Allstar

I was in the bathroom getting ready this morning when I heard Adam saying, "Jack, your mom is gonna flip when she sees how cute you are." I came out of the bathroom and FLIPPED! I immediately stopped what I was doing and got the camera.

 He's so suave and debonair

...and a close up of the shoes.

Motherhood

In the past month I've had lots of people ask, "So how do you like being a mom?" My response to anyone who is wondering... It's awesome! Sure, the only time I've been outside of the house in the past 48 or so hours was to check the mail. And, yeah, sometimes Jack pees/poops all over both of our outfits and the sheets. But waking up every morning to that smiley face just erases any memories of poop stains. I know it seems backwards, but almost every time that he smiles at me my eyes get all teary. It could be blamed on my hormones being all out of whack still. But, gosh, those smiles just make me so happy. I can't keep from getting emotional. I love that he's starting to giggle at me. Yesterday he gave me a really big frown as a warning that a big cry is coming soon. The frown made me laugh really hard and then my laughing made Jack start laughing too. And I love how cuddly he is right now. Last night I pulled him really close to me and just cradled him in my arms. He fell right into a peaceful sleep and I just stared at him. Then the night before last he was being really 'glaumy.' He woke up every time I put him down and just didn't want to calm down. I just decided to cuddle with him a bit and he settled down. I know it's not normal to like those fussy times. But I just really like the idea that all he needed to feel better was a little bit of cuddle time with the mama. Overall, he's just really fun to have around. We think he was a pretty good idea.

And since a post just isn't a real post anymore without a Jack picture, here's a sneak peak at his Halloween costume that I've been working on. I hope it's obvious what he is, but if not, here's a hint... Think galaxy far far away.

One Month Old

Today is both Jack's one month birthday and my sister Mel's birthday. What a great day.

Jack went to the doctor yesterday. He is now 9 lbs. 12 oz., almost two pounds bigger than he was one month ago. His visit was to get a third PKU test done. Most babies only have two, one in the hospital and one at 14 days. But since Jack was in the NICU, he had two done in the hospital and was supposed to get a third done at 28 days. This concept BAFFLED the doctor's office. I had to explain it to the nurse who weighed him, the doctor, the physician's assistant, and finally the lab assistant came in to prick his foot and said, "I've never heard of a third PKU." I guess Jack is just one of a kind.

The physician's assistant who checked him out said that he was both extra alert and super smiley for a one month old. Jack kept smiling at him while he was shining the light in his face and the PA said it was usually too early for real smiles, but that they seemed pretty genuine. But really what does Jack have to be sad about? He's the cutest baby that anyone has ever seen and he has great parents. Life is good.

We took some one month pictures this morning of Jack being his normal, smiley self.

Now for some fun things about Jack:

-He gets the hiccups at least three times a day, but hates them.

 

This is what hiccups do to his normally happy face.

-Sometimes he sleeps with his arms straight up in the air.

 

 

 Note: He's not swinging them around, otherwise they'd turn out as blurs. They are completely still, but just in the air.

-He sleeps a lot, but lately we've discovered that he's a bit of a Prince and the Pea type. He sleeps great on the couch, in our bed, in his crib. But whenever we'd put him down in his bassinet, he'd wake up soon after. So we put a fluffy, soft quilt down for him to sleep on top of and voila! He sleeps great. I guess the bassinet wasn't very comfy. 

First Road Trip

We went down to Utah for General Conference. Jack slept right through the four hour car ride. This was the first time Jack's cousins got to hold him. I think he made a good impression.

 The only granddaughter holding the sixth grandson. Poor little Syd.

 All seven grandkids

 They decided to teamwork it.

 We took some family pictures too.

Umm...

Do my posts even need captions anymore? I don't think text is really necessary. The pictures speak for themselves.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

I set Jack up for a little photo shoot in his new outfit today.

At first he was feeling very serious...

Then a little drowsy...

Then he decided to lighten up...

Jack and I have both, on separate occasions, had some fussy, emotional nights this week. But capturing something like this on camera helps remind me what a special time of life we're in right now.

