7 Month Update

Favorite family picture.  Just look at those cheeks!

Another great one by Stephanie Nachtrab.

I LOVE SUMMER!

Being outside is still one of my favorite things to do!

It has been a fun and busy month for our little man. It's SUMMER TIME, and we are loving it! I get to spend every minute of my day with my baby. I'm trying to take advantage of that while I can. The summer is going by too fast. I fear it's going to be really hard to go back to work in August. Jackson turned 7 months on June 23rd...it's SO hard to believe. It was this time last year Nick and I found out we were pregnant! I remember the excitement and nervousness I felt. I couldn't believe I was going to be a mom...and now I have a 7 month old!

At Jackson's doctors appointment at the beginning of the month, he weighed 16.3 pounds. I know he now weighs quite a bit more than that. He is a little chunk! He wears size 2 diapers, just about to go to size 3 and wears 6-9 clothing. He eats 5 ounce bottles every 3-3.5 hours. I'm nursing him 3 times a day now, and no longer pumping. Jackson is still an awesome sleeper. He goes to bed around 8:30 and wakes up around 6:30-7:00 in the morning. I know, I'm one lucky mama!

The very beginning of the month, Jackson had his first cold, but it didn't slow him down. He just had a little virus with a runny nose and cough for about 2 weeks. He began tugging at his ears, so I was worried about an ear infection. Went back to the doctor and he said he is tugging at his ears because he discovered he has them!

His head and neck control have gotten much better-Jackson is turning his head far to the left now, on his own which is a big relief. The neck stretches have been helping, although he is still not a fan of them. We will go back to the Children's SPOT in August for another evaluation of his development. Other developmental things he is doing is he grabs and reaches for toys with both hands and brings everything to his mouth. He laughs more frequently, which is a delight! He is now ticklish just about everywhere! He is beginning to bring his legs up more and turns from his back to his side. He will roll over from back to tummy any day now-he is really close. He rolls from his tummy to back all the time, but he has done that since January-it's just much more frequent now. Jackson is still a very quiet baby. He rarely talks which concerns me a bit. Hopefully this next month he will.

Here are Jackson's weekly snapshots.  It's getting a little harder to take a picture of him now-this boy does not  sit still!

27 Weeks!  Let's go Royals!

28 Weeks

29 Weeks

30 Weeks

 Aunt Kate and my nieces came to visit for a week!  We had such a fun time!  We swam, went on walks, played, and had a blast.  We will get to see them again soon.  We can't wait!   Here are some pictures from our visit:

Handsome blue eyes.  LOVE this picture!

Relaxing Poolside!  Ahhh, this is the life!  Jackson LOVES swimming!

Pool time at Baba and Papa's!

Aunt Kate Rocks!

Awwww...

This picture was taken in January...

                           

...and this picture was taken in June!!  WOW, have the babes grown!

Sisterly Love!  How precious is that?!

They were besties all week.  Such a tender-hearted, precious big cousin.  She would sing to Jackson and play so nicely with him.

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

This month we were invited to go to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Reunion, hosted by St. Lukes Hospital.  It was a fun day celebrating our special NICU graduate, visiting old friends, and thanking nurses that cared for Jackson and us.  I remember taking a second and looking around the huge banquet room filled with babies and children and was just in awe at how many sweet, innocent lives were once at risk.  I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and emotional thinking what all the babies endured, what their families went though, and all the miracles that took place.  I felt so grateful and blessed to have such a happy ending with my family.  We spent 35 days in the NICU-as painful and worrisome as those days were for us, there were several families we know that spent more than a hundred days there, or even worse-their baby never made it home.  My heart was heavy, but at the same time so full and happy for our little miracle.  And I'm forever thankful that God has allowed me to be Jackson's mommy.  Here are some pictures from our day:

They had a photo booth there.  Fun!

Jackson was so excited to be at the reunion.  I think in some small way he knew we were there to celebrate him!

One of our phenomenal nurses, Jennifer.  We are so grateful to the care we received while at St. Lukes.  We wish more of Jackson's nurses were at the reunion.  They said it was a really busy time in the NICU so many of Jackson's nurses were not able to make it.

One proud Daddy!

Our friends, the Steitz's were there, too to celebrate their NICU graduate!  It was so  fun catching up with them.  I had Maggie (who is holding Jackson) in Kindergarten this past year.

Jackson's roommate, Shaleise, during his time in the NICU and her mama!  It was so fun catching up and hearing how she is doing now.  She is such a cutie!

Jackson's graduating class of the NICU.

Jackson ate his first solid foods this month.  He has tried carrots, peas, and green beans.  Peas are his absolute favorite.  It's been fun watching him experience new foods-he makes some pretty funny faces.  He wants to eat all the time.  Currently he has cereal once a day and one type of veggies once a day.  We have also been introducing sign language with Jackson.  We sign for food, milk, more, play, and all done.  He definitely understands the sign for milk and food.  He gets REALLY excited when we sign those words to him.  And, of course, he cries when I sign 'all done' because he wants more food!  I'm looking forward to introducing more signs for him.  My sister did this with my niece-it was amazing to see how she could communicate her needs/wants at such a young age.

More peas please!

Reading in my bumbo.  Jackson's favorite books are about animals and babies.

Reading with my Baba!

This past month was Nick's first Father's Day!  We had fun celebrating at the Lathrop Car Show, which Nick had been going to as a little boy.  We spent the day with GMO, Grandpa B, and Uncle EJ too.  That evening we went to Baba and Papa's house.  Jackson and I made Nick a dad picture frame for Father's Day...

Jackson and Daddy in GMO's and Granpa B's '53 Chevy at the carshow

Happy Fathers Day to you, too Grandpa B!

Relaxing with GMO

This summer has been so fun spending time with friends and family.

Spending some time with his girlfriends, Quinny and Sloaney...

...and his other girlfriend, Clara!

Enjoying a Baby Einstein movie.  He loves the puppets.

This is how Jackson sleeps now.  He tucks his arms under him, and sticks his rump up in the air.  It is SO cute!

Thanks for visiting!  We hope you are having a great summer.