The Irwin Incidence

2009 in Review

2009-12-30T18:32:00.001-08:00

This year I did not get the opportunity to mail out Christmas cards. Seems I'm still trying to find the balance between family, work, and life, and sometimes I'm unable to do all the little things I'd love to do. I know that in time this balance will come as I strive to be the best wife and mom I can be while working. I had hoped to mail out cards and send out an update letter, so here's what I would've included in my letter had I actually written one =)

Donald continues to work for the Town of Holly Springs. We feel so incredibly blessed for God's hand of provision in our life that has remained constant for our years together. We're so thankful not only that Donald has a job, but it's a job he enjoys. Donald is such a special man, and a wonderful daddy and husband. Donald and Jackson are best friends, and spend lots of time together cuddling or playing.

Kelly graduated from graduate school in May, and began working in August at a nursing home. Being a speech-language pathologist is so incredibly fulfilling. I love my job, and love the girls that I work with! I love that we are so close! We work, cry, laugh, and pray together. We are very close knit and feel more like sisters than co-workers. I prayed for many months for God to open the door for His will because more than anything I long to be right in His will because I know that's where I'll be happiest ultimately, and looking back I'm so amazed at all the doors He shut only to open a door I never imagined I'd be happy in. Now, I can see how His hand was at work in my life, and I'm so thankful that His timing is always right!

Jackson began preschool part-time this past fall, and has thoroughly enjoyed it. He has learned so much and come so far academically and socially. I'm constantly amazed at the concepts his little mind can grasp. There's nothing I enjoy more than hearing his voice singing songs about our Lord and Savior as we drive to Rocky Mount. I'm proud to be called "Mommy" of such a special little boy who was formed perfectly by God's hands.

2009 has been an exciting year for our family, and we're excited as about what 2010 holds as we look forward to a new year.

Merry Christmas from the Irwins!

2009-12-25T17:03:00.000-08:00

What a precious day we have had celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior! From our home to yours...MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Reminiscing....

2009-08-29T19:18:00.001-07:00

Since I've been feeling a bit nostalgic...I mean my little baby boy is quickly growing into an independent little boy who LOVES all things boy, and all things he can do with his daddy. Amazing how much fun a daddy and his little boy can have...I thought I'd share a few pics I came across when he was just a small little guy.

He was 11 months here...Just a reminder to cherish every moment because they grow up so fast. My how I miss when he was just a little guy, but I'm ever so thankful for the special little boy he is becoming.

Catching up...

2009-08-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

Boy am I ever behind on blogging! Life happens, and the craziness of life has kept us on the go. I started my new job 2 weeks ago, and have really enjoyed it. I work wiht a wonderful group of people, who really care about the patients. I have enjoyed getting back in the swing of working and helping others. It is so gratifying to help others, and give of yourself to others.

We have been busy gearing up for Pirate Football season! If you know us, you know how much we enjoy football season. We're anxiously awaiting our season tickets, but they have yet to come in the mail yet, but anticipate them anyday. Only a few more weeks til football season begins!

I'll try to add updated pictures of Jackson very soon. He's at such a fun age, and we are so thankful that God blessed us with him. He continues to amaze me each day, and brightens each and every day. What a blessing he is!

I'm Employed!

2009-07-17T01:46:00.000-07:00

As of last week, I accepted a position at a nursing home in my home town as a Speech-Language Pathologist. WHOO HOO! I start in just a little over a week, so I'm a bit sad that this is the last week of being a stay at home mom with Jackson, but feel so thankful for this opportunity, and have really enjoyed this time with Jackson and watching him grow.
This job offers me a lot of flexibility in my schedule so that I am able to first and foremost be a wife and mother. Yes I will still be at work 30 hours a week, but they allow me to come early/late if need be so that I can be the wife and mother I am called to be. During the interview, one of the first things they told me is that they are a family-oriented company who encourages family involvement because they know that is important in my role as a clinician. The other day I stopped in just to pick up some more paperwork for my licensure (who knew there could be so much paperwork to obtain this little piece of important paper?!?), and the staff made me feel like family in just the few minutes I was there. As the rehab manager walked around and introduced me as the new speech-language pathologist, I thought I would cry with excitement because it has been such a long road to get here, and I couldn't be happier! I'm so thankful for this opportunity, and pray that God uses me in this role someway somehow.

July 4th

2009-07-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful time on July 4th celebrating our freedom with close friends! Jackson enjoyed all the inflatables. This was the perfect kid-friendly celebration, and was a wonderful evening with friends. I didn't catch many pics while there, but here's a pic of Jackson sliding down the huge slide. I think his facial expression says it all! He had a wonderful time!

Baby birds

2009-07-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

Wow! This summer is really flying by! We have been busy catching up on projects, and enjoying family time together. Jackson and I have spent quite a bit of time working in the yard, and Jackson has enjoyed all the crickets, worms, lizards and other creatures that we have caught this summer. The past few weeks, Jackson and his friends from the neighborhood have enjoyed watching this the bird's nest that is on our front porch in our ferns. Just a few days ago, 2 of the birds hatched, and Jackson was so excited and has enjoyed checking on them daily to see them grow. Here's a picture of his new winged friends.

Marbles

2009-06-15T05:08:00.000-07:00

One morning last week, Jackson and I set out to visit Marbles Children's Museum. We've planned to go on several occasions; however, something else has come up that has always kept us from going. Jackson loved it and really enjoyed himself. He's already talking about going back, so maybe we will before the summer is over. Here's a few pics of his adventure at Marbles.

After leaving Marbles, we made a trip to the Farmer's Market and checked out the fresh produce and had lunch. Jackson was excited about the various samples he got to try. He especially liked the Muscadine Grape Slushie. I thought it was interesting tasting...He's asked for daddy to go back with us to visit these places soon, so we'll plan another adventure with daddy real soon.

Mercy Me

2009-06-10T17:44:00.001-07:00

Last Friday at the last minute, we won tickets to hear Mercy Me in Edenton, NC from the local Christian radio station. We were ecstatic as we never seem to win anything, and we enjoy listening to their music. We decided to make an adventure of it, as neither of us had ever been to Edenton before, and it was a 2 hour road trip from here. We loaded up as soon as Donald got off work, and the 3 of us headed out for a night of worship. We knew there was a possibility it was going to storm, but decided we had just got back from Florida where it rained almost the entire trip, so we packed out ponchos and decided to brave the storm. It stormed most of the ride there, and once we got there it was clear for about 5-10 minutes before the bottom fell out. Luckily, there was a nice covered shelter where we were able to stay dry, and the concert was postponed as the band's bus had broken down in SC so they were late arriving. We ended up bumping into a guy that Donald went to ECU with 7 years ago, and talked with him for a while until the concert started. The band didn't begin to play until around 9:30, and the concert didn't end until around 11.
It was such an encouraging evening, and exactly what I needed at the moment. The past month has been a bit trying as I've really missed my dad, and often wonder how different life might be if he were still here. That evening proved to be a wonderful encouragement that life is but a vapor, and the impact we make for eternity is the only thing that really matters in the end, so no matter the hurt, the pain, the disease...it's all used for God's glory and to impact eternity.
We didn't capture many pictures from the evening due to the rain, but it was a lot of fun, and we look forward to many more family outings such as this!

Disney World

2009-06-08T12:04:00.001-07:00

Jackson's First Glimpse of Mickey Mouse

Last month we decided we had so many things to celebrate, that we'd celebrate by having a family vacation to Disney World. We celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary, my graduation from ECU, and Donald's 30th birthday. It was a fitting vacation for lots of family memories, and lots of fun to be had together!

We spent 7 nights in Disney World, and were able to stay in a Disney World resort, and visit all of the Disney parks at least once. It rained over 10 inches in the week we were there, but it made for an interesting vacation, and we made the best of it, and still had a fabulous time. We were willing to brave the rain, and dance the puddles, so the crowds and waits were less than they could've been. Here's a few pictures from our vacation. Jackson is already saving his pennies in his bank to go see Mickey again. He loved it! Several times he has said, "Mommy, Mickey misses me. I need to go see him in Disney World." Ha ha ha! The laughter we shared!

Jackson has just reached the 40" mark, so he was big enough to ride most roller coasters there. He loved the roller coasters and many times made us ride 5-6 times in a row. Here's a picture of us on one of his favorite roller coasters there.

Graduation Day

2009-06-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to catch up on my blog somewhat, I'll be posting a little of what happened last month...

First off, on May 9, 2009, I officially graduated from ECU with my Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology. YYYYEEEESSSS!!!! I'm not sure who was happier, me or Donald. Donald has been such a huge support throughout this entire process, and said he was so happy to have his wife back. He's thrilled that I accomplished this, but also thrilled that I have more time to spend with our family. Here's a few pictures from the day. I'm so thankful for all of the love and support from my family and friends throughout this process. I definitely didn't do this alone, but rather did it by God's grace and strength, and with the support of my family and friends.

Graduation

2009-05-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the day has finally come where I graduate from college! Tomorrow is the big day! I don't know if I really ever knew this day would come, but I am thrilled that it has! I've been the student for so long, that it can be a bit overwhelming to actually be the clinician and be the one making the decisions, but I've had great mentors along the way, and am confident in the things that I have learned so far.
This day is such a special day for me because it means I can give back in such a special way. A way that a Speech-Language Pathologist impacted my family years ago, and there is such a significant meaning behind that for me! I am passionate about the profession, the patients, and the families that this profession touches every single day. I am encouraged because I know that I can make an impact! I don't feel like I am simply going to work each day because I really enjoy what I do, and enjoy the satisfaction that comes from making a difference in the lives of others. Don't get me wrong...there are some depressing days. Days where you wonder why individuals and families are experiencing the grief that they are experiencing; however, I know that ultimately medicine, medical professionals, nor anyone else on this Earth are the giver or taker of life, and I am also reminded that all things can be used for His glory if we only allow them to. So while there are depressing days, they are far outnumbered.
I plan to enjoy some time off for a little while so that I can spend this time with Donald and Jackson. Donald has been the most supportive husband that I could've ever asked for. I feel truly blessed to be married to such a selfless individual who constantly prays for me and has encouraged me every step of the way. This degree really belongs to him as well because he has sacrificed and worked very hard right along side me to make this a reality. I love that man more than words could ever say!
We leave next week for a 9 day vacation, and I couldn't be more ready! We are thrilled to be taking some time off to enjoy some family time.
Thank you all for being a part of this journey!

April...Where did it go?

