Take a Stroll

Every now and then I have the urge to look back at the last year of my life. A year that, for many reasons, you could say was the toughest so far. The only shining light through all of the stress has been Jackson Eli. He has made us smile every single day since his birth. He's made us cry a few times too!

I thought I would take all my friends on a stroll through the past year. Pardon the length, there are a lot of pictures. It's worth a peek!



1 1/2 weeks before delivery. I was on "light duty" which for me was putting my feet up during meals. Here I was eating watermelon in hopes of shedding some of my water weight.



Thanksgiving Day - Big Mama! I actually considered sending this as our Christmas card. What was I thinking? I ended up in the hospital before I was able to order those, and I'm glad!



Hours old!! In a previous post I talked about my cone-headed baby with bruises. Here he is, with a hat! This makes me want another...am I crazy?



4 weeks - New Years Eve. We had a low key night at the Storm's with all the girls and Jackson. It's a blur now due to sleep deprivation!



5 weeks - with baby acne. I don't have many pictures of him with acne. He didn't see many people either. Looking back, it wasn't that bad! Could his paci be any bigger?



3 months. He started pushing up like this around 2 1/2 months.



3 months - Favorite hat. I love this hat and these pictures. I just want to kiss him!!



4 months - with Great Grandpa Love's Naval medals. Sherry and I posed him a lot and took pictures. He was my baby doll until he got old enough to squirm away!



4 months - The good days, before he could escape the Bumbo!



5 months - Hangin' out. This seems so long ago!



6 months - sitting up. My mom and I were so excited to take these. We were amazed! This was just before he turned 6 months.



7 months - scooting around didn't last long!



8 months - I adore this picture and that outfit. I didn't think he was chubby then, but he looks it now!



9 months - Ayla and Jackson had their first pictures made together. This was fun!

Thanks for reminiscing with me. I hope you enjoyed the walk, and burned some calories at the same time!

Almost birthday boy

Jackson celebrated his first birthday with my family after Thanksgiving lunch. My mom and Aunt Brenda had his cake made, which was too cute! Jackson ate the head off a giraffe cookie and the icing from his fingers, but he didn't take advantage of having the freedom to make a mess. I took his cake away when he picked it up and tried to feed it to me!



Sugar high, here I come!!

Sometimes it takes two to change his wiggly-ness!

Watching the cowboy game ;+)

Tuckered out after a day of food, frosting, and BINGO! (That's GG, my grandmother)

Nana gave him a tonka truck for his birthday. He has pushed it from one end of the house to the other! Fun, fun, fun.

A few new tricks

Well, we are having fun in Texas and trying to embrace the cold! This Florida girl freezes in 40 degrees! There were snow flurries at Texas Stadium yesterday.

Jackson did great on the long ride from Pensacola. I was surprised and excited! I was able to watch 2 movies but I didn't sleep much. We got in about 5:30 in the morning, and Jackson was up by 7...

Jackson has not been timid about "new" people this trip, which I am thankful for. On Thanksgiving day, he jumped from person to person. I have enjoyed watching my family interact with him now that he is more of a little boy. He has started to point at things he wants or wants you to look at. He makes a noise that sounds like "that."




Speaking of speaking, he said "shoe" yesterday. I couldn't believe it! My mom bought him some hush puppies and instructed me to put them on him every day so that he will be used to them. I was so excited to get these precious shoes on his flintstone feet! That was short lived. They lasted for a few pictures, then he sat in the floor, untied them both, looked up at his Nana and said "shoe."



This is Jackson's new smile. I absolutely adore it! He crinkles his noes and it's too cute!!




Daddy tought him to raise his arms when he says, "Go Seminoles!!"



He can't be left alone for a minute!!

Puppy Dog

Jackson has started pointing at things saying, ohhh and oosh, like he is asking a question. I wish I knew what was going on in his head! We can say, "where's daddy?" or "where's mommy?" and he'll find us. He also loves to watch Hazel and Baylie play. He laughs when Hazel wags her tail, and he tries to catch it. Hazel really doesn't understand what he's doing and would rather him not mess with her bottom, but she's a good sport. Last night Hazel was laying in the floor letting Jackson crawl over her. Jackson would throw the ball and she would look at Justin waiting for him to say, "go get it!" A few times she would get between Jackson and I and try to lay down. She would get up quickly when she saw Jackson trotting toward her. When he crawls, he picks up his hands so high and slaps them down with each stroke. He definitely doesn't do anything gently. My mom and HB sent me flowers at work. I brought them home yesterday and Jackson has been pointing to them ever since. I showed him how to smell the flower and he tried to rip the petals off! So much for that photo op!



