A Very Busy May

May is always a busy month in our family with Mother's Day, our anniversary, and my birthday! This month seemed to just fly by! Here's what we've been up to:

I got to celebrate Mother's Day by going to church and watching everyone else's kids. haha Thank you nursery calling! But it was so fun to be in there thinking about how special all these little kids are and how special their moms are! I've always loved kids, but being a mom was never my main goal in life while I was growing up. I just figured one day I'd be a mom because that's what you're supposed to do. Now, I think there is nothing better I'd rather be doing! My old, college roommate just finished her first year as a teacher! Sometimes listening to her stories I think about how I went to college to become a teacher and to make a difference in our public education and childrens' lives. But when I really think about it, there is no where I'd rather be than at home with Jackson and soon Troy. I am so grateful that I get to be a mom and especially one that stays home.

Unfortunately Jeff had to work on Mother's Day (and our anniversary and my birthday!), but my awesome cousins had Jackson and I over for dinner. We just love our Utah cousins!

Jeff and I celebrated our four year anniversary this month. We were able to go to the temple together (something we haven't been able to do in at least a year) and remember the covenants we made when we got married. We also went camping that weekend! I had been really looking forward to this for a few months and sometimes I wonder why! Camping while pregnant and with an almost two year old is hard! I love how curious Jackson is about the world, but he got a little too curious about the river and fell in! That didn't keep him from trying to go to it again. But it was so nice to get away from civilization and enjoy nature and enjoy time with some great friends! I'm looking forward to more camping trips this summer even though I'll probably be paying for it later!

Since Jeff had to work on my birthday, it was pretty quiet, but it was nice and relaxing and Jackson kept me entertained! I also got to celebrate with one of my best friends, Christine, who just happens to have the same birthday! She is moving across the country and it was nice to be able to spend one last day partying with her, even if most of my partying was chasing Jackson around the park. For my present, Jeff got me a body pillow! It hasn't arrived yet, hopefully it'll be here Monday, but I am SO excited! This pregnancy has been kind of rough on me and I think this pillow is going to help me sleep so much better!

Speaking of pregnancy, I'm officially in my third trimester now! Can't believe I'm a third of the way done and can't believe I still have three months to go! I'm already huge!This month has been pretty rough as far as pregnancy. I got really sick for about a week and a half, but we have no idea what it was. I thought it was strep at first because my mouth and throat were covered in blisters, but over the next couple days, those blisters spread across my body. I basically felt like I was a on fire all the time. No fun! And I am amazed at how much more tired I am this pregnancy! Poor Jackson wants to play all day and all I want to do is lie on the couch. It doesn't help that our A/C broke so our house hasn't been below 73 for a few days. It's mostly been up in the mid 80s, making me and Jackson fairly grumpy. Hoping to get that fixed this coming week! The good thing about this pregnancy has been my weight. Although my stomach is huge, I've been eating healthier, exercising more, and officially broke 130lbs this week. I think I hit that weight pretty early into my second trimester with Jackson. I have had some weird cravings this past month: vinegar and mayonnaise. Gross right? But those cravings keep coming back to me! And Jeff is having sympathy cravings! We even talked about making cheezit/ketchup smores. Sounds so good, right?

Jackson has been growing so much lately! I feel like this past month he grew into a little boy! He is so big, independent, and smart! Except for the time that my friend was babysitting him and turns around to find him on all fours drinking out of the dog water.... I think he loves the dogs a little too much! He always tries to pick up their paws and give them high fives. And he loves to snuggle with them, even if they don't always want it. Jackson is learning his ABC's, both saying them and signing them. It took me a while to figure this one out: He kept signing the letter "q" and pointing at Sadie. Then he did it again while we watching Tangled (one of his new favorites) and it showed the part of Rapunzel as a baby. I finally figured out that he is trying to say "cute"! So funny! We are so excited for Jackson to be a big brother and know that he will be so caring and wonderful! He loves to hug and rub my belly and to snuggle. He loves to say baby and is trying to say Troy. I know I will definitely have my hands full though, once Troy gets here. The other day, I was in the bathroom and when I came out, I couldn't find Jackson. He opened our back door, closed it to cover his tracks, and walked down stairs to the back yard. When I called him to to me, he took off running the other direction! He is sneaky! It will be a adventure keeping up with him this summer! Here's some pictures that I try not to bombard Facebook with. :)

Visit from Aunt Ginia! This picture is too funny because he looks so concerned!

