Just checking in....

Hey y'all. I hope you had an amazing Christmas. We did. Jackson was so funny! He woke up bright and early Christmas morning and we told him that we were going to go see what Santa brought him. He walked into the living room and said, "Wow!" He loved all his stuff! He keeps saying that Santa brought him a "Christian" when he means to say kitchen. Too cute! He also got play food and dishes, some books, a sleeping bag, TONS of playdoh, monster trucks, a motorcycle, a big rig filled with cars, a tool bench and millions of accessories, a weed eater, and so much more. We even got an Elf on the Shelf for next year. I'm so excited about that. We named our elf Scout, so I can't wait to introduce Jackson to him next year. Our house looks like it imploded! We spent Christmas morning with my family and then made the drive to Mississippi and spent the weekend at the Wade's house. We had a blast with everyone and Jackson's first Christmas where he actually knows what is going on was extremely memorable. I will post tons of pictures later!

In other news, Operation Big Boy Bed has officially started. We switched Jackson's crib and crib tent out for a twin bed this past Sunday. I love his bedding. We got a reversable navy blue/red quilt with adorable construction/truck sheets to match. It is so cute! I'm so glad that Jackson is growing up, but I am REALLY gonna miss that crib tent! So far I would give us about a 60% on getting him to actually stay in his bed. He loved the new found freedom of being able to throw the covers off and use his new bed as a trampoline. Bedtime is going to take much, much longer now but I know that eventually we will get into a system that works great for us.

Next up: Operation Lose the Paci. We're taking baby steps here people. Baby steps.

Oh, and I think it's kind of cool to let you know that I am ending my bloggy year with my 400th post. Aren't you proud of me? I hope y'all have a wonderful and Happy New Years. I'll see you in 2009!

In Case You Ever Wondered...

A beach vacation will drastically affect the night time routine for a two year old. It is 9:50 right now and Jackson is escaping his bed every few minutes and just came to find us with a blanket draped completely over his body like a ghost. I guess he figures that if he can't see us, surely we can't see him sneaking out of bed.

I have two words for you: crib tent. Just so you know...

Works For Me Wednesday

Today is once again WFMW over at Rocks in My Dryer, and I have an easy suggestion today. Here goes....So I have a very active toddler boy, who, at the mere age of 16 months, figured out how to climb out of his crib. I was seriously not ready to put him into a “big boy” bed yet, and the thought of him getting hurt while climbing out of his crib was very stressful. So after much research, we decided to buy a crib tent. Now, as weird as this may sound, I promise it is the best thing ever, and it has given us so much piece of mind. It was originally designed to keep cats out of cribs, so it is incredibly strong, and the best part: there is NO way for him to get out. He was a little unsure of it at first, but now we can just put him into his crib, zip him in, and he is asleep in no time. We have used it for 3 months now, and will use it for as long as possible (I’m thinking college).

I now don’t have to worry that Jackson is running around the house during the night, getting into who knows what while I sleep soundly. It really has been a lifesaver for us, and I hope that if anyone out there has a “climber” that you give it a try. It has definitely worked for us!

So much to say...

After much anticipation on our part, the crib tent finally arrived (2 days earlier than expected!!!) I thought that I could handle putting it up all by myself, and surprise Jeremy when he got home with my ingenuity. Let’s just say, that didn’t happen. I believe that I was at the point where I was equating putting this tent together with labor and childbirth. I honestly think I actually worked harder last night trying to put that stupid tent together than I did when Jackson was born.

All that to say, it was nowhere near finished when Jeremy got home. After a few minutes, we got it done, and put on his crib. Jackson had the best time playing with the box it came in, and I couldn’t help but smile at him and tell him that he had no idea how much fun I was going to have once we got that tent up.

If any other parents out there have the aquarium that goes on the side of the crib, you know how much fun it is to put that thing on, or take it off. It’s about as fun as a root canal with no anesthesia. Well, guess what..the tent won’t work right if the aquarium is inside the crib, so we had to take it off. Let’s just say that whoever designed that little contraption should be lined up and shot. They decided to put the batteries inside the little section that screws on, which is fine, but then you also have to attach it to the crib from inside the battery section. How stupid is that!!! This involves putting yourself into positions that could only be mastered by yoga experts, and that I have no desire to find myself in anytime soon.

Finally…we got it all done. Other than a zipper that is slightly louder than one might like when you are trying to check on a sleeping child, it seems great so far. Jackson was asleep when we put him in the crib last night, and he slept, well, like a baby all night long. Then, at 5:00 this morning, he woke up and must have been panicked by his tent. He was WAILING. We got him in bed with us, and then later this morning, we put him back in the crib, and got him laughing. I don’t want him being scared by the tent, or needing therapy in 20 years because of his fears that he is being trapped. I am sure that I will have plenty of tent reports in the near future.

In other news, Jackson is having to go back to the ENT tomorrow to have his ears checked out. As you may know, Jackson got tubes put in back in April. His left tube has not fallen out of his ear, but it is not working, and the right one is fine. Because of that, his right ear is draining like a faucet right now from his cough/cold, and the left one is not doing anything. I would be big bucks that he has another ear infection, and if so, I will be jumping to get that tube put back in his ear. I will NOT go through another winter like we did last year. Simply not gonna happen...

I have posted several new pics are of Jackson's few favorite thing to do while I am getting changed after work. Look closely....Where's Jackson???? Have a great Tuesday!!!

Our solution (at least we hope it is)

After much debate and many creative solutions offered, we have decided to purchase the Tots In Mind Cozy Crib Tent to try and contain little man for a few more months. Actually, I decided to buy it, and Jeremy graciously agreed. I know that I don't want Jackson in a toddler bed or a twin bed yet, and I am just a nervous wreck when I think about him climbing in and out of his bed. So, I had to find something to help us. We actually were watching Dateline last night and it was featuring the McCaughey septuplets and showing them over the last 10 years. It had tons of highlights from when they were toddlers and Jeremy and I spotted the crib tent over many of the beds and I just had to do some research and find out what it was. Thanks to GOOGLE, I now know. It looks weird, but parents that have tried it sing it's praises. I know....I did research! It should arrive by next Wednesday and believe me, you will hear about it whether it is good or bad.

Bite-Gate Update: I know you have all been on the edge of your seat wanting to know whether we got Jackson to quit biting. Answer: Sort of. He had stopped biting and then they promoted Kaitlynn to his class at school, and guess what her favorite thing to do is? You got it…Biting! She has left 3 bruises on his arms from her little canines. Jeremy’s main concern was that she had her rabies shot. After all, we can’t have Jackson getting sick! Now, Jackson has reverted back to biting occasionally, and I can’t really blame him. Kaitlynn is chewing him to pieces. He has to defend himself somehow!

I gotta run. Tonight is the last night of Dave Ramsey, and in his honor, I am going to skip class and go Christmas shopping! Have a good Thursday!