Bribery...

I thought that should have been the name for the new "poo poo pet".

But somehow he ended up "Gimpy"

We keep him in the bathroom- for inspiration...

Look what I actually had time to do!!

It's been soooooooooo long since I sat down to scrap, either paper or digitally. I somehow mustered up the energy last night and accomplished a page. Just a random page. I have so many "projects" and albums that are like 10 % done. I would really like to try and focus more on this!! But it always comes so far below my priority of SLEEP!!!

Two Firsts Today

Wow, two rounds of applause for Jackson and Cooper today!

* Cooper decided to start crawling- I even caught him on video intending to capture something else he was up to! What a great moment, he was so matter of fact about it, while Jason and I sound like clowns in the background I'm sure.

* Jackson went "number two" in the potty - BY HIMSELF! Okay so he had an accident earlier at the mall, and he barely made it the second time, but he did make it and was very proud of himself. He gets to go pick out a pet tomorrow- we've been dangling this carrot for months now... The rules are: NO FUR. I'm envisioning a lovely goldfish... I have a feeling it will be much more creepy though...

Yeah Jackson and Cooper! I'll put away my pom-poms now...

My "First" Thanksgiving

I hosted Thanksgiving this year, and I think it went pretty well. I couldn't have pulled it off without all my helpers- you know who you are and thank you!!! I was very nervous about cooking the bird, but it turned out really well. Just a teeny bit dry I think, but no one else would admit it. It was really nice to have everyone at one table, I forget just how big our family is, and how much bigger it keeps getting. The more the merrier!! I am thankful for everyone of these faces...

Cooper is 10 Months

I can't believe my baby is almost a year old. It has gone by sooooooo much faster it seems than with Jackson. Why is that? I worked 40-50 hours a week when Jackson was small, but now that I stay home full time since Cooper's birth, time seems to go by faster. You would think that Jackson's babyhood would have flown before my eyes, even though I got to bring him to work with me. Just being more distracted and on the go I mean. And I would think that staying home would make the time pass so slowly, and he'd be a baby a bit longer.But no, I feel like Cooper has just gone from tiny screaming thing to army crawling around the house and refusing to be rocked to sleep. I find myself trying to soak up every moment that he will let me snuggle him or is upset and reaches his fat little hands out to me. He still does things that remind me that I have plenty of time before he rolls his eyes at me:

* still needs his little silky blankies to calm down and sleep- the more the better
* likes to be rocked while having a bottle ( with the silky blankey is a bonus )
* gets scared if he thinks I have left the room
* rubs his face into my neck when he is happy
* likes to hold my finger while being transported around on my hip

But his newest accomplishments are:

* a sound that is best described as "ah-sheesh"
* pulling up on most everything
* turning pages of a book
* trying his very best to make a tower of 2 blocks
* putting things in and out of little boxes or containers
* eating meat purees- yummy!!!
* starting to annoy previously enamoured big brother

Quarantine @ the Lavender House

Jackson spent all of Friday throwing up. We were in the car about to run some errands and he started choking and then up it came... He seemed kinda mopey and listless, well more than usual, and now we know why. He even wanted to lay in ouor bed around noon before this happened and we pretty much shooed him outside...oops. By saturday he was feeling better but still really feverish. Today he is back to his little rascaly self and I am so glad. Poor guy told me he was sorry for "pukting" in the car. What a sweetie. Let's hope the germs don't think the rest of us are such great hosts!

Cooper has yet another cold. I think we had a whole week break from being sick! I am sure there is an ear infection to match. Ugg! He is also teething and so as always the combo is a grumpy little dude. It will be nice to have a happy Cooper once we get past the "lets-catch-every-single-virus- known-to-man" stage.

I am putting hand-sanitizer in stockings this year...

Daylight Savings Time

Just adding it to my list of annoying, pointless things.

Okay I know it's not pointless...but if anyone out there has babies, I'm sure that you will agree...

So far I have:

acne

mosquitos

childproof doorknob covers

sinuses

and now...daylight savings time

No, I don't get an extra hour of sleep. It just seems cruel...but it is pretty cool to hang out with Cooper until everyone else is awake!

Is this not the cutest little jacket?? I guess I'm not the only one who thinks so- there is a 7 week wait!!

Patience my credit card, patience...

Say Cheese!!!

Jackson said after preschool picture day a few weeks ago that he didn't smile because he was "too shy"...

Fall Macro Pics

Here are some pictures I've taken recently... it's all in the details!!!

Sooooo Big!

Jackson, Cooper and I went through the Wendy's drive through this afternoon, on our way home from the library. After eating my # 9 combo ( 10 chicken nuggets, fries and a coke ) I made the comment that I ate too much!! He asked to see my tummy which doesn't remain flat after eating, post-children, anymore. He kinda poked at it and proclaimed "It's as big as Papa Badger's belly!" Papa Badger's is his name for my Dad, who has a nice table tummy. And then he seriously looked up into my eyes and asked "Mommy, do you have another baby in there?"
Lord, help me practice moderation this holiday season.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I loooooooove Halloween! I get so excited the day October 1st rolls around and it doesn't stop until I hear "Trick or Treat" at my door. Since being a mommy, the fun is two-fold. I've had so much fun making cookies with Jackson, puting up decorations, and having many discussions on what everyone he knows will be for Halloween. Cooper was a good sport for his first Halloween, tagging along in the stroller. He most definetly wanted to be in on the devouring of candy, but settled for puffs... Jason has officially taken the title of "Head Pumpkin Carver". He even wore a costume this year.... Flavor Flav. Couldn't find a giant clock necklace, but I think he pulled it off.

Halloween Pics!