Holy Growing Baby Boy, Batman!!

Unless he gets sick and needs to see the doctor, Jackson won't go back to his pediatrician until his two month appointment for shots. (Eeeek! I'm sure I will cry as much as he does. My baby has to get shots!) So, I don't have "official" stats for him, but for my curiosity sake and for the baby book, I weighed and measured him. The doctor's office scale is more accurate than mine in the fact that it breaks it down by pounds and ounces. Mine rounds by 1/2 pound incrimates. According to our scale, he weighs around 11 pounds, and according to my measuring, he's now about 20 1/2 inches tall. Now, if you remember his birth stats, you may be thinking wow, he grew 3 1/2 inches in a month. Ehh, not so much. When we saw the pediatrician a couple of days after we were discharged from the hospital, we figured out he was a little shortchanged on his birth measurements. At 5 days old, he measured 18 1/2 inches. I really doubt he grew that much in five days. So, he did grow in the last month, but not as much as it sounds like.

Monday was his one month birthday. I didn't actually get any pictures on the actual day. Before anyone thinks I was slacking on my mommy duties, I must say that Monday was a pretty hectic day. Jackson is usually a very calm baby, unless he's hungry or needs a new diaper. However, Monday he was lots fussier than normal, and he was incredibly gassy. The only comfort he seemed to get was to be held and cuddled. It's hard to take pictures at the same time you are holding him. I did get pictures the day before since it was Easter, so I'll consider that close enough to his one month photo. (Oh, and by the way, once the gassiness was finally gone, he was back to his sweet, usual self.)

One Month

Dear Jackson,

Tomorrow you will be one month old. This last month has flown by, and I have learned so much about you, and about myself. I never realized how much a lack of sleep really wouldn't bother me if it meant I was being woken up to take care of you. I never realized how I could go from really disliking putting laundry away to smiling when I fold your tiny little outfits. I never realized how happy sweet little coos could make me. And, I never realized just how much love my heart could hold.

Parts of your personality are starting to come out. When it's time for you to burp during feedings, and your bottle gets moved, you protest with a sound that's almost growl like. Once I start to pat your back, you usually make a small grunting noise, almost as if you are trying to push the burp out. When you are awake, you usually look around bright eyed, taking in the world around you. You are a very sweet, very good baby. When you cry, I usually know it's because you are hungry, or need a new diaper. Occasionally you will fight going to sleep, but you usually go down without too much of a protest. Some of my favorite moments are the ones when you fall asleep with your head resting on my shoulder. I usually wait with you there for at least a few minutes to make sure you are well asleep before I move you to your bed. Those minutes are the sweetest ones I have experienced.

Happy One Month Birthday, my sweet baby boy.

Love you always,
Mommy

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!! We had a nice day today. We went to see family so Mommy could introduce me and show me off to her aunts and uncles and extended family. Mommy made me my own Easter basket with a blue camo basket. It had a First Easter bib, rattle, a book and camo colored eggs. Mommy took pictures.




My Easter outfit was one that Daddy picked out while he was home on leave. Mommy thought I looked very handsome. Here are a couple more pictures of me in it.



I hope everyone had a Happy Easter!!

We Miss Daddy!!

It's been almost a week since Daddy had to leave to go back to Kuwait. While we are doing fine, we miss him very much! Jackson and I stayed at my parents (Nana & Papa) house almost all week because I wasn't quite ready to face going home alone yet. Daniel was amazing while he was home and did so much, from cleaning up to taking over and making me get sleep, that I was anxious about handling things on my own. But Jackson is a very good baby and seems to have settled into a routine. I resisted using my mom for help unless I really needed it so I could prepare to come home. (I know Nana and Papa love us, but we can't just move in with them until Daniel comes home.) So we are home now and everything seems to be settling down. For now anyway, until Jackson decides he wants a new schedule.


Daddy brought home a camel from Kuwait for Jackson, and he wanted to take his picture on it.

The hat actually came with the camel, but it's just the right size for Jackson, too.

Even though it was the right size, Jackson wasn't too keen on wearing it. He knocked it off before we snapped this picture.

Jackson with my fuzzy fleece Army blanket.


Daniel wanted a picture of him in his ACU's with Jackson.

Pictures, Vol. 1

Jackson with Aunt Charity

Uncle Scott & Aunt Charity introducing Landon to his new cousin

Jackson and Papa

Bathtime!!

With big cousins Landon and Dakota.

Ready to go for a ride


Jackson likes Daddy's finger

Getting sleepy on Mommy's shoulder

Sweet dreams, Jackson

Thinking in his sleep

Really relaxed nap

With Daddy

One week later

Dear Jackson,

It has been one week since Daddy and I brought you home from the hospital. I knew we would love and adore you, but I had no idea just how much until you were really here. This past week has been one heck of a ride! We've had to figure out your cries, quirks, what you like and don't like. We've adjusted to life with a little less sleep than we had been used to. But everything has been more than worth it! We are so happy and thrilled that you are here and have completed our family. Daddy has been spending as much time as possible with you, because he has to leave next weekend to go back to Kuwait for his job with the National Guard. He has taken sooo many pictures of you to take back with him. It is going to be so hard for Daddy to leave you for the next several months, but Mommy will be sending him lots of pictures so that he can watch you change and grow.

You are a very special little boy who is loved tremendously by your family. As you grow, you will know just how precious you are, not only to Mommy & Daddy, but to everyone else in the family: Nana & Papa, your cousins, Uncle Scott & Charity, and Grandma Patti.

Love you always,
Mommy

Introducing Jackson James-Robert

Jackson James-Robert was born at 5:29am on Saturday, March 14, 2009. He weighed 7lbs, 11 oz, and was 17 inches long. Daddy was still in Kuwait waiting on a flight to get home, but he called several times during the night to check in. He called just after the doctor cut the umbilical cord and was on the phone with Nana to hear Jackson's first cries. Since he couldn't be there in person for the birth, it was the next best thing, and we feel very blessed that Daddy called at just the right time for that. Daddy's emergency leave was pushed through, and he flew in and arrived the next day.