Jackson met carrots!

Jackson's pediatrician suggested that we start him on baby food because it should help w/ his reflux.... We started with carrots and let's just say - Jackson hasn't mastered the spoon yet... Either way, still the cutest thing ever.

SURVIVOR HAS BEGUN!!

I'm SOOOOO excited! Last night was the season premiere of the 17th season of Survivor - my all time favorite show in the whole world!! Anyone who loves pychology and sociology would LOVE this show! Ryan and I just watch and talk strategy and it's amazing to watch how people's minds work! I always pick a favorite on the first episode and this year was tough cuz they didn't show conversations with every contestant, but I definitely liked Jacquie and Dan. Jacquie seems like a sincere person - very sweet, pretty, likeable.. not taking a big leadership role early on, which is so smart! Dan - I liked because of something he pointed out.... When trying to determine who would be a leader for the tribe, Dan said he would not be a good leader because his leadership style is highly emotional. That is totally me! I always said I would be a horrible "manager" because I do get so emotional and involved... I thought that was really brave of him to admit that and very wise at the same time. Also, the group thought he had the hidden immunity idol - and they were gonna give him the axe but he was quick - he jumped up, emptied his bag and pockets and said "I don't want to go home!" Good for you Dan! I don't want you to either!! OK - so both of these people are attractive - that is NOT why they are my favorites! I also liked Bob - who is a cool grandpa type who could probably kick a lot of butt in this show! I did not like Paloma or GC and I was STOKED they kicked off what's her face (Michelle) - even though I know little Ken was hoping to get another peep show from her! :) I hope people continue to tune in to Survivor cuz I'm completely fascinated by it and I hope it never ends!! Besides, if I could just get Ryan on it.... We may be millionaires!! hee hee!!!

DVR People! Thursday at 700pm!!! :)

Moms Rock!

This is exactly how I feel! Don't let anyone tell you that being a mom is easy! VERY Rewarding - but not easy!! :) Still, I wouldn't change it for all the money in the world!!! I thank God every single day that He allowed me to call myself a Mom!

4 Months Old Today!!!

Today, my baby is 4 WHOLE months old!!! I'm sad and proud at the same time!! He's growing up soooooo fast!!! He's just really starting to show his personality and let me tell you - he's a funny boy! He loves to laugh but he's very tender hearted.... He can tell when you change the tone in your voice and he's very sensitive to that... He loves "happy mommy" and "happy daddy" so we just try to constantly sound like a cheer leading squad! My dad said we sound like monkeys! :) Either way, he's the LOVE of our lives!

Today, he went to the pediatrician for his shots... the doc was so happy with how he's doing! Jackson weighs 15 pounds, 15 oz!! He's only 1 oz short of 16 pounds!!! He's in the 75th percentile now on his weight, so he's growing very fast! He was 24 1/2 inches long and his head measurement was 43cm (although I don't know why that matters). They said his length is still in the 50th percentile. He's my chunky monkey! I told the doc that I am putting Jackson to sleep on his belly at night... He goes "mmmm... I don't hear you..." and then he smiled and admitted that the odds are SOOOOO small and Jackson is pretty much out of the "risk" zone anyway. He's not worried.... He admitted that reflux babies like Jackson do sleep very well on their bellies. He did so well at the doc - he was laughing at the doc and smiling the whole time.... He's just the best baby! Daddy made it to our appt AGAIN!!! He hasn't missed an appointment since Jackson was 1 month old! Go Daddy! :) Here's some pics from Jackson today... He's smiles all the time now, so taking pictures is so much fun!

Missing the 'Ville!

Ryan and I just got back from an awesome, busy, fun-filled weekend in Fayetteville!

First thing we did - We went to my brother's band performance (they are called "The Battle Within" - look them up on Myspace!) and they did awesome. It's probably not anyone that I know's kind of music but let me tell you - I was a very proud big sis!! Ray has been playing guitar since I can remember... Even when he was 2 years old, he wanted to play everytime he saw someone playing on TV... that was country music and that's a far cry from the HEAVY HEAVY metal music that he plays now but regardless, it's amazing music and I'm so proud of him for pursing his dreams! Here's some pics from his performance - Ryan was having fun playing w/ the settings on the camera...

The next day, my mom got us tickets to watch the Razorbacks get SMASHED by Alabama.... But we had a good time w/ our friends Brandon and Charrisce...

