We've made it through 6 weeks! Whew! It's been a busy month and a half, but a good one. There's been a lot of learning going on- from both baby and parents! Not much sleep, and lots of kisses and cuddles. :o)

Here's some of my must have's that have been lifesavers for me during these first few weeks:

Graco Swing

My little man loves to swing! I try not to put him in there too much so he wont become dependant on it to sleep, but I think he's got some reflux going on right now so propping him up in his swing is the only thing that is comforting to him right now. Also, if he's tired at all, it will just lull him to sleep and calm him down. This how I get to take a shower in the morning!

Play Mats

I have two play mats and Jack just loves them! He bats at the toys, talks and laughs at them, and is mesmorized by the light up toy that makes music and noises. He's so cute when he's playing and chilling on them!

Gripe Water

This has saved me numerous times during the night when Jack gets super fussy due to gas or upset stomach. It also gets rid of hiccups!

Binky

I know a lot of people dont like to use pacifers anymore, but I dont care... they work for me and for Jack. He loves them. They calm him down and he goes to sleep with them really well. (They also say using a pacifer at night can reduce the risk of SIDS) He likes the MAM and NUK brands.

Dr. Brown's Bottle

 

I am exclusively breastfeeding right now, but Jack is a horrible latcher, and he likes to eat small portions often... and he takes forever to eat! So going out in public it's nice to pump and have a bottle on hand! These ones seem to work really well and he took to it right away. 

Look at that cute little dimple! 

Here he is loving his play mat!

7 Years Together

Today is our 7 year anniversary! 

Wow... 7 years. Seems like a long time when you say it. We've actually been a couple for 11 years. 

My how the time does fly. I remember our first date at a little tiny ice cream shop next to our school when I was 16 (Jacob was 15 so I had to pick him up-ha!). It was true love from then on.

I can also remember how we did all sorts of weird things that young love birds do (that I think are disgusting now) like drink from the water fountain then spit it into the other persons mouth as we were kissing. Seriously? Why? And who does that? Twitterpated teenagers I suppose. We loved to race eachother around town in our cars, mine was a 96 Geo Prism that was more like a go cart on crack, and he had a 1977 280 Z. Funny thing was, my little prism would beat that old race car 9 time out of 10! Ha!

I have a picture of Jacob wearing my two piece swimsuit. We were about the same size back then- super skinny! I would share it but its probably not that appropriate. :o)

I dyed his hair blonde. We'd spend hours riding four wheelers, rat stomping, and hanging out eating mounds of junk food like cheese sticks and cookies and pop. I loved watching his soccer games, and he would always write me notes before my golf tournaments. Rarely could you find us apart. We had such a great time growing up together.

Not much has changed since then {although for the time being with little mister it's slightly different}, we dont like being apart long, you can find us hanging out getting some grub on the weekends, going out golfing, taking a nap together... although now we can't fit into the same clothes and I certainly would never spit into his mouth NOR think it was very funny if he did the same to me. Lol!

We've seen each other through good times and bad~ school, jobs, friendships gained and lost, the loss of grandparents, sicknesses, home remodels, amazing vacations, infertility, and our latest adventure...parenthood.

Here's to another trip around the sun with you by my side babe! Happy Anniversary!

My 18th Birthday

17 Years old. Being dumb! Haha! 

Wedding Day!

Wedding Weekend!

Jacob's sister got married this weekend... such a lovely event! I wish I had more hands to be able to take more pictures... but Mr. Jack had to nurse during the ceremony so I didnt get any. :o( I'm going to have to invest in a smaller digital camera with a video instead of my huge Nikon camera.

Anyway- I was nervous about how the little guy would do from 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm outside all day, and was afraid he would  be crying or crabby for pictures. Silly me... Jack loves a party, and he did fabulous for pictures! He was SUCH a smiley boy. :o)

We only had one major meltdown during the whole day, and that happened around bedtime (7:30 is or so I think). We had to take him for a drive in his car seat because he was not having anything to do with anyone or anything! No rocking, no laying down, no eating... he wanted to be snuggled up and in bed! As soon as we started the car and put it in gear he was OUT. Poor little guy. And he stayed out for the rest of the wedding and all the way home, waking up only to get his jammies on, eat a tiny bit more and go back to bed.

