Happy 5 Month Birthday, Jackson!!

I cant believe my baby is 5 months old today and that it is already February. 2010 is gonna fly by, I can already tell! Since the last update we have introduced sweet potatoes and apples into Jack's diet. He LOVES meal time! As soon as we put him in the high chair he is all smiles and coos the whole time. Last week we started sweet potatoes and after three days of straight sweet potatoes we started three days of straight apples. He has done great with them both, although, we will have to lay off the apples just a touch because his bowel movements increased dramatically today. This morning I had my first try at making my own baby food. I have to say it went very well. I do have grandma and grandpa Timmons to thank for that. For Christmas they bought us a baby food steamer/blender. Its so easy to use! I made apples and sweet potatoes today. Its about time to introduce a new food. Will it be peas, bananas, or perhaps squash? Who knows! The possibilites are endless! It so much fun showing him all the fun foods that are out there and watching his facial expressions each time we give him something new.

Jack is so much more active these days, especially with his legs. He is constantly rolling to his side when he is on his back but has yet to roll completely from back to front, or to sit up completely on his own. I dont think it will be long though. Pretty soon we need to baby proof the house because he will be crawling before we know it!

Over the weekend we had the first snow (only about an inch or so) of the season. Along with that was alot of sleet and ice, which can be very dangerous driving conditions so we pretty much spent a very lazy weekend at home. On Sunday we did get out and do some sledding down our icy street. We also walked down to a highschool down the street to sled down a very steep hill that runs into the football field. It was a lot of fun!



Jack on the back deck with Daddy in his first snow!

Standing in the snow looking over the backyard

Family photo in grandma and grandpas driveway

New discovery: putting Jack in his bumbo seat in the bath tub so he

can play!

Jackson's 4 month check up

This past week was a big one in the simple life of Jackson. It started Tuesday morning with his 4 month check up. He received round two of the shots he got at his two month check up. Once again he was a champ and did so well with his shots. He quit crying pretty much immediately after I picked him up. The doctor did a full examination and said that Jack looks great! Since he is now over 4 months the doctor said it is time to start feeding him solids. So based on his recommendation we started feeding him rice cereal twice a day. We will do this for a week just so he can get the hang of using a spoon and all. Then we will start adding in veggies and fruits. One at a time of course so we can pin point any allergies or digestive problems, if they develop. He is now been getting the rice cereal for about 4 days and seems to like it ok. I think it will be much more exciting for him once we start adding in some variety. As far as eating off the spoon, he has done well with that. Grandma and grandpa have enjoyed feeding him too on days that they watch him. His stats were as follows............

Weight: 12 lbs 10.6 ounces (10th percentile)
Height: 25 inches (55th percentile)
Head circumference: 16.5 inches (40th percentile)

He has always been in the 50th percentile for weight and has now dropped to 10th but the doctor didnt seem to think this was a problem. I'm hoping that with adding in solids he will pick back up. He is our tall and skinny boy!!

For other updates......Jack started rolling from stomach to back at the end of December. He likes to do this in the mornings when he plays on his mat. He is constantly reaching and grabbing for things in front of him now. He is getting to the point where he wont just lay in his swing or bouncy seat anymore. He wants to be playing and if you leave the room he will notice right away and start wailing!! Its getting much harder to get things done around the house when he is awake. This past Tuesday after his appointment I put together his jumperoo that he got way back before he was born at my baby shower. He loves this new toy because he can be upright and see everything going on around him while he plays. His legs still arent long enough to touch the ground when he is in it so we have to put a pillow or box underneath him so he can use those legs to jump!! He is at such a fun age right now. He is still sleeping well at night, in his crib!! We put him down around 9 after a bottle and he sleeps until about 8 am!! We are very lucky. Lately he has been extremely fussy in the evenings. It always happens to be after Toby gets home from work. So he hardly ever gets to see Jack at his best. Jack doesnt like to nap very long during the day unless we are out running errands so we are currently working on getting him to take a decent morning and afternoon nap. I think that is why he gets so crabby at night.



Jack ready for his first feeding!!

Trying to figure out what this stuff is and he likes it or not

In his jumperoo for one of the first times. He loves it!

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!

First road trip

Jackson with his grandma Timmons on Thanksgiving day

Tailgating with grandma Reid for the Florida game

Jackson sleeping in his carrier, where he spent most of the day

Last Wednesday we spent the day packing for Jackson's first road trip. We were going to Gainesville for Thanksgiving and staying through the weekend for the big FL/FSU game. We decided that it would probably be best to drive in the middle of the night for two reasons....1. to avoid Thanksgiving traffic and 2. for the hope that Jackson would sleep the whole time. We left Charlotte at 9 pm on Wednesday and arrived in Gainesville around 3 am. I did most of the driving since Toby worked all day. Jackson slept the entire way without a peep!! We were amazed. When we arrived we transitioned him into the pack and play where he slept until about 8:30 a.m. We stayed at the Gainesville house with grandma and grandpa Reid. They had been down there for about 2 weeks already just hanging out and enjoying the Florida sunshine. Grandma and grandpa Timmons as well as Aunt Jane also came into town for the holiday and game.

