Dinner with the Girls

Last weekend, Jackson made his first appearance at our monthly dinner, and I think he made a good impression! He even let me stay long enough to enjoy the purse party after dinner. :)

Lesson 31: Drywall

When the drywall gets put up and the house begins to take shape, some rooms will look smaller than you expected (i.e. our bedroom) and some rooms will look much bigger (i.e. the library and Nathan's music room).

Of course, this might just be true of people who are spatially-challenged (like myself)!

Angel Baby

One Month!

Jackson is one month old today!

Play Date

Analeyna, Chase, Jackson

To see the moms just six weeks ago, click here.

Shannon Meets Jack

Something to Look Forward to....

A friendly neighbor approached me in the parking lot of Lauren's apartment yesterday. This elderly neighbor had spoken to me on several different occasions while I was pregnant, and knew that I was quite overdue the last time we spoke.

"So, did you have that baby?" he asked, as I got out of the car.

"Sure did," I replied, and motioned to the back where Jack was sitting in his car seat.

"Oh, there he is," the elderly man said, peeking through the window of the car. "He sure is good looking!"

"Thanks," I replied.

"How did the birth go?" he asked.

"There were some complications," I replied. "But Jack turned out great!"

"Looks like it. Did you have him naturally?"

"No."

"Oh, so you had to have a c?" he asked. (I thought it was interesting that he referred to it as simply a c.)

"Yeah, I did."

"Well, you're looking good and, don't worry, once you retire life will slow down again!"

Jackson and His Daddy

Jack's First Church Service

Yesterday, we took Jack to his first church service. Obviously, most of you out there already know what it's like to take a child to church, but this was a new experience for Nathan and me. We arrived just as the service was starting and slipped into one of the back rows. Jack was awake so, of course, Nathan and I were anxious parents- so worried that, during the quiet times of a church service, Jack would decide he was unhappy and disrupt the serenity of the large sanctuary. Sitting on the edge of our seats, ready to spring for the pacifier (or the door, if it got bad!) for the entire service, Nathan and I were unable to pay attention to the sermon.

Luckily, Jack did great! He ended up falling asleep shortly after the service began, waking up just as the final prayer requests were being announced. The highlight of the service for us (and the people in the rows around us, no doubt!) had to have been when Merv (the pastor) asked us to bow our heads for the final prayer and, in that first second that the sanctuary became completely still and quiet, a loud PPPFFFFTTTT sound exploded in Jack's diaper! His timing was impeccable!

(all dressed up for church)

Mother Daughter Tea 2010: Pajama Party

(SPOILER ALERT: There are no pictures of Jack in this post.)

My first night out without Jack since he joined our crew was to the annual Mother Daughter Tea that the church puts together for Mother's Day. It was fun to put on my pj's for a night out with friends and family, although it felt strange to be without the baby- like I was missing a limb or something! Here are some highlights:

me & Johanna

Nathan's sister, Lauren, and cousin, Fay

Rebecca, Angela, Hannah

Hannah, me, Michelle

Nathan's aunt Judy, Lauren, me, Fay, Mommy Sue, Grandma Harvella

Mosaic of Jack!

Genna Meets Jack

To Jackson on Mother's Day

Dear Jack,

You are two weeks and three days old on this (my first!) Mother's Day. Bringing you into the world two weeks and three days ago was no simple task and we both have spent a lot of time recovering since then... and I don't think we're done yet (the doctor says it could take up to three months for your head to return to a normal shape).

Amidst the fog of my headache and back pain and the exhausted blur of days and nights that run together, you stand out bright as the sun because I am completely and utterly amazed by you. Every day, I spend hours holding you, gazing at your beautiful face, stroking your soft skin, cuddling and cooing at you and, despite my exhaustion, I feel like I could never get tired of it! You are just so perfect.

Even at such a young age, I can already see your personality emerging. You are definitely a kid who does things in his own time. You weren't ready to come into the world on your due date, and when we tried to force you out two weeks later, you still weren't ready. You resisted just as much as you possibly could! Now, at 2 1/2 weeks old, we are still waiting for your belly button to fall out (and if it doesn't in the next few days, we will have to make another trip to the pediatrician). I'm sure you will let that happen in it's own time as well!

You love to be swaddled and swayed. Almost without fail (knock on wood), you can be soothed quickly when we do those two things.

You grunt all the time!

You love to be talked to and will listen carefully while I tell you what we are doing or how much we love you.

You also listen quietly and carefully when I read to you, and are already looking at the pictures in the book, which I love! Your favorite book is the one given to us at the hospital. It is called I Like It When... by Mary Murphy and we have read it almost every day (sometimes multiple times) since we've gotten home from the hospital.

You are already an amazing little boy and I love you so much, Jackson- from the top of your furry head to the bottoms of your long toes! Thank you so much for making my dream of being a mother come true. I feel honored to be yours.

Love,
Mama

Jack's First Visit to his House

Insulation

On the day Jackson Levi was born, the insulation was put into the new house.

Next step... drywall!

Jackson and his "Banya" (Grandma)

Jackson might have been as sad to see Banya leave as I was!

Nate & Liz Meet Jack

First Bath

Who Does Jackson Look Like?

Nathan

Marika

Jackson

Home from the Hospital