I don't...

Carrie did this on her blog, so I thought I would do it too!

I don't want to clean teeth for the rest of my life
I don't want to think that I won't ever go to dental school
I don't like spiders...I mean I hate them and am terrified
I don't want to wait any longer to have more babies
I don't want Jackson to start to school, the thought of this breaks my heart
I don't give Jackson a bath every night
I don't like tomatoes
I don't go a day without having caffeine or I get a terrible migraine (yes I know this means I'm addicted)
I don't go 2 weeks without having a "date night" with my husband
I don't want to go to a halloween party this weekend
I don't have cash...ever...I use my debit card for everything
I don't get to see my friends as much as I would really like to
I don't want to live in the city again...I want to be where I can't see any other houses

Who would have ever thought that this little boy would be "paci-free??" Certainly not me! Ritchie's mom couldn't find it one day, so we sent him to daycare without it. He actually did ok, so we tried to see if he would sleep that night without it. He asked about it a few times but didn't get upset so that was the end of it. I can't believe it was that easy! Yesterday though, he found it. He went running through the house, holding it above his head and screaming "my paci, my paci!!" He put it in his mouth and sucked it for about 2 minutes and then threw it down. When he did we hid it, and luckily he hasn't asked for it again. I'm going to go ahead and throw it away before he finds it again!!

Erythema Multiforme

Yesterday afternoon I noticed a few red spots on Jackson's tummy. They were really flat with white centers. He didn't act like he felt bad at all and he didn't have a fever so I gave him some benadryl and decided to wait until today to see how he looked. This morning, he woke up and it was everywhere. What had started as a few spots on his belly had turned in to covering his whole stomach, and down his arms and legs. He still does not act like he feels bad or like it is bothering him at all really. We took him to Greenville peds this morning and as soon as the dr walked in Jackson pulled up his shirt to show him his spots. While the dr was washing his hands, he said, "well I know what that is from across the room, that's erythema multiforme." He said it should go away on it's on within a week and it was fine unless he got spots on his bottom or ulcers inside his mouth. He said the rash was his body's reaction to some sort of virus he had picked up and it wasn't contagious so he can still go to daycare. I'll keep you posted on how he does the rest of the week. Keep my strong little man in your prayers. Here are some pics from day one and two...

Dinner for One

Every Tuesday, I get off work at 2:00. Most everyday since we have been staying at Ritchie's parents, his mom has dinner made for us already by the time I get home but since I got off early I thought it would be really nice to cook dinner for everyone! I went to the grocery store and then went to kinston to pick up Jackson. We got back home and played outside for a little while and then I started cooking. It took literally forever. I cooked Baked Chicken, rice and gravy, broccoli and cheese and garden peas. Jackson drug every single pot out of the cabinets and banged on them and had a ball the whole time I was cooking. It took so long that Jackson was begging for a peanut butter sandwich, that he ate in his high chair while I finished cooking. Well Ritchie called to tell me he was going to be home late, ritchie's mom ran in and told me she was going to be gone to revival, and ritchie's dad came home a few minutes later to change clothes to go play basketball. So after over 2 hours of cooking, I sat down to eat dinner alone. I was not happy to say the least. Jackson was nice enough to sit with me while I ate but he was full from his sandwich. Ritchie finally got home from work after 9:00. I should have just gone to bojangles!

I don't want my birthday to end!

You may notice in these pictures that Jackson's cake is gone, yet he is still blowing out the candles. We lit the candle and sang Happy Birthday and when we blew out the candle we all started cheering and clapping. He loved that! He kept saying "again Daddy!" so we did it 5 times before he ate cake and at least 5 more after his cake was gone. He just didn't want his birthday to end!

Jackson's real Bday

My little man is 2 years old today. I cannot believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was at the hospital awaiting his arrival. I sure feel better today than I did this time 2 years ago! Since we had his party a week ago, I think Jackson is a little confused. I told him Happy Birthday today and he looked at me like I was crazy and said "Presents??" I said "No, you have already opened all your presents" I don't think he quite gets it. But Happy Birthday to my baby. Daddy and I love you so much!

