Spidermania!

Well, it's finally happened. Jackson is obsessed with a fictional character from T.V. He really enjoyed the Baby Einstein videos as a toddler and then slowly moved toward Elmo. Spongebob Square Pants is a favorite, but I limit that. Lately he's been going around with his wrists pointed out and making a spraying noise. He then lets you know that he "trapped" you in his web and he "flys" around the house spraying everything with his webs. I don't think he's ever even seen a cartoon or comic with it. But with the recent movies and all the junk they sell to go with it, I guess it was bound to catch up with us. He is very adamant that he will be Spiderman for Halloween. We think Cooper should be the Incredible Hulk... So here is the latest Spidey propaganda that made it's way to our grocery cart...Hey, at least he is brushing!!!

Mother's Day Magnolia

One of my favorite flowers! Last year Jackson and Daddy gave this to me on Mother's Day and we all planted it together. It blooms all the time in the spring and summer and smells wonderful. Today's flowers were so pretty, I had to take a picture.

Look What My Mommy Found!

Teething cookies! What's the big deal you ask??
These have NO soy, milk or corn in them! Found these while scanning every label at Whole Foods for evil ingredients that would bother the Coop man. He loves them as you can see!! This company makes all kinds of things like this, which is nice to know since the allergy thing isn't being "outgrown" anytime soon. Coopy loves to rub these into his ear and hair- watch the video!

Recipe to Share

I've made this a few times and Jackson actually eats it so I thought it was worth sharing!

Tex-Mex Bake

1# ground beef

1 pkg dry taco mix packet

1 small can mexi-corn, drained

1/2 C finely chopped onion

1 C mild chunky salsa

canned chopped green chiles, to taste

1 pkg cornbread mix

sour cream, diced olives, shredded cheddar, diced tomatoes

*Heat oven to 400'

*Combine beef, taco mix, corn, onion, salsa and chiles ( I use only a spoonful )

*Transfer to a 9x9 baking dish, cover with foil, bake 30 minutes

*Prepare cornbread according to pkg, set aside

*When beef is done cooking, spread cornbread batter over top

*Bake another 20-25 minutes uncovered until golden brown

Top with sour cream, etc...

Lucky in Love

Today is Jason and I's 7th wedding anniversary! I can't believe how fast it has gone by. It seems like yesterday we were still commuting into Austin together in our little Ford Escort from Thorndale everyday. Saving for "someday", a house, kids. Then moving into our 1970's duplex. More saving. They were some of the most stressful, but happy times together. We still drive by there and smile. Getting pregnant with Jackson was such an unexpected miracle. We quickly put all of our hard earned money down on our first home. We had so much fun making it ours and painting the nursery. Some unforseen job changes that tested our marriage and made it stronger than ever. A much planned for and prayed for Cooper. Trying our hardest to create close and strong family ties with our children. Working hard at home and on the job to give them the best we can. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished and the family we are. We have learned the value of being good friends, besides husband and wife. Everyday is a new adventure, and I am so glad we have found each other to share life with. I can't wait to see what the next 7 years hold for us.

My turn!

Jackson looked JUST like Jason at birth and for quite a while afterwards. He is starting to have more of my facial features, but continues to be "long and tall" like Daddy. And stubborn like him too...When Cooper was born I was all set for another little blondie Jackson. Nope! He looked JUST like I did at birth. My mom came across this picture of me and I had to do a double take! That's Cooper! God must have so much fun with DNA... P.S. Happy 7 months Coop!

Heavenly...

The boys are asleep, the dishwasher is running, and I'm eating a bowl of ice cream...

Calgon, take me away!

Oh what a day...

Nothing terrible happened, and I am thankful for that. Nothing even just a bit upseting. Just nonstop annoying behavior from a three year old!!! One of those days when you honestly think about hiding in the closet with a bag of cookies.

Jackson was totally WOUND UP today. He already talks nonstop, so in the hyper mode it is just LOUDER! He would run up to Cooper and yell baby talk into his ear. I'm sure that's just what a healing ear infection needs. Then he would push him over and laugh when Cooper looked like a roly-poly bug on it's back. Okay it's kinda funny.


