Fourth of July (Finally!)

Well, I've finally done it!  I finally had time to get the pictures loaded onto the computer and posted!  I hope this helps tell the story of our wonderful trip to the cabin over the Fourth of July.  We had such a great time!  One of the highlights, of course, was celebrating Jackson's first birthday!  I still can't believe he's one although there are times when he seems much older.  Maybe it's the whole walking thing.  He's really getting to be such a big boy!  Slow down, honey!  Slow down!

Here is Jackson digging into more presents. 

After his birthday celebration with the Carters the previous weekend, I think he was getting the hang of this whole gift thing.

Hey Grandpa!  Look at my cool new train!

And then possibly the biggest hit of all....the Learn & Groove Musical Table!  He absolutely loves it and will stand and play for a long time!

Fun new bath toys from Aunt Kathleen and Tyler...and a mischievous look in his eyes too!

A new guitar!  I think he's practicing to take on his father in Guitar Hero!

Hopefully you can see the little train on the cake.  That train is very special and has been around as long as I can remember.  When I was a little girl, my Grandma Marcie put that little wooden train on our birthday cakes (I actually think it dates back to when my mom was a little girl).  There is space for five candles so it only worked until you turned five.  It was a very sad day when you were too old to have the train on your cake.  I believe when I turned 15 (or was it 25) and we celebrated with my grandparents, she brought out the train and put it on the cake for old time's sake.  She would just love that we had it there for Jackson's first birthday.  It would have put a huge smile on her face!  Such memories!

Yummy cake!!

And his trademark cheeseball grin.

Not too excited about his whole life vest thing but Mom and Dad say I have to have it.

Yikes!!  The water is freezing!!

We don't have a boat this year so one day we rented a pontoon boat to spend the afternoon out on the lake.  Jackson LOVED it!!  He stood at the front of the boat almost the entire time.  I really think he could have spent the entire afternoon just staring out at the lake.  I definitely think he's going to be a lake guy!

Could he be any cuter in his little hat and life jacket?

The proud grandparents with the remnants of the 2007 fire in the background.  We were so lucky!  The fire came within about a mile of the cabin.  This year, though, you can really see the green coming back.  In no time you won't be able to tell at all.

Trying out this whole lake swimming thing at the sand bar at the far end of the lake.  He wasn't too sure about it at first but by the end of the afternoon he was having a great time.

And back to the cabin! 

It was a wonderful week!  Jackson did such a great job and we all had fun.  As I've said before, it was over the Fourth that he became an official "walker."  Now that is his preferred mode of getting where he wants to do.  And over the last week he's perfected being able to stand up on his own so he no longer needs to hold onto someone or something.  Mom and Dad are having a hard time keeping up with all of his new little tricks! 

This weekend will really be exciting at our house!  We're officially moving Jackson into his own room.  He's essentially had his own room for months now because Scott and I have been sleeping in the basement bedroom.  Now that he's one, though, he really needs his own space (and we need our room back).  I'm excited to get everything organized and set up.  Lots of work but it will be worth it.  I hope he likes it!  Hopefully a new room won't disrupt his sleep too much.  He really is such a great sleeper, even though he likes to wake us up at 5:30am every morning.  Oh well, he's worth it! 

Cute Story from Daycare

I know, I still don't have the pictures from Fourth of July uploaded to my computer yet but we're getting there.  Things have been busy in the Carter household, with keeping up with a toddler that is CONSTANTLY on the go.  I never knew what true exhaustion was until now.

Michelle, Jackson's head teacher at daycare, told me the cutest story this morning when I dropped him off.  Apparently another little girl started there this week.  She's a little older, a crawler, so she's mobile.  Well, I guess yesterday afternoon this little girl was sitting behind Michelle on the floor and just started hitting Michelle on the back.  She laughed and said that she was getting a massage.  Well, when Jackson saw what was going on he marched right over, stepped between the little girl and Michelle, and gave Michelle a big hug.  He was trying to protect her!  How adorable!  My little boy is such a sweetie!

It's Official, Folks

We have a walker!  It is really unbelievable actually.  Jackson took his first hesitant steps over Memorial Day and by his first birthday he was walking all over the place.  I think a week at the cabin where there is more room to move around really helped.  Honestly though, the week before he was taking 5-6 steps at a time and by the middle of last week he was walking everywhere he wanted to go.  It's so stinkin' cute!!  Those little legs just trying to keep up with what he wants them to do!  I have a feeling that by Labor Day he'll be running.  Yikes!!

We had a great time up at the cabin.  We were able to spend the whole week up there and the relaxation and family time was just what the doctor ordered!  There was another first birthday celebration with the Blair side of the family, a new, wonderful dock installed, a pontoon boat ride and first swim in Gunflint Lake.  All very exciting!  Jackson loved it all, with the possible exception of his life jacket.  Not a fan but it was a requirement, of course. 

I don't have the pictures loaded onto the computer yet but I will get that done soon and will share everything from the trip!

Oh, I almost forgot!  Jackson had his one year doctor's appointment on Monday.  NO FLUID IN HIS EARS!!!  Yeah!!!  That is the first time that has happened since birth.  We were so excited!  He weighs 23 lbs, 11 ozs (50-75%) and is 31 inches long (90%).  He's growing like a bean!  He had to get three shots and was a trooper through it all.  Over the next month or so we'll be working on getting him off formula and onto whole milk.  My little boy is growing up!

