A Perfect Fall Day with Jax & Annie('s)

Disclaimer: I am a member of Influenster and received free products in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. 

Today my baby turns 22-months-old... where, oh where has the time gone?! And why, oh why am I not posting his 22-month update today?! Ugh! I will write it up and post it Monday -- I promise!

Anyway, it is FINALLY starting to feel like fall in Colorado -- in fact, yesterday was the perfect fall day that was complete with cool temperatures, the sound of rain hitting the windows throughout the day, and the smell of fresh baked cookies wafting through our home...

Next week, Jackson will be hosting his first ever Halloween cookie decorating party for some of his friends, so I we decided to do all of our baking on this dreary day. We I had so much fun rolling the dough, cutting, and baking the cookies while Jackson played with/ate his little pile of homemade cookie dough. **I'd be lying if I said I wasn't paranoid about him getting sick, but I figured that eating raw cookie dough is a right of passage in every childhood, so I let him eat a little bit...**

Once we finished baking/packaging/freezing our cookies, it was time for lunch -- and what better lunch on a chilly fall day than a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup? But do you know what's even better than chicken noodle soup? 

Annie's Organic Star & Chicken Soup, of course! 

In our house, soup lunch = no shirt

I have always been a huge fan of Annie's organic products (I mean, how can you go wrong with a name like that?), but had never tried their soups before -- game. changer. Annie's Organic Star & Chicken Soup is WAY better than any of the condensed soups I've ever had and it even had my picky toddler coming back for more! Aside from the name and amazing flavor, I love Annie's because it is made with only organic chicken and never with any artificial flavors, synthetic colors, preservatives, or MSG. 

Soooo, it's official: Annie's is the new favorite soup of Annie! If you have yet to try them, do yourself a favor and stock up on your next grocery run -- you will not be disappointed. 

After lunch, it was time to venture out into the rain to do a little Halloween party shopping, popcorn eating, and choo-choo playing at a nearby shopping center.

After seeing this at Dollar Tree, I'm ready to scrap the Halloween cookies and bake up some Christmas treats for Thursday! 

Our weekly tradition: popcorn and lemonades at Target.

Choo-choos -- his current favorite! 

I am so glad I get to stay home with Jackson and take him on our fun little "dates" throughout the week -- I am also incredibly excited to finally see fall make its grand entrance! We've been waiting for you, old friend.

Bring on the layers!

The Band-Aid Trick

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!

Did you miss me? Or did you find that the silence was golden?

Don't answer that.

I apologize for my absence last week... I had every intention of getting back into the swing of things, but life (once again) got in the way. After returning home from our Disney trip almost 2 week ago, I have not only been playing catch up with my OIYS and MammaTech writing, but I've also been trying to get ahead before leaving for Vegas on Wednesday. These are crazy and busy times, but I wouldn't change them for the world.

One of the biggest things that happened last week (that also prevented me from blogging) is that my little baby boy is finally weaned/sleeping through the night... Can you believe it?! It ONLY took 21 months. Actually, if I'm being completely honest, I've dreaded weaning for a long, long time -- I absolutely loved that closeness with Jax and liked being able to comfort him by doing such a seemingly simple gesture. But with Jackson's overnight stays with Grammy & Grandpa coming in the next week/few months, it was time.

For those who might not know, Jackson used to ONLY fall asleep while nursing -- and half the time he'd sleep most of the night in bed with us. I was petrified to wean him, and saw nothing but misery in his, Brandon's, and my immediate futures. But alas, I knew that it needed to be done... but how?

After consulting my good friend, the internet, I discovered lots of helpful (and not-so-helpful) advice on how to wean and encourage self-weaning.

The first tip? Rub on a little lemon juice just before nursing your toddler.

GENIUS, right?!

Nope... not for my son, apparently. We tried it a few times before our Houston trip, but he apparently decided he could look past it.

Next was a concoction of orange juice, lemon, and salt.

