We have a Walker!

I wasn't going to post again until after we'd moved, but this is big news!

For weeks, Jackson has been able to stand unassisted. He's loved walking with help for months. We've seen him take a few steps, but they were usually when no one was looking (or so he thought!)

On Tuesday, I was sitting on the floor packing boxes (because where else can I be found these days), and Jackson was playing when he stood up in the middle of the room without holding onto anything. That was a first. Of course, I let him know that I was proud of him and continued on working.

Then on Wednesday, I was busy working on...something. I have no idea what. I looked up at Jackson and he was WALKING across the living room. He stopped halfway to catch his balance on a toy, then continued on his way for what he wanted. I was thrilled...(and terrified, because of everything I have to do) and started cheering for him. He got so excited and was bouncing up and down and fell down. He got back up and walked over to me. Yep. It's official. He can walk.

And he can climb. Thursday morning I was packing up a box while he was playing the piano, which is nothing out of the ordinary. He loves to play Mommy's piano. But this time when I looked over and he was STANDING on TOP of the piano bench. Usually, when he does monkey things like that I grab my phone to take a picture, but this time I was so terrified he was going to fall and crack open his head on one of the many toys he had strewn around the room I just jumped up and grabbed him, being very careful not to yell out and scare him, causing him to fall.

Good heavens, my life just got even more complicated.

Crazy Life

The past few weeks have been absolutely nuts. I don't have much time to write because I have a MILLION things I need to do, but I want to document this crazy time.

Jeff has been looking for a job for months. He has applied both in Idaho Falls and here in the Salt Lake Valley, so we can stay close to one of our families. He has applied for so many more jobs here in Salt Lake, but in comparison, the ration of interviews to applications has been SO much greater in Idaho Falls. We've just been hanging out, constantly filling out job applications and hoping for a job to come along soon. We still haven't had any luck, but we're hopeful.

Two weeks ago, we woke up to discover that Jeff's bike had been stolen overnight, then the next day we discovered that a neighbor had been stealing packages/ mail out of our mailbox. It was at that moment that we decided we need to move. After weighing our options and praying about it, we feel that we need to move to Idaho. We don't know where Jeff is going to find a job, but we have faith that it will work out. For the time being, we will be living in my parents' basement.

So, we have 2 weeks left here in Salt Lake. Our apartment is a crazy mess right now, with boxes and packing supplies and toys everywhere. We are working to get everything organized and ready to do. Most of our things will be in storage, so I'm sorting through things, deciding what we'll need (for an indefinite amount of time) and what will be fine sitting in a storage unit.

We really do have mixed feeling about leaving, because we have so many wonderful friends in our ward here who we will miss terribly. Jeff's family all live around here, and it has been fun getting together with them regularly and for Jackson to spend time with his cousins at all of the family get-togethers (he's got a cousin just 4 months older than he is and they like to steal toys from play with each other.) It will be sad to leave them, and we'll have to come visit lots (good thing it's only 3 hours...though even that can be too long for Jackson at times).

But at the same time, my sister (who doesn't know we're moving up there, let alone moving in) gets home from her mission in 6 weeks, and she's never met Jackson, other than over Skype. It will be fun for her to be able to play with him and get to know him. We're looking forward to living in a place where we can take Jackson outside to play (the grass is too full of weeds here to do that, without going down to the park.)

All in all, we are looking forward to this new adventure, following what we feel is best in faith. We know that everything will work out exactly as it is supposed to and that we will be taken care of.

Now...back to packing :)