Look, Mom....

No cavities! Jackson had his teeth cleaned today at the dentist and got a great report! The hygienist though kept commenting mostly on his personality. He had all those women there wrapped around his little finger. They adored him! They kept saying how well-behaved he was, what a great listener he was, and how they couldn't believe how smart he was. :) That's my little Jackson. He is growing up so fast and getting so big. He says these things lately where I'm like, "Where did you hear that from???" or "How did you know that???"

But, the main reason I am blogging about a generic trip to the dentist is because it really hit me today how big he is getting. Rarely do I get to spend one-on-one time with him without Preston unless it is at a school function...which technically isn't one-on-one really. Today he and I went alone to the dentist while Dad watched Preston, and I really felt so weird. We've went by ourselves to the dentist before, but this time felt different. (I also noticed how grown up he is getting when we went to Walmart afterwards. Shopping with just a 4-year old is so easy compared to both or a 2 year old alone! Sorry, Preston!) He is perfectly fine leaving me to go back to get his teeth cleaned all by himself. And, I felt so weird having "free time" to read magazines, clean out my purse, make phone calls, etc. while he was gone. (Last time this was the case, but this still felt different.) It hit me that pretty soon I would would have alot of free time. Sooner than I want. Soon they will be going to car shows with Daddy, fishing with Daddy, and just not wanting as much of me as I bet I will like. Sure they will always need me, but it won't be the same. I just feel it won't. All those pedicures I've been wishing for or solitary trips shopping or to the grocery store...something is telling me already they aren't going to be all they cracked up to be.

So That's What They Are

My four year old has become quite the investigative child lately. So much that the showering and changing in front of him has had to be cut down to a minimum. Not so many questions (yet), but enough "glances" to the wrong areas to make me uncomfortable. (Before you jump on me for even allowing myself to ever change in front of a toddler, you try it! :) It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to be a stay-at-home mom and them never see you change or go potty. Literally, you lose all privacy.)

Tonight however I saw Jackson noticing his nipples for HIS breasts (making this clear not mine) and I braced myself for the questions as I saw the little wheels in his head turning. Instead of asking questions though, he said to me, "You know what these are? (I of course remained silent hoping I didn't have to figure out how to best answer this.) These are my buttons. They are from all the food I eat and all my growing up."

Oh, ok. Whew! Sigh of relief. Just buttons. That's all.

Life at it's simplest. Ask a toddler.

Good

Good news from the doctor: Vitamin b12 normal (but, not too high so for right now I continue taking the oral supplement) and celiac panel negative. Yay! So, I think I just wait a few months and try to come off the b12 and see what happens. :)

I'm over it, can you tell? :)

Have a wonderful evening!

It's Tea Time!

Today I got to have some wonderful one on one time with my big boy, Jackson. He invited me to his school for a Mother's Day tea. We all were to dress up like we were attending a real tea, as you can tell from his bow tie. :) I tried to dress the part as well as best I could keeping in mind I don't have access to girlie dress up clothes. (You can't see my lime green capris with hot pink and aqua butterflies in these pictures, my heels, and matching purse.:))

When he entered the room, he walked up to me and presented me with the card he had made and said, "Happy Mother's Day" and hugged me! It was so sweet. The card had a packet of hot tea attached with a little poem about how when he might fall short of his best behavior to drink the tea and relax. :)

He also had made me a tissue paper corsage. Isn't it adorable? Did you notice my rainbow colored slinky bracelet courtesy of Jackson? :) Oh, and what do you think about my koozie for the beach?

I really wish he would have smiled better in this picture, but I do still like it. (Please forgive me for this tangent...but ugh! My hair needs cutting and highlighting really bad! I can't wait! I was not liking myself in these pictures. Plus, I have having blush issues yet again as Clinique seems to have discontinued mine. :( Yes, this is a mommy's day post, so I felt like I can be "mommy" for once on the blog and make it all about me. :) ha ha)

I loved all the things they had set up for us. Crowns, placecards with our names, and great yummy food.

