Potty Training

So last weekend we decided to try and see if Jackson was ready for potty training. We were very surprised to find out that he was and is still going strong!
We started on Sunday and he's been wearing Big Boy Underwear since! The only problem that we have so far is: he doesn't want to poop in the potty, so I have to put a diaper on him and then he goes. When he went to school on Friday, he had a sub and she will be there for the rest of next week, so she isn't his normal teacher who agreed to work with me while he's potty training. He did end up in a diaper on Friday while he was at school and other then that he did tell me that he wanted to wear his diaper on Tuesday and part of Friday.
Other then that he wears a diaper at nap time and at bedtime. I have taken him to the grocery store in his underwear and to a couple of other places and we haven't had an accident yet. He also told me while we were out for a walk on Wednesday that he had to go potty and so we stopped by the park and went pee pee in the grass.
I know it's going to take some time, but he is doing so good and I thought this was going to be so much harder.

Pee Pee In The Potty!

Jeff and I were getting Jackson ready for bath tonight and I told Jackson after taking his diaper off to go pee pee in the potty. I was thinking yeah right, well boy was I wrong. He sat down on his potty and went. I was literally jumping up and down and saying GOOD BOY!

Ya for Jackson!

Our Mother's Day/ Father's Day Gifts

Here they are! I am so excited about this gift and it was just completed on Monday when our helmets came in the mail. This is my first nice bike as an adult, so I am going to take good care it!

Since we've gotten our helmets, we have ridden our bikes every day and Jackson loves to sit in his trailer. I know I posted on Facebook a few weeks back that I was going to attempt riding a friends bike around the perimeter road here on base. Well, I did it and let me tell you it was so hard. I did it with a mountain bike that had the clip on shoe pedals, mind you I borrowed the bike so I wore my tennis shows. Jackson sat in a bike chair behind me and he liked it so much he fell asleep.

I have been wanting a bike, but wasn't sure how Jackson would like it. After riding the perimeter road, I was more persistent it my want for a bike, but I had to have a fat lady seat! Not a long distance seat like the one I borrowed. Do I need to tell you how bad that hurts! I don't think so, especially when the perimeter road is over 10 mile long and it took me 2.5 hours to ride and I burned 1180 calories! Ok, then! LOL

So now I sit comfortably on my seat and my pedals are perfect! So long gas, I have been riding my bike pretty much every where on base. I even road to the grocery store this morning, but they were closed. I guess I will take the car!

My bike is with the bike trailer and Jeff had the nice all black beach cruiser! No beach, but a cruiser!

Thanks Jeffrey, I love my bike & I hope you like your Father's Day gift!

Changes for Mr. Jackson

Let me introduce you to our 2 year old, make my own decisions, sentence talking, showing interest in going potty little man. Saturday was a rainy day most of the day, but we did manage to make it out side in the morning. It was so hot and muggy that Jackson did need a bath before his nap. When Jeff was getting him dressed, Jackson told him what he wanted to wear and what shoes he wanted. The bad thing was that we weren't going anywhere. Well, he stayed in his PJ's all day and when we did decided to go to the book store he insisted that he wear this and his crocks! The only thing I could say is, "I guess we'll fit in!" My little okie!

(Fire truck pants, white t-shirt & crocks with socks)

Here is our newest purchase! Jackson is showing a lot of interest in going potty, but it's always after that fact. We just have to get him to tell us before he goes or not when he's going. I have made an effort to flush his poop in the toilet so he sees that this is where it's suppose to go. (Wow, never thought I would be talking like this!)

So we aren't stressing the issue, but we are willing to let him try!
Last but not least! Jackson is just talking up a storm and saying some pretty funny things! Jeff was calling Jackson "Sugar Lips" all weekend and now Jackson says it. I need to record him saying it a find a way to put it on here, It is so funny and cute.
He is also starting to fill in the ABC's when I am saying them to him. If I say "A" he'll say "B" this is something I am really excited about because I don't think the persistence and hard work sometimes shines through. I know it does, but this one (ABC's) seems to take the longest. At least I have a well mannered kid. He says "please" and "thank you."

Last, Jackson is sleeping by himself now! I know you're probably, "saying again," but this is the last time. Nap time isn't that great, but bedtime is getting pretty good. Ya, for Jackson!
(Sorry for the random post, just wanted to share with you!)

This one is for Papa

Last Monday Lindsey & I took our boys to the Hands on Museum in Tuscaloosa, AL.
It's about an hour East of Columbus. It ended up being a good day to go because it rained all day, and we all know these kids can get stir crazy! We were there for 2 hours and it was perfect for them. The upstairs area was for older kids, but the down stairs area was just right for any age. It was also really nice due to the fact that they got to run around with their heads cut off, but they were learning at the same time!

