Too late for Halloween, but NOT too late for a little fun at the park.

The cutest kid I’ve ever seen:

I’m not biased, of course.

And finally, rockin’ his Rock&Republics.  Just like his mommy!

I have more pictures, but only got around to uploading these three.  Maybe I’ll post some more later, but I would like to point out I took these pictures YESTERDAY, so my updating is getting better at least, right?    And seriously, I cannot believe it is November, y’all.

I blame Jeff, of course, but it’s partially my fault too.  He has left our older camera and memory card with a friend, and we couldn’t find the memory card we use regularly.  So the first part is his fault, and it’s likely the second part is mine since the last time I saw it, Jeff was handing it to me.

Last night we took Jackson Trick or Treating at the mall, because it was rainy and because initially, we had planned on skipping Halloween this year.  We figured Jackson had no idea what Halloween was.  Until Friday.  When he asked about going Trick or Treating tomorrow.

So, we decided to avoid the worst parents of the year award this year and take him to the mall for a little Halloween fun.

Before we could do that, though, we had to figure out a costume.  We looked to Jackson to make that decision, and he said very confidently that he wanted to be, TOAST.  Yes, toast.  He loves toast and would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner if he could.  On such short notice, a toast costume would be pretty difficult to procure, so we tried to talk him out of it.  It took awhile, but he finally told us he wanted to be a transformer, Optimus Prime.  Perhaps we could still be in the running for worst parents of the year since this week he watched the Transformer movies with Jeff?  Not exactly age appropriate.

Anyway, we went to the mall.  It was lame.  Jackson got a lollipop that he was pretty happy about, and because it was lame, my parental guilt kicked in and he got to pick out a new Car at the Disney store.  He chose some tractor thing, but was pretty happy about it and that’s all that matters.

Hopefully next year’s Halloween is a bit more exciting and we have pictures.

This past weekend we traveled to Indiana [one last time before Thanksgiving, thankfully!] because Jeff had to go to our house closing and my 10 year high school reunion was that weekend.  Since we were going to be in town, we made plans to go to the pumpkin patch with Rece, Gillian and Kramer.    I’m really glad we got to go to the pumpkin patch with them, and I think all of the kids had a good time.  Jackson and Kramer got pumpkins from the patch, Rece fell down so many times he was taking pumpkin guts home with him on his clothes and Gillian found a painted pumpkin she couldn’t part with.  A successful trip, all in all.

Jackson cheesing it up by a pumpkin for a photo op

Jackson and his pumpkin:

Rece and his pumpkin guts

Jackson and Rece having a discussion in the pumpkin patch

Kramer and his mommy in the patch

Gillian and her stolen painted pumpkin

Jackson flagging down the tractor

Jackson enjoying the tractor ride out of the patch

This was the first year Jackson got to wear his awesome pumpkin sweater to the pumpkin patch, so that was really exciting for me.  We’ve had the same sweater for 3 years now.  I bought it in 2 different sizes on sale in 2007, and it’s been my fall favorite each year.  I don’t think I’ll ever be able to part with it. 

Anyway, we had a lot of fun at the pumpkin patch, and everyone got some pumpkin [in some way] to take home with them!

Only like a week and a half late, which might be a record for me! 

Jackson had a lot of fun, and was pretty much spoiled rotten.  I don’t think there is much more you can ask for when you are three.  He got a lot of Cars stuff, and Thomas the train, which are his two favorite things!  He also got some cute t-shirts, and a Purdue sweatshirt [we're hoping he can wear the sweatshirt for basketball season because football season is currently very depressing].

Before the party, a cute picture of him in his cowboy shirt, made by sweet birdie!

Also, before the party, the cupcakes, with vintage cupcake picks and the cowboy boot sugar cookies.  Both were from Sweet Stuff Bakery, which has the yummiest treats!

Because Jackson is impatient, and his Uncle Zach is a sucker, he got to open his present from him before the party started.  Jackson was really excited about that, and loved the gift.

We sang “Happy Birthday” to Jackson and he enjoyed it because he thinks it is a “nice song.”

Eating his cupcake; he’s gotten a little better at it over the years.

All in all, it was a great party, we had fun and are so glad everyone could celebrate with us!  Thanks, y’all!

Well, he will be today at 2pm.  Three years ago, we were at St. Vincent’s Carmel anxiously awaiting his arrival.  He took his sweet time showing up by being a week overdue and then having to be evicted via c/section after 30 or so hours of labor.  I guess he was showing us who was boss right away, because he waited until October 1st to be born instead of showing up in September when he was due and when I wanted him to arrive [it is my birth month, after all and the month of sapphire jewelry - just sayin'!].  Little stinker.

A picture of Jackson at his first birthday party:

That’s right, he’s wearing a stylin’ gingham cupcake romper and his daddy’s hair is crazy.

His first taste of cake:

Pretty happy about his cake face:

Shockingly, his cake eating habits haven’t changed much.

At his 2nd birthday get together [it was just us and his grandparents]:

Later today, we are headed to southern Indiana to celebrate his birthday with friends and family, so I’ll have a 3rd birthday party picture to add to this blog entry. 

