Our giggly girl

I should make a video of Elle laughing over the last few months because I have so much video of her sweet laugh....but this is cute :)

When mommy's away...

The two year old melt down...poor grandma's!

I love this pic...the girls with their grandmothers!

And Vaness and I with a cowboy....

The Riverwalk is BEAUTIFUL!

This past weekend I had an incredible opportunity! My Alma mater, Spring Arbor University in Michigan had contacted my sister and I a year ago and wanted to do a video story on the ministry we are both doing in Charlotte and in Vegas. They flew camera crews down and put together an awesome video. Then they asked if they could fly us to San Antonio, TX where they were showing the video to donors for President's Weekend. Vanessa and I don't get a lot of time together so we were both ecstatic about this time!!

This 4 day trip took a major group effort. Both my mom and LD's mom drove down together (we are blessed they have become great friends) to spend 7 days with us and hang out with the girls while I was gone and LD was at work.

First my time away! Without rubbing in too many details we stayed on the Riverwalk in San Antonio at the Westin. Had mahi-mahi street tacos the first night, steaks the last night with great Tex-Mex in between. We took a boat ride, saw the Alamo, had pedicures, went to a rodeo, had presents on our bed every night and connected with some amazing people, both new friends and old! 'Nuff said, it was a GREAT trip :) You definitely don't need details about this, but my biggest challenge of the entire trip was getting Elle's "food" home with me...nuff said about that too!

I missed my girls terribly, but I highly doubt they missed me. You can't have much more love that two grandma's and a daddy in the same home! The grandma's did their fair share of spoiling and loving on the girls. Clare is still recovering from sugar, lack of sleep, and a case of getting anything she wanted for a week. Every two year old needs a grandma's spoiling at least once! They stayed incredibly busy eating out lunch everyday, trips to get ice cream, a new basketball hoop, visiting the nature museum, and daily walks! They were very busy.

Elle grew a TON in four days..its insanity. She is somewhat mobile at 4 months which is insane. She uses her feet to arch her back and scoot herself backwards. It takes her a while, but she can get around! She is also incredibly verbal and makes these cute crazy sounds!

It was such a blessing to spend some time with my lil sis, but I am thankful to be home with my wonderful lil fam!!

My four month old

Elle is four months old!! She is sweet as pie and growing wonderfully. She is sleeping through the night 12 hours with 3 naps during the day. Life is good when there is order ;) Elle's favorite pasttime is watching Clare. If only Clare would give her a little more attention, but life is busy for a two year old!



At Elles well check she was in the 95% for height and 75% for weight. It was crazy because we compared her size to Clare's at this age and she is 1/4 of an oz different in weight and 1/4 of an inch different in size. It is going to be fun to see if she continues to follow her big sisters growth chart!



Here is a sweet video of the girls playing and of Elle's great laugh!

Family Weekend of Fun

We had an extremely unexpected super fun family weekend. LD decided to take Friday off of work and already had Monday off, which gave us FOUR days as a family, which is extremely unusual, especially with having no set plans. The weather decided to cooperate with LD's long weekend and we got some 70 degree weather for four days in February! YAY!!

Friday we spent some time some time walking to the park to play and then LD and Clare had a big daddy/daughter date planned to go to ImaginOn library to see "If You Take A Mouse To School." During dinner Friday night LD asked Clare if she would like to dress up for their big date and her response was "Oh, just like trick or treat and I can be a butterfly." It was so cute and she was very bummed she was not going to be wearing her butterfly costume. She loved the play and they didn't get home til 9:15, so it was a big night for her.

Saturday we decided last minute to meet some great friends and their little daughter at the NC Zoo. It was a big day for us from the 2 hour drive to the zoo, to working around Elle's feeding schedule and pushing around the big double stroller. We didn't really have a plan and just figured we would leave if the girls started melting down. They both did so great. It was by far one of the most fun days we have had as a family. I was so proud of both of them! We were at the zoo from 1030am til 430pm, so Clare totally missed her nap and was hanging with us like a trooper. As soon as we hit the car she slept from 430 til we pulled into our driveway, and then went to bed an hour later.

Sunday and Monday were much more low key, full of my spring cleaning list (thanks to LD for pitching in to get it done), playing with friends at the park, eating out, going to church and just playing as a family. I'm so thankful for weekends like this when we get to celebrate the family we were blessed with!

The month of February

Pics by Christine at Dimples and Curls

I feel like there is a lot going on and just have not blogged much lately, so here is all that has been happening in the Jackson world!!

-We are HEALTHY!! (whoo hoo, knock on wood!)

I had to take Clare to an ear, nose and throat doctor this week because she has had SO many ear infections (5 since Dec. 1st) and had some fluid on her ear. Of course when we went her ear was perfectly beautiful, but sadly the doctor said if she gets another ear infection in the next few weeks we may have to have her adnoids removed. Please pray we don't have to go that route and that God will keep her little ears healthy. I have become extremely paranoid and every time she touches her ear or has a bad nap I'm sure its another one coming.

- We had a great Valentines Day!

It is fun to have little girls and celebrate Valentines Day. LD and I have always celebrated with eating out or a card, but nothing huge. Clare and I made some heart shaped brownies, heart shaped Jell-o and she got a few packages in the mail (our next highlight). LD brought us home dinner too, which was a treat to me. And our great friend Christine at Dimples and Curls Photography took some awesome pics of the girls! We have our official 3 month photo shoot to get pics of them together the beginning of March, but these came out so cute, and Clare LOVED the cookie pop she got to eat while pics were being taken.

