One Week

Jackson is one week old today. I already feel like time is going by so much faster with him. How has it already been a week? Strange as it may be, I feel like Jackson has been with us forever. It has been a lot of fun getting to know him, and I am eager to see what his little personality will be like. Here are just a few of the things that we have learned about Jackson in his first week:

~loves to nurse.

~smiles a lot in his sleep and if you run your finger along his cheeks.

~does not spit up (knock on wood).

~is mellow when awake, and can be awake for up to an hour at a time.

~is very patient when being loved on by his big brother.

~squeaks and makes a lot of noise in his sleep.

~sneezes and gets the hiccups often.

~enjoys being swaddled

I can't wait to learn more about you, my sweet love! Happy One Week! We love you very much.

Perfection

This morning was the definition of perfection. I sat on the couch snuggling Charlie while he tenderly held Jackson in his arms. Jackson was wide awake and was staring up at Charlie while his big brother patted his head and kissed him. The perfection only lasted about ten minutes, and I know that it won't be like that all of the time. It was something that I dreamed about during my entire pregnancy, and it just made tears come to my eyes. In the upcoming months, I realize that chaos will probably reign over calm. I just hope that in those crazy times I can remember the perfection of this morning and the way my two boys looked cuddling together. I truly feel like the luckiest mommy in the world right now.

Say What?

There has been a BIG development for our BIG boy over the last few weeks. Charlie has started to string words together into phrases. This is a two-year-old milestone that I was not expecting him to hit for a while, but out of nowhere Charlie proved me wrong. He has been saying "What's that?" and "That's stinky!" for a long time, but those are phrases that we say to him all of the time. He has just been mimicking us, so I was not counting them. But now, he is putting words together on his own. It is crazy how quickly it all happened! Some of his favorite phrases right now include:

Dadda home

Bye-bye Momma

Baby hold

More (fill in the blank)

I am sure there are many more that I am leaving out, but I am not working at full speed these days. I am, however, super proud of Charlie and am looking forward to hearing more of what he has to say. Way to go, big boy!!!

Photo Shoot with Mommy

I just can't get enough of Jackson's bitty, baby body! I love newborns - their sounds, the smell of their skin, the way they curl up when you hold them. It just makes me smile, and this time around I know all too well how quickly Jackson will grow and change. So, I could not resist taking some pictures of him the other night when I definitely should have been sleeping instead. Totally worth the lack of sleep if you ask me! Look at my handsome little man. I am so in LOVE!!!

Jackson's First Doctor's Appointment

We love our pediatrician, and I was so excited to introduce Jackson to Dr. Douglass. As always, she took her time and was so sweet and gentle with our baby boy. Jackson put on 2 ounces in 2 days, which was great news that he is getting enough to eat and that my milk is coming in nicely. Dr. Douglass did see the beginning signs of jaundice, but because of Jackson's weight gain did not feel that it was necessary to check his blood. Instead, she recommended that we come back next week for a weight check. So, for now I am just keeping my eye on him and making sure that he is eating often and has enough poopy and pee diapers. Other than watching for jaundice, Dr. Douglass said that he looks great. It is always great to hear that your baby is healthy!

Silly Boy

Oh, how we love our silly boy! Charlie is adjusting very well to being a big brother. He wants to know where the baby is all the time, and asks to hold him often. We are trying very hard to teach him how to be gentle with Jackson. He just does not understand yet and has definitely been a little rough with his brother. Nick and I are doing our best to let Charlie help us with Jackson and to spend one-on-one time with him so that he still knows he is special and that we love him.

Nick and I were talking about how much bigger and older Charlie seems since having Jackson. It is like he grew up over night to become the big brother. Of course, he is still our baby, too. But it is just amazing how much he has grown in two years. He was my bitty baby a minute ago, and now he seems like a giant next to Jackson. We are so proud of the little man that he has become, and we know that he is going to be the best big brother ever. We love you, Charlie!

Home Sweet Home

We got home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon. Jackson wore the same outfit that Charlie did the day we brought him home. It was such a yucky day, but all of the family came over despite the rain in order to meet Jackson. Charlie was the first one to meet his baby brother, and his reaction was just what I had hoped it would be. After hugs for Momma and Dadda, we walked Charlie into the family room where Jackson was waiting with a gift for his big bro. Charlie immediately said, "Baaaaby!", and began to pat his brother's head and look over him over from head to toe. He asked to hold the baby, and jumped right up onto the couch with his arms outstretched ready to hold Jackson. He looked like a pro holding his baby brother, and was upset when we had to share Jackson with Grandma and Grandpa. He quickly got over it when he realized that Jackson had brought him a new electric toothbrush for a gift. I told Nick that the boys first meeting was as if we had scripted it. Charlie loves his baby.