He wouldn't eat ANYTHING which isn't out of the norm, but today was ridiculous. Chocolate milk, the peanut butter in between mini peanut butter ritz crackers, not the actual crackers. And a vitamin.

He thought it was great fun to run full speed and head-butt me from any angle. Especially when I was bent over the dishwasher or dryer. Then he told me I am squishy.

I was rocking Cooper to sleep, which I hardly ever get to do ( read above ). He was just starting to do the fluttering eyes thing, when Jackson bursts through the childproof door and yells "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO"! Adorable.

At naptime, which is a sacred event, he remained quiet for 20 minutes before starting his rendition of "MOMMY I WANT OUT OF HERE"! After an hour of threatening him to sleep or else, I gave up. Cooper woke up anyway, what the heck.

Like I said, nothing devastating. No vomit to clean up. No wounds. No diarrhea. No missing child at Wal-Mart.

I'm going to gaze at Jackson and Cooper in a minute and have that revelation that most parents do when thier children are asleep. They really are angels.


But first I'm going to take a long bubble bath...

Snips, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails...

...that's what little boys are made of! We have gotten to be regular visitors of a locally owned pet shop. They have everything from your standard hamsters and goldfish to the more unusual sugar gliders and hedgehogs. Jackson loves the mice and bunnies and wishes more than anything he could hold them. But today he was pretty fixated on the frogs. He stood at the tank and watched them for a good 15 minutes and laughed everytime one of them even blinked an eye. He also really liked the little hermit crabs and baby turtles. Daddy was all for getting him one of course. I guess as the mom of two boys I should get used to the idea of critters in the house. What's one more kind of species' poop to clean up?

Tag I'm It!

The Rules:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (if you don't have a blog, email me)
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

April Tagged me!!

1. I'm a wanna be history buff-I love WWII history and movies.
2. I love Ebay. Too much.
3. Cooper will turn 7 months on Jason and I's 7th wedding anniversary this August.
4. I hate chick-flicks!
5. Must have some form of chocolate at least once a day. Cherry Coke to wash it down.
6. My dream job would to be a photographer for National Geographic.
7. I can't stand to have my feet touched.
8. Was born in Oregon and now I get cold if it's under 70...

Okay, not too many people I now have blogs ( I feel so trendy! ), but I will tag my mom, Sandra, Kelly, Renee, Tiffany and Jared.

My baby is growing up too fast!

Cooper turned 6 months a couple of weeks ago and I can't believe it! It seemed like just yesterday I was wondering if we'd ever make it out of the "wake-up-three-times-a-night-and change-500-diapers-a-day stage". And now I am wondering where the time went. It seems faster with Cooper, maybe because I know just how quickly time slipped through Jackson's baby days, and I know it is inevitable.

Cooper is:

- loving the fact that he gets to chomp down on cereal and applesauce.

- all about snuggling his blue silky blanket.

- facinated by his toes.

- finally gotten a tooth in after three months of hard core teething.

- trying so hard to roll over and sit up.

- Jackson's biggest fan.

- an absolute joy.

Poor Baby!

We came home to find Jackson beginning a cold that is just now going away. It wasn't soon after that Cooper was stopped up and miserable too. To top it off he got his first tooth ( again... ) during the same time. Talk about misery loving company!
Today was his 6 month well check appointment and as I feared, he has an ear infection. I kept telling myself if was just the congestion topped with the pressure of his swollen gums that as making him not want to eat or sleep. That is the last time I second guess myself on ear infections.
Jackson used to get so many that I'd just call the Dr and tell her he had another one and she would call in the anitbiotics. At first she would want me to come in, and after awhile she knew I was right. When she said that if he got "one more" it would be time to talk about tubes. Funny enough, that was the last one he had gotten. Hopefully Cooper will not go down the same road!
On a happier note, he is growing like a champ, and we got the go ahead to maybe try oatmeal and fruit. The rice made him a bit gassy but not painfully. Dr said most fruits except citrus and berries shoudn't bother him. I'm sure Cooper was glad to hear to hear that- he has been grabbing our plates and glasses trying to get a snack!