Bed Time

Books in Jackson's Room
Our New Favorite Book


If asked what some of our favorite parts about childhood were, Brandon and I would both say, Reading. We both love to read. Always have. And it started when we were small. Brandon's Mom would read to him everyday from the time that he was an infant. And I contribute this reading to everything from Brandon's super high IQ, his love of knowledge, and his early age of which he began to talk. Both of us want Jackson to grow and learn the same way. Statistics say that reading to a child in the womb enhances and accelerates the rate at which they learn after they are born.

We have taken to a nightly bedtime story. Even before Jackson's ears were fully developed, we read to him. And now that he can hear us, it's even more fun. Brandon picks out a book from Jackson's bookshelf every night and we lay in bed and read to him. Jackson really loves this special time. It's like he knows what's coming. Brandon tells him it's bedtime and then tells him what book he picked out. He rolls around and gets settled. He'll kick and squirm every now and then. But after his book is done he calms down and goes right to sleep. We are snuggled up cozy in bed and it's so relaxing for Brandon and I to devote this time to Jackson. When Brandon was gone, I read him his story. And it was clearly not the same. It's quite obvious that Jackson knows our voices by now. He knows who is reading the story. I know that he prefers his Dad over me to read it because after I am done reading to him, he stays awake. He kicks and kicks and it takes him forever to settle down. There is something about Dad reading it that relaxes him. Now that Brandon is home, both Jackson and I have gotten better sleep.

Brandon enjoys reading a different story every night. I mentioned to Brandon's mom that we were running out of books to read. So she shipped us a huge box of books. I being the overly organized woman that I am, labeled all of them of course and put them on his shelf. Out of all of those books she sent, one in particular stuck out at me. "If you give a Pig a Pancake". Maybe it stuck out because I love pancakes so much. I love the book. It's so cute. Brandon read it last night and I giggled all the way through it as if I were a small child myself. The author also wrote the famed "If you give a Mouse a Cookie". If you get the chance to read either of them, do so. They are adorable. I can't wait for Jackson to be on the outside next time we read it.