Didn't even phase him.

Vinegar?

Nah.

By this point, I was feeling so discouraged and was beginning to accept the fact that he'd probably nurse until he was in high school when an idea popped into my head...

TAPE!

After consulting Google for "tape nipple weaning" (don't really Google this, btw), I found a thread in which a mom said she used Band-Aids and told her daughter she had "ouchies" anytime she asked to nurse.

Since the vinegar and lemon didn't work, I didn't have too much hope for the Band-Aids, but figured we'd give it a go.

The last time I nursed Jackson was as he feel asleep on Thursday, October 1st. Luckily (and unusually), he didn't wake up until 6am, at which point I told him I had "owies" and couldn't nurse him. After several attempts at nursing through the Band-Aids (and lots of tears from both him and me), he finally succumbed to the fact that it just wasn't going to happen and cuddled on the couch with me while watching early morning PBS cartoons.

From that point on, it kept getting better. I had a pretty big meltdown that Friday afternoon, but after cuddling and napping with my little brown eyed, blonde hair boy, I felt much better.

Jackson is now sleeping the ENTIRE night on his own and wakes up bright and early each morning with a big smile on his face. It's amazing just how much his sleep habits and appetite have changed since he stopped nursing, so I know that this was the best thing for him (though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still a little sad about it...)! The only big downside? He won't nap unless he's in his stroller or car seat. Oh well... baby steps, right?

