First Month Loves

Reading other blogger's monthly favorites really helped me put together my registry and figure out what I needed to buy. Since their posts helped me so much; I figured I would give back and write about our favorites for Jackson's first month. 

Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads- Loved these and the Lanolin Cream during the first 2 1/2 weeks of breastfeeding. I don't know if I could have gotten through those first few weeks without them because they help out so much with dry, cracked nipples. Worth. Every. Penny.
Satsuma Baby Mittens- We loved these mittens, but not for the normal reasons. Jackson's hands were ALWAYS cold during the first month. Unless he was wrapped tightly in a swaddle blanket his hands were always little ice boxes. Within 1 1/2 weeks he learned to wiggle his arms free from the swaddles, so I had to come up with a plan B. Insert Satsuma Baby Mittens here. Happy baby = happy momma.
Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets- Love these blankets. They made swaddling Jackson into a little burrito stupid easy and they were lightweight enough that I could throw one (or 6) into my diaper bag and it didn't take up a ton of room.

Gdiapers- The hubs and I decided that we were going to use cloth diapers instead of disposable while I was still pregnant. Hours of research later I decided to stock up on the Gdiapers and biodegradable inserts. Love doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about these diapers. We've been using them for just over a month and we have yet to experience an explosion or diaper rash. They are so easy to use and will save us a ton of money in the long run. Like I said... Love. 

Odwalla- I don't think these drinks need much explanation. They are great for on the go, or a quick boost inbetween caring for the little one. They are packed with calories, neutrients & vitamins to help me get through the day (and breastfeeding) when I don't have time to cook.

Vibrating Chair- This isn't the exact chair we have since we bought our chair at Once Upon a Baby for fifteen bucks after realizing that Jackson was too small for the swing. This has been a lifesaver for us during dinnertime. It keeps him entertained just long enough for me to shovel some food in my mouth and get back to snuggling.

Summer Infant Swaddlers- These things are great because they are husband proof and are a lifesaver in the middle of the night. Jackson has probably lived in these for the last month straight at night.

BabyGanics Hand Sanitizer- I have these all over my house, in my diaper bag and in my car. They are organic, don't have a nasty alcohol smell and don't dry my hands out. I don't think I will ever use another brand of hand sanitizer again!

Aden + Anais Burp Bibs- Another must have in my opinion. Jackson loves to lay on my chest after he eats and I can wrap these around my chest to prevent being covered in spit-up. They soak up everything and are so soft since they are the Muslin cotton. Love!

Well, that's it. I hope this helps a few new moms out there the way past blogger's helped me.

Exciting Weekend Recap

This last weekend should go down in the history books for being one of the most jammed packed, but fun, weekends we've had since Jackson was born.

It went a little something like this:

Saturday morning we were up at 7am to get ready for the Baby Expo that was taking place in our area. It started at 10...but I have learned that things take 3x as long with a baby...

So we get to the expo and our newborn photographer was one of the first venders we saw. After a hug she tells me that my Jackson is famous because he's one of her demo babies. Look at my little naked angel *I say this as he starts to cry for another "snack"* on the bottom right. He looks so peaceful!

So after the Expo we made our way over to the mall because we had heard that the Easter Bunny was in town. Another adorable picture of my little munchkin!

Since Saturday was also Jackson's 1 month birthday we took a few pictures *shown here* to document how much he's grown. Shortly after that he went down for a nap because looking cute and having your photo taken 5 million times is such hard work. :)

That night we went out to dinner with my FIL to celebrate his 1st month. It was a jammed packed day, but it was a lot of fun!

Sunday we ran a few errands and rested after the busy day we had the day before. By rested I mean sit on the sofa and entertain Jackson because he refused to take a nap aaaaall day. I'm not complaining though. I know these moments will disappear and I will miss them...so I am soaking it all in. <3

Also, Jackson wanted to say one thing before I signed off for the day...

