Since I posted the last video of Jackson, he's been growing like a weed. (At his six-month check-up he was 28.5 inches and 19 pounds, which puts him in the 95% category for height and 75% category for weight - and to think we were ever worried about him gaining weight!) He's been sitting up, chewing on absolutely everything he can get his hands on, and trying to crawl (currently he's a champ at going backwards).
The other night, Chad put Jackson up on his shoulders and his eyes were as wide as they've ever been. Though I have a feeling he'll spend most of his life towering over me, he seemed to enjoy the scenery from this new perspective.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
On the second day...
Today, Jackson began the second day of his brand-spanking-new daycare. We've been on the list for this place for over a year, and we're really excited about his new "teachers" and the structure of the program. (After looking at his daily "report card" of developmental activities - which included "pretending to fly" and "pointing at black and white pictures" - Chad said, "Man, I'm going to feel guilty about not taking him in on weekends too.")
When I picked him up yesterday, Jackson seemed a bit shell-shocked. I chalked it up to over-stimulation, new faces and a change in his schedule. It was the first time in Jackson's "I'll go to anyone, anytime" life that he was actually clingy. And quiet.
Today when I picked him up, I was handed the following:
Turns out, he was getting sick. The doctor says it's a serious ear infection. (Ouch.)
But the "Your son was sent home from school today because ____" note makes me laugh. This was the first time, but something tells me this will not be the last in his many years of education that I get a note from the teacher. Here's hoping this trend doesn't continue into, oh, high school.
Yes, I'm going to save this.
When I picked him up yesterday, Jackson seemed a bit shell-shocked. I chalked it up to over-stimulation, new faces and a change in his schedule. It was the first time in Jackson's "I'll go to anyone, anytime" life that he was actually clingy. And quiet.
Today when I picked him up, I was handed the following:
Turns out, he was getting sick. The doctor says it's a serious ear infection. (Ouch.)
But the "Your son was sent home from school today because ____" note makes me laugh. This was the first time, but something tells me this will not be the last in his many years of education that I get a note from the teacher. Here's hoping this trend doesn't continue into, oh, high school.
Yes, I'm going to save this.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
I'm baaack...
Well, this is embarrassing.
It's been two months to the day since I have updated my blog. Since I wrote my first post in 2007 I've never gone this long without updating it.
I refuse to get caught up over-explaining and rationalizing my neglect so I will only say I'm sorry to all four of you who read this. (Or maybe none of you now. Hmm.)
I'm also not going to try to spend an entire blog post summing up our last two months. Partially because there's too much to include and partially because I don't have enough brain cells at the moment to remember all of it. I do know that since I've blogged I've gotten a new boss, been to a bachelorette party, went away on a work trip, stayed downtown for our anniversary (6!), been to a wedding, hosted the parents for a long visit, spent time back home on vacation.... Honestly I don't remember the rest. Let's just say I haven't spent the last two months getting manicures and reading books.
Though I did just read The Help and it was as good as everybody says.
So we'll leave it at this: Now that my little guy is soundly sleeping 12 straight hours at night (halleluiah, I feel like a real person again) and my house is not a disaster and my job is not utterly insane, I will update this more often. How often? Who knows.
Guess you'll have to come back again to find out.
It's been two months to the day since I have updated my blog. Since I wrote my first post in 2007 I've never gone this long without updating it.
I refuse to get caught up over-explaining and rationalizing my neglect so I will only say I'm sorry to all four of you who read this. (Or maybe none of you now. Hmm.)
I'm also not going to try to spend an entire blog post summing up our last two months. Partially because there's too much to include and partially because I don't have enough brain cells at the moment to remember all of it. I do know that since I've blogged I've gotten a new boss, been to a bachelorette party, went away on a work trip, stayed downtown for our anniversary (6!), been to a wedding, hosted the parents for a long visit, spent time back home on vacation.... Honestly I don't remember the rest. Let's just say I haven't spent the last two months getting manicures and reading books.
Though I did just read The Help and it was as good as everybody says.
So we'll leave it at this: Now that my little guy is soundly sleeping 12 straight hours at night (halleluiah, I feel like a real person again) and my house is not a disaster and my job is not utterly insane, I will update this more often. How often? Who knows.
Guess you'll have to come back again to find out.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Jackson was right!
That phrase, uttered by my brother-in-law, was the way we found out that Jackson had a boy cousin. (Of course, Jackson knew this all along. I, on the other hand, was just sure it was a girl.)
