Jackson's Cows

Here are some pictures from Jackson's visit to the cows that are being raised at his Grandpa's work... they will be our hamburgers and taco meat come October, but Jackson is enjoying them for now. He had a blast running around and petting the cows!
He has gotten so big lately! It seems like he has grown physically and emotionally a ton since we left La Grande 5 1/2 weeks ago. He becomes more and more like a toddler everyday and less like a baby, which I suppose is good since we'll be bringing home a new baby soon. But it's a little sad for me to watch him grow up. His vocabulary has expanded and that is VERY exciting for Parker and I because we can actually communicate with him rather than spend our days trying to guess what he really wants or needs.
Jackson loves mimicking the animals' sounds... his favorites are: ruff ruff, moooo, quack quack quack quack, and snorting like a piggy. He loves jumping on the trampoline, water in general (sprinkler, pool, hose, water bottle, sink, bath tub, etc.), birds and planes in the sky, puppies--any type, anywhere, and lately babies have been catching his eye (I hope this is a good thing). He says: milk, more, no (and all versions of the word, such as "no no no no no" as he shakes his pointer finger), mama, daddy, papa, puppy, fish (that's one of his favorite words right now), shoes, plane, juice, car, cheese (for the camera), uh-oh, oh-no, yuck, and nums (that's food). I can't think of anything else right now, but I know there are others. He continues to sign "please" and loves to give kisses and hugs. It is so cute to hear him say "mmmm-maw" as he gives kisses. Oh, and he loves to blow kisses.

No longer breech & 3 cm dilated + Jackson's Cows

Well, baby Kate threw me for a little bit of an emotional roller coaster last week at our doctor's appointment as she comfortably rested in a breech position. I was not looking forward to the idea of a C-section... especially for the recovery process that goes with that surgery. Today, my doctor reassured me (through encouraging words and an ultrasound) that Kate is not breech--her head is definitely down, although still "floating" a little, she is most certainly a girl (a good confirmation after all of the dreams I have had that the baby is born and is a boy), and finally that I am dilated 3 cm. Dr. Hendrickson said that she doesn't expect her to come in the next day or so, but also that consequent pregnancies usually go more quickly than first babies, so be prepared; she may come sooner than you expected. Hmm... well, I guess it's a good thing that we have moved (again) and have everything settled (food in the house, things put away, Jackson's room organized and mostly "baby-proofed", etc.) so that we are prepared regardless of whether she comes this weekend or August 11th (her due date).

I don't really have a picture to go with this post, which I am bummed about because I think that posts without pictures are VERY boring! What's the point of the blog if there aren't any pictures? I do have some of Jackson with his Daddy and Grandpa feeding some cows. I will try to load those ASAP, even though they're completely un-related.