As for me, I hurt a bit (from being engorged) the first few days, but didn't have any clogged ducts/mastitis/anything else along those lines. I feel very blessed to have had such a smooth transition from nursing!

~~~

In Other News...

On Saturday, Jackson and I spent the whole day outside helping Brandon dig the trenches for our new sprinkler system and I. Still. Hurt. I never realized what a good workout shoveling is, but I can definitely vouch for it -- I'm feeling muscles I never knew existed in my arms, back, and legs. Brandon spent his entire 3-day weekend fixing the outside hose, prepping the yard, digging, and organizing, so I can only imagine how badly he's hurting...

I was able to have a fondue date with one of my best girlfriends last Monday and it was just what I needed!! We laughed, talked, drank wine, and ate our weight in fabulous meats, cheeses, and chocolate. Yum!

I was FINALLY able to get Jackson's hair cut on Friday! If there's one thing in this world that this kid absolutely hates, it's getting his hair cut. We had a bit of a rough start, but he definitely calmed down toward the end and enjoyed watching "Lion King" while eating his animal crackers. I also took him out for ice cream after, which always makes things better :)

Jackson is such a little ham these days and, unprompted, will smile and say "EEE!" (cheese) whenever I get my phone out. Love him!!

On Thursday, Jax and I went to a pumpkin patch with our mom's group from church and had the best time! God brings people in your life for certain reasons and He knew that I needed a group of strong, fun, and faithful women to journey through motherhood with. I'm not going to lie -- 2014 wasn't the greatest year for me because I felt really lonely without any nearby girl/mom friends. Things have done a complete 180 and I feel so blessed to call these women my friends and to see Jackson forming bonds with their kids. God is good!

Are you still reading this?! Okay, you're officially my new favorite person! I'm going to wrap this up, but will see you again Wednesday when I share Disney pictures (lucky, lucky you :) 

Jackson's Best Day Ever

I think it's safe to say that yesterday will go down in the books as Jackson's best day ever! We didn't do anything too extravagant, but it was a fun and special day that I want to record and look back on later.

I don't think that Jax has ever shrieked and laughed so much in his life as he did yesterday when he had his chocolate doughnut with sprinkles, saw his "girlfriends" outside, and played frisbee golf (with Daddy, "Uncle" Logan, and Mommy) for the first time! The whole day was just so laid back, simple, and perfect. 

I just love this little boy to pieces and am so thankful that God trusted Brandon and me to be his parents!! I wish he could stay this age forever -- he's so cute, smart, curious, and funny! Today we are going out to lunch as a family and visiting a local splash pad -- here's to another "best day ever"! 

Life Randoms

I haven't done a rambling post in awhile now, so I figured I would do one today and fill everyone in on our happenings (and to have it recorded for me, since I do plan to one day have my posts turned into a scrapbook)!

~We are T-Minus 2 MONTHS until we head to Disney World! Brandon and I haven't been back since we got engaged and can't wait to take Jackson for his first time (his Grammy, Grandpa, & Uncle Joe are coming too). It was also confirmed yesterday that my awesome, awesome bosses are sending all of their writers/our significant others to Vegas in October for a fun weekend (CAN'T WAIT). It's been a great year for vacations -- and 2016 should be too, as Brandon and I will be kicking off the year on a beach in Mexico for our anniversary! 

~I am kind of obsessed with my new "Love is Patient; Love is Kind" shirt from Pinks in Denver. This shirt is so stinking soft and the verse holds a special place in my heart (it was read at our wedding). 

~Jackson = the King of Selfies.

~We're pretty much IN LOVE with Cassie (Jax's Monday afternoon babysitter) -- he just adores her and I love the fact that he's in good hands while I write for 3 hours straight.

~Jackson's "big boy room" is just about finished and I am dying to share pictures!! Hopefully next week I'll have them taken and posted :)

~Family park days are fun -- even when you decide to walk the mile each way in scorching hot temps! 

~My cousins from Kansas were in Colorado last week and we had such a fun time seeing them at my parents, eating lots of food, and playing lots of cards.

~I don't have a picture, BUT.. Brandon and I were volunteered to Chalet dance at my hometown Heritage Festival last weekend -- we weren't sure what to expect, but we both had a lot of fun and got  in an AWESOME workout!

Have you had enough randomness for one day? Me too. Have a great Tuesday!

Dating Your Spouse

Wanna know a secret?

Parenting is hard work!