2009-05-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

No, we haven't fallen off the face of the planet; however, April was an extremely busy month for us (photos to come soon I promise). We celebrated Jackson's 3rd birthday with a small get-together because of how chaotic and hectic everything has been. We feel so extremely blessed to be this sweet little boy's parents, and can't imagine life without him. He adds so much to our family, and are so grateful that God blessed us with him! Donald had to go out of town for work 2 weekends this month. Jackson and I tagged along for one of those weekends in Charlotte, and had a nice time exploring and shopping =) I also had to complete everything for graduation during the month of April. There were a lot of loose ends to tie up and paperwork to be completed, but I'm happy to say that it's all finished!
I will be posting pictures of our events for the month of April soon as I'm trying to catch up on everything now that things have slowed down a bit.

Roller Skating

2009-03-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated birthdays for 2 special little people in our life! At 1 of the parties, Jackson got to try out skating for the first time. He enjoyed it, but after falling numerous times became a little discouraged, and figured it was more fun for daddy to skate and carry him than it was to keep falling. Here's a few pics of our time today. We'll definitely do this again soon! Thanks Nicole for the opportunity to try something new, and for allowing us to celebrate this special day with Sophie!

Bedtime prayers

2009-03-23T02:04:00.000-07:00

Donald is out of town this week for work, so Jackson and I are on our own. Boy, do we ever miss him after just 1 night!
Last night I was putting Jackson in bed after his bathtime and storytime. I asked him what he wanted mommy to pray about tonight, and he listed off: Daddy, Mommy, Mimi, Granny, Papa, Giz, me, and Daddy. He made sure to put daddy in there twice since daddy is gone, and I thought it was cute he asked me to pray for him. So, we closed our eyes and said our prayer, and when I was finished, I asked if he wanted to say a prayer. So we closed our eyes and this was his prayer:
Dear God, watch over me, Daddy, Mommy, Mimi, Granny, Papa, Giz. Protect us. We sat there for a minute and I peeked and he still had his eyes closed, so I asked if he was finished, and he nodded his head yes, so I rounded it out by saying Amen.
Oh it was precious! I love that child that God has so richly blessed me with! Parenting isn't always easy, but there's just some moments that make up for the difficult moments to encourage you to stick with it, because it's all worth it!

FEES Certification

2009-03-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

What a weekend it has been! I went this weekend to a course to enable me to get my FEES certification. FEES stands for fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. It's a swallowing evaluation we do on patients who may have difficulty swallowing. I have to get a special certificate that allows me to perform these evaluations because it is in invasive procedure. I've completed the first part of certification now which was the course I took this weekend, and so far I've performed 17 evaluations. I will have to complete the other swallowing evaluations in the presence of an ENT or a priveledged endoscopist, which I hope to have completed in the next month and a half.
WOW! Everything is really falling in place for graduation and the job search. This is all becoming so real as I anticipate graduation in only 5 short weeks. It'll be here before I know it, and I only have 2 more papers to write before grad school is over! YES =)

It's Official!

2009-03-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

I officially began the job search today! I submitted my first application for a position that I am interested in as a staff acute care Speech Language Pathologist at a local hospital. I'm excited about what the next few months may bring in our life. I've been praying for months and months about this decision...Seems like such a daunting task to look for a job, to figure out exactly what arena I wanted to use my degree in...did I want to go work in a hospital, school system, inpatient rehab center, outpatient rehab, home health, etc...the list goes on. The great thing about this profession is there's so many possibilities, and I'm not limited by 1 arena or 1 population. I can work in acute care primarily with adults now, and could later begin working in the school systems with pediatrics. In my heart of hearts, I know why I went into this profession, I know why I love this profession, and I know where I can make the biggest impact; however, with so many choices, the way is not always clear. I have been prayerfully considering my options for some time, and have been quite reserved in my choices and job search; however, I'm finally ready to begin this job search, and pray that God opens the right door for me. I think I know what I want to do, but I pray that if that is not God's desire that He will close those doors, and open only the door He intends for me to pursue. So, please be in prayer for us as we embarq on this adventure!
**What a rambling post! That's how all this seems in my mind right now too =)

Work, work, work...

2009-02-28T04:26:00.001-08:00

Just checking in...we haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but rather, I have been inundated with work trying to finish up graduate school! Between working 4 days in clinic, completing all of the licensing paperwork, writing reports, and completing tests, I am exhausted right now! I've been going to bed around 9 every night which is unusual for me, but I've been so tired that I just want to sleep. I'm enjoying the weekends doing fun things with the family, and playing catch-up.
I started a second internship this semester working with at-risk preschoolers who need services in their home largely due to transportation issues, or simply the convenience of in-home services. All I can say is that this week I have felt an overwhelming sense of how truly blessed I am! I feel incredibly blessed, as it breaks my heart to see some of the situations these children are faced with as a preschooler. What a humbling experience this is going be.
Well, off to enjoy my Saturday with my sweethearts. Only 2 more months of work! I should finish most graduate school requirementsby April 27, so everything will be in place for graduation.

Buried Treasure

2009-02-20T19:11:00.000-08:00

Being a mom and being a Speech Pathologist, I'm always on the look out for great games that I can use in therapy, will encourage language development, or provide entertainment for younger children. I was tickled when a fellow therapist introduced me to the Cranium Cariboo game this semester. It's a cute game where you use a special key to pop open the doors on the game board, and you are in search of colorful balls. Once, you find all 6 balls and place them in the special tunnel, your buried treasure open. It's a simple concept that you can make more difficult with the included game cards, or you can play without the cards, and simply enjoy depending on the age group.

This game has proved very effective in therapy with small children as it keeps their attention for longer, and allows the 45 minute sessions with a 3 year old to pass much more quickly. I often use this game and adapt it by cutting out pictures with my target sounds on them, and placing them in the top of the doors you open. I love how the kids know the treasure is always going to be a purple gem with gold sparkly glitter, but each time they open the treasure chest, we still have to ahhhh over how neat the treasure is. This is how it's perfect in therapy...now let me tell you how it's perfect for my 3 year old.

Today, I came across this game, and bought it for our house. Jackson has spent much of his afternoon playing and replaying this game. When Donald came home from work, he was tickled to teach daddy how to play his game, and drug Donald into the living room to sit on the floor with him while he explained the game, the key, the pictures on top of the doors, the tunnel you place the balls in, and of course the ever-so-popular buried treasure! Jackson adores this game, and has enjoyed playing the game so much. He told the waitress at TGI Fridays tonight that he got a buried treasure game. (That was right after he winked at her while she stood by our table.) HA HA HA! Before bed tonight, Jackson kissed the game, and found a special spot to place his game until he can play it again tomorrow. Guess you know what we'll be doing tomorrow...searching for buried treasure, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Oh Happy Day! I Passed the PRAXIS!

2009-02-10T16:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't wrote much about the PRAXIS (the licensing exam for our profession) since I took it on Jan. 10. It was a difficult exam which was challenging because the information presented spans over the course of the past 9 years. I have been nervous about my scores, as I know how much weighs on this exam...graduation, job offers, and state licensing. I'm happy to report that I received my results today and I PASSED! Thank you Jesus! I'm so thankful to have passed on the first try, and not to worry about taking this test ever again!
Now it's on to May 9, when I graduate! I'm crossing things off my to-do list for graduation, and will begin applying for jobs now that I know I passed. Keep us in your prayers as I begin the job search. I am in prayer that God will open the door for the perfect job for me. I love this profession, and all that I'm able to give by working with others. I've found that as I work to help others, I find that I'm getting so much more than I'm giving. I'm laughing with them, crying with them at times, and celebrating their victories as they regain independence, the ability to communicate, and the ability to eat as they please. What a rewarding career choice!

Circus

2009-02-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

This past Friday we took Jackson to the circus with some friends. Jackson has looked forward to going to the circus for weeks. He remembers bits of going to the circus last year, which surprised me! I always like to ask Jackson what he knows about something before I tell him about it. I always love to hear what he thinks of certain things before I impart my image in his head of what the event is going to look like. I didn't take many pictures this year, as I was busy enjoying the circus as well, but managed to snap a few pictures which didn't turn out to be the best quality, but here's a cute one of Donald Jackson enjoying the circus. I had hoped to take pics of Jackson with the performers in the pre-show, but found out we weren't supposed to have our camera in the circus because it's considered "professional" quality because the detachable lens, but the guy at the door didn't search my camera bag, so I kept walking. I was a little scared to take it out on the floor because of all the security down there so I just kept it in my bag until we found out seats.

Sparkles

2009-02-05T17:59:00.001-08:00

Tonight while at the dinner table, Jackson started pointing to my freckles on my arms. Here's how our conversation went:
Jackson: Mommy, what's this? (pointing at freckles on my arm)
Me: Those are freckles.
Jackson: Sparkles?
Me: No, they're called freckles
Jackson: Sparkles?

Now he calls them sparkles....how cute! This was followed by a brief speech therapy session to try to elicit a /f/ sound, which was successful; however, the /fr/ sound is a bit too advanced for a 2 1/2 year old. =) The poor child being the son of a speech therapist.

A Song in His Heart

2009-02-04T12:23:00.001-08:00

It's no secret we spend a lot of time on the road. I always hate that we spend so much time on the road, and look for ways to engage Jackson while driving. We often work on counting, the ABCs, or singing and dancing. Lately Jackson has really enjoyed singing much more and I love hearing the little songs that he sings while playing.

Today, I heard him in the living room singing "Help me, help me, never let me go..." to the tune of "Hold me, hold me, never let me go until you've told me." He was in the middle of flipping off of the couch, and was stuck and needed my help. I busted out laughing because rewriting a song is very characteristic of Donald. Ever since we began dating many years ago, Donald often rewrites the words of songs to fit them with the moment. It looks like Jackson is becoming more like his daddy everyday.

Whew!

2009-02-01T18:09:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been a while...the semester is in full force, and I'm feeling the effects. The past 3 weeks have been a blur, and I'm wondering where all my time is slipping away to. The answer: SCHOOL! This semester I am working 4 days a week, and also taking classes, so I'm swamped with no end in sight (well, except the fact that I graduate in 3 short months!) This is the only semester I've had to work 4 days a week, and for that I'm thankful! I had to work 4 days a week in order to graduate with an advanced master's degree as opposed to a Master's degree. I figured the trade-off for 3 1/2 months was worth it. There's no way I could do this were it not for the help of my wonderful husband, who so graciously cooks dinner, helps with dishes, cleans the house, or does whatever is necessary. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, who helps ease the load so that I can pursue something that I am passionate about!

Tagged!