My peanut nephew Connor Joseph Ryan entered into the world a mere 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Suddenly, Jackson seemed all boy and no baby. He's a tank next to his little cousin!
My peanut nephew Connor Joseph Ryan entered into the world a mere 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Suddenly, Jackson seemed all boy and no baby. He's a tank next to his little cousin!
Ever since Connor was born (nine days ago - yes, I'm quite behind), I've been trying to wrap my mind around how amazing it is that these two little boys are just five months apart. They're never going to know life without each other. I have big dreams for them to be as close as brothers...though I'm under no illusion that is always going to be a good thing. (As my three-boys-in-four-years friend Marj cautioned, "If you ever hear silence when they are playing together, be scared.")
Until then, I'm reveling in a teeny tiny baby - way more teeny than the 8 lb 9 oz bruiser we came home from the hospital with! - and finding yet another reason to go shopping.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
It's a boy!
Ok, ok, I can't take this anymore. I'm going to be an aunt again any day now and the suspense over whether I will be welcoming a niece or nephew into this world is just killing me. Earlier today, we had a little tease from our new family member "Yogi," thinking that he or she might be coming into this world as soon as tonight or tomorrow. (Alas, that does not appear to be the case.)
For most of this journey, I've really thought Yogi was a girl. (I still do, actually.) But Jackson and I got to talking about this tonight and he's just certain - apparently - that he'll welcome a little boy cousin. In fact, he's so convinced that I'm starting to waver in my prediction.
PS: I am nearly certain that this screeching is a gift from one of Jackson's daycare friends. Someday this will not be charming, I'm sure. But I love it now!
PPS: After watching this video, can anyone sympathize with the way this child kicked me for nine months? :)
For most of this journey, I've really thought Yogi was a girl. (I still do, actually.) But Jackson and I got to talking about this tonight and he's just certain - apparently - that he'll welcome a little boy cousin. In fact, he's so convinced that I'm starting to waver in my prediction.
PS: I am nearly certain that this screeching is a gift from one of Jackson's daycare friends. Someday this will not be charming, I'm sure. But I love it now!
PPS: After watching this video, can anyone sympathize with the way this child kicked me for nine months? :)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mama mia
Yesterday was my first Mother's Day and, I have to say, it was awesome. It was a glorious day. I've got a big bouquet of roses and some chocolates sitting on the dining room table ("I took the nutritional information off the back so you can't see how bad these are for you," said Chad) and we spent the day going out for a leisurely lunch, taking a stroll around the neighborhood, and hanging out in the front yard until Jackson's bedtime. I even took a two-hour nap. Amazing.
Leading up to Mother's Day, I got very nostalgic thinking about all of the amazing moms in my life that I've been fortunate enough to know. There's my mom, of course. And my grandmothers. And my mother-in-law, and Chad's grandmothers. And my aunts. All of them are incredible women who have taught me little things here and there about how to raise good children and what's required in this motherhood gig. We all have our own style, I suppose, but I've taken pieces from each of them.
There are other moms as well. I never really understood before, but moms stick together. So many of my friends - and even some of my acquaintances who have become friends - have reached out with advice, thoughts, stories, and hang-in-there anecdotes. It's been one of the most surprising parts of this journey: the new bonds I've made along the way.
Fortunately, for us, parenthood is getting a lot easier and more fun. (I know, I know...soon it will get harder again, but we're enjoying this time right now!) And with several friends and neighbors soon set to join the "mommy" ranks, I'm already thinking of ways to pay it forward.
Until then, I'm remembering a great Mother's Day. And thinking of ways to make Father's Day this much fun.
Leading up to Mother's Day, I got very nostalgic thinking about all of the amazing moms in my life that I've been fortunate enough to know. There's my mom, of course. And my grandmothers. And my mother-in-law, and Chad's grandmothers. And my aunts. All of them are incredible women who have taught me little things here and there about how to raise good children and what's required in this motherhood gig. We all have our own style, I suppose, but I've taken pieces from each of them.
There are other moms as well. I never really understood before, but moms stick together. So many of my friends - and even some of my acquaintances who have become friends - have reached out with advice, thoughts, stories, and hang-in-there anecdotes. It's been one of the most surprising parts of this journey: the new bonds I've made along the way.
Fortunately, for us, parenthood is getting a lot easier and more fun. (I know, I know...soon it will get harder again, but we're enjoying this time right now!) And with several friends and neighbors soon set to join the "mommy" ranks, I'm already thinking of ways to pay it forward.
Until then, I'm remembering a great Mother's Day. And thinking of ways to make Father's Day this much fun.
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