Jackson Reed is 6 months!

 

Jackson Reed More

March 31, 2015

 

It's been 6 months since this little buddy entered our lives. And it's been a really fun 6 months!

Jackson is the easiest, most laidback baby I have ever been around, which has made the transition from one child to two that much easier.

 

Jackson has the BIGGEST hazel eyes and light brown hair. We think his eyes are going to stay this color - he'll be the only one in our family that doesn't have brown eyes! Jackson is sweet and smiley. He rarely cries, loves to snuggle, and is happy playing on the floor and rolling around with his toys.

 

We chose Isaiah 30:21 for Jackson's life verse:

 

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

 

We pray that he will always hear that voice...and follow it.

 

This baby LOVES to eat and has tried tons of flavors so far! Bananas, pears, apples, corn, pumpkin, squash, green beans, green peas, sweet potatoes, and blueberries. He really likes everything except the green beans and honestly, I can't blame him!

 

 

Gentry Claire LOVES him (though she wasn't so sure those first few weeks!) and can really make him laugh. He watches her every move when she's in the room. I think the feeling is mutual.

 

Jackson's 6 Month Stats:

 

Weight: 16 lbs. 3 oz.

Height: 27 3/4 inches (95th percentile - whoa!)

Eats: 7 oz. formula 4x per day and has veggies/fruit 2x per day

Sleep: Usually 2-3 naps per day and sleeps from about 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. each night

Clothes: Mostly wears 6 or 9 month sizes - mostly 9 because he's so long!

Favorites: his paci, playing on the floor, sitting up (with help) and looking around, being outside, and being rocked at bedtime

 

 

We LOVE this little guy and are thankful to have him in our lives!

 

2015 Life Update!

Well, here we are, an entire YEAR since I've posted anything. I was primarily keeping this blog for myself and family - instead of a scrapbook - this is much easier for me in theory - ha!

In April 2014, we decided to move back to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Jeremy was able to keep his job with Travelers Insurance and I took a job as a center director at a local child care center. We love it here and love our little house and especially the fact that the cost of living is about half of what it was in Nashville.

There is a LOT we miss about living in Nashville (mainly, my family being so close), but Tuscaloosa just feels like home and we ARE close to Jeremy's family here, so that's been nice.

GC has done great with the transition. She started going to the child care center where I work back in May and has settled into a good routine. She loves here teachers and playing with her friends every day. I love that I can watch her play and still am able to work!

We found out back in November that we are expecting out second baby - a boy! - at the end of March. In fact, I am currently 27 weeks along and scheduled a C-section delivery today for March 31, 2015. We are SUPER excited!

We are still visiting churches here in the area and trying to find the right fit for us. There are lots to choose from, so it's a bit of a process.

On the home front, Jeremy has kept busy with work, of course, but he is also constantly in the middle of some kind of project at the house. Most recently, he re-did our bedroom ceiling with wood paneling and it is GORGEOUS. He's super handy!

So that's where we are...

Here's where I am with this pregnancy...

Pregnancy Highlights:

 

How Far Along: 27 weeks and 2 days

 

Gender:  BOY

 

Name: Not sure yet, but we are 99% sure we've decided

 

Movement: I feel him move a lot lately. It mostly feels like he's rolling or flipping - not really "kicking."

 

Sleep: Sleeping well at night

 

What I miss: Turkey Sandwiches and Queso Dip ;)

 

Cravings:  Chips and Salsa - Peanut Butter (but that's not really anything out of the ordinary!)

 

Symptoms: Nothing major really, just getting bigger everyday. Trying to watch what (and how much) I eat and stay healthy.

 

Today I FAILED my blood-glucose test by ONE STINKING POINT. My sugar was 140 and it needed to be 139 or below. I was super bummed, but there's no reason to think I won't pass when I go back for a 3-hour test in two more weeks.

 

I haven't taken weekly photos of myself with this pregnancy like I did before, so I need to try and get better about that over these last 12 weeks. Yikes!

 

And now, in no particular order, here are a few pictures from the last 3 months of so.

