Photo reel of some fun times!!

Choo choo...JT's 1st train ride on the Forest park mini-train. Then him playing in the ball pit at Vacation Bible School and finally another trackless train ride at our friend Weston's birthday party.

Some updates

I feel like this blog is becoming another thing on my to do list. I don't know why? I used to LOVE posting things on here, but now it feels more like an obligation. I hope I get over this. I love keeping everyone up to date, with out having to chit chat on the phone. Maybe when things get back to normal, it won't feel so.....hmmm, I'll have to think of a good word to describe this....

So we got back on Tuesday afternoon after a LONG flight home. Well it wasn't any longer than normal but it seemed that way since it was packed full. Usually the days I pick to fly are not typically busy but for some reason this trip the going and the coming were both full flights. Results? Jackson ended up sitting on my lap the entire time. It wasn't bad, just he will not sleep when you hold him so it was 2 hours of non-stop entertaining my boy. Not complaining, mind you, just had to humble myself and be completely silly in front of some very professional looking folks. The ladies were smiling and commenting on how good my little guy was, some the guys were giving me funny looks. Maybe this was a glimpse for them as just how much work their wives have put into their own kids. :-)

We had a great 2 weeks in Wyoming. Like I said, Wyoming is a trick state in the summer. Makes you want to pack up and move back. I told Travis when I got home that we should think about moving back. He quickly reminded me of my past few trips to Wyoming, dealing with the howling cold wind. Man if only the nice summer weather lasted a little longer.

We took Jackson camping the first few days we were there at the lake. It was so much fun! He also went on his first boat ride. I thought he would throw a fit about having to wear the bulky life jacket the entire time, but he didn't mind at all. He kept smiling and making his engine sound. Another thing we discovered at the lake is just how nice it is to have our family's help. Travis and I were able to go on several boat rides, ride the jet ski's and even go watch the fireworks from the boat while my grandma baby sat. A girl could get used to that.

When we got back to Casper we stayed with Travis's mom and dad for the 1st week. We had a huge brunch on Sunday with all of Travis's immediate family. I was pretty fun to see the little cousins together again since Christmas and I always love spending time with his family.

I had a birthday while we were there...the big 2-9! My mom got a cake and had a little party for me at my grandma's house. Scott & Arliss (my brother and sister-in-law) came with the 4 kids and all their energy. Jackson loved Auntie Arliss taking him outside to play with the kids. He just loves being around bigger kids, you can tell he just wants to run and play with them so bad. He did get in the grass and crawl around after them, but you could see it in his face how he wanted to run so badly.

The fair and rodeo was in town the last week we were there, so I took Jackson to the parade with some friends (parades actually are not too bad if you have some friends with kids to go with you). Then later in the week we took him to the fair to see the animals. He was so cute! His little hand would fly up in a kind of "what is that?" motion. I think his favorite was the steers. He was in awe at how big they were. A sheep that I was petting tried to lick his hand, but Jackson didn't want to have any part of actually touching these beasts. I'm sure next year we'll be wrestling him to the ground to keep him out of the animals pins.

Update on the house.....Pork Chop Hill went to a higher bidder and someone who could close faster. We have decided to still sell our house, but we are going to do FSBO. Save us a little cash in fees. I have found another house out that direction of Pork Chop Hill on McDaniel Rd..It is so beautiful and the kitchen is AWESOME! But like Travis says, it's all God's will so don't get too excited. Thank goodness he keeps me grounded sometimes.

Well here some pictures to enjoy. Jackson is 9 1/2 months now and starting to walk a little more. I think in a few weeks he will be all over the place.


Got my life jacket on!!
My first boat ride!!
Making my motor sound as we're cruising along on our boat ride
Going into the canyon on Alcova Lake.
Looking at the formations on the side of the canyon walls
Mason trying to come in the trailer soak and wet.
The big cousins at the lake
Alcova lake is so beautiful and cold. The water temp was only 66 degrees when we were there. But since it is so cold you can see the bottom till a good 12-15 feet out. The lakes in Wyoming are deep too. I think some spots at Alcova get over 300 feet deep
Splashing in the bucket bucket of water, with daddy's help, at the lake
Swimming with Jackson's cousin, Sarah

Giving mama some sugars after a swim
Jackson & Sarah riding in the red wagon
Jackson's littlest cousin, Erica. She turned 1 on June 30

Jackson, Travis & Uncle Bob from Sheridan
My in-laws back yard with a view of the mountain
Travis doing some target practicing out back at his mom & dad's. I love my God-fearing, arms bearing, fun-loving republican husband!
Another butt shot
Sitting at the table in a booster seat. He prefers this over a high chair for sure
The older cousins. From left to right...Sophia, Kaitlyn, Trenton & Mason
With Auntie Arliss and Uncle Scott. I don't know what it is about these 2, but Jackson would love and kiss on them all day if he could. Maybe it's because they have 4 kids.

Playing the organ with Grandma. I think the only reason she keeps this around is for the kids to pound on

Sitting with Papa Mike
Getting mommy some coffee
Staring out the back doors at Grandma's. He was wanting to go out and play so badly, but it was a chilly 42 degrees out that morning.
Jackson with the beautiful Dye girls
Jackson's 1st bath with a girl!! Tara's littlest. I think Taelyn was more traumatized than Jackson

Ahhhhh

I am resting in a bed in a hotel room in Loveland, CO. I should be sleeping but am too excited. Tomorrow we will finally be headed back to Ft Worth, TX! Jackson and I have been gone for 2 weeks and are ready to be home in our own environment.

