Fourth of July!!!

Jackson's first 4th of July... we weren't sure what he would think of the fireworks. We were invited over to the home of some good friends to celebrate the holiday and watch the fireworks from the top of the hill (great view of the university from the deck in their backyard). However, the sun took forever to completely set, which meant that the fireworks show was later than they had expected. By the time they began, Jackson was exhausted. He was his normal happy, go-lucky self the entire night though! We took some fun pictures setting off our own firecrackers and fireworks, of the kids playing, and then of Jackson & Daddy's tired faces as we watched the fireworks at 11:00pm -- way past our bedtimes! Happy Fourth of July!!

House pics (inside)

We're definitely still putting things in their places, but making progress. We LOVE having so much space to move around and a yard of our own! All three of us love to be outside and so far, Spring has been wonderful. It is really beginning to warm up now, so we try to avoid the mid- to late-afternoon hours. Anyway, I thought I would post a few pictures for those who haven't been able to visit yet. (These are of the kitchen, dining room, & family room.) We love our home!

Played & Played, then Zonked...

Jackson just loves the little jumperoo that his cousin Maddie has been letting him borrow, since she grew out of it. He jumps and jumps and jumps and giggles so loudly it's contagious! Today he was SO cute... I went in to check on him and saw that he had fallen asleep. I guess he had just played his little heart out until he couldn't jump anymore. Cute little boy!

Six Months Old!

I can't believe Jackson is already six months old! We are having so much fun with him. I, in particular, am enjoying not being in school and just enjoying the summer to spend the whole day just Jackson and I. Parker is enjoying working over in the Baker City area and even gets to go up to the Wallowa/Enterprise area a few times... we're hoping we can join him in the hotel up there for a few days. We'll see. Money is tight and I'm okay with the camera... it helps to have a smiley and photogenic baby boy... so we just took some pictures at home. They're not professional, but they show Jackson's little personality.

Jackson Loves Bathtime!

We think Jackson is the cutest baby in the whole wide world. He is so happy and loves just about everyone and everything!

Cousins...

Jackson, Maddie, and Miles were all together for the first time since his birth in June 2007. Of course, we had to take cousin pictures! Miles was a little sad - not really in the picture taking mood, but the important thing is that they are all together and cute in the red, white, and blue outfits that Grandma Sharon bought for them.

No clothes...

We're trying to stay cool... summer is coming!

Jackson's Cute/Funny Faces

More cute/animated/ funny faces...

Our Little Family

We've had fun visiting our Ussery side of the family in Portland for Megan's high school graduation - Megan is Parker's sister. Jackson has Grandpa Ussery wrapped around his little finger - they really can't seem to get enough of each other, (unless Jackson has a stinky diaper). We tried to take family pictures because we were already dressed up for church, but they didn't turn out quite like I wanted. Either way, we're all there and dressed up.

5 months old - Family Photo Shoot

We had a little family photo shoot. Jackson wasn't interested at first, but then he got really animated. I think these pictures show his personality perfectly... all his little facial expressions. Too Cute!

Are You My Mother?

Jackson LOVES books!! He mostly loves to turn the pages, but he loves to be read to and sometimes even tries to tell the story himself... although we usually don't understand what he is saying. Parker and Jackson were reading "Are You My Mother?" in Jackson's room.

First Camping Trip, 5 months old

Jackson finally got to experience the outdoors... we decided it had warmed up enough to take him camping at Grandma & Grandpa Ussery's property - about 2 1/2 hours from our house. It was still pretty cold at night, but he was bundled and Parker's dad kept the wood fire stoked in the canvas wall tent, so we all slept alright. He got to go 4-wheeling... very slowly, "help" Daddy fish and hang out around camp. The other picture is of Parker turkey hunting... Jackson didn't participate in this... Mommy thinks he needs to wait a few more years still.

First Professional Baseball Game!

Neither Parker nor Jackson had ever been to a professional sports game of any type, so this Mariner's Game was pretty exciting. The game itself was exciting anyway, but it was also Little League night... which means that we got to walk on the field before the game began (thanks to Christian and his participation in Little League Baseball). We took some fun pictures and all had a great time. I grew up going to Mariner's games every season in the Kingdom and miss the fireworks after every homerun... usually hit by Ken Griffey Jr, Edgar Martinez, or good ol' Jay. However, there really is not a bad seat in the house at Safeco Field and it overlooks the Puget Sound. Jackson fell asleep about halfway through the game. I'm still not sure how... the crowd was SO loud. (Parker took all of the pictures... so he's not in any of them.)

New House Pics...

I think I've got it figured out. Hopefully, the pictures of the house show up this time. At least it shows the front. We are enjoying the inside, though. Going from 800sf to over 2500sf is WONDERFUL!!! Now I just have to finish unpacking a few things... it already feels like home and we are thrilled to be here.

Here we go again

I have been trying to upload some pictures of Jackson and our new house, but without any success! Go to Snapfish to see those pictures... Hopefully I will have this one up and running again soon. Anyway, we are all moved in and I am exhausted. So worth it, though! It is so much fun for Jackson to have his own room - all 3 of us are loving it! Parker and I are finding that we don't have to be as creative with arranging rooms with so much space; this is the best part! Even Parker said that he's never had a bedroom that was so empty! Anyone who knows me and my loads of stuff can attest that this is a miracle. Almost everything is in its place now... just a few more little things here and there. Parker is very anxious to build a fence, both for privacy and to get the dogs off of their cables. I'm sure that will be the first project on his list. We bought our first lawn mower; how exciting, huh? Not really, but it's one of those things that you have to just break down and get eventually. Up until now, we haven't needed one because we used our landlord's at our old house. That's about it for news on the house. As I mentioned, I will post pictures on Snapfish (if they'll upload).

JACKSON... he is growing by leaps and bounds. Parker and I see him everyday and we are still amazed at how quickly he is growing and developing. He grabs EVERYTHING and puts it into his mouth. He continues to giggle and smile at everyone. I will try to update some pictures of him on Snapfish also.

Jackson's 4-month Check-up

Jackson had his 4 month check-up this morning. The doctor said he looks very healthy (actually everyone says that - referring to his chubbiness). He is developing very normally and is at the level of where they would expect an average 5 month old to be.

His stats:

Length/Height - 26 1/2 (92 percentile)

Weight - 16.4 lbs (75 percentile)

Head - 50 percentile (I didn't write down the measurement)

He is still the apple of our eyes and draws attention wherever we go with his big smiles, giggles, and big, blue eyes. He's already learned to be so flirtatious!

Jackson: another photo shoot

Jackson is 4 months old now. He loves everyone and everything. He loves his Daddy, Mommy, his dog - Duke, anyone else who gives him attention, getting his diaper changed, taking a bath, playing with his toys, eating cereal and peaches, the Wiggles, etc, etc, etc.

Jackson Eating Peaches!

Jackson loves peaches! Still a little messy, but we're learning.