Jackson's first Christmas........

Jack with the cookies that mommy and grandma made

Jackson with grandma and grandpa on Christmas Eve

Family picture outside of church before Christmas Eve mas

Jack posing on his changing table

Looking at all the presents on Christmas morning

Everyone wiped out on Christmas night, except Jack looking at mommy take the picture

Like I mentioned below, we had a very busy, fun filled December. I only work two days a week yet I still feel like the other 5 isnt enough time to get things done around the house and also have as much time as I'd like to have fun with little Jackson.

One of the first things we did to get ready for Christmas was pick out our tree. Jack and I went with grandma and grandpa in their truck to Home Depot to pick out his first Christmas tree. The next night we had them over to help decorate it. The boys including Jack ended up watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and drinking nog with whiskey while us girls decorated the tree. It was a lot fun considering in years past I have decorated the tree all by myself. That weekend Toby also put up our lights. We now had a festive house filled with Christmas spirit.

The next week mom and I took Jack to see Santa at the mall. We ended up with a really cute 5X7 and a picture that I had taken on my camera. The picture that I took ended up being the photo for our Christmas card. Jack did so good with Santa. He didnt cry at all and looked at the camera the whole time!

The following week Toby, Jack, and I went out to McAdenville to see the famous lights. We walked down the streets with Jack in the carrier. Boy was it cold that night. We really had to bundle Jack. He slept through most of it which is what he usually does when we put him in the front carrier.

The weekend before Christmas grandma came over and we baked tons of cookies! We made roll out sugar cookies that we decorated as well as chocolate press cookies. They all turned out so well. Jack sat in his bumbo seat at the kitchen bar and watched us bake while we listened to Christmas music.

The week of Christmas I worked Monday and then I was off until the weekend. Mom and I went to get all the food for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts. The Wednesday before Christmas, Jack and I went with grandma and grandpa to the mall just to watch people scurry around for last minute gifts and enjoy the feeling of being done with all of our shopping. It was crazy and busy as we had expected. Christmas Eve morning Jack and I went to go see Erin, Todd, and Cameron so we could take Cam his gift and also pick up a gift from Erin's mom. It was the cutest red pj's with a drop butt that said "Jacks First Christmas". That afternoon we went home to get ready for mass. Jack started out fussy while waiting for the service to start but ending up sleeping through most of it. He looked absolutely adorable in his "Christmas outfit" from grandma Timmons. After church we went back to grandma and grandpas to enjoy our Christmas Eve feast of appetizers and open some gifts. We drank our beverages of choice and enjoyed the toasty, warm fire. I think Jack could feel the excitement of Christmas because he would not go to sleep that night until very late. Christmas morning was at our house. We enjoyed mimosas while we opened all the gifts under the tree. We put Jack in his bumbo seat with all of his gifts around him. He couldnt keep his eyes off of them. I think he liked all the shiny, bright wraping paper. Late in the morning grandpa cooked us a yummy breakfast. After a relaxing afternoon we had a wonderful prime rib dinner to top off a wonderful holiday. I was very sad to see it come to an end.

Back to the grind...

So I realize I have a lot of catching up to do on this blog. This will be my first post in December. Needless to say its been a busy, fun-filled month! I will start from the very first day of the m0nth, though, which was not so much fun.

December 1st, the day I had been dreading for many weeks...my first day back to work after maternity leave! I was originally scheduled to work a 12 that day but a couple weeks before this a prn person posted a need for hours on the employee bulletin board. I couldnt resist so I gave up a few of my hours, shortening my day to an 8 hour shift. I was now scheduled to work 11a-7p. I thought this may ease my transition back into work. The night before I did not sleep well at all. I kept having thoughts of how it was all gonna go down...leaving my new, sweet baby, taking care of patients, charting, finding time to pump at work, and trying my best to get out on time. It was all very stressful to even think about!

The morning of December 1st I woke up early so I would have time to snuggle with Jackson before dropping him off down the street at grandma and grandpas. I had a very heavy heart and was unsuccessful at fighting back the tears that morning. I was ready to get this whole "going back to work" thing overwith. I knew that very first day back would be the worst of them all. When I got to mom and dads the tears really started flowing. When I looked at Jackson with my tear-filled, red eyes he just smiled. That made me cry even more! Luckily I had gotten to their house early so I would have some time to pull myself together before leaving for good ol' CMC. Dad had to practically push me out the door in order to get me to leave.

As I approached the parking garage I realized the only thing I missed about this hospital was the day I met my precious baby boy on the best night of my life by far, Seotember 3rd, 2009. Once I got up to the unit and saw some familiar faces I almost felt as if I had never left. Everyone was so welcoming and seemed genuinely happy to see me and the pictures of Jackson that I had brought with me. This place wasnt so bad afterall. Although I could not wait to get home to my adorable baby boy!! I seem to look at babies in a whole new way now that I have my own.

When I got home that night Jackson was waiting there for me in his swing. He gave me a huge welcome home smile. I immediately ran to the bathroom, took the quickest shower of my life, and then snuggled and fed that sweet, little baby I had missed so much! Boy did I look forward to two whole lazy days at home with him. It would feel like maternity leave all over again.

My next scheduled shift was a 12 that Friday. The best thing ever had happened, I got called off!! What a dream come true. I was now off until the following Tuesday!!! Sometimes you gotta love being a nurse!