Link up your weekend happenings at:

Jackson's a Month Old!

Happy one month birthday bubbs! How are you a month old already?? It feels like I rushed to the hospital to deliver you just yesterday but somehow it's been a month. It's crazy how fast time is flying! Something tells me it's only going this fast because you are such an easy baby...even Olivia said that at your newborn photo session! :) You are growing and changing daily and while I am sad that you are getting bigger: I am excited to see what each day brings. 

I have heard people say for years that having a baby is a different kind of love and I am realizing just how true that really is. While life before you was fun; it was nothing compared to this last month! I love you Jackson. I can't wait to see what comes next!

Weight: I'm not exactly sure, but you were 6lbs 13oz at your 2 week checkup. While I know that you're still small, remember you were 3 weeks early and only 5lbs 13oz at birth. I am almost positive you are well over 7lbs now too because you are finally fitting into some of your 0-3 clothing. You also measured at 21 inches at your appointment, which is up from 19.5 at birth.

Health: You had a small eye infection due to the jaundice, but that cleared up after 4 days of medicine. Now you are a healthy little boy!

Sleep: Remember when I said you were an easy baby? This is one area that makes you are super easy! While most new parents live on little to no sleep, we were getting solid 4 hour stretches during the night. By 3 weeks you were sleeping 5.5 hours during the night. Ah-mazing buddy...you really are amazing.

Diet: 100% breastmilk. This is the other area that makes you such an easy baby. You eat like a champ and never had a latch problem. Thank goodness because we've got to fatten you up! :)

Clothes: You are still a mixture of newborn clothes and 0-3.

Baby Gear Love: You love, love, love your vibrating chair! It's been a lifesaver some days. You also love the Ergo baby carrier (mommy can't figure out how to make the Moby work) and your bathtub. The minute we put you into your tub you're alert and coo during your entire bath. It's too cute.

Crying: You only cry when you're gassy, hungry or have a dirty diaper. Your hungry cry is the cutest thing ever too. It's sounds like a vibrating cry/scream. You even shake your head. There really is no mistaking that cry for a tired/dirty diaper cry.

Likes: I think it's a tie between eating, basking in the sunlight, sleeping on my chest or taking a bath. All four of those things instantly make you a happy baby.

My child...the sun worshiper!

This was the face you gave me when I
took you out of your first bath.  Haha

Postpartum: I was sore for about 2 weeks after, but other than that I have felt great. I am only a few pounds heavier than my prepregnancy weight, so it really is true what they say about breastfeeding! I am looking forward to my 6 week appointment though because I am itching to get back in the gym.

Milestones/ Firsts: You are making eye contact now and it's amazing! :) You also celebrated your first St. Patricks Day at your grandma & Papa K's house. You also got to meet the Easter Bunny today. I know it changed your life even though you slept through it. :)

Your first St. Patricks Day!
Don't mind me...I was looking directly into the sun.

 Here are a few bloopers from his monthy photo. :)

"What time is it? Are we done yet??"

"Ugh...I am soooo bored!"

Special thanks to Little Baby Garvin for the One Month chalkboard round!

Easter Basket Goodies

As a child I loved Easter and all the festivities that surrounded the special day. There were always so many traditions that went along with Easter that it just made it a day that I always looked forward to. Hunting for the eggs, the overflowing basket with all the goodies...and of course the perfect excuse to get dressed up.

I love this holiday so much that I still have my basket that was used when I was a child! You can bet your bottom that it will be sitting right next to Jackson's this year too. :)

While I know that he is far too young to remember Easter this year; it won't stop me from filling his basket to the brim with all of the fun items that I've picked up in the last 2 months! Here are a few things that will be included in my babe's first Easter.

Easter Bib, Gap Rabbit Outfit, Bobo Bunny,

The Night Before Easter, Wooden Teether, Storybook Bible

3 Weeks of Jackson

Wow! Where does the time go?!? It is hard to believe Jackson was 3 weeks old on Saturday and I was only due with him on Friday. It is crazy how exhausted tired I am, but it is so beyond worth it the minute I look into his pretty blues. 

