Jackson's Tricks

Will tell you what a fish says, all done (sign), shows how to wash hands and blow your nose. He also does a cow and pushes his little lips together to make the noise.  He also knows what a lizzard says and his favorite is a horse-that would be because it involves spitting. 
He knows where his head and nose are and likes to show them.  And of course patty-cake.
And my favorite is his kisses and loves.  Loves to give kisses and loves and makes the cute little smooch noise that goes with it.  Unfortunately they often follow him hitting.  He thinks it is really fun to hit and be told "no.

Wrestle Mania

Tanner and Jackson are always in some sort of a wrestling match. Coming from all girls this is a new thing for me and something that I am sure will become very normal. Here are some clips of the matches. The good thing is they both love it and if either sees the other just sitting it's GAME ON!

It is interesting how we feel like we are the only one with a certain trial until we start to talk. Peoples lives look perfect and we don't realize that there are other people that are dealing with the same situations.
Our situation is Jackson's weight. At 6 months he did not maintain a growth curve for his weight. Not a big deal I told myself because Tanner did the same thing at 9 months, but then regained a different curve. Well this turned out to not be the case with Jackson. It is hard to even remember all the things we have gone through trying to get him to gain weight. There was a time when I had to pump to add formula to my milk and then force him to take a bottle. This didn't seem to help and made it hard to go anywhere because I was always attached to a pump (poor dairy cows). Finally I decided this was not going to work and had to then convince him to nurse once again. He would do it, but not well. He started loving solids (I can barely remember this and it seems more like a dream) but after his surgery at 6 months he refused to eat any and everything. I would cry at every doctors appointment and if I even talked about his weight would then again break into tears. I was researching all the possibilities and keeping a detailed food log. I was stressed to say the least! Poor Tanner got the brunt end of this. If Jackson would eat we would have a good day, if he didn't... well watch out. Thank goodness for the quick forgiveness of a 2 year old.
I felt like a failure as a mother and that I was in some way responsible for him not eating. I would pray all the time and struggled with everything that I felt had been true. Things I had taught for 18 months as a missionary were now being questioned daily. I felt like my prayers were not heard or listened to. Then I realized that I had been praying for this trial to end and not for the strength to deal with it.
The past 2 months have been better. Jackson has medicine 2-4 times a day, powder that is added to his food, goes to the doctors every 2 weeks, and feeding therapist once a week. The funny thing is that he is so happy and energetic. Because of this when people would hear about this they wouldn't believe it and think I am crazy for all the stress it has added to our lives. It has been very humbling trying to not listen to what people say or imply. It has taught me that unless I am in the situation I have no idea what someone is going through.
I no longer cry at the appointments and I try to not let the never ending bowl of oatmeal determine my mood for the day.
Although we still don't know anything we are good. Tanner and Jackson are wonderful little boys that are extremely active and happy. I am blessed to have them and all the challenges that come with them. I thank my Father in Heaven for sending them to me to care for and love.

Tanner 3 Years

Height 38 in

Where to even begin talking about Tanner. He is the funniest little man in the world and I cannot convince him to STOP growing. Sometimes I have to remind myself that his best friend in 1 and cannot talk so he still isn't that big. He remmebers everything and never stops amazing me at the details that he pays attention to. He is always showing me how tall he is, until he wants me to feed him. Last night he told me, "Mom I need help I am just a little boy. I am not as tall as you." How could I refuse that.

Here are some other things about our little Tanner Manner now:

"Well my name is Diego, but sometimes they call me Tanner."

Always wants to look like Brad and be like Brad. He is always telling me that he is going to Scouts, or school, or to study. The other day he put on one of my headbands and then said, "I don't want to wear this it makes me look like mom."

Loves to eat at Cost-co. He is not very adventurous with food, but if they have a sample of it there he eats it, loves it, and asks for more. I have many times made the mistake of buying the food he "likes" only to have him hate it at home...maybe if I put on a hair net he would enjoy it more.

Loves jumping from couch to couch and all over the house.

Often rides an imaginary skateboard at the store or around the house.

Still loves his bike and coasts all around the house. He can stop and turn on a dime, he has only hit me once in his year and a half of zipping around the house.

Is sure that spider man is going to come to our house and leave him a choo-choo train that he can ride on, a motorcycle, and a guitar. I have tried to explain that Spider man doesn't come to houses, but I always get the same response. "I think he does Mom."

Loves nursery, who would have guessed. He always tells me that he is going to draw me a picture and says, "won't that make you so happy mom." He knows me so well!

Taking care of anyone crying or sad. It is a little hard in the store when there is someone crying because he really wants to go talk to them because he is sure that he can make them feel better. At home he is so good with Jackson. Often when he is crying I go around the corner to see the two standing hugging, sometimes this leads to more crying by Jackson, but Tanner continues to console. "It's OK Jackson, I have you. It's OK baby." Other times Jackson really will want him to hug and hold him. They really love each other and it is the cutest thing! Although with all of his consoling he likes me to pretend cry and will always say. "Mom you cry because I am going to scouts." If I am not prompt with the tears he will let me know that he can't hear me crying.

Is the best baby tender...most of the time. When i am changing Jackson's diaper or when he is refusing to eat Tanner is always there to help without even being asked. He will come over and bring Jackson a toy or play with him while he is laying on the floor getting changed. One of my favorites is one day when Jackson got a ton of toilet paper out (he does this a lot, but this story is just about one time). Tanner told me about it and I was on my way to get it when the phone rang. I could see it getting torn up in little pieces. I ran and got the phone and forgot about the toilet paper that was being spread throughout the house. When i finally remembered I went ove to the boys and saw Tanner putting a large load up high on a shelf and then went all around and picked up all the little pieces. While he did this Jackson just looked on with a "I'll find something else" kind of face. I am sure there are other messes that I am not even aware of that Tanner takes care of for me.