Potty Training

Jackson has officially been sitting on the potty for a year.  I can't believe I actually just typed that, but it's true.  And in December when we found out about Butter Bean (named by G-Daddy Phil), we realized it was time to put the pedal to the metal because there is no way we're going to be changing two sets of diapers.  Let me just say this - potty training sucks, particularly with boys (or so I've been told). However, we are making progress, thanks to sticker charts, Thomas prizes, the teachers at school and more effort on mommy & daddy's part (after all, it is WAY more convenient to change a diaper every 4 hours than ask every 20 minutes if he has to pee).  While I can't say that he's fully potty trained, I can say that he pees AND poops on the potty and that he should be fully trained before he turns 33.  

3 year update

Weight:  37.1 lbs

Length: 39.25 inches

Jackson was very good for his 3 year check-up.

My Likes: Thomas, Percy, James and every other train known to mankind.  This includes the many Thomas iPad apps I have.  I'm also really good at puzzles.  And I'm totally into any Disney/Pixar movie mommy and daddy show me, particularly if it's coupled with popcorn and bubbles.  I also like to drive my shopping cart around the house and "crash the wheels."  And speaking of driving, I like to sing along to songs when we are in the car.  And I like doing the "photobooth" with mommy on the computer. 

My Dislikes:  The pink "backpack" mommy wants to put on me when we go to swim lessons.  Not even a donut bribe will get me to put one on.  I also don't like when things aren't like they "normally" are.  For example, I don't like when daddy drives mommy's car and I make a point of telling him that.  I don't like when mommy & daddy take away my trains if I've been naughty, but I've started to catch on to their game and have been behaving a bit better lately. 

My Words: I talk quite a bit, particularly when I'm playing my trains.  I'm pretty good at articulating what I want and more importantly what I don't want.  

Looking forward to in the next few months: Going to CA in April!  Mommy has a work conference, so daddy and I are tagging along to go to Disneyland, Sea World, the San Diego zoo, Legoland and baseball games (the Brewers will be in San Diego!).  Word on the street is that Auntie Andra may even visit from Paris in May!

Honey came up with Jackson's official logo!

                                    

Thomas Birthday Party

On Monday, we threw a little Thomas-themed birthday party for Jackson at his school.  This was on the monitor when you walk into school.
                                    
When I walked into his class, all the kids were sitting on the rug nicely listening to the teacher tell a story.

The teachers were nice and decorated a table cloth for Jackson, complete with Jackson sitting at the head of the table with his two side-kicks, Colin and Connor, sitting next to him.

 I made these Thomas cupcakes for him to share with his class.  Yeah right.  We all know I can't even sew a button on my pants, so these were made by our friends at Cakes by Kim.  They were awesome and gave the kids the proper sugar-high leading up to nap time.

Daddy cued up the Jackson 3 with the Thomas theme song.  They all knew it by heart and sang along.  Jackson had a great time eating pizza, cupcakes and celebrating his love for Thomas with his friends.

 More birthday pictures here.

Jackson's 3rd Birthday

Last Sunday, Jackson turned THREE years old!  Hard to believe that my little baby is a full-on boy now.  It was a fun-filled, low key day that started with Jackson waking up to his brand new art easel. He liked the one at his cousin's house so much that we thought it was time for him to be allowed to wield a paint brush in the house.    

                             

Then, we played trains. And more trains.   This is really no different than every other day of the week though.

Then we drove up to Camden, NJ to go to Adventure Aquarium for the first time.  We saw lots of cool things, including a VERY large hippo that came right up to the window, jellyfish, turtles, sharks and even got to pet a stingray.

For dinner, we went to Sante Fe for some mexican.  Daddy and Jackson are showing off their "3"s!

We skyped with Grandma & Grandpa Porter and Honey & Pop so they could watch him open his presents.  Of course he got more Thomas tracks.  Then he opened his presents from mommy & daddy, which included a Keane jersey (along with daddy's lucky number 7).

On the Trail again.....

We found out on December 11 that we are expecting bambino #2!  That night was Adam's Christmas party at Longwood Gardens (where we had our wedding photos shot), so as we were strolling through the gardens, I gave him a Christmas card from Jackson that I had "forgotten" to give him the weekend before when we did our family Christmas.  The card said told Adam that he was the best daddy ever and was signed Jackson and Baby Hardt (due Aug 14, 2013).  I'm two out of two on delivering the news via card and also surprising Adam!

I've just moved into the second trimester and everything seems to be going good so far.  I had a pretty easy first trimester with just a bit of nausea.  I've been craving a lot of red meat (last time it was pizza) and have been sleeping 9 hours each night.  I've had an early gestational diabetes test and thankfully it came back negative, so won't have to test again until my 28th week.

Jackson has been asked if he wants a brother or sister, but responds with "No, I want a baby puppy" so clearly he's not on board with this yet.  I'm sure it really won't hit him until he meets his new sibling.  In the meantime, we are working very hard on potty training!

I also just had to tell work as they wanted me to manage a project through the end of 2013.  So, the cat is definitely out of the bag on this one.

3 year old yoga birthday party

On January 19, Jackson went to his first birthday party for his 3 year old classmate McKinley.  It was held at a yoga studio.  To my surprise, all the little girls (Jackson was the only boy) did all the moves the teacher asked them to do.  Jackson wanted nothing to do with it, but did eventually cooperate when it was time to eat pizza.  As a party favor, Jackson received the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See book, which he loves!

Jackson and his girlfriend Kate

Wearing a birthday hat!

The birthday girl on the left with her sister

Trying to get a group photo was not easy

Christmas in WI

I'll get to excuses about why this is so late in a later post, but for now, I present Christmas 2012.  All pictures here.  

                                        

Milwaukee 

We arrived in Milwaukee on the evening of Friday, December 21.  We did the Hardt Christmas on Saturday, mommy met Aaron and Jamie's baby Lorelei and then we were on the road Sunday morning heading up to Chippewa.  

Chippewa Falls

Christmas Eve was spent with Uncle Josh and Cousin Jason hanging out, eating Christmas cornflake wreaths (Jackson's new favorite) and watching movies.  On Christmas Day, Grandma Great Amundson and Uncle Josh came over.  Uncle Josh, being the HILARIOUS (and unsanitary guy) that he is, taught Daphne the dog to eat a dog treat out of Jackson's mouth.  And I got a surprise with a birthday cake that my mom made me.  

Tomah

On the 26th, we headed to Tomah so Jackson could take his requisite nap in Grandpa Bob's lap.  We also took a trip to La Crosse for dinner and to see Christmas lights and then we went to the Yogi Bear water park for a morning of tubing and water slides.  

Milwaukee
It was back to Milwaukee on the 28th.  On the 29th, we got some fresh snow so took advantage of it and put Jackson in his "snow car" and played in the yard and then eventually made our way to the sledding hill.  Jackson had a few good runs, but on the last one he got a massive face wash and it was all over.  We were in Milwaukee until Jan 1, seeing friends, sleeping, going to movies, eating and just all around being lazy.

Jackson had a great time on this trip.  He got way too many presents (but kept asking for "more more presents"), but enjoyed all the play time, movie time and overall just being loved on time.  It's always such a treat to be back "home."