Happy Birthday, Mommy!

I came home to a surprise waiting for me on my computer---my favorite guy singing "Happy Birthday", with a little help from his daddy.

Getting Ready for Halloween and the Paci Fairy

Two weeks ago Jackson had a visit from the Paci Fairy. For those of you who don't know who the Paci Fairy is, she is a magical creature who comes to visit children when they are ready to give their pacifiers to newborn babies. She always comes at night and leaves a present. One night, we helped Jackson put all of his pacifiers in a big box and when morning came, the Paci Fairy had left him a baby doll, his beloved "B". Here is a picture of Jackson reading to "B".

Yes, I let my son play with dolls.


Here is a picture of Jackson in his Tigger costume at the Zoo this past Sunday. They have a big "Howl-o-ween" Event for the two weekends before Halloween. We rode on a hayride, went on Trick or Treat trail, played some games, ate some donuts and cider, and of course visited the animals, who had the best costumes of all!

Here is Jackson riding the train at the zoo in the dark.

Be honest: who is cuter---Jackson or the tiger behind him? You know my vote!

Daddy likes to drink wine with dinner at home sometimes. Guess who insisted on having wine with dinner also. Before you call the authorities, you should know that it is only iced tea in the wine glass. It sufficiently satisfied the two-year-old, and the mommy.

Jackson's 2nd Birthday

I know this has been a long time coming, but here are some photos from Jackson's recent birthday:



This is a hornet's nest on our big tree in the front. It's huge. It looks like something right out of Winnie-the-Pooh (if there was honey in it). I tried to get someone to climb up there and pose next to it so you could really see how big it is, but Sean and Jackson both said no.
We went to Chuck E. Cheese (or E. Cheese, as Jackson calls it) the night of Jackson's actual birthday. He liked it so much we are going to use going back there as some leverage in potty training!

This is Jackson's Handy Manny birthday cake made by Sean. It was a shame to have to cut it all up.....

The birthday boy with the hugest grin on his face as his family and friends sing Happy Birthday to You. He really does like that song.

His new tricycle.

His new house.

We took video of Jackson listening to Aunt Michelle, Connor, and Eli sing Happy Birthday to You on the answering machine. Just before this, he listened to the message approximately four times.

More July Happenings at the Pikes'

This past Sunday we watched Jackson's cousin Nathan while Sara & Troy (Sean's sister and brother-in-law) went to dinner for their 6-year anniversary (who, by the way, will be returning the favor for our 8-year anniversary on Aug. 11th, as we won't be on the family vacation for our anniversary for the first time in many years). The boys had loads of fun playing together with Jackson's mountain of toys. Here they are taking a drink break.

Here is the funniest thing: we told the boys to make "mean faces" and Jackson did, but every time he saw the camera flash he grinned and said, "CHEESE!" It was hysterical. So this is one of many of the pictures of this pose in our attempt to get "mean faces". As you can see, Nathan had no problems.

On Thursday, Jackson and I met a few friends out at Olcott's Carousel Park. Most of the other kids were older than Jackson, and I was sure that he wouldn't be riding rides, but I bought a few tickets anyway, thinking he could just ride the carousel a few times (tickets were only 25 cents each). After he watched the kids riding on the cars he told me he wanted to go on. I asked him if he was sure, because we have been down that road before. He actually rode on the kiddie rides!! I was in complete shock. He rode the cars three times, the rocket ships once, the boats once, and the airplanes once. In fact, every time the ride stopped and the attendant unbuckled his seatbelt, he would bury his face in his hands and cry because he liked them so much! This makes me very excited because there is a big midway in Myrtle Beach, so in two weeks he'll be able to ride with his big cousins. YAY!!

Random July Updates

July has thus far has been rainy almost every day, so here are some of the things we do to keep an almost two-year-old entertained:
Helping Grandma wash his slide.

Then he decided he would rather wash himself. Notice how Grandma is smirking in the background.

Jackson also got a new sandbox, but he's been in it exactly twice since we filled it up due to the weather.

Jackson and Daddy enjoy some Wheel of Fortune.

Jackson insisted on eating a plum the other day (Mommy had one and he wanted his own) so I put a paper towel bib on him because I bet plum juice stains are a little difficult to get out. He kept biting in the same spot all the way to the pit and I tried to show him how to turn it so he could start a new section but of course he didn't want to touch the juicy side of the plum. So I got up to throw away my plum pit and get another paper towel.....

and he figured this out on his own!