Shortly after my parents left, we got to introduce Jackson to Granddaddy, Oma, Auntie Vicki, Auntie Dani, Uncle Walker, and Cousin Rylee. He and Charlie got a lot of great gifts from everyone. Vicki, Dani, and Walker even brought us dinner which was nice not to have to think about on our first night home. It was great having all three cousins together and so much fun comparing five week old Rylee to newborn Jackson. It is unbelievable how much babies change in a matter of weeks. She seemed like a giant compared to Jackson, and she was almost a pound less than him at birth.

Our first night with Jackson was not a smooth as I would have liked. He decided it was a good time to eat every 2 hours, spit up for the first time in our bed, and pee through his diaper requiring a complete outfit change at 2:00 am. On top of all of that, my milk came in leaving me very uncomfortable. I am hoping that tonight is a little less eventful.

Welcome to the World, Jackson!

Jackson Edward Shaw

Friday, January 22, 2010

12:05 pm

7 pounds, 7 ounces

21 inches

Meet the newest member of the Shaw Family! Jackson is one day old, and he has already stolen our hearts. Nick and I are very much in love with him, and can't wait to show him off to everyone once we get home. We are all doing great. Jackson was checked out by the pediatrician today, who informed me that he is quite a healthy little boy. Jackson took immediately to nursing, which was one of my biggest concerns after having such a difficult time with Charlie. Nick and I are so grateful for his health and know how fortunate we are.

I am resting as much as I can and feel amazing compared to last time. My energy is still very low because it is hard to get a lot of sleep with nurses in and out of the room. I am sending Jackson to the nursery tonight so that I can get one final good night's sleep before we go home tomorrow.

As I mentioned in the last post, Jackson's birth was very different from Charlie's. This time around, we were able to schedule an induction so that we could arrange for Charlie's care and make the most of Nick's time off from work. The induction started on Thursday night. I was supposed to get a drug to help prepare my body for labor on Friday. Well, after being checked by my midwife, it was determined that I did not need the drug after all. This was a relief because it meant that I could just rest that night and we could get started first thing in the morning. Even with the help of Ambien, I only got about 3 hours of sleep. At 7:30 am Friday morning, my midwife broke my water and started me on Pitocin to begin contractions.

I started to really feel contractions around 8:30 am. I kept telling Nick that my goal was to start pushing by noon, but i really never believed that it would happen that fast. I wanted to wait on the epidural as long as i could because I did not want to slow my progress. My nurse told me that I just needed to give her about 5 minutes notice when I wanted to get it anyway. At 10:30 am I was starting to get pretty uncomfortable, but I felt like a wimp getting the epidural so early. Instead, i asked for a pain killer to be put in my IV. This was a mistake. Oh sure, I felt a little better for about 30 minutes, but the effects quickly wore off. At 11:00 am, my contractions started to really pick up and were about a minute apart. I sent Nick out to get the nurse because I was really in pain after about 20 minutes of back to back contractions. Turns out my nurse was on break. The nurse relieving her came in after i sent Nick out to the nurses' station a second time. I basically started begging her to make the pain stop. She turned down my Pitocin and started making the phone call to anesthesia. In a matter of minutes, I had the feeling that it was too late. There was no epidural waiting around the corner for me. Jackson was coming, and he was coming fast. The nurse called my midwife and my main nurse who rushed into the room just in time to help me start pushing.

I'd love to tell you that I was brave and took it all in stride. The fact is that I was terrified. I must have said, "I can't do this!" a hundred times. But, I did do it. Only a few pushes later I was holding Jackson. It was extremely intense, scary, and painful, but I am so grateful that it happened the way that it did. My recovery has been so much faster and easier because I did not get the epidural, and I am very thankful for that.

Nick was an amazing coach. I can only imagine what it must have been like for him in the last hour before I gave birth. Seeing someone you love in pain and wanting to help them is a terrible feeling. He was so encouraging and held me the entire time. I could not have done it without him.

Jackson's birth was definitely not what I had planned, but little in life ever is. Our son is here and he is healthy, precious, and ours forever. It does not get much better than that!

Jackson Edward Shaw

Jackson is here, and his entry into the world could not have been more different than Charlie's. Nick and I are still hanging out in labor and delivery, and Jackson is upstairs getting his first bath. I promise to post more later when things settle down. For now, here are the little man's first photos. Pretty darn cute, right?!?

