Thursday, January 29, 2004

My Baby Is One....

It is 12:30 am and my sweet baby isn't a baby any longer. Yesterday, my baby turned one year old and as I sit here in the dark thinking about how my life has been blessed since he came into one year ago today, I find the tears pouring down as I cannot believe that my baby is growing away from me. I just want to stop time and wrap his warm little body, sweet blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and tousled head of hair in my arms and keep him like this forever.
As I write, he is sleeping in our bed next to me. He is the most beautiful sight that I have ever seen and I am so thankful that God chose to share such blessing with us.

I took the day off work to spend Jack's first Birthday with him and his Daddy. We didn't do anything horribly exciting (opened presents, had a big chocolate cupcake, went to visit the doctors that helped bring Jack into this world, and cuddled a lot) but it was a wonderful day together. I just cannot believe that it was one year ago that this little being was lying in our hospital room learning how to breastfeed.
My heart is so full now that Jack is here...and I am so proud of how fast and strong he has grown. He is such a smart baby. He is almost walking on his own now. He signs and communicates so well now (everyone that sees him do so is amazed.) He LOVES to "read" books and asked for a book first thing each morning. He is still breastfeeding like a champ although I am not sure how I am ever going to wean him. He eats everything offered to him (when he is hungry) and had his first sips of milk today which he drank without any reaction at all.
He has begun kissing people and stuffed animals and things that he likes on his own now...it is the sweetest thing. He will just lean over and give you a kiss on the mouth.

I am so proud of my baby....yet I can't help but mourn the slow loss of the tiny infant/baby that arrived just one year ago.
I know that it is natural to feel this way, but I just wish I could package this little thing up and keep him like this forever...and all to myself.
Happy Birthday sweet angel...Mommy loves you so much more than you will ever know.

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

One Year Ago Today...Being Induced.

I can't believe it....exactly one year ago today I had my last prenatal appointment. I was one day past my due date and Dr. Samuels told me to pack my bag and to check in to the hospital that night.


It was so exciting....we stopped at the jewelry store on the way to the hospital to pick up the beautiful diamond necklace that Paul got for my "birth" present.
We were so full of anticipation....we were going to meet our son the next day...and that night we would start the process that would bring him into the world! I remember how happy and excited I was...I was not scared at all.
We waited almost two hours for a room (the hospital was busy) and then when we finally got a room, Paul stayed for several hours just to be sure nothing would happen that night and then went home to take care of all of the pets. (He was going to head back first thing in the morning when things were expected to happen).
I can't believe that one year ago today, our beautiful baby boy was just hours away from entering our lives. I would do it all over again 100 times. He is the best thing that has ever happened in our lives. Thank you dear Lord for the most precious gift!

Monday, January 19, 2004

First Steps

Little pee pot took three little wobbly steps from the computer to the bed yesterday (January 18th). He stands on his own a lot now. It is bittersweet seeing my baby growing up like this. He still nurses 3-4 times during the night and in the mornings before I leave for work and in the evenings when I home. I'm not sure he is ready to give that up any time soon!

Monday, January 12, 2004

Standing...11 1/2 Months

just wanted to note that this weekend, Jana, Chris & Olivia came down for Mom's birthday and Jack is now saying "Nan Naaana" (Aunt Jana) and he is standing on his own a bit...and will take a couple of steps when you let go of him if he thinks you are still holding him as he walks.
He is signing a lot now. (Jana said she put out her hands to hold him to see if he would come to her when she first arrived...and he turned away and patted his chest -- meaning "scared"....how cute was that?)

We took him to a first birthday party of a little girl whose Mother I work with...and he was a full head taller and much bigger than her. Everyone loved his signs and wanted him to do more and more. It was cute.
He still loves Mommy...and only wants Mommy when she is home. (It breaks my heart to have to leave him to go to work during the week...but at least he is home with Daddy and for that I am so thankful.)
I love my little peanut so much. My heart overflows with love for him...I cannot begin to explain it.

Friday, January 2, 2004

Happy New Year...11 Months Old!

Happy 2004 Baby Jack! You just turned 11 months old and just celebrated your first Christmas and first New Year! In just 4 weeks you will be one and it is making Mommy a little sad. She sees how fast you are growing and all of the new things that you are learning and doing each day and it makes her so proud...but sad that you are moving just a few steps closer to being a big boy and not a baby any longer.
Your fist Christmas was so fun. Mommy didn't have tow work on Christmas Eve so we spent the day shopping and having fun together (along with Daddy, of course!) Then after you went to bed, Mommy & Daddy stayed up until 4:00 am wrapping all of the Christmas presents.
You were up bright and early (6:00am). Mommy, Daddy & Nana were all there to watch you try to open your presents. You needed some help with that...but you seemed top enjoy ripping up the paper. There were so many gifts that you got a bit overwhelmed and even went off into the kitchen for a while to play with your activity table. You just needed a little break.

After your nap we went over to your Grandma & Grandpa Carson's house to visit for a while. Later your Aunt Jana, Uncle Chris & Cousin Olivia came over for Christmas dinner and they brought you many more presents. You have so many toys now. I don't know where we are going to put them.
You have learned so many new signs. Some of the new ones that you sign: scared, monkey, hungry, drink, pig, computer, baby, no...and others I am sure that I can't think of. It is so cute to see you communicating with signs. Some people that I work with were so amazed when they saw you signing "frog" when Daddy brought you in for a visit. You also say "AWWL" while you hold out your arms to the side...which means "All gone." You can say "Nan Naanae" which means "Aunt Jana" and you say "Nea Ne" which means Olivia (though it really doesn't sound anything like it) but you can point them out as well as Uncle Chris in pictures.
You definitely have a mind of your own....you saw cousin Olivia going over to get a hug from Nan, and you crawled over as fast as you could and pushed her away so that you could get into your Nana's arms first. You shake you head "no" when you don't want something and you point with your index finger to show us things that you see or want. You love to turn the light switches on an off and often ask us to pick you up just so that you can do this.

Mommy has taken 12 days off work just to spend this precious time with you...and I am so happy just being with you. We have been taking naps together, playing and reading books, going to the store, and just being together. I am overwhelmed with the love that I feel for you. You want "Mommy" all of the time. We have a very special bond...and I never want anything to change that.
Mommy is worried that we may have a hard time weaning you from breastfeeding...as you seem to require that to go to sleep at night. When you wake up in our bed and Mommy is not there, you scream and cannot put yourself back to sleep without breastfeeding. I love breastfeeding you at night and all of the time, but I know that you really need to start weaning when you are one. This makes Mommy so sad (as it is our special time together) and I hope you will understand when we start this process. I hope that you do n ot feel that Mommy doesn't love you...or that she is pulling away from you as you are the best and most special thing that has ever EVER happened to Mommy.

So, happy New Year my sweet baby. I am so proud of you. Please don't grow away from me too quickly...Mommy loves every precious minute that she has with you.
You have my whole heart sweet baby.
Love,
Mommy
xx