Hugs for Hazel!



If this would just stay still, I could grab it!



Wanna play ball?

Where did the last 11 months go?

I can not believe my little boy will be 1 year old soon...



My mom was the mom to cry on every birthday (she probably still does!) and she still refers to me as her baby. She would hold my hand and say, "let me hold your 7 year old hand." Every year it was the same routine. When I was younger it made me feel special, but as I got older I would laugh at her. I never understood what was so emotional about my birthday. Boy do I understand it now!

I, like most moms, spent my entire pregnancy obsessing about this little baby inside me. What a miracle! I would rub my tummy and think about the precious gift God has given me. I would think about what he would look like, and how much fun we would have together. We had him named from the time we heard, "it's a boy!" Little Jackson Eli. He would be just like his daddy...laid back...an easy baby! We didn't know what we were in for!

I will never forget the first moment I saw my son. A tiny 5.67 pounds and covered with "ick." He was the most perfect thing I had ever seen. He had my eyes! 4 weeks early, and no complications. We knew we were blessed to have such a healthy little boy. The weeks and months have flown by just like everyone said they would. I have taken enough pictures and video to relive the last 11 months at any time. I may make that my tradition on his birthdays. Daddy and I will sit him down for a little slide show of "this is your life!"




The last year has not been an easy one for the Davis clan, but I have enjoyed many great moments. The first time he smiled at me, when it wasn't a gas pain. His first giggle. Rolling over, then lifting his head. Sitting up. His first tooth, or teeth since he got 2 at the same time. Pulling up. Standing with no hands. Mama. Dada. Eesh. Laughing uncontrollably at something that really isn't funny. Swimming. Finger feeding. Screaming for attention (not so enjoyable as the others!). Playing by himself. Climbing.



Jackson loves to look at the trees

Although Jackson can be a challenge, he is full of spirit and personality. He is a good baby, and will be better when he learns to sleep a little more! He is a joy to everyone around him. Next month my baby will be 1. I'm sure it will give my mom some satisfaction to know that not only am I crying as I type, but on the morning of December 2 , you can bet there will be a tear or 2!

I SURVIVED!

Yesterday was my first day at my new salon. Driving to work, I felt nauseous. What was I thinking? How was I going to leave Jackson all day long? Would he realize that I was gone? Would he miss me? Would the girls in the salon like me? Am I ready for this? I pulled up 25 minutes early, (my Type A-ness again) so I drove around and listened to the radio. When I went back, right on time, my boss was already there. We sat outside for a few minutes to talk. I think she knew how nervous I was! She told me how excited she was to have me, and how much she was looking forward to working with me. I told her I was excited too, and how much I wanted to throw up!!

Being out of the salon for a while, I forgot how bad I was at shampooing. Seriously, I'm bad! I had sweaty palms during my first shampoo, but it worked out alright. As the day went on, I felt like I was back in the swing of things. No major incidents, and everything was coming back to me. Then while I was shampooing my last client, I let go of the hose spraying her in the face and the wall inches away from a co-worker. How embarrassing. I tried to keep going, but my face was bright red. I hate that!!

All in all, I built back the confidence I forgot I had. Jackson had a great day, and mommy did too. I missed him, of course, but it felt good to have someone tell me what a good job I did. Being a mom is the hardest job I will ever have. He cannot tell me that how perfectly I diapered his little bottom, or that his last bottle was just the right combo of formula and water! So 2 days a week I will get out of the house, dress up and feel like I look good. I will have adult conversation all day long without worrying about nap time. I will get to wear my favorite shoes, and jewelry, and leave the house without a diaper bag. As for the other 5 days, I will continue my job as Jackson's mommy. Telling him "no, no" at the same things everyday, watching him learn something new, making him laugh, and seeing him grow! I will savor the moments, good and bad, and be more patient. The days I'm not working will not just be another day, they will be special because I'm spending time with my son. Being a working mom may not be the worst thing in the world. It may make me a better mom!