2009-01-17T18:14:00.000-08:00

Karen tagged me! The things in bold are things that apply to me. () added for clarification.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band. (Was in band in jr. high/middle school)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (this trip will be coming soon probably.)
8. Climbed a mountain (I've hiked up trails at the mountains before, does that count?)
9. Held a praying mantis (I have a curious little boy)
10. Sang a solo (I must've been a better singer as a child b/c I would sing at church)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (It was an exciting experience for our honeymoon!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (What a great project to do with a child!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Sometimes that's the only way to get a day off of work!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (One of the best experiences I've ever had!)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I agree Karen...my satisfaction does not come from money.)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (Yep...it leans! =)
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (Truly amazing!)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (absolutely amazing!)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (Gives you a great view of the city!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Bahamas)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (I have an incredibly sweet husband who often does flowers or notes for no reason at all. I do love that man!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (an accident!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I've seen the changing on the guards in Athens, Greece, close enough)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (Absolutely one of my favorite experiences in my life!)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House(didn't go in, but saw the outside)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

My favorite monkey

2009-01-09T18:49:00.001-08:00

Today, while I was washing dishes, Jackson came in the kitchen. He started to talking to me about his Curious George slippers he was wearing. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: You know, I really like Curious George. He's my favorite.
Jackson: No, he's not your favorite.
Me: I've always liked Curious George.
Jackson: (With emphasis!) Mommy, he's my favorite monkey I've ever SEEN!

I thought to myself...how many monkeys has he really seen?!? I hope it's his favorite monkey. Besides the handful of times we've been to the zoo, I think George is the only monkey he's ever seen.
Being a speech-language pathologist, I enjoy watching his language expand and grow. Lately, I have loved hearing his temporal markers in sentences. He's constantly telling me what days of the week we're going to do something (even though the day generally isn't right, he has the concept that it's not today, but in a few days). I really love it when he uses his favorite words like always, forever, etc. If we're talking about colors, he'll tell me Thomas is blue always, Percy is green always, etc; and he tells me he loves me forever! I love this age! They're so sweet, innocent, and unfortunately don't stay this age for long =(

Happy Birthday Papa

2009-01-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture was taken in 1989 on Papa's birthday)

Today's my Papa's birthday. I can't express in words how much I miss him, how often I think of him, or much I wish he was here so I tell him "Happy Birthday" and share a pineapple cake with him. I do know however, that God is in control, and will use every situation we encounter for His eternal glory. So, while I may not understand right now why Papa isn't here, I know that God is working in this situation to bring about good to honor and glorify Him. Until then, I'll look forward to the day I celebrate with Papa in Glory. Oh what a sweet day that will be!

I love you Papa!

Thank you

2009-01-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement as I prepare for my big exam tomorrow! I have a sense of confidence and calmness as I think about tomorrow. This sense of calmness was briefly interrupted as I read through all the details of the exam and realized they don't allow mechanical pencils for the exam, so looks like tomorrow morning I'll have to go get some old-fashioned pencils. You would think I would have some here, and I found pencils, but no sharpener, so that won't work! I have studied and prepared for this exam as best I know how. I have been asked by several people when I will have the results...This exam is a paper version, so I have to wait for it to be scored before being returned to me. It appears this process takes about 1 month, so after tomorrow, I'm going to try not to think about it for a while. After all, it's consumed my life for the past few weeks as I've intensely prepared for the exam, so it'll be a welcomed break not to think about it for a little while.
Please continue to pray for me through tomorrow. My exam is at 11AM. Thank you again for all your support!

Say a little prayer for me...

2009-01-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

Pardon me if I've been a little MIA lately...I've been buried under an 800 pg. study guide for the state licensure exam that I take this Saturday. Please say a prayer for me, as I don't always do well on standardized exams...I feel ADD while taking them as I hate sitting for hours taking an exam, and tend to lose my concentration. So please pray that I have clarity of thought as I recall what I have been taught the past 8 years. I have prepared as best I know how, and will complete my studying tomorrow, and will take Friday off just to clear my head a bit before the big day.

I'm so far behind on the happenings at the Irwin house, but thought I'd just share a few tidbits just to share with you the sunshine of my day! I have been so thankful to be able to stay home with him everday during this past month. We have laughed so hard some days I started crying, and I have soaked in every minute of his cute laughter, jokes, and sweet kisses. We have had such a good time learning new things together, creating crafts for daddy to come home to each day, and playing with the mountains of Christmas toys. Being a mother changes everything, and I am so thankful that God chose me to be Jackson's mother, and that I have this awesome responsibility to raise him and teach him. I'm a bit sad to be going back to work next week, but am excited about finishing school this semester, and seeing where God leads us from here. I think Jackson is a little sad I'm going back to work (if he really understood all that meant), but is excited to be going to stay with MiMi, Granny, and hopefully starting preschool.

I leave you with a conversation I overheard the other night between Donald and Jackson...

Daddy: I have to go to work tomorrow.

Jackson: You watch movies at work?

Daddy: No, we don't have movies at work. At work, I work.

Jackson: You don't have movies at work?

Daddy: No, it's not fun at work. I just work.

(I could tell Jackson didn't know what work meant, and Donald didn't know how to explain it.)

Jackson: Is Santa at your work?

(Jackson remembers us going to eat cookies with Santa and Mrs. Clause last month, and now thinks that Santa works with Donald.)

Daddy: No, Santa just came to eat cookies with you that 1 day.

This conversation continued for a while. Jackson was trying to understand what kind of fun things Donald did at work, and Donald wasn't quite sure how to explain that it's work, not necessarily fun. It's so cute to hear Jackson carrying on his conversation like he's grown. Asking Donald how his day at work was while at the dinner table, and telling Donald about all the happenings of his train set that day. I just love that kid!

Jackson and Kaylie jumping on the punching bag. So cute to watch all the laughter the 2 of them shared with this!

Opening presents Christmas morning.

One of Jackson's favorite Christmas presents...his remote dinosaur. Thanks Mimi! Next time you're over, he'll have to eat your foot. That's his favorite move right now. =)

Swagbucks

2008-12-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

After reading about Swagbucks search engine on many blogs that I follow, I decided to give it a try a few months ago. Since I quit work last year, I'm always looking for easy things that I can do that can be a bit of a treat for Donald and I every once in a while. One thing that I've done for the past few months is by using Swagbucks as my search engine instead of Google or Yahoo. This search engine randomly awards Swagbucks when you are searching, and they accrue in your account until you cash them in for giftcards, video games, or other goodies. I always save mine and cash them in for amazon.com giftcards or starbucks giftcards. I use the amazon giftcards to help with the cost of college textbooks, and use the starbucks giftcards for a treat for Donald and I when we're out on the weekends.
You won't get rich, or make a ton of giftcards, but I get excited when I go to my mailbox and have free giftcards in there! I downloaded the toolbar so I always remember to use it when I need to look something up. They also have an awesome referral program which is that you earn 1 Swagbuck for each Swagbuck your friends earn up to 100 per referred friend. Can't beat that! The link above is using my referral, so if you might be interested, check it out. I only post things I believe in and have seen work, and I've received several giftcards now, so I can honestly say it works.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-28T18:59:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! We had a delightful Christmas. We enjoyed time with out families on Christmas Eve as we celebrated with food, laughter, and gifts. Jackson was so excited about the gifts he got. He has enjoyed these gifts so much since he got home, and now I'm trying to figure out how to add onto the house to fit all the toys he got (Just Kidding! We will be working to figure out a plan to be able to fit all these items into our house, which will probably include donating some of his older toys.) Considering his train set is approx. 5' x 5', which takes up a large space in my living room, but it's essential to have it in there, and have it running at all times. Just ask Jackson, he'll tell you so. He also loves his remote control dinosaur which needs lots of space to roam and attack innocent bystanders (poor Gizmo!).

Donald and I were so truly blessed at Christmas as well. We received items that we will use, and things we would never buy for ourselves. We enjoyed the fellowship with our family immensely. Nothing can compare to this time we spent with our family, and we're so thankful for that.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas as you and your family reflected on the true meaning of Christmas.

Reflections on Christmas

2008-12-21T18:10:00.000-08:00

This year I committed to really make the journey to Christmas a personal journey for me. I wanted Christmas to be a personal spiritual journey in which I reflected on the birth of Christ and the impact that had for me. I just wanted to share a few of my reflections.

I am in awe that a perfect Savior would choose to come into this world in a dirty, smelly stable. That He would choose to leave a perfect place to live in this imperfect, cruel world to save a sinner like me. WOW!

Our pastor was preaching this morning about how prophesy in Micah had revealed that He would be born in Bethlehem, but when He was born, He was born into this world rejected and alone. There was no room for them in the inn, and Mary was forced to have him in a stable because there was no where else for him to be born. Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes herself because there were no others there to welcome Him. It seems no one in Bethlehem was waiting on their Savior to be born. It makes you wonder, is anyone waiting for his second coming? Are we busy about His work waiting on his second return?

I hope you have a Merry Christmas, and reflect upon the meaning of Christmas in your own heart.

1 Adventure Down, 1 More to go

2008-12-13T11:29:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was my last day of my internship in acute care. What a challenging semester I have had with classes and this internship. This semester proved to be a difficult one with lots of challenges, but a variety of learning opportunities. When I started this semester, I felt a bit overwhelmed as I was in a new setting...one that was very intense, and came with a variety of complicated cases. I've had days where I was so thankful for the opportunity God had given me to encourage a patient and their family, but also days where I felt beaten down because it's heartbreaking to watch what some of these families go through. It's encouraging to watch these families overcome and prevail against adversity in their life, and to see their faith in God strengthened as they endure the trial.
I've been re-reading a book by Dr. Joseph Stowell, and have been so encouraged as I have read about adversity, and how and why God uses adversity in our life to show just who God is in our life and that His grace is sufficient. Just this morning I was reading and he was writing about how when we have difficulty in our life it's like a huge blinking light on our head. Everyone takes notice, and wants to see how we're going to respond. That's so true!
I have enjoyed laughing with families, and have also shed tears for families as I've seen the adversity they face, and from personal experience know it's not an easy road. I've had many opportunities to remind families that God is ultimately the One who decides when we take our last breath not us or doctors, etc. I'm so thankful for the professional and personal growth I have gone through this semester. Who knew that a semester I dreaded so dearly because of the personal impact it might have, proved to be such an encouraging experience!
I'm out of school for the next month, and will enjoy this time to slow down, and catch-up on a few things. I start clinic back in January and will be working in an out-patient rehab setting. I will graduate on May 10. YES!! Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to study for the PRAXIS exam for Speech-Language Pathologists. I take the exam on January 10, and must pass in order to obtain licensure and a diploma. Whew! There's a lot weighing on this test which will test everything I know and goes back to even my undergraduate studies.

Word of the Day: Complicated

2008-12-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

So, apparently today my mom and brother, Josh were having a conversation and Jackson overheard the word "complicated" being used. Mom proceeded to explain that a complication was "a mess." Jackson has been using the word ever since we left Mom's house tonight. It's found it's way into songs, conversations, and jokes. He uses this word in a variety If he wants to make you laugh "complicated" is the word, if he doesn't know all the words to the song "complicated" just might be the right word, and sometimes he's simply talking and "complicated" seems appropriate in his conversation. It's cute to watch, and gives us a laugh each time.
Thanks Mimi and Uncle Josh for educating my little boy today on "complicated." It's been fun to watch!

