Jackson LOVES his baths!

Today was Jackson’s first birthday. Wow…life has certainly changed a lot in a year!! Franz and I took a moment or two today to reflect on how far we have come, and it’s truly amazing to consider. People warned us, but I had no idea until I lived it.

In my father’s family we have this tradition for children on their first birthday. You cover their eyes and place a Bible (or Rosary), a dollar bill, and a shot glass in front of them on their tray or table; then uncover their eyes and see which one they choose. When I was one I chose the Rosary, and so did my brother Paul. My sister chose the dollar bill and my brother Todd chose the shot glass. I have been looking forward to doing this with Jackson, and quite curious to see which one he would choose.

Can you guess which one Jackson choose?

For those who guessed the shot glass…!!!

It’s seems that many of us have colds, coughs or the flu these days.  Jackson is on his second round of antibiotics; while Franz and I are on our first.  Talk about one happy family!

In a few days we will pack up the RAV and head for Indiana and Ohio for Christmas.  This is the first time that Franz will get to see where I grew up, and my extended family will get to meet Franz and Jackson. 

This is Jackson’s First Christmas, and I can’t believe he’s almost a year old.  Time does fly!  He’s getting quit big these days, and showing so much personality!!  He’s learning that blowing raspberries with food in his mouth is fun, but makes mom and dad quite unhappy.  Also, he is learning that dropping things from the grocery basket or his highchair onto the floor also makes mom and dad unhappy!  Then, in typical Kohler fashion, he is currently on a boycot; he will not eat goldfish, I mean grandpa pro fish!

 ”Uh mom and dad, do you think I can borrow the car on Friday?”

Exactly how do you say “no” to this face?!!?!!

Last week a good friend of our family died; he was my sister-in-law’s step-father, Bob; which may not sound like much – but believe me, you had to meet Bob to understand.  He was the kind of man whom you spent 5 minutes with and felt like family.  He was a “larger than life” kind of person, someone I will truly miss.  His passing kept Paul (my brother), and his family: Jill, Raymond and Simeon, in town a while longer.  Then, to our surprise, my dad came to town for a few days also.  All this to say, we all decided that it was a great time for a visit to Build-A-Bear!

This was Jackson’s first time, and I discovered how difficult it can be to help a 10 month old pick out a bear!! : – )  While he will have no memory of it – it was a sweet time.  His cousin Raymond was the one to pick out a heart for Jackson’s bear and make a wish for Jackson.  While Jackson’s parents named him Jefferson.  (The alternate was Adams! Go figure?!) 

Right now I am trying to figure out: 1) Is it possible for Missouri and Ohio State to play for the National Championship?  2) How do I write a “brief” summary of our Thanksgiving holiday?  and 3) Where are we going/what are we doing for Christmas this year?

I figure I will take a stab at #2, since #1 and #3 seem impossible to answer at the moment. : – )

The festivities began for us last Monday evening when Jackson got to meet his cousins Raymond and Simeon, my brother Paul and his wife Jill’s children.  (In picture: Jackson (10 mths), Raymond (2.5 yrs) and Simeon (9 mths))  In some ways it started off with a bang; American Airlines lost my sister-in-law’s one checked luggage bag, which included all the kids things, on a direct flight from New Jersey?!

The boys got to see each other a good bit over the week.  It has been sobering and strange to think of them as the next generation.  I find myself wondering, and curious to see, how they will get along as they grow up. 

Thanksgiving Day was lively and fun.  We spent the meal time at Franz’s parents’ house; with the children, dogs, and family members – we were quite a crew. 

After Thanksgiving we spent more time with family and friends; inlcuding my sister Beth and her husband Wes, and Franz’s brothers Lance and Vaughn…two very nice…articulate…smart…attractive…single…brothers. (I know they are now going to shoot me for saying all this…but hey…it’s the 21st century…you never know who might be reading this – or how word travels! : – ))

  All-in-all a very good week!

Jillian has had such a good time putting this blog together and jotting the first few entries, I figured it was time to take a moment and get in on the fun myself.

Hi… I’m Jackson’s Dad. 

