Jack is 1 week old!

"I'm one week old!"

We've been home from the hospital for one week and a few hours. It has flown by, at times I don't even know what day it is! Taking care of this sweet boy has truly consumed all of our time and we almost didn't realize it had been week since he was born. We were we floored at how fast it has gone. Here's a few updates:
1) Jackson's jaundice levels were down at his doctor's visit on Monday, so much so that we don't have to go back until next week for his 2 week checkup to have them checked again. Whoo hoo!
2) We are trying to wean Jack off the formula our doctor prescribed for the jaundice and that has been trying. Who would of thought that Jack could become such a lazy eater in just less than a week. Prayers are definitely needed as we try to master breastfeeding after introducing the bottle!
3) We had our first family outing this week, that wasn't to the dr.'s office. It was surreal! We actually get to keep this handsome little guy! Our goal this week is to have one family outing everyday even if it's just a walk to get the mail and back. Mom and baby definitely need time out in the real world : )

Nap time in my swing! Thanks for the super cute outfit
Great Aunt Kathy and Great Uncle Joe!

The first few days...

Spending time with Daddy!

We've been home 5 days and they have been so amazing...wonderfully amazing, overwhelmingly amazing, and unforgettably amazing! Here are some random pictures of the past five days. They are mostly of us feeding or watching the baby sleep. Thanks for all the visits and well wishes, enjoy and we will update with more soon!



Thanks for coming to see me Sara!


So sleepy with a full tummy!


Hanging out with Auntie Ilia


Mom's first bottle feeding! Hooray for
breast pumps!


Daddy's first feeding!

Our first visit to the doctor's...we have a touch of
jaundice, but it's getting better!


Grandpa, Grandma, and the proud papa!


Grandpa "Grampy" McPherson and Jack

He's finally here!!!

39 weeks to the day and our little guy made his arrival!

Frances and I are proud to announce the birth of our first child!

Jackson Joseph
Born 12:03am, 2-9-2009
7lbs, 3oz
20.25in

Frances was absolutely amazing through all of this. Her water broke at 3:30pm Sunday, and Jackson entered the world a mere 8.5 hours later (after an epidural of course), and complication free. We are blessed to have such a happy and healthy son! So far he's pretty mellow, and only gets fussy when he's hungry, when he breaks free from his swaddle, or when the nurses come to poke and prod him.

Lessons learned:

1. Newborns do NOT look like they do on TV. I've heard it all before from parents and birthing classes, but it STILL caught me by surprise when a gray, pruney, cone-headed screaming alien emerged. (He looks human now though).
2. I had been warned about the hospital recovery room accommodations, yet I still forgot my air mattress. I paid for this mistake.
3. You know how newborns chatter their jaw sometimes? I always thought that it was because they were cold, but the doc said its a combination of their nervous system still developing, and general over stimulation.

Anyways, Frances and I are exhausted after 1-2 hours sleep last night (if you can call it sleep), so enjoy the pictures and we'll put more up soon.

Are we there yet?

38 Weeks and so ready for this baby boy to be here!

This week the doctor said "Probably another week till you deliver"...another week? I'm now dilated 4 cm and feel so uncomfortable. I guess I should be excited that I'm almost half way through labor and haven't really felt true labor. But at the same time walking around in early labor is extremely uncomfortable and I'm ready for the real thing to begin. According to the pregnancy books I've read early labor is 0-3 cm and active labor is 4+cm so I feel justified in my frustration.

I did spend a relaxing first week on maternity leave. My grandmother came and spent the week with me to keep me company and be close by if I went into labor. She rode around with me as I finished things up at school and ran other errands. It was nice to have her here and it really helped pass what would have been an otherwise long and anxious week. I hope you enjoy the pictures. One is from the baby shower my 3rd grade team threw me at school and the top photo my be my last pregnancy photo (here's to wishful thinking!). I hope my next post will be one announcing the arrival our new family member. Think happy labor thoughts!!!

Getting Closer...

37 weeks-

Daniel and I had our weekly appointment on Friday and we found out I have made more progress. The doctor said I was now 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I was hoping for more progress than that because I have been so uncomfortable this week.

My family and co-workers think it's time for me to start my maternity leave. I'm having trouble walking at work or rather waddling and I'm still having contractions and they are really hard to handle while teaching. Even though all that is going on I'm still nervous about leaving. I feel like there is still so much to wrap up and finish but the fact is this baby is coming and I'll have to go on maternity leave at some point.

My doctor is fine with me starting my leave so I guess the only person not convinced is me. I know it would be best to spend a few days resting before this little man comes into our lives. So I will most likely take the advice of my husband, mom, co-workers, and mother-in-law and start my leave this week to avoid going into labor in front of 18 children, that sure would be some science lesson! For now I need to just pray for peace with starting my leave earlier than I thought I would and know that everything will work out the way God has planned it!

Getting close

36 weeks and 2 days-

Daniel and I went in for my weekly check up this past Friday and got some exciting news. The doctor let us know that I'm 2 cm dilated and the baby will most likely deliver early. His best guess is sometime in the next 1-3 weeks but he definitely thinks I won't go to the expected due date of Feb. 15th. I spent the weekend having very irregular but strong and painful contractions. I still get a little excited about them because I know they can only mean more progress is taking place towards actual delivery.

On another equally exciting note, I had a baby shower at school this week and one this weekend with all my friends from Austin. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law drove in for the shower also. Both showers were very nice and it was great to be showered with such nice gifts from great friends! I'll post pictures soon!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone... We are now 34 weeks and 2 days along. Only 40 more days until D-day. I'm really beginning to think this little guy is going to come earlier though. My practice contractions are only getting stronger and more painful and I think he might be running out of room in there. And as one wise woman at work told me "You know what happens when they run out of room? They've gotta come out!". I hope she's right. I'm ready to hold this little guy and be able sit down comfortably again. I took an updated picture of the growing belly yesterday. As you can see it's getting bigger every week, well everyday is what it feels like. I'm a little apprehensive about going back to work after being gone for the holidays. People like to make comments like "You've gotten soooo big!" and "Look at you!". I know they are well intending but I still let them know that it's not me whose getting bigger it's the baby and it suppose to happen! Do they want me to be pregorexic! Anyway, I should just learn to block out all the comments but I'm hormonal and sensitive and get my feelings hurt easily these days. So here is a little piece of advice from me to you and then I'll stop me rant. If you come across a pregnant lady in the near future please be kind and don't comment on her size, the size of her belly or anything else that could in some way indicate weight gain, just say "You look great!" or "You're glowing!". It really could make her smile and make her day! Happy New Years to all out there!