Jackson LOVES riding in the car grocery carts.

One of his "chores" is to help feed the dogs. 

Sometimes I wonder who eats more of the dog food, Sadie or Jackson.

Jackson loves trains and cars!

My big boy!

Finally, An Update

So, this is the first time I've updated our blog in about 6 months... This is why I thought it might be a bad idea for me to try and have a blog. We have been so busy the last six months between work, fixing the house, Jackson on the move, and the best part: growing a baby! I'm over halfway and we couldn't be more excited to welcome another little boy into our family at the end of summer!

Highlights from the last few months:

• Jeff has been doing really well at work and although it has taken some getting used to his crazy schedule, we really enjoy the freedom it gives us. 
• We have continued fixing up our house! Slowly, but surely. It's crazy to think we've been here for over a year and a half already. We've repainted, and even though I miss our yellow walls, our blue/gray theme is much more relaxing and easy to match. We also installed carpet downstairs! This was a big deal since we went over a year with cement floors.
• Jackson has been growing so much! It's hard to believe sometimes that he's not even two years old yet! He is just starting to talk a little more, but he is still signing like crazy. He knows probably well over 100 signs and I think sometimes makes up his own. He knows his colors and loves to point out all the different colors everywhere we go. He is also learning his ABCs in sign and gets really excited to do them.  Jackson loves to be a big help around the house, which makes me feel more confident about having another baby! He loves to sweep, mop, unload the dishwasher and pick up trash. He is also very excited to be a big brother and loves to pat or hug my belly and will run over and pat my belly if we talk about the baby. Jackson still loves to read and is totally into trucks, trains, and anything with water.
• Pregnancy has been treating me fairly well. I was pretty sick in the beginning, but now I'm mostly just tired. I am carrying very differently and being the second pregnancy growing faster so in a little more pain earlier than I expected. But I'm excited that I haven't gained as much weight so far in this pregnancy! Not that I felt overweight with Jackson, but I definitely gained more weight than I needed to. 
• As a family we have been trying to make some lifestyle changes. We are starting to use essential oils more and loving the results. Especially because Jackson has been so sick this past flu season. We are also continuing to try and eat healthier. One big way we're trying to do that is cutting back on sugar, which has been especially hard being pregnant! But I found an amazing recipe for granola that I don't feel guilty eating. 
• Adapted recipe for homemade granola by Sarah Wilson:
• 2 c nuts (whatever I have on hand, usually walnuts, pecans, and almonds)
• 2 c instant oats
• 1/4 c coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 2 c shredded/shaved coconut
• 2 T chia seeds
• A little bit of raw honey
• Dates, chopped
• Mix all ingredients together, except dates, and spread evenly over pan. Bake at 250 for 25 minutes. Let cool and add dates.
• I love this recipe for breakfast and so does Jackson!
• Original recipe: http://www.sarahwilson.com/2012/08/sugar-free-granola-the-most-popular-recipe-from-my-cookbook/

I have to share one, recent, funny story. We took a family trip to Home Depot the other day and Jackson got super excited when we saw the wheelbarrows.
Me: "Jackson do you see the wheelbarrows?"
Jeff: "What did you say?"
Me: "...Wheel...barrows?" Beginning to feel dumb and embarrassed.
Jeff: "They're wheelbarrels!"
Me: silence and embarrassment
5 minutes later we're walking down another aisle when we see wheels for the wheelbarrels. Jackson gets all excited so we stop and look at them.
Me: "Hey love, come read this sign for me."
They definitely are called wheelbarrows! Jeff had no idea he's gone his whole life saying it wrong! Too funny!

Jackson snuggling with my baby bump

New fashion statement

Jackson's new thing: "cheese!" He thinks he's so funny with his cheesy smile.

In his new big boy bedroom. He's already mastered climbing to look out his window. 

So serious, hanging out with cousin Koa.

Snuggles with Dad!

Cute little heartbreaker on Valentine's Day.

Puppy love! Jackson loves to give the dogs kisses. 

 And play with them.

My little dancer in the making. haha

He loves to water the grass.

Trying to be tough like Daddy! He was trying to lift these 35lb weights. He sure couldn't lift them, but we was still able to move them around!