 

Lots of fun and LOTS of pictures of GC!

 

Riding in the wagon at Tannehill with baby "Samantha."

Butterfly girl at Griffin Farms

Headed to school! War Eagle and Roll Tide - and a tiny baby bump!

Lunch from an ice cube tray! She loved it!

Daddy built the best treehouse and slide in our back yard!

Sunday Morning Selfie!

Sliding at the park!

Checking out our Christmas tree!

Announcing...baby BROTHER!

UA Homecoming 2014

Family shot at Homecoming

A cute little pilgrim

Visiting "Ho-Ho"

She was obsessed with her Santa hat this year!

Christmas morning family selfie!

Two of her favorite Christmas gifts: a Sofia the First gown and a Doc McStuffins sing-a-long radio.

Shopping at Target on Mommy's b'day

B'day Breakfast at Waffle House

Ready for Church!

Welcome, 2015! And hopefully more regular blogging!

What a Difference One Year Makes

Gentry Claire - January 2013

Gentry Claire - December 2013

I can't even believe the difference that ONE year has made in this little girl. I mean, seriously, is that even the same child? The change from a baby to a toddler is pretty drastic when you look at it side by side like this.

Gentry Claire turned 18 months old on December 27, which just happens to be my birthday. We share a half-birthday - kind of neat! Here is what she's up to these days: 

- Size 18 month clothes
-Size 4 diaper

-Weight: 25 pounds, 11.5 ounces on January 3
-Height: 33 inches tall
-One nap per day, after lunch, usually for 1 - 1.5 hours
-You LOVE milk and ask for it all the time. Milk and water are all you drink.
-You are a great eater and will try anything we put in front of you. Favorites are spaghetti, chicken, broccoli, quinoa, and beans.

-You have so many teeth that I've lost count on when they are coming in. 
-You love to walk, run, and climb. Your favorite is climbing in kitchen chairs and you've fallen out a few times, but it doesn't stop you! 

-You LOVE to be outside and cry when you have to come in.
-You love coming to school everyday and rarely cry when I leave you (at school or the church nursery). 
-You like playing with your new toy kitchen and dollhouse that you got for Christmas. You like playing with animals and making animal noises. Cars and trucks are a favorite, too and you make a "rrrrrr!" noise when you drive them around.

-You repeat everything we say - or at least try to. You have started saying "night night" at bedtime, "up mama" when you want me to hold you,  "ok" when you hear us say it, and "baba" for baby. You have a ton of words right now that I can't even remember them all. 
-Pinky Poodle is still your favorite lovey and you can't sleep without him. 
-You "take roll" at dinner each night (we are staying with my parents right now) and you go around the table and say, "Gigi, Paw, Dada, Mama, Scou (for Scout, our dog)." It's really funny. 

-You still use sign language a lot when you want "more" or "milk" even though you can say those words clearly. 

-You had fun at Christmas and can now point out "ights!" (lights), "tee!" (tree), and "hohoho" (when you see a Santa face.

-You are feisty and get upset quickly when you don't get your way. You lay flat on the floor with your face down and cry. It's funny, but we try not to laugh in front of you. 

-You got a pretend jar of salsa in your dish set for Christmas and I told you, "oooh, that's my favorite." Now everytime you get it out you run to me with the jar in hand and say, "mama! mama!" It's neat to see you associate two things. 

GC at 15 Months or "Trying Not to Forget These Days"

Gentry Claire turned 15 months old on September 27. What? 15 months? How can that be? Everyone says that the time goes by fast with a little one and they aren't kidding. It REALLY flies by. I can't believe that we have had this little girl in our lives for over a year, but I am so very thankful. I can't really remember what life was like before her!

