The Fish Tank

I have been thinking all day what to write and keep coming back to something so simple. Last night Scott was at a softball game so Jackson and I had some alone time. He was sitting on the couch watching Little Einsteins and I decided to join him. He curled up in my lap to watch his show repeating everything Leo was saying. As we sat there I just stared at him in utter amazement. I looked at his noes, eyelashes, chubby cheeks, cute lips...and I realized how blessed I am to be his mommy. I am in awe of what God has created through Scott and I in Jackson. I cannot fathom why God would bless me so tremendously with such a precious child. I just sat there gazing at my son thanking God for each and every moment I am blessed with Jackson.

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again...My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you." Ps. 71:20, 23 "If God has ordained difficulty for you, He has also ordained restoration for you." Beth Moore

Eating a big boy meal at Outback. I promise this is the kid size. I must write this day down in history because the child was a perfect angel ALL day. No joke!!! He even ate all his dinner including brocoli! Ladies PJ and game night at church. This is my small group. These girls are absolutley wonderful! I am so blessed to have met them! Two of my favorite people, Michelle and Andrew, at one of my favorite California restaurants, Daphne's. I miss them terribly!!! Wish you all could know such a fabulous twosome! Cheese! I'm super cool! Daddy and Jack playing! Jackson LOVES his daddy! Running shoes...Scott went running so Jackson found his other pair of tennis shoes and wore them around the house while Scott was gone:) Silly boy!

Jackson and I went to our Arboretum in Dallas when my mom was visiting and I fell in love with the place. It is absolutely beautiful and a perfect spot to take pics. Jackson is so active now I thought it would be best to let him run around the Aboretum while I took random pictures of him instead of posed pictures in a studio. I will still do some studio pics next to the number 2 but I thought I'd capture more natural moments if I just took the pics in an outdoor setting and it worked. Here are a few from that day. I love how they came out! Enjoy! Um...I'm over it mom!

1. Scoot Back...I do it 2. Jackson do it 3. Takes out a new DVD, exchanges it with a new DVD in the player, closes it, and comes to get Scott or I to turn it on (thankfully) 4. Clips himself into his carseat/stroller 5. Pulls his backpack with the toys hes chosen behind him when we go out 6. Tries to get on the potty by himself...mommy still needs to help him so he doesn't fall in:) 7. Gets his shoes, the correct ones, and sometimes puts them on on his own 8. Jumps up into the car and his carseat by himself 9. Helps restock the fridge with the waters from the pantry 10. Brushes his teeth 11. Swims...yes this happened today...he was in his life vest kicking a doggy paddling all over the pool. I was only allowed to stand beside him the whole time just in case... 12. Gets his diapers/throws them away 13. Climbs into his bed all by himself and gets cozy to go to bed I can't believe that he is not even two and he is doing all this!!! He is nuts!!! Gotta love him and his desire to ha...

We as parents desire to teach our children how to have character, respect, and honor. We teach our children to say please and thank you and to be respectful of others. However, during the toddler years all parents know that their child's favorite word typically is "no" not please and thank you. Well, Mr. Jackson seems to have learned some manners. When I give him something now he says thank you without any prompting. I handed him his breakfast this morning and he said "thank you." Scott gave him his sippy and what did he say...that's right, "thank you." Wow! I am in shock! He not only heard my nagging...er...I mean teaching he put it to use! There's hope out there Mommies!!!

As Scott and I desire to have another child in the future, I find comfort in this verse that another mom posted in her loss of a child... "Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope, even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you." Zech. 9:12

So, I am sure that all of you wives out there think you are married to the best daddy ever but I truly believe that I am the one and only woman who is:) Scott is not only an amazing husband and friend to me but he is also a tremendous dad! Just ask his son! Jackson is enamored with Scott. I understood this even more Saturday morning when I went into his room to get him up. He asked the usual, "where's daddy," question in which I typically reply, "at work." However, it was Saturday so I was able to tell Jack that his daddy was downstairs. I wish I had the camera at that moment to show you the sheer excitement on our son's face to know that his daddy was home. I took Jackson to see Scott and he was attached to his daddy's hip the rest of the morning. Scott offered to make pancakes so I started on some chores. I went upstairs to put some laundry away as Jackson helped his daddy make pancakes. When I came down Jackson was sitting at the counter with the panc...

