Merry Christmas month seven

Oh where to begin. My little man is getting bigger every day. He is now closer to a year than my newborn. I know they say it all the time, but it is amazing how fast they grow.

Jackson at 7 months old

Christmas was a little rough this year. I am required to work a Christmas once every 3 years.  I knew I would have to at least by next year, so I signed up this year since it wouldn't mean as much yet to Jman. Chris and I have spent the past several years building our own tradition for Christmas that I was looking forward to sharing with Jackson, but unfortunately, neither Jackson nor I were feeling well. So instead of tradition, we shared an easy Christmas at home.

We can share in each others' misery.

While it was a boring Christmas for Chris with gifts of socks and boxers, I got a fancy new (garmin) running watch, and Jman got a new "laptop" and dinosaur poppity thing.

He is getting better at sitting up on his own and we have discovered the wonders of a laundry basket! I discovered it after really needing to use the bathroom and needing a place to sit Jackson down where I wouldn't be afraid of him falling. Now he likes to play in it and "nom" on the edges.

"guys, this is awesome"

"so is this wrapping paper roll"

The outfit he is in for several of the pictures was a gift from a friend that passed away earlier this year. She had told her daughter to make sure I got the outfit for Jackson. It was sad to put him in it, but a great way to remember her by.

Thanks Tess.

He is thinking really hard about the mechanics to crawling, sometimes getting on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth, but so far his main mode of transportation is still strategic rolling.  Who knows, maybe by month 8, we'll have a crawling baby. Then we'll really need to baby proof!

Merry Christmas.

Half way there.

His first snow fall- it's hard to see but it really is snowing

Happy half-birthday little guy! Six months has come already and he is just seizing life by the handfuls.  He loves to stand with the assistance of Mom or Dad, is learning to sit on his own and discovering the joy of new flavors of food.

Sitting unassisted!

 We first tried oatmeal cereal. I think most of it decorated his face but Edgar was ready for a quick and speedy clean-up.  Since then he has learned that apples, squash, bananas, and sweet potatoes are awesome. Peas are ok, but pears are not, and neither is pumpkin. Actually, he LOVED pumpkin, but then proceeded to vomit it up for the rest of the night.

Mmmm, cereal.

Pumpkin is delicious. We will have to try again later.

 He has a jumperoo that he loves, but only when in the mood. However, when he is in the mood he will bounce himself to sleep.

He has been a big help with the yard work! I was actually really impressed with him.  He loves it outside and as long as I could protect his face from the sun he had fun just watching what I was doing. I was also able to figure out how to do the back carry with the Ergo carrier.  I think this will become very helpful!

He fell asleep :)

Jackson at 6 months of age

"It's ok Teddy"

 This seahorse is awesome. It gives me 5 minutes to use the bathroom, finish a task, or shower.

Month 7 brings the holidays. Bring it month seven!

I. am. Mom.

I have a baby. I have joined the sleep deprived, milestone marking, spit-up covered, diaper changing, clothes changing (mine and baby's) club.  I no longer own a piece of clothing or blanket or carpet that has not been christened with baby spit-up. I have also developed a tolerance for spit up that leaves me shrugging off a non-pre-determined amount of spit up and going to work sporting its sour aroma. Poop does not faze me.

My living room floor is covered in baby toys, quilt and play mat.  There is now a highchair and car seat that decorate a corner of living room.My freezer (and my mother's and in-law's) is full of milk and now home made baby food

I Am Mom.

I am learning to let go and prioritize.  It might be two weeks before I get to run the vacuum through, but we have clean clothes every week and clean dishes to eat off of each day. Also, there is usually food.  The neighbors will just have to deal with our lawn being longer than theirs and a tardy leaf pick up.

I am learning the value of teamwork and support. I would be lost if it wasn't for the help I get from my friends and family. I have to fight the urge to do it all. The fighting is getting tougher with Jackson going through a mom phase. But then I feel my knees weaken; I feel as though I'm about to fall. Sometimes I have to relearn the value of breathing and knowing when to say "when".

I am learning. I am learning the need for patience beyond what I had ever imagined. I am learning the value of sleep and how much that can impact the amount of patience I have. I am also learning how well, or not so well I can function with x number of hours of sleep.  Also, family nap times are priceless.

I am also learning that I have no idea what I am doing.

Happy Halloween Charlie Brown

Last night was Halloween and even though Jackson had no idea that anything was different we made him partake in it anyways. Since one of his most prominent features seems to be his round head a friend suggested he be Charlie Brown for Halloween.  Thanks to Esty I was able to find an adorable Charlie Brown onesie.

Front

 

Back

Dad was able to do his "make-up".  He had the genius idea to use eyeliner, whereas all I could think of was to use a Sharpie and I really didn't find it necessary to leave a permanent curl on his head. As a side note, Dad also knew the best way to remove the eyeliner.

Jackson also got to play with some of the candy:

He already has his mom's sweet tooth.

And we found a football for him to play with, or chew on as the case may be.

However, Halloween would not be Halloween without pumpkins! And Charlie Brown would not be complete without the Great Pumpkin.

We had gone to Power's a few weeks ago to get a pumpkin.  That place is really neat because they have all sorts of animals and hayrides and giant teepees.  Unfortunately, timing of our trip was interrupting a nap time that he originally didn't want to partake in. He also takes after his mom in that chickens are awesome but people are not.  He seemed really interested in the chickens, but all the other animals were too surrounded by people, which he was not fond of.  We were able to snap some pictures before we went home for a real nap.

