11 months old!!

When you were born on the 30th, and the current month only has 28 days...when do you actually turn the next month??  I wish it were that she could just stay 10 months.  I'm just not ready for a 1-year-old!!

She is now standing independently.  She can take steps between furniture.  She can hold someone's hand and take a few steps.  Sigh.  She'll be walking anytime. 

She can say "MaMa", and she knows who she's talking to!!  She says "bye-bye", and means it most of the time!  She says something that sounds like "Jackson" (similar to "DaDa", but with a little different first sound, more like a "J" sound).  She has started signing "More" when she wants another bite of food or drink.

She can play Peek-a-Boo with the best of 'em.  She plays Patty-Cake like a little pro.  She laughs, and I mean really laughs when you tickle or play with her.  She claps her hands in response to "Yeah, Katie".  She is starting to learn what "no" means!

She eats anything and everything.  She LOVES steamed beans from any Mexican restaurant!!  She had some baked Cheetoes the other day and was SO EXCITED!  She loves macaroni and cheese.  Applesauce, crackers, ham, turkey, meatloaf, mexican casserole!  She's tried bites of many different things in the past few weeks, and she is just so excited anytime she's in a highchair to eat! 

 

She is so busy with her hands.  She turns pages in her board books, she plays with her baby doll, she picks up small things (cheerios, hot wheels tires, legos, scraps of paper...etc) and tries to eat them if I'm not watching her like a hawk!  

Her favorite toys...a half-empty water bottle, a wet-wipe, any of Jackson's cars or trucks, Mommy's cell phone, and an old remote control.  Give her any of these and she's happy for a good length of time!

One more month, sweet girl, and we'll have a toddler on our hands!  oh. wow.

Winter Olympics: "Vancouver, Canada"

Jackson has been IN LOVE with the Olympics.  He has watched with such concentration almost every event.  He was very enamored with the Luge.  And, as usual, his little imagination was at work.  Before I knew it, he had built a luge sled.  He is also very aware that some of these sports are not "safe", and therefore require a helmet.  (you'll notice his safety gear in the picture)!

The Luge sled (also doubled as a bobsled this year)

Jackson also "skated" on the tile at Grammy and PaPa's with wooden blocks under his feet for skates.  He built a downhill skiing course made of the (above) bar stool, living room ottoman, and his Lightning McQueen quilt.  He wasn't wearing his helmet when he decided to stand on top of the bar stool to "ski" down...needless to say, he didn't medal in the downhill this year.

Jackson asked me during the long distance skiing "mom, is skiing a dangerous sport?"  I answered, "yes, a little bit probably."  His response: "I don't think it is.  See, they don't have helmets on, they're just wearing caps!!"  Indeed.  Oh, I hope he doesn't choose long distance skiing.  What a boring sport to wait through!

Then, the following conversation happened while watching curling: 

Jackson: Is there anything dangerous about curling?  Grandma: I don't think so. 

Jackson (talking to himself): So . . . I could do curling.

 It's really too bad that Olympics only happen ever 2 (4) years.  Jackson just loves them and they spark so much imaginative play for him...what a funny kid!

(finally) Using Crayons and Markers!

Jackson has been interested in numerous things in his short 4 1/2 years.  The first thing I remember was Monster Trucks, then there were Lightning McQueens, add to that John Deeres/construction vehicles, recently the History Channel and Nova.  During the 2008 Summer Olympics, he was all about swimming, diving, and running.  This year, it's been bobsled, luge, and skating...but never, has he been interested in coloring.  Not ever.

This is sort of a problem for me, since I'm an occupational therapist and all.  It's kind of 'what I do'.  So, the kid really has no choices.  He HAS to like to color.  And I have wanted to make it as positive as possible...so I have purchased every crayon, marker, paint, or pencil imaginable to encourage him to color.  I have provided color, sticker, and activity books.  Nope.  Not interested.

Till...now.  In the past month, Jackson has really become interested in coloring and writing.  I credit his teacher, Miss Ambra, for finally getting him to write letters and color more than 2 scribbles.  I really think he's doing a nice job.

 

Notice how well he's writing his name!

 

He did this one just for me.  It is an illustration of his trip to Monster Jam last weekend.  You'll notice that is says "I Love You" and in a darker color "Mommy"

So proud! So proud!!

 

Jackson has also been learning about states.  Again, his own prompting.  He has a map puzzle and Grandma bought him a US map mat.  They sat together during the snow days and traced the states as he was learning the names of them.

"Snow Storm" #3

I'm always off on Monday...so, I wasn't concerned at all about the third snow storm headed our way.  But, mom had some vacation days to use, and decided to use them today "just in case."  Good thing she did.  The snow was TERRIBLE!!!

What?  You don't see all the snow?  

The flash on the camera might have melted it.

Look closely.  I think you will be able to see all 6 flakes that fell.

 

What's funny, though, is that on the north side of the city, there really WAS about 3-4 inches of snow!  So, so weird.  The AM news was showing what looked like a pillow fight during the morning drive, there was so much snow.  But, it didn't come south to Acacia Road!!  

