Still recovering from the weekend....

Sorry for the pause in posting - but I spent most of last week in the Dentist chair (long story) or joining my partners in crime (Sara McCord and Nadia Paul) in putting the final touches on our "not so surprised" birthday party for our husbands.

Justin - along with some great friends - Adam and Jason will turn 30 next month.  We celebrated this weekend with a party for all three.  So fun!  We have great photos and stories to share.

However, right now I'm still trying to recover from throwing the party...and Justin?...well he's trying to recover from partying like he was still 21.  :)

Stay tuned for photos, updates, and stories of three 30 year old men coming to terms with the fact that they had to call it quits at Midnight!  :)

He "unts" it!

Last week, I started stressing that Jackson wasn't talking enough for his age.  It was just a stressful Mom moment where I decided to have a minor meltdown.  Aren't we all allowed one free pass?

Needless to say - the minute I said my concern out loud...Jackson was jibber jabbing about everything.

Here are just a few of his new phrases:

1.  "I unt try" (I want to try)

2.  "I unt ball" (Our friend Noah gave Jackson a ping bong ball and Jackson has grown quite attached.)

3.  "I unt show"  (Cartoons)

4.  When I asked if he wanted to go to school this morning - he said "I unt Peggy" (his favorite teacher)

There are many more.  But you get the picture.

Now that Jackson knows how to speak his mind...Next up, is a lesson on the difference between "I unt" and "I need.'"  

Wish us luck.  :)

Old Photos = Good Memories

I've been looking through old photos.

I love coming across old photos of my Dad.  Most of them have a memory or a story attached to them.  I cherish any moment I get to recall a moment I shared with my Dad.

This pictured made me smile the minute I saw it.  I think it was Easter Sunday - but most importantly my Dad was doing what he loved most.  He was being a Grandpa!  You can tell by the smile on his face that he was thrilled to be crowded by his grandchildren (minus Maddie and Jackson wasn't born yet).

I always got teased by my sisters about always snapping photos of moments like these.  I knew there would be a day that we would want to look back and remember how Dad would light up when he was with his grandchildren.  I wish he was still here only to look up at me with his goofy smile annoyed I was once again snapping his photo.  So instead, I will cherish these photos when I come across them on days like today.

Dad,

Miss you so...

K

Big Boy!

Jackson is now asking for his breathing treatment. 

We only have to do them when he is sick - which seems to be quite often these days.

However, not only is he fascinated by it - but he says, "I try"...then proceeds to do it by himself!

The breathing treatments are working and the doctor says his lungs sound great!  We avoided pneumonia!  And that's what a Mommy likes to hear!

Welcome to the Terrible Two's!

The Terrible Two's have welcomed themselves into our home....Without an invitation!

Jackson has learned the words No and Mine and he knows how to use them!  When those words don't get him his way he throws his pacifier (yep - its still around) across the room - or my personal favorite - slaps the nearest couch or wall.  I know it is hard to believe that our sweet little boy could do such things - but its true.  

Jackson has experienced his first time-out, a couple stern talks, and he officially hates to apologize (he gets it from his dad)  :)  However, it is pretty hard to stay mad once he gives me his "I'm sorry" face...check it out in the photo above!  Love him - even with the terrible two's!  :)

Jackson's Pre-game Cheer!

This weekend we were bleeding blue!  Justin and I have spent each football season rooting on the Colts...and Jackson has caught the Colt's fever (and every other fever - yep he's sick again!) too!

Check out Jackson's pre-game cheer that I managed to catch on camera using my laptop video cam.  Jackson loves this feature and spends a lot of time flirting with the camera and the spends even more time watching himself later!  I don't know where he gets it...though my sisters would suggest he gets it from me!  :)

Way to go Colts!  Bring on the Jets!

Go Colts!

Grandma Evy - an Avid Pacer Fan - dressed up for a Colts themed birthday party for my nephew, Hayden.

She doesn't own a Colts item - even her scarf was really a Pacer scarf - so she made do!

Our house will be decked out in our horseshoe blue tomorrow ... wish I could say the same for Grandma...She'll be hunting an old pacer game on the NBA channel!  

Welcome to the World, Baker!

Welcome to the world, Baby Baker!

Baby Baker was born last Tuesday and had a lot of excitement right away.

I will let his Mommy share pictures and the exciting story of his arrival with you at the Quire Chronicles - coming soon, I'm sure.  

I just wanted to take a minute and congratulate Jessica, Jeremy, and Campbell on the newest addition to their family.  I met Baker yesterday and he is so handsome!  I have already told Jessica I will be back right away for another visit.  This little guy is too cute to resist.

Lots of well wishes for the entire Quire family!  This little boy is lucky to have such great parents!...and I hear Campbell has already adjusted to being a great big sister.  Was there ever any doubt???