Sweet Dreams, Jackson!

I hope Jackson has many peaceful nights in his new nursery. I love how it turned out. My favorite parts are the artwork above the crib and the blue and green canvases that I made over the changing table. I really like the fact that it is totally different than Charlie's nursery. I love Charlie's room, but I was in need of a change. This room fits the bill. Only a few more days before Jackson takes his first nap in that crib.

New Toy

My very sweet hubby surprised me this weekend with a gift. I am now the proud owner of a Toshiba Netbook with wireless internet. Nick knows how much I LOVE to play on the internet. Our desktop always makes it hard to get onto the computer because it means that I have to be away from everyone up in our office. My new computer is so tiny and perfect for checking e-mail, paying a bill, and of course blogging while still being a part of the family action. In fact, Nick and I are chatting and watching TV together as I write this post. I am so excited about my new toy and hope that it will enable me to keep the blog updated now that my hands will be full with Charlie and Jackson. The best part is that we will be able to bring it to the hospital and hopefully update everyone with pictures of sweet Jackson. Yeah!

Thank you, Nick Shaw! I love you and my gift!!!

It's Almost Time

It really has not hit me yet that we will be meeting our baby boy this Friday. I don't know why, because it feels like all we have been doing lately is getting ready for bringing home baby: decorating the nursery, washing baby clothes, setting up bouncy seats and car seats, packing for the hospital, revisiting my baby books, etc.

I keep trying to imagine what life will be like balancing the demands of a newborn and meeting the needs of a toddler. I know that I am not the first mom to manage this type of situation, but I am just worried about how this mom will be able to handle it all. I want to be able to spend time bonding with Jackson, but I don't want Charlie to feel that he is not getting enough of my attention.

Nick and I want to do everything that we can to make the transition as smooth as possible for our family. With that in mind, we have decided to use our stay in the hospital as a time to truly recover and get ready for the life with a newborn and a 22-month-old. We are asking our friends and family to give us time to get to know Jackson, rest, and recover during our two day stay at the hospital. We will be ready to see everyone once we are at home, but we really need to think about what is best for our little family. Nick and I feel that the best way to accomplish this is to not have visitors during our hospital stay. When Charlie was born, we left the hospital exhausted and with a baby that was not nursing. It was a rough start, but we did not have to worry about taking care of a toddler. This time around, we need to take Charlie into consideration. So, although it may not be a popular decision, we are asking those of you who love us most to give us some time. We love you all and are so grateful for your support. We can't wait to introduce you to Jackson and thank you for understanding our decision.

Family Fun

Charlie's Great-Uncle Keith came into town from Virginia this weekend to meet Cousin Rylee. We all headed over to Rylee's house to see Uncle Keith on Saturday night. We were joined by Auntie Vicki, Granddaddy, Oma, and Great-uncle Chris. It was so fun having everyone together, and we enjoyed a yummy pizza dinner. Rylee's house is really close to a famous pizza place called Pie in the Sky, and they are known for making HUGE pizzas. As you can see from the pictures, the pizza was more than enough to feed everyone. In fact, half of the pizza was left over after we were done munching.

Charlie had a blast playing with everyone and was such a good boy at his Auntie and Uncle's house. Nick and I enjoyed catching up with everyone, especially with Keith and Chris, who we don't get to see as often. It had been a couple of weeks since we had seen Rylee too, and boy has she grown. Her cheeks are so full, and she is much more alert. It's hard to believe she is already one month old. I am very curious to see how big she will be compared to Jackson.

The Boys' Bathroom

I had a lot of fun planning out and decorating the boys' new bathroom. I was inspired by a Pottery Barn Kids bathroom, but decided to try to do it myself for much cheaper. The shower curtain from PBK was about $50, and I found this similar one for half that price at Target. Once I had the shower curtain, I was able to match colors for towels and start making my artwork. I made four canvases, and the total for each one came out to be a little over $7 each. The letters that spell out BATH TIME cost me a little less than $10 to buy and spray paint blue. I love the way it all came together.

Where's Waldo?

Our morning was consumed by visits from heating and cooling engineers who were trying to help us fix our frigid house. In between visits, I attempted to pack my bags for the hospital and put some finishing touches on Jackson's nursery. Charlie was being my big helper, but at one point I turned around to find that he was no where in sight. I had a quick moment of panic and called out for him a few times. My calls were answers with intense giggling. I could tell that Charlie was in Jackson's nursery with me, but I seriously could not figure out where he was hiding. After a few moments I saw the Diaper Dekor box move. Charlie had crawled in and managed to pull his legs up so that he was entirely covered by the box. He was so tickled by the fact that I could not find him. Of course, he then wanted to play that game over and over again. What a nut!

