frustrated, I told him we were going to Church and he responded "Good, I need some patience." - and he really meant it. I laughed and laughed and laughed...  seriously though, please no birthday toys with sharp points or blunt ends on them.

Some Fun Video

And she's off!

Counting with Daddy.

Adoring Big Brother

I can't help but love these two pictures of Jackson and Josie.  She lights up whenever he is around and he has such a kind spirit towards her.  We are so blessed.  These two are really growing up and becoming their own little individuals.

Jackson has been potty trained for a few months now, he can count to 25, put puzzles together, and is sounding out and reading some simple words.  He loves his class at mother's day out and playing with his friends here on the 5th floor at Swiss Tower (family campus housing).  He has become very helpful lately to me by carrying things to the car, picking up dirty clothes, and comforting Josie at night as the fall asleep (in the same room)!  They are sleeping great together at night and waking bright and early together in the morning...6 am usually :(.  His favorite television show right now is Kipper the Dog, a British cartoon with exceptionally dry humor that he finds hilarious!  He is gradually leaving the crazy 2 year old phase and maturing a ton in his understanding and reasoning skills.  Thank goodness!

Josie is 11 months old now and starting to army crawl.  She loves blueberries, eggs, and zucchini.  She doesn't babble, she screams high pitched girly screeches that crack Jackson up and he answers her in the same manner.  It's too cute to stop most of the time and extremely funny when Jackson finally covers his ears and frowns...that's payback!  She has battled another round of eardrum ruptures which has led us to make an appt. with an ENT for August.  Hopefully we will be reassured that all is well or given some direction on treating this problem.  Josie is still very much baby.  I remember Jackson seeming so much older at this age, but she is perfectly content to be coddled.  We all accommodate her very well :).  What a blessed mother and wife I am to be surrounded by such great children and a loving husband.

Fun in the Sun

We enjoyed a really fun and relaxing vacation at the end of May.  Mrs. Pat (Jonathan's mom) was celebrating a milestone birthday and requested the mother of all celebrations!  She invited my family to join in the fun, so my sister and her husband (Heather and Dustin), my parents, and Jonathan's brothers and Brianna (Jeff's girlfriend) all met down in Gulf Shores, AL for a week at the beach.  Yes, for those of you wondering, before the oil made it ashore!  It was amazing to have so much help with the kids, so my experience was most restful.  The kids got the rare opportunity to bond with some of the aunts and uncles they rarely see.  What a treat for Jonathan and me to hang out with both of our families at the same time!  We are so grateful that our families are so close and enjoy one another.

They really do love each other.

Isn't she just beautiful?

Uncle D let Jackson use his I Pad to play games...brave soul!

Sunbathers

My sweet sister.

Jackson's New Favorite Pastime.

Strawberry time in West Tennessee

We made a trip home in May to visit the Strawberry Festival in Humboldt.  Jackson loved the floats and marching bands....and the pretty girls!!  We had a wonderful, relaxing trip home.  

It was a hard choice...watching the parade or loving on sis :).

Such a good patient.  He always lets his Mamma Z clean those teeth.

Relaxing with her Papa Z on the tire swing.

Month in Pictures

We had a great April here in Dallas. We have enjoyed the beautiful Spring weather and been out out out!! We had several visits from family and lots of time playing with friends. Jackson remembered quickly the candy part of Easter. Yes, we really did share with him the real meaning of Easter, but in reality all he cared about was the eggs full of candy! Hopefully one day he will understand that the abundance of Christ's love for us is far sweeter than any morsel of chocolate.

Show me the candy!


Little love from my handsome fellow.


Splashing around with his BF Peyton....with a bit of a sugar rush!


Gran Pat donated a computer mouse just his size. Now he is totally independent...scary that he is only 2.