Want. Need. Wear. Read.

This is our first of many Christmases as a family and we've been talking a lot about which traditions from our separate families we're going to incorporate into our Christmas festivities, and what we can start doing that will be all our own. We'll take from mine getting Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve and having Special K Bars with breakfast Christmas morning. And from Nate's we'll play "hide the pickle." (That's what she said!!!)

While cruising through my favorite kiddie blog, I stumbled across this blog post about Christmas gift-giving, and we think it's going to be our new tradition. The concept is that we would give our kids four gifts... one they want, one they need, one they wear and one they read. And of course they would also get a gift from Santa and a stocking full of goodies.

I love the idea of searching out the perfect gift for each category, and teaching the kids that Christmas isn't just about getting more, more, more, and more. Not to mention, they'll (and yes, I know that we only have one babyat this point) be getting PLENTY of gifts from all of the grandparents.

You know you shouldn't be a blogger when...

1. You've only posted two posts in the last 6 months and
2. when two posts ago you wrote what a bad blogger you are.

I'm starting to get sick of many of my friends using Facebook to constantly update me with the minute-to-minute goings on of their kids, and I realized that I'm starting to do the same... so it's back to the blog. I'll bore you all here with the minute-by-minute goings on of my kid :)

Jackson's been SUPER fussy that past few days, and I thought it might be that his top two front teeth were inching their way down to their semi-permanent resting places. But he really should have been over the painful part of that by now, so I decided to let my fingers do a little walking around the inside of his mouth. Low and behold he has two more teeth coming in! His top two lateral incisors. Poor guy. Now I understand all the whining. By Christmas he's going to have a pretty good set of chompers.

We just got our good camera back from the shop, so I snapped of a few (read: 40) pictures of bath time tonight and you can see his top front teeth in all their glory.

Faux Family Camp

We took our first family vacation last week with my dad and step-mom up near Graegle, CA. For 13 years (I think) we used to go up for a week of fun and friends called Family Camp at the Feather River Inn. Well, now the Inn is closed and Family Camp is through, but some of the families still get together in the area for a week during the summer aptly named "Faux Family Camp." It was great to get away and relax, and take my new family on a vacation that I have such fond memories of while growing up.

I'm A Bad Blogger

Because I'm constantly posting pictures of Jackson on Facebook, I've totally neglected my blogging duties here. What a bad mommy! I think from now on I'll try to post the REALLY cute pictures and stories here (I know... they're all REALLY cute) and leave the rest for Facebook.

In that vein, today I was making some baby food with Jackson (he hasn't tried peaches yet, so we were making peach puree). I decided to let him taste some fresh out of the food processor and he seemed to like it. After downing a few more spoonfuls I figured, why waste a good food moment. So I pulled out some apple puree and gave him a spoonful. Well, our good food moment quickly turned bad. Too chunky puree + sensitive baby gag reflex = copious amount of baby barf. Lucky for you, I don't have pictures of the baby barf, just the impromptu "shower" in the sink that followed. I think these are probably THE cutest pictures of Jackson yet.

How Time Does Fly

I can't believe it's been a month since we (read: I) posted anything about our sweet little boy. I guess we (I) have been too busy taking care of the little critter to keep up on blogging. Bad Mommy!

We're glad to report that he's doing very well... growing like a weed. At our last doctor visit on April 6, he weighed 13 lbs. 4 oz. and was 23 3/4 inches long. He discovered his hands recently and they have become his favorite toys. And he's regularly rolling on his side now. Look out... it won't be long until he's crawling around the house.

He's also sleeping through the night, only waking once or twice to eat then going right back to sleep. If I could just muster the courage to let him sleep in his own crib. I know HE can do it... I just don't know if I can :)

Pictures

We've been trying to figure out our fancy camera and have been taking TONS of pics of the little dude. Here are a few of the good ones.



And a quick update. We had his first doctor appointment on Monday where he got weighed and measured. He's 9 lbs. 9 oz. and is 21 3/4 in. long. He actually lost half an inch in length... all in his conehead.

Home Sweet Home

We're finally home! At about 12:30 today they gave JB his final check and released us. As much as we had talked about wanting to go home ASAP, we're both thankful for the time we spent in the hospital. The nurses and doctors gave us invaluable help and advice. I think we might have killed each other by now had we not had those couple of days to learn in the hospital. But we're definitely glad to be home now.

