Out West

For spring break we headed out west to Jon's home in Colorado. I was nervous to fly with a 3 month old but Jackson did great overall. We spent a full week there and it was wonderful. We haven't been to Colorado in about 2.5 years (since our wedding reception!) We had planned to go for Christmas but then I was hugely pregnant so...it was time! Here are the pictures:

First airplane ride!

Jackson getting bullied by his cousin Josslyn who is about 5 weeks older

push-ups!

Megan and Jon convince Josslyn and Jackson to hug

Diaper head!

almost home, waiting for our luggage

Re-creating part of our 2nd date- Pearl street+ plus Ben and Jerry's 7- Layer Bar Ice Cream. Jackson was totally wanting that.

Napping on the porch swing

I can't even get enough of this sleeping babe

sweetness

swinging with Aunt Katie

getting a little adjustment from the family chiropractor, Ryan

I heard Jackson crying and then I came in the room to find him totally happy and surrounded by his girl cousins

I don't know why but Jon looks womanly here, maybe it is because his hair and face are blurry in the picture. Sorry! I swear he is the most manliest, rugged man I know. This was us watching Lindy's play.

Lindy is in the white and blue

. S

Grandpa chilling with Jackson

again + Angel, the dog

Aunt Megan and Jackson!

Jon pushing Katie at the park

so much love between these two

Jackson stuck with his normal wake-up time of 5 or 6 am....which was 3 or 4 Colorado time. At least he wakes up happy!! I went to bed as early as possible, sometimes around 8. I don't do sleepless nights very well.

Oldest cousin Ashia with Jackson, the youngest cousin

Megan and Jackson

l

Easter Sunday- Josslyn and Jackson

Finally....Blessing Pictures!

Jackson was blessed on March 9, 2014 when he was 7 weeks old. He was blessed just a few days after getting home from the RSV hospitalization, so it was a crazy time. Anyway, here are the pictures that I promised a while ago. These are in no order :)

4 Generations- My Grandpa Lilly, my mom, me, and Jackson

All if the family from my side who came

Everyone from Jon's side and my side. We are so blessed.

Jackson with Great-Grandma Lilly (my mom's step-mother)

Always so alert!

My niece Jessi holding her baby picture.

My Great Aunt Janet (my mom's aunt) came up from Florida.

Our niece Hali loved Jackson

Brock loving on Jackson

Walking to the park with Brian and Mandy's family

Brock, Hali, and Hayden adoring Jackson

This picture looks girly...probably the purple blanket, ooops. Jackson is wearing the blessing outfit Jon wore as a baby. Also the saddle shoes were Jon's. My mom made the boutonniere for Jackson, it goes along with a poem that is a tradition she does for all of the grandkids. The boutonniere is to be used for his baptism and wedding as well.

Grandma Linda (Jon's mom) and Jackson

Jackson and Uncle Brian

Hayden and Jessi

Add caption

Aunt Janet, Amanda, Daniel, and Linda on our walk.

Grandpa Lilly and his sister, Janet

Grandpa with Jackson and a grapefruit....he LOVES grapefruit

Jon and Brock

Jon's dad, our friend Veera, and Brian BBQing

Savannah and Jessi love each other

Cameron, Sandra, Joshua, Brenna, Clarissa, Savannah, and Xander

Dan, Valerie, and Jesi

BRIAN! Always hacking my mom's camera.

Our perfect little family

Brian and Cameron

My parents and siblings

My beautiful cousin Nicole

Dan the Man

Jessi and me

Jessi and Dan testing out Jackson's horse

The Necessary Updates

I am so far behind on blogging, laundry, cleaning, etc but oh well. At least we are all alive, fed, and clothed, right? I am finally starting to get back on track I think. There is always so much to do! So here is the latest:

 For starters, I am not returning to work. I had planned to quit and then was offered an opportunity to return part-time so I agreed. I was prepping to go back in 3 weeks when I got an unexpected call saying there were some changes and some programs had shut down so I would be unable to return part-time. I was bummed, relieved, sad, and happy all at once. I felt so torn about going back so I think in the end this was for the best. I will miss my job and coworkers so much, plus the extra money. (I need to blog about my job sometime). But I am happy to be home with my little man all day and am getting used to it more and more everyday.

As for Jackson, he is growing so fast. So let's have a recap shall we?

At birth:
(Since I don't think I recorded it on here) Jackson was super alert since birth and was always rooting. This is still about the norm for him.

Stats:
Head- 13.75 in.
Weight- 7lbs 4oz
Length- 21in.

Jackson's first picture captured on Jon's cell phone

1 Month:
He had strong head control and already could hold his head up some. He smiled on and off, mostly right before throwing up or while sleeping but it never seemed to really be intentional. He loved falling asleep on mommy and daddy's chest. He took his first bottle from daddy like a champ but now is on bottle strike- he likes to eat straight from mom. He would wake up 2-3 times a night typically would have stretches where he would sleep 5 hours or so straight. He started struggling with naps more and more and prefers to be awake and cry rather than to just nap. He ate non-stop. Movement and music soothe him best. He likes to be on the go.

One month

Stats:
Head- (we didn't measure)
Weight- 9lbs, 4oz (between the10th and 25th percentile)
Length- 23in. (75th percentile)

Two months

2 Months:
Jackson survived RSV, going to the hospital, his first IV, and all of that other fun stuff. Jackson started smiling a lot and it was actually on purpose. He smiles more and more everyday. Jackson wakes up 1-2 times a night and sleeps about 5 or 6 hours straight at times. Jackson struggles to nap sometimes but other times will nap a lot. Jackson still likes to eat a lot so mommy tries her best to distract him so she does not hurt constantly. Breastfeeding has become a lot more natural though. Jackson likes to look outside and does great going for walks and riding in the car. He loves staring at anything and everything especially the blinds, picture frames, light fixtures, fans, lights, etc... He also loves music and it still soothes him. He still loves to be rocked, bounced, or walked around.

Stats:
Head- 15.75 in. (50th percentile)
Weight- 10 lb, 9oz (10th percentile)
Length- 23.5 in. (50th percentile)

3 months:

Jackson flew to Colorado on his 3 month birthday. He was excellent on the flights and the whole trip. Sometimes he sleeps 7 to 9 hours straight. Other times he wakes up once but overall sleeps great at night. He goes to be anywhere between 7 and 9 and wakes up between 5 and 6 normally with maybe one quick nursing session during the night. Naps are a different story but some days are better than others. The week we flew to Colorado we became increasingly nervous about Jackson's projectile vomiting and excessive spit up. We went to the doctor who put Jackson on reflux medication and ordered an ultrasounds. I had to take Jackson in the next day. He wasn't allowed to eat for 4 hours ahead of time so was very angry by the time we got there. He was supposed to lay still for the ultrasound....yeah right, you starve your 3 month old and get them to be calm and still. Plus Jackson is a wiggler anyways. It took forever and a lot of praying but it was finally over. I hated it. The great news was that everything looked fine so no surgery is needed. Yay! The reflux medication seems to be helping. Jackson is showing more and more interest in toys and still loves to move, be outside, and be held lots. He is starting to not love being in his car seat. He is smiling lots and has giggled for dad. 

3 months (taken a week late because of our trip to Colorado)

Stats: 

Head- they didn't measure since it wasn't an official checkup (we went for his reflux issues)

Weight- 12 lbs 5 oz

Length- 23.75 inches

Jackson is changing so much everyday. I am trying to soak it all in and remember everything!