Tanner 2 1/2 Years

Wow is it possible he is 2 1/2?!? At the same time he talks so well and is very aware of what is going on that I often think he is 3. He is one of the funniest little munchkins and keeps us laughing constantly. He loves Jackson and wants to hold him first thing in the morning. Now he thinks that he can calm him down and so when Jackson cries (usually this has to do with Tanner) he quickly tries to grab him and maneuver him around because he in his words, "I want to calm him down." It is a little sad because it doesn't work and so I have to take him from him. He always refers to Jackson as "little buddy." Not sure where he got this, but I think it is so cute. He also has a stuffed giraffe that he has named Jackson and will carry it around with him where ever he goes. The other day I went out and he was sitting holding him and I asked what was wrong, he said, "I hit him with my bike, giving him kisses, he'll be OK." Such a tender little heart. If he ever sees me cry, which I try to not do in front of him, he will stop what ever he is doing and rub my back and say, "You're OK mom, You're OK." He has the best memory and is constantly surprising me with things that he remembers from last year. Tanner is also very, VERY active! He is constantly using the couches as a trampoline and is scooting around on his bike (which some days is a scooter, and others a motorcycle). He is a very good driver on his bike and it is impressive because he goes so fast around corners and throughout the house and has never even bumped Jackson. He loves to roll around Jackson - not my favorite activity, but it is hard to stop because Jackson loves it as well. He loves to talk and if anyone says anything to him he will try to start a 5 min. conversation. I love it, but it makes it hard at the store. The combination of the two boys adds all the life to our house. We are so blessed to have them and love every minute.

Jackson 9 Month

Jackson (also known as by Tanner: little buddy) is a very excited baby (unless he is in a new place then he is a little more serious) and will flap his arms and giggle. Sometimes he is so excited that it comes out as a snort. He is so full of expressions it is hilarious. He also knows what a camera is and loves to smile for it. It is so cute because he has a bald little head, no teeth and a huge smile. It is like he knows it is the cutest smile and so he is showing it off everywhere we go. He always makes us laugh, and no one makes him laugh like Tanner. The hard part is sometimes Tanner will hold him and roll all across the floor, which of course I don't want him doing, but when I tell him to stop he always says "but he's giggling"-and it's true. Tunnels are a large part of fun for the boys. Tanner is so excited to finally have someone to play with and I cannot get him to calm down and so Jackson gets run over constantly and doesn't even seem to mind. They both laugh and love playing together. He loves to smash his face into me and if I am not careful he will bite my jaw, I have a bruise from it. He loves to stand and crawls all over. It is so fun to have him be able to follow Tanner and go where he wants. He is such a funny baby and makes me laugh so hard all the time.

Here are some other favorites:
1: Boxes- if there is a box of any type on the floor he thinks that he needs to sit right on top. Once he gets up he will give you the expression like, "what is this funny to you."
2: 4-wheel driving- If there is a pillow or other obstacle that he can't sit on he still thinks that he needs to crawl over it. He has a lot of tumbles but gets right back up.
3: Smashing faces- he loves to smash faces with...really anyone he knows.
4: Stranger danger- He lacks this. If I am near he prefers to be with me, but he is fine to go to others (as long as there is a time limit).
5: Tanner's bed- In Jackson's opinion this is the best place on earth. He loves to hold onto his bed rail and jump and then smash his face into the net.
6: Jungle gym- He loves to have me or Brad lay on the ground. He will come over and crawl all over us and then roll around us kicking his legs. He will lay for a long time with his head smashed into my arm and be the happiest baby ever.
7: Dancing- somehow this is in our boys blood because they love it. When he hears music he will quickly get to a place where he can stand up and then start to bounce.
8: Morning- he is on pins and needles to get up in the morning and usually despite all of our efforts cannot make it past 5:30- this is not one of my favorite things...
9: Hair- yes this is still a favorite. He loves to reach up as I rock him and run his fingers through it.
10. Crawling- he is very good at crawling, but he funniest is when he gets excited. He will crawl around with his head down bobbing it back and forth and swing his arms as he crawls. Sometimes it is to crawl to me, but others he just goes back and forth sitting up and throwing himself back into crawling position. I cannot help but laugh every time, which is a lot.

