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.