Christmas Lights

2008-12-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight, we enjoyed a special night together as a family. Jackson loves Christmas lights, and we had been hoping to get out to look at the Lake Myra Christmas show. We finally had an opportunity to go tonight since my final exams are now finished. We had a wonderful time. We bundled up with gloves, toboggans, warm coats, and of course coffee and stood out there watching the show for about 40 minutes. It was beautiful as always, and Jackson danced, laughed, sang, and had a wonderful time. Of course he wants to go back soon, and I know we'll go a few more times before Christmas.
When we got home tonight, we enjoyed watching 2 deer running through the neighborhood. One of the nice things about living where we live is there is always plenty of critters running through the neighborhood for us to watch (That includes snakes, but we stay away from them!). Jackson really had a nice time watching the deer run through all the neighbors yard before dashing into the woods behind our house. Of course, when they went away he wanted us to make them come back. He didn't understand we can't exactly call the deer back like we do Gizmo, but he enjoyed seeing them.
I'm glad this holiday season our family is committed to slowing down and enjoying the true meaning of Christmas, and celebrating this special time of year.

Redplum.com

2008-12-05T04:25:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd share if you're needing diapers or Star Wars items for gifts, check out www.redplum.com. There's many coupons for Star Wars toys which would make great Christmas items if you know anyone who likes Star Wars, and also there's a $2.00 coupon off of a pack of Huggies.

Hope someone can take advantage of the savings!

Catch-Up

2008-12-02T18:18:00.001-08:00

Wow! Where does the time go. I have so many things that we've been doing that I'd love to post on here, but it's so hard for me to keep up with everything. So, I'll post a few of the things we've done recently.

This holiday season, I really wanted us to do something as an outreach for others. I want Jackson to grow up knowing that Christmas isn't a time of getting presents, but a time that we can celebrate Christ's birth, and be a blessing to others as well. Jackson and I put together 2 boxes for the Samaritan's Purse shoebox ministry at church a few weeks ago. Jackson was excited that we went shopping for toys and other items to put in our shoebox. He had a great time putting these boxes together, and was excited about taking his boxes to church to drop off. Here's a pic of him with his box. We're also participating in a few other outreach programs, so my prayer is that Jackson will grow up enjoying the blessings we have been blessed with, and blessing others as well.

We had a nice, busy Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with family. Jackson was especially excited because his new cousin Dylan had just come home from the hospital, so we stopped by to visit with them, and let Jackson meet him. He loves babies, and has talked about his visit with Dylan for days now! Jackson also enjoyed his time with his cousin Kaylie. He cherishes their time together, and loves the time that they get to spend together. I hope they grow up to be close. I know when I was growing up, I always loved my cousins, and the special friendships that we shared, and still do.

Well, so much more has been happening, and hopefully I'll be able to post some more happenings soon.

An apple a day....

2008-11-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

Jackson discovered this week that apples don't come in slices, and he can eat the whole thing without me slicing it. Here's a few pics. It was entertaining to watch!

The Beauty of the Age of 2

2008-11-20T12:37:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful time of year it is! I love it when the weather has changed, and you get to see the beautiful leaves changing, and the air is a bit nippy. Christmas is just around the corner which is exciting! Finals are also just around the corner which is nerve-wrecking! I'd love to be spending time snuggled on the couch with my sweet hubby or my cute mama's boy, but unfortunately I have been spending lots of time working on studying for finals, writing papers upon papers (grad school is full of papers!), and working on a presentation I have to present at the hospital on Monday. Hopefully later today I'll be able to upload some pictures I've been taking of Jackson with my new camera.

Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time and soak up this wonderful age of 2 1/2. This is such a fun age as children learn their independence, and can communicate so much better. Recently, Jackson has been talking to me about events that occurred back in April. I'm just amazed at his clear recollection of the events he is talking about. I love hearing him tell me about Christmas, and that we celebrate it because it's baby Jesus' birthday. I love that we were out shopping today and he saw lots of Christmas trees, presents, snowmen, etc but his eye was immediately drawn to the nativity scene and what it represented. I love hearing him sing in the car as we drive from one place to another. Oh the beauty of the age of 2! Their hearts are so tender and receptive at this age. So, while I spend lots of time locked away working on papers, studying, etc; I make sure to spend plenty of time each day soaking up the beauty of the age of 2!

Senioritis has begun...

2008-11-13T11:49:00.001-08:00

Remember in high school when graduation was nearing, and you didn't feel like going to school anymore?!? Guess it's a common experience therefore the phrase "Senioritis" was coined. Well, it's officially hit me, and I'm a little less than 6 months from graduation. Wonder how I'll ever make it til May?!? Christmas break! That's how! Luckily, Christmas break begins in only 25 days, and I'm ready! Exhaustion is setting in! This has been a long road to getting my master's degree...One that's definitely been worth it, but also has required me to devote most free minutes that I have to school work. I look forward to relaxing in the evenings instead of working on schoolwork, sleeping in instead of getting up early to work on schoolwork before Jackson wakes, and enjoying my weekends again instead of planning them around the hours of schoolwork that needs to be completed.
So, the countdown to Christmas break begins!

Love...

2008-11-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

Recently, our digital camera died. This camera has been with us since we got married, our honeymoon, the birth of Jackson, etc... It's been through a lot, and it's last us over 4 1/2 years, but let's face it, it's never taken the quality of pictures that we would like. It's done an okay job, but not a fabulous job. I'm pretty practical though, and prefer not to spend money on a new camera if the one we have still works, but since the camera broke, we decided to save our money for a month or so that way we could buy the camera we've been wanting. So, I introduce you to my new love...

The Nikon D60.

I have already taken hundreds of pictures in only a few short days. Jackson was excited about the new camera at first, and willingly posed and smiled for pictures. That was short lived, and now he's back to turning his head around when he's tired of being in front of the camera. Either way, I've captured some great pictures, but I'm having to be creative to get him to look at the camera. I share with you a few of my favorite pictures from the past few days.

A fun day at the park

2008-11-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

Jackson and I enjoyed an afternoon at the park the other day. It has been such beautiful weather lately, so we thought we'd take advantage of it! It's so wonderful having such a nice park only minutes from our house, so we frequent this park often.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

Jackson was very excited about his costume this year. He wanted nothing more than to be a football player! He cried after going to multiple stores and not finding football pants that would fit him. Never fear! I'm not ashamed to ask for help, and was able to find help at a local factory here that manufactures sportswear and sells all over. Boy, am I thankful that they had 1 pair in his size they were willing to sell me! Jackson has wanted to wear this costume every single day, and often asks to sleep in it too. I guess Donald has instilled in him a love of the Pirates. AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!

Pumpkin Patch

2008-11-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

I'm so far behind posting the latest happenings at our house, so I'm going to try to catch up a bit. We went to the pumpkin patch with some friends a few weeks ago, and we had a blast. Jackson had a lot of fun, and enjoyed the fun things they had to do there. This place was more like a carnival with the train, slide, pony rides, petting farm, etc. He loved it, and we had a great day together as a family.

Update

2008-10-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry we've been a little scarce lately. I've been busy with classes, and it's so hard to believe there's only a little over 1 month of classes left until I begin my final semester of graduate school. That also means, I'll be taking the state licensing exam in 2 months, so I've been preparing for that as well.
We're heading out of town for the weekend. Donald has to go out-of-town for work, and Jackson and I try to tag along when we can so we can see some new things. So, I've been trying to figure out what Jackson and I will be doing while Donald's working. Not sure yet, but we'll be close the Blue Ridge Parkway, and many other things, so I know we'll find something interesting to do, and it'll allow us to spend some good quality time together. I hope to post some pictures soon of some other things we've been doing, but it may be next week after we return. We'll be leaving Friday night after trick-or-treating and we'll return on Sunday, so hopefully I can get back to blogging more regular then.

NC State Fair 2008

2008-10-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

So, Donald and I debated heading to the State Fair because of the rain that would be rolling in today, but decided to make the best of it and head out anyways. We had a great day together as a family! It didn't rain the entire time we were there, and the crowds were minimal. We didn't really have to wait for any of the rides that Jackson wanted to ride, and we had no trouble getting from place to place because the crowds were easy to navigate in and out of. Because we spent less time waiting in lines, we were able to do and see many of the things that Jackson wanted to do, but his favorites were definitely holding the baby ducks/chickens, riding the pony, and riding the rides. He saw this interesting robot while waiting to ride one of his rides, and it came over and talked to the kids, and scared him so much he wanted to get off the ride. He says now it was a nice robot talking to the girls, but he was a little upset by how large it was at the time. Here's a few of my favorite pictures.

Realizations of an SLP

2008-10-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've had the priveledge of working in an acute care hospital this past semester for grad school. I've learned so much in this setting, and have really enjoyed it. I knew going into grad school that this would be the hardest semester for me because I didn't know if I was ready to face an internship like this. I didn't know if I was ready to face death because emotionally I feel so vulnerable after the loss of my precious dad, and even after almost 2 years, it still feels so fresh. I think this internship has been one of the best things to help facilitate the healing process even more. Anyone who is hurting and healing, I encourage you to give of yourself and you will gain so much more.
Here's a few of my realizations I've had:
1- Death never gets any easier to deal with. It will always be someone's loved one, someone's husband/wife/dad/mother/child/friend, and making the decision about end of life measures never gets any easier, but what a family needs most during this time is empathy and education. That's what I can offer to a family with a loved one who is dying. I have been in their shoes, I know what it's like, and I can give of myself because I can empathize.
2- This is the absolute perfect profession for me. I feel honored to be a part of such an honorable profession that helps people every single day, and the impact you can have is profound. Each day when I walk out the hospital doors, I know I have made a difference in someone's life that day. The information I share may not always be positive or may not be what the family had hoped to hear, but the manner I present it in, the empathy I can show, and education we give encourages families, inspires patients for success, and make an impact in that individual's life.
3- Medical intervention is so wonderful, but despite what we know as healthcare professionals, the Great Physician can intervene at any time as He sees fit. We will never understand His plan, but I'm so glad that I can see His hand at work each day.
4- I have so much left to learn. I learn so much each day, and I'm so thankful for the doctors, nurses, and other speech-language pathologists who take the time to explain various medical conditions to me, various therapeutic techniques, and diagnostic techniques.

What a great weekend!

2008-10-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend this past weekend. I have been wanting to see my good friend Brooke for some time now. It'd been quite a while since we've been able to get together. She's such a busy woman with work, and she's only lived within driving distance for a while now, so we planned to get together this weekend, and have fun and catch up for ole times sake. She drove down, and stayed with us and played with Jackson. He had such a great time with Miss Brooke. He's still enjoying all the toys and the book that she brought for him. Jackson loved her, and had a wonderful time with her! We enjoyed a girls night out with a nice dinner at my favorite Greek restaurant, and watched "Nights in Rodanthe."
So glad she was able to visit. Some friends will remain friends forever no matter the distance between you, or how long it is between visits. That's how you know you're true friends! I'm thankful to have such wonderful friends.

