Happy 4th of July and Happy 2 Months Old!!!

Jackson was 2 months old on the Fourth of July.  We left on the second and went to Logan Martin Lake for the weekend with my family.  It was Jackson's 3rd official road trip.  He did great while we were there.  That little man is learning to use his voice.  He is so funny!  I certainly enjoy listening to him.  We spent part of Sunday out by the pool.  Jackson napped in his swing in the shade.  The shade is the preferred place for him and his mom....seeing as how I become a lobster in less than 30 minutes.  Jackson got to spend time with his nana and papa, Uncle Tyler and Aunt Jamie, and cousins Logan and Trey.

Waiting on Everyone to Arrive!

2 Months Old Today

Jackson with his Papa

Hanging out by the pool.

Bath Time!!!

His Own Room

Last night, Jackson spent his first night sleeping in his own room.  He did great.  He seems to enjoying being on a real mattress rather than sleeping in a pack n play.  However, I must confess that I slept on the couch because it is closer to his room than our room.  It is kind of hard having him sleep in the room with you for 2 months and then all of a sudden he isn't in there.  So, I guess you can say he is transitioning better than I am.

Road Trip and 8 Weeks Old

I took Jackson on his first official road trip Sunday, June 27-Tuesday, June 29.  Mary Kay traveled with us to Atmore to visit family and friends.  We had a "Meet Jackson" party on Sunday night - just a small dinner with family and friends.  On Monday, we had lunch with my grandparents and dinner with my brother and his family.  We returned home on Tuesday afternoon.  We had a great trip.  Jackson slept the whole trip to and from Atmore.  He knows that his mom likes to go so he has to be an experience little traveler.  The pictures below are from our trip!

Kathy with Jackson

 Cousin Trey helping Aunt Jamie

Cousin Trey with Jackson

Uncle Tyler

Cousin Trey

8 Weeks Old with Nana

Lunch Date

Last Thursday, June 24, Jackson and I met my friend, Laura and her little girl, Mary Caroline at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch.  We joked and said that this was there first date.  They are 3 weeks apart and during the time Laura and I were pregnant we would share stories and complaints involved with being pregnant.  We met for lunch and when we arrived Laura had to go and change Mary Caroline's diaper before we could order lunch.  At the same time, Jackson decided he would make-up and need to eat.  When Laura came back from changing MC, we both found ourselves attempting to feed both of them as well as enjoy our lunch and conversation.  I bet those people sitting near us were looking at us like we had lost our minds.  But we managed to feed the little ones as well as ourselves without any disasters.  When we got ready to leave we took their picture and what you don't see in the pictures is that Jackson was getting ready to show his temper in the Cheesecake Factory.  He turned bright red!!  I guess he was sad that their date was over...yeah, right - he actually hates the carseat!!!  And to top it off, it was quite a sight to behold watching Laura and me attempting to go out the doors of the restaurant with all that we had in our arms.  Somewhere someone was getting a good laugh at our expense.

From Jackson's Photo Session...

A friend of mine did some photos for us when Jackson was about 3 weeks old.  This one is my favorite.

There were lots of pictures.  Here are just two others.

7 Weeks and Counting

Well, over the course of the past couple of days, we have been to Sams' Club, over to Susan's pool, and hanging out around the house. 

Ray had his first Father's Day and Jackson and I gave him a new wedding band with our wedding date and Jackson's birthday engraved on the inside.  We went to church and listened to Jon Sheptock speak - what an awesome message - if you haven't heard him you need to check out his Website at www.jonsheptock.com.  He has a powerful testimony and a wonderful voice.  We spent the remainder of the day at home napping.

Jackson turned 7 weeks old yesterday.  He is growing fast and is quite a character.  His appetite is huge and he is not patient when it comes to waiting for his bottle.  He loves his swing and really enjoys lying in his bed watching his mobile.  He also loves to facing you in your lap so he can see and hear you talk.  He will really grin and show you some great facial expressions.  In the middle of the night and early morning when it is time to get up and eat, he doesn't cry out anymore.  He lays in his bed and wiggles around and grunts until we get him and feed him.  He is quite a character.  He has also been getting in some tummy time, which I must say he really doesn't enjoy.  So, I work with him everyday increasing the amount of time he is on his tummy.  I am hoping he will get used to it. 

I have some pictures to share for the last couple of days.

