Jackson-Up Close & Personal

Some photos of Jackson. It is funny how they can have such different looks in each photo. He has such pretty coloring and 2-toned blue eyes. He is already smiling and starting to coo!

Vibrating Chair...not just for babies

Nora is loving all the 'baby toys'. She is fascinated with the vibrating bouncy seat and the play jungle gym that plays music and has lights.

Is it ok if I sit on Jackson's chair?

Nora's New Smile and it even looks like Jackson is giving a smirk

1st Twins Game for Jackson

The fun family weekend continued today with a Twins game. Our seats were in the upper deck in the outfield and we were straight out from homeplate. We had the back 2 rows so all the kiddos could come and go and run on the concourse, which was nice. Jackson came to his first Twins game, Nora has NOT been to a game yet---Lucky Boy! He was such a great boy. I carried him in the Baby Bjorn and he slept most of the game. He ate and then slept some more.

I am sure at Target Field they have a family area or room that I could have fed him, but we brought a bottle and just asked the concessions for a hot cup of water to heat the bottle up. Thank You concessions for helping us out!

We won the game--Hooray! My aunt Connie and Randy were on the jumbo-tron and if they would've picked the right car to win our whole row would've gotten Target gift cards. They did not pick the right car, so the row BEHIND us won the gift cards. The row behind us was my whole family too, so it was a win-win situation.

The day was perfect for baseball and I am glad we were able to spend more time with my extended family.Mommy and Jackson

Daddy and Jackson....Both wearing their TWINS GEAR!

Visit from the Nordaunes

I was upstairs getting the bags packed for the picnic in South Minneapolis and I heard a knock on the door. I normally don't answer the door but thought I would check it out. It was our dear family friends, the Nordaunes. Bob and Marilyn were on their drive back home to Watson and decided to meet Jackson. What a fun surprise. Molly, their Irish Setter, even came and hung out, which made Nora's day! It was such a treat for them to stop by.

Olafson Reunion in June

My aunt Danita set up a fabulous weekend for everyone on my mom's side of the family to get together. Normally we have Christmas the 2nd weekend in November and that is sometimes the only time I see some of my extended family. It was great to see everyone in beautiful weather and play games and have a great potluck picnic at my cousin's house in South Minneapolis. Danita even set up a very competitive bean bag tournament (which I was horrible at!)

Jenn, Kyle and the kids came over before the potluck so here are Nora and Landrey playing with the PlaySkool kitchen. How cute are they? Landrey is 2.5 months older than Nora!

My cousins backyard...yes they rented a jumping castle!

Charlie riding one of the many scooter thingies

Lincoln and Reese in the castle

Lincoln and Kate

Nora...trying to get her footing!

Trying to be Wilma Flinstone?

Kate and Nora in the house. Nora giggled and giggled peeking through the windows!

Grandma Debbie and Jackson

Pickles for Breakfast

Yes you read that correctly-PICKLES FOR BREAKFAST!

Nora was standing next to me when I opened the fridge to get out some milk for breakfast. She pointed to the pickle jar and made the sign for 'more'. Well, I guess why not give her a pickle for breakfast, she'll learn they aren't such a breakfast food. And technically it is a vegetable, which she needs to get more of. So yes, she had a pickle (actually 3) for breakfast! She loved it and now asks for them all the time. Pickle Drool

The "Said" Pickle - in her mouth

Both my Babies!!!!

Both my babies "sleeping". Ok neither one is sleeping--Nora is thinking it is funny to be a 'baby' in Jackson's Moses basket. Jackson is probably fussing in his bassinet lent to us by Matt's parents. It was the same bassinet Matt slept in when he was a baby.

Jackson - 1 month old

Some photos of Jackson at 1 month old!

Jackson - 2 week ear recheck

Jackson is all clear of his ear infections. Lets hope it was a fluke and he will stay healthy. The doctor said "his were the best ears he's seen all day" The doctor also said his thrush looks gone but to continue with medicine for the full 2 weeks. Let hope that stays away too! He still spits up quite a bit and doesn't burp well, we'll see if that gets better as well.
He also weighs 10 lbs 7 oz - wow, even though he spits up....I don't need to worry that he is getting food. That is a 2 lb and 4 oz gain since birth. WOWSERS, what an eater!

Trip to Daddy's Work

We went and saw Matt at his new office in New Brighton. What a hike up there! It was so fun to see all his coworkers and for them to meet Jackson and see how big Nora is. Matt's boss and wife took us out for lunch which was a special treat. The kids were great in the car and it sure was fun to see Matt's cubicle and friends at work.

Nora with her calculator...calculating how many sales Daddy needs to make!

Finally Summer

FINALLY....Summer! Oh how we've missed you! Nora loves being outside and we take walks everyday. Since it was warm enough outside we set up our makeshift beach in our backyard. Nora and I hung out outside and Jackson and Matt hung out in the garage so Jackson (and Matt) didn't get sunburned.

Our makeshift Beach

Nora eating watermelon outside

Trying to step on her shadow!

So cute

Trip to Menards

We went to Menards today to pick up some stuff for the house/yard. Matt and I both took carts. One cart to have Jackson's carrier in it. One cart for the hose, hose cart, and shelf we were planning on buying. Well by the end of the trip. Nora was in Matt's arms while he is trying to push his cart. Jackson is in my arms while I try pushing my cart. The cashier was laughing at us as I am sure we were quite a site to see! Oh, the joys of 2 kids under 2!

18 months old

Nora is 18 months old. Wow, where has the time gone? She has gotten so big and is such a big girl now. I sometimes forget that she is only 18 months because she is so much bigger than Jackson so I think she is older than she is. She still hasn't mastered or even become a novice of talking, but she does have running, hitting, climbing, playing, throwing & eating down to a science. She no longer smells like baby, but little girl! She also has this new smile--She squints her eyes and shows her pearly whites.

Height: 32.25" 70%
Weight 25 lbs 65%
Head 46cm 35%

She loves:
fruit
animals
mommy (she used to be a daddy's girl!)
watching cartoons (she has watched more tv in the last month than in the previous 17 months!)
sleeping
ice cream
technology (she loves phones, ipads, computers)
drinking from straws
playing outside
giggling

She says:
mama
dada
puppa
cracker
nah (no)
baby
tank uh (thank you)
and she shakes her head VERY deliberately for YES!
She babbles up a storm--hopefully soon we will be able to understand her.

Nora and her 'nora bear' at 18 months

Thrush

Jackson has thrush....which in turn means I have it. SO NOT FUN! I finally went in to the doctor and got put on some medicine for both the little man and me. Hopefully we are on the mend and will feel 'less pain' soon.
For now, we are washing & boiling anything that touches milk
& Taking our medicine & Washing all our clothes daily & Taking lots and lots of ibuprofen
I will not give up on nursing Jackson, I know the benefits are so good for him (and me)
Please pray we heal quickly and that it stays away....I read online that it comes back quickly.

This is a NEW use for it.....

I bought a potty chair for Nora. She is so interested when one of us goes to the bathroom so I thought why not get her introduced to her own. At first she liked looking at it, but did not want anything to do with it. Now she atleast will play with it--not quite into sitting on it yet (not even for m&m's so that is strange!!!) I know she is only almost 18 months but I feel like she is so interested in it that she should be able to be potty trained.

She knows that it is called a 'potty'.
She knows that mommy and daddy use it.
She knows how to flush.
She doesn't quite understand that it is not a CUPBOARD.

Hersheys syrup in the potty chair?

Finding more things in our cupboards to put in the potty chair!!!

Hm...is this how this works?

She makes us so proud?!