Pumpkin Patch!

We made our annual trip to Berry Patch Farms this past weekend to pick out our pumpkins! I was so excited to see Jackson's reaction when he saw the sea of pumpkins or in Jackson language "pupums". Jackson was most thrilled with the tractor ride and couldn't stop watching the tractor as it brought people to the patch.  We picked out one small pumpkin for Jackson to decorate, and Jackson had his first taste of apple cider! Jackson continues to increase his vocabularly daily and has started to verbalize some opposites such as up/down, push/pull, inside/outside etc. He also just started saying yes instead of just shaking his head yes. Funny how he learned to say No so much earlier!

Jackson kept picking one little pumpkin up and then throwing it down when he found another one.

For some reason Jackson had to sit on every pumpkin!

Daddy and Jackson at the pumpkin patch!

Jackson climbing on the scarecrow.

After many nights of Jackson climbing out of the crib, we converted his crib to a daybed. One step closer to a big boy bed! Jackson loves his bed but also loves his new found freedom. It has been challenging keeping him in his bed, but each night gets a little better.

After much heartache and 4 long months, Jackson's play area is finished! Jackson absolutely loves it!!

Jackson's latest trick...shooting baskets. Check out that follow through!

What Creativity!

 Jackson is really starting to show his creativity and his imagination. He has become a master of getting in and out of his crib, so it is time for a toddler bed! I have two funny stories. The other day I put Jackson down for his nap. I went into my bedroom and was folding laundry. I look over at the video monitor and it was unplugged. I walk over to his room and I can hear him playing with his toys. I go to open the door and he had locked it! Quite the scheme!! I unlocked the door, took his toys out, and put him back to bed. A couple minutes later I see him pulling himself out of his crib. I went into his room and he was hiding behind his chair! Then, I thought he was sleeping when all of a sudden, in walks Jackson with a bowl and a banana. When he woke up from his nap, he had gone downstairs, moved the chair to the counter where the bananas were, got a bowl, and brought them to me to give him his afternoon snack. I had heard noise downstairs but just thought it was the workers in the basement. Needless to say, the gate is now always locked during sleeping hours! The first pictures are of Jackson on his first hike in Pigeon Forge. He loved it!

 He was sitting here and could hear all the birds. He kept saying "What is that?"

 Look at all the fallen leaves!

 Running on the trails!

 After 4 months and much heartache, Jackson's play area is finally done! This was Jackson the morning they were pouring the concrete. He loved watching the big truck! Iwill post a pic next week of him playing on it. He loves it! Thanks daddy!!

 Jackson and his friend Aiden. Too cute!

 Jackson showing some of his imagination. He was feeding Big Bird some oatmeal.

Jackson loves trains! Noni bought him this train. He loved to put the yogurt covered raisins in the train and then eat them. Thanks Noni!

First Day of School!

 Well, we have survived our first week of school! Jackson has done really well. He still cries when I drop him off, but the teachers assure me that it doesn't last very long and they have pictures of him smiling to prove it! We had an open house, so I was able to see what a day for him entails. I was pleased to see that they actually have a little curriculum for learning colors, shapes etc. They even put on a little performance at the end of the year for the parents! Apparently, Jackson's favorite things are of  course the playground, but he also loves art. The teachers said that once they started doing an art project, he started enjoying himself. This first picture is of Jackson's big day.  Of course, he had to show me his big cheesy "cheese" grin!

I attempted to get a shot of him just smiling, but was unsuccessful.

This was too funny! All of a sudden, Jackson ran out of his room saying "I did it!"  What did he do? If you look closely, he put on a swim diaper over his pajamas. He was very proud of himself!






Unfortunatley, we did not make it through our first week of school without catching our first cold, so there aren't that many pics this week. Jackson is feeling much better now, so hopefully next week will bring more photo opportunities!

My little boy.....

 Here we are in the beginning of fall, which makes me realize that in just 2 1/2 months, my baby will be 2! Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday he was sitting on the floor covered in drool and now he is becoming a little boy. He is really trying to exert his independance these days and wants to do everything for himself.  He wants to put the lids on his cups, he wants to get his own water, he wants to open all containers by himself, etc, etc. He also wants to pick which cup he drinks from and utensils he uses.  He has also figured out how to take all of his clothes off, which made for an exciting morning when daddy found him in his crib completely naked.....diaper included. He must have done it in the middle of the night because that morning everything smelled of dried urine....including himself! Crossing our fingers that this was a one time event! We also have some exciting news...after 2 years away, I am going back to work! I will be working Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Kaufmann clinic and I am very excited. It is bittersweet because it makes me sad to leave Jackson, but we got him into a great preschool those mornings which makes me comfortable with my decision. We are in the process of looking for a nanny to watch him in the afternoons until I or Greg get home from work, which is a daunting process! I hope this transition is a smooth one!! This first picture is of Jackson going grocery shopping at the Children's Museum. He loved the conveyor belt.

