18 Months... Almost

Jackson had a well check, so I thought I would post his latest stats:

Weight: 28 lbs 4 oz

Height: 33 inches

This wasn't quite the growth spurt that he experienced between 12 and 15 months, but he is still growing like a weed. As usual, he is still as sweet as can be. Yesterday, we helped Daddy plant flowers at his office (his landscaping gig). He had a great time playing with the spade and watering can. It's settled - we need a sand box for the summer. I also want to get him this thing that looks like a giant ship that has all these toys and water activities on it for outdoors. I think that would be two good additions for lots of outdoor activity this spring and summer. :)

New Desk

My parent's old neighbors gave us some dining room furniture... We were very grateful for such a generous gift. In the midst of picking up the furniture, Jackson and I noticed a small desk - just his size. I thought for sure it was spoken for, but it wasn't. They let us have it too. Justin did a little work - painted it navy blue and took off the top to sand and refinish it. He did a great job fixing it up. Now, we have a cute little desk straight out of a school room from years ago. I hooked Jackson up with some crayons so that he can begin to learn how much fun it is to draw and color.

Update

It has been very difficult to keep up with the blog lately. In addition to all the responsibilities that Jackson adds to my life (which I love!), I have been in a funk for quite some time. Things have been pretty difficult at work, and honestly, I have been very unhappy. Unfortunately, Justin has suffered the brunt of that in addition to me not keeping regular updates on Jackson on this blog. I hope that all is about to change with some new things in the works. With my bank being bought, everything has been very uncertain. Now, it looks like I may have a new opportunity with another audit team within the bank. I hope this will be a change for the better. Please say a prayer for me!

In the mean time, Jackson has been wonderful. We did have a bout with pink eye and a stomach bug a couple of weeks ago. The stomach bug was the first time that Jackson has actually full fledge thrown up. ICK... That was awful. He just looked at me like..."what the heck is going on, mommy?" It just broke my heart... in addition to being grossed out from being thrown up on twice. His daycare has been riddled with sickness, so everyday that he is healthy, I am very thankful. Everything from the flu, strep, stomach viruses... you name it, is going around at daycare. I am happy to report, his tubes are still doing a great job. It is nice to not feel like we live at the doctor all the time. As I type that, I have started fighting a cough... the same cough that seems to hit me every year... starts as a tickle and just won't seem to go away. UGH!

Attached is a video of Jackson trying to jump. What's cute is that if you ask him to dance, he will do the same thing... just a little bit different. It's hilarious. Another update....he moved to the next room at daycare right after Christmas. I was so nervous about him sleeping on a mat on the floor. He never had any issue with it... not even on the first day. It's amazing what they learn from other kids. I also bought him a pillow/blanket mat type thing that goes on top of the standard nap mat. It's Yo Gabba Gabba inspired. He adores it! I really love his new class too. I can really tell they are trying to teach him more.

Jump! from Heather Gray on Vimeo.

15 Months Update

Jackson had his 15 month well check today. I realized today that I don't think I ever posted his 12 month stats. For comparison purposes, I am posting both.

12 Months

Weight: 23 lbs

Height: 30 1/2 in

15 Months

Weight: 26 lbs 1 oz

Height: 32 1/2 in

It blows my mind that he has grown 2 whole inches in three months. How does that happen? I guess 3 pounds is a good bit too, but the length is really what shocked me. Of course... his head is still measuring in the 99th percentile... lots of brains in there! :) He definitely must have been in a growth spurt between these appointments. It probably has a lot to do with how well he has been doing since having tubes. He is eating, eating, eating all the time. If this is any indication as to how he will eat as a teenager, we might go broke! After three shots, he was such a joy all day. I don't know how I lucked out with that too. He slept for over three hours when we got home. He slept so long that an afternoon nap was out of the question. I was concerned that he might be rather difficult this evening since he woke up at 1:45... he goes to bed at 8, so that's a pretty long while without a nap. Surprisingly, he was wonderful. We ran some errands and played in the house and did laundry. It was a fun day.