Medical update:

As of right now, Jackson still weighs only 20 lbs, which is what he weighed 3 months ago when we went to the doctor. They prescribed an appetite stimulant which worked out very well for about a week before Jackson's tummy became so upset that he was vomiting. However, we are unsure at this point whether the medicine itself made him vomit or because he was so much hungrier, he was overstuffing himself and it was coming back up, like acid reflux. They have recommended a procedure called an upper endoscopy in which they put a probe down his throat to see what possible causes they can see for his unwillingness to eat and therefore inability to gain weight. This procedure would involve anesthesia, and while we have not ruled it out as a possibility, Sean and I have decided not to do this yet until we feel there are no more options. At the very least, we will wait until he weighs 22 lbs, at which point the procedure would be out-patient rather than in the operating room. (Apparently there is a minimum weight requirement for outpatient procedures).

Despite all of this, he remains a happy, smart, funny, sweet, well-adjusted boy about to turn two. What more could a mother ask for?

Becker Farms and Papa Pike's Birthday

This past Saturday we attended a barbecue at Sean's dad's house (AKA Papa Pike) in honor of the June birthdays in the family: Papa Pike on the 7th, Uncle Mat on the 12th, & cousin Jocelyn on the 15th; plus a little Father's Day celebration thrown in there. Sean's Aunt Diane (Papa Pike's younger sister) and her two girls Samantha (16) & Jocelyn (15) were in town from Madison, Wisconsin, so it was a wonderful family gathering. Above: Jackson enjoys some time on the tire swing at Papa Pike's house.

Jackson poses with Aunt Diane.

(L-R) Aunt Diane, Samantha, Jocelyn

Three generations of Pike men.

On Sunday we took Jackson to a local farm where we paid $10 for unlimited access to the slides, playground, duck pond, & petting zoo, plus a pony ride for Jackson and a hay ride for all three of us. Yes, my son, who is afraid of just about everything, rode a pony. And liked it. And yelled "Neigh!" the whole time he was up on the pony's back. I like the first picture because the look on his face says, "You want me to go where?!"

This is one of the two Becker Mountain Slides that the farm boasts. As you can see, it is not much more than a drainage unit stuck into the side of a hill. But alas, so much fun for the kiddies. This is the smaller one that is reserved for smaller children. We never thought Jackson would go for it, but he wanted to walk up the hill with daddy, anyway. When they got to the top, to our shock and amazement, he sat down at the top of the slide and went down. This is a child who will not go down toddler slides at the park by himself.

This is the best picture ever: the end of the slide. You may have to click on it to get a clearer view of Jackson's face, but please do because it is hysterical! At this point, we thought, "OK, he's done." Then he proceeded to walk up the hill and slide down three more times. We think that the trick was that he closed his eyes. Heck, I think I would too.

E-I-E-I-0

You asked for it---video of Jackson talking and singing. The first two videos illustrate how he says virtually anything that begins with the letter "S". We try not to giggle too much when Santa and Sara come out like a certain four-letter word that rhymes with "hit". Grandma especially has to be reminded not to giggle....even if it is really funny.

The next two videos are of Jackson singing Old MacDonald with some help from Daddy.

Now doesn't that make you want to go to a farm?

Jackson's First Haircut

I won't lie to you. There were tears. And after I dried my eyes, I took some pictures. As much as I hated to lose the curls, Jackson's hair was shaggy and had a "ducktail" thing going on in back. It also bothered his ears, but the number one reason I couldn't stand it any longer? He was mistaken for a girl one too many times for me.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Back view before:

Back view after:

Front view before:

Front view after:

"Pike. Jackson Pike."

Surprisingly, the electric clippers were his favorite part. Well, not counting the lollipop.

Great Wolf Lodge

This past weekend the three of us traveled up to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, Canada. The lodge boasts a H-U-G-E indoor waterpark complete with slides, a wave pool, hot tubs, lazy river, and a four-story tree house. It was amazing. We had a blast. Jackson wasn't sure what to think at first, and the waves scared him, but by Sunday, he was running through the fountains.

Here is a picture of Jackson making friends with the bear carved into a lamp in the lobby.

He wanted to give the bear a kiss! Ick.

First day: not too sure what to think of the fountains.

His first coloring masterpiece.

Second day: Running through fountains!

We hope to go back very soon!