Asheville Trip

This past Thursday, Ritchie and I got up early, took Jackson out to breakfast and then to daycare. We then set off to Asheville. It was a long drive! We got there around 4 and checked into our hotel. That night we went to one place and had drinks but their menu didn't look to hot, so we walked somewhere else to eat. On saturday I had a class on "What's new in Periodontal Therapy!" Sounds so exciting doesn't it?? While I went to class, Ritchie went to cherokee to the casino. I was worried about this and told him I would kill him if he spent/lost alot! Well he took $100 in cash and came back with $160 so I was happy with that. That night he took me to eat at the Grove Park Inn. It was absolutely beautiful. We got there at 5:30 and the bartender told us they hardly ever had openings to eat but we could check. They just so happened to have a reservation open at 6 so we said "we'll take it!" We ate outside and watched the sunset over the mountains. The food was the best I think I have ever had.

We were planning on staying Saturday night too, but since our hotel room had been less than we were hoping for and since I'm pretty sure I heard a mouse somewhere in there during the middle of the last night, we decided to come on home. We missed Jackson anyway. We went to the Bass Pro Shop before we headed home and ate dinner at the Macaroni Grill. It was a good weekend but I was ready to get back home to my baby. And of course after driving 5 hours to see him, he didn't even act like he cared when we got there to pick him up. Guess that's how it goes though!

An Early Birthday Party

Jackson's 2nd birthday isn't until next Monday September 14th but this weekend I have to go to a dental seminar in Asheville. Since no one else from my office is going with me, Ritchie is going to go so I don't have to drive so far by myself. Anyway, we decided to go ahead and have Jackson's party on labor day weekend since we will be late getting back this sunday.

We decided just do to family this year, so my parents and grandparents, as well as Ritchie's parents and grandparents were all there, along with our brothers and sisters of course. He had such a good time. We had been to walmart about a week before the party and he saw a blue power wheels four-wheeler and that is all he has talked about. Most things he sees he wants, by the time we are out of the store he has forgotten about them, but not this. He kept saying "Jackson have it," and every time we asked him what he wanted for his birthday he said "new four." He has had a little one since he was about 10 months old and he had rode that thing to death. His feet are too big now to even fit on the foot rests so he stands on the seat and pushes the button. He was so excited when he saw his daddy come around the side of the house with his "new four." He rode it all afternoon. My brother, Tee, also gave him a chainsaw and some safety goggles. Since then he has tried to cut off everybody's leg, cut down trees, and even cut up bugs outside. The goggles he loves and even threw a fit to wear them while he was eating dinner that night. Of all the things mama got him, he loved her card the best. It is a spongebob card that sings happy birthday and he has opened it a million times. All in all I think he had a great 2nd birthday!

Potty Time

As most of you know I really do not want to go through potty training Jackson. I know it probably won't be as bad as I think and that it has to be done sometime but I am just dreading it. Well yesterday I went and got his little potty out and brought it upstairs. As soon as he saw it he kept saying "Pee Pee in there" over and over. So I sat him on it and he did! He actually stinkied in it to. He was so excited with himself. He has peed in it several times but this was his first #2 so congratulations to my big boy!

Catching up

Ok I know I have said this before but I am really going to try to do better about this blogging thing. There is so much going on in our lives that I sometimes forget but I know if I don't write these things down, Jackson will be grown up and I will be have forgotten most of it! Jackson is turning 2 this monday and I just don't know where the time has gone! It seems like just yesterday he was born. Thank God he still wants to sit in my lap and let me hold him or I don't know what I would do. Here are a few of the things that are going on in Jackson's life as of right now:

Things you like:

Being outside! You would stay outside all the time if I would let you

Watching Spongebob, Blue's Clue, Handy Manny, and The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Singing! Some of your favorite songs to sing are "Jesus loves me," "ABC's," "Popeye the Sailor man," and now "Happy Birthday to me!"