A nice man offered to take a family picture. Clearly Jackson is excited by this.

Feet are awesome

In front of one of the giant teepees

 While we wound up replacing the pumpkin we got at Powers I look forward to it becoming a family tradition.  The pumpkin we bought there wound up with a saggy bottom.... and no one wants a saggy bottom, so Chris bought a new one for us (and by us I mean him- although I helped by drawing the face) to carve.

Rolling is the mode of transportation

Jackson's 5 month old picture

Being a baby, his small life up to this point is filled with firsts, and eventual seconds and thirds, (which is how he'd like to take his food thank you very much.) This past month he got to go to his first wedding and wear his first suit

Dad and his boy :)

The suit was a little big, but for $8 he was going to fit into it!

I was definitely one of those people that made us wear matching clothes...

Watch out Awkwardfamilyphotos.com here we come!

He did well being passed among family members, but he seemed to enjoy Aunt Lizz's hair the most.

Before the wedding, Chris and I went down to Pennsylvania early to spend a day at Hawk Mountain to catch some of the tail end of the hawk migration.  It. Was. Awesome! While it was peak for Sharp Shin migration we also saw lots of vultures a raven and some possible falcons. Jackson fell asleep on our hike, which admittedly allowed me to enjoy the viewing a little bit more.

Family photo at the lower ledge.

We also visited a cute little zoo, and Jackson got to see some neat animals.  He seemed to like the camel and ostrich. He also humored me when I went to pet the goats and feed the lorikeets.

Looking at the ostrich

Lastly, either yesterday or today he has figured out how to roll over from back to front.  So now that he can roll over both ways, this has become his mode of transportation around the room.

The next adventure? Teething! (and Halloween :) )

4 down

I cannot believe another month has swept beneath my feet already.  Where did my newborn go?

He went from:

Jackson at 3 days of age

to this:

Jackson at 4 months old

I cannot believe how big he has grown! At his 4 month old check up he weighed in at 13lbs 11oz, so just shy of double his birth weight, and measured at 24 inches long.  It seems my baby is currently taking more so after me, as he is only in the 14% for height and weight.  Apparently, there are some BIG babies out there!  He is healthy and thriving so the doc isn't worried. I do hate how much the vaccines make him feel, but I would hate it even more if he actually got sick from something that could have been prevented. So we sacrifice a night of good sleep for hopefully many nights of better sleep.

If you can't tell from the drool in the picture, he is starting to more seriously teethe. I can't see any teeth poking through yet, but the doc said his gums were swollen, he is super drooly and wanting to chew on everything!  I don't know what it is, but Sofie the Giraffe is a live saver. He loves that thing.

Oh Sofie, thanks for letting Jackson chew and slobber all over you!

Teething, by the way, is horrible and I am glad it is not something we remember.

He will occasionally roll over from front to back and is trying to roll over from back to front, but hasn't quite mastered it. He is starting to sit up- with support, but is getting better. We have gone for 2 successful trips in the stroller (one run and one walk) without being in the car seat. It is a little lighter now for running :) I think he likes being able to look out and see more.

Last week we celebrated his 4 month birthday by taking a trip to Montezuma.  We saw a bunch of waterfowl and a Peregrine Falcon along with a Northern Harrier

Why, Hello there Gorgeous!

 Jackson seemed to enjoy looking around and was actually getting fussy in the Ergo cause he couldn't look out as well.  So we did this instead:

Also, Dad's thumb is delicious.

We also stopped at the outlet mall on the way back to pick up some clothes for Jackson. We picked up this long sleeve onsie- it has moose on it!!!!

Last night was a big night for us. We are starting to transition Jackson to his crib/nursery. It is terrifying for me. I just have this irrational fear that I am going to lose him. In the end, I know I will sleep better (once I stop waking up to every noise on the baby monitor or wanting to go check on him.) and it he can't be with us forever... it might be weird to have our 18 year old son still sleeping next to our bed...

That's him in the Rock N' Play

Eventually we'll move him into the crib. I did miss having in the room with us last night though.

This next month brings a wedding, which means a suit, and our first family vacation.  We also can start introducing solids soon. I can't wait to see what else it will bring.

2 Months Old

1 Month Old

4 Months Old

3 Months Old

                            

A busy month three

How can you resist that smile?

 
Blog, I realize I have been neglecting you, but it has become increasingly more difficult to find time to share with you.  Between working full time, squeezing in my runs/bikes, and being a mom it is hard to find the energy to much of anything else. I also have found a renewed love of baking. I try to make something (much to my waistline's dismay) every weekend... and then bring the left overs to work.

Jackson is now 3 months old and some change.

His 3 month old picture

He is getting so big! I am already washing some of his 3-6 month old clothing, he is up a diaper size in the prefolds (soon to be up to 2s in disposables) and I no longer clip his diaper covers up to make them smaller. AHHH!

 He can roll over from front to back when he puts his mind to it.

 I am rockin' this tummy time!

 Eh, but now I am tired of it.

 How did I turn over before?

 Maybe if I lean this way....

Almost there...

Ta Da! I made it!

He is getting stronger and can hold himself up pretty good now during "tummy time"

Although he is not always happy about the idea:

Jackson is also reaching for things and getting a pretty good hold on them too:

The giraffe is his favorite

I also get to dress him up in adorable outfits, that I try to squeeze him into enough times before he outgrows them.

This is one of my favorites

Really, Mom? Enough with the camera.