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Every night before dinner Scott and I hold hands and pray together. We have always tried to include Jackson and sometimes he is into it and sometimes he is not. However, he has always loved to say "Amen" at the end of our prayer. Lately, though, he has become much more interested in our prayer time. Now he wants to hold each of our hands and join in the prayer. The funny part about this is that during our prayer he will let go of Scott's hand, grab a quick bite to eat, and slip his hand back into Scott's. When we finish praying it is funny to see what slimy food Jackson has left in Scott's hand. Hey, at least he's joining in giving thanks to our Lord!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2Corinthians 1:3-4

Since I am from California and have experienced numerous earthquakes, some large and some small, I thought I would compare my earthquake experience with my new found tornado experience. What fun, right?! Enjoy! 1. There are tornado warnings so you can take the proper precautions to protect yourself unlike earthquakes that happen sporadically. 1 point tornadoes 2. However, the anticipation of a tornado possibly hitting your house is gut-wrenching. 1-point earthquakes 3. Earthquakes happen once in awhile while there is a "tornado season." 1 point earthquakes 4. Houses (well at least the one I'm in) are typically built to withstand the high winds a tornado brings and I have a safe place to go when a tornado hits. Many times you can't protect yourself from earthquake damage. 1 point tornadoes 5. Tornadoes and earthquakes hit randomly thus damaging your house but not your neighbors. Tie 6. Meteorologists are very good at warning the areas that are going to be most effected...

Grandma is in town and Jackson is spoiled rotten!!! So grandma packed her suitcase with some toys for the grandson and of course Jackson went wild! He went in her bag to find talking dinosaurs and monkey slippers. What could be better??? Well, now that he knows she has presents in her suitcase he looks in there every chance he gets. However, the he has already found all the presents. Well, grandma felt bad so she had to go out and get more presents for Jackson to find. Spoiled kid! That's what Grandma's are for though! By the way, Grandma Fish was here earlier this week and he conned her into getting him a present too. Maybe I should study his skills to use on Scott:)

I went home over the weekend for my girlfriend, CarriAnn's, baby shower and to visit family and friends. It is always good to go home! I enjoyed time with my mom and dad and my friends. There is nothing like time with family and friends. And, I was kid-less! I had a great time eating, shopping, and driving around in my convertible:) I miss everyone already!!! My mom flew back with me to spend some time with Jackson. It is so wonderful to have my mom here! What can I say...I'm one lucky lady!!! My ladies...holla! Brandi and Erica make me laugh so hard I cry. They have been with me through thick and thin!!! I love them SO SO SO SO much!!! I have known these girls since I was 14! I love them with all my heart!!!! Words cannot describe how wonderful they are!!!! My girls at CarriAnn's baby shower! I miss them already!!!

1. I think the plane's going down at any moment and I am going to wind up like the cast of Lost on some deserted island where no one can find me 2. The smell of the airplane gives me a headache 3. Taking off...I get a little woozy when the pressure changes 4. The cramped space that you have to sit in for the entire flight not wanting to get up to go to the bathroom because you don't want to climb over the ginormous man sitting next to you 5. Did I mentioned the bathrooms reek and are disgusting? 6. Going through security-I actually don't mind going through security. I do mind, however, all the morons who did not place there liquids in a zip lock baggie and keep all there jewelry and shoes on when going through the check point. Are they living under a rock? C'mon folks! 7. Delays-not just the delay of your flight but the fact that your flight is delayed and they never tell you why. Meanwhile you are just sitting there twiddling your thumbs in the wonderfully glorious air...

I thought I'd explain the dryer picture I posted on the left. I took the clothes out of the dryer, walked to my bedroom to set them down, and came back to find good old Jack in the dryer. Where else would he be? I left the door open. The most logical thing is to crawl in, right? I guess he's just always going to keep me on my toes!