Springing Forward

Yay! So much has been happening around here since my last update! First of all, we celebrated another major birthday-Jackson turned O-N-E!! Oh my! All of our Mississippi friends got "on board" and helped him celebrate a very happy first birthday! He is such a good boy-we filled the room with balloons, which is one of his favorite sights! (I think balloon may have been one of his top ten words-"Ba-oon!" ). The cake was super fun, he was a bit shy at first, but then after the first taste of sugar hit the taste buds, he dove right in! We did a time-capsule so that on his eighteenth birthday (2027), he will have a piece of history to unwrap. Our friends and family came up with the neatest ideas!! Since turning the big ONE, our little boy has kept us super busy! He has walked since 12 months, but has preferred crawling, climbing and cruising, till now.... We have a walker! His other favorite activities are playing outside on the slide, or in his car, strolling with us (while feverishly searching for a "do-dog"-another fav), dancing, emptying cabinets, taking baths, making mommy, daddy and sister laugh, and he has a ball in hand or is chasing one around the house at all times! He is also loves pushing cars and getting into whatever he can in Reagan's room! haha Jackson has a love for his paci's and is such a snuggler. He especially LOVES to give hugs! I just love watching Reagan and Jackson love on each other~!

Big Sister Reagan continues to blossom too! She has been taking gymnastics and enjoys the sport and her coaches! I love to watch her learn! She is constantly doing "donkey-kicks" and "sticking" her landings everywhere we go! The swing set has been a blast in this amazing weather! If we are not in the backyard, we are out front riding bikes and scooters, chasing bubbles, doing chalk art, or eating Popsicles. I think her training wheels will be coming off this summer! Reagan loves to play school daily! So I have to think how can I ask her to do something and make it school related. Example, "Its time to eat lunch." Reagan: No mommy say "Kids, please sit at the table its snack time!" You get it... :) She is trying her hardest to read. Such a sponge! Her vocabulary cracks us up! I love it most when she uses a big word but mis-pronounces it. She continues to use her hands when she talks...I have no idea where she got this from! She has a K3 program at the end of the month-such a milestone as a parent to attend their first on-stage performance!! Look out-she has been practicing!! :)

Our family's other BIG news is that my sister Tracie and her husband Craig, had their first baby -Bennett Brody! Aunt Roxanne (Roxie) is thrilled! Reagan thinks that "Big Cousin" is a major title and she is over the moon about him!! How is it that you can love someone so much before you even meet them? :)

Its funny how our lives have evolved since becoming parents. I am that parent with a fridge covered in art-work, certificates, letter worksheets, magnets...Gone are the days of a plain, boring, organized decor. I don't have a clue about lady gaga or justin beiber-now day's I'm more of a 'wheels on the bus' sorta girl! The vacuum stays parked next to where Jackson eats (he insists on using a fork). BUT, I LOVE IT! I love it all! I love each bit of proof that you see that we are indeed...parents! I love it that Ryan and I get to experience all of this together as a team! Tonight, Reagan was "helping" Jackson to all the gold fish he could eat and the two of them sat in the middle of the kitchen talking and playing. Ryan and I stopped moving, stood there arm-in-arm and just stared at them both thinking how blessed we are! If you are reading this as a parent you can relate to what we felt. Now, think that is how are Heavenly father feels about us!

So the Neuhaus' continue to move "spring" forward! Soon enough Ryan will be starting his last and final year of residency. He is such a hard worker and we are very proud of him! We are also very thankful for our small group here in Mississippi along with our best friends, including my Bible study girls! Its so fun that we get to experience this part of our lives together!