Here is Jackson at the boating area. They had a dock with fishing and a tug boat that was pretty realistic. It even had controls that moved and the whole boat vibrated as if it were moving. There were life jackets for the kids to put on and a Captains Log. Jackson was more interested in fishing. He takes after his Papa.

He had some company, but wasn't bothered one bit. He just kept on trying to catch that fish!


Here he's filling up the farm truck. He sees Jeff and I pumping gas all the time, he should be a pro at it!
Driving the tractor in the farming area of the museum.

He had a lot of fun with his friends Owen and Brooks. It was a Columbus Mom's day out with the kids!

Memphis Zoo

This last weekend was Mother's Day. The one thing I've been wanting to do since I've gotten back from California was to take Jackson to the Zoo. My friend Lindsey and I wanted to go together, but we couldn't think of a better weekend to do it. We chose Mother's Day weekend, well to be honest, it was better for the hubby's schedules! LOL

This Zoo was great! They had lots of animals and the one thing that was awesome was that they have day rooms for the animal that aren't in their exhibits. So if they don't feel like coming out, you can see them in their rooms. The Panda Bears weren't in the exhibit, so we got to see them sleeping in their rooms. We also got to see baby Giraffe, a pregnant Elephant and a 1 week old monkey nursing off of it's mommy. I also got to see an Armadillo alive! I've been wanting to see one ever since we've moved here, but they are always dead! LOL

Here is an actual family photo! This is a rear sighting so please enjoy!

A Silver Back. This guy was funny and giving a pretty good show.
Tigers! Jackson loved these guys, they were pretty close!

The main entrance. It really was a pretty zoo.

Jeff & Jackson riding on the choo, choo!

Do you see a resemblance?

Here is the Mommy monkey nursing here baby. This was so sweet and my favorite animals are the monkeys. I could have stood there all day watching her handle her baby. I think I should work at the Zoo.

Jackson & I on the carousel, this picture reminds me of the Jackson, MS state fair picture! I should totally do a before and after! He loves these things!

All in all, we had a great day with our little family and the Stimets family. We ended our day with dinner and relaxing. I did get great gift for Mother's Day, but I will post it when it's all complete! I am still waiting for one more thing in the mail and Jeff needs to put it all together!

The Vocabulary of a 2 yr old

I just want to give you all an update on Mr. Jackson Blaufuss. He is getting to be such a big boy and talking up a storm these days. He is starting a MWF program at the CDC here on base (9-12). I think I am more excited about it then he is, but he'll survive! I never thought I would be putting my child in a half day program, but I need a break too!

Jeff did ask me last night if it bothered me that someone else would be raising/taking care of him. I said no one else is raising him and No, it doesn't bother me that someone else will be taking care of him. So, I asked Jeff the same and he simply said, "No, you need your breaks!"

So here are the things I want to share with you. As we all know, kids can say the darnest things and Jackson surely does surprise us sometimes. He's been telling me that there's a MONSTER in his closet. Where in the heck did that come from and where did he get that?

Lately, Jackson has been laying in bed and pretending to be asleep and snoring. It is the funniest thing ever and all I can do is just laugh. Most days we just laugh, but boy have the terrible twos hit! That's a whole different topic and blog in it's self! LOL

He has also been watching the movie Cars a lot. So now when we get in the car, he says "go fast" and I say, "what happens if you go fast" he says, "wu get a ticket!" It is so freaking cute!

Today they had a fire drill at the CDC and Mrs. Jessica said that Jackson was so excited to see the fire truck and the firemen. She said he stood right by her while they were all lined up at the fence and kept saying, "fireman." Ever since I picked him up, all he's been saying is, "I wanna be a fireman." Fireman, Pilot, which one is it!

I also love that now he is figuring out his body and is trying to figure out the whole potty thing. He says he wants to go pee pee in the potty, but when we go and undress and stand there, he says "all done!" So, I will keep trying! He also wants to tickle Jeff and I. He says tickle, tickle, tickle and tries to tickle us. I guess you can say we tickle to much!

I just can't believe how much they change after they turn 2. Jeff was just saying last night that he wishes he could freeze Jackson at this age. They are just so fun and so cute! I can't wait to see what his vocabulary expands to and how creative his imagination will be. We truly have been blessed with a beautiful, loving, smart and just a great child.

First solo in a fighter jet!

Today I had my first solo flight in the T-38C. This is our life support equipment room where all of our gear is stored. We get suited up with everything we need to fly and then step to the jets.

The T-38 ejection seat does not have a parachute, so we have to carry one. It weighs about 45 pounds and is a pain in the ass to haul around when it is hot. It isn't too bad in the plane, but it pulls you down in the seat when we pull g's.

