Can I just say that I’m so glad we have our first Living Proof Live event of 2008 this weekend? It is going to be in Vancouver. After the last event of 2007, I felt like the blog’s right arm was in a sling. We’ve had no commissionings, no video recaps, and no before and after comments from the local siestas! I’m ready for my mom to get back to doing her thang!
Since the conference is still a few days away and my mom is getting ready for Bible study this afternoon, I will share some pictures from Jackson’s second birthday. (Well it looks like we were blogging at the same time!) When I wrote the date in my prayer journal this morning, I realized it was my old due date. I don’t think about it much because 2/17/06 was The Big Day, but I did cling tightly to 2/26/06 for nine months. It will always be special to me. It was also the date of a very large, sold-out conference in Birmingham, Alabama. Lord, help us! Well, He did help us! God worked it all out and everyone was there for Jackson’s birth. I can’t complain!
We had a birthday feast for Jackson at Pappasito’s the afternoon after Melissa’s wedding. The servers brought out a sombrero and a brownie sundae to celebrate. They even sang him a song. At the very end when everyone clapped, he looked at me and said, “Mommy? Mommy? Whaaaaaaa!” It was so tragic. But he bounced back.
Then we played in a park.
You can walk a bit taller when you’re two.
Here are some pictures from Jackson and Ella’s joint birthday party at Pump It Up on Saturday. They are only two days apart and have all the same friends, so it worked out great!
Me and my boy in a bounce house. 
Curtis and Jackson shooting hoops.
Jackson on a slide.
Janelle and I got a sneak peek of the party room before it was taken over by toddlers.
Do I even need to tell you who this is? In case I do, it’s Pablo from the Backyardigans.
A toddler birthday party takes a lot of moms working together.
Ella and Jackson having a snack.
Jackson really just wanted to play with the balloons.
We couldn’t wait to take a picture of the Tods in this fun chair. They were not as enthused about it.
Janelle and Ella, Jackson and me, and Sunni and Ava
We played hard.
Tags: Jackson
I will be in Vancouver this weekend and I am so excited about what God is going to do in and through this event. Thank you LPM for being a “light in the darkness”! I cannot wait to get recharged!
What a great party idea especially a joint one! Happy Birthday to Jackson and Ella! Love that cake!
Those blue eyes are killer! You are going to have to shoo the ladies off!
Looks like you had a great time, and those pictures of you and him are adorable, you look so pretty!
Amanda, hats off to you girlie.
what a darling child. I know what it takes to pull off the parties, and that one looked like tons of fun. You look so happy and like a kid yourself.
Dont blink, these are the most precious of times.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON
We are thankful for you…….
Rhonda
Happy Birthday Jackson! Loved all the pictures- It reminded me of the two speeds of children: ON and OFF!!!
Y’all look like you had a blast!! Cute cute pics!! He is so precious!
I love the fact that you let him have his sucker in the car and he fell asleep holding it. Very little comes between a little boy and his sucker! I will be planning a two year old birthday party for June! I feel a Curious George theme coming on! Thanks for sharing.
Blair from Pensacola, FL
Great pics! Happy, happy Jackson!
Ok… love, love, love the ball cap on backwards! What a hunk he’ll be!
Hey Amanda I was one of the thousands in knoxville when your mom announced she was going to have someone to praise dance with and then one of the thousands from Birmingham praying Jackson would come early. I have boy too they are great!
Amanda – you did not have to tell me who Pable is since we watch Backyardigans nearly EVERY day! My 3 year old wants to know if he can come to the party – HA. Looks like Jackson has a wonderful time.
Karen
Dripping SPrings, TX
February 26th is always a special day to me too! Today is my 25th wedding anniversary! God deserves the Glory there!!!
I am so looking forward to this year. I have my wrist bands for San Antonio and Billings. Bring it on, Beth! I can hardly wait!
Happy Belated Birthday to the Tod!
Melana in Wyoming
I have spent many an morning and afternoon at Pump It Up and been to several bday parties!! That place is just too much fun!!
Jackson looks so big in these pictures! He is too adorable and looks like tons of fun!!
I wasn’t there in Birmingham but I was at Knoxville when she announced that you were expecting!! The whole place squealed in unison!! Mama Beth tried to call you while on stage but there was a hurricane, i think, and so the call wouldn’t go through. It still seems like that wasn’t that long ago!!
Thanks for taking all the pictures and sharing them with us!!
Love ya, AJ!!
Nikki
Amanda……….I love the pictures of your boy’s birthday.. it takes me back to my own son’s parties many many years ago now!