Crazy busy...

2008-10-05T08:00:00.001-07:00

So, it's been a little bit since I posted, and things have been crazy busy! I'm in the middle of midterms, so I've been so busy studying away for these midterms. There's a lot of things going on right now with school, so it's keeping me busy. I'm preparing all my documents for graduation. Crazy that it's only 7 short months away. WOW! I'm filling out all the graduation paperwork for ECU, and also trying to prepare my resume' and document clinical experience to submit to ASHA who is the licensing body for Speech-Language Pathology. They require a lot of paperwork and documentation to show that I have had a variety of clinical experience, and competent to work with various individuals with a variety of speech disorders. I'm also working hard to make sure I have all the required experience necessary, so it's crunch time!
Also, since this weather has been so beautiful, Jackson and I have been spending lots of time outdoors doing fun things, and working in the yard. He really is a great helper to have, and he enjoys working so much, so we try to find helpful things that he can help with because he enjoys that.
Donald and I went to see the movie Fireproof last night with some friends, and it was really a good movie with a great message. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to definitely see it as it presents a great message about marriage and how God's love enables us to love differently than we could were we not saved. With divorce as rampant as it is these days, it's always great to have a reminder of how God views marriage, and that marriage isn't easy, but you never leave your partner in the middle of the fire!

Singing

2008-09-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Lately, Jackson loves to sing. He'll sing to the radio, sing to the TV, or just start singing a song he knows. He'll pick up on words that he hears and put them in a song. It's just so funny to hear him singing while playing throughout the day.

Here's his version of "Twinkle, twinkle little star"

Tinkle tinkle little star
Like a diamond, like a diamond, like a diamond, like a diamond in the sky.

Then he might throw in a few other words from the song that he knows. He loves the phrase "Like a diamond in the sky" so he tends to repeat it a few times, and then he'll add "in the sky."

The precious things they do during this age, make you want them to stay this age forever.

Sweet dreams

2008-09-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

This was the conversation this morning as I woke him to get him ready for the day.

Me: Did you sleep good?
Jackson: Yes (as he shot me a beautiful grin...he's such a morning person)
Me: Did you have sweet dreams?
Jackson: Yes
Me: What did you dream about?
Jackson: Daddy
Me: What did you and daddy do in your dreams?
Jackson: Me and daddy say prayers.

Guess he remembered him and his daddy saying his bedtime prayers last night before bedtime. He's just so precious and innocent. I could cherish these days forever!

Finger Painting

2008-09-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

The weather has been absolutely beautiful the past few days, so Jackson and I have had the best time outdoors. We've been working to till our yard and plant grass seed this week, and thanks to a lot of sweat hours put in by Donald, the yard is finished, but it's time to wait and see what it turns out like when the grass seed sprouts. Jackson has been a big help in the yard as we drives his tractor around and throws sticks and rocks in the back of his tractor to help us haul off.

Yesterday, I pulled out the finger-painting supplies while I cooked dinner, and he had a great time creating masterpieces. Here's a few pics of him during his artistic moments.

I love this little boy so much, and I feel so blessed to be his mother!

Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Stayin' Alive

2008-09-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

That's how I feel this semester! I'm swamped, but I'm alive =) My supervisor at my intern site has encouraged me to use a schedule to help me stay on track with all the responsibilities I have as a wife, mother, student, therapist, and as a person. She gave me a schedule that she uses, and it has blocks of time on it, and I schedule out what responsibilities I am dedicating that time to. I've been using it so far this week, and I must admit that it's kept me more accountable for getting things done, and not procrastinating. I'm caught up on all schoolwork. I could use to study quit a bit more, but I have blocked out time the rest of this week to study for midterms. I also blocked out time each week to study for the state licensure exam which it looks like I'll be taking the first week of January. It's so refreshing to see all of my hard work over the past few years finally paying off, and now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I hope to begin sending out resumes' soon after taking the state licensure exam, so only a few more months of this crazy, hectic schedule!
I could've never made it this far in grad school were it not for my super supportive family. God has blessed me beyond measure with an extremely supportive husband, mom, in-laws, and other family and friends. I'm so excited to be pursuing this dream to help people in such a special way. I get asked often why I chose this field, and it's hard to describe. It's hard to describe how exciting it is to work with the children who have worked for years to be understood by others and they finally get it, or to work with an adult who has had a stroke and has fought so hard to survive and get back to their life with their family, and to see them work in therapy and finally be able to speak again or eat again. I'm convinced that the paycheck doesn't matter when you see the impact you can have on others, and encourage them to take advantage of this second chance at life that God has given them.
Well, enough of my reflections tonight. You can see my mind is set on graduation! Hopefully this I'll be able to post some cute pics of Jackson and the things he's been into lately. He's growing so fast and learning so much. I hope to be able to share soon!

Labor Day Zoo Adventure

2008-09-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

So, it's taken me a little while to get on the ball and post pictures from our Labor Day adventure to the zoo. We had a great idea to visit the zoo on Labor day, and it seems there were lots of other people who had the same idea. It was rather busy, but not too bad. We still had an enjoyable day together, and Jackson had a wonderful time. He was at a great age to really enjoy it, and get excited about the various animals.

Movin' Up

2008-09-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

It seems like just yesterday, we welcomed Jackson into this world. It's amazing to think that's been over 2 years ago now, and how much he has changed our lives. We wouldn't change it for the world! Being a parent is such a rewarding experience, but is also such a stretching experience. I'm constantly reminded of how much I must call on the Lord for strength and wisdom as a mother, but I know that God would not have blessed us with such a blessing without equipping us to also raise Jackson in the way that he should go if we only seek Him.

Tomorrow Jackson moves up to the preschool class at church. We're excited about the new class, and the new things that he will learn in this class as they explore and learn more about God. Just reminds me even more how quickly he is growing up and how independent he is becoming as a 2 1/2 year old!

Imaginary Play

2008-09-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

So, I never knew how imaginary play would develop, but apparently it has made it's appearance at our house. I've noticed for the past few weeks, Jackson would pretend to take his animals on excursions, or he'd pretend to feed the animals, or things like that, but I think today, his imagination has taken off, and it's such a cute thing =)

Today he pretended to steal my nose and put it back in place for a while, and when that got old, he pretended to cook me something to eat and serve it up. I asked what it was, and it was hot dogs with ketchup and then I was served juice to go with it. When I asked what kind of juice, "good juice" was the response. This was just a few of Jackson's imaginations, the list goes on, but it's so cute to watch it develop. It's as if it came from no where.

I'll post more soon. I need to get some pictures up from our zoo excursion over the Labor Day weekend.

Watermelon Festival

2008-08-26T18:27:00.001-07:00

We had the pleasure of enjoying some time with the Congletons this past weekend. We had a great time catching up, and letting the boys spend time playing together. Jackson is still talking about what a big boy he is now that he knows how to drive a motorcycle. Jackson and Kaleb rode an umbrella ride at the Watermelon Festival, and they were able to ride the motorcycle. It's so refreshing to see them laugh and have a good time together.

Thank you Congletons for having us down. We had a great time and will have to get the boys together again soon!

Whew!

2008-08-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

WOW! What a week it has been! School is back in full force, and it's taking some adjusting to get used to all this schoolwork again and clinicals have begun once again. We're making it, and things are settling in a little bit now that I'm getting used to it, but the first few days were a little intense. I'll be posting some of the things that we have been up to in the next few days, now that I have time to sit down and catch up a little at a time.

Little Boys

2008-08-19T09:46:00.001-07:00

So, we haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but we have been rather busy here lately! I've been trying to accomplish a few things around the house, and spend extra special time with a special little man before I return to school tomorrow and clinicals on Thursday. Jackson and I have spent lots of time doing boy things. What do boys like to do? This special little boy LOVES tractors (we've spent countless hours playing with tractors), reading (he has a definite love of reading some of his new books. We often read each one 10-12 times a day. Actually, I just pretend to read them while he looks at the pictures because I have them memorized!), playing outside, playing with Mr. Potato Head (We had all 100 parts laid out on the floor yesterday so he could decide what combination made the absolute best potato head. So maybe it wasn't 100, but there sure were a lot of parts!), and of course getting ready for Pirate football season! We have been practicing the Pirate sound (ARRGGGGHH!), saying different Pirate cheers, and talking about our love of the Pirates (well, especially daddy's love of the Pirates). Not sure if Jackson will head to a football game with us this season, but he already has the football outfit, and he's been invited to join the rest of us for at least 1 game, so we'll just have to see. Not sure he would enjoy sitting there for that amount of time without actually playing something. He's definitely a participant not a spectator. He asks me to "Play Ball" everyday at least 5 times, but this usually refers to the sport of baseball because he's been practicing since he could stand up how to hit that ball with a bat, and now he's quite good at it.

As previously mentioned, I begin school tomorrow and clinicals on Thursday. This will be one of my hardest semesters yet, but it will hopefully be my last intense semester. The Spring is shaping up to be a much easier semester before GRADUATION! I have enjoyed this special time with Jackson this Summer. We haven't gone a lot, but have spent a lot of time around our house which for Jackson is a vacation because we go so much the rest of the year. He enjoys his time here with his toys, his things, and his schedule. It's kinda sad to see the summer go, but I do enjoy Fall weather, and I'm excited about some of the things we have planned for the Fall.

Boxtops for Education

2008-08-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

Just a note:

If anyone is not collecting Boxtops for Education and would be willing to spend a few seconds clipping them to save for a school, I gladly collect them, and donate them to schools across the U.S. About a year ago, I joined with several other mothers who don't have children old enough to attend school yet, but would like to help out the school system by adding a few dollars here and there to their budget. We generally are able to send at least $50 a month to a school to help a little. We all know the education system is under a tight budget, and a little extra money from Boxtops for education assists in some of the extra expenditures. If you're interested in collecting, you can message me, and I'll send you my address to send them to.

**We also collect Labels for Education from Campbells products (worth $.05) , and the Tyson box pieces which are worth $.24
Thanks for helping this cause by just using your scissors =)

Watering Flowers

2008-08-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Jackson was able to get in his swimming pool for a bit after dinner. It was a little later than we had hoped by the time Donald got home and we had dinner, but he still had a blast. He decided to use his pool to water the flowers in the yard, so that's exactly what he spent majority of his time doing.

I love the face in the first one. =)

The train station

2008-08-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

Jackson loves things that go, move, or make noise. His current loves include trains, motorcycles, big trucks, etc. You get the idea....He loves boyish things! This week my nephew was taking a train back home, so we had the pleasure of seeing him off at the train station. Here's a few pics from Jackson's first interaction with a real life train. (Not so sure he realized just how big they were, and that you can't hold them like you do your toys.) Thanks Mimi for making this such a special adventure on the big trains. He's enjoyed talking about them for a few days!

