Sitting Up!

Jack is just growing up way too fast! He can sit up unassisted now! We have been working on it for a little while now and the past couple of days he has gotten really good at it. If he starts to lean back or to the side he is able to catch himself and sit back upright. He really seems to enjoy this new found skill it gives him a new perspective on life. I took these pictures earlier tonight, while Jack was sitting on the floor Loxlee decided that he needed to show Jack how much he loves him...

The simple things in life...

In the evenings after we finish eating dinner we sit around the table and talk for awhile longer; Jack often plays with his bowl, but last night he just had to have my yellow cup. I couldn't help but take pictures, it was so funny. He was able to pick it up and to my shock he knew just what he was suppose to do with it. He played with it for about 30 minutes before he decided it was time for a bath...

The Beginning of a Forever Friendship

The relationship between Jack and Loxlee began when Jack was still in my tummy. Loxlee would bark and Jack would start kicking and moving. When we first brought Jack home we wouldn't let Loxlee get too close, we wanted to make sure he would be calm around our new little one. As time passed Loxlee would lick Jack on his little feet and Jack would smile. Recently, Jack has become obsessed with Loxlee, he whips his head around trying to find him and when he sees him he belly laughs, if Loxlee barks or is playing with a toy Jack thinks it is hilarious! The past few days we have been letting them interact more and more. This morning when Jack was playing on the floor Loxlee came and laid down beside him and Jack got so excited, he was reaching for his paws and squealing. Loxlee starting playing with Jack, gently reaching his paws towards him and licking his hands. It was so cute!

My Big Voice

Jack has been chattering away for sometime now; however, recently he has realized that he can squeal, shriek and scream! It makes us laugh everytime he does it. Today at church he thought that everyone should know that he has found his big voice, and he made sure they heard it multiple times!

As you will see in the video we have just gotten done eating supper, can you tell Jack loves sweet potatoes?!?

5 Months Old Today!

Jack is 5 months old today! I know I say this everytime Jack turns another month older but my goodness, it is flying by. Talk about love, he is the most precious treasure ever. The bond that it made between mother and child is unshakebale and I am certain there will never be a day in my life where I won't worry about him. (I am doomed to be gray headed before I am 35).

Just to recap--I will not exagerate--Life with Jack started off rough. Being induced, the epidural not working, and 19 hours of labor was nothing compared to what the coming weeks brought. It is amazing how much you can get done on zero sleep. Jack was born a hungry baby, he came out sucking his hand, and didn't stop sucking for more than an hour for the first 6 weeks of his life. Dustin frequently jokes about how we have seen every episode of Criminal Minds, we would finally give up at night and come out into the living room at like 3:00 in the morning, hunker down on the couch and watch episode after episode of Criminal Minds. However, after we made it through those first few weeks we all settled into a routine. We started giving Jack a little formula and he wasn't so hungry and mommy was finally able to take an entire shower again, and even wash my hair! I will always remember the first night that Jack slept until 5:30AM, I freaked out when I woke up and saw the clock, I ran to his room sure that something terrible had happened, and yet there he was snoring like a little pig! Since then Jack has pretty consistently slept through the night.

On November 9, Jack got his first cold, he was miserable; however, he handled it like a champ in a couple of days it eased off, so we thought. It came back and stayed! He has been congested since then. Our pediatrician refered us to an Ear Nose and Throat who said that he needed to have his adenoids removed in order for him to be able to breath more easily, so surgery was scheduled. I was really not at peace with this decision, but who am I to question the expert? When we went for his pre-op the anesthsia team said they had never put a baby as young as Jack to sleep for this surgery, and shared that they were uncomfortable doing so and refered us to an ENT in Winston-Salem. We went that afternoon, the day before surgery, and they did some tests and found that his adenoids were just fine, and that he in fact did not need the surgery. Dr. McGuirt said that Jack most likely has a milk allergy and told us to give him soy formula, he also gave us a strong antibiotic and steroid drops for his nose to relieve the swelling. That all took place on Jauary 5, and now on the 7 th Jack is already doing much better. We go back the doctor on Feb. 5, to make sure things have improved. I am thankful that we did not have to put Jack through surgery so young. The Lord really does answer prayers.

Jack learned to roll over from his back to his tummy on New Years Eve, he wanted to make sure he packed that into 2009! He can sit up on his own for about a minute before he topples over, and while he is on his tummy he can scoot around to get the toys that he wants, he is also pulling his knees up under him and then bicycling them, we are sure crawling isn't far off. He can stand while just holding our fingers and he loves to stand and play while holding onto the outside of his exersaucer. His bottom 2 teeth on the bottom are almost through, we can't wait to see them!! There has been a big debate in our family about what color hair Jack will have, he has such light features, his eyelashes are blonde, and his eyebrows...well...what eyebrows? He has really fair skin as well, but I think atlast his hair will be light brown, it is starting to really come in thick now, no more baldy! His new favorite thing is Loxlee our dog, all Lox has to do is walk by him and Jack breaks out in a belly laugh! If Loxlee barks Jack gets even more hysterical, when Jack is in his high chair Loxlee is face to face with him and Jack will reach out and run his fingers through his hair. It is precious, Loxlee just licks him affectionately.

So despite the rocky start we had to life with Prince Jack it has all been worth it. He is my heart, and I would do it all over for him. He is our pride and joy and life is much sweeter with in it. We love you Jackaroo!

I am 5 months old today!!

Riding on Herbie

Santa brought Jack a push car for Christmas and he loves it! This video is daddy pushing Jack around the kitchen on his Herbie...this video makes me laugh out loud every time I watch it.