This is a nice clean boy being cute - below is a dirty boy, just as cute.
This is not our dog - it is the neighbours dog Buffy - she is a beautiful old dog and most every day she perches herself on our doorstep - waiting for hugs from Jackson. Jackson thinks Buffy is pretty special too.
Battle of the berries - as Jackson attemted to stuff his mouth with at least 4 blackberries and reach for more he fell head first into the sharp thornes, scratching his face up and drawing blood! Grandma and Paw Paw were witness to their grandson's huge appetite - nothing gets in his way of fresh fruit! or Macdonalds! (yes i have given him chicken nuggets)
Grandma! Quietly these two set about their path of destruction! What fun was had!
In other news......

Jackson has being gearing up for the grand finalle of "Driving Dad to Drink" which was the sequal to "Migranes for Mum" - through his complete aversion to sleep. Going to sleep, sleeping and anything to to with sleep. This has progressed from when we first went on Holiday to QLD, where he did not like the port-a-cot. My Dad ended up laying with him to get him to sleep while I tried bribes of extra milk - and sleeping in with Brad and Me. Once home in Tas the drama continued, with me and Brad resorting to laying down with Jackson to get him off to sleep (which of course results in him not being able to settle himself when waking at night) so when he would wake at night and the tears start - we would bring him in to sleep the rest of the night with us. So I'm so over it - I want my sleep and sanity back! The last 3 nights were the WORST IN MY LIFE. So I know in comparison to most I've had a dream sleeper up until now, but this feels like I've never known a full nights sleep! He screams when we put him down until he almost vomits. One of us has to stay with our hand on him so he can pick at our fingers until he falls asleep - or else he will scream the house down. Anway - I've heard all types of suggestions but think I'll stick with what I know, just try to ride it out and keep the night time routine (bath, book, bed) but brad and I are trying to settle him a bit differently by reasuring him at 5 - 10 minute intervals and spending time with him while he is settled in the cot. Today has been a lot better and last night was also good but he woke up freezing as I left the window open. He also has had a fever the past couple of days and I thought it was teething, but he has a viral rash now so he was probably really unwell which may have been the reason for a cranky winey baby for the past few days. Joys of motherhood. Thankfully I have Brad here to help, he is great at settling Jackson as he is so patient, where often I give up and will happily let him cry for 10 mintues until I'm ready to do it all again. Don't worry - I'm not going for mother of the year award.

holiday fun

my little Anzac

Christmas break, photos photos and more photos

The best Christmas present was my mum and dad teaching Jackson to walk - on Christmas eve he walked to me and then by Christmas morning was enjoying walking to everyone.
This is Brad's dad Bob with Jackson - making faces.
Yes this is chocolate and yes he is now addicted, just like his ma ma he has a sweet tooth!
playing with/ eating sea weed. Too cute
Bob and Vicki enjoying some down time by the beach
Thanks Aunty Pearl for my new favorite t-shirt!
Just like his Paw Paw Jackson has discovered the healing benifits of Bundy Rum (only kidding) he just wanted to drink out of the same container - so we swished it out with water and he then used this as his sippy can. What can I say but he just wanted to be a big boy - not like he isn't already - check out the piccy below to get a rough estimate of how tall my one year old boy is! Also much love to Uncle Matt and Aunty Sharon for the Harris shirt - way too cute!



Happy times.

In the best news we've had in a while my sister in law Angie gave birth to a healthy bouncing baby boy - William Christopher Harris, born 3rd of Jan. I've had a chance to speak with Angie and she is doing great - Christopher is gaining and should soon need a t-shirt similar to Jackson's in the photo's above except with "boob addict". When we are all back in the same country one day, sooner rather than later, Jackson will have a little boy just a year younger to play with which I think will be neat.

We have enjoyed having the Christmas break off, travelling to see my parents and then joining us from America was Bob and Vicki. We spent some fantastic quality time together, and Grandma Vicki and Paw Paw, Lollie and Granddad fell in love with Jackson, as did he with them. Once back in Tassie Grandma was a great play mate and spend endless hours chasing our now walking/running toddler around the house, and as soon as Paw Paw had had some morning coffee - he too was all for entertaining Jackson! or was it the other way around? I think Jackson can be pretty entertaining too.

Fun at sea

This is my Dad playing in the ocean with Jackson over the Christmas break.

Jackson's first birthday party.

"I'm so over this" - about 5 minutes before Jack fell asleep on Mahind after the best day ever!
Birthday fun
these are in random order - Basim celebrated his 15th birthday with Jackson - he was pretty excited to receive an i pod from his parents.
Samin, Jackson and Basim - brothers. I always have a hard time pulling Jackson away from them as he follows them around Mahind's house all the time - he also sits outside their room waiting for Samin to come say hello and let him play on his laptop.
All of us enjoying birthday in the park - I made Basim's cake in his favorite soccer team colours- Barcelona.
Birthday fun - Alicia has 5 children ages 5,4, 2,2 & 1! He youngest daughter Alexandra is wearing one of her many dresses from Joy.
Jackson, Oliver, Alexandra and Lincoln. Friends.
Our pick of the park - it was a great day and almost all our friends were able to make it.

Jackson is off to the moon in his new rocket - he loves just sitting in here and "reading" or hiding from Dad in the never ending game of chasey.
Baby Kate thought the rocket was pretty special too -
but she especially loved the birthday bubbles. We will miss Tim, Caz and Kate over Christmas as we each go our seperate ways for the holiday's, but will so look forward to seeing how much Kate has grown up over Christmas. Now we both have babies and we all work we don't get to spend near as much time together - but try to make sure we catch up each month for dinner.
I made Jackson's Winnie the Poo cake (the theme of the day)
Mahind's husband Behzad with some of their friends - cooking traditional Persian kebab over hot coals - Delicious!! although the ones made of heart (not so delicious). Everyone who came to the park was able to have one with some rice - plus of course Mahind cooked a whole heap of other things too. We were all so full as it was delicious! After most people left Basim and a friend of his played music (guitar and drum) and sang while we sat around in the fading sun enjoying just being all together. It was so special and memorable, we are blessed to have Mahind's family in our lives.

Happy Birthday To You!!

Jackson turned one today and what a fantastic day it was! Tim and Carolyn came over and brought Jackson his second cake (Mahind made him a cake at daycare...pictures coming soon). He will have his third cake this Saturday when we are having a BBQ with some other families.

More pictures and video to come soon...enjoy!!









Telling jokes with the God-Father.


All cleaned up and off to bed!!