I know that all of you parents and caretakers out there are thinking, "Umm, Duh!" -- but just bear with me a sec. I knew that motherhood was going to change me forever, but I never realized just how much of a toll it'd take on my body (I'll tell you guys ALL about the joys of weaning soon), marriage, and just overall perspective on life.

If there's one thing that I wish I would have done differently over the last year and a half, it's that I would have made an effort to spend more time alone with my husband. Between my constant need to be with Jax, bed sharing, and just overall hectic-ness of 2014, I barely spent anytime alone with just Brandon (I can count on one hand the number of times we went out without Jax last year). 

I'm thrilled to announce that things have been SO much better this year and that I'm a happier, more confident wife and mamma! How did things change so drastically in such a short amount of time? Well..

We've discovered babysitters.

We have made couple friends who we can hang out with before and after Jax goes to sleep (meaning we normally play games and hang out at our house, but that's okay because we have a blast!).

We have taken my parents up on offers to watch Jax overnight for us so we can take little one night vacations out-of-state. 

We moved Jax out of our bed and into his crib.

We made a new nightly ritual of sitting in bed, watching a movie (or TV show -- currently OITNB, which is awful this season), and eating ice cream.

We have started to actually date again.. so much so, in fact, that I think we're doing more now than we did before we got engaged! It's amazing what a huge change it's made in our relationship and in my overall attitude.

What is your favorite way to date your spouse?

We actually got a babysitter and went to see "Jurassic World" on Friday afternoon -- soooooo good!!

The Five Stages of Getting a New Job

A few weeks ago, I got a new job.

Finding a job I could do at home with Jax (in addition to my marketing) is something I prayed about, searched high and low, and constantly scoured for on Craigslist.

I finally found it.

I'm currently writing daily entertainment articles for a national site and couldn't be happier -- my bosses/co-workers are awesome, the work itself is a blast, I get to keep working while staying home with my little tyke, AND I'm learning a ton about my home state! It's a win/win/win/win.

Anyway, from the time I was offered the job to the time I started writing/setting up posts, I experienced 5 all too familiar feelings. I've worked several different industries in my 25 years (retail, hospitality, journalism, and food to name a few) and have felt these varying emotions every single time -- and this time around, it finally occurred to me what was happening.

You know how there's the 5 stages of grief? Well there's also the 5 stages of getting a new job. Don't believe me? Read on..

Ladies and gentlemen: I present to you the Annie Sandmeier Model (or the 5 Stages of Getting a New Job).

1.) Shock - One of the first reactions is shock, wherein the applicant cannot believe they were the (supposed) most qualified candidate out of all the (assumed) people who applied.

2.) Excitement - When the applicant recognizes that they did indeed get the job and that shock cannot continue, it becomes excited, possibly a little cocky. Certain psychological responses of a person undergoing this phase would be: "Eff yeah! I got the freaking job!"; "Hey *insert significant other's name here*, I got the job so you need to take me out and give me a back rub to celebrate!"; "I need to go out and spend all the money on new work clothes (which, in my case would be yoga pants and pajamas, since I work from home)!" 

3.) Pure, Unadulterated Panic - The third phase involves recipient realizing that the cockiness may have been a bit premature. Usually, the job recipient is given a swift kick in the ego and begins to negotiate with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle: "Hi God; it's Annie again.. I'm sorry I got so ahead of myself with this new job.. Again.. I pray that this first week goes smoothly and that I can quickly learn everything I need to do.. If it does, I promise to limit my Netflix binging. Amen."

4.) Self Doubt - "I can't do this job! Why did I think I could handle this?!" "Why did I apply for a writing job.. I can't even write!" 

5.) Acceptance - "Okay, okay.. so maybe I CAN do this." "You got this, girl! Just remember to breathe." In this last stage, individuals embrace the new job, figure out their new schedule, and overall just get their shi stuff together. 

I think that the hardest part for me was getting used to the writing, deadlines, etc., but once I found a good balance and made myself a little schedule, I realized that everything would be just fine! I try to do most of my work either very early in the morning (before Jackson is awake) or wait to do it after dinner (when Brandon is home and can watch him for a bit). I'm loving my new job and feel extremely blessed to be doing what I'm doing from home! 

Just another afternoon at the office.

If you're interested in following my posts, the address is http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/category/colorado/ (or you can just click on the "OIYS" tab at the top of this page). 

