"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." --Frederick Douglass

This week, I was startled to find out from my driving instructor that there are the beginnings of organised crime in Southport!  Thirty children ranging from the ages of 12 to 20 have been causing havoc in the town centre:  throwing bricks into passing cars' windows, destroying Victorian decorations, and sitting at the train level crossings on the tracks, causing roads to close.  Then she told me that there is a huge drug problem in Southport--even in the high schools.  One teaching assistant was even arrested recently for selling drugs to students!  My stomach immediately started aching as I thought of all of the dangers that I will have to protect my perfect little innocent baby from in the future.

I realise that these types of things happen in bigger cities; but, this is Southport.  These types of things are not supposed to happen in family-friendly seaside towns where many come to retire or to enjoy a safe, quiet life.  After four years of living in Southport, I personally haven't seen the crime she mentioned--except for an incident of a group of ten-year-olds attempting to steal candy.  So I guess it is possible to live in Southport and avoid encountering the criminals and 'yobs.'

But what happens when Jackson goes to school and has to fend for himself?  When he has to make his own choices and has free time where Lee and I won't be there to guide him?  I am hoping that he picks kind, responsible friends and that they have fun together, but avoid getting into trouble.  It's a long time until Jackson will be in school, so I should probably stop worrying for now.  I just want the best for Jackson and I don't want him to ever get into harm's way.

As in church, I'd like to make a prayer request:  let's pray for all the children and that they stay safe, are ambitious in their aspirations, want to be kind and to do the right thing, and know how much they're loved.  Of course I'm thinking of Jackson, but if we can show love and kindness to all children, hopefully they will see the world in a brighter light and have more self-worth, wanting to live the best life imaginable.

Fancy poses packed with personality

Enjoying the warmth and sunshine

Having a fun time in the jumperoo--this toy never gets old!

Reading his new pirate book in the ball pit

The moorhen ducklings standing on a stick

Big enough to sit in his Little Tikes garden centre and play on his own now

The heron's perch on the tiny island at our favourite pond

Developmental updates:  Jackson started turning his hand around in circles and he does this when he wants to change his activity or to get our attention.  He also started moving in circles while sitting.  Using his fist as a pivot point, he shifts himself around to a new position on his play mat.  He is still laughing a lot and is starting to be more ticklish.  Today he ate beef for the first time which has luckily lulled him into a deep sleep.  (It was nice to make one meal for the family that we could all eat together at the same time.)  Jackson is developing his grip and has very strong hands.  He (unfortunately) is very good at pinching and can snatch things very quickly.  Today while he was waiting in his stroller to go to his friend Thomas's birthday party, he pulled the cupboard open and pushed it shut for the first time.  Although these are early signs of him growing-up, I like how inquisitive and observant he is.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.

Heat Wave

This week has been absolutely beautiful and warm!  Jackson and I got out every day to visit the ducklings and feed them bread crumbs.  The pond is about two miles away and the trail has three steep hills in order to get there, so the exercise has been good for me as I'm trying to get back to my old self size-wise.  Along with the ducklings, there are hundreds of fish who come to the surface and nibble the bread, too.  Thousands of tadpoles are packed around the edge of the pond swimming in tiny paths and we're enjoying seeing their transformations day-to-day--as well as all of the other wildlife.  I really look forward to this walk with Jackson every day since we rarely run into anyone else and he is old enough to notice the animals and seems to enjoy watching them in their natural habitats.

On Sunday, we travelled to Liverpool where my friend from Ashland was staying on vacation.  It was so refreshing to see an old friend--someone I've known since Kindergarten!  We showed him around the Liverpool hotspots and talked about everything we've done since graduating high school and shared stories from elementary school.  It was nice to drop in a name of an old teacher or classmate and have someone else be able to know who I'm talking about and share in the memory.

Today was exceptionally warm so after our walk to the pond, I took Jackson to town to pick-up a few things.  He received numerous compliments on the train, from shopkeepers, and a few passers-by.  Jackson loves getting attention and he readily shows-off his wide gummy grin.

