{FOURmonths}

I know I say it every month, but holy cow!  4 months old!?!?!  I still can't believe it, I have a 4 month old.  Jaxson's check up is next Tuesday - once we have them, I'll post his stats.

What Jaxson's been up to this month:
We have been practicing sitting up he's not having it, picking up toys and tasting them, tasting new baby foods, watching the dogs play, jumping in his Johnny Jumper - Jaxson loves to be on the move, wherever we go he wants to be with us walking, playing outside and going for rides in the car are some of his favorites.  He is a very easy going baby, he still loves his naps and is starting to be on a sleep schedule - which has been super fabulous!

About the parents this month:
I've been asked to go back to work full time in the office and will begin that May 1st - the thought of not being a "stay at home mom" has been really hard to handle.  It's alway been my dream to do it, but with Austin's job slowing down and all the hospital bills coming in it has been really hard on us.  We have been interviewing nannies to take on Jaxson full time at home for the summer which we are excited about.  Like I said before, Austin's job has been a little bit slower than we'd like, but it's been nice when he is home.  We were able to update and paint a little in our master bathroom and have cleaned up the yard a lot-although that job is never ending!  He's been great with his honey-do lists!

Easter and Sunshine

We had a wonderful Easter, it was exhausting!

Here's our little bunny baby!

We all got a few matching pieces from our bunny this year - it was a perfect opertunity to get a family photo - too bad I forgot to bring my camera with me!  Uhg!  Good thing for in-laws with cameras!

I don't think I am alone when I say this, but we've had SPRING FEVER!  We have been outside as much as possible!  Jaxson loves it outside!

Trying on his new shades!

Soakin' up the sun!

He may not look amused, but he LOVED this little car!

THREEmonths

About Jaxson - He loves daddy (more than mommy, this week).  He also loves mornings, his toys, people watching, watching dad play ball with the dogs, being outside and the mobile in his crib.  He loves to sleep and is ALMOST sleeping through the night!  He is still in the bassinet at night - he loves that thing... we have been trying to transition him to his crib by making him nap in it during the day.  He is starting to get in a sleep/nap schedule which is making life a little bit easier.  Ever since he's been home from the hospital his eating hasn't been the same, he still LOVES food, but can't tolerate it like before and spits most of it back up - we are working on finding his nitch changing bottles, food and quantity - we may have found it... he's been doing really great the past two days (KNOCK ON WOOD).  He is a smiley boy most of the time and is pretty content as long as he is entertained - even if the light on the ceiling is "talking" to him - he'll chat it up!

Last time I bragged about him not getting sick - he was in the hospital for 7 days-sick, so I hope this doesn't jinx me again!

RRrrrrrSV.

We caught it!

During Jaxson's 2 month doctor appointment I lifted his blanket to make sure he was okay - that's when they think he caught the virus - 5 minutes in a waiting room could have cost our son's life.  I have been told by several doctors that we are lucky he's alive, I am SO grateful he is!  That check up was on a Tuesday, I noticed he wasn't well on Wednesday, I took him to the doctor on Saturday night stats were good; Monday morning I dropped him off with my SIL went into work and got a call (it's always scary when the person who is caring for your child calls), Laura noticed he was struggling to breathe and told me I needed to take him to the doctor again.  We went to the doctor, she was right, his stats were horrible, he was working REALLY hard to breathe  - they called us an ambulance and sent us to Primary Children's ER.  He was admitted to the ICU to be monitored on a "high flow" cannula, once he was settled in he hadn't improved so they put him on the C-PAP, still no improvement.  Not even 24 hours of him being in the hospital they decided to intubate him, it was THAT bad.  He was intubated for 4 days - I don't know if many know this, I didn't and I wish I would have had the warning, while he was intubated he was mute.  He'd cry without a cry, cough without a cough - it's the hardest thing to see.  They had him sedated so he wouldn't pull out the tube and was on morphine for the pain, he slept, a lot.  He needed to.  We were told Thursday that they thought Friday would be the day they would extubate him and move him out of ICU, I waited all day Friday-nothing.  I went home for the night (ICU doesn't have a place for parents to stay) and a few hours later received a call from the hospital, they were going to extubate him!  Austin and I jumped in the car and sped up to the hospital.  When we got there his tube was out!  They were giving him a treatment to reduce the swelling in his throat-his cry was horse.  The saddest, cutest thing I've ever heard.  We couldn't hold him the whole time he was intubated - that night I squooze the heck out of him!  I had my baby back!  Early the next morning I ran up to the hospital to hold him again and they decided he was ready to be moved out of the ICU!  He was on his road to recovery at that point, the worst was over!  The next task we had was to get him to eat, I think he had PTSD (still does a little), he wanted nothing to do with bottles, but loved his binky... the doctors and nurses were really worried since he had lost weight - Sunday evening was horrible for me, the nurse wasn't telling me what was going on in layman's terms and was very abrupt.  She was forcing Jaxson to eat more than he wanted which was making him miserable and he would just cry after, she did it all night - my anxiety got to me, it had been a long week and I didn't want to see him suffer anymore... luckily the doctor the next morning was awesome and super sweet - he wanted Jaxson to go home as much as I did, he cleared him to come home and by noon we were on our way home!  

