Mother's Day

Our Mothers Day was very simple which is my favorite kind of day. I woke up early because Jackson was up taking care of Jackson and I was starving. I came out to Jon assembling my present, which was an extension of my present from last year:

Last year Jon painted the canvas and it had his hand print on it. We added mine and planned to add Jackson's when he was old enough to hold his hand flat. So this year Jon added Jackson's handprint (in green) and he painted this old frame. He even mixed the paint himself to create a unique color. I would have never though of a gray from but I loved it at first sight, It is the perfect color.

We went to church and relaxed afterwards. Jackson didn't want me after his nap and ended up falling asleep with Jon. It was so sweet to see. After naps, Jon made a delicious dinner that I had picked out and I helped him cook some and watched Jackson. Jon kept apologizing for not doing more for me for Mother's Day. Jon makes everyday special and helps me all of the time. He always tells me how much he loves and appreciates me. I don't feel like he needs to go over the top for me on Mother's Day because he treats me like it is Mother's Day everyday. Ok I know that sounds really cheesy but it is true. I could not be as good of a mother with out his tremendous support. I am so grateful to experience Motherhood in all of its difficulties and beauties.

Lemon Basil Alfredo, Grilled Chicken, and Broccoli 

The sweetest thing ever!

the one I sent to Jon's sister

Surreal

This post I started back in March. So imagine you are back in time a few months as you read this.

So Jon and I decided a few months back that it was time. You know, time to try for round 2. So we prayed about it and felt that it was right, but Jon had the feeling in the temple that it was time to try but it may take a while for it to actually happen. I actually took a pregnancy test a month or two ago and it was negative. So a few days ago I was looking at my fertility app on my phone that I am trying out and I realized that it was time to take a test, much sooner than I thought!

So I could hardly sleep Friday night thinking about it and Saturday I ran out to grab some groceries so I figured, I might as well grab a test too. So I came home and Jon was excited for me to take the test right then. We headed to the bathroom with Jackson and the test quickly loaded what looked like a negative result. Jackson was squirmy and hungry so Jon took him into the other room when it dawned on me that the test hadn't finished loading yet and possibly the other part of the plus sign would show up. As soon as I looked, I saw the plus sign forming and called back to Jon. He realized right then what I was saying. He came in and the plus sign was really faint so I was unsure but it became darker and darker and we knew. So pretty much this is my way of saying that we are having another baby!! We found out on Saturday 3/14/15 and I am calculating my due date as Saturday 11/21/15.

We made Jackson a shirt that said "Future Big Bro" and had him wear it when we visited my family in March. My cousin Nicole caught on immediately and Valerie was right there too. One by one more and more people caught on. My parents were the last to get it. My mom was so distracted by all of the family in town and we kept trying to get her to look at Jackson and change his clothes but she was oblivious. It was fun for us all and finally she saw it and asked, "is this an announcement?" Jon texted the picture to his family and we waited until I was about 13 weeks to tell everyone else.

Fast Forward a Few Months:

We went to our first ultrasound/doctor visit when i was about 8 weeks. Everything looked great and my calculations were correct! I am due 11/21/15. When I was around 13 weeks, We had Jackson wear the same shirt to a Ward Fundraiser and again, one by one people caught on throughout the night. Then, we finally posted it to Facebook for the rest of the world to see.

I am excited and very nervous! It doesn't quite seem real. Life will be crazier with another child but I know it will be sweeter too. The baby and Jackson will be about 22 months apart so hopefully they will be best buds!

The Latest and Greatest

The other day Jackson and I were playing in his room when Jon got in the shower. Jackson stopped, looked towards the bathroom and said very clearly, "shower." Later Jackson heard the handle to the shower faucet squeek and said "all done" and ran to Jon in the bathroom. We are continually amazed at all the things he absorbs. Lately he loves wearing his pink fake stethoscope around holding it up to us and saying, "boom boom, boom boom." I showed him that one time and it just clicked. I can't remember if I said this before but he is obsessed with shoes. He loves trying to put our shoes on us and on himself. His favorites shoes are his crocs and he loves wearing them everywhere.