Jackson isn't old enough quite yet to understand just how much things like this mean to me. I really tried to soak it all in because I know time is flying by and things like this will become less frequent. I tried to focus solely on him while I was there and even put the camera down (gasp!) so he and I could bond. He won't want to climb up into my lap or wear a silly bow tie to school eventually. And, I am going to sure miss it. I kind of wish they would stay 2 and 4 forever. It really would be quite alright with me. Well, maybe 4 and 6. But, that's far enough. (sigh)

All Aboard!

Sunday we took a road trip up to Chattanooga, Tennessee to see none other than Thomas the Train! We've been before to see Thomas twice, but those times probably aren't a memory for Preston since he was so small. And, since Preston adores Thomas more than any child we know, we decided we'd go for one last trip to see him since Preston is now at the age he can really take it all in.

Preston was very excited the whole time. We didn't even take the stroller. He was such a big boy!

The boys loved playing on the train tables they had set up. And, their sweet Daddy spoiled them by buying them each a new train. Preston picked Edward and his coal tender, and Jackson got Bill and Ben. They were dressed for the day complete with their train whistles. They swore Thomas "heard" them when Thomas would blow his whistle back at them.

They also got tattoos. Preston chose Percy, and Jackson got Salty. How cute, huh?

The depot we were at is actually the oldest train depot that still operates in the south. There were lots of trains other than Thomas there yesterday operating, and at first Preston was scared when one sped past us. I don't think he realized how loud trains were up close like that. By the end of the day though, he was accustomed to it, and like I told Paul, I think Preston could have lived there. He loved the whole idea.

One black train sped past us carrying freight cars, and Preston yelled out, "Dere's Emwee!" (there's Emily) Emily is green, but hey, close enough. Bystanders heard Preston and giggled.

It was such a memorable day. I love family events like that. We were right that Preston would enjoy it more than before. This time when he saw Thomas coming at us, he literally started shaking with excitement. I could feel him shivering in my arms. He was in a frenzy searching for his whistle to blow back at Thomas. It was priceless.

We drove back through treacherous weather, although thankfully all it did was sprinkle on us during the event. We are very grateful God spared us from being in the center of really bad weather.

Thank you, Lord, for such a blessed day!

Happy Birthday, Ashley!

Saturday we celebrated Paul's cousin, Ashley, turning 30! Yay! Now, she can join us as senior citizens! :) Just kidding!

It was a Mexican fiesta full of fun, karaoke, and margaritas!

As you can imagine from reading about our cruise, Paul was in heaven when he saw the karaoke machine set up! I lost count how many songs he sang.
As far as Preston goes, all he cared about was the "wata." (water) I have never seen a child want to get into a pool SO bad when they couldn't. His pants were soaking wet the whole night. He ended up just going barefoot so he could dip his feet in at any time. Of course, it made me super nervous I'd be jumping in in my clothes to fish him out! (Actually, Ashley's daughter, Madison DID fall in and they had to grab her!)

Here's Jackson doing karaoke to the "McQueen song" we call it. "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts is the one. He was belting it out I tell you!

The birthday girl blowing out the candles...

Jackson playing badmitton. He had so much fun just running around outside!

Happy Birthday, Ash! Welcome to the 30's! It isn't too bad after all! Thanks for inviting us and hope you had a great surprise party! We really had fun!

Red, Ripe, and Fun!

Thursday Jackson's class had a field trip to Southern Belle Farms near our house to go pick strawberries! Preston and I joined them, and we all had a great time! Although, today I do have a slight tummy ache resulting from a strawberry overdose I am afraid. ;)
They had animals out the kids could pet and play with. Jackson and Preston both did great with them, and I was really shocked Preston wasn't even afraid. They got to watch the baby calves and the baby lambs drink from their bottles. They really liked that. We got to see a cow milked (Preston was staring like, "What in the???") Of course, we also enjoyed a hayride.

Believe it or not, my picky one, Preston, actually tried a strawberry! But, his response was, "I don wike it."

We all got cartons to collect our strawberries, and the boys had fun searching for the red, ripe ones. With each additional one Jackson found, he would say this one is the juiciest!

Here they all are! (Ignore Jackson's flood pants...we had to wear play jeans since it was muddy.) :)

Yay for springtime!