Birthdays, Swimming, Vegas, and more!

The past month has been a busy one! We celebrated Jackson's first birthday with a swimming party, monkey cake, and family! He received a lot of new things including a ball pit, cozy coup, and more! Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Nina and Uncle Steve all came for the weekend and the Marshall family also joined in on the festivities! Other than a few people getting sick, we had a great weekend! ;)

Jackson and Georgia enjoying cake!


The monkey cake....

Georgia showing Jackson how to drive!

Yummm...



Before the craziness of spring break Havasu got started, we took Jackson down to the lake to feed the ducks. He loved it!



Grandma Neuman gave Jackson his first haircut! We only trimmed up the sides and his bangs, gave him a little mullet. What a cute little man.



We met up with Josh's parents in Las Vegas for a few days over Easter. We had a great time exploring the strip, eating at Texas de Brazil, and touring the Hoover Dam.

At the Hoover Dam


Shopping at some of the outlets, Jackson took his first ride on a merry-go-round and loved it!




The next few are of Jackson playing with his new toys. Notice his hair in the ball pit!

Life's Lessons

The last few months Josh and I have been frantically trying to catch up from our 2 months of unexpected unemployment....in those 2 months our income was pretty much nonexistant and unfortunately traveling for job interviews plus moving expenses added up. Not to bore anyone with our financial woes, but let's just say that we figured we would take advantage of picking up extra hours while Josh was not yet back in school. This last week was definately a long one, I traded a day with a co-worker, picked up an extra shift and worked 10-12 hours every day except Sunday! When I got home Thursday night I went to put Jackson to bed like I always do and he kind of freaked out. He almost acted scared and I couldn't get him to calm down. Josh finally came in to see what was wrong and Jackson went straight to him and calmed right down. Broke my heart. My only thought was that he is mad at me for not being around; he prefers Josh over me... And, that's when I realized no money is worth my time away from my little man.

During slower times at work I often get online and browse around on blogs of friends, family, and even some people I don't know so well. I wonder what it would be like if I could spend all my days at home playing with my son, cleaning my house, working out, making dinner, being crafty, and doing whatever else it is that stay at home moms do. Don't get me wrong, I love my job and am grateful I have the education I do to help our family, especially while Josh is working on his career. It's just that it truly does break my heart that I can't spend everyday with Jackson, and I'll even go as far as saying I feel guilty that I'm not the kind of mom I want to be. I know in time all will be different and Josh will go off to work each day while I stay at home. In the meantime, I think I will cut back on trying to pick up extra hours and enjoy every free moment I have to spend with my son.

March 12, 2010

Dear Jackson,

How does a year go by so fast? It has been our pleasure to watch you grow and develop this past year. You are the light of our lives. We could never try to put into words the love we have for you, or the joy you have brought in to our lives. You are our little miracle, and we are so grateful to be a part of your life. Jackson, in the past year you have gone from a tiny newborn to a walking, full of personality toddler! I will always remember your fresh newborn cry, the many blow outs of bright yellow poop (yes, even in the middle of the night), sleeping in a laundry basket, your signature "stretch" when getting you out of your carseat, moving your lips in a sucking motion as you slept, laying perfectly on our tummy to sleep (oh how I miss that!), always kicking or jumping for hours in your jumping thing....the list could go on for miles. But most of all we want to tell you just how much we love you. Happy Birthday little man.

Love, mom and dad

Minutes

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

one year

Alive and Well

We are happy to say that we are almost settled in our new home in Lake Havasu City!! We took a job in Arizona at an Urgent Care Center and moved our family to our new city! We are loving it here so far! We will have more updates and photos of our new home when we get a bit more settled but I thought we would at least let the world know we are alive and well! Enjoy a few of our moving pictures...please don't mind the mess while we were moving!

Jackson loved playing in the big truck and trying to drive with Daddy!





Lake Havasu has beautiful sunsets almost nightly. We tried to capture one from our front yard.

Whoops! Didn't warn you about the naked baby! He escaped from me one morning after his bath and took off pushing his cart. I thought it was a cute picture moment and who can resist that sweet little bum??

