Working Woman

Everybody's got to pull their own weight around here.  Just because you're "getting up at all hours of the night" or "feeding this stinking kid every two hours" doesn't mean you get a free pass.

Denise reluctantly agreed to do a few kitchen drawings for work last weekend.  Who knew motherhood required so much multitasking?  

In his defense, Jarrett made dinner.

The Many Faces of Jackson Ward

This kid is getting more and more lively every day.

He and Denise had a photo shoot the other day.

I could look at these all day.

Ho Ho Ho...

We all celebrated the approach of Christmas (and Christmas Break!)

with a little holiday dress-up, followed by some culinary festivities.

Jackson was pretty upset when we told him that he couldn't have any cookies.

Woohoo!

Snow Day!

The snow is Beans-deep, and the wind blew all night. All the roads are buried; the county never even had a chance. Jarrett gets the day off, and some kindly soul with a skid steer came by and plowed out the driveway this morning. Hooray!

In other news, Denise made it all the way to December 8th before breaking down and opening all the early Christmas presents under the tree.

Thanks Nana & Papa!

Growing Like a Weed

Our baby boy is growing fast. Compared to a month ago, he spends a lot more of his day awake and alert. He's noticing everything, and he is very excited about it.

He still can't reach out and grab things, but if you set a toy on his chest, he'll shove it into his mouth.

Jackson really likes toys.

He's a pretty happy kid, generally.

And we're pretty happy parents, generally.

For anyone who wants to look at 6 million pictures of Jackson, there's a new batch up at Shutterfly.

Jackson Makes a Friend

Playing Games

The Couch Potato

Happy Baby

This is a toy I had when I was a baby.

Playing with a rattle. He doesn't really shake it on purpose.

He just holds it and waves his arms around.

Jackson's New Discoveries

Things to talk to and hit.

Snuggle buddies.

Sitting up...with a little help.

Beans's new discovery.

Sleepy Saturday

It gets kind of lonesome around here before 10:00 a.m.

A Practical Guide

How To Make Muffins in 18 Easy Steps

by Jarrett, Jackson, & Beans the Bird Dog

1. Jarrett & Jackson wake up before Denise. Decide it would be nice to make her some muffins for breakfast.


2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.


3. Attempt to open package of muffin mix with one hand while holding Jackson in the other.


4. Spill half a package of muffin mix on the ground.


5. Beans devours half a package of muffin mix.


6. Put Jackson in swing. Pop a pacifier in his mouth to stop the crying.


7. Estimate that approximately half the muffin mix remains. Decide to cut the rest of the recipe in half and proceed.


8. Jackson's pacifier falls on the ground. Boil it for sterilization. Put it back in.


9. Due to sleep deprivation, incorrectly calculate one-half of two-thirds cups of milk. Add two whole cups of milk to muffin mix.


10. Jackson's pacifier falls on the ground. Rinse it off. Put it back in.


11. Spoon milky muffin mix-soup into six muffin cups.


12. Jackson's pacifier falls on the ground. Blow it off. Put it back in.


13. Put muffin soup in preheated oven for 14 minutes. Due to sleep deprivation, set the timer for 41 minutes.


14. Jackson's pacifier falls on the ground. Let Beans lick it off. Make a solemn pact with Beans to never discuss this with anyone.


15. Jackson falls asleep. Beans falls asleep. Jarrett falls asleep.


16. Awake 41 minutes later to the sound of a baby crying and the smell of smoke. Oven timer is going off. Beans wants to go outside. Denise is yelling something about a fire extinguisher.


17. Feed Jackson. Extinguish kitchen fire. Feed burnt muffins to Beans. Tell Denise the oven must be faulty. Drive to the bakery. Buy muffins. Drive home. Reflect on the joys of fatherhood.


18. Enjoy!