Week 6

We've had a fairly laid back week! Last weekend, we hung out at home as a family. Tyler had worked over 50 hours that week and we all just needed some downtime together. Monday, I had a doctor's appointment so Jackson got to hang out with his Sassy for a while. Tuesday, Jackson and I went to Russellville to eat lunch with Tina & Lauren and see everyone at work for a little bit! Wednesday, Jackson hung out with Sassy again while I went grocery shopping. Today, we're just enjoying a quiet day at home before the weekend. Here are a few random photos from the past week:

Jackson's 5th week of life

We had a big week last week! Wednesday we went to Russellville to visit everyone at work. Here's Jackson with Miss Myra:


Thursday was Jackson's one month checkup. Here's Jackson getting ready to go! He had gained weight from 5 lb 15 oz to 9 lb even, and grown from 19 inches to 21 inches! He's getting so big so fast!


Friday we went to visit family in Van Buren. Here's Jackson going on his first big car trip:


Jackson meeting Vernie for the first time:

Cousins! Minda, Tripp (Vernie's son), Vernie, and Jackson:

Saturday night, we took Jackson to church for the first time at New Life. He did great, and slept through the entire service! I didn't end up taking a picture because we got sidetracked before the service by an explosive diaper.

Sunday afternoon, Jackson and I went for his first walk in the stroller. It was a gorgeous day!



Brennan has been home this week for spring break, so we have been hanging out with him some. Monday night we had taco night, and Tuesday night everyone came to our house for Lost and fried deer steak. Tonight, Tyler and I are going on our first date night since Jackson was born, and Sassy and Grandpa Chris are going to keep him for us. :)

Jackson's First Bath!

Jackson got his first tub bath the other night. He really liked it! He sat and cooed and talked to us while he was in there.




He is growing and changing so much every day! He has discovered his hands and is constantly trying to grab my hair, or shirt, or whatever is around him. Today we pulled out a teddy bear that has a sound machine built in - ocean waves, or heartbeat, or rain sounds. You know my child has to have his sound machine! Anyways, he is fascinated by it, and it puts him right to sleep. If we had known that last night, we sure would have pulled it out in the middle of the night! He also likes this other toy he has that is a seahorse that plays music and lights up. He just stares at them! We go this week for his one-month checkup. One month! I can't believe it's already been that long.

Time Well Wasted

"Time well wasted, and there's no way I'd trade a few more things that I could've crossed off my list for a day that I'll never forget... I didn't get a thing done, but I sure soaked up every minute of the memory we were making, and I count it all as time well wasted..."

I was listening to Brad Paisley and this song came on my iPod. It served as a reminder to me to soak up my days at home with my little boy while I have them. Suddenly going from working woman to stay-at-home mom has been fairly difficult for me. I am used to going, going, going, and not really taking much of a break. I'm definitely not used to sitting at home most of the time! Even on days I don't feel well or Jackson is fussy, I get antsy to get out of the house and be productive!

He is growing so quickly! He is already three weeks old, and his looks are changing so fast. He is really filling out and his little personality is coming out more and more.

I will not wish these days away.
I will cherish each sleepless night, each screaming fit, and each dirty diaper.
I will not worry about the laundry on the floor or dishes in the sink.
I will focus on my sweet boy while he is this size... the dishes and laundry can wait.

I know that my maternity leave will be, sadly, very short, and that very soon I'll look back on these days and wonder where the time went. So, for now, I will lay down my needs, wants, and OCD tendencies and enjoy each moment with my sweet one

Jackson

My little boy is now 15 days old. The time has flown quickly by in some ways, but in others it feels like I should still be pregnant! As I watch him sleeping in his swing, I am blown away by how much I love that little person. He is so sweet and has been such a great baby so far. When I think about how quickly our lives changed, it blows me away.