 Jackson helping Noni put the groceries away.
 







Jackson and Mary doing a little fishing. The last time we were fishing at the museum, Jackson decided to join the fish in the water.  Luckily he stayed dry this trip!






We are in the process of finding Jackson a big boy bed for his new room! Jackson is going to be moving to the old guest bedroom once our basement is finished, which should be in 3 weeks! While shopping, Jackson found this huge bear and dragged it around the store.



 
  I think I need to work on my short game.  Jackson's new golf clubs from Noni and Granddaddy!








Where is a golfcart when you need one?

We went to a tailgating birthday party this weekend for Jackson's friend Sarah. This picture is daddy having to hold Jackson back from attaching the cake!

 I  love icing!

Mary giving Jackson a ride!

Cheese! Jackson loves to get his picture taken!

Jackson and daddy enjoying a little Dairy Queen on the steps.

Elmo Live!

Last weekend we took Jackson to see Elmo Live! He loved it!! Jackson is usually not one to sit still for very long, but Elmo was so captivating that he watched the entire show! We only had one problem....if Elmo was not on stage, Jackson kept repeating Elmo..Elmo..Elmo. Elmo is definately his favorite! Jackson is really talking now and seems as if he adds new words everyday. He is putting 3 words together. Some of my favorites are "I got it", "Here you go", "Dadda car bye bye". He says please and thank you which is so darn cute! His favorite is "Up please". He has started to actually "shoot" the basketball into the hoop and if he misses he says "Almost!". When he makes it, he gets very excited and runs with both hands up into the air. 

During intermission Jackson was able to run around since we had floor seats. You could take one of these Elmo balloons home with you for only $10.  Needless to say, a picture with the balloons is all Jackson got.

What is this fluffy delicious blue stuff?

Here daddy you try.

Pic in front of the stage.

Jackson loves lemonade! This is one of his favorite activities...juicing lemons. Jackson has figured out that he can move the chair to get to higher places.  The other morning Jackson had the chair pulled up to the counter, juicer out, and even put it together!

Juicing lemons is so much fun!

Welcome Baby James!

We are so excited to have a new baby boy in the family! Baby James is just as sweet as can be and Mary has been such a wonderful big sister! This is Mary meeting her baby brother for the first time. She wasn't interested in him first....too busy with her new Big Sister Dora doll, but she warmed up to him quickly.

The proud Uncle. It reminds me so much of him holding Jackson for the first time...a little nervous!

Jackson meeting his little cousin James. He loved to point to his different body parts and say them.

Welcome home Nesmith family of 4! Of  course Jackson couldn't miss this photo opportunity!

First golf lesson! I think these clubs may be a tiny bit too big.

I just love his smile :)

Blankets....check. Cheezits...check. Milk...check. Ready to hit the road!

This last picture was too funny. Before Jackson went down the slide, a little girl had gone down and her mom took a picture of her. The next time Jackson went down he sat there saying "cheese" until I snapped a photo.

Family trip to the zoo and fun times with cousin Mary!

We had a wonderful week with the exciting arrival of Jackson's newest cousin...sweet baby James! He is so cute and a perfect addition to the family. Just like in the movies, Kiera went into labor in the middle of the night. We got a call from Brad that it was time around midnight so I hopped in the car to bring Mary over until James arrived. Mary did great! I was a little worried that she would be scared but as soon as we  pulled into our driveway she yelled "Jack's house!" I layed her down in the guest bedroom and she went right to sleep until the next morning. We had so much fun taking care of her! This first picture is of our family trip to the zoo. There is a playground at the zoo that we always pass on the way out and Jackson never gets to play, so this trip we started there. Jackson had so much fun on the teeter totter!

Neigh!!!!

Merry go Round! Jackson picked the elephant all by himself. Everytime we would spin past daddy Jackson would point to him. Too cute!

Jackson loves choo choos so we went on our first choo choo ride at the zoo.

That goat is tiny compared to my Emma!

First morning at our house. Jackson was so excited that MaeMae (that's how he says Mary) was at his house!

Trip to Monkey Joes! They both had so much fun jumping around!

Snack time! All that jumping sure makes us hungry!!

Jackson climbing up the ladder to the big slide all by himself. He is such a little monkey!!

First art picture for Daddy's office!

Congrats again Aunt Kiera, Uncle Brad and Big Sister Mary! We have lots of pictures to post next week of Mary and Jackson's first meeting with James and his arrival home. We are so happy that James made it to the world safely and both Mom and Baby are doing so well!