See what I mean? Too stinking cute!

Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what our life has been like these last few weeks. We are so in love!

His first car ride. He's a pirate already... 

Leaving the hospital with Jackson

This is how he decides if he's going to wake up.
One eye first & if only if he's interested does he
open the second eye. We nicknamed him "Pirate".

We go together like milk & cookies. :)

Looking like a stud.

No makeup & fresh out of the shower...but I
couldn't be happier! 

Hanging out with Daddy. <3

spring style with a little boy!

Happy Spring!! I am sure many of you already knew that today was the first day of spring. I am always excited when the seasons change because it means I get to change up my wardrobe. Well now not only do I get to play around with my clothing, but I get to dress my little man up!

Neons are back this year and with the warm weather on its way...well I am all for it! Here are some items from Baby GAP (except for the baby Jordans of course) that I picked up in the last week for Jackson.

And of course I can't end without a picture of my little man. Isn't he so stinking cute?!?

Can you tell this kid loves his Nap Nanny?? :)

Check out Megan, Kelly or Lindsay if you want to linkup to Trendy Tot Tuesday!

Jackson's Birth Story

Here is the story of how my sweet Jackson's came into the world on February 23, 2013... 3 whole weeks early.

On February 13th I started experiencing labor pains. It was so bad that the hubs & I decided to head into labor & delivery. I was 4.5 cm dilated and 60% effaced, so they kept me...for 14 hours. I ended up shrinking (I know...wtf right?) back down to a 2 and the doctor said that they wanted to keep me over night to watch me. I asked if she thought I was going to go into active labor that night and she said no but she didn't want me having to drive back to the hospital if she was wrong. After a few minutes of convincing her that I'd rather be uncomfortable in my own bed than at the hospital (plus I only live about 10 minutes away) she put me on moderate bedrest and discharged me.

This went on for 10 days. I think I got to know everyone in the L&D department because I was in and out of there so often. I was told I have a "stretchy cervix"(..yes, that is the medical term they used) so I would go from a 0 to a 4.5 like it was nothing and then go back down to a 0. Joy. Oh, and not to mention I had contractions 2-4 minutes apart for the entire 10 days. Joy x2.

Well on February 22nd I officially hit 37 weeks, which meant Jackson was considered full term. I decided to celebrate hitting 37 weeks since my mom, who flew in thinking I was going into labor early, and sister were in town. This meant we were hitting the garage sales the next morning. I know, I know...I have a strange way of celebrating things. :)

So the next morning we were up early and off to see what treasures we could find. My sister had offered to drive and while we were going from one location to the next I announced that if she didn't start driving like a sane person, I would go into labor in her car. Well...I jinxed myself. We ended up going home early because I started to feel sick about 30 minutes later. We got home around 10:30 and I decided to lay down on the sofa. I realized within about 5 minutes that my pants were really wet, like pee your pants kinda wet, so I got up to change them. I told my mom that I was going to lay down on my bed and try to nap because I still didn't feel "right". Well I didn't really get a chance to nap because I ended up soaking through another pair of pajama bottoms and a pair of the hub's basketball shorts. Now call me dense cautious, but after my many trips to L&D it took me changing my bottoms 3 different times before I finally called to ask if that was normal. Obviously it isn't and I was told to come right in to get checked out.

Well the cramping got so bad that by the time we got to the hospital I couldn't even walk. Thank heavens for the volunteers because I might have seriously died in the lobby if she hadn't wheeled me upstairs while my mom was parking the car. The hubs was working overtime that day so I told him to wait until I was admitted before driving to the hospital. Hey, we were having a baby and they are expensive! :)

Unfortunately Jackson was one of 6 babies that decided the 23rd was a great for a birthday, so it took almost 3 hours to be checked by an actual doctor. Eventually I was checked by a doctor and was officially admitted. Just in those 3 hours I had gone from 2 cm to 5 1/2 cm. We were having a baby that day and there was no turning back now! 

