One month check-up

I'm mainly writing this down so I won't forget. I took Jackson for his one month check-up and shots today, and he weighed 8 lb 9 oz and was 21.5 inches long. He is wearing a few newborn outfits but is mainly wearing size 0-3 months, and overall he's long and lean (so some of his footed pj's are too short for him). I love the above picture of Jackson when he was 3 weeks old, as it's a rare moment of him actually sleeping between the hours of 5-10 pm! He had just had a bath and sacked out on Andy for about 1 1/2 hours. We sure do love this little guy!

One Month Old

Happy One Month, sweet Jackson! We love you so so much and are grateful the Lord gave you to us!






This was the first little gown I bought for Jackson, right when we found out we were having a boy! (He's not the biggest fan of my quick attempt at photo shoots.)




We can't believe Jackson is one month old today!! I tried to do a little photo shoot in the middle of his feeding, and I put him in this gown that I made with Mrs. Ann (My amazing sewing instructor from work! She's been so kind and patient in teaching me to sew, smock, shadow work, etc.)













My little monkey :)




Jackson loves looking at the light, and he's just started to notice the ceiling fan.




This is my long and lean sweet baby!


And finally, some nursery pictures. My sweet mom was recovering from foot surgery at the beginning of January, but she lovingly made these blackout drapes and many other items for Jackson's nursery!






The cute crib and Restoration Hardware bedding were generous baby gifts from Meemaw and Papaw! Thank you!




Our very comfy nursery chair.




The changing table. I was able to use the white wicker furniture that Margaret and I had growing up. (An armoire is to the left, which allows for more valuable storage in our house. I just didn't get a chance to take a picture of it or really a chance to clean up the mess on top of and around it!)




The changing table cover and diaper stacker were also made by my mom (aka Gigi).




Mom made this cute table skirt to go in Jackson's nursery. I know these nursery pictures are not the best ever, but I was hastily taking pictures before Jackson woke up to eat again. Plus, my nursery is not the most organized right now, but that's low on my priority list. :) I've been enjoying my snuggle time with Jackson, meanwhile trying to also get him to not fight taking naps. It's a work in progress! But we're having so much fun with him.

Toomer's Corner

Jackson will be 3 weeks old tomorrow, so Andy and I made a quick trip to Auburn today so we could see Toomer's trees (before they're gone...so sad!). It was nice to get out of the house and to be together as a family of three in one of our favorite places on earth!


Toomer's trees



This sign made me really sad! It's the only time you'll see a sign like this on Toomer's Corner.






Jackson got to meet his Aunt Myra while we were in Auburn.


I know this Auburn outfit is a little big on him, but he'll grow into it! Doesn't he look like a natural Plainsman on Auburn's campus? We sure are trying to brainwash him early. He loves hearing us sing the Auburn Alma Mater when he is fussy, and it calms him right down.

Cuteness

We see a lot of this face around here.


And this face.


I think this little Auburn gown is so cute. Can't wait for football season this upcoming fall. :)



This was taken when Jackson was exactly 2 weeks old, and on Valentine's night. My parents came and watched him while Andy and I grabbed a quick dessert date at Yolo Dessert Bar, and then made a necessary Target run. I highly recommend the cupcakes at Yolo! They rival Dreamcakes cupcakes in Homewood.









We just love this little guy. At his pediatrician's appointment this past Tuesday, he was back up to his birth weight of 7 lb 10 oz!

More baby pictures

We bundled Jackson up in this snow suit for his first walk at 6 days old. He definitely enjoyed his walk, the lull of the stroller, and being outside and enjoying fresh air.




This gown I put together with a sweet lady from work who is teaching me to sew, smock, shadow work, etc. Thankfully it fit Jackson just right! :)



Here are some more baby pictures of sweet Jackson. He doesn't like his baths, but you can tell he likes being all snuggled up in his bath towels!






I want to post some more pictures on here, but I can't figure out how to flip them from sideways to upright. Any tips from you blogging-pros?

I leave you with this delicious soup from Emily Gross' blog, and let me tell you, it is delicious and healthy!

Kale and White Bean Stew (from Food and Wine Magazine)

Combining two Portuguese favorites--kale-and-sausage soup and a bean, sausage, and tomato stew--makes a simple, sensational one-pot meal. To keep the focus on the vegetables, we've used just a tiny amount of fresh sausage; you can add more, if you like, or substitute dried chorizo or pepperoni.

Yield: 4
Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons cooking oil
* 1/4 pound mild or hot sausages, casings removed
* 2 onions, chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 pound kale, tough stems removed, leaves washed well and shredded (about 1 1/2 quarts) (I bought frozen kale at Whole Foods)
* 3 1/3 cups canned diced tomatoes with their juice (two 15-ounce cans)
* 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
* 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
* 4 cups drained and rinsed canned cannellini beans (two 19-ounce cans)

Preparation

1. In a Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderate heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking the meat up with a fork, until the it loses its pink color, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan and then stir in the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to soften, about 3 minutes.

2. Add the garlic and kale to the pan and cook, stirring, until the kale wilts, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, salt, and pepper; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the kale is tender, about 15 minutes.

3. Stir the beans into the stew and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. If you like, mash some of the beans with a fork to thicken the sauce.

Best Daddy

This man has been the BEST daddy and husband in the whole world! I seriously couldn't have made it these past 5 days without him. He has selflessly changed countless diapers, washed loads upon loads of laundry, washed countless bottles and other dishes, continuously brought me meals, and pulled some all-nighters in between feedings so I could get a little sleep.


We are having so much fun with this sweet little boy, and we still are in awe of God's blessing of a healthy child and this miracle of life! It's so fun to see the faces he makes and to play the continual guessing game of "who does he look like?". So let me know who you think he looks like!

This is what we've been doing a lot of...snuggling! I am enjoying it while I can, since I know babies grow so quickly! Plus, I can ensure Jackson is staying nice and toasty, and it's so fun to snuggle him close and hear his little coos and sighs. (Excuse my severe paleness in the picture! I have been pretty anemic since delivery.)

Another HUGE help has been my parents, as they've been ensuring we have lots of meals this week. Thank you Mom and Dad!

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^a]">[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you."
Psalm 139 (this Psalm has taken on a whole new meaning to me since being pregnant and having Jackson)

Baby Jackson

He's here! Jackson Thomas York arrived January 31, 2011 at 5:25 pm. He weighed 7 lb 10 oz and is 21 inches long. Andy and I are thrilled he's here and so blessed by a healthy baby! Thank you for all of your prayers and emails and encouraging words!! God is so so good.



Here he is enjoying a break mid-way through his first bath. Both the names Jackson and Thomas are family names. I'll post more pictures later!