Presenting Mr & Mrs Glover

Saturday we drove down to Marlow for Brandy and Stephen's wedding.  Brandy is one of my dear friends from Paycom and I was so excited to see her and be there for her wedding.  The drive down was great.  Jackson slept the entire time so I thought he would be an angel during the ceremony.  If only!  We didn't get there in time for me to feed him and the bottle we had was ice cold.  He lasted a whole 6 minutes!!  Of course he started to cry during the silence between one song and another; and everybody turned to look at us...eek.  Chris whisked him out as I chucked the bottle into the carrier.  He used the hot water from the coffee machine to heat the bottle...MacGyver dad...and they stayed in the lobby for the remainder of the service.  Being a Catholic wedding, there was a full mass plus exchanging of vows and rings so it was longer than most weddings and I was sad to have been sitting alone. The service was so nice, minus the incense...my only issue with the Catholic Church...it was SO strong.  I very much enjoyed the mass as I had never been to a Catholic wedding before.  Brandy looked beautiful in her gown and she nearly brought me to tears as she recited her vows.  Can I get married again!! (Chris says no by the way...I'll get him one of these days!)

After the service, I scooped up Jackson and went to find my Paycom Buddies.  John, a sales rep turned manager of the OKC office (go John!) was in the reception line.  He immediately tried to take Jackson from me but I told him I get a hug first!  I'm telling you, when you have a baby, you no longer matter.  You are just the transportation!  He couldn't believe how big Jackson was getting.  When we got to Brandy and she took Jackson right away.  I warned her of his drool and she didn't mind.  What a trooper.  Then I went to find Stacie and John.  I hadn't seen Stacie for months and she really couldn't believe how big Jackson was.  The last time she saw him, he was only 6 weeks old.  We chatted for a while and got to take some pictures with Brandy.  It was so nice to catch up with them.  Jackson thought Stacie was very comfortable because he fell asleep swaying in her arms...hmm, can we say babysitter!!

To Brandy and Stephen: May the faith and love that you found in each other be a stronger bond every day. May you live in the Lord always and walk beside Him on your way. Congratulations.

Fire Trucks, Four Wheelers and 80 Years Young

We went back to Broken Arrow this past weekend to celebrate Grandma Sparkman's 80th Birthday.  We got in early on Friday so we could take Jackson so see Papa Jim at the fire station.  I think I was more excited than anyone else!  We took a ton of pictures to commemorate Jackson's first trip of many to the station.  It was so fun to see him in the cab and looking at all the bells and whistles. Papa Jim even put on his gear for the occasion.  We took a picture of Jackson by the wheel of the truck so we can see how much he grows every time we go back.  Then Papa Jim turned on the lights and Jackson was enthralled!!  It was really funny.

Later that evening, we went to Chris' parents house for Grandma Sparkman's 80th birthday dinner.  Everyone had a great time watching Jackson play on the floor.  He made a liar out of me and wouldn't roll over!  We got some great pictures of Grandma and her great grand babies as well as Jackson chatting with Grandpa.  Sandhya wanted to hold Jackson all night but he was a bit fussy.  She kept asking so we let her and he did good.  She is such a proud cousin and I know she loves Jackson very much.  She even "helps" when I'm handing him to someone else!  It's really cute.

The next evening, we all took Grandma to dinner at Napolis in BA.  She was excited to see Arlynda's best friend Sherry and her mother Blanche as well as some good friends from church.  There was a live performer there as well named Luigi who was singing everything from Mack the Knife to Barry Manilow tunes.  He even seranaded Kaly with a lovely version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  She got all shy while he was singing it to her.  It was so cute.  After dinner, Anil gave a nice little speech about how much Grandma meant to all of us and that this was her legacy.  For her birthday we all got her a pendant with the birthstones of her 2 children, 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  I can't wait to see it.  She was all teary eyed by the time Anil finished and is excited about the pendant.  It was a great night and Jackson was such a good baby (well, until the end; he definately let us know it was time to go!).

