Where do I begin????

So I am soo sorry for this long post. Not because I think you have been fretting and worrying and just downright upset that you dont know whats been going on in our life (HA) BUT mainly bc now, you will have to read (if you choose to do so) through the post that might not ever end. Oh yes. I am sorry. But I wont cut it short, just bc I feel sorry for your soon to be flat as pancakes, from sitting in chair, in front of the computer, heineys. Sorry. So now that I have wasted about oh one minute or so, depending on your reading speed, of your time, Ill get on with the show, well post. Or short story, well novel maybe. Lets just be honest.

I will start in a particular order just for the sheer scrapbook part of this blog. It makes it easier to read when its chronological I think. Wow, I am so digressing here, its bc Im dreading this long post. Im mad at myself for waiting so long. Geesh, there is all this pressure to make sure I get it all in. WOAH. Deep breaths Lindsey, deep breaths. Focus.

We left off with Fathers day right? (See its already turning into a book "Where did I leave off???") The weekend after Fathers Day we went to Crystal Lake in Palestine with Taylors family. It was gorgeous weather and such a great time. The main event however was Camille's 60th Birthday! Aunt Livvie and I had so much fun getting ready for it and making it special for Cami. We are so lucky to have her as our mother in law and I hope she knows how much we all love her :) Cami and Papa J bought Jackson this awesome splash pad and he LOVED it. I think he would have played in it way more if the water hadnt been QUITE so cold! Well, and also if he hadnt seen me take off in the boat (he is very momma clingy right now). We had such a nice visit and Taylor and Uncle Jack of course had a great time watching soccer together (Back in the day memories for them I think! LOL) Here are some pictures from the weekend. Some from me, some from Livvie. She also did a nice post on her blog for Cami's bday and the trip so feel free to take a look at her stuff. She gets some amazing pictures of nature!

Then the next weekend was my BIRTHDAY!!! And of course the fourth of July! We picked Matt and Jordan up from the airport (don't even ask me about how that went down with all the rain delays here), and headed to Port Aransas to my dads condo. What a fantastic weekend. It was awesome. I am not sure what I enjoyed more...the fact that the weather was perfect, my child was perfectly behaved (except for one night at dinner, which got us a few dirty looks and Aunt Chels ready to throw down on behalf of her nephew HA),

or that my child slept amazingly once we put him in the closet (oh, pick your jaw back up, it was a big walk in and very dark and had a door and a fan, believe me, he had the best set up. You'd do it too if you spent the first night with not so much sleep bc of waking child) or that I had so many family members young and old(ish), and in between helping out, entertaining and letting me take the breaks I oh so needed! Well now that I have written it all out I definitely think the last one takes the cake. That was the best. Hey speaking of cakes, check out my yummy b-day cake from Frosted Bakery.

They did Jackson's b-day cake too and I HEART THEM BIG! Of course no offense to them (thank goodness they probably don't know who I am, let alone read my blog), my momma took the cake (no pun intended) and sent me a Janie's Cake from East Texas. Oh. My. God. It was sooo good. Taylor and I ate half of it before we even left for the coast. I wont tell you how long we had it before we left either, nope, that secret is staying with me. Well, and face-book too I guess. Dang it. So much for secrets. But what we did take with us to the coast, was quickly devoured by the sweet-a-holics in our family. I wont name names. You know who you are. :) Thanks Mom!!!

So on with the weekend recap; Jackson went on a boat ride that almost never ended on Saturday morning. Seriously. It was 5 hours long. Something about going down the intercoastal waterway to see some coast guard sailboats, and then a stop at a water side hamburger place (YUM). It was fun, except for the part when Jackson fell asleep in my arms, which were awkwardly placed and the water was spraying soaking us like crazy, so I was holding up a towel to keep Jackson from getting wet drenched. Aside from wet outfit, and aching arms, it was a great trip. The best part was Jackson loved it. He wanted to stand at the inside edge of the boat and let the water spray his hands. Oh and chase the dogs tails (yes the dogs went with us too!). I sadly forgot my camera at home so I am relying on pictures from Lesley, Chelsea and Jordan. Here is what Ive got:

For the fourth the kids got to smack open a pinata and it was so funny bc Jackson just got in there when the kids went nuts and started picking up the candy. He helped his cousin Isabella sort her candy. Much to her frustration he felt she should keep the candy she kept taking out of her bag that she didnt want. Was pretty cute.

Family Picture:

The girls!:

That night for fireworks he was up to see them. He had a late afternoon nap and was rearing to go! I honestly didnt know what to expect, but was quite tickled at his reaction. He kept pointing at them and saying "Woah, Wow, No, Oh" and pacing back and forth on the balcony. He loved it. So glad he got to experience it!

We had such a great time, but it was sad to see Matt and Jordan head on back to Florida. We do miss them quite a bit, and are looking forward to seeing them in September for the family weddings we have coming up!

So what's happened since then?

Well, Im doing an amazing Angela Thomas bible study at church and LOVING it. I really feel like God is doing some work inside me these days, and as scary honest as some of it is, it is powerful and uplifting. I especially love that I am doing it with some close girl friends and we are walking this walk together. I like having the accountability and knowing that your raw emotions are felt by someone else too. Its a blessing to be at a church with such amazing women and leaders.