On Tuesday, February 2, I got up thinking I felt different and that I might have a baby very soon, but I never dreamed I would have him by that afternoon! I went to work as usual but was having contractions (which I had been having for a month anyway) and just didn't feel well. By mid-morning my contractions were fairly consistent at 25 minutes apart. By my lunchtime, I was restless and couldn't sit down comfortably, and contractions were still coming every 25 minutes or so. I decided to go home and try to relax, but still didn't think I would have him until later that night or the next day. By the time I got home, Tyler was home as well, and we got our bags together, took showers, and prepared to go to the hospital. I called my doctor's office, and they told me to wait a while longer before coming to the hospital. So, we settled down on the couch to watch some LOST and wait out the contractions. That was about 1:00 p.m. My contractions still came 25 minutes apart, and weren't getting any closer really. Then, at 2:30 p.m., my water broke. That really got things moving! We loaded up quickly in the car and headed to Little Rock. Meanwhile, my contractions suddenly began coming every minute and a half or so! By the time we got to the hospital, I was feeling the need to push! Tyler dropped me off at the front door and I ran (as best I could!) to labor and delivery. The nurses told me that they did not have an open room, but they were cleaning one, and I would have to "sit in the waiting room and try to relax". Telling a woman in the end stages of labor to relax... whatever. I found a corner in the waiting room, faced the wall, and tried not to yell loud enough to scare the other people sharing the waiting room with us. This waiting period was the most intense 25 minutes or so of my life. Finally, Tyler pulled me through the doors and into the labor and delivery unit and demanded a bed and a room, which they were still in the process of cleaning. Once I got settled into the bed (at about 4:00 p.m.) and the nurse checked me, I was dilated to 9, almost 10, and completely effaced. This rallied the troops, and thankfully, the next person I got to see was the anesthesiologist! I was able to get a small epidural and got enough pain relief to relax and breathe. About this time, my mom showed up and Tyler was just glad I had calmed down. Then, just a few minutes later, my doctor was there and it was time to push! I pushed for about 25 minutes, and at 5:25 p.m. my sweet babylove came into this world at the tiny size of 5 lb, 14 oz and 18 in long. He had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and two large knots in his cord. Any more time in my belly, and there might have been serious complications. It was just God's protection that he came out when he did. He had aspirated on meconium in the amniotic fluid and was breathing very fast. He also had some trouble keeping his body temperature up. It was over an hour after he was born before I was able to hold him for the first time, because they were keeping a close eye on him and had him on the warmer.

The whole birth experience was definitely a great one for me. I found strength that I did not know I possessed, and I know it was the Lord being strong for me. At the moments I thought that I could not complete this task, the Lord was there whispering in my ear that I could (usually through my mother and my husband, who were both great comforts to me). When I realized how the Lord had protected my child when I didn't even know he needed to be protected, my heart crumbled before Him. How many times has He protected me when I did not even realize I was in danger? How much must He love me, if in my humanness I am capable of loving my child this much? The past two weeks have changed my life completely. They have drawn Tyler & me closer than I ever thought possible. My view of the Lord and his grace, mercy, and strength has come into clear focus.

As we continue on in this journey of being parents, I know He has a lot more lessons for us to learn, and a lot more mercy to pour out on us!

Jackson has arrived!!!

Jackson arrived on 2/2/10 at 5:25 pm, weighing in at 5 lb 14 oz and 18 inches long.

Babylove

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ~ Luke 2:19

As my first pregnancy draws quickly to a close, I just wanted to write down some of the things the Lord has been showing me lately. It seems that this season is a very bittersweet one. One part of me has wished it - the back pain, the heartburn, the constant feeling of "full" - away quickly, while another part of me has been hearing the still, small voice telling me to cherish these moments. Today has been the first time in a long, long time that I have been by myself completely for the entire day, and I have felt the Lord stirring my heart to rest and reflect upon the past few months. So, I put Ron Kenoly on my Pandora station and put my feet up tonight.

This pregnancy was a surprise to us, and our lives changed forever on June 5, 2009 when we found out that we would be having a baby. My first reaction was that this was not in "our" plan. But very quickly the Lord revealed that this child was His plan. His plan may not always look the way we expect, or come in the timing we expect, but why should we put our limits on our Heavenly Father? His wisdom is far superior to mine, so why would I question His plan? I cannot see distant past to infinite future, so I trust the One Who does.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength ~ 1 Corinthians 1:25

From the minute I found out I was pregnant, I have been amazed at how much I love this child that is growing inside of me. Even more amazing to me is the fact that God loves us that much - and MORE. Then, even more amazing than that is that He loved Jesus that much, too, and sacrificed Him for US. I still don't think I fully comprehend this fact; though the process of becoming a parent certainly has opened my eyes to the enormity of this sacrifice. He loves us enough to give up His son. His SON. Incredible.

This is love - not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins... ~ 1 John 4:10

No one is going to argue with me that pregnancy is extremely difficult at times. There are many changes occurring in your body, your hormones are out of control, and life just seems ridiculous most days. However, through this time, I have learned how much I truly must rely on the Lord for strength. There were days when brushing my teeth took every ounce of energy my body had, and I was still expected to get in the car and drive an hour to work, then work 9 hours, then drive home. Even knowing the cause of my pain and I only survived those days by laying my weakness, sickness, and emotions at the foot of the cross and picking up His strength, health, and stability. My favorite verse during these times was Isaiah 58:11:

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

There were plenty of days that I did not feel like a well-watered garden or a spring whose waters never fail. Most of the time I felt like that sun-scorched land. But His Word promised that He would satisfy my needs, and would strengthen my frame. So I held onto this promise for dear life, and knew that my God would be faithful to His Word. And He was. And is. And will be.

So, here I sit, 36 weeks pregnant and fast on my way to becoming a mother "for real"... not that this baby isn't "for real", because believe me, he reminds me frequently that he is in there, for real, as in, a CHILD. Inside my belly. FOR REAL. How do people not believe in creation?