Jon recently was called out of the Primary and back as Young Men's counselor. I'm sad to lose him in Primary but it will be great for him. It was hard to have both of us in Primary considering Jackson is not technically nursery age, Jackson goes to nursery pretty much every week but only for a short time. His buddy Austin refuses to go unless Jackson is in there, it is so cute. Last Sunday the dad came asking for Jackson to come to nursery because he told Austin that he would be in there. They are best buds and Austin yells "Jackson" all throughout sacrament meeting. I hope they will be friends for a long long time.

I will be sad having Jon gone more because YM's will be more time consuming than Primary was but he gets to work with some great guys and he is back with the youth he has worked with in the past when they were 11 year olds and then again when they were deacons. He is meant to work with these boys and is very close to some of them.

Jon and I have made it a tradition to go on a babymoon before each baby comes. Before Jackson was born we took an anniversary/babymoon trip to Charleston and toured a bit and stayed in a cabin. In a few weeks we will be going to the mountains just for a night while my mom stays with Jackson. We tried to get a cabin but most require a 2 night stay so we just opted for a hotel. I am so excited and am glad that we get our first overnight trip away in a long time, even though I know I will miss Jackson like crazy!

I promised to post pictures soon, I have been incredibly lazy/tired lately.

Cinco de Mayo

I have been obsessed with the Pioneer Woman's recipes lately. Practically everything I have made has been good. There was only recipe Jon and I absolutely didn't like, the ravioli. Anyway, Jon made this recipe http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2014/06/chicken-enchiladas/ the other night for Cinco de Mayo and it was AMAZING!! We could not stop talking about how yummy it was! It was so full of flavor it was unreal. Anyway, make this ASAP, you won't regret it! And try some of her other stuff out too!

Jackson is talking so much. I am incredibly amazed by how smart he is. He is so observant and so perceptive. His latest obsession is keys. And he cannot be fooled by fake keys. He knows where we keep the spare keys and he demands them every time he enters the laundry room. I get nervous for him to have them because he likes to keep things in strange places like the laundry basket, drawers, and the trashcan.

His vocabulary is exploding. He can say Callie (Caaa), ball, Jesus (he has said this for a while now. He usually wakes up from his nap and points at a picture in his room and says Jesus. It is so sweet. Other words are bye bye, stop (he knows a part of one of his books says stop and he yells it out before I even read that part), bubbles, yes (ya), no (I forgot to record this before but he says no ALL the time), milk, more (he can say and sign it now), please (he is still learning how to sign and say this but is getting close). He can also baaa like a sheep and mooo like a cow.

Jackson is still obsessed with going outside. The first thing he did when we got home from camping was go to the door and whine to go back out. I love his energy and love for life. But it is certainly exhausting. I wouldn't have it any other way though. He does throw fits and growls and says no repeatedly when he doesn't get his way. He usually lays down and cries when he is upset too. Recently he has started hitting his head on the wall but not when he is mad. He will just casually lean against the wall and thump his head a few times and sometimes say ow. He also carefully touches his food and says hot to check the temperature.

I cry sometimes when I put Jackson to bed. I beg for him to always be a good boy and to never grow up and leave me. But then I tell him its ok to grow up because he needs to. But I always beg him to be good and make good choices. He is so full of goodness, energy, and light. He is such a blessing to us.

Jon is almost done with his semester and then he starts his internship. One more year until graduation! I cannot wait!! He balances it all so well but I will be happy when he is done!

I am babysitting 2 days a week. They are long days- 12 hour days usually, but the extra cash has been a blessing for us. The best part is that I get to stay home with Jackson. It has been really good but I get a 2 week break now which I am SO grateful for!

Campers

We went camping the other day because it is spring break! Jackson and Jon had the time of their lives! I loved it but had a hard time sleeping and was really achy. But I stuck it out and am so glad I did. The weather was perfect and it was beautiful and not crowded. I loved watching Jackson explore and seeing him so happy. He came home with two scrapped up knees because he walked so fast he fell a lot. He was so happy and loved the waterfalls. I'm so happy we went!

foot shot for Mandi

Manly

This is how a man sews:

Jon wanted to use some old jeans to make a cover for our new camping stove.       I got a good laugh when I saw him using a level and a tape measure.