Love it!

A former co-worker of mine is now a stay at home mom who runs a small embroidery business. I have ordered from her in the past and would highly recommend that you check out her site. I saw these shirts a few months ago, and I just knew that my boys had to have them. They came in the mail this week, and I am in love!

I Lost the Race

Lisa, my bff, and I have been in a race to the labor and delivery finish line seeing that our due dates are only two days apart. I am happy to say that she won the race and sad to say that I lost. Sidney Jule Weinbaum was born today at 1:18 pm and weighed 6 lbs, 9 oz. She is just as cute as her big sis!

I am so incredibly happy for you, Lis! LOVE YOU!!!

So Proud

Nick's company, which has around 45 different offices around the country, held its annual conference this week in Scottsdale, Arizona. I have not been looking forward to this trip solely because of the timing. I knew that he needed to go, so I tried to keep my complaining to a minimum, however.

Well, Nick came home tonight and informed me that his office was recognized and awarded for being the Best Office of the Year last night. Nick works so very hard at his job and his efforts at work have afforded me the opportunity to stay at home with our children. I am forever grateful for this fact, but unfortunately I do not thank my husband enough. In fact, I am sad to say, I often complain when work keeps him late or he has to travel. Nick has been such a great provider for our family, and I am truly blessed to have him for a husband and as the father of my children. It made my day to hear that his hard work was acknowledged by his peers. I want him to know that I too appreciate his dedication to his job and am more proud of him than words can express.

38 Week Baby Update

My doctor's appointment this week went very well. I am 1-2 cm dilated and 40% effaced. Jackson's head is still high, which was a shock to me since it feels like he is about to fall out. Because my body is making progress towards delivery, my doctor's have agreed to schedule an induction for next Friday, January 22nd. I am still waiting for confirmation from the scheduling department, but it looks like Jackson will be here in about a week...CRAZY!

It feels wonderful to know when we will meet our little man, but I am also in shock that it is really time. This pregnancy has been such a wild ride. As much as I have complained about the aches and pains, I know how fortunate I am to have had a healthy pregnancy. This may very well be my last baby, so I am a little sad to see this part of the adventure come to an end.

To Grandma's House We Go!

Nick had to go out of town this week for a big conference for his company. The timing was less than perfect considering I am 38 weeks pregnant. That's why we are so lucky to have help right around the corner. Charlie, Samson, and I packed our bags and headed over to spend the entire week with Grandma. I must say that I feel like I just got back from a week at the spa. My wonderful mother took such good care of us and let me rest and run last minute errands. Grandma took over Charlie duty and really did not let me lift a finger. She even took over control of the baby monitor each night so that I could get some sleep. I am sure she is going to need a few days to recover, but I sure do appreciate all of the extra TLC she gave us this week. I feel caught up and very rested, which is something that I cherish in these final days before Jackon's arrival. THANK YOU for taking such great care of us, Grandma!!!

Colder Than a Polar Bear's Toe Nails

Last week was just plain C-O-L-D, and our furnace decided it was a good time to act up. The heat would be set for 75 degrees, but our thermostat read 55 degrees. The upstairs was bearable, while the downstairs felt much like a meat locker. We called our heating company and were advised to replace our entire system and basically redo the duct work in our home if we want improvement. Let's just say that is not something that we had really planned for with a new baby on the way. Long story short: we are trying to find an alternative solution, but we have been very cold while doing so.

When it snowed last week, the last thing I wanted to do was leave my cold home to go out into the even colder snow. But, we live in Georgia, and who knows when we will see snow again. With that thought in mind, Charlie and I bundled up and headed out to play. When I asked Charlie if he wanted to play outside, he looked at me with amazement. It was as if he had forgotten that that was even a possibility anymore. Once outside, he was in heaven. He noticed the snowflakes falling on his jacket immediately and asked, "What's that?" about 2 dozen times. I taught him to catch the snowflakes on his tongue, and he thought that was the best. He ran up and down the hill in our front yard squealing and catching snowflakes in his mouth for over 20 minutes before Momma put a stop to the fun. It was just too cold to stay out any longer considering he had bitten his mittens off within the first minute we were out. He pouted the entire time I pulled the layers off of both of us, but his spirits perked up considerably when I introduced him to the joys of hot chocolate. We shared a mug on the sofa while cuddling under a blanket together. The only thing missing was a roaring fire in the background.