Christmas Morning

Well I really can't believe that it is already Christmas. I think time is moving faster lately. Jackson of course had no idea what was going on or why all the fuss over new stuff but never the less he did have a blessed Christmas. I am sure he will be more into it next year and the scary part is that he will be more mobile too. He is such a rambunctious little boy that I will need to buy a fence for the Christmas tree to keep him from climbing it.

We put out cookies and milk for Santa (at our house Santa got sugar free cookies) and I think Santa only ate one of the cookies and Mrs. Claus had the milk. I had decided that for Christmas breakfast we would start a tradition of making sticky buns for breakfast. So about 7 pm on Christmas Eve I was going to make the sticky buns up and put them in the fridge to make the morning go better. I found a hint to use crescent rolls (which I do not recommend) instead of making your own dough. I started trying to get the seams on the crescent rolls of stick together and started putting the filling on them only to realize I smelled garlic and looked over to see I had bought garlic crescent rolls -- YUCK! So of course all the stores were closed and I had nothing else to cook for breakfast so luckily Chad's Mom had some frozen biscuits and I balled them up into a dough and rolled it out and it made wonderful sticky bun dough. So when we got up on Christmas morning we had sticky buns for breakfast and might I say they were yummy!!

Then after we ate Jackson got up and had his breakfast of milk and pears -- ok so it was not quite as appetizing as sticky buns but he did get a little taste of the goo and he approved. The we began to get into his Santa stuff. Jackson had a good time playing with all his new toys. Then we began to open the gifts from Mommy and Daddy and by this time he was getting tired so we went through those quickly. But this hat was too cute so I had to get at least one picture of it. I do not think I have posted a picture of our Bama tree so here is one. This was taken Christmas morning so our cards were stuck in it.

Christmas Pictures

Here are a few pictures of Jackson this Christmas Season I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!

Cash Family Christmas

We recently had the annual Cash Family Christmas at the Stephens Lakehouse in Brierfield. It is always nice to see everyone. It was also fun that this year we played dirty Santa for the first time. I personally love to play this because it gets everyone involved. Also my Aunt Cynthia had a great idea she composed a cook book of family recipes that everyone sent in to her and she also got us several of Granny and Paw Paws famous recipes to include. Here are some pictures from the event.

Anna and Peyton -- Peyton was showing me that they both had snowman earrings.

Gracie and Bailie

Gabby and Gracie

Granny talking to Jackson. (These pictures are so special to me)

Gabby and Jackson

Jackson in his Christmas Sweater and Houndstooth shirt.

Me and Starr

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

We would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. To me Christmas is truly a magical time for all of us and if we can only try to put all the hustle and bustle aside and see Christmas as we did as a child. And instead of worrying about schedules and events just thinking about the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Magic
Are we too grownup to feel a thrill

As we light the Christmas tree?

Are we immune to cookies,

Christmas cards and Christmas glee?

Are we too adult to "Ooh" and "Aah"

At the Christmas candle's glow?

Are we blasé about our gifts;

Do we shun the mistletoe?

Are we too mature for carols,

For merry or for jolly?

Do the decorations leave us cold,

The ornaments and holly?

Fat chance! We'll never grow too old

To love the Christmas magic.

A year without a Christmas

Would be boring, even tragic.

So bring it on! The candy canes,

The feasting and good cheer;

O Christmas, lovely Christmas,

You're the highlight of the year!

My Baby is getting too big too fast .... 5 months already

Well I just can't believe how fast time flies, this past Saturday Jackson celebrated his 5 month birthday. No cake yet but he did have some pears and carrots yum! He is getting so big and doing so many new things. He can sit alone for about a minute before he falls over, he is laughing all the time, he has found his cute little toes, and he is really beginning to be very interested in the world around him. He is changing so very fast that everyday when I look at him it seems like I see something a little different.



Here is Jackson on his 5 month birthday. Here Jackson seems to be saying "haven't you taken enough pictures yet Mom?". Jackson infant bathtub also makes into a toddler bathtub and he loves it. He sits up so big in it and really loves his bath time. He does not mind the water in his face and he loves to splash water. And we still put his tub in the kitchen sink to save our back from bending over the bathtub. Jackson has always had tons of hair and now when we dry his hair after his bath he can get a bit of a spike.

I have another post that I will try to get finished tonight and I am sure I will have lots more over the next week. So to you regular readers stay tuned

Forever Friends

Jackson has only 1 1st cousin Trip. Trip is 2 years old and loves his "Jacks" more than anything. Now by love I mean he loves to hug him, share toys with him and even boss him around. Jackson had not seen Trip in about a week and a half because we had been gone so I took him by Memaw's for a visit today. I thought I would share the picts with whatever readers I have out there. Although maybe I am just sharing with 2 or 3 people.

Jackson and his buddy Santa

While we were in Mobile Jackson got a chance to get his picture made with Santa. He thought Santa was funny and kept wanting to look at Santa and grin instead of looking at the camera. I really wanted to get the picture made while we were down there so that I could order my Christmas card. And I am glad to say that my Christmas cards are now ordered and will be here next week to mail out!!