Riding your new four-wheeler

Eating Yogurt...sometime 2 or 3 a day

Giving hugs and kisses and being held

Going to JuJu and Pa's to play in the sand pile

For me to sing you a song before you go to bed and after each one you say "nother one!"

Your paci and bank bank (I have to sneak your blanket away when you are outside to wash it)

Things you don't like:

Having the sun in your eyes (You always say "Go away Sunshine" when we are in the car

Bugs

For there to be any peice of dirt, grass, hair, anything in the bath tub while you are in there

Not having the attention of everyone in the room

You do so many funny and sweet things that I always want to remember. You make our lifes so much better just by being you!

Moving Day

Mama & I spent all day friday packing up all the stuff in my house. The whole time she kept saying "I have never seen anybody who has as much stuff as you do." We got a lot done and used a million boxes. On Saturday morning, Me, Ritchie, Randy, Mama, & Daddy met at the house and got to work. My friend Sam offered to keep Jackson so we could actually get something done. She has a little girl that's a few months younger than him, and her and her husband took them to the Jumpin Monkey! Jackson loves that place. All he has said since he got back is "Kiss Belle" and "Jumpin Monkey." Thanks so much guys for watching him. That helped out so much! We got about 2/3 of the way done I guess. Now we just have to clean out the attic and the storage building. The guy who is buying the house now wants to rent it from us until it closes because as of the end of the week, he won't have anywhere to stay, so we have to be out by tomorrow. That means alot to do tonight after work!

Under Contract

So, as most of you know, we have been trying to sell our house now for about 6 months. We were doing it ourselves first but listed it with a realtor about a month ago. Finally while we were at the beach, we got the call saying we had an offer. It wasn't as much as we wanted, especially since we have to pay a realtor now, but at least we won't have to worry about it anymore. We are just tired of living in greenville in a packed neighborhood. We're ready to get out in the country where we don't have any neighbors and Jackson has plenty of room to do whatever he wants to. The guy wants to close on the house in 2 weeks so I have ALOT to pack. I have Monday off so that's the plan. You know, you never realize how much junk you have until you try to move it! Wish us luck!

Vacation!

Well, we found somewhere to stay on vacation, and it ended up being alot better than the place we had to start with. We absolutely loved the place. It was in morehead and the house was beautiful. Ritchie's parents came for 2 days in the beginning of the week and then my parents and Tee & Julia came on Thursday night. It rained all day monday and the boat almost sank because the bilge pump stopped working but we got that fixed and then while Jackson was taking a nap, me and R decided to play some board games they had there at the house. Ritchie had never played Clue before but he was a natural and beat me. We cooked almost every night we were there and spend the days on the boat and in the water. We went to Shackleford most days and Jackson loved seeing the horses and getting in the water. Of all the toys and floats we bought him to play with, we went in the Dollar Tree and he wanted some spongebob water wings. He wore those things all week! All that expensive stuff and that's what he wanted to play with! We also bought him some water shoes at walmart so he could get in the water at the house and he wouldn't take them off! He wore them with his bathing suit, pajamas, and on monday when it was raining, he threw a fit to wear them with his jeans to town. Oh, well whatever keeps him happy and quiet, right?? Anyway, now it's back to the real world!

Desperately seeking...

a place to stay on vacation. R and I are on vacation the week of July 11-18 and we have had a place booked for months. We actually found the place this weekend while we were at the beach and loved it and had gotten so excited about it. So today on the way home, the dude we rented it from emailed Ritchie to say that "due to circumstances beyond his control," we couldn't stay there anymore and he would refund our money. We are so upset. Now we have nowhere to stay and a week off. We have looked online to see if there was any chance that we could find somewhere else but all the people haven't contacted us back yet. So please keep your fingers crossed that we find somewhere. I need to get away soooo bad!!

