Happy Birthday Malachi

Last weekend, we helped cousin Malachi celebrate his 5th birthday. The party was at the Payson pools, which we were all really excited about. It wasn't a really warm day, but luckily there was no rain. Sam, Jackson, Alissa and I went a bit early because Sam couldn't stay the whole time, and I am really glad that we did...I didn't really want to get in the water because of the coldness, and the whole pregnant thing. So Sam played with Jackson and I watched. It was fantastic!
Jackson was pretty excited about the big bath at first, but then didn't want to get in. He kept saying "no" to Sam and wanting to get out. But Sam is patient, and stayed in there with him, and in the end Jackson loved it. Especially once Nana, Papa, and the rest of the kids got there. The kids all had a great time and played all afternoon until we got kicked out because of a "chemical imbalance" in the water. We all know what that means, and so I wasn't too sad to go. We went just outside to a pavilion where Malachi opened his gifts and we all enjoyed a bit of cake. All in all, it was a great party.
I didn't really get any great photos of Malachi because he was too busy playing to pose for a photo op. At least he was having fun!

Lawnmowing

Jackson loves lawn mowers. I might even say he's obsessed with them. He gets really excited whenever he sees one, whether it's being used or just sitting in someone's driveway. He hears one and wants to run down the street to find it. He can spot them while we are driving in the car. He loves them.
Last week Mac and Alissa watched Jackson for us while we went on a much needed date (dinner and a movie...not too exciting...but we did see Wolverine, which we both thought was really good). Mac mowed the lawn at my parents, and of course Jackson followed him around the whole time. He didn't have any shoes on, though, so he ended up with some pretty Shrek-looking toes! Who cares, he had a great time! Special thanks to Alissa for the photos!

Jackson loves uncle "Cac"

"Sub me," says Jackson

Jackson was making way for a subway sandwich. His little mouth can only open so far. Poor kid. Sorry for the low-fi cell phone pics.

A new look

Hooray! I've been wanting to update our blog for ages, and finally today it has been done. My wonderful husband did it for me, and I really like the look of it. Hopefully you will all enjoy it as well. It's not quite complete, but it's late (for us) and we're going to bed. After just one more chocolate chip cookie. I can't help myself.

Jackson's bed

Well...after the climbing incident, we went and got Jackson a real bed. He loves the bed during the day time, but hates going to sleep in it. Big surprise. Usually, putting him to bed goes something like this:
A nice bath, a bottle and a story, brushing teeth, and saying prayers. This part usually goes fairly smoothly, minus the running around during prayers.
Then we give kisses and hugs.
Then we put Jackson in bed, throw a blanket over him and run from the room. Run? Yes. If we don't run, he makes it out before we do.
After running from the room, we shut the door quickly, then listen to Jackson pound on the door and cry for half an hour or so, before he finally falls asleep in front of the door. At nap time, we simply leave him there, he doesn't seem to mind too much. At bedtime, we just push him out of the way with the door, sneak into his room and put him into bed. Luckily, he generally stays asleep once we move him.

He is getting better. There have been a few nights that he's actually gone to sleep in the bed, and at least once he slept there during a nap. There is hope!
Here's a few photos of Jackson enjoying his bed in the morning...never mind the messy hair!

It's a boy!

I guess I should finally let you all know that we had our ultrasound and we are having another boy. How exciting! I'm a little bit disappointed because I wanted to do shopping for a baby girl, but that's really it. I think it will be great to have 2 boys that we can throw around and wrestle with. Now we just have to come up with a name that we both like. We'll take any suggestions that you have!
Although that was of course the most exciting part of the ultrasound, the rest of it was pretty cool too. I forget how amazing it is to see the baby moving around. He is pretty active, growing well, and has all his little bits and pieces. And he's right on time as well...my due date didn't change at all.
My biggest concern right now is that my sister, Heidi, is getting married on Sept. 12, which means my parents (especially mom) and a lot of other family members will be out of time for awhile right when I'm due to pop this baby out. Who's going to take care of me? I need my mom! I'm just hoping baby will come soon enough that Mom can help out, and still go to the wedding....we can hope, right?

Maybe we should just tie him down.

The main reason for this update is to upload the video that shows off how incredibly clever our kid is, and at the same time petition for your sympathies regarding Jackson's increased freedom. I'm starting to believe that there is a direct, inverse relationship between the freedom of the child and the freedom of the parents. Gone are the days when we could just put Jackson in his pack-and-play and let him scream himself to sleep.

(click on the video if it doesn't work)
This means it's time to buy Jackson a bed. Up to about an hour ago, the pack-and-play had one outstanding feature: it could hold Jackson captive. PNP's days are far from over: it will have a new resident in September, and will probably come with us to Australia.

In other news, we are probably leaving for Australia towards the end of the year. After working for a while, I've decided school is a lot easier and less complicated, and so I'll be resuming my professional career as a student. Other reasons we are moving to Australia:

- The ready availability of sausage rolls
- Not having to wait a day and a half to watch Rugby League
- No snow
- Be with family
- No snow
- Baby bonus (cha-ching)
- So Tiff's family has an excuse to visit Australia
- No snow