Adjusting

In the last few weeks I feel like I am trying to adjust to changes and new stages with Jackson and still haven't quite figured things out. For example, a couple of weeks Jackson decided one day that one 2 hour nap would be enough rather than two 2 hours naps. How did we go from 4 hours of napping down to 2!? That was a dramatic change and thought it was a fluke... to my dismay he is holding strong. It seems he likes to go down for this 2 hour nap in the morning rather than middle of the day. So he gets up at 8ish and is ready to go back down at 10ish. then is ready for lunch when he gets up, so it is hard to even leave the house before 1 in the afternoon! However, this morning I thought it would be like the last two weeks so when he got a little cranky at about 10:30 I went to put him down...Then I kept putting him down for another 45 minutes because he would stand up in his crib, throw out Tigger and his binki and scream until I came and returned them and lay him down and start the process over. By 11:30 I decided it wasn't happening and we would have lunch. Finally at 12:30 he fell asleep. I spent my whole morning trying to put him down because he seemed tired and I knew I needed to go this afternoon...hopefully we will find some consistency soon. It makes for a long afternoon when your baby is up from noon till 9.

In the evenings when it is nearing bedtime but sill not quite time we will sometimes put in Baby Signing Time or Baby Einstein. They are both a hit! He gets excited and squeals and kicks his feet. I'll try to do a video sometime. it always cracks me up.

We've also been going through the teething thing...how many months has it been?? He's been running a few fevers and waking up more at night, (although only once or twice which is so doable! compared to the 3 times a night 2 1/2 months ago). These pics are from almost 2 weeks ago. So now almost all 4 teeth on top have cut through.

When I put these PJ's on him, he really looked like he could be a year old! Maybe I'll leaving him sleepers for a few more months.

I have also started cutting out nursing him before nap time in the afternoon and begin the weaning process. Lucky for me he adores being outside so as a distraction when he starts getting whiney before or after his nap we go outside and enjoy the amazing weather. On a daily basis he will crawl to the kitchen sliding door and just sit on the mat looking out side, hitting the door, talk to the birds and wait for me to take him outside. He is great about wearing a baseball cap which I love so I don't have to worry about his head getting burned and the sun in his eyes. So cute!

Match Day!

CONGRATULATIONS JONATHAN!! We are so excited that Jon matched to do his antanesthesiology residency at the University of Kentucky! There was a brunch held at the Crown Plaza today where all the medical students met to open their "match" beginning at noon. They opened them one at a time and were chosen at random for the order. Jonathan took Brittany up with him to the front when he opened his envelope. We are soo excited to keep the Bylund's here!!

HOORAY FOR UK!

Jackson cheering that Jon will go to UK!

a few of my favorites!

Pull-ups...

One of the funny things I have learned about Jackson is when he decides he is ready and wants to learn something or do something (milestones) he will do it once and then knows how to do it and doesn't need to practice, he just keeps doing it. Last night he pulled up for the first time with the help of his open dresser drawers. Today he has been finding all sorts of stuff to pull up on and likes to "test" himself by letting go and getting his balance. He figured out how to do it in crib as well... great. So soon after he showed us his "cute" trick, we lowered the crib.

11 Months

Little Mr. Busy Body! He just loves to sit and play. His favorite toy this month by far has been his Busy Ball Choo Choo Chain that he got from the Bylund's for Christmas! Since he learned to crawl he is just thrilled to chase the moving train all around our kitchen over and over again! It's great! He gets excited when he catches up to it, plays with the balls putting them in and out and then chases it again.

It has been wonderful that he has learned to get into a sitting position from his belly so we don't have to pick him up all the time. He loves crawling to cords--if we ever want him to crawl we just pull out some cords. He has a harder time going to sleep because he now sits up in his crib, and throws his Tigger and binki out of the crib. Then waits for us to come back in, give them back and lay him back down. He adores being outside. Today we went to the park in the morning, and took 3 walks this afternoon. Intense I know--but he loved every second of it. While at the park he got in one of the baby swings and was a bit scared at first, but then enjoyed the ride. He LOVED the slide!! We were with the Bylund's and Brittany suggested that Jackson might like to go down the slide. So Aunt Angela helped go down and I caught him. He thought it was quite the thrill and wanted to do it again and again. In between the walks he crawled to the screen door and just sat there looking outside. So cute. He learned how to say please in sign language, although he rarely does it on demand and doesn't know what please means--just how to sign it when we say it, but it's so dang cute when he does. He LOVES doing "So Big" and having us tell him how big he is each time he throws his hands up in the air. He is sleeping pretty good most nights. Usually sleeps throught the night at least 2 or 3 times a week. The other times he gets up once or twice. His two top teeth have poked through. He still hasn't learned to pull himself all the way up to his feet, but gets up on his knees and reaches for things from there. It never fails that he is excited to get in the bathtub and can play for 45 minutes easy without getting bored. He is talking more and talking louder. We have a new routine at night where we ask him "Where's Tigger" and he smiles and starts looking around then we take him to his crib (where tigger stays) and he looks up and down the crib till his eyes stop on Tig and he starts smiling and giggling. Priceless I tell you. Priceless. I love finding him sitting up in his crib at the end of naptime just waiting for me to find him.

I won't lie...I'm a little itsy bitsy sad that this is the last "month" post and the next one will be 1 year! But we are sooo excited to celebrate it!:)

Welcome Hannah Lynn!

Hannah was born at 6:07 pm on March 1 safe and healthy! She was 6 lb. 10 oz. and 19 inches long. I am so excited that she arrived, although desperately wish I were there to hold her and help Julie. Julie is one of the most incredible mom's I have ever met. I wish I could give her even just one day off so she could just hold li'l Hannah and not worry about anything else.
An exciting thing for me is that Hannah's middle name Lynn is named after me--Cute huh?!

Smith family kids. Hannah is already well loved by her siblings! I love this picture! I am such a lucky aunt!

Little angel Hannah