We’ve already sang happy birthday a few times today, which he loves, so I think it’s going to be a good birthday!  I can hardly believe our baby is 3!

That’s baby Jack, on the day he was born.  I cannot believe that almost 3 years have gone by, because it seems like just yesterday I was freaking out in the grocery store at 41 weeks pregnant.  Just ask Jeff, he remembers it vividly. 

At the same time, it’s hard to imagine our life before Jackson came along.  It certainly seems like he’s always been around even though it’s only been three years.

While I’m being sappy and sentimental, I’ll share some pictures of Jackson through the years [haha!  That sounds ridiculous, like he's 50, not 3].

On the way home from the hospital:

I think he was concerned about our parenting abilities already.

Around 2 months old, with giant hands:

Captain Heartbreaker, approximately 4-5 months old:

The cutest kid I’ve ever seen:

He’s a good boy, obviously:

With his BFF, baby Annie:

His name is definitely trouble:

In leg warmers:

Baby Boilermaker:

Just say NO to turning 1:

He’s a tough guy:

Not really a baby anymore:

Killing me with the cuteness:

J-SKUNK:

Not so much a fan of Santa:

His BFF shows back up:

His mom is Little Miss Bossy:

Happy Valentine’s Day:

Maverick:

A little temper tantrum:

Really NOT a baby anymore:

My mom insists on dressing me fratastically, like a JCrew model:

Mmmm, beer:

He’s such a little boy:

At the zoo, with his Paw:

Getting closer to two:

First day of school:

Maverick Returns!

And he’s 2:

So fashionable:

VOTE!

Dino-Jack!

Working the catwalk:

Family pictures [photo credit to Samantha Uphold]:

Dorky Christmas sweater:

Colts lose in the playoffs, BOO:

Finding the Golden Egg:

The Joker:

Going to prom:

Cheesing it up on the playground:

I guess that’s enough of the Jackson retrospective.    I can’t believe he’s turning three in two days!!!

Ok, in reality I know that no one who reads our blog is going to go and buy our house in Carmel, but I thought I’d post the pictures of what the house looks like now compared to when we bought it.  We bought the house in April 2005, and while the layout, location and the yard size was great, the interior was dated and covered in awful wallpaper.  Not to mention the fact that there were three very distinct colors of trim throughout the house.  The backyard also had a brick patio that was completely fenced off and inaccessible to the rest of the yard.

On to the photographic evidence of pink countertops and hideous wallpaper.

This picture was taken from the dining room and shows a bit of the foyer and the wallpaper that was there, as well as the pretty dated [and fugly] chandelier.

NOW: The foyer, complete with a new light fixture, bright white trim and a neutral wall

The dining room, with the old chandelier.

NOW: The dining room, with a new light fixture, no wallpaper, new flooring and white wooden blinds

The living room with the ever fashionable hotel style curtains

NOW: The living room with red walls, bright white trim and white wooden blinds

The kitchen, and the famous mauve countertops and the lovely wallpaper.  Also, this showcases one of the three trim colors – the dark wood stain

NOW: The kitchen with bright white trim, new countertops, new hardware, new sink, recessed lighting, new appliances, white tile backsplash and yellow walls

When we bought the house, the laundry room was right off the kitchen, but it was a step down and went too far into the garage to park a car in there.  Jeff moved the wall and added a pantry.  Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of the awesome wallpaper that as in there or the hideous floor.

The pantry

The family room – through the doors is the screened in porch we finished

NOW: Neutral walls and bright white trim

This is the room that used to be a screened in porch.  It used to be just concrete, siding and some windows with screens.

Going out this door, you get to the brick patio that Jeff did a lot of work on.  It was closed off from the rest of the yard and pretty much an eyesore.  He took down the fence that faced the yard and used it to put a fence around the air conditioning unit and a few other things.

The guest room, which showcases trim #2 of 3, ivory, as well as those stylish hotel style curtains

NOW: This room has bright white trim, is painted the color swampwater and has white wooden blinds.  I actually have pictures of this room decorated, and I think it shows the room better than just the empty room does.

These are pictures of the hall bathroom, which I don’t have any before pictures of.  It had fugly wallpaper, yucky floor and a hideous wooden medicine chest mirror.  It was awful.

NOW: The walls are painted blue/white stripes, new floor, new mirror, new light fixture and hardware, as well as a re-tiled shower/tub.

Jackson’s room, which featured some lovely black patterned wallpaper – two different styles!  Who knew there were that many varieties of ugly wallpaper?

Jackson’s room, emptied out of his furniture.  It’s painted summer breeze, has bright white trim and white wooden blinds.

The master bedroom, which by comparison had pretty tame wallpaper – just an ugly border

NOW: Neutral wall, bright white trim, a new fan and white wooden blinds

The master bathroom which featured a handicapped shower, ugly wallpaper and trim #3 of 3 – bright white

NOW: Newly painted walls, a painted black vanity, new mirror [again the old one had a hideous medicine chest fixture], new fixture, new shower and new flooring

The front of the house

NOW: New landscaping and new light fixtures

I’m probably a little biased but I think the house looks SO much better now!  I told Jeff as we were walking through it on Saturday that I would TOTALLY buy this house.    Hopefully someone agrees with me, and if they do, I’m going to give them pictures of what it looked like when we close so they know how much has changed! 

