Springtime Fun

Easter Family Photo

Jackson and his friends hunt Easter eggs at school

More egg hunting at a friends' house
This are pictures from Easter day at my grandmothers' house in Columbia. We had lunch with my family. Since Jackson and Drew are the only grandkids, Jackson had a solo Easter egg hunt. A total of eight adults watch him hunt eggs. Everytime he would find an egg, he would hold it up and say, "ta da." One of the eggs was open when he found it, he looked at us and said, "it's hatching!" Next year, Drew can join in on the action.

We are looking forward to more pretty days outside. The Easter bunny brought Jackson a Spiderman scooter, and he is thrilled about riding it outside. He had to ride it in the garage this morning. Jackson also got a miniature Zamboni. He is obsessed with Predators hockey right now. He told several people at church on Sunday that "the Easter bunny hooked me up." Drew got some CD's, a book, a bib, and a music set. He is in the process of cutting his first tooth. I felt the little ridges in his mouth yesterday, so it should be visible soon.

Baby Shower for Melissa

Melissa and some new personalized burp cloths
Jennifer, Amy, Melissa, me, and Mandy

On Sunday, I went to Kentucky with some friends for Melissa Hanvey's baby shower. Baby Asher Thomas is due at the end of April (maybe he will be born on my birthday!). Melissa looked beautiful and got lots of fun and useful baby gear. Amy, Jennifer and I hung out with Melissa and Steve after the shower at their house. We all sat on the bed and talked just like old times at Twin Oaks and Royal Arms. It was great to spend a day with my wonderful friends and celebrate this exciting time with Melissa.

Snow Much Fun...sort of!

Andy and our neighbor Terry
Andy and I giving Mr. Snowman a kiss

Here are some pictures from the recent snow. We took Drew outside long enough to take his picture and just see the snow then he was in the bed for a nap. Jackson wanted to make a snowman but lost interest after about 2 minutes. He spent most of the morning in the house or watching the garage. He told me it was too cold outside, so Andy and our neighbor ended up building the snowman. Andy thought it was like something on a sitcom where the kids are all excited about snow but end up inside while the parents are let to actually do all the work.

Lots of Firsts

UT basketball game

Ready for a big day in DC
Waiting for the Metro


Jackson at the Air and Space Museum

Over the past weeks, our family has had several firsts. Drew went to his first Predators game on the 23rd. He had fun drinking his bottle and looking at all the lights. Last weekend, we took our first family trip with 4 people. Quite an adventure...we drove, yes drove, to DC last Wednesday. It was much better than anticipated. I did sit in the back seat almost the entire time so everyone could be entertained. Drew gets lonely since his seat is facing backward, and Jackson wanted me to read lots of books and do stickers with him. This was also Drew's first time out of state and first night away from home (other than Vanderbilt). It was Jackson's and Drew's first time in Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Jackson, Drew, and I rode the Metro to the Smithsonian one day. That was an experience with a double stroller. Jackson loved the underground train. While we were in DC, everyone but Drew saw the World War II Memorial for the first time. For some reason, right in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he decided to go crazy. So we took turns viewing the WW II memorial and trying to console him. We think Jackson was a little confused at the Lincoln Memorial. He thought Abraham Lincoln was Abraham from the Bible. A difficult concept to explain to a three year old...so we didn't try! On the way home, we stopped in Knoxville, ate at Litton's for the first time (yummy!) and went to see UT play Kentucky in basketball. This was Jackson and Drew's first UT home game, and UT's first time to be ranked #1 (even if it only lasted for a week). UT beat the Cats which is always a thrill.

Drew's 4 Month Old Visit

"This play gym wore me out"
Looking in the mirror at the doctor's office..."who is this cute baby?"
Hanging out on the couch

Drew had his 4 month well check on Thursday. He weighs 16 pounds and 4 ounces (78% and more than double his weight at birth) and measures 25 1/4 inches long (65%). He still has congestion from RSV, yes, two and half months later. Dr. Myers said it could last up to six months after the illness. She also said it was a miracle that he had not developed an ear infection...hallelujah! Those are never fun for little babies!

Drew is a happy baby who loves to smile and coo! It is precious. His giggle makes my heart melt. If you look at him and smile, he will grin right back at you. He is trying to play with his feet, which is so cute.

