Totally Cute Tuesday - An Active Boy

Jackson is a very active little boy. Staying still does not happen for this child unless he is strapped in to his car seat, strapped in to his high chair, or sleeping. One of his favorite activities is displayed below.

Down the stairs....

Up the stairs...

And down the stairs again!

Going up and down the stairs can keep him occupied for long periods of time. If he is is fussy a sure bet way to make him happy is put him by stairs. He also shows quite an interest in figuring out different ways to play with the toys then intended.

Shake! Shake! Shake!

Shake my toy!

Totally Cute Tuesday - Pooh Bear and Tigger

One year ago....Jackson visited his very first pumpkin patch and got to wear his very first halloween costume. At just under 6 pounds we had to prop him up in the pumpkin patch to actually get a picture.

Thought running through Jackson's head: GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Now...Jackson visited his second pumpkin patch this year and got to wear his second halloween costume. At 19 pounds he needed no propping up for this round.

Thought running through Jackson's head: GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Thought running through Jackson's head: Thanks Mommy! I love you!

Totally Cute Tuesday - A Day in the Gardens

This weekend we went to the Dallas Arboretum and took pictures in the pumpkins. It was such a beautiful day and we enjoyed being outside. Below are some of the best photos that we took. As I sort through more photos I will post them as well.

The Children's Miracle Network

Yesterday I was able to share Jackson's story with the Children's Miracle Network. Without the Children's Miracle Network and the donations made to the Children's Miracle Network Jackson wouldn't be here today. The first couple of months of Jackson's life depended upon equipment donated by the Children's Miracle Network to the NICU at Scott and White. And, with anything medical the equipment doesn't come cheap. For example, Jackson's incubator that he was in was called the Cadillac of Incubators because it costs about as much as a brand new Cadillac. We all know that Jackson is a miracle, but he is a miracle that is here today because of all the support he received the first few months of his life. Thank you Children's Miracle Network and everyone who donates for helping my little miracle!

Jackson & Pooh Bear

This is Pooh Bear.

Pooh Bear is 10 inches long.

This is Jackson.

Jackson is 28 inches long.

Jackson is 15 1/2 months old

This is Jackson when he was 2 days old.

He was 10 1/4 inches long.

He was just a tad longer than Pooh Bear.

This is Jackson and Pooh.

Jackson loves his Pooh Bear.

They are friends.

It's always nice to have a friend.

Totally Cute Tuesday - Daddy's Handsome Boy

Totally Cute Tuesday - To Mimi and Pop's House We Go

This weekend we packed up the car and headed to Mimi and Pop's house in Georgetown. Jackson had fun playing with his cousins and Mommy had fun shopping for new winter clothes at the outlet mall. All in all it was a good weekend!

Totally Cute Friday - My Baby's Growing Up

First off, I would like to apologize for not making a totally cute Tuesday post. I know all you avid blog readers were checking! Things have been crazy this week getting back into the swing of things from being gone all last week. Uncle Danny and Aunt Katie's wedding was a beautiful affair and as soon as pictures start coming in I will be sure and post some of Jackson in his cute little tuxedo!

Jackson had a momentous occasion happen in his life this week. Tuesday was his first day of School. Jackson is going to Mother's Day Out 4 days a week. It is a big step but Brandon and I felt like it would really help him to see and be around other kids his actual age. Plus, Brandon seems to need me more and more in the office and this gives me a set schedule to be there. The past couple of days Jackson has been doing great in class. The only thing he really does not like is nap time. Other than that he is happy and seems to really enjoy playing with all the toys and going on buggy rides down the halls and outside. Here are a couple of pictures we took on Tuesday to document his first day.

Totally Cute Tuesday - To Grampa's House We Go

This weekend we headed up to Dallas to visit Granpa Westerheim. Jackson had fun playing and watching his Baby Einstein in a little rocker. Granpa was also really nice and shared a cracker with him.

On Friday before we left Jackson had to get his 15 month booster shots. The poor thing always gets poked every time he visits the doctor. Before the shots they weighed and measured him. He now weighs 18 pounds 3 ounces and is 27 1/4 inches long. My little boy is getting so big. Even though he is not 20 pounds yet the doctor said we could turn his car seat around because he had good enough neck support.

We are now at Nana and Grandad's house helping them get ready for Uncle Danny and Aunt Katie's wedding on Saturday. We are missing Daddy and can't wait until he gets here on Friday!

Daddy's belt works well for keeping Jackson in the rocker. You have to improvise when you can.

Jackson facing forward in the car like a big boy!

Totally Cute Tuesday - Aggie Spirit

This weekend Jackson was already to cheer the Aggies on in their first game of the season. This is Jackson's second season opener. He was all decked out with his 12th Man Jersey ready to cheer the Aggies on. A little over a year ago Jackson cheered them on as well. Class of 2030!

