2 Months!

You are two months today, Baby Boy! You make your mommy and daddy the busiest, most tired, and most importantly, the happiest we have ever been! At two months you are...

• Smiling a lot! There's no better reward than seeing that big grin and your eyes lit up when you are happy.
• You are squirmy. Your arms and legs go nonstop. You are holding your head up well and growing strong! You hit and kick the toys hanging from your activity mat.
• You love to be held. Uh oh. I guess there's nothing better than snuggling in mommy or daddy's warm arms.
• You have your first cold/allergies. Boo! It's lasted a while and I guess we'll ask the doctor about it tomorrow at your check-up.
• Did I mention you are getting your 2 month shots tomorrow? Mommy is crying already.
• Grandmother says your hair is getting red! I guess we'll see!
• You are going to the baby-sitter. (big sigh) I had to write your name on a ziploc bag so we could send some of your things to keep at the sitter's. I thought, "This is for big boys. My baby isn't big enough for this!"
• You are taking bottles well. This was never an issue. You don't turn away anything with milk in it!
• You like to look at things up high--lights, fans, and mobiles.
• You LOVE your bear mobile! Your eyes widen and your arms and legs start moving when you see it turning. 
• You also talk to those bears! You have started cooing and babbling, responding to us when we talk to you. Love it!
• You know how I said that, when you were a month old, you were liking your baths? Well, I take that back. You scream from the moment I put you in until I snap up your sleeper and then pick you up and cuddle you. Whew, those baths are exhausting--for me!
• You ARE sleeping well at night, mostly 7-8 hours! Thank you, Son. :)
• You love your daddy. You know his voice and look for him when you hear it. You are always safe and comfortable in his arms. 

Jackson, we are so thankful for you! You are beautiful and you make our lives better. 

A Friendly Conversation

I suppose that when I go back to work, I will have places to be and lots of other things to think about. However, for the next couple of days I will do what I have been doing best-marveling at this little creature and  being able to stare at him all day. Here he is talking to the bears on his mobile. They have been friends for most of his life and he is just now able to "talk" to them. :) 

You Can't Stop Time

but the weird thing is that I have decided I don't want to!

Jackson was 7 weeks old yesterday and...I put away his newborn sleepers this morning. He can't wear them anymore. His toes might start poking out the bottom. They used to be too big for him. Sigh. I don't know how it happened but he's not my tiny little bundled newborn anymore. I'm sure all you mamas out there understand perfectly. I know it was only 7 weeks ago, but so much growing has happened since then! I remember holding him and staring at him the first couple days of his life and thinking, " I won't be able to handle it if he ever grows bigger". I teared up thinking about him every being big enough to go to Kindergarten! Yes, I know, little bit of hormones playing into that one.

The fact of the matter is, he is growing and he's even better than he was all those 7 weeks ago. I never could have imagined that I would love this boy just the same and even more than I did then. Am I making sense to anyone but my(still probably hormonal)self? I have discovered that, even though this very present moment seems like the most special, each new moment is going to be just as special and even better! Look at this little boy:

I don't know if you can see the tears in his eyes, but seconds before this his bottom lip was poking out and quivering and we were on the verge of a meltdown. However, as what happens whenever that lip starts quivering, he quickly had Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma by his side doing whatever they could to make it better. We got this sweetest boy smile for our efforts. Break. My. Heart. He's beginning to be able to feel emotions and respond to people. He smiles more every day! He becomes more amazing every day that I know him. I know how this is going to go. Today is going to be my favorite moment with him. I'll remember those sweet bundled newborn days but today is much better. All I know is I could never have imagined how amazing this kind of love was going to be. 

One Month-a-Birthday!

Dear Baby Boy,

You are one month old today! There are so many things that have happened and that you have done in the last month that I don't want to forget and maybe you will be interested in reading these one day.

• You weigh 10 pounds according to our scale. Your last length measurement was 21 inches but, judging by the amount of room left in your sleepers, I think the doctor will tell us you've grown!
• You take mealtimes so seriously! You are nursing every 2 1/2 to 3 hours and do not let it take any longer, thank you very much. 
• You are sleeping 2-3 hours at a time. Two nights you slept for 6 hours straight, which made your mommy very hopeful, but you're hanging onto those shorter intervals.
• You are starting to focus on objects. You followed me across the room with your eyes a couple of nights ago.
• You don't mind tummy time! You are lifting your head and even briefly got on your knees today! 
• Swaddling helps you sleep at night but you hate it! I lie in bed and listen to you straining to get those little arms out of the blanket. 
• Your hair is beautiful and still a mystery to us. Will it stay brown, turn red, or turn blond? 
• You have held those tiny little hands up to your mouth since you were born and this hasn't changed! Chewing on your fists helps you feel better and I'm so sad to take them away when you are swaddled.
• Those hands make me smile-really I could take 100 photos of those hands and never capture their sweetness.
• We are starting to see your beautiful little grins, first in your sleep, and now you'll occasionally grin at us. 
• You are enjoying your baths more. You just lie there looking at me while I bathe you. Baby lotion, however, is a different story. From your screams, it seems you have decided it's your mortal enemy!
• You are just about the noisiest creature I've ever heard-sneezes, grunts, coos, and "toots"... lots of "toots". :)
• You are beginning to be able to soothe yourself when you are upset. Usually, though, it still takes some snuggling and love. and rocking. and bouncing.
• You love the bear mobile on your pak n' play. You will stare at it for as long as it runs. Oh how we wish it were battery-operated.:)
• All it takes is that little lower lip starting to tremble to melt the heart of anyone around you and we are at your side right away.

We love you little guy!

saturday

saturday.

daddy takes baby while mommy gets a couple hours of sleep.

sunshine and buttercups.

clean little bath babies.

hanging out with my favorite boys.

grilled cheese with colby jack and swiss and diet dr. pepper.

kettlecorn.

giada on tv.

nascar (naptime) on tv.

target run.

typing with one hand so sweet-smelling boy can be held in my lap.

My Littlest Valentine and a Photo Shoot

Clearly my little valentine is over the pictures today! We took another shot at getting some good newborn pics of Mr. Jackson. I don't know how newborn photographers do it! Anyway, here are some of my favorites...

(plus a few random ones)

Lots of fun going on in the Hughes' household! I had the best Valentine Date last night with the best husband in the world! We are celebrating our 8th Valentine's Day together! That is hard to believe. It was so nice to be able to go to dinner, knowing our little guy was safe at home with Grandmother. And I only texted home one time!

We Are in Love

All we can do is stare at our little miracle and discover more about him every day. That's what's going on around here. :)