On the Eve of Your First Birthday

My dearest Jackson,

I hardly know where to begin.  In just a few short hours you will officially be a one year old.  I can hardly believe that this first year has already come to an end.  Just a year ago your daddy and I were scrambling, eagerly awaiting your arrival and a little scared at what it meant to be parents.  We were so excited when you (finally) made your appearance!  Our perfect little baby boy!  You've been nothing but a constant source of joy since day one. 

We watched, through sleep-deprived eyes, as you achieved all of those firsts -- first smile, first time sitting up, first time you pulled yourself up, first hug, first step.  I cried the first day of daycare, although I knew it would be so good for you to have that social interaction and stimulation.  I cheered you on with every new accomplishment.  I always will.  Anytime you need a cheerleader, I'll be first in line -- with a big, embarrassing banner.

I do miss that tiny little baby we brought home from the hospital, that little munchkin that curled up on my chest.  Those were such precious moments that I didn't realize would fly by like they did.  Now you are constantly moving and oh so close to being an official walker.  You chase the cats around the house with wild abandon. You love to dig through your toy bin to find just the right thing to play with.  You also love to pull books from the bookshelf onto the floor, much to the chagrin of your father.  The moments you sit still long enough for a little cuddle are few and far between.  You are really growing up.  It's a little bittersweet but I know the future holds wonderful things for you.

Little Man, I want you to know how much you are loved, unconditionally and from the very bottom of my heart. You have changed my life forever. Who knew one little 9 pound baby could wield so much power. Years from now, when you're rebelling and being all kinds of independent, know that I still love you just as much as the first second I saw you... just as much as the first time you grasped my finger with your tiny hand. When you grabbed that finger, you grabbed my heart. You still have it. You always will.
So, on your first birthday, my wish for you is this -- may your life be as blessed as mine is because I have you in it. 

Happy birthday my sweet little boy!

With all the love in the world,

Mom

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY JACKSON!!!!!

June flew by!  We were super busy all month long with lots of time hanging out with cousins and fun time outside, dodging the many rainstorms of course.  What happened to April showers?  I guess they came in June this year.  But anyway, we've been having fun and watching Jackson grow up right before our eyes.  Over Memorial Day up at the cabin he took his first step and while I wouldn't say he's a walker yet, he does like to walk as much as possible -- up to about 15 steps at a time.  It's so darn cute!  He also loves to walk around the house while holding our fingers too which I think is really adorable.

Jackson has really become a great eater too!  He LOVES fruit and will stuff as much as possible into his mouth at a time.  We really have to be careful about how much we give him.  He's like a little chipmunk.  I think his favorites right now are mangos, peaches and cantalope (maybe he just likes the color orange).  He can't get enough of them.  So yummy this time of year too.  We're trying to get him to eat more protein, starting him on chicken nuggets and such.  The first try didn't go so well but he's getting better.

Here he is eating a popsicle.  The last time he was at the hospital (when he had the croup a couple of months ago) one of the nurses gave him a popsicle.  We really didn't think he'd eat it since it was so cold and he hadn't had anything like that before.  Well, he devoured it!  We were shocked!  Of course, this time around he wasn't nearly as excited about the popsicle but I think he still liked it.  I think he had more fun playing with it than anything.

Such a goof ball!

Scott and I were able to go to our second Twins game at new Target Field in June.  The game wasn't wonderful (we lost) but we had a great time!  Thanks for the tickets Mom and Dad!  The food, if you haven't been there yet, is amazing!  It's such a great place to watch a baseball game.  We're so lucky to have the new stadium!  Jackson spent the afternoon with his cousins but he did get to wear his new Mauer jersey. Like father, like son!

Sneaking a peek in the refrigerator.  He's obsessed with the fridge.  It's really kind of strange.  He loves to look in there whenever we open the door.

Wow, has it really been a year? I just can't believe it! Jackson celebrated his first birthday last Sunday with the Carters. We went to a park nearby and had a really great time. The kids got to play outside and the weather couldn't have been better.  Jackson was a little tired at first and it took him a while to get into the party mood but he had a great time. 

Chad, Danielle, Zoe and Zachary helping to celebrate the big day.

Grandma and Grandpa Carter

The balloons were a big hit!

Casey pulling double-duty with the kids.

Little People are a pretty big deal in our house!

Jackson got his own personal cake to eat.  I really thought he would tear right into it but he was much more cautious. He took lots of little bites just around the edges at first.

His big gift from us was an outdoor slide and swing set.  It was a huge hit!  It's going to be so much fun to play on this summer!  Jackson was climbing all over it from the beginning.  Such a little climber.

Checking out the swing

One of my favorite pictures ever!

Wow, that's an awfully big tree!

Checking out his new bead maze.

And finally, here are a couple of videos from the last couple of weeks.  The first one is of Jackson taking some steps. 

Here Jackson is playing and bouncing his new ball.  We bought this at Target one day when it was clear Jackson needed something to play with in order to make it through the trip.  He loves it now!

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So, tomorrow is the big day.  Jackson's first birthday.  I just can't believe it.  We'll be heading up to the cabin for another birthday celebration with the Blairs.  It's going to be a great trip!  We'll be up there for the whole week!  I'm sure there will be lots of stories to tell when we get back.