Edinborough Park

We went to Edinborough park today in Edina with one of my college friends and her little boy.  Nora and Jackson loved it once they got over the fact that they could RUN.  Nora clung to my side for a good hour or 2 before she let loose.  Jackson was also close by or getting chased by Miss Nora. 

Snow....Finally

love this picture----jackson outside with the NUK in the sled with him

We finally got some snow.  Nora wanted to get all bundled up to go outside and sit in our new sleds.  Jackson even crawled into one to sit.  Nora likes making snowballs and trying to catch the snowflakes with her tongue.  Jackson liked the snow right away but then once he got out of the blue sled he realized it was cold and did not care for it anymore.

Playhouse Outside

I bought this playhouse at a yard in Shakopee for a steal and put it on our front porch.  Matt was NOT happy, but Nora is getting MUCH enjoyment out of it.  I am glad she is showing Daddy that Mommy knows what Nora likes. 

Jackson's Tubes

We decided to give Jackson tubes.  He has gotten so many ear infections and his ears weren't healing between infections.  The doctor said his ears looked horrible when he put them in.  Hopefully now he will start talking - I know he is a boy which delays speech normally, but we think that maybe there has always been fluid in his ears so he hasn't heard very well which has delayed his speech.  We'll see if he stays healthy now.  He was NOT the best post surgery patient.  We had to wait in the recovery room for about an hour because he would not calm down or drink/eat anything.   We tried milk, water, juice but nothing made him happy.  He just screamed for a good hour.  Poor Boy!  His ears must've been really bad because at his 2 week post surgery check the doctor had to suction out MORE fluid and puss from both ears.  Now he is doing better and I think hearing more things.

Jackson BEFORE surgery

 

 

 

Jackson AFTER surgery

Guitar With Daddy

 

Matt pulled out his old guitar and Nora loved plucking the strings and watching daddy try to play (I say 'try' because it has been 5+ years since he has brought it out!!!! He's a bit rusty!)

Nora has a Wiggles guitar which she then found and wanted to play - this is one of the toys that I have BANNED to the basement as I can only handle the Wiggles in short spurts and this toy goes on and on and on.....

Now Nora asks Matt to play guitar with her, it is so cute!

Mommy's Little Kitchen Helper

 

Nora is starting to understand that when I am in the kitchen and 'doing something' it normally means she gets to eat something soon.  I love letting her lick the spoon and see her little face light up.  

Balloons & Sibling Love

must be related to their dad....eyes closed!

Nora and Jackson are starting to play with each other more and more each day.  She loves making him giggle and he likes to tease her!

Nora: "come tickle me Jackie"

AWWWWW

Jackson loved chasing this balloon around the house

Hey Brother, can I give you a hug!?

Baby Nora or Big Girl Nora?!

Nora is now in a big girl bed.  One day our neighbor said they put their son in his bed so I thought....why not.  She loved watching me paint the bed pink and she also loved helping me put the bed together.  It was a good big girl step.  For the most part, she goes to bed at night with no problem BUT her naptimes are a bit trickier.  She likes to play around in her room.  I am ok with it since she is still having 'quiet time'.  She also likes sleeping with her sleeping bag on her bed.  It is fun to see her enjoying her bed and knowing she is such a big girl.

Her being funny in Jackson's crib

testing the new bed out

laying on her pillow pet in her new bed!

Engagement Party - Valentines Day Party!

We had a birthday/valentines day/engagement party/baby shower Party for a whole bunch of people in the family.  We were celebrating Nana Anne & her twin sister Mary's Birthday.  Auntie Kate and Uncle Adam's engagement (although their wedding is a mere 6 months away!) and baby shower for Matt's cousins baby Lola.  We played a little game of "the newlywed show' with Kate and Adam and it was fun.

Jackson and Great Aunt Ann

Baby Lola

AJ and his girlfriend Taylor

The 'ready to be married' couple!

Doing the famous 'newlywed game kiss'

Nana Anne and Jackson

Technology- Emma and Nora looking at an Iphone.

Potty Time?????

Ha Ha Ha.....Nora was all excited to see Minnie Mouse underwear at Wal-Mart today so I went with it.  I bought the little pack and we got home and she wanted to put them on.  We had one success and one failure.  Then she wanted NOTHING to do with the underwear and the potty!

Jackson - 9 months old

Jackson is 9 months old.  He is getting more fun each day.  He is still fussy and wants to be held all the time.  I am trying to embrace this time and think 'in a few years, he won't want to be held by mommy' BUT it is SO hard getting anything done during the day when he follows me crying for hours!  Mommy needs a break, and then feels bad that she needs a break from her baby boy!  He is still nursing and is still waking up at night.  He is crawling all over and going up stairs-but can't figure out how to go DOWN.  Jackson is our cuddle-bug and wants to be held, loved, kissed, hugged, cuddled with which I LOVE yet exhausts me.  He is about to get more teeth-his right top incisor and top front tooth are just starting to come through.   

He had his 9 month check up and here are his stats:
Height: 28 " - 50%
Weigth: 19 lbs 1 oz - 25%
Head 46.7cm - 85%

compared to Nora's 9 month check up.
Nora's Height: 27-3/4" 55%
Nora's Weight: 18 lbs. 8.5oz 45%
Nora's Head Circumference: 41.8cm 5%

It is interesting looking back at each kid and seeing how similar/different they are.  I don't see any of Nora's feature in Jackson.  I would say and we have heard from others that: Nora is definitely more of a 'little Matt' and Jackson is more of a 'little Amber'.  Funny!

Ready to Go Outside?

Nora is ready to go outside with her mittens....where are her pants though?

A Visit from Mabel and Kelly

 

My cousin and her baby, Mabel, who was born in November came and visited us today.  Nora loves saying 'Baby Mabel.'  Jackson and Mabel have alot of the 'Olafson' features just like Kelly and I!

Mommy-the French Braid Guru--ha ha

OOps, the part isn't quite straight down the back!

My first attempt at french braiding.  Nora wasn't too bad at sitting while I tried to braid.

Sick Sick SIck BOY-1st Trip to ER with Kids

Poor Poor Jackson.  He has had a rough go of 'LIFE'.  He spits up all the time, is SUPER SUPER fussy, gets ear infections all the time, only eats certain foods, etc.  He hasn't been making any sounds so we are starting to get concerned about his hearing because of all his ear infections. Well, this time he has an ear infection and he got put on one of the stronger drugs to see if it would completely clear up his ears.   Now he got a horrible rash with a high fever 105.  We brought him to the ER and found out, what we suspected, that he is allergic to the new drug.  So we had to go back to just amoxicillan to treat his ears.  We will be making a call to the ENT to see if he can get tubes in SOON!