Big Brother

We are getting ready to head to California, and a break from the heat will be very nice. I spent several hours pulling cold weather clothes out for the kiddos since it is 50-60's there, and in the mean time I traded out clothes for Jackson.  We are really excited for a little vacation and hope the plane ride will be ok for our energetic little boy!

A new favorite shirt

Jumping

Where is Jackson?

What will he get into next? It never ends.

Summer Fun!

We have been swimming and basically doing anything and everything to stay cool.  I try to avoid going out in the middle of the day because the car is so hot.  So the pool it is!  

Grandmommie, Gerald, and Grandmother came down this past weekend and we are still having withdrawals.  They brought Jackson a car that plays "funky town" and that has been a bit hit.  Charlotte is pretty attached to me at the moment, but I think that will change as she gets older and starts following Jackson everywhere.  Jackson and Grandmommie hit the pool on Saturday and Sunday, and we all just relaxed and visited.  It was too short as usual, but we will have to get up to Midland soon!

Charlotte in her swimsuit

Jackson with Hallie

Two weeks ago in Austin

New frog shirt from Grandmommie and new kicks from Brittany

Grandmommie and her babies

Rocking Jackson to sleep...it has been a while since that has happened

I see some serious resemblance...pretty ladies!

Father's Day '09

Summer Begins

Charlotte has reached 2 1/2 months and is weighing in at 12lbs 6 oz.  Brandon and I are constantly surprised by how happy she is.  I have never seen a baby smile so much in my life.  And considering she has Jackson trying to tackle her 24/7,  she has to be one chilled out chica. Jackson has had a black-eye, busted lip, scraped knees, and innumerable bruises over the past 2 weeks. I am beginning to think that there will never again be a time when he doesn't have some sort of injury healing...oh the wonderful world of boys.

It has been easier each week to handle two kids, now that Charlotte is more alert and Jackson understands what I am saying.  He is definitely the little parrot, repeating everything we say.  We wondered when that day would come...the conversation filter is officially in place.  Some of his most recent words are pizza, pool, juice, and bee.  Funny how his vocab changes with the seasons. "Me too" is another favorite and considering he repeats that and "No" all day long, he has obviously become very aware of who he is and what he wants...lovely.  But I must say that he is still a little sweet heart.  "Cha Cha," which is his name for Charlotte, is his favorite person in the world, and he does take regular breaks from running around to give all three of us hugs and kisses.  

Other news...Brandon started the summer session for school and will be in class every weekend until the beginning of August.  We will just have to make up for that on Sundays and hit the pool, etc.  We went to Austin last week for Stephen's graduation dinner.  It was a quick trip, but it was nice to be there and celebrate with the fam.  There were 17 of us at dinner, and that was not including my oldest sister and her family.  Our family gatherings over the next several years are going to be huge to say the least.  But the little cousins have a ton of fun together, so that makes it pretty fun.  And it was good to see Stephen before he heads out to Laity Lodge for the summer to be a counselor and then moves to A&M in the fall.  After 36 years of parenting, my mom will finally have no kids in the house...all I can say is vacation time.  And the summer begins... 

The princess on her throne.

Love that sweet smile.

These next few pics were taken in about a 10 second time span...just to give you a sense of Jackson's energy level!

About to jump...

I love our crazy little man

helping with Cha Cha

crazy morning hair like mom with a little curl in front