Santa 2010 :)

Mom, Scotty and I took Jax to see Santa today at Washington Square! :) Jax loved Santa...he kept looking at him, smiling, and then would say "You're funny!" (which is one of his favorite lines to these days). This will be Jax's 2nd Christmas and we are so excited this year. He loves all the lights on the tree, is trying to open the wrapped presents, and says "Ho, Ho, Ho" when he sees anything with Santa on it. So.cute!

It's been a LONG week...

Jax and I were both diagnosed with Staph infections earlier this week. Mine has responded really well to the antibiotics...but Jax's wasn't responding at all. He ended up forming a large boil on his bottom that was causing him major pain, a fever, and swelling. :( He felt horrible from Wednesday-Saturday...it was so hard for us to see him in so much pain. He could barely walk, refused to sit (would only stand up or lay down), would scream if we even went near his bottom, etc.

I took him to the doctor on Tuesday and they confirmed it was Staph and put him on Bactrim. By Friday, things were getting much worse so I took him BACK in and they ended up having to switch him to a stronger antibiotic and drain the boil for him. He screamed, I cried, and the doctor and nurse thought he was the sweetest thing ever since he kept saying "I'm sorry" through his tears. :( It was the hardest thing I have done so far as a Mom...I had to help hold him down and hearing him yell "mommy!!!" was incredibly heartbreaking since there was nothing I could do. :(

He has slowly improved since Friday night...

Today is the first day that I feel like he is really getting better. It is such a huge relief. He has been more active, is walking better, actually sitting every once in awhile, etc. His little bum is still a little hard and sore but I am hoping that it will get better each day. We have a follow up appointment tomorrow with Dr. Ames at Oregon Pediatric.

Here are some pictures of our sick little man...

His new favorite place to watch The Wiggles (on the floor by our bed):


Snuggling with Grandma Debbie:


Reading one of his favorite books with Grandpa Harlan and Grandma Betty:


and finally a happy picture! This was taken this morning...he is clearly in a much better mood! :)

LEAVES!!!

It's that time of year...and what little boy doesn't LOVE leaves! :)

Helping Daddy! :)

Trick or Treat!

Jax decided it was ok to be a lion for Halloween! He even got the whole "roaring" thing down for the event!

He loved Trick-or-Treating! It took him a few doors to get the concept of saying "Trick-or-Treat" but he loved that people were giving him candy. :) When they would only give him one piece, he would say "more!?". He was very good at saying "please" and "thank you" too. :)

He also loved just hanging out at Grandma Debbie's and saying Hi to all the kids that came to her door. :)

Our little lion...


Mommy, Daddy, and Jax the Lion:


Having a snack at Grandma's:


Running away from Uncle Brandon...Jax was ready to start trick-or-treating WAY too early!


"Trick-or-Treat"


Grandpa Harlan and Jax:

On the road to Potty Training!!!

We haven't wanted to push the issue of potty training but Jax has been totally into it lately! He tells us when he has to go "ickies" and goes running into the bathroom. We bought him an Elmo potty seat that he loves and we just had night two of going #1 AND #2 in the potty!!!

It's so funny to me to get excited about something like this...but it's so much fun to see Jax so proud of himself and yell "YAY!" when he is done! :)

Scott got tonights potty adventure on video but I will spare you the show. :)

Lion vs. Fireman???!!!

Well, we bought Jax a lion costume for Halloween but so far he HATES it. :( He won't even keep it on for more than a minute! :(

but...

he recently decided that he loves wearing this fire helmet that he got for his 1st birthday! We also have a super cute rain jacket that Uncle Alan and Aunt Corina got him for his birthday that just now finally fits him really well...and then, Mom and I found these great rain boots at Target last night!

So...I think we may have a little fireman on our hands for his 2nd Halloween! :)

I think he is pretty darn cute!!!

Gotta love a kids imagination! :)

Jax found this package of diapers in his closet and came running out to Scotty and I this morning saying "MOTORCYCLE!!!"! He then proceeded to try and climb on top of it so that he could "ride" it. After a few minutes of laughing, I finally helped him get on for a ride...

The imagination that he has always amazes us... :)

"Vrooom-Vrooom"


Doing a turn on his "motorcyle"


Mad because he fell off his ride!

PUMPKIN PATCH TIME! :)

We took Jax out to Liepold Farms Pumpkin Patch today. He had soooo much fun playing in the corn box, riding bikes, going down the slide, looking at all the tractors, going on a hay ride, walking through all the pumpkins, etc! The Boring Fire Department was also there so he got to see the fire trucks too! Here are some pictures from our adventure. :)

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk...

We participated in the Portland Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk this morning in honor of my Dad and other family members impacted by this disease. Our team, Gators Chompin for a Cure, raised over $4000 which is awesome!!! It was a rainy, chilly morning but we had a great time! A huge thank you to everyone who donated towards this cause and to our friends, Tami/Gerry/Dani, Kristina, and Tiff/Marlee who walked with us! What an incredible way to honor Grandpa Bill!

Here are some pictures from the event:
Team Gators Chompin for a Cure! GO GATORS!!!


Jax, Marlee, and Dani


Ris, Scotty, and Jax


Brandon and Sarah :)


Tami, Gerry, and Dani all snuggled up...ready for the rain!

What an "almost 20 month old" can do in a matter of minutes!

Here is Jax's toy area like it SHOULD be...



And after Jax has been there for just a FEW minutes!!! Grrr!!!

New Words and Current Favorites!

Food: Beans, Olive, Chicken, Bread, Milk, Cheese, Chip, Cracker

Other: Waterfall, Bike, Swim Swim (his code word at swimming that he is going under water), Clap, Please, Thank You, Out

Animals: Duck (and he says Quack Quack), Cow, Elephant (this one is really funny!),

Sayings: "Ready, Set, Go!"

He know does "If you're happy and you know it" and can clap, stomp his feet, and yell "Hooray!". :)

He LOVES hugging lately...it's beyond cute! He will walk up to you and say "Hug" and he gives you a HUGE hug...I love it!!!

He has started giving Eskimo kisses too...another mommy favorite. It sounds like "eckamo" when he says it but it's pretty darn cute!

His favorite songs for Mommy to sing are "If you're happy and you know it", "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", and the ABC's. :)

Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary to my Grandparents! :)

60 years together...what an amazing accomplishment in life and love. We feel so very blessed to have such amazing Grandparents. Their love for each other and our family is something to be celebrated. We had so much fun spending time together on their recent trip to Portland.





Jax with his Great-Grandparents! :)


We are all here because two people fell in love! :)

Family Pictures by Davina Simms

We recently had family pictures taken...here are some of my favorites!