On Thursday we had a Thanksgiving dinner catered from Publix since everyone was away from home and really didnt feel like cooking the big feast. It turned out to be pretty good. Jackson got to meet so many friends and relatives during this trip starting with Aunt Jane on Thanksgiving Day. That night Dennis and Bess who live in Gainesville stopped by to meet Jack.

On Friday we had lunch did some shopping for Gator gear to get ready for the big game. After that we took Jack to meet Dianne, Kyle, and baby Ryland who is 6 months old.

Saturday was the big gameday. We packed up the car and diaper bag then we were off for Jacks first tailgate. Once again he amazed us with his great behavior. We tailgated and then watched the game so were out from about 11 am until 8 pm. At times he got a bit fussy but other than that he was a perfect baby. He got to meet Amy and Tyler at their tailgate although he slept through the whole thing!!

Sunday, our last day there, we went out to breakfast with everybody before grandma and grandpa Timmons and Jane departed. After breakfast we took a walk around campus where Jack got to meet Warren, Stephanie, and Krista as they were driving through town. After our walk we had our last meal in Gainesville. Before leaving town we made one last stop to meet Ruben, Zach and Katies baby who is only about 10 days older than Jackson. While we were there Jackson also got to meet Mary and Aaron. Wow, that was a lot of people to meet in one weekend!!

We departed Sunday night and again Jackson did great!! Actually he was a great baby the entire weekend. He slept well and really only got fussy a few times. We are so lucky to have such a good baby. The first road trip proved to be very successful. Hopefully there will be many more in the future!

Meeting Aunt Kara

Jackson with Aunt Kara

I realize I have some catching up to do. We have had a fun and busy past week and a half. Aunt Kara arrived last Saturday, the 21st. She came up to visit and meet Jackson for the very first time. We had such a fun time but it sure did go by fast like most good times do. Saturday evening we grilled out and watched football. Aunt Mary and Kelly even came down for a little while from Boone. They had never met Jackson either. Unfortunately I did not get any pics of them with him though:( On Sunday daddy watched Jack so Kara and I could go to lunch, do some shopping, and get our nails done. We had a good time. It was very cold and rainy that day so it was good that Jackson stayed in. On Monday Jack and I took Kara up to Concord Mills, one of our favorite places to shop. We were probably out for about 6 hours total by the time we drove up there, shopped, and then met Toby for dinner. Jackson was such a good boy. He never really got fussy. Tuesday we just laid low and hung around the house until it was time to drop off Kara at the airport. Im so glad Jackson finally got to meet his Aunt Kara. I'm pretty sure she enjoyed meeting him too.

While Kara was here we noticed Jackson reaching for and batting at his car seat toys. He is becoming so aware of his surroundings. He is also alot more vocal these days!

Visitors

Grandpa Timmons feeding Jackson a bottle before bed

Jackson in his "future Gator" shirt all ready to watch the Gators play South Carolina.

Jackson meeting Brian and Jessie when they stopped through town on Sunday

afternoon.

This weekend was busy with visitors, fun times, and gorgeous weather!! After a gloomy, rain filled and windy week the sunshine and 75 degree temps were a welcome change. Friday evening grandpa Timmons flew into town. Jackson sure was happy to see him again!! We did miss grandma though. Friday we had a nice dinner at Bonefish. Gotta love that Bang Bang shrimp Columbia, SC to watch the Gators play!! I bet Toby cant wat til Jackson is old enough to go to aappetizer. As usual Jackson was such a good boy! He pretty much slept in the carseat next to me the entire time. Saturday morning daddy and grandpa left for game. Jack has so many fun times ahead of him. After they left Jack and I did a little bit of shopping before heading over to Erin and Todds to watch the game with her and Jacks best little buddy, Cameron. The Gators had another victory. Yay!! Sunday morning we went to mass and breakfast with grandpa then it was time to drop him off at the airport for his flight home. Shortly after we got home Brian and Jessie came over for an afternoon visit on their way to the airport from Chapel Hill, where they had been visiting for the weekend. It was their first time meeting Jackson and they just adored him!! Now Jack and I are looking forward to a very lazy and relaxing week at home together, just the two of us. Aunt Kara arrives Saturday so we will be looking forward to that. Only a little over two more weeks of maternity leave left :( I wish time would stand still for just awhile, or at least slow down a bit!