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.

We took a trip to the Arboretum that basically was a bust! Jackson missed his nap that day and was quite the grump. We managed to get just a few pictures that were decent out of about 300. These were my favorites.


Looks like we are laughing, right? WRONG. Jonathan and I, yes, Jackson is actually screaming in anger. Just didn't want to be there, poor thing. So tired :(


Leave it to little sister to get the only smile of the day out of him. Thank goodness for sweet sweet girls.


Jackson had an amazing day at the zoo and got to ride a camel. "Alice the Camel" that is. He learned a song at school called "Alice the Camel" so of course this camels name had to be Alice. He was so brave. Riding was totally his idea!


We went to the zoo with our friends Erin, Cara, and Emmet. Jackson and Cara played really well and had a great time together. We are so blessed with such great friends here in Dallas.

All Things Girl.

Jackson went to visit the grandparents this week in TN and Jonathan and I got the blissful privilege of doing all things JOSIE!! For the first time since the hospital we got to spend some one on one time with her. Lots of fun and R & R was had this week. We slept in every morning...that meaning 8:00 :). We had a salon day and painted toe nails. A photo shoot at the Arboretum was on the list as well. Apart from losing our beloved cocker spaniel, Hope, on Thursday, it was a perfect time together. Josie stares at her toes all day long....definitely a girly girl!! She shined this week and loved every minute as much as we did.