-We have gotten a LOT of fun mail!

In 3 short days we received a Valentines package from my Aunt Tina, a Valentines box from my mom, and Christmas presents from LD's sisters family. They all came on different days and when Clare would get up from her nap we spent all afternoon opening and playing with the fun things she got. On day 4 she woke up and said "I need a present!" and I realized she had been very spoiled!! Also every new book and stuffed animal she has gotten has taken up residency in her bed and there is not much room left for her, but she will not part with any of it!

-Clare is now very obsessed with public Restrooms...not so fun!

Clare is now leaving home in her big girl undies and has been GREAT at it. The problem is that she is very curious about public restrooms, and I hate to tell her to hold it and have an accident, and she always does really go. So poor LD had to take her by himself into the men's restroom at Best Buy, and I've had to make many stops along the way. She also likes to show off her cute little panties, which has lead us to many discussions about privacy. There is no modesty with a 2 year old!

We have a very exciting week coming up as my mom and LD's mom are both coming to stay for 1 week! I am flying to San Antonio to meet my sister and speak at a Spring Arbor University event, which I am so stinkin excited about. Knowing that daddy and both grandma's are with the girls will give me such peace of mind to really have a good time with my sis!! So I'm sure I'll have lots to post about their adventures very soon!

The girl loves to talk!

When I was little I was a talker...I still am a talker. But when I was little my parents often tell me how I would talk to a wall. I just loved to talk. My sweet little Clare has been blessed with the gift of gab as well. She is to the age when she says some seriously funny stuff, and she is also to the age where she repeats things 80 million times even though you've patiently said, "Yes Clare" every single time!

Example #1 - We had to go to the doctors this week because I knew both girls had ear infections. Clare has been super into playing with her doctor kit at home and could barely contain her excitement while waiting for the nurse to call her name. When she finally did Clare stood up and yelled "hurry mom, its my turn"...and away we went. When the doctor came in and was trying to listen to her heart this was the conversation within about 35 seconds.

Clare: "Mom, that is Dr. Blanton. Dr. Blanton is listening to my heart. Do you see him listening to my heart? Mom, can I have a sticker? The stickers are in the closet, can I have one?"

Dr. Blanton: "Clare, sweetheart, I need you to be quiet so I can hear your heart.

Clare: OK, (giggle giggle) Dr. Blanton are you listening to my heart? (giggle, giggle)

Dr. Blanton: Clare, I need you to try to be very quiet.

This went on for about 5-6 min and I had to do everything in my power not to laugh because poor Dr. Blanton was so serious.

Example #2 - We are in Target and Clare is talking non-stop about the gum and candy next to the check out line. She is talking to no one in particular and I was ignoring her while I was loading my things on the check out lane. The cashier says "Hi sweetheart". Clare stops talking, flashes a sweet little grin and very sweetly says "Please don't look at me...I'm shy". What???? Where does this come from??

Example #3 - Today we took a family walk and Clare rode in her wagon. On the way back to the house she decided she needed to play outside and ride on her bike when we got home. The entire 10 minute walk back home this was the conversation.

Clare: Mom I need to ride on my bike.

Me: Ok, Clare when we get home you can.

Clare: Mom, can I ride on my bike?

Me: yes, Clare please stop asking

Clare: Dad, I want to ride on my bike.

LD: Yes Clare, mommy said you could.

Clare: Can I ride my bike?
Me and LD: Yes Clare stop talking about it!!

AHHHH...its sweet and innocent but seriously that girl just does not stop!

The other funny thing she does right now is mixes up words and I LOVE IT. LD tries to correct her often, but I think her words are much better. Here are some of her mix-ups.

Alligator when referring to an elevator

Rain drops when referring to ear drops

Lily Pop is a lollipop

Whack and cheese is Mac and cheese

She is the best and makes me smile everyday!

Sweet Elle is 3 months

My poor second child does not have weekly or even monthly blog posts dedicated to her growth and development, so I thought it necessary for her to have her very own 3 month blog special!

I cannot believe Elle is already 3 months old. It goes even faster with the second one. I actually marked the date on my calendar so it wouldn't pass without us noticing it. I keep calling her a newborn and have to remind myself often that my sweet little 13 1/2 lb. baby is not a newborn at all. :)

Elle is pure sweetness, the happiest most joyful little thing you have ever seen. She has the biggest toothless grin ever and gives it to anyone who will stop to chat with her. She has this little fluffy hair that sticks straight up, which I love because Clare didn't have any hair at all at this point. Elle is a little chunk with more rolls that I have ever seen on baby legs and it is precious. She is already in 6 month clothes and growing like crazy!!

It is fun to watch Elle sit in her bouncy seat and follow Clare around the room while she plays. When Clare takes a little time to stop and talk to her Elle just glows...she loves her big sister so much! She is slowly learning to like tummy time but would much rather bat at her little animals hanging from her floor gym.

I'm so proud of her falling into her little schedule, much to mommy's sigh of relief given my type A personality. Our next goal is not waking up for the extra 3:30am feeding...praying this happens soon!

I love you sweet little Elle and am so glad God has placed you in our family!