Lunch with Daddy

2008-08-07T12:33:00.001-07:00

So, yesterday Jackson and I ventured to Holly Springs to enjoy lunch with Donald. Jackson was so excited all morning to eat lunch with daddy. We try to do this every so often so Jackson can visit where daddy works and say hello to all of Donald's co-workers.

We had a wonderful lunch at a cute little Mexican restaurant in town, and Jackson enjoyed the chips as always! Once it was time to take daddy back to work, the scene turned ugly. Jackson was VERY upset that daddy wasn't coming home with us and instead had to work. I snapped this image of Jackson as we were about to drive off. Daddy gots lots of hugs and kisses before leaving, but it simply wasn't enough for Jackson. I heard Jackson scream in octaves I have never heard from him before.

Guess he's a daddy's boy! (I know deep down inside he's a momma's boy too, but there's just something so special to him about his daddy at this time in his life. It's a beautiful thing.)

I'm also including a video of him talking while playing about loving his daddy. These moments are priceless!

Sweet summertime!

2008-08-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

So....it's been a while. We had a hectic week last week, but we're starting to get everything back together. Unfortunately, my laptop died last week, so it took us a few days to get things going with our older computer. As you may or may not remember, Jackson threw a remote control back in February and cracked the screen on my laptop that I had purchased for graduate school, so we were forced to buy a new one back in February, so we've only had this laptop for 5 months. On Thursday, the motherboard apparently went out on the laptop, so after talking with the super helpful employees at Best Buy, they've sent it off for service, and it should be back in 1-2 weeks. Thank goodness! In the meantime, Donald and I have been working to replace the hard drive on our old computer to get it back up and running. This was our first baby. I remember this computer being our first big purchase after being married for only a few months. Boy does time fly!

Donald had Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off work this week, so we've enjoyed him being home this weekend! Jackson will be upset when he wakes up to find Daddy is at work again and not home with us, but I'm sure him and mommy will have lots of fun things planned for tomorrow to make up for it =) Today, I started our day by making homemade blueberry biscuits from scratch for the first time. It was a success, and everyone loved them, so I will definitely do that again! We used the blueberries that Jackson picked while at Mimi's house on Friday, so they were even better, because they were picked with love. We took Jackson to the park tonight after eating dinner, and he had a great time playing and making a new friend with another little boy that was out there. We try to take him to the park several times a week since it's very close by and it has lots of great play equipment.

Well, that's all for us right now. I'm enjoying being home for a few weeks, and frantically trying to get everything done that I had hoped to accomplish while on break, but before long I will begin school again and an internship at a local hospital. I'm excited but have so many things to get in place before then!

This Crazy Life

2008-07-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Life can be crazy! Hectic! Busy!

Tonight as I settled snuggly into bed with my laptop after a long day, I was greeted by a John Deere tractor and a toy car Jackson had left here earlier while playing. I had to smile! I went in his room to check on him because he has been running a fever this afternoon, and couldn't help but smile at him sleeping so sweetly. While reading with Jackson in his Bible tonight about Noah and the ark, it was so sweet to see him so excited about Noah, and he wanted to hear the story twice tonight. Do I think he understands why God sent a flood or what the rainbow symbolizes? No, but I'm thankful to see his interest in reading his Bible daily.

You know...life is crazy, hectic, and keeps you on your toes, but I love this life! I constantly am busy keeping up with a very active 2 year old, keeping up our house, pursuing my degree, or just being a wife or mother, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Let the vacation begin!

2008-07-24T10:07:00.001-07:00

Let the vacation begin! I have finally finished another clinical rotation for grad school, and I'm on vacation for the next month! I can hardly believe it! This is my first real break since grad school began 2 years ago. I have had a 1-1 1/2 week break here and there, but generally I've still had class work to finish up, etc, but not this time! I'm excited about the many projects I'm hoping to tackle here around the house, and hope to be able to enjoy some family time and maybe a mini-vacation before school starts back up in high gear.

I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I really enjoyed my last clinical rotation. I had no idea I would glean as much knowledge, and grow so much as a clinician during this last rotation, but I'm thrilled that I did, and very thankful I had such a knowledgable supervisor who was so easy to work with. I look forward to my next clinical rotation next month, and am so happy to say I only have 2 left before graduation! This has been such a long journey, but to think it will all be over with in only 9 short months is overwhelming but so exciting! Donald and I are earnestly praying about what direction we will go once graduate school is completed.

Baseball

2008-07-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Today is Donald's day off work this week, so we're enjoying the day together as a family. I think I recently mentioned that Donald's job decided to go to 4 day work weeks for the time-being, and it has been great for our family. Jackson enjoys having Donald home 3 full days a week, and it's great that we have time to do something together as a family. We had planned to go to the park this morning, but it is a bit too warm to go to the park today. We may end up going later today or we may save that outing for another day.

Donald and Jackson have been playing baseball this morning, and I've enjoyed watching them and cheering them on. Jackson has become quite good at hitting the ball with his baseball bat, and he gets so tickled and has such a great time with his daddy.

Hope y'all are enjoying your day with whatever you are doing today. Summer is going by so fast! Tomorrow is my last day of my current internship, and so I hope to be able to enjoy the rest of the summer before embarking on my last months of graduate school.

Wedding Weekend

2008-07-20T18:46:00.001-07:00

What a busy week we had last week! Donald's brother David was married this past weekend, and we spent this past week tying up loose ends before leaving for the weekend of wedding activities. We had a busy, but enjoyable weekend. We try to stay in contact with our friends we have had for years and years, but it's always so hard with us all living in different places and many of us now having children, but we were able to spend lots of time with friends and have already planned our next time together.

Here's my favorite picture from this weekend...a sweet picture of Donald and Jackson before the wedding. Jackson was determined to spend time with his daddy before the wedding. He would continuously tell me, "I need to talk to daddy," and he would make his way over to daddy to say "I love you." He'd come back to where I was sitting and do the same thing again. He sat through the entire wedding ceremony and only said he wanted to be with daddy 1 time which I thought was quite impressive.

Where have we been?

2008-07-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

Here at our house, we have been quite busy now that summer is here. Jackson and I have been enjoying the weather as we can, but it's been a little hot the past few days for us to get out until later in the evening.

Good news! Donald is now working 4 day work weeks for right now. We are still adjusting a little to his new schedule, but Jackson and I have enjoyed him being home a extra day during the week. We're not sure how long this schedule will last, but it works out great for us during the summer, and we'll enjoy it while we have it.

Hopefully more posts will be coming in the coming days along with some new photos of Jackson.

"Ants In Your Pants"

2008-07-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Jackson has become very animated in his everday talk an his language has grown tremendously recently. Today, he has been so very active so this was our conversation:

Me: Jackon, do you have ants in your pants?
Jackson: No Mommy! It's pee pee.

I just giggled. This is such a sweet age!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-05T18:08:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July. We enjoyed some great family time, and enjoyed having Donald home from work. We grilled hamburgers on the grill, and then headed to Clayton to enjoy the fireworks. We set off a few smaller fireworks in the yard and had sparklers here at the house, but Jackson was scared of those. As soon as we lit those fireworks, Jackson ran to us with open arms saying "Mommy-scared!" I didn't know if he'd like the "big fireworks" as Jackson calls them, but when we got to Clayton, we found a nice grassy area to put our blanket down, and we enjoyed strawberries while waiting for the fireworks. Jackson had a great time, and was sad when they were over.

I'm truly thankful that we live in a country that gives us the freedoms that we hold dear. Were it not for the men and women who faithfully fight for our country, we might not enjoy those freedoms, so thank you all that you and your families sacrifice for our freedom!

Potty Training and Update

2008-07-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

So, I thought I would work with Jackson on potty training at the end of this month when I'll be home more because clinicals end at the end of July; however, Jackson has shown a great interest in potty-training lately, so this weekend he has using the big-boy potty almost exclusively. He usually has 1 accident a day, but that is a major accomplishment in only a few days. I'm letting him do this at his pace because I know how difficult it must be on a 2 year old with our current schedule. On the days I have clinicals, Jackson and I leave the house at 5:45 AM, and no 2 year old is worried about using the potty that early in the morning. I'm so proud of him and the little boy he's becoming! I'm sure this potty-training phase will have ups and downs, but I'm proud of how far he's come in just a few short days!

I realize I haven't said much about my current internship lately, so I thought I'd give a brief update. I'm truly enjoying it! The 8 hours that I'm there really fly by because it is such a face-pace, upbeat environment. I wasn't sure how I'd like working with adults with swallowing disorders, but I have come to really enjoy it, and often look forward to going into work so I can see the patients and the progress that they are making. I wanted to become a speech-language pathologist because of this type of environment, but the course of events over the past few years changed my mind in some ways and made me think I would work in the public school system. The caseload is varied and challenging, but I'm learning so much each day. I'm not sure what God has in store for me, but I'm excited about the possibilities. To think that in 10 short months, I'll graduate and be finished with this chapter of my life is overwhelming at times, but I will be so glad to be finished!!! I've started studying some for the Praxis licensing exam as it will be such an in-depth exam asking me to recall things from undergraduate which seems like forever ago! Hopefully by December, I'll be ready to take the exam so that I can begin my search for employment.

Nap Time!

2008-06-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a sweet photo I caught today. Donald and Jackson had just woken up from their Sunday afternoon naps after church. Jackson ran downstairs and jumped on daddy's check and laid there until he woke up. Donald was awake; however, his eyes happen to be closed in this picture. It's moments like this that remind me how thankful I am for these blessings in my life!

Picnic in the Park

2008-06-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

What a weekend it's been! We have had such a great time together as a family. Saturday we packed a picnic and headed to the park to enjoy an evening together. I think it's fair to say Donald and I had as much fun as Jackson did just being a kid. Here's a few pictures of our family night together. I wasn't able to capture pictures on the carousel or the train ride that we took around the park. Jackson was a little afraid of the carousel for some reason; however, he absolutely loved the carousel in April at the zoo, so maybe he wasn't able to warm-up to the carousel long enough before it started spinning. We will definitely be doing this again soon. Jackson has mentioned several times today that he wanted to go to the park, and he told us his favorite things were the big slide and the train.

Upromise

2008-06-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

I love shopping, but even more, I love scoring a great deal on the things that we need. There's so many ways to do that, but one way I've learned to do that is through Upromise. I've been using Upromise for the past few years, and as of today, I've earned $164.08, which isn't a lot for a few years, but it's free money. I started out using this for my college expenses, but now I use it to save for Jackson's college expenses. Hopefully by the time he goes to college, I'll have enough saved for 1 semester of books or something =) It adds up slowly, but it's free!