He also got to meet his aunts on his daddy's side for the first time too! Such a social little guy. Well, as long as his mommy is close by. :o)

Aunt Janet

Aunt Patty

Jacob and his aunts. Too bad Jack was asleep!

What a difference a month makes!

My little man isn't so "little" anymore!

Stop growing so fast!

One Month

Two Months!

Jack had his two month check up today. He got two shots in his left leg, one in his right and a vaccine that he had to drink. The nurse warned me that sometimes babies dont take it well and you just have to force it down kinda... but I knew Jack would have no problem "drinking" anything! I was right! We both laughed as he held onto the nurses hand (which was holding the liquid meds) and sucked it dry! He really wasn't that happy about the shots... he turned bright red and cried, but the shots were quick and I nursed him right away and he calmed right down and went to sleep. Keeping an eye on him today because they said he would probably either be sleepy, or fussy. So far he's been more sleepy, and maybe slightly fussy but nothing too bad yet. I'm also watching for a fever he might get for a day or two, but hopefully that doesnt happen. All in all, his first round of shots wasn't as bad as I suspected!

Oh and by the way: Jack weighs 11 lbs and is 23 inches long! He's in the 75 percentile for height and only the 31 for weight. Haha... he's my little tall and skinny! :o)

Two Months Old!

How is it September already? I know fall is nearing when I wake up needing my sweats and craving hot chocolate! Month two has brought on a ton of new changes in little man and he is getting sweeter and cuter every day!

Things about Jack from your 2nd month:

• You weighed in at 10.11 lbs last week. (7 weeks old)
• You smile a lot now, especially at mommy
• You are a morning person and are so happy and talkative after you eat
• You have a pretty good morning and evening routine: wake up around 7:00 am, eat, change diaper, play on your play mat, talk to mommy/daddy, then nap again by 9:00 am. You want to sleep around 8:00 pm, but we are trying to move it back farther to 9 or 10. I put your jammies on, feed you, and put the lavender lotion on you and put you either in your swing or in your bed. You usually prefer your swing unless your super tired.
• So far you have been a good traveler. We try to schedule our road trips around your nap time and close to after you've eaten. If you wake up from a nap in the car it is the END of your world. Screaming, tears, the whole bit!
• Two hours is usually your max of sleeping in the carseat
• We figured out you had acid reflux this month and finally took you to the doctor after you'd been super fussy, not sleeping well, choking and gagging, etc.
• You got medicine (Zantac) and it has helped you out a lot with all these things. The past few nights you've went a 4-5 hour stretch at night- a HUGE improvement!
• You still love your swing 
• We've found that if we swing you in your car seat it works well to calm you down too
• You have been hauled on two out of town trips already and numerous parties, showers, and weddings
• Your digestion issues we've been having (straining all the time, a ton of gas, etc) are starting to ease up and you are more "regular", which is making you much happier. And us too!
• You do have quite the case of cradle cap right now and I'm having a hard time getting rid of it--but good thing you have a lot of hair to cover most of it up
• You are in size 1 diapers and 3 month onesies. Some of the 0-3 month clothes fit and some dont. The Carters 3 month seem to fit the best.
• When you are awake you like to have us stand you up so you can see everything. You are pretty strong and have good head control already
• You like your bath, and really enjoy it when your daddy bathes you
• Still love your pacifers and have to have them to sleep, but you have discovered your hands this month which you chew on a lot lately
• You are social but want your space
• You still nurse often and for a long periods of time-- about 30 minutes at least
• You don't fuss a ton when you want something... you get instantly mad
• Nicknames: Mr. Jack, Mister, Bubbas, Baby Boy, Stewey, Jackey (from his cousin Lane!)

Can't wait to see what this month brings!

You love your cousins!

Big boy standing up!

Smiles!