On Saturday and Sunday, we went over to Dave/Carla's house and visited with Carla for her 30th birthday!

and.... last but not least, Jackson got to spend a lot of quality time w/ his Mimi and Pappie! :)

It doesn't get cuter than this baby!!! Jackson LOVED spending time w/ my mom and dad... He would giggle everytime my mom was around... I wish he could spend time her every day or at least every weekend.... maybe someday.... hmmmm......

Fun with Baby J!

Is it bad to be addicted to my baby!?

Make sure you PAUSE the music player below so you can hear the video! And, by the way, the sounds you are hearing from Ryan and I are not "toots" - we were doing that and Jackson was copying us so we were trying to get him to do it more...

WHAT A GREAT NIGHT!!!

Oh my! God truly answers prayers!!! Jackson slept 11 hours last night! Ryan was on baby duty and said that he cried for about 20 minutes in the 200am hour (he turns down the monitor and watches J so it doesn't wake me up - I have such a great husband too!) but then Baby J put himself back to sleep.... We try to give him at least 20 minutes to go back to sleep on his own and he did!!! But this is truly amazing because of 3 things: #1: It's been a MONTH since he slept all night where we didn't have to go put the paci in, rock him, give him tylennol, etc. #2: He didn't even have his paci all night - Ryan put him down w/o it (he was completely zonked). #3: This part is a bit sad... Ryan went in his room this morning at 630am and he had completely wet the bed. He was laying in it :( !!!! So I'm a bit to sad that that may be why he was crying at 200am this morning! But that does make me all the more proud of my little baby for going back to sleep anyway! What a trooper!! I feel unbelievable this morning and VERY hopeful!!! Go Jackson! WOOHOOO!

Go Giants!

I have to say - I became a Giants fan in 2006. I learned, after having been married to Ryan for several years, that no matter what - Football is going to be on TV nonstop from August - February. So finally, I decided that instead of getting upset about it, I would just join in the fun. So in 2005, I studied all the teams (and their hot quarterbacks) and was trying to pick a team that would be "MY" team. Ryan doesn't have one.. He loves football in general, so he was no help. So finally, I chose NY. I don't know why cuz Eli isn't hot... probably cuz I've always wanted to go to NY and I liked their symbol and colors and for some reason, it's the only team I watched that kept me interested. I learned the players fast and became a fan pretty quickly. 2006 was not such a great year for us but 2007 was excellent. Winning the Super Bowl in the same year that Jackson was born - and being underdogs going in - told me that Jackson had to follow Mommy's example and be a Giants fan too! So he has a Home Game Onesie and an Away Game Onesie, Paci, Hat and Blanket. (Hey, he has a TON of Cubs stuff too, for the record!). Jackson decided he wanted to watch the game w/ Daddy and Hobbes.

YEAH!!

Jackson slept well last night!!! He went down about 745pm - 800pm. We were prepared for massive thunderstorms and winds, and blah blah blah and didn't want Jackson to be stuck alone w/ all the scary noises, so we set up the packnplay and put it in our room and laid him there. He slept until about 200am, we gave him some more teething tablets and back to sleep he went until 600am! Great job Baby J!!! :) It was nice to get some sleep!!

Thanks "Aunt" Megan for the cute PJ's!

Welcome Baby Woodruff!

Our friends Ken and Hollie in Fort Worth welcomed their baby girl to the world today - Elizabeth Clayre Woodruff, weighing in at 8lbs, 1oz and 20inches long. Congratulations to them and we cannot wait to meet this precious little baby!

Let's hear it for the mommys...

