The Joys of Motherhood

Having your infant suck on your knee just to occupy him for a moment.  Then standing up and realizing the drool is running all the way down your leg.

Wearing just as much butternut squash baby food on you as your little on has actually eaten.   Mostly in part because your baby has realized how to blow air out as you are trying to give him a spoonful of baby food!

Getting to work and realizing your blouse is still damp from your little guy drooling all over earlier that morning.

And last of all but definitely not least - trying to soothe your baby while he is teething!

Lots of Celebrating

Wow, this past month has absolutely flown by. First off, our house in Colorado is officially sold. Greg flew up to Colorado to finish packing up our belongings and then made a 24 hour trek driving all of our belonging in a huge trailer down to Phoenix. Thankfully his dad accompanied him on the drive, which let Jackson and I be off the hook. Plus this allowed Greg's dad to spend 2 days visiting with Jackson and my family.

Jackson celebrated his first Grandparents Day by attending an Arizona Diamondbacks game with his grandpa. Despite his perfectly coordinate outfit and a determined Mom, Jackson didn't make it onto the big screen yet again :( We'll have to make it to another game to see if the third time really is a charm.

Some fun milestones over the past month:

• Jackson has added baby food to his meal plan. So far he seems to like applesauce the best... but hates it when mom sneaks in some rice cereal with the applesauce. He's also enjoyed some real food - watermelon, broth and blueberry muffins! Ice cream is still his favorite though.


• Jackson has really taken to "carrying on conversations". He will coo and make all sorts of noises for hours as long as you do the same right back to him.
  
• Jackson thinks his Grandpa is the funniest person around. My dad will laugh and Jackson will immediately copy him and giggle just as loud as can be. Of course the minute the video camera goes on, Jackson refuses to laugh at Grandpa.
  
• Jackson attended his first winery. Yes we were the couple that dragged a baby around to some local vineyards in Southern Az. Thankfully he didn't fuss or cry so he didn't ruin anyone's quiet wine tasting!


• Jackson met a long time friend of mine, Julie, who is responsible for me competing in pageants. While enjoying our time with Julie, Jackson had his first exposure to pageant girls since the Mrs. America Pageant was being held that weekend. Jackson also walked away from this meeting with an adorable crown bib and a blue "My First Birthday" party hat!
  
• Jackson is becoming much more mobile. He is learning to arch his back so he can roll from his back to his side. He's also getting bored on his belly - he is kicking and reaching as he tries to figure out how to crawl!


• Jackson submitted his application for his passport. Mexico here he comes!!
  

This coming weekend Greg and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary. My sister has graciously offered to babysit Jackson. This will be his first "off-site" babysitting experience and my sister's first time babysitting him. Jackson is captivated by Auntie Tessa so I'm sure the two of them will have a great time. We'll keep you posted on how Mom and Dad do with their first evening without the baby!!!