They Made It

Garrison and my mom arrived Tuesday night so it feels like I already should be on Spring Break (only have to make it through one more day).

Jackson loves having Garrison around to play with and Garrison really loves Jackson!
The two of them are so funny together!

We have been mostly hanging out at the house but are looking forward to doing some fun things once Spring Break starts (which is tomorrow at 4, can you tell I am excited?)!

Two Year Pictures

Jackson wasn't a fan of having his pictures taken. I was afraid we didn't get any good ones but that wasn't the case. He is too cute for that to happen!

Sweet boy! I always love the close ups of his face:)

Goof ball!
I don't want to!

Tongue out!

I'll smile if Daddy is in the picture too!

I love this one of him and me!

So handsome!

I always have such a hard time deciding which ones to buy and in what sizes. So, I end up buying way more than we need or can give away but at least I have one of each!

It's Jackson's Birthday

We had a wonderful day celebrating Jackson's 2nd Birthday! I woke him up singing Happy Birthday and then Brian called and he sang over speaker phone. Whenever I would ask Jackson whose birthday it was he would answer "ME!"

I got up extra early yesterday in order to ensure some play and picture time with my birthday boy before we had to leave for school. I love birthdays and wanted to make a big deal out of his!
The birthday boy and me!

The TWO year old!

Brian decorated the downstairs when he got home from work and Jackson went crazy with all the balloons and streamers! He ran circles through the streamers pulling the balloons along.
We hung up his birthday banner from last year! I love seeing it hung up, it just makes me smile:)

Cupcakes with my labor of love Thomas caketop toppers!

As soon as he opened his dump truck he was off and pushing! He pushed it all through the house and up and down the driveway. He was so excited to finally get it because we bought it with him but then told him we returned it. When he ripped off the wrapping paper he just kept saying "dump truck, dump truck, dump truck" in a quiet whisper with a smile glued to his face.

Family shot before dinner

Jackson chose "chicken" for his birthday dinner. So we went to Chick-fil-a and what could be better than the cow being there! Jackson watched him the whole time and asked to take a picture with him.

After dinner we came back home for cupcakes. (Sidenote about the balloons: I asked Jackson what was on the balloons and he replied "Number two!" I love how he added "number":))

So excited it's MY birthday! He would not eat his cupcake without us feeding it to him because he did not like the frosting on his hands; crazy boy!

I hope Jackson enjoyed his birthday as much as I did! Looking forward to celebrating more over Spring Break with our family and friends (and using my Thomas cupcake toppers again!).

2 Years Ago

God blessed our lives with Jackson Oliver Hartzler!

A Look Back:

Just a few minutes old! He weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces and 19.5 inches long.

One of the best moments in my life!

Now a family of three!

One day old!

One Week Old!

One Month Old!

6 Months Old!

One Year Old!

Eighteen Months Old!

Two Years Old!

Happy 2nd Birthday Jackson Oliver! We LOVE you more than words can express and pray God will be glorified through your life this year!

"So now I give him to the Lord for his life will be given over to the Lord." 1 Samuel 1:28

Memorizing Scripture #5

"Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Just kidding! That is not my memory verse but I thought it was pretty funny. Although that verse means a lot to me right now as Jackson tests everything we say and wants what he wants. I pray God gives us the wisdom to do what is right and that one day Jackson will walk in the Light!

My actual memory verse for this go around that I will be reciting every time Jackson pushes the limits is Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowlege him, and he will make your paths straight."

Playing Hookie

We stayed home from church this morning simply because I did not want Jackson to get sick again. I was not taking a chance with him going to the nursery and being around other snotty noses, coughs, and germs!

We spent the entire day outside! We had a lot of catching up to do since we were stuck inside the majority of the week.

Up First: A long walk with a stop by the park. Jackson had a little rountine down on the jungle gym and did it no less than 20 times! He would tell us to stay put and he would climb up the steps, go over the bridge, climb up more steps, and go down the slide all while giving us a play-by-play!
Then Came: Daddy worked on the jungle in our backyard while Jackson and I go out the chalk. This was a much better experience than last year with the chalk. He LOVED it! He drew tractors, planes, circles, and fish or at least that is what he said it was:) Of course he had to trace my hand! He got the chalk out later in the day as well so I have a feeling this is a new favorite!

After Nap: We went swimming! We heated up the spa and splashed and splashed! I love that it is warm enough in February to do this because if we still lived in WI we would have snow on the ground. I can't wait to go shopping for a new swimsuit and lay in the pool everyday!

Up Next: It is Birthday Week for a certain little guy who lives at our house! I am looking forward to hanging up his birthday banner and celebrating 2 years of life with him!