A Letter to Jackson

My Dearest Jackson,

You have finally drifted off to sleep on such an important night. You have been so excited about tomorrow, that you have laid wide eyed in your bed for two and a half hours! Tomorrow, you will begin the adventure of your lifetime. Tomorrow you will start your journey into the world of education. A little over five and a half years ago, I sat on the red chair where I am sitting now. It was the day that I was to check into the hospital to give birth to you. I kept rubbing my stomach and thinking about you with my heart filled with love. I was so excited to meet my little boy. As I wondered what you were going to look like and what your personality would be, I also dreamed of your future. I dreamed of so many things for you. The day that you would learn to walk. The many holidays and birthdays to come. The day you would head off to Kindergarten. Your dad and I cheering for you on the sidelines of some activity that you were involved in during high school. The day you graduate from high school. Taking you to college and getting you settled in your room. College graduation. The day you get married. Although all of my dreams for you are special, the most treasured dream I have for you is to get an education. This dream begins tomorrow. Jackson, I couldn't be more excited for you. Tomorrow you will take the steps to become a reader, a writer, a scientist, and a mathematician. I pray that you open your eyes, your ears, and your heart to this wonderful gift, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes you.

With all of my love,

Mommy

The First Lost Tooth

One day towards the end of July, Jackson came home from Kid's First telling the story that another student accidentally hit him in his mouth and knocked his tooth loose. When we went to the dentist this summer, I was told that it wouldn't be long before this would happen, so I knew that the loose tooth wasn't the result from the hit in the mouth.

Here he is with all of his teeth.

The loose tooth!

Of course the tooth got more and more loose. Finally, one night, Jackson's friend Avery told him to eat an apple. The apple helped to get the tooth even looser. I asked Jackson if I could pull it, and he agreed. I gave it a pretty good pull and out it came!! I was so impressed with him! I was also proud that I stomached it too! He was SO excited!

The snaggle tooth boy!

Taking a look at his new hole.

The tooth.

I took pictures of him putting the tooth under his pillow and in the morning, and I can't find them anywhere! I am praying that I didn't get rid of them, but can't find them. Whimper, whimper. Here's the story:

Jackson put the tooth under his pillow after loosing it several times from him taking it out to look at it a couple of times. Evidently, the Tooth Fairy came in the night and tore a hole in her pocket. She left a five dollar bill under Jackson's pillow, and then a trail of change from Jackson's room to the dogie door!! At 5 AM, I heard the sound of change. I quickly got up and found Jackson in the hallway. He had a handful of change and was picking up more change. He looked at me and said, "The Tooth Fairy came!! She left this trail of change! Her pocket must have torn, and it fell out!" He was SO excited! Jackson collected more change, and then he went back to bed. I had finally started falling back asleep when I heard the tinker of more change. Jackson had gotten back up and found more change in the hallway. He finally went back to sleep and got up a little bit later to find the rest of the change.

I can't believe that he lost his first tooth before even entering Kindergarten!!

Quote of the Day

Lauren: "I want to be a princess."

Jackson: "You can't. You have to live in a kingdom."

Don't you love it? This is SO Jackson!

Back to School Time

If you have a family member that is a teacher, you understand the "Back to School" time. It is LONG hours. Jackson attended a program called Kid's First that is in the cafeteria at my school. One day, the caregivers came to get me to see something. When I walked into the cafeteria, this is what I saw:

What an angel. When I picked him up to take him to the library to sleep on the couch, he woke up. I asked him what was going on. He said, "I was waiting for you." Talk about breaking this working momma's heart. My sweet boy.