Jackson

Can it be? For real? My baby boy is already two???

*sigh*

He is. For real. Today.

I love Jackson. So much. He has taught me lots, snuggled even more, made me laugh, and opened my heart in so many new ways in these past two years. When the Bible says that children are a blessing, it's true. Sometimes they're a blessing that puts a squeeze on my flesh and makes me wince over revealed self-occupation in me, but that, too, is a blessing.


Jackson:

:: loves trains and action figures and light sabers, all due to admiring a particular older sibling. He mimics most everything his big brother does and even tries to repeat what Gabriel says-- though he usually ends up settling for the last word or two in the sentence.

:: doesn't say much at all, other than what he's repeating. He's always been quieter than the others and the trend continues. However, not talking or making much noise does not mean that the boy can't communicate. He has a language all his own that's spelled f-o-r-c-e. Ask Bronwyn about the little brother who can take her out.

:: is tough, tough, tough. He doesn't get hurt easily and rarely cries about physical injury. His favorite games are football, wrestling, and "sword"-fighting.

:: has the strangest (and most delightful, in my opinion) eating preferences of any toddler I know. He doesn't like Thanksgiving dinner (yes! my genes have prevailed!) but will inhale a dinner of refried black beans on rice. Leaves the ham, takes the tuna curry. Prefers yellow peppers over baby carrots. It's all so unusual! Of course, he does enjoy a good hot dog, which seems to be a favorite of all my children.

:: stays on his "big boy bunk bed" (how's that for a tongue-twister?) pretty well-- much better than *ahem* other children of mine. He's been out of the crib since October (20 months old) and has only fallen out of bed once.

:: has the best smile in the world. No kidding. I love to make him smile just so I can see it. It's the kind of smile that makes you ache a bit because it's so wonderful.

Happy Birthday to my big little boy!