check-up

***Oops, written several days ago and not published.***

Took Jackson in for his three-year well-child visit yesterday.  He did great!  (Until it was time to leave, which is generally how it goes when I take him in public...)  He was super cute standing on the scale for the nurse, and getting his height measurement.  He opened wide when the doctor asked to see his teeth, he sat still when he looked in his ears (which I am amazed at, he is SO SQUIRMY when I'm trying to clean his ears), and he was friendly (not surprising).  Jackson is 32 lbs, which is the 59th percentile; and he is 3' 1.5" tall, which is *only* 49th percentile.  ;)  So, so thankful for an active, healthy little boy!

Some of our favorite words/sayings he says right now:
ree-tangle (rectangle)
The other night he said, "It's not sunny out, it's moony!"
"You're a bad boy!"
"I want somethin'." (When he wants to eat.)

We have had some sickness in the house already.  Hoping this means we're getting it out of the way at the beginning of the season and the rest of winter will be smooth sailing...  Last week Monday I had to pick Caleb up from school sick.  Thankfully he didn't throw up until we got home.  Then we were good the rest of the week until middle of the night Sunday night.  Logan threw up.  In the morning Levi said his tummy didn't feel good, so I kept them both home from school.  Levi didn't end up throwing up and felt fine this morning, so we'll see if we're in the clear with him...  Now I'm worried about what next Monday will bring!  Hopefully this isn't a weekly thing.

I ended up just taking Logan and Levi with me to Jackson's appointment.  I really didn't want to try and reschedule.  Who could I ask to watch my sick kids?  And, it seemed like I could make it through the appointment without them throwing up there (if I thought that was going to happen, I would have stayed home).  The point of making the little guy's appointments during the day is so I can go WITHOUT the other kids, but oh well, we survived without chaos!

three

Jackson is THREE today!  How did that happen?  He has been such a challenge, but at the same time, so. much. fun.  Jackson has a strong will, a lot of personality, and he's not afraid to show it.  He wants things done a certain way, and will loudly and defiantly express his displeasure if things aren't going the way he wants, no matter where we are.  I've had so many unpleasant experiences with him in public that I hardly bat an eye anymore.  For example, today we had to bring all four boys to the Post Office to apply for their passports.  Before we were going Logan asked if we had been there before.  He said something like, "You know, the place where to you talked to the guy and Jackson cried?" Me: "Ummmmm.....yeah, that's like every place I've been in public with him, I'm going to need a better description than that!"  And, can I just say that it is REALLY HARD to discipline consistently when managing a busy household?  Everything else doesn't just stop for a bit so that I can deal with one issue at a time.

But, Jackson can also be such a blast!  He still loves to talk (big surprise), and has an ever expanding vocabulary.  There are some words he doesn't pronounce correctly, and of course it's the cutest thing:
traptor = tractor
bana = banana
Miss Snephamie = Miss Stephanie (his Sunday School teacher)
brespes (or something like that) = breakfast
and a whole host more that I'm not thinking of right now.

Jackson is often quite friendly when we're out in public (if he's not mad and throwing a fit about something).  People love his smile and the twinkle in his eye - how could you not?!  He is doing so much better this school year than last.  Waking him up in the morning generally goes well (especially now that Mike's around when the boys get up), and if I have to wake him up in the afternoon (he hardly naps anymore) he's generally not a total beast.  Also, I'm actually able to help at some school things and have him along!  It is so wonderful to feel freer to help out with some things and not have to worry about finding a sitter all the time. 

Some things Jackson loves: his blue rain boots, almost any kind of dip for food (sour cream, guacamole, ranch, ketchup, mustard, and mayo...), forklifts, combines, being a stinker, and potty talk.  Yup.  We're having a harder time controlling that one with him than we have with the other boys. 

As usual, I know I'm forgetting things that I'd love to record and remember.  I LOVE seeing our boys grow up, but I hate forgetting all the cute little things they do when they're little!

I have plenty of other catching up to do on the blog, hopefully will have a chance for that soon...