Beth….my son has just emigrated to Vancouver from the UK….missing him madly! Good to see that you are going there for a visit too! Wish I was there to see you, and him!
I saw you in Belfast a few years ago and hope one day you’ll come to the UK to see us and we can tell you how many of your Bible Studies we’ve done at our little church!
(Currently doing Stepping Up!)
These blogs make me laugh, and keep me sane! …….well – as sane as you all are!
Blessings to you all,
G.
England
Oh Amanda,
I haven’t blogged in ages!! I still try to read them all though when I find extra time just lying around!!ha!!ha!!
Such a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISH FOR
YOUR SWEETIE JACKSON! I still remember his 1yr party and now he’s already 2yrs old!!! Time is really beginning to slip by much faster than it used to!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE ALL THE PICTURES OF
THE LITTLE DUDE, WHAT A LITTLE HUNK!!
Amanda,
I was in Birmingham at that event! Awesome! My life was forever changed that day. HE changed my name. Thanks so much for sharing your mom with me during that special time of your life. It turned out to be special for me as well. Thanks again
Looks like such a fun day! My next to youngest has a birthday on Friday. She’s a Leap Year baby!
I’m probably not going to get to a LPL this year but hopefully next year. I might try Deeper Still in Atlanta. We will have to see if God works it out!
Have a great day! Fun stuff when your little one is 2!
Love you
Amanda in SC
HAPPY (belated) birthday once again dearest Jackson!!!! thank you for sharing the piccies with us sweet Amanda!! and i *must* second Laughing OUt Loud’s comment about your hair in the picture on the bouncy thing-a-be – it looks a*m*a*z*i*n*g!!! 🙂
pray for everyone at LPL as the 2008 season begins!!!! I love you!
mariacristina
Just precious! Absolutely precious!
He is utterly adorable, and the picture of him asleep in the car seat is precious. There is something so endearing about sleeping children- so innocent.
What a blessing to have friends with babies so close in age. It makes the stages so much more fun when you share them with girlfriends.
Enjoy your 2 year old- they are loads of fun!
Amanda,
Thank you so much for sharing your life – your son – with all of us. I must say that you are just a gorgeous woman – and never more beautiful than when you are playing with your precious little son! Both my sister and I think Jackson looks a lot like your dad (and his own) – what is more wonderful than hearing a child laugh! Bless you all –
OK-I have to say that Pappasito’s is my all time favorite eating joint! There is even one in Atlanta so when you go to visit Melissa, you can eat in familiar territory! Glory!
Here’s to a new year of LPM! (and to Pappasito’s ) LOL!!!!!
I love the picture of Jackson looking at his daddy in the sombrero!
oh my goodness! jackson is so adorable! I could just eat him up! Happy Birthday, Jackson!
Two, Two?!? Where does the time go?
They just grow to fast and before we know it they are in college studying real world events and telling us their opinions. Mind you mine are only five and seven but I have a nephew and niece that are 19 and 17 and they are getting worldly!! What happen’d. They are studying their bibles for themselves, forming political opinions and ‘gasp’ dating!!!
Anyhow, thanks for sharing two with us. It helps the memory banks to conjure up past two birthdays.
God Bless you!
Kelli in Colorado
How fun! We love pump it up- it’s a great way to wear the kids out! Happy birthday to Jackson!
Y’all look so vibrant and happy… makes me look even more forward to meeting our little bundle (due in May).
I am thrilled because an unexpected work commitment has provided a way for me to attend the event this weekend. It’s extra special because it means I’ll get to see a dear sweet friend (who was instrumental in my coming to Christ) and she didn’t expect to get to see me pregnant. It will be my first LPL event, but hopefully not my last!
BTW, thanks for spoiling us with so many details (and photos). My hubby thinks it’s funny how I can feel so close to so many other ladies of faith, despite not having met. I just think it’s cool!
Amanda,
Your post helped me out with something that was driving me crazy! February 19th came around this year and I racked my brain trying to figure out why that date stuck out so in my mind. Ever since I’ve been worried that I missed someone’s special day. And then I read your comment about the due date. THAT WAS IT!! Feb. 19 was my due date 9 years ago!!! How I forgot that, I’ll never know! Thanks for helping me out!
Kelli
PS. Great pictures, by the way!
Too Cute!