JB is doing very well. Still sleeping and eating a ton. He's lost a little of his birth weight and is getting more good lookin' by the second.

After about 13 hours of labor, Jackson Bruce Grow was born yesterday at 1:08 p.m. He's already taking after his dad, weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs. 11 oz and measuring 22.5 inches long (Nate was 10 lbs. 2 oz. and 22.5 inches). So far he's the most well-behaved little dude, just sleeping, eating and pooping... and not much crying at all. And when he does find the need to make a little noise, Nate is great at calming him down. At this point, I think he's actually held him more than I have.

As long as the pediatrician gives us the green light, we'll get to home this afternoon. Keep your fingers crossed. We can't wait to get out of the hospital and back home.

D-Day + 2

No updates from our doctor's appointment on Wednesday. He's still waiting to come out. I think he just likes it in there too much. Maybe I should stop feeding him Big Spoon everyday :)

Today, and now twice a week until he's born, we have to go to the hospital and be monitored for about 20 minutes. They're just checking to make sure the placenta is still working properly and that everything is A-okay with the little dude. So that's great... three doctor's appointments a week. Bring it on!

7 Centimeters

At this point (with my due date right around the corner... and by right around the corner I mean, tomorrow), no news is NOT good news. No news means that I'm still pregnant. No news means that I'm still getting more uncomfortable by the minute. Actually, I'm exaggerating. I feel pretty good considering the circumstances.

We have another doctor appointment tomorrow morning, and we'll see what he says. Hopefully it's, "You're 7 centimeters dilated. Let's get you to the hospital." But for some reason, I doubt that's how it will play out.

Somewhere over the rainbow

... is where somebody would make me this cake and bring it over to the house after Jackson is born. The only bummer about this recipe... no chocolate :(

Hope...

...that Jackson will come soon. One week left until he's due! Although, the ultrasound dated my due date as tomorrow, so it could be any day now.

Oh ya. You can Obamicon yourself if you follow this link: Obamicon.Me.

It looks like you swallowed a basketball.

That's what I've been told at least. For anyone I haven't seen lately, here's a pic from when I was 18 weeks and four days... somewhere around the middle of August.


Here is a picture from yesterday. Thirty eight weeks and one day.

Baby's First Christmas

Anybody who thought they were going to get Jackson his "Baby's First Christmas" ornament... I beat you to it. I found these Inge-Glass of Germany ornaments at an after-Christmas sale at a boutique downtown. So cute! I can't wait to put them on the tree next year.

Jackson's Log: Stardate 011409

After yesterday's doctor appointment there is, once again, nothing exciting to report. Jackson's has dropped a little and there are some other TMI things going on that mean the process has started... but that's about it. The doctor did nix our Tahoe trip this weekend, which might mean no snowboarding for Nate until next winter :( Poor guy.

Jackson's Log: Stardate 010809

We saw Dr. Hiuga on Tuesday and there's basically no big news. Jackson hasn't dropped yet, I'm not dilated at all (sorry if that's TMI for some people), and Dr. Hiuga says that he's not coming anytime soon.

But he did say that I'm "colonized" by Group B Strep, which means I have to take antibiotics while I'm in labor. No biggie. If you do any research into Group B Strep, it sounds way scarier than it is... as long as I take the drugs when I'm supposed to, it'll be all good.

I think I can. I think I can.

I'm going to be repeating the Little Engine That Could's mantra religiously over the next few weeks while I shed blood, sweat and tears... trying to make a quilt for Jackson. (You thought I was going to say something about pregnancy or labor, didn't you. :) Why I decided to wait until three weeks before his due date to begin cutting fabric, I'm not quite sure. But maybe having to update everyone I know on it's progress now will make me get to work. I picked out all of the fabric in November, washed it all in December, and finally pressed it all a couple of days ago. My progress so far isn't something to be very proud of. Now if Nate ever gets home today with my chalk pencil, I can start measuring and cutting the patchwork pieces.

Here are a couple pics of all of the fabric (a la Amy Butler).
And here is what it should look like when it's finished, but with my fabrics of course.
Wish me luck!