Once we get to the jet we do a full walk around just to make sure everything looks normal. On this flight I noticed the jet had some old tires on it, so I had the crew chief change them since my landings are not that great right now. A blown tire on landing is not a good situation to be in.

It takes almost 20 minutes to get strapped in and ready for start. There are a ton of checks that need to be completed, and you definitely don't want to miss any step, so I am constantly rechecking what I already checked twice. And I still miss checklist items.

This is a good picture of our up front control panel (UFCP) and heads up display(HUD). It takes a while to get all the info in it, but once you do all of our primary flight instruments are all there at eye level so we don't have to look down while flying. When we pull a lot of g's looking down is not very comfortable, so this is a tremendous help. This is the exact same HUD that is in the F-16 fighting falcon.

Once all the avionics stuff is set up and radio calls are made it is time to check all the control surfaces. Here I am checking the flap-elevator (slab) inter connect to ensure it is working. If this were to fail on approach to landing I have 3 seconds to apply the correct procedure before the plane flips upside down and I am going to eject straight into the ground.

Taxiing out to the runway. This jet has afterburners so take off happens pretty quick and the airplane accelerates like a bat out of hell, nothing compared to what I will be flying in a year, but it hauls ass. We pull the burners out only half way down the runway, and we are at 300 knots by the end of the runway, which is 12,000 ft long. It's fast! It is a constant acceleration that shoves me back into the seat, and never stops until I pull the throttles back.
The flight went well, had a couple of really nice landings and some really crappy ones, but I am back safe. I almost GLOC'd myself (G induced loss of consciousness) in the practice area doing aerobatics. Pulled too many G's with no anti g straining maneuver ( flexing your butt) doing a cuban 8, but I recovered the jet at the first signs of high G and everything was cool after that.

T38 Dollar Ride

My First take off in the T-38 going 300 knots (350 mph) My first attempt at landing, getting a little squirley

The wings on this plane are very small and produce very little lift. More people have been killed landing than any other phase of flight. The plane on approach is always about to stall, so it shakes violently all the way down to the ground because of the separation of airflow over the tiny wings. It makes landing interesting. Our IP's are always telling us to be careful and maintain airspeed or the plane can flip over instantly and we would both be killed. I love this job!

Approach to land at 170 knots (200mph)
Things happen pretty fast in this jet! My first couple of landings were pretty bad, but I started to get used to it. We land so fast that any mistakes are multiplied and you can't salvage a bad landing. By my third flight I am not able to land that great, but safely. I finally had a good landing, but I almost took my IP and myself off the end of the runway because I did not get on the brakes soon enough. Definitely had the pucker factor! (Anus Clenching)

FYI

We just want to let you all know that our computer has been down. We think we had a virus or something, so Jeff deleted everything off of our computer and updated the Anti-virus stuff. Jeff still has some other stuff to do to the computer, but we should be up and running this weekend.
Don't ask, I have no clue where we got it!

Yearly Family Vacation

Here we are again to celebrate and remember my Grandpa Less who died in January of 04.

We spread his ashes in Cayucos, CA in 2005 off the pier as he wanted it. This place has been a vacation spot for our family as far as I can remember. The ocean is where my heart is and hopefully one of these days that's where we will settle.

Morro Bay Rock

Jackson playing football with his Uncle Scott and Uncle Jeff.

Looks more like keep away!
I wonder what he was thinking about?

Little toes
I think this is what he was thinking!
He eventually fell in and was soaked!

to be continued..........

Zoo

Spending the day at the zoo with a 2 year old is by far more fun then going to a candy store!

Jackson was so interested in seeing all the animals and hearing them make some kind of noise. We stood in front of this tigers cage for 15 minutes just watching him pase back and forth. The apes were fighting and trying to establish territories in their cage and this little guy just wasn't to sure about all the ruckus or was just down right ready to eat one of them! The apes are right next to the tiger.

Jackson watching the elephant
This is a barn owl, she was very pretty.
What a small boy
Here is one of the apes, I think the lady said this girl was the newest addition to the zoo.
She looked so sad.
We had a great day at the zoo with my dad!

Jackson's 2nd Birthday

Well, as most of you know! Jackson turned 2 years old on March 8th!

We had a joint birthday party with my BFF Nicole and her son Carson. Carson and Jackson are BFF's as well and are only one week apart. Jeff and Carson share a birthday as well!

We had the boys birthday party at Pump It Up this year with friends and family. I was so thankful to have had it at home in California, I always feel so bad that everyone misses out on Jackson's everyday life. It was very important that we got to share his 2nd birthday with everyone! So thanks to those who came!