At that point I started to panic because I was only 37w1d. Was Jackson going to be okay? Would he have to spend extra time in the hospital? The doctor assured me over and over that Jackson had excellent chances of being perfectly healthy and it was probably nothing more than my baby got bored and wanted to come out and play. 

As the doctor was leaving I was greeted by the anesthesiologist. Even though I had said during my entire pregnancy that I was going to play the medication part by ear; I quickly learned during that 3 hour wait that I needed something to take the edge off. I was progressing at such a quick rate that I was told if I wanted an epidural at all I needed to have it done then since I would quickly move past the point that they administer it. Two tries later I wasn't totally pain free, but the pain was dull enough that we were good to go. Yes, that's right...the epidural didn't react the way it's supposed to on me. At one point I lost it and started crying because the pain was so strong. I knew labor wasn't going to be comfortable or fun...but why wasn't the epidural working?? The first one didn't numb me at all and the second one only numbed my left side. I could totally feel my right side. I was, however, able to wiggle both of my toes, bend both legs, etc. It was the strangest feeling ever, but I was no longer swearing under my breath so I didn't really care. The anesthesiologist was totally baffled by me and couldn't figure out why it was reacting that way. She stayed for a good 30-45 minutes to make sure that the pain stayed away and then eventually left. 

By then it was after 5pm and everyone was in the room waiting for Jackson's big arrival. They didn't get to stay long because I was fully dilated by 7:45 and it was go time. Everyone was ushered out of the room except for my mom, the hubs and my friend/photographer Christie. 

Even though I only had to push for about 25 minutes; it was the longest 25 minutes of my life. Everytime I pushed Jackson's heart rate would drop drastically. They had me moving all over the bed to push in different positions because they were trying to find a position that didn't effect him as much. There was even an entire team in my room because he was not only early, but they didn't know why his heart rate was dropping. Not to mention I had to wear that annoying oxygen mask. That thing seriously did not want to stay on my face! In the end it was all worth it though because at 8:20 pm on Saturday, February 23rd I heard the sweetest sound ever...my baby's first cry. He was absolutely perfect. 10 fingers, 10 toes. He was breathing on his own with no issues and he had great color.

It truly was one of the best days of my life and I am so lucky that Christie was there to document it for me! Here are a few of my favorites from that day...

Maternity Pictures

After 2.5 hours of trying to smile through contractions...we finally have some belly pictures! 

We took these photos the day after the hubs and I spent 14 hours in L&D. I was still contracting between 2-4 minutes apart and just wanted to get through the day. I had decided I wasn't going into labor until we took these photos though...and I am SO glad that we were able to!

Here are a few of our favorites.

A huge thank you to Ashley Maxwell! We love these photos and I am thrilled we were able to get them done before Jackson made his debut. :)

My Baby Shower- Sock Monkey Style!

(I started this post right before Jackson was born, but I just didn't have time to post it since he came a few days later.)

Well I think I know what landed me in L&D at 35w5d...reliving my love of heals. Since my baby shower was on February 2nd, I've worn heals 4 different times. Did I mention it's only February 14th? Now normally this wouldn't be a big deal. It is, however, when you are the size of a small country and haven't worn them in over 9 months.

What brought on this new heal obsession, that I will not be revisiting again until after Jackson is here, you ask? Only the most gorgeous, wonderful, OVER THE TOP baby shower of the century. I mean a girl has to look her best when she has a million sock monkeys in her company. :)

"My Water Broke!!" :)

To quote Christie, the genius behind these photos, I "made out like a bandit" at my shower. I am so thankful to everyone who came and spoiled Jackson with gifts. I am especially thankful to Ashley, Melissa, Mara & Jessica for throwing the shower of the century. I really was amazing!!