My Kids

It is amazing how time flies by with a newborn! Jackson is almost three weeks old! I can't believe it!

Luckily I got a few shots in of the two kiddos last week! Joey was actually excited to have her picture taken! It is amazing the persuasion powers a new baby brother has on her!



I love love love this one! I think it is going to go on his birth announcement! So sweet!



She has been so good with him! She loves everything about him. And doesn't go an hour with out saying "he's so cute!" I know it will change so I am enjoying it while it lasts!



And he is too! He is such a mellow baby! A complete 180 from how Joey was. He never cries, never fusses and never has to be bounced!!! I can't tell you how different that is from when Joey was a baby! I literally bounced my butt off with that girl:)



And I am happy to say that I successfully got two kids dressed and myself and out the door this morning! A feat I have been doubtful I could do.. But we did and it wasn't even that bad! Joey is such a big helper! I love that she is getting bigger and will get his nappies and hers for me!



Needless to say I am just enjoying the time I have with them right now. It amazes me that I am a mother of two! I love it and I sure love them!!

Say Good Bye!

It finally happened! We are now binky free people! Joey has been so attached to her purple binky for the last few months! It has been a major battle for too long, she has it in all day long, on the couch, in the loft, in the car! I tell you it is a slippery slope. So the other day I took matters into my own hands and snipped the top right off! I went to give it to her and she took it, took it out, looked at it and said "what happened? Its broken!" To which I replied I know sis, I'm sorry but that is what happens when things get old. She has had it for two years! So she just sort of played with it for a while. Kept saying we needed to fix it. And today she threw it away! It was broken and she didn't want it anymore. I have to say as a mom, I think it was harder for me than it was for her! But I sure am glad I don't have to listen to her talk with it in her mouth or hear the words "I need my purple binky" again! It's broken, its gone. She is that much closer to "getting bigger just like Ethie!" Way to go Joey! And mommy! :)

"I am Iron Man"

We brought Jackson home from the hospital on Wed and went in for his check up on Friday. At his check up the dr told us that he was down almost a pound from his birth weight and he was jaundice. Big time. So we spent the weekend taking him back and forth from the hospital for bilirubin tests and on photo therapy. But I am happy to say that on Monday (my birthday!) his count had gone way down and we could stop using the "blanket"!



We went back to the dr on Tuesday and he is doing great! He has gained 8 ounces and should be back to his birth weight by next week! :)



I love his face in this one! I call it his Scotty look (my older brother) because I think it looks just like him! That or a little old man!



He has lovingly been given a few nick names, Iron Man and Blue light Special.
I am just glad he is okay, and portable again, oh and most importantly eating!!!

He's Here!!

Aaron Jackson Thueson
Arrived March 2nd at 11:30 pm
7 pounds
20 inches







Mom and Dad and Joey are thrilled!




We are home now and ready to start enjoying our little boy! Joey loves having her own best brother! And I have to say, I like it too!

"Me and My Girl...

We got this relationship!"



I have been wanting to get pics of me and Joey for a while now, not like I don't already have a billion but these will be the last before the baby comes on Monday and rocks our world!



If you know me at all you know I am a little more than pre occupied with Joey! So much so that I haven't really even thought about the baby! Sad but true! But now that he is coming so soon I am starting to realize that we are going to be okay! I can't wait for Joey to have a brother! and neither can she! Everyday she comes up with something new of hers that she is going to share with baby Jackson! I know she is going to be a great big sister! Lets just hope I can learn to be a great mom to two!




I love you Joey! You will always be my favorite girl!

Our Next American Idol!

OH this girl! Ever since she was tiny she has loved songs. I mean loved songs! It was and still is the only way to get her to calm down at night or when she is anxious or in a bad mood, I have to sing! Now for anyone who has actually heard me sing it isn't pretty but it has always helped Joey so I of course do it. And now she has taken to singing to herself! I got a whole bunch on video, she goes through a list of ABC's, Twinkle, Her own made up Baby Jackson song, I am a Child of God, Frosty a Snowman and Someday My Prince Will Come! from Snow white.
Today I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up and I went through the list, A doctor? No. A dolphin trainer? No. A mommy? No. A photographer? No. An accountant? No. Finally I asked A singer? Yes!!! So Rebecca looks like someone will be getting voice lessons some day!

Eat Your Heart Out!

Kev and I have a few Valentines Day traditions, some can't be mentioned on the blog (wink wink) but some can! Like the fact that I always make heart shaped pizza and ever since Kev was little he has had heart shaped rice crispies which I have taken to as well. So this year I decided to really go all out! Heart shaped everything, cookies, jello, pizza, mini pizza, rice crispies, even heart shaped ice cubes!



I decided to share the fun with a few friends! Joey was so excited to have her friends come to her party! We made heart shaped place mats and a bean toss for the kids! The parents just hung out and ate and talked.



I made everyone pose for a group picture! Not my usual thing but neither is having a party in the first place so I wanted to document it! Thanks to everyone who came! We had a blast! And a special thanks to my mother in law for providing all the heart shaped cookware that made the party possible! I have to say it turned out pretty good especially for being nine months pregnant! :)

20 minutes of quiet..

And this is what you come down to! While enjoying a nice evening at our friends house the kids went down stairs to play and the parents stayed upstairs talking. We could hear them laughing and squealing but figured no crying no need.... Well after about twenty minutes Danny went down to check on them and all we hear is "uh Sarah?" We figured it had to be bad and headed for the stairs... This is what we found!



