Fun Weekend!

Check out pics from this weekend. My sister and brother in law came into town, and my great friend Amy who just moved back from Georgia came also. We had a great time and I loved getting pictures of them with Jackson. He is officially 6 weeks old. Yeah!

Photo Session

Check out another slideshow of my sweet baby! I tried to do his first photo session. I am still learning so much about my new camera and am trying to understand more about working with my photos in photoshop. I definately have a long way to go to become good at photography but when you have such a fun little man to practice on it isn't hard. Hope you enjoy! The slideshow is on the right called "Photo Session"

life lessons

We've already learned alot through this crazy process called parenthood. What amazing lessons to learn though.
1. When people say your life is gonna change...they are completely correct
2. The average diaper changes are like a hundred a day.
3. Just when you think you are on some sort of a routine....it changes.
4. Just when you think you have some idea what you are doing.....you realize you don't.
5. Laughter gets you through alot, especially the late night "episodes"
6. When you take off his diaper...that is when he gets the urge to pee...or poop...or both
7. Watching him smile (even if it is only gas) can melt your heart instantly.
8. Every baby is different and there is no one answer for every child
9. Controlled chaos is what we are striving for
10. We love parenthood!!!!!!
Everyday is an adventure.
It is terrifying, amazing, exhausting, rewarding, and absolutely wonderful. Thanks for wanting to share it with us.

I Am One Month Old

Wow! My baby is already one month old! He has really filled out and looks so different to Joey and I than when he was born. His cheeks are much fatter, his hair curlier, and his personality bigger. Alot has happened to him in this last week. He found out that he is 9lbs 5 ounces already from a mere 6lbs 9 ounces when he left the hospital. His umbilical cord finally fell off, and he officially got his very first 'real' bath on his one month birthday. That was definately a highlight for Joey and I. I set the video camera on the tripod so that we could film it and I had my fabulous digital camera taking pictures too. I am not missing one thing! I have posted another link on the right called 'One Month Old' of another slideshow of some fun pictures. Check it out!

3 weeks Old

Can my sweet baby really be three weeks old already? They grow up fast don't they. Sunday, he was three weeks old and already he seems so big to me. He is doing great. He is eating wonderfully and sleeping well also. Joey and I aren't, but thats what new parents do right? No...he actually has been doing pretty good, only waking up every three hours. We feel like we are getting a good system down.
He had a big three week birthday. We took him for his first outdoor adventure in his stroller. Debbie, we came to see you, but you weren't there. We were trying the pop-in, but you were out. We will try again soon The weather was wonderful and he seemed to enjoy his first outing. We also moved him officially into his own room. He had been sleeping in his pack n' play in our room, but he has graduated to his crib in his own room. Big step for mom, not so hard for the little guy. He handled it like a champ. We have just had so much fun with him already, we can't wait for whats to come.
Some of my favorite memories already:
1. Laughing so hard I can't breathe because Jackson has peed and pooped on Joey
2. The hilarious faces Jackson makes in the middle of the night when I am feeding him
3. Having my mini photo shoots with him nearly everyday
4. Secretly listening in on the video monitor to Joey singing praise songs to Jackson early in the morning
5. Giving him his very first bath with Flip and Fran and my mother
What a fun little guy!

More Photoshop

I am continuing to learn more and more about manipulating pictures and it is so much fun. I have found a fun thing to do with pictures and thought I would share. Here are a few pictures before and after playing with them in photoshop. Hope you have a great day!

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

So...check out Jackson's hair

So, I decided I wanted to try to play with his hair, so with a little water I officially gave Jackson his first faux hawk.  He's our little rock star!

A Mother's Love

A mother's love is something that I couldn't understand until 10 days ago when I had my first child, and I'm sure I will spend the next twenty years trying to explain it. I look at him and I feel like I can connect with all the other mothers out there. I have been thrown head first into this crazy yet so rewarding time in my life, and as everyone told me when I was pregnant, life will never be the same again. Praise God for that, because with this new life has come so many blessings. Joey and I have grown even closer together through this experience.  The way he is as a father just blows me away. I knew he would be good, but wow, it is truly special to watch.  We have for sure grown closer to the One who gave us this amazing blessing.  Everyday, God has equipped us for everything that we have needed to care for and love baby Jackson.  We have had to rely on Him through the times of struggle, especially during the labor and trust that He knows what is best for him.  We just are cherishing every minute we are given with this little guy.  Thanks again for everyone's prayers, food, cards, flowers, gifts, and love during this amazing time in our lives. I would also like to send a special shout out to my mother. I had the honor of having the best mother in the world teach me for the first week how to mother my own child. I can not tell you what a blessing it was to learn from her.  Not only did she teach, but she cared for Joey and I, she stayed up all night so we could sleep, she helped me feed him, she cleaned our house, cooked food, grocery shopped, made christmas dinner, did laundry, kept me laughing when I thought I might break down, encouraged me,  and just did it all with so much grace. If you know my mother you know she would never admit that she is wonderful because she is too humble for that, but as her daughter, and I speak for her other daughter as well, she is.  She is the most giving person I have ever met and the most thoughtful as well.  She would give away her last dime if we would let her and she would do it without ever expecting anything in return. That is what she does, that is who she is.  She gives simply to give.  She has a servant's heart, and Joey, Jackson and I were so blessed by it this past week. Thank you mom for being that kind of mother who is so thoughtful and giving and I pray that that which you have lived out for all these years, Jackson might one day see in me. I love you mom. 

P.s.  Check out another slideshow of Jackson. It is on the right titled "Baby's Bath".  Hope you enjoy!