Polar Express Train Ride

Friday night we along with my Mom and David took Peyton, Bailie and Jackson for a ride on the Polar Express train in Calera. It is about an hour train ride complete with a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elves, and the cookie lady. At the beginning of the train ride they read the story over the loudspeakers as you ride along in the decorated train cars. Then you stop at the "North Pole" where Santa and Mrs. Claus get on the train and come by and take pictures with all the kids who are willing to get near him and that does not include Peyton and Bailie. Peyton did give Santa 5 and that was a really big move for her and Bailie did not scream so that was good for her too. Jackson still does not know to like or dislike Santa so he did fine. Here are some picts from the journey.

Paw Paw with Peyton and Bailie

Peyton on the train (yes there are 2 coats it was cold)

Bailie on the train Mommy and Jackson just after he got on the train Jackson after he fell asleep I missed the picture where he was screaming but thanks to all the noise no one could really hear him.Mommy, Daddy, and Jackson on the train waiting for SantaMrs. Claus, Jackson and SantaJackson bundled up in his big coat. The elves passing out the bells. Yes if you give 50 kids bells you will hear ringing for an hour after you leave.

Peyton talking to the Elf

Rammer Jammer!!!!

Lets start this by saying

ROLL TIDE ROLL!! 36-0!!!

Chad and I went to the Iron Bowl game this Saturday. Although it was a dreary drizzly day we had a wonderful time!! We were able to meet up with some of our friends before and after the game and we had a wonderful time. It has been a wonderful season so far and we are just looking forward to it getting better over the next two games. Jackson stayed with my Mom for the day so that we could go and spend the day in Tuscaloosa.

Getting Jackson's 1st Tree

Yesterday we went to pick out our Christmas Tree and Jackson's 1st Christmas Tree. We bundled him up lots which meant in addition to all of his clothes we also wrapped him into my coat. We got the tree home and as usual it is always bigger at home than it is in the Christmas tree lot. I guess it is something that they put on it that makes it grow bigger on the way home. Jackson slept through the decorating process and woke up just in time to see the end result. I will post finished results soon.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We love you all so much and we all have so much to be thankful for. I received this poem in an email a few days ago and it was so appropriate for Thanksgiving so I decided to share it with you all.

My Baby Boy and Me

Its 3 am they're all asleep

And no one's here to see

As we rock slowly back and forth

My Baby Boy and Me.

His little head is feather light

tucked up against my chin

I hold his tiny hand in mine

and stroke his baby skin.

The house about us creaks and groans

the clock hands creep around

He snuggles closer to me still

and makes his baby sounds.

I love these quiet hours so much

and cherish every one

store memories up inside my heart

for lonely nights to come.

All too soon he'll be grown up

his need for Mama gone

but until then I still have time

for kisses and for song.

Time for quiet hours like this

with him cuddled in my arms

where I wish he'd always stay

protected safe and warm.

And yet I know the day will come

when this tiny little hand

will be much bigger than my own

he'll grow to be a man.

But until then he's mine to love

with no one here to see

as we rock slowly back and forth

my baby boy and me.

Yummy!!

Here is a new picture of my big boy I am just so amazed how much he is growing and changing every week. I went back and looked at some older blogs and wow I am amazed at his changes.

Jackson is trying so many new foods and so far he has liked them all. If this is any sign he is going to be a great eater. No telling what my grocery bill will be when he gets older... We started him on oatmeal cereal over a month ago and he did really well with it to start with but as I mentioned last week he has been having some poop problems. So we started fruits 1st but skipped bananas to try to help with this. So far it has not so we are now trying some prunes (just a few bites at lunch every day) and we have cut out the oatmeal cereal and giving him fruit in the morning along with some apple prune juice in his bottle. As of today he has ate apples, pears, carrots, squash, and sweet peas. His favorite is pears and his least favorite is squash. I say least favorite because he eats them a little slower and gulps everything else down. But he has not refused anything. He will get to try green beans on Thursday. Here is a picture of his trying carrots for the 1st time. And yes I know this is a trick or treat bib but it is big and protects his clothes from the orange color....

We are using as many organic baby foods as possible. I can't help but think the more natural stuff I put into his body the better. I don't consider myself fanatical and Chad and I do not eat organic but if we had a whole foods or something nearby we would consider eating it more. When we were in Birmingham we went there and loved it so I am going to try to go by there when we are down and get some things to use when we get back home. Like I said I don't think that I am fanatical but I just can't help but think the more natural foods you can eat the healthier you would be..

However, Jackson has also found one more additional thing he loves to eat. His hand. He is not longer sucking his thumb but he chews on his thumb, finger, fingers, hands, or entire fist (he does not discriminate) all the time. If you pick him up you better wipe his hands off or you will have a slimy, wet and sloppy hand and he goes straight for your shirt or face with it.

Now as for foods we like.... Chad's parents took us to Ruth's Chris to eat for Chad's 31st bday which is next Sunday. However, due to Thanksgiving, The Iron Bowl, a trip to Mobile and Christmas stuff we are booked the next 3 weekends so this was the best time for us to do his birthday. We took Jackson and he did wonderful. He slept thought salads and sat in my lap through dinner then MeMaw held him during the wonderful dessert. Here is a picture of my favorite 2 boys with the dessert. Yes you will notice in this picture they look almost just alike especially the eyes.

Now as for this week "THE GAME" is Saturday so we will be in Tuscaloosa to tailgate for that and we will be going to the game also. So I will have pictures of that event next week. Roll Tide Roll!!!