Monday (or "The Comedy of Errors")

Yesterday was definitely a Monday.. did you feel that way too? 

I'm not sure if it was just an off day because we had such a fun and enjoyable Easter weekend (more on that hopefully tomorrow) but it just seemed like nothing was going right..

Here are a few examples:

1. I had a doctors appointment at 10am in Westminster (which is about a 30 minute drive) and had to get Jax and me up and moving by 8:30 to ensure we were dressed, fed, and out the door by 9:15. We miraculously made it early but the doctor was running late--so my squirmy toddler and I were trapped in an 8x8 room for a half hour. 
2. After my appointment, I took Jackson over to the park by our old apartment to play for a bit and then I carried him over to Barnes & Noble (about a 1/2 mile walk).. in my boots.. and came home to a gnarly blister on the bottom of my foot. 
3. Had to stand through the entire story time to ensure that my son didn't yank the book from the storytellers hand (believe me, he tried.. multiple times) or steal crayons/toys from the other toddlers. 
4. The classic "Jax, please stand nice and don't touch anything while mommy goes potty!" in the bathroom stall at Barnes & Noble (of course he touched everything and crawled around on the gross bathroom floor..). #momfail
5. Not sitting nice in the cart at Costco.
6. Falling in the cart (and crying) because he wasn't holding on and mommy wasn't paying attention. #momfailpartdos
7. Accidentally giving my 15-month-old his first taste of pop (here's what happened: the pharmacy was taking forever to fill my prescription so I figured Jax and I would go to the food court and share a hot dog while we waited.. anyway, I got my usual Diet Pepsi and let Jax -- who at that point hadn't grasped the concept of drinking out of a straw -- chew on the straw. The next thing I know, he is chugging my Pepsi.. and wanting more.. I threw the cup away shortly after).
8. The pharmacy messing up my prescription yet again (the doctor told me she sent in a 90 day supply and they only gave me 30.. happens every. single. time). 
9. Arrived home to find that the cat jumped up on the counter & managed to opened a tupperware container of corn bread (half a piece was missing), cleaned up the cornbread crumbs, put away the groceries, broke open the cat's new bag of food (there is now cat food all over the floor of our garage), and fed the cat. 
10. Cleaned up cat's cornbread vomit. 
11. Picked up shrub branches from the backyard while Jackson and Bella played.
12. Let cat back in the house. 
13. Brought Jax inside 15 minutes later to find that the cat threw up grass all over one of Jackson's new Easter books. 
14. Cleaned and did dishes. 
15. Laid in bed with Jax and watched obscure PBS programming.
16. Took a blissful and well deserved nap with my cuddle bug. 

Major first world problems, I know.. I just had to vent and write it out so thank you for listening/reading (though I'm sure most of you stopped reading at around #4.. I know I would have!). Here's to what is hopefully an uneventfully peaceful rest of the week! 

I just realized I didn't take any pictures yesterday so here is Jax with his new stuffed bear from Great Grandpa & Grandma Sandmeier. 

Spring Fever

It's a well known fact that back in the day I used to adore winter.

The snow.

The warm and comfortable clothes.

Snuggling into bed with a good book and glass of wine.

Those feelings of warmth during the most frigid of months have blown away with the icy breeze..

..for I now have an active 14-month-old who doesn't like being cooped up for too long.

Winter walks=hats, Ergo, and my over sized jacket to keep us both warm.

I'm dreaming of..

70 degree days

The smell of cherry blossoms in the air

The way the warm sun feels on my face

Long walks

Play dates at the park

Delicious picnics

Sipping coffee on our back porch while Jax and Bella chase each other around the backyard

Enjoying a beer by our fire pit out back after Jackson goes to sleep

Starting and maintaining a garden

Baseball games

Sleeping with the windows open

Baby birds chirping away in our big old tree

Swim lessons

Walking over to our local bakery with Jax on Tuesdays for their cupcake special

The sounds of Brandon mowing the backyard 

I'm dreaming of spring. 

We're supposed to get more snow tonight and tomorrow so if you need me, I'll be chilling in my Snuggie with a warm cup of coffee and slice of homemade banana bread.

How to Entertain a One-Year-Old

As I've said before, the laid back days of having a newborn are long gone.. in fact, we're now in full blown toddler mode! Jackson is definitely his own little person with lots of personality and opinions and I want to make sure he keeps learning, engaging, and growing. With that being said, I've tried to find different hands on activities for him to do that build his motor skills and keep him busy (this kid will not sit down to watch a movie which is both a blessing and a curse).