He's getting closer to walking every day. He's had a few steps in a row but not officially walking yet. We expect him to any day now!

Jackson "helping" unpack!

Mmmm, spaghetti!

We had spaghetti the other night and Jackson LOVED it! It was so cute to watch him slurp up the noodles! So we tried to capture some of the experience with the camera!


SLURP!!


Jackson and Daddy!!

2009 in review

I saw this on my friends blog so I decided to do it as well.

January 2009
Stressful month! I spent so many hours studying for Boards and was sure I had failed. But, I didn't! :) Finally decided to take the job in Colby, Kansas. Packed all our things, said goodbye to good friends and beautiful Miami and moved halfway across the country. Josh celebrated his birthday driving a Uhaul.

February 2009
Lived in a hotel for a week while we searched for possible housing options in Colby. Started a new job at 35 weeks pregnant. Spent the majority of the month unpacking and moving into our new home and lives.

March 2009
Welcomed our sweet son Jackson into the world on March 12. What a miracle he is! 2 weeks later we headed to California to show off Jackson and get out of Kansas. We drove back to Kansas stopping in SLC for a few days. I also celebrated my 26th birthday.

April 2009
We had lots of visitors to Kansas to see our new little man. First came my mom and grandma, then came Josh's parents and then Arianne and her family to celebrate Easter. I was still on maternity leave until the end of the month. Lots of sleepless nights and adjusting to parenthood.

May 2009
My parents took us to St. Thomas for a week and we were also able to spend a few days in Miami seeing friends and staying in our townhouse (we don't have it anymore though). It was a bit crazy taking such a luxurious vacation with an 8 week old but we had a fantastic time and are so grateful we were able to go. Thanks mom and dad! Maternity leave ended and I went back to work full time.

June 2009
Lots of family came out for Jackson's blessing the first of the month which was very special for us. We were also able to go to Utah for a wedding. Kansas warmed up and became more beautiful than I had anticipated.

July 2009
We spent the 4th of July in Lake Tahoe with Josh's parents. It was a whirlwind trip but we had so much fun seeing our family and meeting our new niece Ella! We spent the remainder of the month in Kansas trying to get back into "normal" life! It was hot with beautiful thunderstorms almost every night. And, luckily no tornado.

August 2009
Josh and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary by going to a nasty dinner in Garden City. Although the food was gross we always enjoy each others company and are grateful for the wonderful 3 years we've been married. The rest of the month was pretty uneventful, just work and playing with our son.

September 2009
We had visitors this month, the Stokers, for Labor Day weekend and had so much fun taking them out shooting prairie dogs. Spent many Friday nights at the local high school football games. An old football buddy of Josh's was driving through town and his car broke down on I-70. We invited him to stay with us until his car got fixed. Jackson officially becomes mobile!

October 2009
Went to Colorado to the Mitchell's cabin! It was so fun to see the beautiful fall leaves and enjoy nature to it's fullest! Sam continues to stay with us as he applies for a job in Colby. Jackson celebrates his first Halloween as a bat!!

November 2009
We finally get health insurance and Jackson gets super sick and scares us to death! Temperature to 105 F and labored breathing. He gets better as quickly as he gets sick and the next week gets his first tooth! Sam moves into his own place. My mom comes to visit for a weekend. Josh's parents come for a week for Thanksgiving.

December 2009
I unexpectedly get laid off from my job and we try to get a plan in order to get our family back on our feet. We head to Utah for the holidays. Jackson gets 5 more teeth. We continue to search and apply for jobs and look forward to stability in our life once more!!

Christmas 2009

We had a spectacular Christmas and received more than we deserve! It was so much fun having Jackson this year. He had no clue what was going on but he enjoyed the wrapping paper, bows, and pushing around the boxes...oh and of course playing with the dog! We are so very blessed and we thank our Heavenly Father each day for all of our blessings, and especially our family. Enjoy some pictures of our wonderful Christmas and family.

Grandpa VW and Jackson on Christmas morning




Christmas Eve at the Days

Dylan and Jackson in their matching PJ's.

My handsome boys on Christmas Eve

Our little family



Brooklyn, Sarah, mom, Lori on Christmas Eve by the fire!