Sunday we had a mini photo shoot with my mom and Michael.  Jackson looked so cute in his camo outfit.  Michael is such a good uncle.  They are going to have tons of fun together as Jackson grows up.

We were able to stop by my dad's so he and Teri could see Jackson.  They couldn't believe how much he had grown.  This weekend we had to run to the store and buy size 2 diapers.  I thought I could make it one more week with the size 1's but who was I kidding.  Well, the size 2's are a tad big so needless to say, poop doesn't stay put.  So once again, AJ's clothes got messy (he had the same accident the day before in the size 1 diapers...woe is me!).  But who doesn't love a neekie baby anyway!  AJ had a ton of fun playing with my dad.  He was smiling up a storm.  My dad also gave us a book called Bright from the Start.  Isn't he clever!!  I am excited to start reading it and I saw it had charts with developmental milestones so I really like that.  Thanks dad.

We went back over to Chris' parent's house for the last stop on the way out of town.  We wanted to get some pictures of Papa Jim and Jackson in their camo outfits and because AJ's got dirtied the day before, we had to postpone.  We washed and dried them after the incident at my dad's so we were good to go (the infamous camo outfit!!).  Papa Jim and AJ looked so cute together (sorry guys, it was pretty cute).  Papa Jim even got out the 4-wheeler for the photo op.  He started it too which I thought would startle Jackson but he kept his cool.  Then they took a little ride around the yard.  Jackson started to fall asleep while riding...so that's the trick to get him to sleep, nice to know!  When Papa Jim turned it off, Jackson got fussy again so he started it back up and took him on one more ride.  I can't imagine all the fun Jackson will have with his Papa Jim.  He's going to be the boyest boy on the block!!

We had quite the family filled weekend and it was great!  Jackson was so good as usual and everyone just loves him.  I'm so glad he travels well so we know we can head to Tulsa anytime we want.  I can't imagine the things he'll be doing by the next time we go back.

A Mother's Love

I don't even know where to begin in thanking my mom for her support the past year. She was there for me when I felt like everyone was getting pregnant except me and at a time I felt very alone. She was so excited to find out we were expecting. She is now overwhelmed with love for my son. She is the best mother a new mother could ask for.

This time last year, I had just found out for the 5th month in a row that we once again weren't pregnant. It seemed like everyone around me was sharing their good news and I felt more and more depressed each month. My mom was always positive and was there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. I'll never forget the day we shared our exciting news with her and my Nana. She thought I was joking and didn't think it was very funny! She was so excited once she realized this was it. She made me crackers with laughing cow cheese and put a tiny rubber ducky in the middle of the plate.  It was so cute.

At certain points during my pregnancy, I think she was even more excited than I was. She manages a property in OKC and was able to come visit me often. It was so much fun once the baby started kicking and she could see my belly getting bigger every time she visited. After my baby showers, she helped me get the nursery setup. We did tons of laundry and spent a lot of time in Babies’R’Us and Target! At the end of my pregnancy, I could feel her excitement and every time I called she thought I was calling to tell her I was in labor! Finally, on November 10th, she got her wish. I called her at 1:30 in the morning and told her not to get on the road just yet because I wasn't sure that this was it (but who was I kidding as I had 6 contractions on the way to the hospital with her on the phone...she's a good labor coach too!). She definitely didn't listen and headed our way the second we got off the phone. With my brother and Nana in tow, they scurried down the turnpike and made it to the hospital a mere 20 minutes after our sweet baby boy was born. It couldn't have been more perfect. She looked so happy to see her precious grandson. And so started a grandmother’s unconditional love for her new grandbaby.

