Two steppin

This guy took his first couple steps today, and Mommy & Daddy BOTH got to see it!

Pretty exciting Saturday around here. Go bud go!

11 months

Today marks 11 MONTHS of being Mom to the sweetest boy.

11 MONTHS! That is ALMOST ONE YEAR OLD. Whoa.

I am proud to announce you finally sleep through the night (My glass is currently raised). Eleven hours of beautiful, glorious sleep. 7:45 - 6:45ish is your jam.

I am sad to announce nursing is almost over. I'm a big fan of mama's breastfeeding their babies. My personal goal for both my babies was 12 months...almost got there with Jackson, but due to a little surprise trip to Paris (!!!) we are stopping at 11 months. Right now I'm only nursing once in the morning right when Jackson wakes up, and it just happens to be my favorite time of the day. Probably because I know there are only a couple more days left of this amazing bonding experience. There's just nothing like it.

Other fun news:

Jackson is on the verge of walking. He gets around very well. Any day now and he will be getting around on his own two chubby feet.

There is not a food that our boy doesn't like yet. Mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini, berries, beans, burgers, eggs, anything....he will eat it all. We have yet to fill up this kid, we just have to cut him off. Not once has he turned down food. Every single time I open the fridge, Jackson says "Boo-bah" for blueberry (his favorite food). Every. single. time. This family alone could probably support the blueberry farmers of the world. The amount of money we spend on berries is ridic. Can't even imagine how much he will eat as a teenager.

He waves and says "bye-bye" to everyone.

Favorite songs are Itsy Bitsy and the ABC's. He does motions to itsy bitsy, and says "Buh" after B every time I sing the ABC's. Pretty cute. And after both songs, "Aguh!" (translation: Again!)

He calls Lucca "Gaga"

LOVES DOGS AND BIRDS. He woofs at dogs and puts his hand in the sky when he sees a bird.

Loves hiking in the baby backpack

Wears 18 Months clothes!

Teething like crazy this week. Drool coming out both sides of Jackson's mouth, poor little dude. He still has 5 teeth, three on top, two on bottom, but anxiously waiting for a few more to pop up.

We are celebrating Jackson's 1st birthday at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. How's that for a cool first birthday? Maybe he will be the next Rory, Phil or Tiger godforbid.

I'm so thankful for our strong, healthy, smart and beautiful baby boy. Every day is an adventure. Every day is a blessing. Every day I'm loving that God gave me a boy.

SLEEP

Jackson's life so far in a nutshell:

First 2 months, slept so much it freaked us out and we used to WAKE HIM UP to feed him. We were worried about how long he would sleep without eating. Funny right? Have you seen the size of this dude? We clearly had nothing to worry about.

Months 3-6...I'm not sure we slept for longer than 3 hours at any given time without Jackson waking up. Maybe a few times we would get 4 hours out of him. We kept thinking/hoping/praying he would figure it out and that a full night's sleep would be around the corner.

Finally last week, we decided to give sleep training a go. And THANK GOD WE DID. (We were scarred from Lucca's sleep training days and were hesitant to go there with Jackson). But after a night of rocking and rocking Jackson and having him wake up each time we set him down, we were willing to let him cry. Fifteen minutes in the middle of the night was all it took for this guy to cry before realizing we weren't coming back in to rock him to sleep. He hasn't cried like that since, not even for 5 minutes actually. And he's SLEEPING!!! He's been waking up once each night for a feeding and going right back to sleep, no problem.

We are thankful. So very, very thankful. Anyone who knows us knows we like our sleep around here :)

5 months

We've had a busy month around here, but even though this poor blog has been neglected, there is no shortage of baby Jackson photos. You are such a little lover, your eyes light up when people look at you and you just melt when people smile at you. Especially your mama. It's true what they say about baby boys and their mommies. You love mommy.

You are one happy dude (in daylight hours)

You like to swing, especially next to sissy

And you LOVE to eat, obviously. Grammie fed you over the weekend and she got to see how you visibly shake in anticipation of the (solid) food about to enter your mouth.

You still love those feet!

And that little thumb keeps finding it's way to your mouth this week! I pull it out, but I think you are teething and you use your thumb to bite on and to press those gums.

Sissy got a new toy (which you had your eyes glued to) and as soon as she went down for nap, that thing was yours!

We are working on sleep, but other than that...you are a JOY to our family. Such a cool little dude you are. Our big boy. Our precious Stone.

My kid drools better than your kid.

4 months

4 Months means...

You are smiling and laughing a lot

You like listening to your voice as you learn how to make different sounds

You roll over

You can finally ride in the car without FREAKING out every single time

You have thick skin from Lucca poking and prodding you all day long

You have taken your first flight, it was cross country and you slept the whole way

Your legs are super strong and you can stand up without holding on (even though I always at least hold a finger)

You don't take your eyes off Mommy if I am in the room

You face outward in the Baby Bjorn

Your favorite activity is eating

Your least favorite activity is sleeping through the night

Happy four months, little bruiser.

Best Night yet!

I am most certainly not the mom who is able to loudly boast that my baby has slept through the night since 6 weeks old. No way. Not even close. But last night? We made progress. Only one wake-up...and it was at 3:15! Good job, buddy! We are getting there. I am convinced you will sleep longer when you are able to roll over and can sleep on your tummy. For all your naps we place you on your stomach and you sleep for hours. But at night, we obey, and swaddle you up and lay you on your back.

My theory? It's probably the ugly babies who sleep great. You can't have it all.

;)

MAY 2011 - hello & goodbye!

I'm still trying to figure out where May went and how it's already June 5? Looking back on the month in photos, I realized it went by in a flash because it was jam packed with fun. Good thing we took (lots and lots of) photos that hold the memories. Here's a little glimpse of how we spent our May days..

A lot of this...

Playing at the park

Cousin Lincoln meets Jackson

Cousin Lila meets Jackson

Playing at Grammie & Pops house

Baths in Grammie's sink

Swinging

Running in races...and getting 5th place!

Reminding Uncle B how cool it is to hold a new babe

Swimming!

Running naked

Being the most adorable baby on the planet

Meeting mommy's friend Matt

And Hannah!

From Kindergarten to our own kids!

Aunt Ashley, Uncle Brad & Connor meet Jackson!

OH YEAH, AND I TURNED 30!!!

How did this happen? Goodbye 20's...you were fun. 30's will only be better.

At least I keep telling myself that :)

Spent most of my birthday cuddling this dude. No better gift.

Sweet Jackson

Behind on blogging already. Life is busy with two babies!

Jackson, we are so so thankful for you. You are the sweetest baby. Such a great sleeper so far, last night you didn't wake up until 3AM. THANK YOU!! You just don't stop growing, and your cheeks are to-die-for chubby. God must have listened to my prayers all those years when I asked to someday have chubby babies. You are a such a beautiful, or should I say handsome, baby boy. People call you "pretty" but mama calls you a stud. You probably don't want to be known as a pretty boy...but you can't help your good looks. You have started to smile, melting my heart and all the hearts around you. You just LOVE your tubby time and get so relaxed. You have started cooing and talking back to us when we talk to you. You take the best naps on your tummy, even though that's against the rules these days. You also take great naps when being held, and as soon as we try to set you down, you show us your big, bright eyes. You just like being held! Your sister is still obsessed with you and wants to hug and kiss you all day long. This week, you got to meet "Uncle B" and your cousins Lincoln and Lila, who love you just as much as Lucca does. They are so sweet with Baby Jackson!

The first 5 weeks of your life have been incredible. We are so blessed. So thankful. So in love with you.