Right now, if you join and make an online purchase by 6/30/08, you'll earn an extra $10 in your account. They will even let you start an account if you're expecting, think you'll have children in the future, want to help save for a family member or friend, etc.

The way Upromise works, if you haven't heard of it, participating companies offer a percentage of your purchases back in the form of savings for college expenses. They offer you the opportunity to put this savings into a 529 college savings plan or you can ask to withdraw your money as needed if you fill out the withdrawal form and mail it in. I choose to withdraw my funds and put them in a college savings account. You register your store cards and they automatically keep track of your purchases. Many stores offer the option of registering your card such as CVS, Harris Teeter, and Lowe's Foods. If you choose to also register your credit cards, you can save at places such as Bed, Bath & Beyond, and you can also save extra through shopping online through their website. I order many Christmas gifts online and save quite a bit of money through walmart.com, bestbuy.com, target.com and many others. If you haven't checked it out before, check it out, and I'll answer any questions I can. I'm an affiliate for this program, so if you sign up through my link I get $4. So I encourage you to use my link, but if you choose not to, check it out and earn yourself some free cash!

Coupons

2008-06-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

Those that know me best know that for the past 10 months since I quit work, I have been on a quest to save our hard-earned money by working hard at making the money we have stretch that much further. One way I have been able to do that is through the use of coupons. We save hundreds each month through coupons. I have added a coupon toolbar on the side of my blog that will allow you to print coupons. If you see any you like, be sure to click them to print. They change often, and coupons.com is a site I have used for many months. I receive a small amount of money for any coupons printed through my website, so I encourage you to check it out if you haven't before and save yourself a little bit of money.

**We love the Muir Glen Organic tomatoes. They are our brand of choice now. There is a $1.00 off coupon which makes them only pennies at most places such as Wal-Mart, but they have a much better flavor than other canned tomatoes, so we use those in our spaghetti and other dishes and LOVE it!

Birthday

2008-06-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes on Thursday. My life is as sweet and enjoyable as it is because of God, and the friends and family I surround myself with! I love y'all! I had an enjoyable 26th birthday, and it was so special because of the time I was able to spend with my family. God has truly blessed me with a special family that I wouldn't trade for the world! They were sweet to travel to Raleigh to enjoy dinner with us, and it was a nice time of fellowship.

Jackson knows a thing or 2 about birthdays, and while we were eating dinner last night at our favorite restaurant, which has candles on the table, Jackson said, "Birthday mommy. I blow out." He thought it was a birthday candle for him to blow out. He has sang me "Happy Birthday" more times than I can count the past few days, and I have just enjoyed hearing his sweet voice singing.

Home-made Ice Cream...YUM!

2008-06-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a little slack this week in the blogging world. What a busy week as I finish up papers, finals, etc as the summer session is coming to a close. I must say it is quite a relief to be finishing up this semester, and just knowing that there are only 2 more semesters left in this journey towards my master's degree! How exciting!

On Father's Day, we decided to make home-made ice cream together. Donald had never had home-made ice cream, and I was thinking of fond memories of my father, and one thing that came to mind is the fun things we would always do as a family, and I thought of how much I loved the summer when my dad would make home-made ice cream. YUM! We decided to make strawberry ice cream. Jackson was such a great helper when it came to packing the ice and rock salt around the ice cream.

**Thanks Lacy for such a great wedding gift! We love it!

Phrase of the Day: "Not Bad"

2008-06-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

The phrase of the day has been "not bad." Anytime you ask Jackson if he likes what he's eating today he'll say "Not bad mommy." Not sure where he picked it up but it's so cute. When he says it, you just get the feeling he's such a big boy and knows exactly what he's talking about. I love it =) He says the cutest things somedays!

Happy Father's Day tomorrow! Father's day is always such a hard day for me as I miss Papa so much! During days like this, I remind myself all day how thankful I am that I had such a good dad, and I had him for the 24 years that I did. I'm constantly reminded of what a positive influence Papa had on my life, and how many people never have that influence from their dad in their lifetime! What a privelege to have him as my dad, and to have all of the cherished memories I have of him. I love you Papa!

Sesame Street Presents: Elmo Makes Music

2008-06-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

I thought I had already posted this post, but realized it was saved as a draft, so this is from May 31st. What a great time we had.

We had a nice weekend. Saturday night we took Jackson to Sesame Street Presents: Elmo Makes Music. It was a fun musical, perfect for the little ones. It had all of their favorite Sesame Street characters (well most of them anyways), and was upbeat andd fun. We enjoyed spending time with Van and Nicole, and Jackson definitely enjoyed his time with Sophie (he was still talking about her even today). Jackson is still talking about going to Elmo's house, so seems he really enjoyed it. Here's a few pictures from our outing.

Summer Fun!

2008-06-10T11:06:00.001-07:00

I think everyone who knows Jackson knows how much he loves the outdoors. Now that he knows how to lock/unlock and open/close every door on the house, we have our hands full trying to keep him indoors when he's supposed to be. Not to worry...we have invested in the doorknob covers to keep him from opening the doors, which has worked so far, but he is smart so I'm sure it won't be long and he'll figure out how to get around those too. That's what happened to the cabinet locks. This weekend we let him enjoy the nice hot weather outdoors. We got his swimming pool out and let him play in it. He had a great time running in and out of the pool. Donald and I had a great time laughing at him and all his antics. Oh the joy he brings to our lives! Here's a few pictures from this weekend. I think they really capture the many excited faces of Jackson.

Cooking

2008-06-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

Jackson loves cooking in the kitchen, so I let him help me as I was making the pimento cheese for David and Amy's bridal shower tomorrow. He was having a great time stirring, and was so good about keeping it in the bowl. He's a great helper in the kitchen (until it's time to put it away or in the oven) =)

I'll try to post again tomorrow as I have some cute pictures of Jackson playing in his swimming pool and playing in the sprinkler from this weekend. He's so entertaining! What did Donald and I ever do before we had Jackson?

WOW Music Giveaway

2008-06-06T04:25:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I enjoy is listening to music. Jackson and I typically have 1 hour of dance time in the afternoons. This is something that I recently started, and it makes us smile as we dance around the house and relax dancing to the music. During this hour, there is no television, only music. Generally, we listen to Matthew West as Jackson LOVES the Matthew West CD. It has the right umph for his dance style.

Rocks In My Dryer is hosting a blog giveaway for the WOW CD collection. Head over to her blog to get the details on how to enter if you're interested. This would provide Jackson with a lot of new dance entertainment!

Happy Anniversary!

2008-05-29T17:23:00.001-07:00

4 years ago today, I married by best friend, and the perfect man for me! It's exciting to celebrate another year together, and look back at how blessed we have been together. I'm so thankful that the Lord placed Donald in my life. He has been "a constant" and has been so loving, caring, and supportive, and for that I am so grateful! I thought in honor on today I'd share a few photos from our wedding, and a few from our honeymoon. We love to travel and hope to take a trip next summer to celebrate my graduation.

Captions:

Photo 1: A picture taken looking across the canal from Venice, Italy.

Photo 2: Donald feeding the pigeons in Venice. This is something that lots of people do while in Venice because there are so many pigeons in San Marco square.

Photo 3: Sacred Heart Basilica in Paris, France. This is a beautiful, quaint church. We were able to observe a mass there while on our trip.

Photo 4: Donald and I in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Photo 5: A photo of our hotel in Paris. We had a gorgeous room looking out at the Eiffel Tower across the city. We had a nice little balcony that we could stand and watch it light up different colors all night long. The Hotel Regina is shown in the movie Bourne Supremacy which is kinda neat.

Photo 6: Donald and I eating dinner at our favorite restaurant in Venice. We also ate at this restaurant while visiting Venice during our study abroad trip in 2001.

Update

2008-05-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

Last night while getting Jackson ready for bed, he began laughing at Donald, and I couldn't resist the video. There's just something so special about boys and their daddy. I'm so thankful Jackson has been so blessed with such a special daddy that is so good to him. How can you resist smiling at such a sweet little cackle =) Hope that brightens your day!

We celebrated Donald's birthday on Sunday and had a nice time together as a family. He turned 29. Jackson loves "pesents" and "cake." I'm sure he wishes he could celebrate a birthday everyday.

In other news...things are starting to settle back down a bit from a hectic week last week. Things are falling into place at my new internship, and I'm enjoying it so much. There's something so special about being involved in helping a patient make improvements in their health and be able to do things once again that they took for granted; such as conversing with your friends and family, eating, or even having a sip of water. I am constantly reminded of how many things I can truly be thankful for. I remember asking Mom in August of last year as I turned in my month notice at the bank to remind me that I was making the right decision to leave a good job and pursue a career in speech-language pathology, and I'm so thankful that I took that step of faith, and pursued something that I love and feel fulfiled in. It's not been an easy road, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel and look forward to graduation on May 8, 2009. Thank you for all the continued support from my friends and family. I could never have done it without you!

Jackson's Tricycle

2008-05-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

We bought Jackson a tricycle several months ago. Up until he started riding his tractor everywhere he was pretty interested in his tricycle, but not for the typical reasons. We tried teaching him to pedal, but he simply wanted to scoot the tricycle off of the sidewalk and down the little hill in front of the sidewalk so that the tricycle would tumble over. Typical boy =) He lost interst in his tricycle and everything else once he got his tractor, but recently decided he would start riding it again for short sputs here and there. He finally has learned how to pedal, and he's quite good at it. Here's a picture of him pedaling away last night .

Hectic Week

2008-05-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you guys know it's a hectic week, so not sure how much I'll post this week. My classes started today, and I started my new internship today at a hospital, and have to say I'm very excited about it but overwhelmed at the same time. This will be a semester of stretching me so that I can learn so many new things, meet many new friends, and come into contact with many families who are in need of compassion. My prayer is that I will always take the time to lend an ear to a hurting family, show compassion, and show the love of Christ through my day-to-day interactions.

This week we celebrate Donald's 29th birthday on May 25th, and our 4 year anniversary on May 29th. How exciting!

Cheap Entertainment...A Clubhouse

2008-05-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

Since Jackson got his tractor for his birthday, I have been saying I was going to turn his box that his tractor came in, into a clubhouse. Jackson has been so caught up playing with his tractor that I haven't thought about the box, until tonight. Jackson helped me turn the box into a clubhouse, and he couldn't be happier with the results. Inexpensive entertainment that has already provided him with hours of fun and excitement! Here's a few pictures from his time tonight. I would've taken more, but he made me sit in the clubhouse with him, and I couldn't leave to get my camera, until daddy came along and got the honors of sitting in the clubhouse =)

Ice Cream

2008-05-16T05:46:00.001-07:00

Last night after dinner, we decided to take Jackson to get some ice cream as a special treat. Donald and I enjoyed iced coffees, and Jackson got a scoop of ice cream. I had to share this pic of his creative way of eating ice cream. I guess the spoon wasn't working fast enough =) The lighting in Baskin Robbins was kinda weird which is why the coloring looks funky.