Two Weeks Old

Jack had another doctor's appointment on Friday. He is up to 8 lbs. 3oz. and 20 inches. He felt the doctor's office was the best place the debut his geyser impression. We almost had the diaper ready to latch up, when suddenly Jack, the changing table, and the wall were covered in pee. This morning he did an encore performance on the bed. Needless to say, we visit the laundry facilities a lot more frequently now.

I like going to the doctor's office, though, because all the nurses like to gawk at Jack, even after he makes a big pee mess for them to clean up. It confirms my suspicions that my kid really is the cutest baby out there.

Friday, before he soiled that outfit. 

At night we swaddle him, but during the day we let him have use of his arms. He likes to have them up by his head like this. One morning I came in the bedroom and found both Adam and Jack sleeping like this. Like father, like son, I guess. 

One of the fun things about Jack is all the faces he makes while he's sleeping. Sometimes we just stare at him while he sleeps to catch all the different looks. These are the looks I was getting this evening. 

Life is Good

This is what we woke up to this morning. Could life be any better?...

 Also, Jack's swing came in the mail today, thanks to Linda's friend Trudy. We're all going to love it so so much.

And this one is from a few days ago that I didn't get posted yet. I love it. I realize that smiles at this stage are more closely related to gas than to emotion, but I can't help but smile back at him and go goo-goo eyed.

Jack's Visitors

I don't usually get all mushy on here, but I just feel a lot of gratitude right now. We're so lucky to have the friends and family that we do. We've been taken care of really well. Our fridge, freezer, and cupboards have never been so full. We've got 72 eggs in the fridge, 3 or more pounds of cheese, a freezer full of meals to heat up, and so so much more! We seem to be showered with gifts daily. So I thought I'd dedicate a blog post just to all the visitors that Jack has had so far. Beware: This contains A LOT of pictures and mushiness.

The Grandparents

Of course the grandparents take priority here. Both of our parents have done so much for us. My mom and dad got on the road less than an hour after Jack was born... Mind you, he was born at 5:00 am. Then while they were here, my mom was busy in our kitchen making lots of meals for us to freeze and warm up for dinners once we were home. And that's only mentioning a few of the things they've done. 

Don't mind me and my stylish hospital gown

Adam's parents flew in from Texas less than a week after Jack was born. Since they've been here, Linda has been cooking amazing meals for us all and contributed to the overflowing state that the fridge is in. Yesterday, Linda and I went grocery shopping and Bob stayed home with Jack to be his very first babysitter. He fed him a bottle and even changed a messy diaper. 

When they first met Jack. Bob looks elated.

Aunts and Uncles

It's hard for me to believe that anyone was more excited about Jack's arrival than my sister-in-law, Ang. Other than my parents, the Lehi Drakes were some of Jack's first visitors. They packed up their four kids and jumped on I-15 just as soon as possible Sunday morning. They stayed the night in Idaho Falls, because there weren't vacancies in Rexburg. Then Monday morning they were at the hospital again, bearing gifts and ready to finally hold Jack.

Again, with the cute hospital gown.

Cute boys, Braden and Justin

My sisters, Mel and Chris win the award for most road time. They drove up Monday morning, drove home Monday evening, drove up Thursday night, and drove home again Saturday afternoon. They came home from their grocery store visit with bags and bags and bags. I'm still munching on the chocolate chip cookies and Oreos that they bought. I was especially glad to have them here on Friday afternoon when Jack had to go in for his circumcision. I was a wreck and they offered great emotional support. 

Kelsey and Porter got here on Friday with Bob and Linda. I'm bummed because I didn't get a picture of them holding Jack while he was wearing the cute guitar onesie they got him in Portland. I did, however, get this one of Jack and Kelsey's first meeting. She's a pretty proud first-time Aunty.

There are lots of people that haven't even met Jack yet and are still showering him and us with gifts, money, and support. We're so grateful and neither this blog post or the thank you cards they'll be getting in the mail can do any justice to how glad we are to be so loved.