We have had several play-dates with friends and I love watching Jackson grow and watching him learn how to play with other kiddos.

JACKSON TURNED 15 MONTHS!!!

(Ill get his couch picture on here tomorrow! :))

Such a big boy :) He is doing so much these days, we literally think he is the smartest kid alive. Okay, no we dont, but he is smart. Not weird, anti social, high IQ smart, but real life smart. LOL! So he is saying ALOT. Mainly mimicking us.

~He says balloon, backpack, Dora, blue, PawPaw, bahh for sheep, moo for cow, sometimes meow for cat (thanks Cassidy for inspiring us!), bath, ooh ahh ooh for Monkey, He said purple today which was funny.

~We go in for his 15 month check up next week so we ill know his stats then.

~He drinks his milk now, on one condition, it must have some flavor to it. So we are now proud owners of packs of carnation instant breakfast.

~He eats eggs now, finally. Salsa too, hot dogs, corn dogs (He tore some of those up today like crazy), you name it, he eats it. We had a few weeks of dinner time meltdowns where he wouldnt eat dinner, but we finally figured out, late afternoon snack+ dinner at 6:30/7= Meltdown. So the last few nights we have had a MUCH earlier light snack, and then dinner around 5/5:30 and we have had a gobbling up the food, happy child.

~Oh this sweet boy who loves his momma and loves to cuddle has found his temper tantrum button and he likes to press it!

I will say this week he has been pretty good, but there were a few weeks there where I was am praying HARD for the Lords guidance in this. Or a prescription for Zantax. Whatever gets to me faster. Just sayin. At home, I don't tolerate it (mostly, bc face it, Im not perfect, I know, gasp...), I generally walk away or give him something else to distract him throw down. I can walk away from his LOUD screaming. Im not kidding about the loudness. I have NEVER heard a child this loud. Yes for all of you laughing, I realize its some payback for my voice volume. Anyways, I can tolerate it at home, but when we are out in public or at someone's house. It is SO embarrassing and I know that they are cringing. And judging. I know I shouldn't care but I do. I don't want to be the mom that gives in to the tantrum, but find it so difficult to submit innocent people to his fury. I will never judge another mother in a store/church/restaurant again. Wow, such a humbling experience. For instance (Hey lets document these, they will be funny one day....right?) We were at Coles 2nd Bday party last Saturday and it came cake time. Yes my child loves sugar. No surprise there, Taylor practically force fed brownies down my throat while I was pregnant. So I get this huge piece (thanks Lauren, I appreciate your thoughtfulness on wanting to expand my thigh/rear end size), and I share it with Jackson. Well he had quite a bit, but I guess its like crack and when it was done, he was NOT happy. So he screamed. Loudly. I didn't give in, yay me, but then the kid decides to pick the crumbs off the floor. Oh yes. He was that desperate. Then took off whining and moaning toward the kitchen and Taylor caught him right before he stuck his hand in what was left of the cake that was on the cake table. Not kidding. Then he screamed when Taylor picked him up and removed him from attempted cake murder scene. Yeah, I was the mom hiding in the corner of the playroom thinking please don't bring him to me, please don't bring him to me. Cue our exit shortly after that to avoid another cake upset. Oh yeah and that was after his swim diaper had had enough and he peed, out the diaper onto Lauren's floor. Lovely times I tell yah. The party was great though and Jackson had a great time playing in the water and eating cake.

Want another story. Oh yes, I have some more:

Next day, Sunday, Birthday dinner at my grandparents house. Were sitting at the table eating pot roast, potatoes, carrots, bread, enjoying the food and company. Jackson is eating pretty well, then he starts to deteriorate. Fast. Ended up with screaming child in seat. Grandparents a little amused but mildly annoyed at the loudness of the child. I take him out of his seat. He melts down on the floor. I offer bread (he loved starches, it should help right?) No can do. Finally manages to make his way to their bar/wall, has a fit on the floor there. Then FINALLY he rubs a few brain cells together and points and reaches for something...AHA!!! He wants the small gong they have that he is allowed to play with. He must have turned around in his seat and saw it, wanted it, and got mad bc no one could read his thoughts. We got down the gong and oh boy was he happy after that. But Lord help me, he had my blood pressure going.

~Anyways back to 15 month updates. He is running all over the place and has figured out how to ride his ride on toys around. He likes to back up the most, but he does know how to go forward.

~Even though he has his moments (hey we all do) He is still an absolute joy to be around. He makes me laugh, and I love when he brings me his books and sits in my lap for me to read them to him.

~He is SUCH a helper. I swear if you say "Help me Jackson" He is there. If we are coming in from outside and he is starting to get upset, if I say "Oh help me shut the door Jack Jack, be a big boy" He shuts the door and claps for himself and then there is no meltdown! Its the funniest thing. Im not kidding though, he will do anything you ask if you say "Help me".

~I love that when we are in the car, I will give him his monkey book and he flips through it and makes monkey noises.

~I love that ANYTIME he hears music, a beat, a rhythym, he starts dancing. Its so cute. He starts swaying that head and shoulders.

Happy 15 Months Jack Jack! It just keeps getting better and better!

Hope all of you have endured the post that has finally come to an end. We have had a great month and I will be better about updating again :)