All three kids having a blast pulling all the stuffing out of the couch cushions! I about died! Joey was lucky Kev wasn't there because I can't imagine how he would have reacted.



Being the awesome people that they are our friends just laughed it off and we cleaned it up in no time. Not with out of few pics and some strong words that this is never to happen again!



I have to say Yes we have been invited back and Yes it is pretty much Joeys favorite place to play! She honestly loves these two so much! Everytime she sees Sam he receives a big hug and kiss! It is cute for now, we may have to talk about it in a few years! :)

photos courtesy of Sarah

Its Snow! Its Snow!

Weather on the East Coast isn't exactly predictable so when we were driving home from the dr today and it started snowing I figured we better make the most of it! We had absolutely no snow on Christmas and it hasn't really felt like winter here but today it did!

Joey was so excited to play, she listed everything she needed to get on before she could go outside, hat, gloves, boots and comfys!

Making her first snow angel!


Since it doesn't really snow here we don't have a sled, so we improvised! She didn't mind, she thought it was a blast anyway! Especially when I got in it with her! It was a bit of a squeeze but I am happy to report the basket managed to come out un harmed and so did my pride!






We had a snow ball fight and then I had to explain that really snow balls are only for throwing at daddy!

When we got inside Joey told me "thats pretty fun playing in the whole big snow!" and I have to agree it was fun and I am glad we got a little winter fun in, I am sure it will all be gone in the morning!

"Mom, whats happned me?"

Okay so there is something in the water out here that makes all little girls want hair cuts! That or is because Joey has seen me cut my own hair, Kevs hair and my friend Aprils hair that has made her repeatedly ask for her own hair cut!




So I did it! I cut her long hair in to a short cut! Really we are just jumping on the bandwagon, Lily and Anna got theirs cut and than we were over at her friends and out of no where her little friend says "mom I need a hair cut!" I figured it was only a matter of time until she did it herself!





So while I was cutting away she kept asking "mom whats happened me?" And when we finished I asked her if she liked it and she said, "I want to put it back!" oops!


However now she tells me she is big enough to go to school and she looks like Madeline! Both good things in my book!



The back is messy in this pic but I wanted to show it because it is really cute! I messed up a little on the front because she would not for the life of me look up when I asked her to but what can you do, she is only two after all!



Finally a smiling one! I'm not sure where she learned this smile but oh well it works!



Everyone who has seen it says she looks really different and grown up. I guess I am still on the fence because all I see when I look at her is Joey just missing her hair! Although I will say I am glad I no longer have to find new ways to do her hair, bribe her to hold still when I do her hair and mostly listen to her scream when I pull her hair!

The Aqueem! Day 1 and 2

If you haven't been to the Baltimore Aquarium you should! It is awesome! Thursday morning Jo, Grandma and I got in the car and headed up there to meet Sarah and her boys! I didn't know what to expect, my past aquarium trips always seem to be a dissapointment. But not this one! So much so we are new members and will be going back frequently!


The bubbles at the entrance of the exhibit, really Joey could have stayed here all day and been happy!


But we soldiered on and saw it all! Stingrays, zebra sharks!



And Emo! So Joey has never seen "finding Nemo" but heard the other kids yelling and and joined in. Really I just think kevs taste in music has rubbed off on her! I kept telling her not Emo, Nemo... didn't matter!



The best part had to be the Dolphin show! It was so fun! And so cool! And of course Joey LOVED it!


They jump and splash the front rows! It is great!


As I said I bought a membership so on Saturday we went back with Kev!

Frightening picture of me I know but Joey and Kev look good!


Joey and Daddy enjoying the exhibits! They both love the water!


A little place for a rest!


Happy to report that on day two she left one happy camper! As opposed to our ending on day one where she screamed and screamed and then we got lost on the way home! Still sorry about that Marj! I think I will get the hang of driving out here soon! Atleast I will know my way to and from Baltimore really well!

Where Have We Been?

We've been to London to see the Queen! (okay not it this post, but if you have read Madeline in London you know what I am talking about :)
Actually we have been to the DC temple, Williamsburg and ringing in the New year!





Joey has decided she will no longer pose in pics with mom and dad, apparently we are not cool enough anymore!

Then it was off to Colonial Williamsburg! Which was really cool! Can you believe this was and probably still is someones house? It is amazing!


Joey got to see some serious oxen, she was impressed!


There were so many things to take pictures of! All the old shops that still sell colonial items. And I loved all the signs.





Joey spent her time pushing her stroller, collecting rocks and climbing on hitching posts. She is a real history buff!





As it got dark we headed back to the hotel where Joey and daddy took a swim! It was fun for her, really she just liked the hot tub but I think we will have a good time swimming this summer in our pool!



We got back just in time to ring in the New Year where Marj was good enough to let me off camera duty. (okay I forgot to bring mine) when we went bowling and had a little party! This was Jo's first time bowling and it was a blast! Yeah she got a little tired of waiting for two turns, but hey what two year old wouldn't!

This was totally a strike!
Jumping for joy! It was really funny!

The kids finished their game before the adults and guess who cleaned up by getting a TURKEY! Oh yeah me! I tied with Sarah for first! We worked our husbands!



The kids reading with bompa, don't worry they did see midnight much to their parents displeasure but hey if it only happens once a year it is fine with me!

Audios 2008 bring on 2009!