This is Jackson and Carson's cake

Nicole and I with our boys

Jackson climbing to the top

Here we are again with my niece Ashley

Jackson and Jeff

Happy Birthday to our Bundle of Joy! I can't believe he is 2 and terrible! LOL I am just kidding! He is definitely a boy and that is for sure! I also can't believe how much he is talking and pronouncing words after his birthday. He was talking a lot, but since turning 2, he is just a sponge and so eager to learn. Oh what a year it's going to be!

California Bound

As most of you know, Jeff and I left Columbus Feb 20Th and headed to California. Jeff stayed for two weeks and I am still here. I am leaving Monday the 30Th and my mom and sister Debbie will be driving back with me. Jackson has become the little world traveler lately.

While Jeff was here, we got to visit with some friends we didn't get to see on our Christmas vacation. Jeff got to play golf with his friends and my dad a lot. He even took Jackson one day!

I do have to say that Jackson loved it, but boy was he pooped!

We also had Jackson's 2ND birthday party here in Fresno with all of our friends and family. I will post pictures in a different blog. The day after Jackson's party Jeff returned to Columbus to start phase III of his training. We were sad to see him leave, but he needs/needed the time to get adjusted to his study schedule and classes.

Since Jeff left, Jackson & I have been on the run. We've been here and there visiting with friends and family. We also went on our yearly family vacation to Cayucos. We took our BFF's with us this year and we had so much fun. We also visited family in Bakersfield and LA. Although our visit was short in Bakersfield, our visit wasn't long enough in LA. Jackson had a blast at his Grandma & Grandpa's. We went to Huntington Beach and drove along PCH to see all the old beach towns. (Newport, Laguna, etc) He also got to go swimming and play at the park. All he had to say about the weekend was "Grandma's fun, swimming fun." He loved it there!

We are finishing our last 2 day with Family and one last day of rest before we hit the road! I will post a few more blogs with pictures of our vacation.

Track Select/Red Carpet Day

Jeff"s first phase plane T6

Jeff's next plane to train in T38
Jeff & I in the T6 Flight Simulator

Art flying in the T6 Flight Simulator

Jeff's buddies

Shocking The World

09-13

What does a Stay at home Mom do?

I just read a friends blog and couldn't agree more with her and the article she found.
I always hear, "oh, it must be nice to stay home," or "you have all the time in the world." I could go on and on, but one thing is that I always try to manage my time the way I can. If it's returning phone calls, emailing, or just watching TV, then I've got some me time in. I always tell Jeff that it's pretty sad that I have to pay someone to watch Jackson so I can either go to the gym or just have quiet time. Some people just don't understand the demands of being a parent!
Luckily, we do have some great friends who do understand!

Please read the link to even understand my posting! I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it!
http://stimets.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html
Thanks Lindsey for your post!
Please remember to click on the article to make it larger and more readable!

Update on Mr. Jackson

Today we went to the doctor off base and saw a pediatrician, yeah! Finally someone who knows something about kids! She was worried that he could possibly have strep, but the cultures came back negative. Jackson even got a finger prick (blood test) for strep and that was negative.
So he just has a virus, which means no antibiotic. She told me to give him some Imodium for the diarrhea and a prescription for Promethazine gel. (anti vomiting med) We shall see how he does with this.
The last few day.
Saturday: Vomiting most of the day/diarrhea, very sleepy (midnight vomiting)
Sunday: Normal Jackson/diarrhea (midnight vomiting)
Monday: Some vomiting/diarrhea, very sleepy
Tuesday: normal Jackson/diarrhea (midnight vomiting)
Wednesday: normal Jackson
We are in the routine of midnight baths and I have used a whole bottle of Tide (42 washes) in the last week on puky bedding and towels! When will this end?????????

There's A Bug

(my boys on the couch)

Ok, so Valentine's Day was a bust, but we did get to spend it together cleaning up vomit! (laugh out loud!) We did have Jeff's parents here and unfortunately were not able to do much with them the last day and a half and we feel really bad about that.
Yesterday Jeff woke up feeling bad and well, lets just say Jackson has passed his bug to Jeff. All I can say is "I hope I don't get it." I thought Jackson was getting over it and we even went to the park. Well, last night confirmed that the poor boy isn't. He was throwing up again at 1 am and it was so bad we had to strip his bed and give him a bath.
My boys are both on the couch and I am feeling great, but tired!
Day 3 and we will see what happens!

We will post Jeff's Track Select and Red Carpet day as soon as he is feel up to it!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! We are spending it in doors with a sick baby.

The poor guy has been vomiting most of the day and sleeping on and off. Thank the heavens for buckets!

We hope everyone is having a great day and eating lots of chocolate for us!