Totally Cute Tuesday - He's Going to Hate me Someday

I know what you are thinking. And I can just picture it years down the road. He is going to hate me someday when he finds out that this picture, along with a couple of others from the same time, exists. But hey, I'm a mom and I just couldn't resist his cute little tushy! So here he is, in full glory, his birthday suit. Now, that is what I call cute!

Totally Cute Tuesday - A Weight Thing

From 3 pounds one year ago.....

To over 17 pounds today...

Amazing what a little weight can do!

Totally Cute Tuesday - The Faucet

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Jackson's First Bubble Bath

Playing and Visiting

The past couple of days have been very busy. On Wednesday Jackson and I went to the Houston with some of our friends. Jackson had so much fun! We had lunch at the Downtown Aquarium and Jackson along with his pal enjoyed looking at the big fish in the huge tank. After lunch we headed over to the children's museum and played. Jackson is getting so good at crawling around. He is my little speedster.

Today we headed to Temple for a NICU follow-up appointment. Jackson now weighs 17 pounds 2 ounces and is 27 3/4 inches long. He is still on the small side but when you take into account where he started from he is almost 16 times larger than he was a birth. Now that is what I call progress! He got to show off all of his skills and visit with the nurses and other friends that we made a little over a year ago. We stopped by the Ronald McDonald House to visit Susan and Rebecca. Walking in the house just makes me feel at home. It is an amazing place and a wonderful charity. After the Ronald McDonald house we headed up to the NICU to see all of our friends we made there. The staff at the NICU was wonderful and Jackson wouldn't be here today without their hard work and care. At his appointment they were very pleased with how he looked and all the things that he can do. He really showed off! All in all it has been a great couple of days but I am am looking forward to a weekend at home relaxing.

Totally Cute Tuesday - A View of the Past

It is imperative at times to look into the past to see how far you have come. A year ago today I was filled with hope of a bright future. I was introduced to an 8 year old who was born at 23 weeks. To see a happy, healthy, vibrant boy in front of my eyes was amazing. It gave me hope. A year ago today Jackson was laying in an incubator attached to breathing machines and IVs.

With his head smaller than his Daddy's hand.

And his hand just barely large enough to grasp his Daddy's finger.

Now.....He is pondering his future. A future that is bright. A future as a big, healthy boy.

Amazing!

Totally Cute Tuesday - Crawling, Crawling, Everywhere

This past week Jackson has really taken off. He was crawling before, but he is really crawling now. He crawls all over the house. I have had to put a gate up on the stairs because he will climb all the way up them lickity split if you are not watching him. He has now learned to sit down from a standing position which is a momentous feat. Before he would just stand there with no way of getting down besides falling. Another new thing he is doing is pursing his lips all the time. It makes him look so serious!

Long Awaited Cake Pictures

I know, I know, I apologize for holding out the best pictures from his birthday party. Mandi got these pictures to Nana weeks ago and Nana just brought them down today. Aunt Tammy made the cutest cakes for Jackson's birthday party. Jackson had his own personal cake and he really enjoyed it.

Totally Cute Tuesday - A Lot Can Happen In a Year

It is safe to say that life can throw you some curve balls along the way. Any couple dreaming of having a baby just assumes that they are going to get to take their newborn baby home right after he/she is born. In Jackson's case it was 110 days after he was born that he got to come home. Any new mom dreams of holding her baby the day it is born. I got to hold Jackson for the first time when he was one month old. He was hooked up to a breathing machine and numerous IVs. Weighing only 2 pounds he fit right inside my shirt. While I was holding him he was getting 8mls of milk through a tube that went into his stomach. Tonight, I held my little boy as I was putting him to bed. Weighing 16 pounds 6 ounces he covers my whole body when holding him. While I was holding him he was gobbling down a 5 oz bottle. He was breathing without the assistance of a breathing machine. He did not have any IVs in him. He was just an average 13 month old baby. He is crawling all over the place, standing up and holding onto whatever he can, and he even made it all the way up the stairs today. If he wasn't a tad on the small side you would never guess that one year ago today he was so tiny. So, you could say that life has thrown us a curve ball this past year. However, it was a curve ball that was well worth it. Jackson makes me smile every single day and continues to amaze us with all he can do.

July 21, 2008

Jackson standing up in his favorite toy. Thanks Mimi!

Five Years Together

That's right folks....it has been 5 years today since Brandon and I were married. I can't believe how time flies! This time five years ago I was getting ready for my wedding. It was such a magical day and I love looking back at all the pictures.

The happy couple!

I love you Brandon!