Here are some stats and facts about our girl:

- Weight: 23 lbs. 11 oz. (82nd percentile)
- Height: 30 3/4 inches (58th Percentile)
- You have grown 3 inches in 3 months - crazy!
- You had 3 immunizations plus a flu shot at your appointment and cried for maybe 15 seconds
- You are wearing some 12 month, but mostly 18 month clothes now
- You take one nap each day, usually 1.5-2 hours
- You LOVE to eat most anything. Favorites are still bread, pasta, cheese, and green beans
- You only drink milk and water
- You have 2 molars that are coming in
- You love to walk and run, you also try to hop and can march, but only lift one leg up in the air - it's pretty funny
- You like to give "high fives" and "fist bumps" (Aunt Molly taught you those)
- You don't cry at school drop off, but do when I drop you off in SS, but settle quickly
- You like to climb, especially on your little table and in and out of your pink chair
- You love to be outside sliding, blowing bubbles, riding in your car, or just running around
- You are talking up a storm and babble a lot, though we don't know what you're saying
- Words you say: NO!, mama, dada, more, something that sounds like "Scout," bubble, bath, nana for banana, go, book, milk, wawa for water
- You cried out during the night the other night and we both clearly heard you say, "Dada!" through the monitor
- You know the signs for milk, more, apple, red, yellow, eat, water, cracker, cheese (I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting)
- You like to get ALL of your toys out of the cabinets and then kind of wander from one thing to the next
- You like looking at books and singing. After we finish a song you say, "Yay!!"
- You throw your arms in the air when we say "Touchdown!"
- You are becoming more independent and definitely let us know when you don't like something
- "No." is your answer to anything that sounds like a question
- You get up around 6:45 during the week, but usually sleep until 7-7:30 on weekends
- Your bedtime is around 7:30 each night

There are other things I'm sure I'm forgetting. It's hard to remember everything you say and do! You are a VERY busy girl and keep us on our toes, but we love it!

Our girl in her favorite chair with her favorite lovey, "Pinky Poodle" 

The Mysterious Case of the Red Rash

Friday, August 30: GC wakes up and I notice a small red bump on her shoulder looks to be infected. I let it go all day, but by naptime it is VERY red and streaking, so I call the doctor. We take her in, get amoxicillin to treat the infection and head on our merry way to Tuscaloosa for the long weekend.

Saturday, August 31: Jeremy's sister mentions to me that GC feels warm. I take her temperature and she has a low-grade fever. I chalk it up to the infected "spot" and let it go.

Sunday, September 1: We notice a few red bumps on GC's arms, legs, hands, and feet. Jeremy's sister says it looks like Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. Since we are out of town, a Google search has to confirm this diagnosis. We begin treating the fever. GC takes a FOUR HOUR NAP.

Monday, September 2: The bumps are worse, the fever up to 101.5. We travel home, continue to treat the fever, knowing that it's a virus and nothing more can be done.

Tuesday, September 3: GC stays home with my mom and is fever-free all day! I arrive home at 6:00 p.m. and her fever is back up to 101.9, so she has to stay home from school AGAIN on Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 4: GC stays home with my sister and I come home at noon to relieve her. NO fever all day - yay! She sleeps well, the bumps are disappearing and the HFM seems to be gone.

Thursday, September 5: GC goes to school. I go to work. J works at home. All is well!

Friday, September 6: Happy 5th Anniversary to us!
GC wakes up with a mysterious red rash on her face, arms, and back of neck. Puzzling, but looks like an allergic reaction, so I take her to school and I go to work for 2 hours. When I pick her up, the rash has spread to pretty much every part of her body. I send pics to doc. Looks like allergic reaction. Doc says watch her for trouble breathing or discomfort. We go home. GC naps. After nap the rash is RED and ANGRY. I call doc. We go to doc. Doc takes one look at her and says, "Yep, that's an allergic reaction to amoxicillin." Bummer. We take her home, treat her with Benadryl and Zyrtec and lay low for the weekend because she looks like this:

 

Is that not the most pitiful thing you've ever seen? Breaks my heart. She was so irritable and fussy all weekend. I know she had to be uncomfortable, not to mention in a fog from all the meds. Poor buddy.

So, in the last week we have treated an infected "spot" which I assume was a bug bite, self-diagnosed HFM (I KNOW that's what it was. Classic symptoms and fever and our doc agreed). Then learned of her allergy to amoxicillin while treating the infection from the bug bite.

