Visit to Papa and Nana's House

This weekend, we took the boys on their first road trip as a foursome. We drove to LR to see Ryan's dad and Debbie and stay the night. It was also the first time Jackson has spent the night anywhere other than my mom's since he's moved to the "big boy bed" so that was interesting... We were planning on going on Friday but w/ Ethan's doc appt (see last post) - we opted to wait til Sat morning... We ended up putting Jackson in their office. I made a pallet on the floor and read him a book, gave him his teddy bear and his pacis and he was ready to sleep! I made it really dark in there and set up the camera.... He seemed to fall right asleep! Success, right!? Um... so at midnight or so - I had just laid down upstairs in their "man's room" where Ry, Ethan and I slept when up came Debbie's brother David -who is staying w/ them temporarily - up the stairs holding Jackson's hand! So he said Jackson got up, walked into his room and was staring at him... He was up reading a book and saw him... So he asked him if he needed his mommy/daddy and he, of course, said YES! So he brought him to us... So Ryan ended up sleeping on the floor in the office w/ Jackson. So I guess we'll have to wait to say "success" until our next trip somewhere... I've been nervous to go anywhere w/ J cuz I know he can get up from the bed anytime he wants and other homes aren't "baby proof" like ours... and I didn't know if he'd sleep. I think what happened here was he woke up cuz his nose has been running and he realized he was in a strange place.. so he got up to find us...
All and all - we had a GREAT visit and really enjoyed spending some time w/ them - and I know the boys did too!

Papa w/ Ethan

Jackson loved all the toys in the "man room!"


Nana w/ Ethan (the AC went out upstairs so we stripped Ethan down!)


The next morning - Ethan and Isabelle snoozing.



3 Generations!



Thanks for having us!

Ethan's Sudden Doc Visit

We were planning on leaving for LR today but unfortunately, the day ended w/ me taking Ethan to see the doctor. Poor baby has had reflux-like symptoms since birth and the last 3 weeks, he's been on medicine - 2 different kinds for it but w/ no improvement. Last night, it was REALLY bad - he would just scream through his bottle, arch his back far back and cry... It was awful... Then, today, he's been inconsolable... Hard to burp, screaming and crying...makes a mom feel SO helpless. I called the doc this morning and the nurse wanted me to bring him in. The doc said he's growing and gaining weight - actually too well - now in the 53rd percentile for his weight (he started in the 19th) at 11lbs and 3oz. He said that Ethan has "classic symptoms" for reflux and we put him on Prevacid since Xantac and Axid didn't work. He says this one will completely stop the acid from being produced where the other would just block it. I hope this works! I hate how bad he feels and it's miserable trying to get some fluid down him when he's pushing the nipple out w/ his tongue and screaming when he sees the bottle! Terrible! Anyway, we'll see if it works - he said we should see improvement by Monday. We go back to the doc in a couple weeks for Ethan's 2 week appt.

Maternity Pictures!

So I was hesistant about posting these pictures because, let's face it, I had a HUGE belly when I was pregnant (and still now it seems.)... but I did want to have maternity pictures taken because I was blessed to have 2 pregnancies and no belly stretch marks, so I figured I needed to take advantage of it because I could very well not be so blessed w/ the next pregnancy... So I asked my friend Emily who took her AMAZING gorgeous pictures of her baby boy and her maternity pictures and she said it was her friend Kim Lowery. So I looked at her website and she does such amazing pictures and she's SOOOOO reasonable, so she was hired! She was kind enough to allow me to post these pictures on my blog too! So here goes! These are my favorites!

Hello 38 weeks of baby!!

Jackson was being quite a little flirt w/ Mrs. Kim.

This is, TO DATE, my absolute favorite picture of Jackson and I. Love this.


So sweet!












Thanks Kim! You did a fantastic job!!

Mommy, off. Mommy OFF!

I have to tell this funny story about Jackson... So I started working out a couple weeks ago... I have just been SO anxious to start running again so about 4 weeks after I had Ethan, I went for a jog.. just a half mile and then the next week I attempted a mile and this week, I've attempted 2 miles. So last night, I actually made it the full 2 miles without stopping! I was so proud of myself... the truth is that I have a song that I love and when I hear it, it makes me want to dance or work out or something really active... So I posted on facebook that this song got me through this tough 2 mile run (tough for me just cuz I'm so out of shape!)... So I got some comments and played the song this morning and I tried to get Jackson to dance to it - it has an awesome beat and he loves to dance! - but instead, he kept shaking his head saying 'no mommy. off mommy, off!' I guess my baby boy does not have an ear for rap music... probably just another thing he got from his uncle ray. BOO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIXJ2ehsdW8

Brotherly Love.

Family Pics!

My GREAT GREAT friend Stacey Smith took these pictures for us outside our home on Sunday. She is an amazing photographer who now lives in Dallas and did these shots in about 20 minutes! She really has some talents!!! She has not edited these pictures at all - so this is the shots in a raw state! Since I think they are already awesome, you can imagine how great they will be after editing! Thank you SO much Stacey - we really appreciate it!

Toddler Vs. Pen: Toddler Wins.

Oh - and he didn't forget to get the futon cover too.