Here are a few of the different activities/crafts we've tried so far:

The Homemade Ball Pit

One of my friends gave me this idea.. I bought a 150 count bag of ball pit balls and poured them into his pack and play--he had a blast sifting through them but was more interested in putting them back into the bag (pictured). This little activity has gifted us with hours of entertainment and I plan to continue using the balls for future activities (like learning and sorting colors)!

 Stickers

I never knew that a one-year-old could grasp the concept of stickers until we went to dinner at a place that had them on the kids menu--Jax was hooked! I thought he'd be too young to really get it but he's been stickin' away! We're currently decorating Valentines for family which has been fun for both of us--he loves choosing which sticker to use, putting it on the card, and then scribbling around them with his (washable) markers.

Edible Play-Doh

I made this edible peanut butter play-doh and gave Jax a few cookie cutters, plastic utensils, and bowl of sprinkles and let him go to town! He was a lot more interested in the sprinkles than he was the play-doh (for the record, the dough tastes amazing) but it was a fun thing to do on a snowy Colorado day.

2-Ingredient Play-Doh

Who would have thought that mixing conditioner and corn starch could make such an interesting toy? This was another snow day activity that we did (recipe here) and it was a hit! This was much tackier and easier to mold than the PB dough and Jax seemed to like playing with it more.

Sift & Find Bottle

Our local library has a little shelf with "I-Spy" books with these bottles and I thought they were the coolest thing ever! To make ours, I used an empty water bottle, about 1 1/2 cups of rice, and little knick knacky things I found in my office (giant paper clip, clothes pin, cotton ball, etc.) and let Jax shake the bottle around to find the different treasures. He may still be a little young for it but he seems to be understanding it a bit more each day.

These are a few of Jackson's and my favorite things to do when we're home (other favorites include building blocks, Little People play sets, chasing the cat, and crawling through tunnels). What types of hands on activities do your toddlers enjoy?

Rookie Mistake

**Alternative Title: When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip**

My sister-in-law told me not to do it.

My mother warned me.

I didn't listen.

It started out innocently enough (but then again, doesn't it always?).. just dabbling a bit, so to speak.

But it changed quickly and now my son is a dipping fiend.

I remember it like it was last week (because it was).. Jackson and I were sitting down to our regular lunch of soup, peanut butter crackers, and veggie sticks when I had the grand idea to dip my veggie sticks into Ranch dressing.

This intrigued my son.

I smiled.

"Want to try?" I kindly asked as I passed the bowl of Ranch his direction.

A look of confusion and excitement spread across his little face as he delicately dipped his sweet potato chip into the bowl.

"It's yummy, bubby!" I reassured him as he slowly brought the salty snack to his mouth.

After tasting the cold and creamy deliciousness that is Ranch dressing, he more assertively went in for another dip.. and then another.. and another.

As I cleaned up my messy toddler and table, I beamed with pride; my genius one-year-old was grasping the concept of dipping things (first time mom here, can ya tell?)!

It wasn't until the next morning at breakfast when I fully realized what I had done.

Every morning, Jackson and I have basically the same breakfast: coffee, Belvita Breakfast Biscuits, and oatmeal for mom; Belvita Breakfast Biscuits, Greek Yogurt w/Chia Seeds, and peanut butter crackers for Jackson. As I began my usual routine of dipping my biscuit into my coffee, I noticed my son reaching toward me while grasping onto one of his biscuits.

"What do you need, bud?" I asked, still naive to the situation at hand.

He began to point to my coffee with his biscuit.

"No no, Jax; you wouldn't like coffee!"

That's when his face began to turn bright red and he began to fuss.

"What's wrong bud?" I stupidly asked.

He threw his cracker down in a fit of (bratty) toddler rage.

That's when it occurred to me.

I pushed his Greek yogurt toward him to get his mind off dipping while I lectured him about not throwing food and being nice (or we wouldn't be eating again until lunch), and that's when something clicked in that little 95th percentile head of his. He grabbed another piece of cracker and began to dip it into his Greek yogurt.

I looked on in disgust.

"Whatever floats your boat, kid." I thought to myself as I took another sip of my coffee.

There isn't enough coffee in this world to fix what I have done. Here's a picture from Thursday that shows just how bad this has become:

I ate leftover Chinese food for lunch and he was insistent on dipping his veggie sticks into the left over soy sauce (gross). Not pictured: Jackson dipping his veggie stick into the bowl of mac and cheese minutes beforehand.