July 4th weekend

On Thursday night, me, R and Jackson left to meet my parents at the beach. They have been down there all week since Nina's wedding, so we went to spend the last few days with them. On friday morning we got up and got on the boat. I don't know what was wrong but we were all really ill. I thought we were going to kill each other before we got off the boat. The biting flies were killing us on the water but we did manage to have fun watching Jackson in the water. He sat in his float and kicked and splashed and spun around. He had an absolute ball! He fed oreos and a whole can of pringles to the sea gulls which he thought was hilarious. We ended up catching a bunch of fish in the cast net. Me and Tee were throwing it out because we could see this big school of fish that were just jumping out of the water. We probably caught 30 and would have caught alot more if they were much bigger. Over all it was a good weekend. We got home earlier today and we are waiting around until dark to go watch some fireworks!

I'm back!

Wow, I just realized that I haven't put anything up here in over a month! Time really flies by! We have been so busy lately but I will try to do better. Last weekend we went to Beaufort for my cousin Nina's wedding. She was the most beautiful bride! Me, Ritchie, Mama, Daddy, and Tee sent the weekend in Atlantic Beach. On friday night, Tee cooked Steaks for us on the grill and we went to the Watermark to hear Jupiter Jones. We had the best time. It was one of those things that you couldn't have planned any better. Here are a couple pics from friday night and the wedding saturday.

Tammy's wedding

This saturday, Jackson was in his very first wedding. He was ring bearer for Tammy Donaldson & Marcus Pennington's wedding. Tammy was a beautiful bride and Jackson had such a good time with the flower girl, Tammy's neice Kaylee. We wish Tammy & Marcus many many years of happiness together!

Congratulations are in order!

Just wanted to say congratulations to my good friends Amanda and Paula who both found out this week, that they are PREGNANT!! I am so excited for them both and cannot wait to meet their little ones! They are both going to be great moms!!

Counting the days

Most of you know that my best friend, Brandon Phillips, left for Afghanistan 2 weeks ago. We have missed him so much. He calls about 3 times a week to let us know how he is doing and that he is safe but we just found out that he may have to stay a little longer than expected. Please keep Brandon and his wonderful family in your prayers over the next few months!

Sick Baby

This morning Ritchie took Jackson to the dr, since he woke up again today with a fever. He saw Dr. Bramley and although he thought it was a virus, he decided to do a strep test just to make sure. He said it was really rare for a child under age 2 to get strep, but when he came back, that's definately what it is. My poor baby! They gave him some antibiotics so hopefully he will be back to his wild self again before long. Please pray for him!

Dinner & A movie

On Saturday night, Ritchie asked me if I wanted to have a "date night," so we went to the big city of K-town and ate at The Barn Steakhouse (which I still call the Beef Barn but anyway.) The food was so good! After that, we had some time to kill before our movie started so we took a romantic trip to walmart! There were a million people there. I guess it's only in kinston where the only thing there is to do on a saturday night is go to Walmart. We went to the theatre to see "Obsessed," and I was so excited about it. The movie was good, I think, but we couldn't hear half of what was going on for all of the people in there talking and yelling. I could not believe it. I know half of them were 13 or younger and it was the 9:30 movie! There were even some people in there with their toddlers. Am I the only one who thinks this is strange? Every time Beyonce would hit Ali Larter, they would all jump up and scream. I thought Ritchie was going to kill someone. We left about 15 minutes before it was over. I will never go back to that place again!

Four-Wheelin'

On Sunday, Jackson woke up with a cough and fever of 103.3. I immediately thought swine flu (just kidding!) He laid around all day long and finally around 3:30 he started acting somewhat normal and wanted to go outside. His favorite thing to do now is ride the four wheeler so I took him for a ride behind the house, way back into the woods. Every little bump we went over he screamed "weeee!!" A little later, Ritchie rode back in the woods with us and Toby (Ritchie's black lab) followed us every step of the way. Ritchie threw the ball with him and Jackson loved watching Toby swim out into the pond to get it! We had a really fun afternoon!

