a sweet party

Have you ever thought to yourself, "How can I get a whole bunch of people to bring me cupcakes?" well... if you have, I have the answer! I recently invited some of my favorite people over for the first annual Jackson Women Cupcake Party.

We all brought 12 to share and left with a variety dozen and it was so fun to get together, eat cupcakes, and enjoy a full afternoon together. Some of us have always been Jacksons. some married into this lovely family. but all of us

love these two things: each other and cupcakes... which made it one sweet party.

love you ladies, and can't wait until next year!

squishy, handsome & charming

Thank the heavens above for squishy babies. I know my life is about to get a lot harder because mobility is just around the corner for this little one. But thanks to an abundance of rolls... she won't be going anywhere fast just yet. I gave her a bath at my moms in the sink a few weeks ago and we we laughing so hard... I just love these pictures.

 Derek had a change in his work schedule that gave him three days off in a row just to be here with us... which we haven't had since he started working. It was so great and the best timing ever since I really needed moral support. He is just such a great husband and just the best man I know. And so handsome when he sweetly kisses his baby girl with his scruff...

And Miss Bekah.. now she's just charming. Truly. Thanks for letting me boss you around... and I am sure you pretty much gave up your entire weekend to makeover my blog. you are the best. thanks for always laughing at my lame jokes, helping me when I am in crisis, and letting me leech off you creatively. I miss living by you every. single. day.  

cold turkey.

my sweet little angel girl is now the proud owner of eight teeth. I feel like I am being tortured. I decided to go cold turkey on nursing and she and I were both miserable. but seriousely... look at these things:

{on a side note: how adorable is her schrunchy face???}

I know I am sad because she is growing so fast and I just want her to stay little. I am going to miss our bonding and the little bits of TV and reading I get in while I'm nursing. But I am no chew toy. she wouldn't stop biting me and I have just had enough. I was literally in tears. Am I the meanest mom ever for going cold turkey?

ok... now I digress. this little clip really made me feel better...been singin' this song all day. :) it really is worth 2 minutes...

Here is the link if the video doen't work propertly:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/199430/modern-family-lilys-biting-more-than-her-food

why he doesn't listen...

How do you teach the difference between hearing and listening?

Last May Easton had his first surgery. He failed a hearing screening at school and we knew there was a chance he had a rare ear growth called a cholesteotoma… but the surgery was mostly exploratory. Much to our disappointment, a cholesteotoma was found. His surgery was 2 weeks after Saige was born. He was mostly recovered in time for graduation trip to Oregon and our move back to Utah. Whew!

It was a lot to handle at once I confess. Having a baby in a new town, a simple surgery that turned grew into a big problem, a move, a graduation, so many doctors appointments...the unknown. But everything went fine and as I recall I only had one major breakdown along the way. I am so thankful for our families. While all of this was going on we were all over the map in between wards, and friends. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family.

Six months later we have successfully completed what will hopefully be his last surgery at the U of U. Scary place. So many sick people. It just didn’t seem right to see him in that place. The Doctor that performed his surgery removed a brain tumor from my sister Shelly over 20 years ago. He remembered her and I felt a small tender mercy placing my son in his hands. He was a good Doctor. Definitely the one you want to take off your child’s ear and then put it back on.

He has a really cool scar. I feel a pang of sadness in my heart when I look at it though. I am sad that his perfect body had to be scarred so deeply so early in his life. I am sad that he had had this on top of so many other challenges and changes this past year. But I am also really proud of him because although I know he gets frustrated that he can’t hear, he tries really hard to listen. He is such a good boy. He is growing so incredibly fast and maturing everyday. I see glimpses of the man he will become and I am so happy he is my son… people are going to think we are great parents, but trust me, he just came this way.

Oh Santa! I want to blog...

But since my Christmas present is still in it's box- unopened...

and my house literally looks like this:

(we may never travel for Christmas again...)

and my little boy is pouting due to too much sugar, time in the car,

and not enough sleep or discipline...

I might just save all my darling Christmas posts for another day when I can do them justice. today just ain't the day.

we did have a merry christmas though- indeed.