Hey Potty People!

Not much new to report around here. It has

been cold so right after Christmas we started

potty training. I am happy to announce that my

boy now wears underwear and goes in the potty!

I won't post any photos b/c those are private,

but around the middle of the month, he was really

starting to get it. I can now venture out in public

and take him to school and playgroups without

living in fear of a big accident. Thanks to all the 

mommies out there who offered advice! It was

so helpful. I am so proud of Jackson! Now onto 

the next hurdle before baby #2 comes - moving

to a big boy bed! We are gonna need that crib!

Snow Day

We had some fun outside in the snow with our neighbors 

today. NJ only got a couple of inches (followed by a 

rainy mix) but it was enough to sled and shovel! 

Christmas 2008

Christmas was so much fun this year!

Jackson got so many great gifts but the 

favorite seems to be his Geo Trax trains

and set. Daddy was working on Christmas Eve 

and Christmas Day so we celebrated with him on 

the 27th. We stayed in our jammies all day and 

just played with all of the new toys. I could 

barely get Jackson to take a break to eat 

his blueberry muffin! Hope everyone had a 

very Merry Christmas. We did!

Recap - December

December was such a blur. So busy! We had a

nice visit from Grandma Carol and Grandpa

Rick, the first real snowfall of the season

and Jackson got to talk to "Santa" (a.k.a

Uncle Nick) on the phone. I coudn't get him

to sit on Santa's lap again this year. Maybe

in 2009 he will be up for it!

December is One Long Sugar High

(We are on day 6 of no naps).

Christmas Spirit

Christmas is so much more fun this

year since Jackson is so into it. Last 

year he wouldn't go near Santa and

this year we talk about him everyday.

He is learning the words to all of the 

Christmas songs and is making it much

more jolly around here. He loved

decorating our little Christmas tree and

even tried to hug it after we were done!

Happy Thanksgiving 2008!

Baby Dowden #2 Update

Thought I would give a Baby #2 update...

We are more than half-way through now. Time

is flying by! We had our 20 week ultrasound

a couple of weeks ago and all went well.

We are going to be surprised this time around

and are not finding out the sex.  Jackson

is beginning to understand that he will

be the big brother and that there's a baby

in mommy's tummy. I am feeling good,

aside from the current cold / cough I have.

Hopefully that will go away soon!

Fun with the Northways

We met up with our friends the Northways at 

Tallman Mountain State Park. Jackson &

Mackenzie had fun getting to know each other

and we took a nice fall hike. Jackson even got

a kiss, or a nuzzle. It was very cute.

The Intrepid

Yesterday we took Jackson to the aircraft carrier,

the Intrepid, in NYC. It was a beautiful fall day and we 

had a blast. He (and Daddy) loved all of the airplanes

on display. I highly recommend you go there, 

especially if you have a little boy or a pilot

for a husband.

http://www.intrepidmuseum.org

Halloween 2008

Halloween was so fun this year because:

a) Jackson is another year older and was SO into it.

b) I dressed up and trick-or-treated with him.

(Note: that is a drawn on "pilot" mustache 

in the picture; I don't need an upper lip waxing...)

Also, Nana Janet came down for the night's 

festivities since Bill was traveling. We trick-or-

treated early with our neighbors and then headed 

home for dinner and to answer the door.

This morning we went to the local Farmer's Market and then 

on a fall hike as it was in the low 60's. It was a great

time but of course WE MISSED YOU DADDY!

Fall Hike

Considering its in the 30's today and we have a

rain-snow mix, I figured I should post some

"last of Fall" pictures. Here we are on a pretty hike!

Kent Falls, CT

The annual family picnic at Kent Falls was so

fun this year. We missed Daddy, but had fun

with the rest of the family enjoying the fall colors, 

playing T-Ball, hiking the falls, eating chili dogs 

and drinking Bloody Mary's (Virgin Bloody 

Mary's in my case...). Jackson only fell in the 

water once! Not bad...

October in the Northeast

Last week we checked out a beautiful NJ farm.

It was a crisp, fall day - perfect for pumpkin

picking! We treated Jackson to cider and 

doughnuts, picked raspberries, did the corn

maze, climbed the hay bale "pyramid" and saw some

farm animals. Looking forward to Halloween

this year as we will take Jackson trick-

or-treating for real. And then I will eat his candy.

This Weekend

We had a fun-filled weekend with Papa and Bernie. 

On Saturday night we celebrated Papa's birthday

with the whole family and had a delicious dinner 

and a soccer cake. On Sunday we went to check 

out some WWII fighter planes that were on display 

at Westchester Cty. Airport. They were so cool and 

we were able to climb through one.