Amanda:
While the LPL season is great and all that get posted is to. Please don’t feel like telling about a birthday party for your son is less important. I personally loving hearing about all that kind of stuff. It is what makes you all so dear to my heart. Like we are all great friends. So please know that the life stuff is just as encouraging. Helps me to realize that I am not alone, not to mention that it convicts me to do better at times or just plain tells me things are normal around here. In fact my middle daughter is turning 16 in a couple of weeks. With two older than that and one younger, it really has me thinking on how precious each and every year of our children’s lives are. Now I fully understand what women always said to me when they were small about enjoying it all because it goes so fast.
Anyway, moving on I wish that I could to a LPL. I am trying to get to the one in SA, I just don’t know if I can swing it being that I live in AZ. I am praying about it. Kim B. AZ
I am so looking forward to the conference this weekend….too bad you can’t come along Amanda. My daughter would love to babysit for you!!! Vancouver is such a beautiful city…we are hosting the winter Olympics in 2010 so you’ll have to come then. Our numbers may not be as grand as some of the other LPL events, but we are as desperate for a good word from the Lord as anybody….thanks for coming to the Northwest. We love you all and are so thankful for your ministry!!!
Looks like they had a blast. Pump it up is fun.
Just found your blog yesterday. Already I’m appreciating it! Nice to “meet” so many sisters in Christ and be reminded that there are many out there going through the same things that I am. Thanks for sharing your life and the Word with us. I look forward to being back daily.
I guess my first of your studies was about 10 years ago (A Woman’s Heart). How greatly I’ve appreciated them. I’m nearly through Believing God… the study not the believing 🙂 Thanks for helping me grow!!!
Patti (in Canada) (but too far from Vancouver to join you this weekend)
Thank you for sharing pictures of Jackson and his friends (as if any Mom has to be encouraged to share them!). My “little boy” is now almost 23. You help me relive those wonderful toddler days.
Hugs,
Jessica
What a fun party! Thank you for sharing this special time. Jackson has truly become a little man.
Ella is so cute. I know everyone had a blast.
Darlin photos.
Brings back memories of my two — my how times fly. Enjoy!!
Thanks for sharing!
I sure wish I could be there this weekend that is my home town. I hope you enjoy it it is the most beautiful place.I will be looking forward to a detailed update. I will be praying all goes well. Oh and you have a sweet grandson.
Love and prayers
Angela from Canada
Amanda, Jackson is so precious. I can’t wait to have one of my own and I hope he looks just like my husband did when he was a little boy! Boys love their mommies so much! These are such precious memories. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Well, doesn’t that last picture just say it all! That’s EXACTLY how I feel myself after a toddler’s fun, fun birthday party. 🙂 You were probably barely out of the parking lot when he zonked out, is my guess.
CUTE!!!
Cute, cute, cute..are those Tods! 😉
AJ, I bet you were some kinda worn out woman when that weekend was over. Whew! Looks like y’all had loads of fun and Jackson is ABSOLUTELY adorable! Those eyes are gonna make many a woman swoon in the years to come. Heehee!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
What a cutie! So glad to see how much you are enjoying him! I so miss those days…They go by fast..
children are sooooooo precious! thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thanks for the pics. What a fun party! And in 2008 I will be in Boise, ID to see Beth on May 16-17!!!!!
Amanda,
These pictures are stinkin’ cute! I love the last one of you and Boy Todd bouncing in the bouncy castle! You both look utterly blissful!
I gotta say, too, that your hair in that first bouncy picture looks phenomenal! Girl, you could do a shampoo commercial!
Lots of Lovin’,
Kristen
Love the pictures and what a FUN birthday party!!!! He has the most fabulously beautiful eyes!
How exciting about a new year of LPL events. I am going to be at the Jacksonville event and am absolutely so excited about it. It will be the first one I have ever been to and have no idea what to expect but know it will be a BLESSING. Also, it should prove to be a weekend that ONLY God could be in the midst of because it has turned into a girls weekend with me, my mom, and my step-mom! Oh and we are sharing a hotel room.
So if anyone cares to share what the events are like I would love details. Anyone else going to be in Jacksonville?
Thanks for sharing the sweet pictures!
Now on a totally different note, you two simply MUST go over to Boomama and read her post about hair color! Hurry, hurry!
It looks like it was an amazing day for everyone!!!
Amanda,
My friends and I went to that conference in Alabama. I remember your mom talking about the baby and showing pictures of him. Soon after, I found out that I was pregnant with my second child. She was born November 2006. My Bible Study had been praying for over a year for God to give me a clear sign that I was to have another child. I was working at the time and I wasn’t sure that I could handle working with 2 children. Anyhow, like you said, God worked it out. I am staying home now. What a blessing.
Amanda,
Jackson is adorable. He looks like such a little man. Enjoy every moment of it. Thanks for sharing with us.