Christmas card photo session

"I love you!"
Mom and me
The little prince

It was pretty difficult to get our little monkey to sit still for a family portrait. I think we got a couple of good photos for our Christmas card.

Happy family

How can you say we are not related to apes?
Happy baby makes for a happy daddy

Thanksgiving

Grandma Melody knitting a sweater for Jameson

Thanksgiving pies are the best. We had blue ribbon apple, pumpkin cheese cake and old fashion pumpkin
"The casserole is good, but it is not the same as my mother's", says Drew
Uncle Grayson playing with Jameson
Uncle Cameron
Jameson helping Grandma Simmons cook Thanksgiving dinner

Play Date

Jameson loves to play with his buddies Collin and Jack. We parents were all in the same birthing class together. Collin is 16 months, Jack 17 months and Jameson is 15 months.
"We love to play trains!"

Brewing

Drew has been brewing beer for a couple of years now and frankly the beer tastes good! He is building a small brewery and hopes to distribute his Shamrock Beer around interior Alaska. We are securing investors and working a couple of promotional angles. Drew has some work ahead of him before he can be named the "Brewmaster", but just taste Drew's brew and you will be hooked! Some beer fermenting and a keg to drink

Drew's personal kegerator

Parents As Teachers

Jameson is enrolled in a program called Parents As Teachers. A parent educator visits us at home once a month. She shares information on child development, brings age-appropriate activities for Jameson and observes him in action. They also conduct health screenings at your home. The program sponsors lots of activities, has an open play room and gives your child books. Their main emphasis is that as a parent you are your child's first and most influential teacher. Babies are born to learn! www.ParentsAsTeachers.Org
We really enjoy our educator Deborah's visits. Here are some of the comments she wrote about her last visit.

Child Observations with parent
-Jameson cooed and babbled through out the visit. He looked at Mom when she was talking. He imitated the barking sound I made when looking at a toy dog.

Intellectual
-Jameson barked when playing with the dog. He knew I put the papers behind me and went around me to get them. He got mom's attention by vocals and pulling on her

Social-Emotional
-Jameson smiled through out the visit. He played on the floor by himself for awhile. He handed me a toy and let it drop in my hand.

Gross/Fine Motor
-Jameson cruised along the laundry basket. He pulled himself up on the couch, basket and Mom. He pulled the file tabs up and down.

Baby faces

This a collage of photos which I used for a birthday present for my mother. The black and white picture is of my mother, the second is Jameson and the third is me Lily. What adorable little piglets! I think it is clear where the resemblance lies. Jameson may look like my side of the family but he gets his spunk from Drew! We hope Jameson uses his powers for good not evil.

Sleding

We have been going sleding everyday. Jameson loves to go fast. I feed and exercise the animals while Jameson eats snow balls. The temp was 8 degrees today so we only lasted about 45 minutes outside. The best part about playing outside is coming inside for milk and cookies.
"Faster Mama!"

My toddler

I have started this blog not just because it is the cool thing to do, but because I have been terrible about updating our family and friends. It can be hard when we are so far away. I hope this blog will allow everyone to see more of Jameson, Drew and myself.
My first of many posts is about my darling sonny boy Jameson. No longer a baby Jameson is a running, screaming toddler. Just this week Jameson decided to eat fig newton cookies and milk instead of nursing. So he is weaned and I am left thinking about where my baby went. Jameson sleeps through the night in his crib in his own room. This was a huge triumph for Drew and myself! He talks non-stop, expressing short phrases. He knows atleast 20 words and if he does not know what something is he asks, "this" and points. He loves to play in the snow which is great since we live in Alaska and does not seem to mind the cold yet. He continually tortures our border collie. Jameson has a lot of energy so we plan lots of activities through out the week. I will try and post pictures of all our fun.