Super Bowl!!

Jackson was so excited to watch the Super Bowl!  And, just like anything else he watches...he wants to act it out...take a close look at his "uniform"  helmet, gloves, and all!

 

 

And Katie was not to be outdone...

 

 

 

Go Colts!!!

Reflections and Memories

So, I try not to spend a great deal of time thinking about or remembering the events leading up to or the time of Chris' death.  It's just not in my new "positive thinking" and "get-it-done" attitude.

However, I had dinner with my in-laws tonight, as we do most every Tuesday night...and while doing the dishes, my mother-in-law and I were discussing G.G.'s recent death and such and how different it was from Chris' death.  Sometime during the conversation, Kay asked me to clarify some things that she was unsure about from the day that Chris died.  During that conversation, I realized something that I hadn't thought of before:

Background Information:  Chris and I had been very busy the week and weekend before his death.  We had both had separate work and church meetings that night and since we had hardly seen each other or had much time to talk, we ended up staying up till midnight or later that night, just talking.  Chris hadn't been feeling well that day, but by the time we both got home, he thought he was feeling better.  We had a nice long chat about all kinds of things.  The kind of chat that best-friends have that just goes from one topic to another and continues even though it's late and well past bedtime.  The feel-good kind of chat that you love to have but don't have time for all that often.

I can't remember all that we talked about, but I specifically remember this:  Chris and I talked about my job and he commented that I didn't seem stressed, I was not tired and overwhelmed when I came home from work and he was so glad that I had taken a job that I loved and wasn't frustrated with every day.  We talked about the financial benefits of my new job and how we were so glad we had taken a step of faith and followed God's leading to this different (and risky) new adventure.

So, while talking with Kay tonight, I realized this:  it's as if Chris was making sure that I was going to be okay.  He was so relieved that I was happy, not stressed, financially stable, and had more time for family.  


I usually don't put much stock in people who talk about "knowing they were going to die" or things such as this.  But, I do know that it is not uncommon for a husband (or wife) to have prepared their spouse for new responsibilities or challenges right before they pass away.  Do I think Chris knew he was going to die? No way.  But, I do think that God was preparing both of us and that He was giving us a peace about what was about to happen.  Whatever it was, I know that Chris' death was in God's plan for our lives and He knew it was going to happen way back in May of 2002 when we started dating.  He knew it was going to happen when we got married in August 2003 and when we got pregnant and had Jackson in 2005, and when He let me get pregnant with Katie just 5 weeks before Chris died.  God knew, and he was preparing us that whole time.  And if God knew it was going to happen, He also knows what's ahead and what is in store for the little Johns family in the future.

And for all of that, I'm so thankful.

Been Busy and Snowed In!

I have been rather neglectful  in my blogging.  I have been keeping a list of things to blog about and I have been taking pictures of the kids.  So, don't worry, you haven't missed anything, you'll be caught up soon!!

I have just been so very busy fulfilling the duties of a single mom.  Dinners, laundry, bottles, diapers, movies on the DVD player, games on the computer, packing lunches, chasing the baby around her trap and trying to keep her from escaping, dressing the 4 year-old for outside play in the snow...and on and on and on...

I have also been spending a lot of time exercising on my Wii.  I am determined to exercise at least 350 minutes per week, which is working out to be about 30 min each morning before the kids get up, and 30-60-75 min in the evenings after I put the kids to bed.  Last week I burned 2010 calories in my quest for health.  I haven't really seen any results on my waistline or clothing, but I figure I'm just adding time to my life (to do the above chores, no less)...by maintaining a healthy heart and preventing a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes.

I spent a little bit of time this evening at www.chacha.com working on a new get-rich-quick scheme.  Seriously, my friend Terri directed me to this online business.  It's a mobile search engine and is powered partially by computer and partially by people (nerds) who answer people's pressing questions.  So, I spent about an hour answering all kinds of questions ranging from car engine repair to Karen Jones' court hearing date in Indiana!  Ha!!  It was kind of fun and if I make some money, then it's great!  I would have spent that hour before bed playing on the computer anyway, so what the hey??!!??

We had a major ice/snow storm around here last week.  We were stuck in the house Thursday-Sunday (with power, thank goodness...my grandparents in Altus and Cyril have not had that good fortune, Bless their Hearts...).  During the time that the roads were still slick, I was so very thankful that my dear Chris was patient enough a few years ago to try to teach me to drive on the nasty slick stuff.  I haven't had a problem at all and I've heard his words "take it slow and easy, babe" many, many times in my head over the past few days.  Again, I'm amazed at how God was working on the little details long before he actually took Chris to Heaven.  He knew I'd need help driving last January and this year.  So, He had Chris take care of it a few years ago.  Thank You, God.  (and Thank You, Chris)! 

Well, I better get to bed so I can start working on that chore list bright and early in the morning!  Exercise, feed Katie, wake Jackson, dress Katie, pack lunches...you get the drill!