If you have children and have yet to make the same mistake I did, I implore you to take my advice and keep your kids far, far away from any type of dip. They already grow up too quickly--there's no sense in speeding up the process by turning them into persistent little dipping monsters.

To Be a Kid Again..

Being a mom is hard work..

..way, way harder than I had ever expected.

The sleepless nights, frequent tantrums, picky eating, constant messes, etc., take more of a toll on you than I had ever imagined.

But you know what?

For every piece of food that's thrown on the floor during a toddler tantrum, there's three sloppy kisses or a melt your heart gap toothed smile that makes your mother's heart grow even bigger.

And then there's moments like we experienced on Saturday where I get to relive parts of my childhood through our little boy.

We took a family trip to the WOW! Children's Museum in Lafayette and had the best time building shapes, climbing around the pirate ship, pushing all the buttons, and watching the look of excitement and wonder light up Jackson's face. It was such a perfect day that I never want to forget. As I mentioned last week, I loved my childhood and hope to give our son the same fun, carefree one that I was so blessed to have.

Oh to be a kid again.. I pray Jackson doesn't wish the time away and grow up too quickly!

Please stay little forever!!

Let Them Be Little..

On Friday, I took Jackson to our awesome local library (AKA our new happy place) to play around, read, and kill some time before Brandon arrived home from work. We played around inside for about a half hour before Jax started peering at the "big kids" playing outside.

He. Wanted. Out. So. Badly.

Since it was a nice day, and since my little toddler wan pining to go play with the school aged kids, we went outside--and it was awesome! I had no idea that there was a hands on area in the back complete with musical instruments, playground, smooth wood pieces to build with, and much more. Of course, Jackson wanted nothing to do with that and instead crawled all around in the rocks, grass, and all over the plastic boardwalk (complete with several steps for a curious tot to climb up and down).

It's amazing how Jackson turned one and just RAN--he seriously changed from a baby to a little boy over night and is now fascinated by blocks, Legos, books, and dirt (this kid loves him some dirt). Sure, dirt is a pain to clean off clothes but it's easy to wipe off tiny hands and faces so I let him pick up rocks, crawl through the grass, and explore this exciting new place.

He was in heaven and I was having the best time following him, admiring the rocks he proudly showed me, and just taking the moment in.

That's when I heard a voice come from behind us.

"You let him just play in the dirt and get all dirty like that?"

I turned around to see another mom (whose kids had been playing inside the library the same time Jax and I were) staring in horror at my joyously dirty son and his (in her mind) negligent and irresponsible mother.

"Oh, yeah?" I answered, taken aback by her question.

"Whatever, I guess." she responded as she rolled her eyes and walked off with her two kids.

I was stunned and couldn't find the words to respond. 

Was I wrong for letting Jackson play outside? I mean, sure, he was getting dirty but he wasn't being rambunctious or causing any kind of trouble. I kept going over the scenario in my head and tried to figure out why she'd be upset with me for letting him play.

Another 15 minutes passed before the sun began to set and it was time to go home and get Mr. Jax into the bath. On the short drive home, I started thinking about my own childhood and how I was always outside with my brother, next door neighbor/best friend, and all the other neighborhood kids--climbing on the swing set, jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under it, and playing Power Rangers in the front yard are just a few of my fondest childhood memories.

I loved my childhood.

Every time I think back on our neighborhood hide-and-seek games and catching of crawdads and garter snakes (and naming them Sarah Michelle Gellar), I can't help but smile.

I want my kids to have that same kind of childhood.

If Jackson wants to dig in the dirt for worms to take fishing, he should be able to.

If he decides he doesn't like getting dirty and would rather paint, read, or do something else he enjoys, he should be able to.

If he wants to run around like crazy, partake in water fights, and climb trees, he should be able to.

As long as kids aren't hurting themselves or others and are being respectful, let them run and play.

Let them enjoy that all too short period known as childhood--it goes by way, way too quickly and once it's gone, that's it.

Let your kids be innocent and naive to this crazy and often scary world around them.

Let them figure out what they like doing and what they're good at (whether it be sports, art, music, etc.).

Let them get dirty.

Let their imaginations soar.

Let them be little.