Jackson's First Christmas

Jackson got extra lucky this year and had 2 Christmas celebrations!  Aunt Tessa & Uncle Nick were flying out to Seattle for Christmas so we did an early family Christmas with a bit of birthday celebration for Tessa the week before Christmas.  Jackson loved eating the wrapping paper and bows and didn't seem to understand why were throwing the paper and bows away.  Then he began to realize that the yummy paper and bows were covering something even better - presents! Auntie Tessa & Uncle Nick spoiled his as expected.  Jackson got a ride 'n' push toy, a cellphone, and an Elmo book.  He loved them all!

On Christmas Eve we let Jackson open one present from Grandma & Grandpa Hill - after all it's a Hill family tradition.  He got a huge, plush lion.   Greg and I decided to start our own family tradition - so we drove around town looking at Christmas lights. 

Christmas morning started off with another new family tradition - Corrie made the popular cinnamon roll recipe.  Even Jackson got a few bites of them.  Then the little guy got spoiled again with more presents.  Grandma and Grandpa Hill got him 2 cute outfits and an electric toolbench toy.  Grandpa John got Jackson a Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes book and a kazoo (which none of the adults could figure out how to work).  Greg and I got Jackson a toss 'n' play ball toy - you push a button and these plastic balls are thrown around the toy.  It's supposed to help babies learn how to crawl... which I am in no hurry for Jackson to start crawling.  I got Jackson a wooden toolbox and tools (yes, Grandma Hill tried to "up" Mom's present).  He loves eating the hammer and screwdriver and waving the saw around - he's all boy!

Xmas Cookies with the Hill Family

Now that we are all in the same city, we decided to get together and make our Christmas Cookies together.  The Hill Family girls are natural bakers.... and eaters!  Here is a picture of Jackson with his first official Christams Cookie and his Aunt and Uncle.  Auntie Tessa even frosted it with a J for him.  Of course, once he got his hands on the cookie it crumbled to a million pieces but he was determined to try some of it.  That's my boy!!

8 months old

Jackson turned 8 months old this month!  I'm amazed at how quickly he is growing up.  It seems like only yesterday I could carry him around in one arm effortlessly - not anymore!!!

Here are some milestones for the past month:
1) He is trying a ton of real food - guacamole, chicken, celery, cucumber, mashed potatoes, Mexican rice, refried beans.  I don't think there hasn't been anything that he has disliked.  Maybe that's a reason why he's 20 lbs.
2) He took his first international vacation where he experienced his first "real" beach.  See below post.
3) He is soooooo close to crawling.  He can now spin himself around in several circles.  He can pull himself up and over from a sitting position.  He can push himself backwards, but just not crawling forwards yet.
4) He got to see his Uncle/Godfather Nick return home from Iraq!
5) He attended his first Thanksgiving.  And of course he had to attend his first Thanksgiving Day football game where he cheered on his Dad and Uncle Nick as they played football.
6) Jackson has decided he prefers to sleep on his stomach.  No matter how many times we roll him onto his back throughout the night, he always manages to make it back on his tummy again.

As you can tell from the pictures, it's impossible to get this kid to hold still for a picture!

Jackson's First International Vacation

Jackson, Greg and I spent 6 days in Cancun, Mexico for our first "big" trip since Jackson's arrival into this world.  He did fantastic!  Mom's research into making travel with a baby as easy as possible, lots of organizing and pre-planning, and being picky with our flight times so they coordinated with feeding and napping schedules made for a pretty easy trip.  Check out all of the pictures at
http://www.corrieandgregfrancis.shutterfly.com/