Migraines, Migraines

So, as most of you know I have terrible migraines. Most of the time several a week. Recently I saw a new neurologist and she took me off of the medications I was on and started me on Flexaril (muscle relaxer) and zonisimide (anti-seizure) meds to try to help. She said if things weren't dramatically better in six weeks she wanted me to come back. For a while I thought they were better...I went almost 2 weeks without a migraine which is like amazing for me. Then for the past 2 weeks I have had 6 migraines. I guess my only choice is to go back to the dr and have a series of injections done into the back of my head (sounds like fun doesn't it??) This is something that, if it works, I will have to continue to do every 3-4 months. But, hey, if I can go 3 or 4 months without a migraine it will be all worth it. Please pray that these terrible headaches will get better one way or the other. I am about to go crazy and I am just so lucky that Ritchie helps me with Jackson the way that he does. I don't know what I would do without him. Thanks babe!

Nina's shower

On saturday, we had a family shower for my cousin Nina's wedding. It was nice to have all of the family together and we got to finally meet her fiancee's parents. I can't wait until their wedding in June! I know everything is going to be really nice!

Splish Splash

Jackson's favorite time of day is bath time! If you even mention the word "bath," you better be ready to head that way because he is going to run right to the bathroom. The other night after I drained out the water, which I have to do to get him out, he peed in the tub! He just kept saying "pee pee!!" Like he was so proud of himself! We had to run more water and start all over!

Playing with daddy

Here are a couple pics of Jackson making faces while daddy takes his picture. He loves having his picture made!

Mud Puddle!

Today, me and Jackson went to mama and daddy's to hang out and of course they were working in the yard. Mama put Jackson right to work planting flowers and watering them. He was doing good until he poured out an entire thing of water on his feet. I had to take off his shoes and socks, and he loved that! Since he was already filthy, I let him play and splash in the mud puddle he had made. He had a blast and kept us all entertained for a long time. Of course, JuJu had to put him in the bath tub before I could take him home. We sure enjoyed our day!

New Shoes and last years shorts

Today I got Jackson dressed in his new sperry's and new khahi shorts. The shoes fit great but the shorts almost fell off of him and they are an 18 month size. I had to dig through his drawers to find the shorts he wore last year that still fit! He has been wearing the same clothes for a while now and is now less than 50th percentile for his height and weight. I'm sure he will hit a growth spurt soon. He only weighs 23 pounds which seems like alot until I found out that some friends of ours has a 5 months old that weighs the same thing! Maybe he will catch up soon!

At the park with Pa and JuJu

Me, Ritchie, Mama and Daddy took Jackson to Bill Faye park after lunch at Pizza Villa last friday. He had so much fun, as he does anytime he is outside. He loves his Pa & Juju!

Baby Karli

My cousin, Taryn has a beautiful new baby girl named Karli Ryan! She is so pretty and sweet and just the best baby. Here are some pics...she was only 2 days old in these.

Playing with Aunt B!

Jackson just loves Brittany, Tyler's girlfriend! We have been calling her Aunt B since Jackson was born and so he calls her B. Well last weekend at mama's house he saw her and screamed "Britt-B!!!" It was so funny that he put the two together. Brittany applied to Campbell's pharmacy school and should hear something this week. Good Luck Britt B! We love you!

Breaking out

Jackson can almost climb out of his crib now! We have been waiting as long as possible to put him in a "big boy bed," but I don't think we will be able to wait much longer!

Land Clearing

On saturday, Me, Ritchie, Mama, Daddy and Tee went to start clearing the land where we will eventually build a house! Ritchie's parents kept Jackson so we could actually get some work done! Mama tried to jump the ditch and missed and got sooo muddy! We picked on her all day! The ditch was so deep, it's amazing that she got out by herself! We worked all day long and actually made more progress than I would have thought. There were briers everywhere and we were all scratched up, but we got alot of work done. It looks like this is what we will be done for many more weekends to come. Jackson came down there several times during the day since Ritchie's parents only live a few minutes away. After that Tee & Taryn came to our house and we cooked steaks on the grill. We were all so tired that we ended the night early and went to bed around 9:00!