That’s still an amazing thought.  Most of my friends were married and had multiple kids before I was blessed with that title.  He’s almost ten months old and I still look at him and think “He’s part me!”  I was telling him (yes… of course I talk to him… he’s a VERY bright kid ;0) yesterday morning that no matter how I tried, I could never actually “imagine” what he would look like before he was born.  I’m not talking just when Jill was pregnant.  I’m talking about when you’re sitting there in micro-economics class and your contemplating anything but economics and your thoughts turn to “I wonder what my kids will look like?”  Yes… it happened… we guys think about other things besides…… football. Fortunately for my son the Lord answered my prayers and he takes after his mother!  

Being a husband and now “a Dad” is definitely a challenge.  But, I love it!  No, I can’t eat candy in bed any longer.  I never realized there was a “proper” way of cleaning the sink and that you should vacuum the house more than once a month.  And now sleeping until 0630 is “sleeping in.”  But, I wouldn’t go back for anything.  

Well, I’m being called up to dinner.  I can hear my “little man” practicing his Tim “the tool man” Taylor grunts out on his mom. What a character!! I’m a very blessed man….  

P.S. Thomas J. “Stonwall” Jackson born 21 January.  Jackson Caldwell Kohler born 21 January.  Coincidence?? Umm… I don’t think so….

A few days ago Jackson started taking his first “unassisted” steps.  They were small and wobbly, but full of excitement.  I can assure you, he knew he did something that mom and dad liked!  I couldn’t believe the rucus we made over this.  You would have thought that Ohio State just ran the kick-off back for a touchdown during the opening play of the National Championship game…hahaha….but we won’t talk about the rest of that game!

What strikes me the most about watching him move these days is how much practice goes into learning to walk.  Before Jackson, people made it sound as if one day he would just “up and start walking”.  Maybe other kids are like that, or over time it may come to seem that way; but for me, in actuality, he’s been working on this for months now.  It’s been fun to see him study people’s legs as they walk.  To daily watch him work at balancing himself, and cruising around the living room. 

I often find myself thinking about how much time, effort and determination goes into this process.  Today with our ”get it now” mentality, I am convicted as I realize how often I think to myself “this is taking too long”, or “why doesn’t God just do something now?!”  So as I watch this little guy learn to walk, I can’t help but think about my own opportunities to learn to walk again.

As a new mother, I have found that there are many times that I have to just stop and laugh; of course there are different types of laughes.  For me there’s the “wow, he is so cute and acting funny, I can’t believe he is alive and walking around” laugh.  The “oh my goodness, where did he learn that one from?!” laugh, which goes closely with the “now that’s hilarious looking” laugh.  But I have discovered yet another laugh that is entirely different, the “I have to laugh because I am going to scream, pull may hair out, bang my head against a wall, cry, or all of the above” laugh. 

I realize now that I had to be a mother before I was able to recognize this laugh in another.  I remember as a single woman thinking thoughts like, “what in the world is that woman laughing at?  She has one child is screaming like a banshee about wanting candy, while another is about to rocket himself out of the grocery cart, and yet other has climbed under the grocery basket onto the wire rack underneath; and I CANNOT believe that she came to the grocery store with two different shoes on!!”  Ahh…life before children!!

For those who have not had a chance to meet Jackson, let me start by saying that he is truly a good kid; easy going, fun loving, yet intense at times and inquisitive.  I enjoy the fact that I am the mother of a little boy, and I look forward to things like adventures, sports and games.  However, I have come to realize that there is a particular quality of children, usually found moreso in boys, that makes me “laugh” till my sides hurt…I call it the mess!!!  It’s as if at 9 months Jackson has discovered the love of making a mess; if it isn’t toys or books, it’s may favorite – his food!!  I am becoming convinced that there is a rule somewhere that boys must put at leave half their food on themselves or others while eating!!

What makes all this funny, is that I am a just a bit of a clean freak.  Yes, I admit, the “problem” is not really Jackson’s, but mine.  Therefore, I have to laugh at him when he looks at me as if to say, “come on mom, roll with it, this is what I am supposed to do!  Isn’t this goo just like the stuff you put in your hair?!?!”