Happy Seven Months, Baby Jackson!

Me with my friend Nick

The new napping spot

Jumping and loving it

Our proud little seven-month-old

Peek-a-boo!

Developmental updates:  Jackson turned seven-months-old this week.  He is still 'talking' a lot and very loudly.  Jackson sometimes sits with his little hand on his chest and rests in this manner, looking a little like an old man on his porch in the summertime.  Some of the new foods that Jackson has taken a liking to are avocado, broccoli, and yoghurt.  He's found a new napping spot:  his rocking chair.  It's a great product from Fisher Price because it was a bouncer for the first six months, but it can be converted to a chair that can last until he's three-years-old.  Jackson likes to dance around and listen to music.  We hold him up so that he's 'standing' and he will twist and bounce to the beat.  This week I noticed a big decrease in his naps (from four down to two) per day and he is waking up less during the night to eat.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.

I Believe the Children Are Our Future

Since Jackson came into my life, I view all children in a different light.  Most recently, I've noticed how much more sensitive I am to news, movies, and t.v. shows with babies and children.

This week, Lee has been watching episodes of Breaking Bad.  The main character's son creates a website for donations that will help defray the costs of his father's cancer treatments.  (This detail won't spoil the plot for you if you haven't seen the show.)  With each donation that comes in, the son alerts his family and because of all the hope he has in curing his father's condition, he stays glued to the computer screen for weeks.  I became really teary-eyed at the amount of faith the son had in others to reach-out and support his dad and how happy he was to show his dad each little donation as it slowly added together.

Today I watched a documentary about children who participate in the golf world championships held in Pinehurst, North Carolina (it's called The Short Game).  I found myself cheering--out loud--when the children did well, getting misty-eyed when they felt like failures, and smiling from ear-to-ear when their parents encouraged them, showing that they believed in them whole-heartedly.  If I would have watched this before I had Jackson, then I know I wouldn't have seen the complexities of the parent-child relationships.  I probably would've focused on the children working hard to be the best--and I might have judged them for not working hard enough.  Having my own baby has humanised me in a way and made me a softer person.

Earlier this week, some terribly sad news came from my hometown.  A boy in his mid-twenties passed away, leaving behind a little girl, his parents, and two sisters.  In school, I remember that he had a really good sense of humour and he had a knack for making friends with everybody.  Although I wasn't close to him, his death has been in the back of my mind all week.  I feel so sorry for his parents and any parents who have lost a child.  When I look at Jackson, I see and think about his whole life and all of my favourite moments so far.  I can only imagine that no matter how old Jackson is, I will look at him how he is, but also see him as a baby and other stages of life.  The fact that any new memories aren't possible and suddenly, sadly, a child's life was ended shook me up.

People do warn parents-to-be that their whole lives will change once the baby arrives.  Jackson certainly makes me think in a completely different way and thankfully has made me a more tender person.

Our happy little chap

Finding everything hilarious this week

Trying to leap up and stand on his own

Developmental updates:  This week, Jackson said, "Boobah."  I'm not sure what he meant by this, but he looked me in the eye and said it with some conviction.  He has been laughing at everything--even if we just hold up a book in front of him, he finds it hilarious.  Jackson is still moving around by rolling and kicking his legs to travel backwards.  If he sees something he wants, then he will figure out a way to get to it.  His hair is getting longer and thicker and is a nice golden-brown colour.  Jackson's eyes are still a greenish-blue colour with a tint of brown.  We've found that he will eat any vegetable happily if it is mixed with mashed potatoes--this is the only way we are getting through all of the frozen swede.  A small victory for us is that Jackson can make it through a whole day without using a bib or muslin cloth.  There were days that we went through four of each, so we're happy about this change.  Lee noticed that Jackson was a bit ticklish this week for the first time.  When we eat out, Jackson gets to have mushy peas and he really loves them--it's his British side coming through.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.