The fun day came after many fun days.... We had Christmas with the Gray's on Saturday, my side on Monday (after playing in the snow on Sunday), and then my sister brought her kids up for a visit for a couple of days. They left this morning. It was so nice to spend time with them. Jackson really enjoyed it. In this visit, I discovered that Jackson can be a jealous boy when it comes to his stuff. I was really surprised. I thought daycare would prevent him from being that way, but my sister had a good point. He probably is fine at daycare. He isn't used to having to share his stuff in his house. So, it definitely benefited him to have to learn to share. We have a ways to go on that score!

In the mean time, he is starting to enjoy all of his presents. I think he started figuring out the present deal as we did Christmas with different people. With us... he didn't care. In fact, he was scared of the remote control car that we bought him (a car that is specifically meant for his age). Then, at the Gray's house he seemed to show more interest in presents. Finally, at the Barnes' Christmas, it seemed he was starting to pick up on the fact that the presents were for him. He still didn't try to open any, but he became more interested in the final result. So... I know that next year will be even more fun. I am happy to report that he now loves his remote control car. He got a rocking horse that he adores (see picture attached). He got his first wagon, a lawn mower that is very noisey (thanks Grandma) and many, many other things. A few pictures of the visit with my sister and of the Christmas loot are attached. Can I just say... I want more time off!! :) Happy New Year!!

A photo slideshow by Smilebox

Merry Christmas

Yes... I am slack. I have been so busy with other things lately that I haven't taken the time to post. Christmas was a whirlwind... only to make the last minute call to come back home from Cola because of snow. Luckily, we made it home in the just at the right time... if we had waited much longer there wouldn't have been any way we would have made it up the driveway. We have had a pretty quiet existance since the last post. Jackson has had bronchitis and croup (at the same time), but other than that he has been good. He is starting to try and repeat things now... book, ball, duck mostly. He is becoming consistent about saying momma. Mostly, everthing is still dat. Here is a cute video that I had to share...

It seems crazy. Justin bounced the ball off of him and he thought it was the funniest thing. It was on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Fun from Heather Gray on Vimeo.

I will try hard to write a better post this week while I am actually on vacation. Merry Christmas!!!

Caught on Video

Walking... from Heather Gray on Vimeo.

Update

Things are so busy lately that it is hard to find the time to update about Jackson. He is busy, busy, busy. But, what mom doesn't know that about a one-year-old?!

Today, we had his post-op tubes check up. Everything is great. His ears are clear and everything is looking good. He had a resistant strain of bacteria; fortunately, that has also cleared up on its own. I hope that means the tubes are doing their job. He has been very good lately. His teeth continue to bother him... the molars are just sitting there ready to pop through. The doctor said it could be that way for some kids... that they just sit there. UGH! Thankfully, Jackson is pretty tough and does a great job dealing with it.

A couple of weeks ago, we took a trip to Denver Downs Farm. Although he is a little young to truly enjoy all of it, Jackson really loved the pigs, goats and sheep. We even got a picture with the Tiger as it was Clemson day.

This weekend, we spent our time with family. We went down to Myrtle Beach for trick or treating and my niece's birthday. Let me say... Ocean Lakes is a wonderful place to spend for Halloween. They trick or treat from 4:30 to 6:30 every year. Lots of people decorate and everyone rides around on their golf carts with their kids. It was awesome... definitely something that I would like to continue in the future. Jackson was a skeleton. I didn't want something too complicated that he wouldn't wear. He was a trooper. We drove home Saturday night when it was time for him to go to bed. That was the way to do it for a long trip. Jackson slept and we drove. And... back in our own bed by midnight. Jackson even slept until 7:30 the next morning. He must have known that we would be very thankful for that. I forgot to mention that was his first time at the beach. He loved the sand. I can't wait to take him back when it is warm.

Other news is that Jackson is walking. He is only taking a few steps at a time, but he is working towards the real deal. He is becoming more adventurous as each day passes. He knows how to climb steps in small amounts. He climbs them at his grandparent's house. They have a sunken den, so it's only two steps at a time. Thus far, he has not seemed very interested in trying out our own steps. I have been quite thankful for that as we haven't needed to invest in very many gates. Last night, he was so busy trying to get Lucy that he started climbing the stairs so fast (I followed behind him), he was three fourths of the way up there before he realized it and then he looked up at me like... "oh no... I don't know what to do now. Get me momma". It was so sweet.

Hopefully, that covers the highlights. Here are a few pictures.

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