Today we had to take my mom and sister to the airport as our two week vacation together came to an end. It was very sad to leave them and even Jackson seemed to look around the house for them when we came home. He really loves his grandma and aunt and I am so happy that they finally got to meet in person. We did so many activities and packed the two weeks full of Jackson-centred trips so it really felt like we got to spend at least a month together.
Sunday was a very special day for all of us because Jackson had his baptism at church. He behaved perfectly and when the preacher was talking to him face-to-face, Jackson was looking right into his eyes and it looked like he was listening to every word. After his Christening was over, we put him into his stroller and then he took a nap for the remainder of the church service. He's such a good boy!
We have had a particular hot week in England which has made it uncomfortable in the house, but provided for our last week with my family to be spent doing outside activities. On Monday, we got to go to Jackson's great-grandpa's house in Chester. His great-aunt Jane and great-uncle Rick planned a huge dinner with a Christening cake to celebrate Jackson's baptism while we visited. We were so surprised and humbled by all of the effort they put into this surprise. It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time visiting with the two families together.
Tuesday was a great day because I passed my U.K. driving test! This will save me an hour and a half every day since I will no longer be a slave to the public transportation system. Also, I will now be able to take Jackson to nursery on my way to work which would definitely not have been a possibility if I was still bound to the buses. It was a great relief and I owe a lot of the credit to my truly amazing driving instructor, Niki. If anyone is interested in learning how to drive in the Southport area, then I would highly recommend her to be your teacher. (Here is her website: http://www.nikisom.co.uk/) It was the hottest day of the year on Tuesday, so we got the paddling pool out for Jackson and enjoyed the outdoors by eating at MadHatter's Tea Pot and Nando's. Our friend Paul also got to meet the family because he joined us at MadHatter's. We ate outside at both restaurants so it felt like we were vacationing in Italy. It was so sunny that we got tans. One of us (me) got tan on the right side, but not the left, since I was half-covered by an awning. Oh well; I'll take it!
My mom celebrated her birthday with us on Wednesday--that's two years in a row that I got to be with my mom on her birthday! We took her to a 'proper' afternoon tea at the Westminster Tea Rooms and then to Jade Gardens for dinner. Since it was another perfectly sunny day, we walked up and down Lord Street and shopped for some traditional English trinkets for my mom to take back to Ohio--like a teapot, of course.
Believe it or not, in the past two weeks we hadn't been to Liverpool yet! We live so close to it, but it's not the easiest place to take a baby if you stay around the city centre. When we go with Jackson, we can basically only push him around in his stroller and let him sit while we eat out at restaurants or shop. So we decided that us girls would go later in the day and Jackson and Lee could have time together at home. We ate at Viva Brazil (my favourite restaurant) and went on a Shiverpool Tour which was a ghost walk mixed with some historical facts about the city. The tour kept getting a bit scarier with every new spot and by the end, I can honestly say that I have never been more afraid in my life.
Friday was my first day of work officially. I was so happy to get back home to see Jackson at the end of the day and it was strange to not know what he had been up to all day. On September 5th, when school starts and Jackson begins his nursery experience, we will sort of start our own lives. I will get written summaries of Jackson's day, but I won't get to witness every second of his life anymore. When he starts to talk, I will look forward to hearing about his day on the ride home from Hutton to Ainsdale.
For the rest of the Summer, I have a lot of work ahead of me to prepare for the new school year; however, I will cherish the moments I have left at home with Jackson. Now that I can drive, we should be able to do more varied activities than we have so far this year. I am so thankful that my mom and sister got to visit us and for all of the help they provided for Jackson. Their visit brought a lot of laughs and happiness to Jackson, too. We're looking forward to our visit to Ohio next Summer when we get to see them again and when Jackson will get to meet the rest of his American family.
Jackson's Christening Day
Our dapper little boy
"I'll have the mashed potatoes."
Jackson still loves the water and likes to splash his face right in it
Since he can stand on his own while holding onto something (and he loves water so much), we bought him a water table
Developmental updates: On Thursday, Jackson crawled for the first time at about 6:55 A.M. (He must have woken up that day with his goal in mind.) He loves his new skill and likes to crawl to us so he can greet us when we enter a room. Jackson is also crawling to get into things he hasn't been able to get before, as well. He hasn't dealt with the heat very well this week and he has started a shrill shriek when he's uncomfortable. Jackson's hair is getting thicker and longer so he may be needing a trim soon.
If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.