Love you all!

Loved The Children's Museum!

Justin and I recently took Jackson to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  I hadn't been in years and we had a great time!  Jackson's favorite (mine too) was the Yuletide slide.  We would wait in line, take our turn and the minute we reached the bottom he would ask for "more" (including sign language and all).  

We visited other parts of the museum in between each turn on the slide.  Jackson loved the playscape area.  We loved seeing him explore and have fun!

Enjoy our photos and a short video!

First trip down the slide! 

Light switches that made just for Jackson 

to turn On and Off - he loved it!

First-time fishing with Dad (probably the only time) :)

Check out the hand dryer in the video - 

it might have been Jackson's favorite part of the museum.

Happy Monday!

Finally! A visit with the McCord's!

Jackson and Maddy

These past couple months have been a tough one on the immune systems in this house.  Mostly, Jackson's.  But even Justin and I have taken a beating with the 24 hour stomach flu - needless to say not many people have wanted to be around us lately - especially those with little ones themselves.  Can't blame them.

It had seemed forever since we had seen our good friends from the McCord Family.  We would always make plans and had to cancel due to Jackson's ear infections, strep throat, or even our stomach bug.  The McCord's have battled through sickness too - Poor Miss Maddy even had Pink Eye...and I SWEAR I didn't give Sara the stomach flu through our daily e-mails!  :)

Justin called me a couple of days ago and said he had chatted with Adam and it seemed we were all healthy at the same time!  So we arranged a meeting time and ordered Pizza!  Finally - we were gonna get to see Miss Maddy - oh, and Adam and Sara too!  :)

Maddy has gotten so big with lots of spunk.  Jackson was quick to show her to his room and literally get out EVERY toy we own.  Just when I thought Jackson had found the perfect toy for Maddy to play with...he would snatch it back and tell her "MINE!"  Not a good way to win over the ladies, Jackson.  I know its his age, but I wanted him to be a good host!  :)

In the end the two played well together.  Jackson ate Pizza with us and even insisted on sitting at the island with Adam and Justin - just like the big boys!  Maddy showed off her crawling skills and how much she loves shoes!  (Sara is teaching her well!)

So great to finally catch up with the McCords...and so great to see Miss Maddy!  Jackson was quite smitten!  The next morning he looked around and through his hands in the air and asked "Baby?"......we promised she will be back!

GNO Christmas 2009

This past weekend, Justin, Jackson, and I drove to Greensburg, IN to celebrate GNO Christmas.

Most of you know, once a month I get together with a group of the greatest girls I know for a Girls Night Out (AKA - GNO).  Or, as Justin likes to tease, "OMG - ITS GNO!"  :)

Everyone once in a while we will invite the men to come along to one of our get-togethers, and I have to admit - they make us laugh.

We have started a tradition in the past couple of years to set aside a day during the holidays to celebrate Christmas together with our families.  As each of us have growing families it gets more fun each year to celebrate with children.

Justin and I felt so lucky to celebrate with the Harms', the Charles', and the Noah's this year.  They were all so good to Jackson who is constantly playing with his new MICKEY toys or insisting that I play the Elmo See N Say with him - all gifts he opened at the GNO Christmas.

It was especially exciting to share gifts with Baby Will Harms- as it was his first Christmas.

Jackson and Will

  Jackson loves babies and couldn't help but give him hugs and kisses all night.  He also enjoyed playing with Addison Charles as she helped him up and down the stairs and back up again.

Addison and Jackson

  Jackson also loved all the men teaching him how to hike the ball and yell out plays such as "Blue 42!"

"Blue 42!"

Next year our GNO Christmas will be even larger as we will have welcomed Baby Noah and Baby Charles #2 into our clan.  Can't wait!  Little ones make holidays even sweeter...so do great friends.

Thanks again to our wonderful friends for always being so great to Jackson, and Justin and I too!  We are so lucky to have you all in our lives!  

I heart my GNO friends (and husbands)!

Fun Photo!

While running around in just a diaper, Jackson decided my Mom's scarf would make the perfect accessory!  My son knows the importance of accessorizing! :)

He won't stop eating!

Jackson is finally feeling better!

And...his appetite has returned....and then some...

We can't keep him full.  The minute he finishes with his "Snack," he asks for "Mo!"

Jackson even stole my spring roll off my plate today while having lunch at PF Changs.  I thought for sure he would take one bite and hand it back to me.  No suck luck.  He downed it.  

Tonight, he was enjoying a cookie and I was having a Popsicle...or so I thought.  Soon, Jackson was having both the Popsicle and the cookie.  

I love that he is finally healthy and has his appetite back...but its leaving me a little hungry!  :)

This is his "Cheese" smile...it needs some work.  :)