Firsts

The past two weeks have been full of firsts for Abbey... it's been rough some days, but still very fun and cute!

Abbey's first day of gymnastics!

First day of potty training (she wanted to stuff her feet into last year's red shoes...)

First night in her big girl bed (same bed, but without the front rail it's a toddler day bed)

First day without the pacifier- she has a new toy for giving it up

She "paid" for Emma with her pacifier...

Abbey in Max's exersaucer... think she may be reverting a bit??

Me and my babies

Nana

We'll miss you, Nana...

Nana decked out in bunny ears, ready to cheer on the team of Easter egg hunters

She always liked the birthday cards that I got her the best :)

Having a silly moment with Abbey

The family all together at Stagecoach

Just an example of the chaotic fun during Christmas at Nana's (notice Abbey in the box...)

Yes, that's Nana AFTER she hiked down the steep, rocky trail, swam with coral and jellyfish, and hiked back up the steep, rocky trail. (Hawai'i, 2006)

Nana holding newborn Abbey, her first great grandbaby

Nana, Abbey, Mom, Memaw, and I (and Max!) at Abbey's 2nd birthday party

We're still here!

Hello, everyone! I haven't blogged since 2009! Since I last updated, Max has been smiling, sleeping less during the day and more at night, eats over 30 oz every day, and weighs 15 POUNDS. Abbey is still hilarious and adorable, and talks more every day. She's now in the "I do it" phase. We're not allowed to help her do ANYTHING... it has good and bad moments :)

Here are just a few pictures. When I get my new camera (someone broke mine), I'll update more often.

I love his cheeks!

Max and Mom

Look at that face...

Already reading the Bible!

One of the good parts of the "I do it" phase :)

Pictures!!

We recently had a photographer out to take some pictures of our growing little family... she was AMAZING!! Young, talented, tons of props (including- get this- a portable HEATER for newborn babies!), loads of patience, large time slots for each shoot, shows up on time, and super nice on top of all of that. Thank you, Ashlee, for taking such wonderful pictures of our fam!

Kisses from sister

Sweet kiddos

Good thing our leaf blower is broken :)

Sweet smiling baby

Sleeping baby

Love this one

Love this one more... I have a weakness for baby hats with ears!

Took forever for him to get comfortable in this pose!!

Daddy took this one of Abbey eating her promised lollipop after pictures were done

My sweet girl

Maxwell McKinley Jackson!

He's here! Baby Max was born on November 4, 2009 at 3:21 in the afternoon. He weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs 9 oz, and is 21 in long... big boy! Mom and baby are doing fantastic!

Max with Mimi

Max with Pops (who shares his middle name)

Granna and Grandpa

Snuggling with Mommy

Mommy and Abbey

Abbey, Mommy, and Max

Last Day!

It's the last day for a couple of things around here... the last day for me to be pregnant with Max, Chris' last day of work before his (AWESOME) 4 weeks of paternity leave, and our last day with just Abbey-girl. I'm so excited to have a son, and to add to our family, but a small part of me is just a little sad that it won't be just Abbey anymore. Of course- that's the entire reason we wanted to have a second baby in the first place- to have more than one!! But it's still kind of a "We can never go back to the way it was" feeling. Which is happy-sad. Mostly happy. I'm just going through my "mommy list" wondering, "Did we do enough with her when it was just the three of us? Did she feel special and loved, or was half of her life spent focused on my pregnancy? Should we have done more memorable things with her when we had the chance to do them with just one kid?" Thankfully, she's happy, well-adjusted, and seems to love her Mommy and Daddy, so I guess we're doing all the right things!

Newborn baby girl

Abbey and mommy

Napping with Daddy after church

Abbey's first dress-up with what turns out to be a frequent outfit in her little life!

Helping Daddy lower her crib at Granna and Grandpa's... getting so big!

"The Outfit" photo shoot for her first birthday party invitations

Teaching Daddy to play the guitar

Catching some winks with Mommy at Mimi and Pops' house

First Birthday!

Giving Daddy some chips and salsa

Second birthday party

Sweet fairy princess

Happy Halloween!

This year for Halloween we had our usual festivities of chili, It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, plenty of candy, and trick-or-treating, and our friends the Tharps joined us! It will be even more fun next year when we have THREE kiddos big enough to trick-or-treat... and harder to keep up with! This year, Abbey was our only trick-or-treater, since Lauren is only 11 weeks old.