My biggest thanks to her comes now. In the three short months we have had Jackson home, I have learned so much from her about being a mother. I don’t think I would be the mother I am had she not been there to help me out those first few weeks. She always has good advice and suggestions and helps me to eat well. The first few weeks home were really hard on me since I wanted Chris to sleep at night because he had to go to work.  Several times, my mom stayed up with me until the baby went back to sleep or she would just take him and let me go back to bed.  I got a lot more sleep than I would have had she not been here.  She also stocked me up on the things we waited to buy until we knew size and gender.  There are so many small things she has done the last 3 months that made a huge difference to Jackson and me.

I am having a hard time writing this post because how I feel about my mom and her unconditional love is difficult to put into words.  It's just one of those feelings you have; like the love I have for my son is so great and I can tell you that, but you'll never understand exactly what it feels like inside.

Mom, I love you very much and thank you for everything you have ever done for me. I don't know who or where I would be if not for your love and support the last 28 years. I so look forward to many years of spending special moments together and I hope to share the same kind of love with my children and grandchildren.  You have taught me well.

Happy Valentine's Day

Chris and I didn’t really make any plans for Valentine’s Day this year so I decided I would make them myself.  Jackson and I spent the day doing laundry and getting ready for our surprise dinner with daddy. I told Chris to message me when he was on his way home and not to come home early.  I was hoping he wouldn’t catch on to my scheme.  I emailed Kelley, one of Chris’ coworkers, and asked her to tell me if Chris left work early and that Jackson and I would be at the office by 4:30.  When we got there, Chris was very surprised.  It was so much fun.  He got to parade Jackson around and everyone thought he was pretty cute.

We went to Zio’s for dinner courtesy of Aunt Janice.  She had given us a gift card for Christmas plus we had the one she gave us the year before so we went all out!  We had a great time and it was nice that we were able to get out on Valentine’s Day after all.  Jackson was a dream at dinner. 

When we got home, I got lots of presents.  Neo got me a small box of chocolates, Tigger got me a bag of Reese’s PB cup minis, Jackson got me bananas, oranges and apples and finally, Chris got me a Vac-then-Steam.  Yes, I am totally lame and old since I asked for cleaning tools for Valentine’s Day!!  I got some really great cards too.  It’s so fun that I get cards from Jackson now.

Jackson also gave me the best Valentine's present a mommy could ask for...he rolled from his back to his tummy all by himself!  I couldn't believe it.  It was too perfect.  he knew exactly what I wanted.

We had such a fantastic Love Day.  I love my boys so very much and I am so glad we got to spend a wonderful night together.

By the way, Jackson weighed 14 pounds on the 14th of February! :O)

Three Months

Someone tell this little boy to stop growing up so fast!!  It has been so fun to see him change daily and he becomes sweeter and sweeter every passing moment.  I am so happy I get to stay home with him.  I love him so much and can't imagine my life without him.

Jackson didn't have a doctors appointment this month so we took our own meausrements!

Weight: 13 lbs, 6 oz (33rd percentile)

Length: 24 inches (40th percentile)

Head: 16 inches (53rd percentile)

Snow Storm Sleeper

It seems that overnight Jackson has grown a foot...literally!  Last weekend my mom noticed that his zip sleepers were getting a bit snug.  By Wednesday they weren't fitting at all.  With all the snow and ice, Chris has been taking my truck to work because it has 4wd.  Needless to say, I can't go anywhere...cabin fever to the max!  So I scoured Jackson's closet for 3-6 month sleepers...none to be found!  I didn't think he would be growing so darn fast! All of the snap outfits I have are the fleece-like material and he's a hot kid anyway, so I didn't want to make him hotter.  Wednesday night he slept in his zip-up OU outfit even though it was still a bit big and Thursday he slept in his baseball sleep sack.  I decided to cut out the feet on 3 of his 0-3 month zip sleepers until we could get to the store and it worked out perfect!  It's amazing how much his feet stick out of them!  I remember when my mom told me to buy them even though he wasn't quite growing out of his newborn size (this was all the way back in December!).  He's growing like a weed no doubt.  Today he weighed 13 pounds (25th percentile for weight); that means he's gained 21 ounces in 23 days, right on track!