He is still sick, but SOOOOOooo much better than he was.  He came home with the cutest little personality, he smiles, laughs and tells us stories.  He is still struggling on eating once in a while, but the doctor told us as long as he's hydrated, don't worry.

Here are some photo "highlights" of the week - 

Riding in the ambulance

in the beginning - PCMC ER

Jaxson on C-PAP - caused a bald spot

Right after he was intubated

His sad face he'd give me - it still makes me cry

Right after he was extubated - daddy couldn't wait!

Saying goodbye to his crib mobile friends - he talked to them all the time

Home at last!

Helping mom work

Trying out the highchair we came home to - not stable enough yet

{2 months}

2 months have come and gone - FAST!

Jaxson's stats:

Height - 23" (50th%)

Weight - 13 lbs 1 oz (75th%)

Head - 41cm (75th%)

Doctor said he is doing better than he ever expected in health (being a paranoid Patty has really paid off - kept him away from all these sicknesses, so far)! He is advanced in his vision focus and head stability! He reassured me that at this age our chunky monkey means he is healthy! :)

As far as what's been going on; we've been crazy!  

Jaxson is my tiny wannabe toddler, he loves to EAT, jump, smile, coo and is very interested in all of his surroundings.  He is already very stubborn and knows what he likes... and doesn't!  He's definitely a mama's boy (which I don't mind)!  Every day is an adventure!  We've had a lot of firsts the past month... First time in a grocery store, first time to church, first walk, first full day away from mommy and many more!

(Mommy and Daddy's updates below)

I have a house full of photos... yet not ONE of the baby!  I had to get some shots to put around our house, so here's a few - I am going to have to do more soon, he didn't want to cooperate for me...

This one was added because it totally cracks me up!

Austin's work has been slow the past few months which isn't great, but nice for me and Jaxson - it's lots of family time.  He has been spending most of his spare time working on the house we're moving into... yes, we're MOVING into a HOUSE!  Yippee!  We are moving into Austin's dads house; we were given an opportunity we just couldn't pass up!  Our whole family of 5 is excited about it (yes, even the dogs!)!  Now Austin will have a place to play with his jeep, park his trailer and still have room left over!  As far as me, I started back at work the beginning of February and am currently working 2 days in the office and 3 days at home (trial period - hoping it works out this way so I don't have to make Jax go to daycare, ever).  Since we are moving I have been having lots of, um... fun???, organizing and packing our little MIL apartment.  My life is becoming monotonous, so I don't really have too much to tell you about, sorry!

On a side note for all those who had to see me meltdown, here's my update:

I love being a mommy!!!  Although the first month was emotionally hard on me and was a huge adjustment, it makes me love it even more everyday that passes.  It's amazing what your hormones go through postpartum.  Everyone kept asking me how much I loved being a mom and it would bring me to tears, honest, I was on and emotional roller coaster!  I am 100% so grateful for Jaxson and that the anxiety and depression has passed!  

Baby Morrison

Remember this...???

Well... 

It turned into this...

Aren't they cute!?!?

I just can't get enough...

Well, I love, love, LOVE babies and I never really had practice photographing them before - now, I am practicing as much as I can!  Linzi was nice enough to let me do a little session with Morrison and she was a perfect {BEAUTIFUL} little model!  I hope you'll see more and more of Lil' Mo' over the years!    

PS - If YOU want me to practice with your little one... I'd love to!  Just let me know. :)

more photos from our 1 month shoot

I just like to brag at how cute (and silly) our baby is...

Thank you again to my talented little brother who is always so willing to come and take pictures for me, he's becoming quite the photographer!

{ONE} month

One month... already!?!?  WHAT!!!!!

Jaxson, you are such a sweet boy and have blessed our hearts with your presents.  You already have such a cute little personality.  As long as you are fed you are such a happy boy.  You are super strong - even your pediatrician comments on your physical strength.  You don't really care for diaper changes.  You love your hands, in fact, you are obsessed with your hands.  We can't put your hands in a swaddle without you getting mad; you like your hands on or near your face at all times.  You are a dramatic dreamer, happy one second and sad the next.  Our first month has been a roller coaster ride and we couldn't be happier!