Conevisa's Youngest Missionary

I have included some pictures from our stop off at the Conevisa Mission Party last Saturday.  We have decided that Jackson is Conevisa's Youngest Missionary.  For those of your scratching your head at that title, I traveled to Guatemala to do mission work in the village of Conevisa when I was two months pregnant with Jackson.  So, yes, he is already a world traveler and an experienced missionary.

Below:  Jackson with Allen and Laurelle Stoudenmire.  Allen and Laurelle served as missionaries to Guatemala for several years.  They have led the teams I have been on in Guatemala and the village of Conevisa.  They are currently working with the three churches partnered to build a church in Conevisa. 

6 Weeks Old

Jackson is 6 weeks old today and our adventure today was to go to my friend Susan's pool.  I got him dressed and we headed out.  I have included a couple of pictures below.  Now, when we got there he decided he wanted to eat and he also wanted to take his precious, sweet time doing so.  By the time he finished, a storm cloud came up so we didn't even get to sit outside.  After the cloud passed, we went outside because it was shady and a breeze was blowing.  Needless to say, I didn't get to get in the pool.  But at least we got out of the house and made an attempt.  I think we are going to try again tomorrow.  I am hoping to at least put my foot in the water.  But I must admit, Jackson looked cute if nothing else.

Lots to Tell

Jackson turned one month old on June 4 and he took his first road trip.  We travelled to Scottsboro with Aunt Glyn to see our cousin Jodie.  We went out to eat and shopped at Hammers and Unclaimed Baggage.  We returned home.  He slept all the way to Scottsboro and all the way home.  He is a great little traveller.

We took our first trip to church on June 6.  He slept through the entire service but not without interruption.  Everytime the congregation clapped, he opened his eyes really big and threw his hands up in the air.  Then, he would go right back to sleep.  We had a great time watching him.  When we returned home, he took a Sunday afternoon nap.  I think he understands what he is supposed to do on Sundays.

On June 8, we returned to the doctor for our one month visit.  He weighs 12 lbs and is 23 1/4" long.  He is growing for sure.  We left the doctor's office and went to lunch and came home.

Yesterday, we took him to two different parties.  Jackson's great-great grandmother turned 100 today and we celebrated her brithday yesterday.  He slept through most of the party but he got lots of attention.  He makes 5 generations for family.  Not something that you hear of everyday.  We left that party and stopped by a garden party for people that had travelled to Guatemala in the last couple of years.  We got to see several of the people that I had travelled with last year on the two trips I made to Guatemala.

Today, we took our second trip to church.  He slept the entire time we were there.  Nothing seemed to bother him.  I thought on the way to church we might be in for an adventure because he was screaming part of the way there but then went off to sleep before we got too far from the house.  I had to turn around and go back home to get a blanket.  I guess I was doing pretty good by having only left the blanket at home.

I have included several pictures from the past couple of weeks/days.

4 Weeks and One Day Old

Well, the weekend was rather uneventful.  On Sunday, Jackson and I ventured out to Target in T'ville and Walmart.  I should have checked the weather before leaving.  We made it to Target with no problems and he was asleep by the time we arrived.  That was a miracle considering the hiccups he had on the way over.  We then left and went to Walmart so that I could get a few things.  Well, I guess I should have gotten them at Target because when we got ready to leave Walmart, the bottom fell out.  It was pouring down rain.  So, there I was with Jackson in his carseat, a buggy full of stuff, and get this - no umbrella.  And the truth is that I am not supposed to be lifting and carrying him very far in his carseat just yet.  So, I am basically stranded in Walmart.  I thought that maybe Jackson and I were trying out our skills at being the new Walmart greeters because that is exactly where we were stranded.  So, after waiting for a while and Ray calling and offering to come and get us, my friend Louise walks in the door.  I was so relieved!  She talked for a bit and then I asked her to stand with Jackson while I went and brought the car up to the door.  We managed to make it through that adventure. 

Well, yesterday, Jackson went to work with me.  And boy did he let himself be known.  He started screaming soon after we got there because it was time to eat...yes, AGAIN!!!  After work, we went by the polls to vote in the state primaries.  He was a perfect angel there and my friend Mr. Bass informed me that he would take care of him while I voted.  He proved to be a pretty good babysitter!  Today, Jackson stayed home with his daddy while I went and did some work stuff.  He will be turning one month old on Friday!!  Time flies.  I will be posting pictures again soon.