Binky Bandit

Jackson HATES binkies; however, if he sees Tanner with his blue binkies in his mouth he races as fast as he can to steal them. I cannot keep him off Tanner's face. It is so funny and Tanner is very good about it. Since they only come out at night it is usually when we are trying to read before bed and Tanner will either play along or just move Jackson's hand out of the way without even looking away from the book. On occasion that Jackson does steal it the look on his face is priceless.

He's Mobile!

Jackson is mobile!!!  He has been scooting for awhile but as of about a week he is actually crawling.  He is so cute and LOVES being able to move where he wants.  He still wants me close but sometimes just smiles and crawls away, just not too far.  Tanner is having fun laying on his tummy and calling Jackson.  He usually sounds something like this, "Come on Jackson, you can do it!  Yes you can! Come to Tanner!"  It gives me a little peak into what I sound like. 

Pictures with Boys

David & Adam

There are some games at our house that we play daily, and this is one. Tanner loves to pretend that he is David and I am Adam. He will tell me, "You not mom, you Adam," and then continue to ask me, "How's your day Adam." My reply to this is always, "My day is good David thanks. How is your day?" If I don't refer to him as David he will be sure to remind me that he is not Tanner. It is so funny to see the things that he picks up. Here are some of my other recent favorites.

He walked up to Jackson and said, "Hey soul sister."

When I told him that Brad had to leave he said, "Oh and then I have to cry?" And sure enough he did.

When we were at Grandma and Grandpa Smiths Carolyn (Brad's mom) was telling me how she was going to put another bed in one of the rooms and Tanner thought she was talking to him and said, "Oh ya that would be nice!" Not sure if he really even understood the conversation, but he was sure that he was part.

Phrases that I hear all the time now: "What does that mean?" He asks this about everything, for example, "Dinner what does that mean?"
"Did you know that?" No matter what my response is he always says, "Good!"
"Stay back, I'm workin." I think it is obvious that we have had a lot of home repairs from this statement.

Jackson 6 Months

Weight: 14.14 lb 25%
Height: 75%
Head: 75%

Such a sweet little boy with such a big personality. I really thought that he was going to be such a passive little baby and this is not the case. He lets you know exactly what he wants and is dramatic, it is so funny. Aside from this he really is so sweet is such a fun little baby. Here are some things that he is doing now.

1. Smiling- he still just looks at people waiting to smile at them.
2. Tummy- he loves to be on his tummy all the time. This includes on the bath. Needless to say my back hurts a little after bath time and diaper changes are getting harder.
3. Mom- he is turning out to be quite a little mama's boy and I can't complain.
4. Reflection- He thinks that he is the cutest baby ever and loves to look at himself.
5. Tanner- he just waits for Tanner to make him laugh. I can do the exact same thing and I do not get near the same result. His best times are in the car and when he is in his high chair. He will laugh so hard it is contagious. Tanner loves the audience as well.

Uncle Trenton

Brad's brother Trenton came to stay with us for a couple of days and Tanner was sure that he came just for him and wanted to have everything the same. He needed Cheerios because Trenton had them, he needed a belt, tie and since he has been gone Tanner tells me that his shoes he wears are skater shoes. He refused to leave Trenton's side the entire time even if he wasn't soing anything. I would try to get him to come play with me and he would just tell me, "No Mom just Trenton." Tanner would not even leave his side when Trenton would get showered for the day, he would just wait right outside the door and cry to me about the door being closed. Oh how we love Uncle Trenton!

Boys, Boys, and More Boys

Here are some new pictures of our little boys...

