Pity Party...Table for one, please....

Things that I wish I could do with/for Jackson if there were about, oh, 10 more hours in a day:

1. Make his babyfood -- I would really love to make Jackson's baby food.  I know that may seem crazy to some who wonder why anyone would spend the time doing that when you can buy jar baby food at the store.  I just think there is something wonderful about actually gathering all of the fruits and vegetables, pureeing (is that how you spell that word?) everything and knowing exactly what is going into everything your child is eating. 

2. Take an ECFE class -- I've heard such wonderful things about ECFE classes and I would love to take one with Jackson.  Unfortunately many of the classses are offered during the day for stay-at-home moms.  Last time I checked, there was one evening class that ended at 7:30.  Well, by 7:30 Jackson is usually sleeping.  His bed time is like clockwork.  By 6:30pm he starts to get really cranky and by 7:00 he has had a bottle and is in bed.  I don't want to enroll in a class that he is just going to cry through.  It doesn't appear that they have any classes on the weekends either so that isn't an option.

3. Enroll him in swimming lessons -- I know, it sounds ridiculous for a seven month old to take swimming lessons but I've heard it's really good for them and I think it would be fun.

4. Join a Mom's Club -- Why aren't there mom's groups for working moms?  That seems like something that would be a great idea.  Stay at home moms have all sorts of opportunities to meet other mothers but working moms don't have those same opportunities, or at least I have yet to discover them. 

I know these are just silly little things but they are things that I feel like I'm missing out on by not being able to stay home with Jackson.  He's up at 5am and we get a little playtime in the morning but by 7:30 we are off to daycare and I can't pick him up before 5pm.  That gives us about 1 1/2 hours with him before he starts getting really cranky and wanting to go to bed.  Wow, that's really depressing.  During the week, we get to spend about 4 hours a day with him.  I know he's doing great at daycare and I can tell that his development is progressing right on track if not a little ahead of schedule.  I know that I would have days when I would miss having a job but there are also days like today where dropping him off at daycare so I could go work just about killed me.  As he sat at the table and I gave him one last good bye kiss (ok, maybe two or three) he looked up at me, smiled and reached his arms out to me as if to say, "play with me, mommy."  All I wanted to do was stay and play with him.  At least it's Friday and I am going to have the entire weekend to hang out with my boys.

Ok, pity party over.  Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Alright, finally Christmas pictures...

I know, it's the middle of January and I'm just now getting around to posting Christmas pictures.  Well, I have no excuses other than it's just been busy.  Anyway, here was our Christmas in a nutshell...

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Minnesota.  Our Christmas Eve was quiet.  We chose not to go to Christmas Eve services because we would have had to leave Jackson with a sitter and I just didn't want to do that.  It's was our first Christmas and I wanted to spend it together.  We stayed home, baked cookies, enjoyed the beautiful snow and opened presents.  It was just perfect.

Here is Jackson getting ready to open his first Christmas present.  Of course he didn't understand what was really going on but he seemed to enjoy it!

Jackson opening his first present.

He puts everything in his mouth these days, including his new Run DMC and Star Wars shirts.

His new teething toy, apparently a must-have and he really loves it!  I have no doubt that teeth will be appearing soon.  He's been drooling like crazy and he will bite anything that comes near him.

And of course, his new Christmas jammies!

I love this picture!

After presents we read "The Night Before Christmas."  As a child I practically had this book memorized.  It was so much fun to read it to Jackson on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Day we all went over to Carol and Casey's house for more present opening and a wonderful Christmas dinner.  Casey does such a wonderful job making the stockings for everyone.  Here is Jackson's new stocking.

Jackson and Gramma Carter inspecting one of his new toys.

On Christmas Day night, we finally got around to opening stockings at home.  By this point, I think Jackson began to get this whole present thing. 

And finally, the day after Christmas we all piled into the car and made the long and slightly scary trip to Iowa.  The snowstorm over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had left the road ice and snow covered and the Iowa DOT said that travel was "not recommended" where we were going.  We were determined, however, to make it.  I really didn't want to miss an Iowa Christmas, especially since it was Jackson's first Christmas.  We packed the car with extra blankets and our warmest coats as well as water and some snacks (just in case we got stranded somewhere) and off we went.  We made it in about 6 1/2 hours (it usually takes about 4 1/2 or so).  The last hour was capped off by completely snow covered roads and Jackson screaming in the backseat.  Despite my best attempts to calm him down, he had had enough of that darn carseat and wasn't going to take it anymore. We were all happy when we finally pulled in the driveway at my parent's house!

Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of the actual present opening (I think we were so exhausted from the drive and happy to be out of the car).  Here are a couple from the next day, however.  Jackson got plenty of cuddles from Grandma and Grandpa!

Anyway, it was a wonderful Christmas made much more special with Jackson in our lives!

He's getting so big!!

I know he's six months old -- growing, learning, developing more everyday -- but 19 1/2 lbs??  Yesterday was his six month check-up and, yes, little Jackson currently weighs in at 19 1/2 lbs, in the 75 - 90 percentile for weight.  He is also 28 inches long, in the 95 percentile for length.  He's a big boy! 

It occurs to me at this six-month milestone that I haven't really talked much about the milestones he's reaching developmentally.  I don't know whether it's because I see it everyday or what.  I guess I just tend to talk more about what we're doing and not how he's changing. 

Well, as you might guess, he's changing all the time.  He is rolling both from front to back and back to front.  He loves it and will just roll all over the floor if you let him.  He's definitely figured out that he can roll to get where he wants to go or to reach a toy.  He's started to pull his knees underneath him and I don't think it will be too long before he starts trying to crawl.  Yikes!!  The thought of that makes me really nervous!

He sits unassisted for a little bit and is getting better at it everyday.  The problem arises when he tries to reach for something and topples over.  He's working at it though and I think will have it down before too long.  As you can tell from previously posted pictures, he's found his feet and loves to grab them.  He sucks his thumb too although sometimes it ends up also being several fingers.  Something tells me he might be teething and I think chomping on his fingers feels good on his sore gums.  He "talks" up a storm!!  I just love hearing all the little sounds he makes!  He loves to have little "conversations" which usually end with him laughing and blowing bubbles.  He's such a happy baby!  He just smiles at everyone.

Jackson sleeps like a champ too.  We usually put him to bed in his crib around 7pm and he will sleep until around 6am.  Occasionally he will wake up in the night but typically all it takes to put him back to sleep is a little backrub.  I can't believe how lucky we are!  I've heard such horror stories about babies, even at six months, waking up to feed several times a night.  Jackson has pretty much been sleeping through the night since about three months.  Unfortunately, he really doesn't like his crib when it comes to nap time.  If he falls asleep on Scott or me, he will generally sleep at least an hour.  If we put him in his crib, it's 30 minutes at the most.  That is one thing we need to work on in the next few months.  Obviously, he can't take naps on us for the rest of his childhood. 

Jackson continues to amaze us everyday.  He is such a joy to have!

GO HAWKS!!!

What a great victory over Georgia Tech, 24-14, in the Orange Bowl last night!!

If you're interested, there is a great article about the game and the Hawks here:  http://hawkcentral.press-citizen.com/article/20100105/HAWKS0104/100106001/1053/HAWKS/Keeler--Hawks-prove-themselves-on-national-stage

Thanks for another great season!

Six months ago today.....

Wow...six months!  I could never have imagined how wonderful the last six months would be.  Jackson has truly changed our lives in the most amazing way.  We are completely wrapped up in that adorable little boy!  Although I knew he would be, Scott is just a wonderful father and it's so much fun to watch him interact with Jackson.  They already have a very special relationship.  I love being a mother too!  It is absolutely the best job in the world! 

We've had our challenging times and our scary times -- from the first few days when we felt like we were just stumbling through things to our first trip to the ER in October to two ear infections.  We've also relished the wonderful little things like the first smile, the first little giggles and the pure joy Jackson exudes when we're all playing or reading a book.  He is an amazing little boy (if I do say so myself).  In the last sixt months we've gone from this....

To this....

I would like to know what exactly was going through Jackson's head when he made this face.

My boys.  Love 'em!

The first six months have been quite a ride! I can't wait to see what happens next!

P.S. We had a wonderful first Christmas complete with a huge blizzard, a harrowing trip to Iowa and a wonderful time with family in Minnesota and Iowa!  I will recap the details and post pictures shortly.