I do have to admit that it is a little harder leaving this time. I had forgotten just how wonderful Wyoming is in the Summer. The days are warm and sunny and the nights are cool and quiet. Air conditioning is only needed for about 2 hours in the late afternoon, then you open every window in the house as the sun sets to let in the cool refreshing breeze. It's quiet, the air is clean and if you are staying at my in-laws you'll be awakened the next morning with huge mule deer grazing in the front yard. Wyoming is beautiful from June till about mid-November, after that FORGET IT!

Needless to say it was a fun trip, it made me a little home-sick, but now that I am in Colorado and this much closer to Texas, I just can't wait to get back. Of course the only reason is because
Travis is there. I go where ever Travis goes. I miss Wyoming and our family, but Ft Worth is where Travis wants to live right now so that's exactly where I want to be too.

I'll post some fun pics and tell some great stories when we get home and settled. Our plane lands at 4 pm at DFW and I am just counting down the hours till we are finally there.

Brand new baby!

JT is doing AWESOME! He slept so good last night, only woke up once at about 12, had a fever but wasn't crying at all. I gave him some motrin and he ended up sleeping till 6:45 am!! His little body needed that rest and he is doing so good today. The Dr called to check on him and I told her how good he was doing and she was SHOCKED! That's right, even the Dr said that "he must have something else going for him because medically he shouldn't be doing this good this fast."

Thank you Lord for healing my little baby so quickly and showing everyone your goodness and mercy! I pray Jackson's situation is a testament to everyone else to just what God can do it if you just trust in Him!

Quick update

After a quick trip to the Dr, then to get some chest x-rays we found out this afternoon that JT has pneumonia! Thankfully it's not bad enough to be admitted to the hospital and he will be on antibiotics for the next 10 days. The Dr said that it would take a while before he starts to feel better, but because he has been bathed in prayer today by so many people, he is already made a HUGE recovery in just one day. This morning at the Dr's office he was lethargic and dazed, by 6 pm he was back to crawling all over the house and acting almost like himself, and he didn't start the antibiotics until 5:30 pm!! Coincidence? I think not!

Thank you to everyone who has called to check on him and to let us know that you are praying, God is so good and our little guy is recovering by leaps and bounds!

Please make it go away!

JT is sick, really sick. He was up 3 times last night wailing in pain, his body was HOT HOT HOT to the touch and he was running a temp around 102. The fever broke, I think, and at 7 this morning it was around 101. The only thing that seems to console him is a cold wet compress to his head. I'm sitting here waiting for the Dr to call back so we can take him in and I know he will be OK, but I just hurt for him. I'm not worried I just want it to go away so my little baby can start feeling better. 

On a lighter note yesterday was a BIG day! JT waived bye-bye for the first time to my friend Susan....sorry Chris :-)....he got his FIRST TOOTH and his eyes went swimming three times and he didn't scream once! He's also getting really good at kicking his legs to swim to a floaty. It just amazes me what they can learn and do at this age...8 months!

Please be praying for my baby, I know he'll get better but it just horrible to see him in pain, and I have faith that everything will be OK!!

Whaaaaa!

That's what happens when you make JT's "eyes go swimming!", he screams!

This week JT & I are doing a mommy-n-me swim class in the afternoons at my friends house. On Monday we got there late so we only got about 15 mins of swim time (the class is 30 mins long). I was able to get him submersed once and he didn't cry to bad, but he did let out a HUGE burp when we got out of the pool, which means he's sucking in the water. It's kind of a fun class. We start by putting them in the airplane position (arms out on their bellies, head up looking at you in the face) and tell him to kick-kick-kick, which he does with a HUGE smile. Then I got my mouth in the water and starting blowing to make the water bubble. This part confused him a little and he ended up drinking more water than making bubbles. After I got him comfortable with getting his face half way in the water we step up to the major par which is "eyes go swimming!" At first he was a little shocked, then he kind of gasped for air when he came up the second time but after that it was all down hill. At the end of the lesson today he was screaming and trying to crawl out of the pool when I would get close to the sides of the pool. I was kind of worried that I've scared him for life and that every time we get close to our pool he'll freak out, but Mikki said that he won't remember. I guess tomorrow we'll have to take it a little slower, maybe only dunk twice and leave it at that.

There are 2 other kids in his class....a 2 year old little girl and a 20 month little boy. The little girl won't even put her mouth in the water and the little boy is doing back flips off the side of the pool...well not really, but he is jumping in the water to his mom and it's only been 2 days. I guess I'm a little bitter cause my little guy just seems to excel at everything he does, plus his mommy is a little fish herself, so it just baffles me that he doesn't just love dunking under the water. What's up?! Oh well, we'll get there.

About the house: well we had an older lady stop by on her own yesterday wanting to take a look around, but I was headed out to our swim class so she only got to see the living room. Then today I got a call from the "centralized showing service" that there would be a showing today between 3 pm and 4 pm. I was gone but when I got back I could tell that people had been here. How? Well the picture on the end table was turned, the key in the back door lock was turned a different direction and the bathroom light in the master bath was also in a different position. Oh, I should work for CSI, NOTHING gets past me!! :-)

Hopefully someone will like our house soon!


So proud of that pony!
Hmm...can I get my whole fist in my mouth?