My Jackson Jeffrey is now officially 4! How on earth do I have a 4 year old already?? Crazy, but exciting! I have really enjoyed watching him grow up and discover new things about himself and his world around him in the past 4 years.
Let's start at the beginning though. Jackson sure gave us a run for our money in the beginning:
A 52 hour constant labor
Many sleepless nights with a screaming gassy baby in the first few weeks
A grumpy infant who would go up to 10 days without pooping
A super sensitive baby who was a horrible eater and hated solids
Many stubborn battles for control and independency at way too young an age
A super emotional toddler who easily broke down in tears when put in the spotlight or when he fell down or got his feelings hurt
Etc., etc, etc.
BUT, 4 years and many battles and sleepless nights combined also with many many fun and tender moments, Jackson has sure turned into a good little boy who is so super sweet, smart and caring, which makes those difficult first few years worth every second!!
I LOVE THIS KID!!
We went to Red Robin last night so they could sing to him! He loved the balloons they put on his ears and he especially liked the ice cream they gave him for his birthday! And, the Red Robin bird was there and he got to give him a High 5!
My newly 4 year old, Jackson Jeffrey Graham is:
**SMART! He absolutely loves doing preschool and I have really really enjoyed our one on one time learning together!! He is getting down his alphabet sounds and writing them down SO well! He asks everyday if it's a preschool day. And we have so much fun doing arts and crafts together during that time too!
**AN AMAZING SWIMMER AND SUPER COORDINATED! We have had him in swimming for almost 4 months now and the kid is amazing. Of course his super lean and tall body (he is still SO tall for his age!) and long narrow feet make a perfect combo for a good swimmer, but he also loves loves loves swim lessons and loves learning new things in the water! He can successfully jump in the pool, do a few arm strokes, tread water for 10 seconds and then turn onto his back and do wings and kicks back to the wall- and all that in a row completely on his own! It amazes me everytime! He is also really good at the backstroke! His teacher always has the other kids watch him as an example! He comes home so excited tell his Daddy all about swimming that day and practices the different strokes all around the house and in the bath!
Jackson also started soccer a few weeks ago and he loves it! The kid really is naturally coordinated (how could he not be with Graham/Baron family genes?) and picks up all sports super fast. He will go weeks and weeks without playing baseball and then one day pick up a bat and when you pitch it to him- not only does he hit it almost every time, but its usually a home run! I cannot wait until he is old enough to play on teams because I know he is going to shine and have SO much fun with it!
**A WONDERFUL BIG BROTHER! He has been so patient with Baron's new terrible 2 stage and is really good at sharing and forgiving his brother. He also always makes sure Baron is with us, doesn't run away and get lost and freaks out if he thinks we are going to leave Baron behind! I also absolutely love that they will spend hours giggling and wrestling and jumping on their beds together and flying all around being superheroes with their capes. It makes me SO happy to see how much they really love each other and how much fun they have together!
**MY LITTLE HELPER! I cannot make anything in the kitchen without Jackson running in with his stool saying, "I want to help you!" He loves to help with anything and everything. And if you ask him to get something for you or clean something up, he is really good about just saying, "ok," and getting right to it without complaints! He really has turned into such a good little boy!
**A PRIMARY & FHE LOVER! Jackson loves primary! He loves learning the new songs and talking about the gospel. He always asks to do family night and his favorite story is "when Heavenly Father and Jesus came and talked to Joseph Smith" as he says. His favorite primary songs by far are Book of Mormon Stories, Follow the Prophet and Scripture Power. He sings those throughout the house quite often. It always brings a smile to my face! He is getting really good at being reverent and listening in church too! I am SO proud of him!
These are just some of my favorite things about Action Jackson. He is so good and sweet and we feel very blessed and lucky to have him in our family! It makes staying up one night until midnight to make his requested rocket ship cake one night and then the next staying up until 1 am wrapping presents, frosting cupcakes and setting up his new train table (the table was all John's work), totally worth every second of lost sleep and tired and sore bodies.
WE LOVE YOU JACKSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!