Well, first I want to thank ALL of you wonderful mommys (including mine) who emailed me back on Thursday and Friday... I sent a mass email to many, many of my mommy friends asking for advice on my little angel's sleeping issue. For the last few weeks (about 3 or 4), Jackson has been waking up crying -unable to get back to sleep on his own. We're not talking one time, two times, but more like about 7 times/night. Boy, it makes for exhausted parents, and a very exhausted baby. I know Jackson is teething and since nothing else in his little world really changed, we assumed that this was the problem. Thanks to everyone for all of the tidbits on how to fix this... I am using several of your suggestions. The teething tablets - wow - I had no idea they existed!! Last night, Jackson did well - I gave him the teething tablets before his last bottle.. He woke up at 1100pm and I gave him some more... Then, when he woke up at 215am, I just turned him over to his belly, put the paci in and he slept until 700am (that's when he gets his first bottle). I was SO nervous about putting him on his belly at night. This was the first time. I did watch him a LOT on the monitor because I was so nervous about it... but when I read your emails... 9 of the 15 of you said that you put your babies on their bellies much younger than Jackson! I had no idea! And, I may say that one of you is a doctor and the other a pediatric nurse! I thought it was FORBIDDEN. I would never want to harm my baby - let's be VERY straight on that. But he has been napping on his belly for weeks and seems to be so at ease. He picks his head up, turns it side to side and actually RESTS his body when he's on his belly. When he's on his back, the poor thing just squeezes those little arms in so close to his head and just will not rest them... He just keeps them up by his head and as soon as he starts to fall asleep and they start to fall down by his head, he jerks and cries cuz he's so tired but he just cannot rest his body. On his belly, he just chills... and he puts himself back to sleep. Last night, he woke up again around 315am, made a little squeek and turned his head to the other side and back to sleep he went. AWH!!! It was a matter of about 2 seconds! So I want to thank you guys so much for making me feel ok about putting him on his belly by sharing your personal stories and success w/ that and also all of the teething advice. I will be using your suggestions. Jackson and Ryan are THE most important people in my life and I appreciate you helping me make BOTH of them happier ... which in turn, makes me happier too - and rested!! Let's see how tonight goes w/ the fun storms coming in!! Drum Roll...

Jackson loves Daddy!

I have these pics that I just have to post - When Ryan is home, he's so good with Jackson! Jackson just lights up when Daddy comes home! I thought these pics were cute!

Baby Gap Model!

Chilling, Watching Football....

Ryan was so proud that his little "bop" (as he calls him) fell asleep in his arms while they were watching football... I was watching the game too and within minutes, when I turned around - I found this...

Baby J's First Razorback Tailgate!

Ryan and I took Jackson up to the Razorback tailgating... He did so well - especially because it was HOT and there were tons of people everywhere. We met up with my friends Misty and Brian, Brandon Craft and his girlfriend Charrisce and Ryan's dad and Debbie... Jackson always is so cute but I especially love when he has his Razorback attire on!! :)

Tough Trip Home...

Baby J and I finally made it home yesterday! We left around 750am in the POURING rain. I made sure to say a prayer w/ my mom before we left because driving in that kind of rain didn't use to bother me but there's something about having the absolute love of your life sleeping peacefully in the backseat that makes you a bit nervous (Remember "Jesus, Take The Wheel" ??) - so we did ok... but around 900am, Jackson woke up and by 930a, he was screaming! I think the heavy rain scared him.... it was really loud.... So I was between Clarksville and Russellville - so I stopped in Russellville at an Exxon and calmed him down, did a diaper change and fed him... It was harder than it sounds because it was raining so hard and my car was so full. Anyway, we made it work ... Had to stop 2 more times soon after leaving Russellville to give Jackson his paci because he started screaming again... but then, he finally fell asleep and didn't wake up until we got home. It took us 3 1/2 hrs! I've never seen Daddy so happy to see his baby!

Visiting the Family!!

This trip was so good for Jackson! He was loved on and kissed and hugged and held by loads of different people... He's been so used to it being just mom and dad that he hadn't had a lot of exposure to other people... Here's a few pics from this weekend.

Jackson and Uncle Ray...

Jackson and Uncle Jimmy....

Jackson and cousins: Kortnie, Baylie (6) and Logan (3)

Jackson getting a smooch from Baylie and cousin Brookelyn (3)

Jackson and cousin Linsey....

Jackson and Aunt Becky... (who put Jackson to sleep! Thank you!!)

Jackson and Uncle Roy... (his first time to hold Baby J...)

Jackson and Megan and Ali (6) (w/ Baylie the dog in the background)....

Jackson and Grandma C... on her birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA!!! You look younger than EVER! We love you!

My cousin Linsey's little boy Mason is 2 months older than Jackson so I couldn't wait to put these boys together! I'm sure they will be big buddies and they should make this year's Christmas a LOT of fun!!! Linsey came over to Grandma's twice - Sunday was her birthday... Happy 22nd Birthday Lin! :)