Four Months

Boy howdy do I believe in the fourth trimester!  Jackson has changed SO much in the last 4 weeks.  It's like he's a totally different baby.  There have been so many "firsts" in the last month and he has grown so much too.  He is smiling like crazy; I love it.  I love that I can walk over to him and say hello and smile and he will shoot me back the sweetest smile in the world.  I think he'll end up being pretty shy, like his daddy.  When we put him in front of a mirror or show him the picture of himself hanging in the living room, he'll smile and turn his head into us all shy like.  It's so cute!  We also got our first laugh out of him on 3/3.  He had been trying to giggle but never really commited, then finally I got a really good one out of him.  A few seconds later he giggled again completely unprovoked.  I absoultely love his giggle and it makes me laugh every time he does it.  We still haven't gotten it on video so we need to get going on that.

The past month he started rolling from his back to his tummy.  That was his Valentine's Day present to me and I joyfully accept!  It's pretty funny when he rolls over he gets "stuck" because he can't remember how to get back over to back.  So he'll squeal for help!  He does really well during tummy time to hold his head up high.  Most mornings while I am making breakfast, he will get on his belly and just hang out looking around.  I'm sure he likes the different view.  He also holds his head up so well when he's being held.  I remember the days where I thought he would never be able to hold up his head!!  I finally have the use of 1 hand again since I don't have to use both to hold him anymore.  Don't get me wrong, he's still wobbly but he does a pretty good job to stay straight up on his own.

The latest trick he has in his arsenal is being able to hold onto toys.  This has just happened in the last week.  And of course they go straight to his mouth the second he grabs ahold of them.  It's so exciting to watch his developments.  He is very strong and learning that his arms and legs can do so much for him!

I can't wait to see what happens this month considering all the things he's accomplished the last month alone.  He's a sweet boy and growing bigger everyday.

Weight: 14 lbs, 15 oz (39th percentile)

Length: 24.5 inches (22nd percentile)

Head: 16 inches (21st percentile)

Happy 4 Months Jackson!



Miracle of Life

One year ago today Chris and I officially discovered we were expecting.  I just knew it on the 4th and was pretty convinced by the 6th but we didn't take the test until the 7th when we got home from a trip to BA.  I couldn't believe my dreams had finally come true.  After 6 months of trying and 5 Big Fat No's we got a positive! I never would have imagined how much I would love this little being growing in my belly.  I had a wonderful pregnancy and naturally delivered a healthy baby boy without complications.  It was all so perfect.  I think back on how sad I was each time we got a negative test but I wouldn't have THIS precious baby had I gotten pregnant any other time.  God works in mysterious ways and although it's hard, sometimes you just have to trust in His plan for your life.  He wanted me to be this little boy's mommy. I couldn't be happier.  I love Jackson with all my heart and more.  As it's been said, it's like someone took out my heart, turned it upside down, flipped it over and put it back in!  Love is truly amazing.  The past year has been so exciting and I can't wait to see what's in store for the next.

Adventures in T-Town

We traveled to BA this weekend to celebrate Ryan and Toni's birthdays. They are 3 years and 3 days apart so we always do a joint celebration with them. They hadn't planned on doing anything so when Jared suggested a group dinner I was excited. So to the turnpike we went!

We drove in Friday night and it was the worst drive so far for Jackson. He usually loves car rides and will sleep the entire drive to and from Tulsa. Not so much this time. We got to the toll booth and he woke up. He sat there for a while without making a peep. Then all of a sudden he had a major meltdown. He was screaming louder than I've ever heard him scream before. I sat in the back with him until we finally made it to an exit so I could feed him. Poor guy, he was SO upset and I couldn't do anything to help him. (luckily the return trip went far better as he slept the entire way home)

First thing Saturday morning we went to visit with Oma and Great Aunt Jan. We enjoyed a yummy cinnamon ring and applesauce for breakfast. Jackson got a little fussy so I went to the other room to feed him while everyone else finished eating. He fell asleep shortly after and cuddled with Oma for a while. It was really sweet.

As soon as he woke up, I put him on his blanket with all of his toys so they could watch him play. He had such a fun time. Aunt Jan even got down on the floor with him. He wasn't cooperating in the 'smile for the camera' department! He enjoyed showing everyone his new trick of spitting his abundant drool in the air. He even rolled over a time or two.

After we played for a while Oma had some friends over to play bridge. They just thought Jackson was the cutest! He even got to play a hand with Oma! We had a wonderful time hanging out and look forward to Oma and Great Aunt Jan visiting us in Edmond at the end of March.

Later that evening we dropped off Jackson with Nana, who was more than happy to watch him for the evening, and headed to dinner with our great group of friends. Jared had suggested we go to Yakiniku MaMa, a little Japanese restaurant in East BA, so I made a reservation so they would be prepared for our large group...we had 15 total! We would have had 17 but Tommy and Jessi sadly couldn't make it because poor Collin had bronchitis.  The owners were great; Gary tended to our every need and Soya was working hard in the kitchen and kept the food coming.

We had such a great time. The food was really good and it seemed to keep coming...edamame, soup, salad, finally Mochiko chicken with taters and sticky rice. I also tried sake for the first time. Whoa! What a strange substance that is!! I knew it was Japanese rice wine but I didn't know it would be warm or taste a lot like rubbing alcohol (not that I know what rubbing alcohol tastes like, but I can imagine!). It was like vapor in my mouth. I knew something was there, I just couldn't tell you how full my mouth was! It was really weird. The first shot wasn't bad but subsequent shots got worse and worse. I had three and a half total and that was more than enough! I'm glad I can say I tried it though.

As a surprise, I wanted to get a cake for Ryan and Toni. Kylie helped me nail down the details and said she would place the order with Ms. Laura (family friend that did her wedding cake...yum). We decided on Vanilla Bean with White Chocolate Ganache and butter cream icing, same as R&Ts' wedding cake. I had to be sneaky and ask Toni what her cake was so we'd get it right. I had suggested using their blog logo and Kylie took it a step further and had them use the banner and replace "Peas in a Pod" with "Happy Birthday". It was brilliant and it turned out great. Ryan and Toni were so surprised. The cake was SO good so I had an extra piece, you know, for Jackson! (p.s. Ryan is 29 and Toni is 26, just wanted to get that straight!!)

We all had such a great time. I seriously have the best group of friends anyone could ask for. They all mean so much to me and life wouldn't be the same without them.