Today was our last day in Indiana before we move to Tennessee.  In a lot of ways, a new move is exciting.  It’s a fresh start, and the possibilities are endless, which is both good and bad.  It’s a little daunting to think of all we’ll have to do over the next few months, possibly even a year or more, to get settled in our new city.

We’ll miss Indiana, I am sure of it.  We have family here, great friends — and let’s not kid ourselves, Purdue is in Indiana, and it holds a very special place in our hearts.  It’s where Jeff and I met and where both of us enjoyed four ridiculously fun years.   We didn’t know each other until the end of our third year there, but we both enjoyed our time there thoroughly.  It’s definitely one thing we both agree on.  Jeff is also adamant that Jackson attend Purdue, so I’m hoping we eventually move back to Indiana to avoid out of state tuition costs. 

While we don’t live in our college town, I have to say one of the things I’ll miss most about Carmel is our proximity to our alma mater.  Even though we didn’t always take advantage of the barely hour drive and get season football tickets, we talked about it a lot, and it was nice to know that if we did decide to do so we could spend a lot of Saturdays in the fall at Ross Ade Stadium reliving our college days like the old people that spend Homecoming drinking at Harry’s Chocolate Shop.  We might have to get Purdueopoly to get our Purdue fix when we’re in SEC country.

While on the subject of sports, something else I’ll miss is the Colts.  Luckily we’re moving to Knoxville where I’m sure the Peyton Manning love is abundant.

Some other random things I’ll miss… Bazbeaux, St. Elmo’s, and Brooke.  Brooke is my hair stylist and I am going to be missing her SO SO SO much.  She’s the best, and reasonably priced.  My hair will likely never be the same. 

Finally, the thing I’ll miss the most?  The Fashion Mall @ Keystone.  It is my holy place.  It is where I worship the shopping gods.

A few years ago, around my birthday, the Fashion Mall gave me a fantastic present.  Saks Fifth Avenue joined the best mall in Indianapolis, making it even more appealing.  Then last year, again near my birthday, the Fashion Mall added Nordstrom’s to it’s lineup.  I’m sad that I didn’t even get a full year with the northside Nordstrom.   Janie&Jack, the babyGap there, Anthropologie, the list goes on and on – I will have to come back and visit a lot.

I can’t speak for Jeff and Jackson but I think they will both miss family the most, and Jeff is probably really sad that he only got one year with Moto GP, whatever that is.  Perhaps one day we’ll move back, and the Hilbert mansion still will not have sold and the price will be right.  I’ve always wanted a replica Assembly Hall and nude mermaids based on a former stripper in my bathrooms.

So goodbye Indiana, and hello Tennessee!  Hopefully it’s a quick trip and a move that is as painless as possible!

So yeah, we took Jackson to the park when his Uncle Jerry and Aunt Julie were in town.  I brought my camera to document this,  but because I only take pictures of Jackson, all we have are pictures of Jackson at the park.  Sweet.  I wonder if we ever have other kids if I’ll take their picture or if I’ll just take Jackson’s and they’ll be incidental?  Hmmm.

I should add that Jerry and Julie were in town at the beginning of June and it’s mid-July.  We’re busy, okay!?

Jackson headed to the park.

Hi, mom!  Aren’t I the cutest thing you’ve  ever seen?  CHEESE!

Climbing on the red metal truck.  Why does every park have these?  I don’t get the appeal.  Pretend to drive this thing that looks nothing like a truck!   SO FUN!  But, not.

Oh hey, that crazy later with the camera is in my face again.  Great, can’t a guy just have fun at the park without it being documented?

Jackson enjoyed it though, and he enjoyed the park.  I think that’s all of the pictures I have backed up from the beginning of the summer, so I’m all caught up.  Next up?  Pictures of what we’ve done to our house before we put it on the market.  It’ll be like 1975 turns into 2009 – it will blow your mind, seriously.  Pink kitchen countertops will also blow your mind.

And because I’m really on top of updating our blog and posting pictures that I take, I’m posting this in mid-July.

I know, it’s ridiculous.  I promise to be better.

Rece turned 1 on May 30th and we went to celebrate at Danielle’s parents’ house.  Danielle is my college roommate and Jackson’s godmother, so we were excited to celebrate with them.  We also got to see some of my other friends and their babies [even though they aren't really babies anymore], which was great.  Corinne, Erin, Danielle and I all went to grade school together, so we’ve known each other a long time – Erin can even tell you what I wore on my first visit to St. Mary’s.    Anyway, about 4 years ago, we all got married and were in each other’s weddings, and now we all have kids.  Jackson is the oldest, by about a year and half, and Kramer turned 1 in April, Rece in May, obviously, and Gillian turned 1 this weekend.

Jackson and Kramer enjoying the pool together

Jackson’s sweet pink toenails – hey he asked for it, so I complied.

Jackson, Kramer and Rece by the pool

The birthday boy and his cake