Jars of Sand

2008-05-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

We had a pleasant evening tonigh with my family who joined us for dinner. Always nice to have family visit, and Jackson of course enjoyed their company and was sad to see them go. After everyone left, we let Jackson continue to play in the yard. He was having such a great time. Donald and I decided to play an old-fashioned game of HORSE with Jackson's 4 ft. tall basketball goal. What a great time! (I was able to teach Jackson to scream when Donald shot the ball for added distraction, but it simply wasn't enough!) This simple game reminded me once more of the little things I miss about my dad. I remember countless times playing HORSE in the backyard with my dad. I have to say I have so many fond memories of my childhood, and wouldn't trade them for the world! Life was simple and so good!
I've learned so many things about life recently. Blogging and thinkign about things that happen each day helps me reflect on the things that I am learning from life and through each day. One thing I thought about today was just how simple my childhood was, and yet we were such happy kids. I think so many people these days get caught up in the material things, adding more things to their agenda, running here and running there, and we miss out on so many things because life is so complicated. Our preacher talked about this in his sermon on Sunday as well. We try to fill our jars, which is our life, with sand and then fit in the big rocks which are our priorities and it just doesn't work. We should fill our jars of life with our big rocks (God, spouse, children, etc.) then fill our other time with the sand that will fit and what doesn't fit we should start eliminating and simplifying our life.

Farmer Jackson

2008-05-13T19:54:00.001-07:00

I was so excited today when I opened my mailbox and found the pictures above in an evelope along with a sweet note from my Aunt Gail! She took these pictures last week while we were at our cousin's farm, and the ones above are just a few of my favorites.

If you know Jackson, you know that he LOVES tractors. He talks about them constantly, and is always on the look-out for a tractor in a field while we're driving down the road. He was pretty excited to be able to get up-close-and-personal with these tractors at the farm.

Thanks for sharing Aunt Gail!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

**A beautiful rose from our rose bush in our yard.**
We had such an enjoyable today as we celebrated our mothers. Jackson was fascinated today by a necklace they gave me for mother's day. He wanted me to look at his neck as if he had a necklace on too, but at any rate, he was very cute and lots of fun!

After church, we headed to Rocky Mount to celebrate Mother's Day with our families. One thing I can honestly say is that I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful family. What a blessing it is to be raised in a Christian home that is loving as our home always was. The memories I have with my family and continue to make with them are ones that I will always cherish, and I'm very thankful that God saw fit to place me in this family. So, I enjoy celebrating holidays such as Mother's Day because it is such a special occasion when you are able to celebrate a mother as wonderful as mine!

Being a mother is such a special role and such a unique ministry that occurs right in your home. I feel priveleged that God has called me to this role and ministry by blessing me with such a special little boy.

Word of the day: Thank you!

2008-05-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

Jackson's word of the day has been "Thank You." He usually remembers his manners, but today he has thanked me for picking up his toys, putting his shoes on, giving him snacks, fixing him juice, etc. You get the idea, he has thanked me for so many things. It's so sweet to listen to him being so sweet and thankful for everything I do for him. I could just eat him up! Reminds me that's how our heavenly Father feels about us. So many times we go through life not stopping to say "Thank you" for all our blessings. We get so caught up in the day-to-day that we forget all the things He has blessed us with, and we often are consumed thinking about all the things that don't go our way that we forget to see all the many blessings we have in our life. My prayer is that I have a grateful heart, and look to around me to be thankful for all the blessings I have in my life.

Yesterday a shipment came from Fed-Ex and Jackson thought the narrow box was the perfect hiding spot for him, and indeed it was. He thought we couldn't see him in the box. Guess he didn't think we'd see the box jumping around or the bulge in the middle of the box that was him =) Here's a cute pic of him "hiding" in his box.

**Aunt Gail--I had to include the first pic with him hiding with his water gun because it reminded me of the story you and Papa used to tell about him hiding his cheese toast from you. Ha ha =)

Last day of internship...

2008-05-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day at my internship site for this semester. Since completing internships in the graduate program, I have realized just how generous people can be in helping you get started by sharing their time, information, and talent with you. So far I have worked at 2 different internship sites, and both were such a positive experience that I learned so much from, and found lifelong friends and mentors in the supervisors I had there. It was a bittersweet day because I am so happy to be finishing up another internship, and also so happy to be one step closer to obtaining my Master's degree. WHOOO HOOO! This internship has been somewhat difficult in that some of the children were cold & hard because of their home life, and the caseload was varied and challenging. I've learned so much about life and becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist through this experience. My supervisors were so generous! They gave me a new market tote (I've been wanting one of these for months now!) filled with goodies to help me get started as a clinician. There was everything from games to play with the kids, books to read with the kids (one was especially for Jackson, HOW THOUGHTFUL!), hand sanitizer, etc. I'm humbled at how thoughtful they were, and how much they genuinely cared about giving me a head-start in my career.
I'm excited to have 1 week off before beginning my next internship. It'll give me a little break, and some time to get a few things done around here. My next internship is in a long-term acute care facility, and will be quite an emotional challenge. I went into this field thinking I would work in a facility like this, but am not sure that this is an area that I will work in after graduation. Pray for us as we pray about God's direction in our lives, and where He would have us live, work, etc.

Spring is here!

2008-05-05T17:24:00.001-07:00

So things have been a little crazy the past few days, so I haven't had an opportunity to sit down and blog about our days here at the Irwin house, and what Jackson has been up to. I'm happy to say that this semester of school is finally over and I have 2 weeks of down time to relax a little before another semester and internship begins. This is a much-needed break! The countdown to graduation begins...12 months and counting =)

Since the weather has been so beautiful, Jackson and I have been spending the majority of our days outside enjoying SPRING! There's so many things for Jackson to explore, and he's such a great helper with the yard work. He loves finding sticks or pieces of pinestraw to throw in his wagon. Jackson has been such a big helper in the yard that we decided to let him plant some wildflowers that are his flowers, so they have been his responsibility to water and check on everyday. He worked hard digging the hole to put the seeds in and actually covering up the seeds. He checks his pots everyday even though he doesn't see much going on now. He waters them and tells me about his flowers. Here's a picture of him planting his seeds. I'm sure we'll post more pics as his seeds sprout and he gets even more excited about his flowers.

In other news...we've been working on teaching Jackson how to drink from a cup. He gets so excited to be such a big boy. We've still got a ways to go on this, but he's learning and getting the hang of it. I love his big refreshing sigh after each sip as if everything tastes better when you drink it from a big boy cup instead of a sippy cup.

Talk Daddy!

2008-05-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

*Jackson having his morning conversation with his daddy.*
"Talk daddy" is a phrase I hear numerous times everyday while Donald is at work. Jackson has to "talk daddy" about everything. Throughout the day if he wants to call and talk to daddy on the telephone he'll tell me "talk daddy." Donald is always happy to hear his sweet voice, and likes trying to figure out what Jackson is so excited about. It's so cute to watch him walk around the house on the phone like such a big boy talking to him about his toys, or an animal he saw in the neighborhood, or a truck that drove down our street. Usually he has to leave the room I'm in so he can go sit in the other room and talk to his daddy about everything that's happening in his day. He loves his daddy so much and hates that when he wakes up in the morning Donald has already left for work. He usually wakes up calling for daddy to come get him, and looks a little disappointed when it's mommy that greets him, but is soon better after he has his morning talk with daddy on the telephone.

The difference 7 months and a lollipop can make...

2008-04-29T12:08:00.001-07:00

Many of you may remember just how traumatic Jackson's first haircut was on September 7, 2007. We have spaced his haircuts out as far as possible because it was such a traumatic event for him. So, since then he's had only a handful of haircuts. We had his first haircut done at the barber shop Donald always had his hair cut at. The barbers there always do such a great job with Jackson even though he is screaming, and his hair cut always looks so nice, and so much like a "little man."

Today I was feeling mighty brave, so I thought we'd venture out to get a haircut because let's face it, he's needed one for weeks now. He was so cute when I told him after his bath that we were going to get a haircut. I kept reminding him that it wouldn't hurt and showed him how she would gather his hair and "snip, snip." So all morning he would gather his hair and say, "sip, sip." We went to a local salon and had them cut his hair, and he did such a great job!

It was a HUGE improvement from only 7 months ago. He pouted for a few minutes, but then did a great job being such a big boy and sucking on his lollipop. Lollipops are one of those treats he only gets for going to the doctor or doing something that big boys do. He thinks they're such a special treat! Here's a few pics for comparison =)

This pic was taken just after we got in the car. I let him sit in my lap today so I couldn't get a pic while he was getting a haircut but I think this picture speaks volumes!

Lazy Weekend

2008-04-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

We had a much-needed lazy weekend this weekend. We were able to spend lots of time outside with Jackson, and let him enjoy this beautiful weather! He's into watching all the bugs, lizards, birds, and was thrilled he was able to get pretty close to a rabbit today. He's been helping me with the yard work lately as he drives his power wheel around and throws sticks into the back of it so he can later dump them in the backyard. He also is very helpful watering the flowers, or picking weeds out of the flower beds. It's so exciting to watch him learn new things, and demonstrate his independence.
Hopefully we'll have some new pics to add later this week. I finish up with final exams this week so we'll be able to get out and do more as soon as exams are behind me. Say a prayer for these finals. This has been my hardest semester yet, so I'm praying the finals go smoothly.

Washing the car with a 2 year old...

2008-04-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

I wish I had pictures to go with this post, but unfortunately my camera was dead when I needed it the most today! Jackson and I decided we would wash the car today. I thought he'd have a great time getting dirty with mommy today, and boy was I right! He had a blast being in control of the water hose today, and the one corner of my car that he was in charge of was washed at least 10 times, so it's clean! I don't think there was a dry spot on me or him once we were finished, and it took his mind off of his new John Deere tractor for at least 30 minutes. These days that's an accomplishment! What a day!

In other news...I'm finishing up another semester of grad school. I have finally finished all 3 of my papers for this semester, and now I'm in the process of studying for finals next week. I will have a couple weeks of a break before summer session starts which is very much needed right now! Donald has been so wonderful about helping out around the house so that I have all the time I need to take care of everything I need to get accomplished to finish up the semester. I have truly been blessed with an amazing husband!

Well it's off to study some more for final exams. Say a prayer for me during this time as I could really use it! This has been the hardest semester of classes I have ever had, and I've wondered at times if I'd make it through, but I have, and I'm glad to say I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

2008-04-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

For some time now I've wanted to create a family blog to keep everyone informed about what's happening at the Irwins. I hope you enjoy seeing a snapshot of our life, and I look forward to my friends and family blogging to keep us updated on their life as well. Wish me luck in this endeavor!