Funny story about Drew: After Children's Worship on Sunday, Andy thought Drew had a dirty diaper. I volunteered to take to him to the nursery to change him. Well, it was a huge blow out. I had to completely strip him down. Throw away his onesie. Thank goodness he had that on or church outfit would have been a disaster. I took no less than 12 wipes to clean him. I almost put him in the sink and church to spray him down. After I finally got him redressed, I decided to wash my hands in the sink beside the changing pad. When I got finished, he was completely asleep on the changing table. The whole process wore both of us out!

Secret Sisters' Party

Who knows what kind of face that I am making?!? See below....

Every year the secret sisters group at church has a lingerie party for Valentine's...yes, our church does approve of this and even publishes the word "lingerie" in our bulletin. It is so much fun to see what everyone's secret sister will buy for them. They were some cute and fun things given this year as well as some trashy. My favorites were the regifting of the Saran Wrap outfit to Stacey Beyer, the candy "underwear" that Nancy Parkinson got (I have pics if you would like to see), Laura Sears' country girl outfit, and the gif that was given to Gayle Barnes for Jerry...hillarious!

Silly Jackson

Jackson and Clifford at Barnes and Noble storytime
Drew having tummy time with Jackson

Jackson is at the age where he says and does things that are so funny to me. Here are few examples...
--Any toy can play football. It is really amazing. He has these football guys (they are the UT football player version of GI Joe men) that have a field complete with the power T and checkerboard endzones. He loves to pretend with them. Sometimes, we have to get the mini gator for the players when they get hurt and need to go to the locker room. Well, this has caused the Cars movie cars, his animals, the Little People, etc. to have their own football games. I will hear him saying "Touchdown Lightning" or "Leak Less stuffed him."
--He pointed to the question mark on the keyboard the other day and said there's the mystery mousketool.
--If we hear Drew crying, he immediately turns on the monitor to make sure. He says, "yeah, he's upset." Then talks in to the monitor as if it was a walkie talkie and says, "Drew, we're coming!"

--Jackson asked Andy, "why do you have to go to work?" Andy responds, "to make money." Jackson then says, "Daddy, I have money in my piggy bank if you need it."

Drew is 3 months old

ALL SMILES!!


Drew turned three months old on Wednesday, and we cannot believe how fast it has flown. He is the sweetest little baby who only has a few moments when he is upset. This usually occurs in the car and Jackson says, "it's okay...brother's here." Fortunately, Drew is healthy and happy. He loves to sit in the swing or the Bumbo or under his play gym. Recently, he started batting at the animals on his play gym and hitting them. Bath time is not his favorite time of day unless the water running (must be the white noise thing). Of course, he loves to watch Jackson and gives him the biggest smiles. In fact, when Jackson is playing it takes him forever to drink his bottle because he is watching him. Jackson is a huge help especially with shaking the bottle. He takes that job very seriously. Also, Drew is a thumb sucker like Jackson. I put him in his bed to go to sleep with a pacifier and he immediately spits it out and begins sucking his thumb. It is precious! We look forward to more special moments with Drew and Jackson.

Birthday Party

Jackson with his football cake. He put his hand in the icing about a dozen times trying to touch the football players and referee. Below is the birthday hat he got at school.

Jackson and Drew with their great grandaddy, Mama Linda, and Aunt Amanda

(notice theorange icing on his face in all the pictures)
Jackson with Grammy and Papa
Jackson (aka Chris Lofton) with his Aunt Alice and Uncle Bill

Birthday Boy

For Jackson's birthday, we went to Chuck E Cheese on Monday night. This was our first trip and it was definitely a hit. This is Jackson playing air hockey, which he thought was so cool. He also enjoyed his cupcakes.

Andy took him to a Predators game on Saturday as a present. Jackson enjoyed it so much. He is still chanting Fang Fingers and Let's Go Predators. Below is his picture with Gnash who he thought that was super cool. He told us he wants to go back to another game and take Mommy and Drew.

Since it was a beautiful January day, we went to Pinkerton Park on Monday morning for a birthday treat. He loves that place. He loves to climb, jump, slide and swing. It was so much fun especially after being in the house all last week.