It was a crazy week for us and our girl. She's a trooper, though, and handled it all.

Funny side note: it seems that nearly every time we visit Jeremy's family or they come here something happens: stomach bug, RSV, pink eye, ear infections - all have happened at their house or when they were here. And now we can add HFM to the list! It's so sad, but kind of funny at this point. Bless them all!

14 Month Update!

-Size 12 month clothes
-Size 3 diaper and size 4 at night
-Weight: 23 lb. 4 oz. 
-Height: Not sure, but you look much taller to me! 
-One nap a day from 12-2 p.m.
-You eat 3 meals a day and one afternoon snack
-You drink whole milk and water
-You love to eat pretty much anything, though bread, pasta, and cheese are favorites!
-You know the signs for please, thank you, more, milk, cracker, red, apple, yellow, and bird
-You say bye-bye, bath, moh (always accompanied by the sign for more), muh (along with the sign for milk), mama, dada, and lots of other babbles that I don't fully understand yet 
-You have EIGHT teeth (and maybe are working on a molar or two?)
-You walk and run everywhere!
-You are really good at climbing up stairs, but haven't figured out the coming down part yet
-You promoted to the "Garden Sprouts" room at school in early August and have done well with the transition
-You come home from school dirty every day - you play hard! 
-You are friendly and smiley to everyone and wave to people as we go by
-You are a climber! You love to climb up on your little table in the den
-You like to get ALL of your toys our at one time
-You pointed to daddy's banana that he was eating for breakfast and said, "nana!" last week
-You are a good sleeper and take one, two-hour nap per day and sleep 10-12 hours at night 
-Pinky Poodle is still your favorite and you can't sleep without him 

Here are a few pictures of GC at 13 and 14 months:  

Evening Snuggles with Pinky Poodle

Climber! 

Riding in your Cozy Coupe at Nana and Pop's House

Brown--Eyed Baby

 We love this girl so very much and really can't remember what life was like before her. She keeps us busy and on our toes, for sure, but it's all so much fun. 

Thank you, God for Gentry Claire! 

GC is ONE!

-Size 12 month clothes (a few 9 month pieces still fit, too!)
-Size 3 diaper  (day and night)
-Weight: 20.12 lbs. 
-Height: 27 3/4 inches 
-Still nap twice a day for the most part, but are gradually moving to one afternoon nap
-You eat 3 meals a day and one afternoon snack
-You started drinking whole milk on your birthday and like it just fine - milk and water are all you drink
-You love most all food and enjoy eating the more "seasoned" food off of our plates. Favorites are green beans, spaghetti, carbs of any kind (!), cheese toast, and Nutri-Grain bars.
-You have EIGHT teeth 
-You started walking the week you turned one and it's definitely your preferred mode of getting around now. It's still shocking to me sometimes to see you walking all over the house.
-You are friendly to everyone and rarely cry when I hand you to other people. You do cry at school/church drop-off, but settle quickly and have so much fun!
-You are a climber! You love climbing in and out of your pink chair and this weekend went up the entire staircase at home (with me right behind you!) Yikes!
-You like your toys, but don't seem to have a real favorite right now. You move around from one thing to the next very quickly.
-You said "duh-do" anytime you see an animal and something that sounds like "that dog" or "get dog" when you see Scout. 
-You are a good sleeper, but recently naptime has become more of a challenge. You are so tired, but fuss when I lay you down and usually have to cry for a few minutes before settling down and falling asleep. 
-Pinky Poodle is your lovie of choice. You LOVE him and stroke his ears and suck your thumb to soothe yourself.

I haven't taken your monthly "sticker picture" yet, but here are a few of you at "ONE!" 

A favorite activity: climb on the zebra, then climb off the zebra, repeat. 

Happy girl at school on her birthday*

Party Day! *

Opening gifts! *

We are so thankful for such a sweet, smiley, laid back baby girl! It's been such a fun year with you! We pray that you are always so sweet and tender-hearted. 

We love you, Gentry Claire! 

*photo credits to Jennifer Tramel:  http://www.lookingglassphotos.org/