Witches and Moms

With Halloween just around the corner stores are starting to put up decorations, some of which are very scary. We went to Lowes and right as you go in the door there is a life size witch that turns on and has glowing eyes and says something. When he saw it he asked, "Mom what is that?" I told him that it was a witch and that it was just pretend. He replied, "Oh it was just a mom." I guess this is what I am like in his eyes.

Sweet Boys

This morning I woke up to Jackson's little coo's over the monitor. As I listened closer I realized that some of the talking sounded like actual words. I went in to find two smiling boys snuggled up in the crib. They love each other and love being together. Jackson could not ask for a better big brother. He loves to bring him toys and make him laugh-and no one can do it as well as Tanner. Tanner could not ask for a little brother to love him more. Tanner loves having an audience and Jackson has become his number one fan. They really are sweet boys!!

Idaho

Brad had a week off from school and so we made the long drive to Idaho to see some of my family. We had such a nice, relaxing time and were sad to have the week go by so fast. Brad drove home with my brother-in-law and I spent a little more time with my two sisters, mom, and our kids. I don't even know if words could describe how much fun Tanner had. He LOVED being with so many cousins and being able to be outside in the summer-we loved this as well. Tanner also learned how to ride a bike while we were there. I have to say visiting there in the summer does make me miss the seasons until I try to go swimming and am too cold in the middle of a hot summer day. Over the 4th it was unseasonably chilly and we had to wear pants and jackets, Brad was not impressed and could not believe that we even considered it summer. While we were there we were able to have fun with fireworks, went to museums and the Dinosaur park, and of course the zoo. Jackson was such an easy baby the entire time.

My Little Tanner

My little Tanner is getting not so little. He says the funniest things all day and I am constantly getting little glimpses of what Brad and I look like through his eyes. He is the most observant person I have ever met...a little too observant. Today I asked him what he was doing and he told me, "Being spunky with Grandma Mary." Here are some new pictures of him...Shoes are obviously a big thing at our house.

Hair and Dad

Two of Jackson's new favorites. If he is sad or tired and I pick him up he will sit and run his fingers through my hair. It is so funny because when I have my hair pulled back he will reach around my neck to find it and once he does peace is restored. He also loves his dad. Once Brad gets home Jackson will just stare at him and if I try to turn him around he gets so mad until his dad gets him. Although I have to say he is a fun dad.

Jackson 4 Months

Weight: 13.6 lbs 25%
Height: 25 1/2 75%
Head: 16 1/2 95%

It is so fun having 2 boys and I love every day. One of my favorite times is when we all lay down to read some books together at 12:00 and all three of us fall asleep. Jackson is really starting to recognize people and LOVES his older brother. He will watch him and just smile the entire time. Here are some of Jackson's other favorite things right now.

1. Socializing: He will just look at people and wait for them to make eye contact so that he can smile at them.
2. Kicking: If he is laying on your lap you have to watch out because he will just kick and kick thinking that both are loving it.
3. Blanket: He has a little blanket that he loves to chew on-I had gotten it for Tanner, but it was never a real hit. One of Jackson's favorites.
4. Sleeping with me: He loves to get into our bed and is sure that it where he is supposed to sleep as well.
5. Floor: He loves laying on the floor where he has no arms restricting him-although he does want you to stay close.
6. Laughing: It is so fun because he will laugh over just about anything. Because of this Tanner and I spend a large part of our day doing different things to hear it.
7. Grabbing: He will grab anything and everything. If I go into the the closet to look for something before I know it there will be some shirt of Brads that is soaking. If I walk to slow near the wreath on the door I am pulled back because he is sucking on the ribbon.

Keeping Up

I hope that Jackson never looks back on this and thinks that I didn't take note of everything he does like I did with Tanner, because it is not true. Now that there are two, during ones nap I get to spend quality one-on-one time with the other and so it doesn't leave much time for blogging. So I thought that I would just post some random pictures of the boys.