Summer fun means....

...Jackson noticing his shadow for the first time...and waving!

...1st family trip to Dillard Farms for ice cream

...discovering the dog's water bowl for the first time

...being the perfect size to climb right in!

...joyfully destroying Daddy's castle

...curiously inspecting the hose spray nozzle

...climbing on the deck furniture after dinner

...high-fiving his best friend

...wearing Daddy's old Star Wars tee

...crawling through the sprinklers shirtless

...playing in the back of Daddy's truck

...pickle in one hand, corn cob in the other

...swimming with Mommy

..cruising around Rock Barn in Bebe's golf cart

..."helping" Mommy unload the dishes

...shopping at O.P. Taylor's with Slade

The difference 1 year makes...

Don't Blink...

This past Tuesday (June 22) was Jackson's actual birthday.  I tried to make it extra special, so he started off his day by waking to a decorated door, courtesy of Mommy & her last-minute make-shift decorating skills.  He loved me walking him back & forth under the ribbon streamers & letting them tickle his face.

We spent the morning playing inside and then met Ben for lunch at Subway up in Marrietta (dining choices are very limited!)  We stopped by the farmer's market to get some fresh veggies for dinner, then spent the afternoon playing with water toys out on the deck.

Around 5, we came in & I plopped him in the pack-n-play while I started dinner...and after about 5 minutes of his contesting the situation, it got really quiet.  I went to check on Jackson and he was fast asleep...amazing for a baby who NEVER naps in the pack-n-play.  The birthday boy was tuckered out!

After dinner, we let him have a second go at his cake, which he once again rejected.  I guess he's wasn't a fan of the Bloom cake, either.  Next time we'll stick to our Ghirardelli brownies that he always wants a bite of...

This year has been a wonderful, amazing blur.  I finally understand what they mean when they say that the older you get, the faster time seems to pass.  To me, each day seems endless but weeks just slip by and I am unable to slow them down.  It reminds me of that song..."Don't Blink"

Baby's 1st Birthday Party

We had Jackson's 1st Birthday Party last Saturday.  His real b-day is June 22 so the party was several days early.  He seemed to love all the attention & excitement but still had absolutely no idea what the big fuss was about.  As you will see from all the pictures, Jackson also tolerated the party hat suprisingly well.

We opted for an evening cookout to avoid the mid-day heat, but it was still sweltering.  Ben got to sweat it out in front of the grill for a good part of the evening. 

We had a great time celebrating with lots of friends and family -- all 3 sets of grandparents were able to make it!  Jackson was showered with plenty of love and attention!  (Uncle Mikey also came down for the day, but we didn't get a good snapshot of him & the birthday boy)

Bebe made sure Jackson was well fed!

Hi, Poppaw!

Snuggling with Nanny & Poppy

Rockin the jammies with Oma & Opa

We set up Jackson's new water table & our baby pool along with a borrowed ball pit and the kids had a ball.  Most of the babies were too little to enjoy the water toys, but they seemed happy enough to just hang out!

Poppy & Jackson, watching the big boys swim

Loving the ball pit

Our neighbor, Ivanna.  She is a month older than Jackson &

they love to practice walking together in our cul-de-sac.

Nolan (7wks) is already trying to get Brynli's digits (11 wks). 

There's stiff competition in our n'hood -- baby boys outnumber the girls!

Nolan & Cooper getting acquainted.

My dear friend Julie & her little boy, Slade.

Jackson & Slade are 3 months apart & have so much fun on our playdates!

All the Mommies with their babies

(everyone but Julie lives in our neighborhood)

The Daddies' turn

The cake smashing was rather disappointing, however.  Jackson, who typically LOVES to play in his food, wanted nothing to do with his cake and was extremely bothered by the gooey frosting once it got stuck to his hands.  I'm not sure if he was just tired, over-stimulated or freaked out by the singing & staring, but most of our cake pictures are of him screaming.  

He did, however, enjoy opening his presents and was particularly fond of playing with the cards, wrapping paper and trash in general. 

After a day brimming with sun, fun & friends, Jackson was tuckered by the time everyone left.  He somehow managed to stay up until 9pm, sharing his new toys with Opa & Oma, who were spending the weekend with us. 

This time last year...

...I was laid up on bedrest, awaiting the arrival of my baby boy.  Last June 12, I went in for my 32 week appointment complaining of some cramps...which turned out to be contractions and when checked, baby was +2 (we could feel his head)...which sent me to the hospital for pre-term labor for a night.  I got sent home with dozens of huge pills & orders for strict bedrest for the next 5 weeks.

However, Mr. Jackson had alternative plans and my water broke only 10 days into bedrest, at 10am on June 22.  Ben was out of town for the day, so my BFF Alisha (aka Florence Nightingale) left work & came to pick me up.  Dr. Heidtman confirmed that my water had indeed broken & sent us over to St. Francis to have this baby.  We certainly were a sight to be seen, 2 pregnant chicks checking to the labor & delivery.  Alisha was due 2 weeks before me and I always joked about how I hoped her water broke while we were at work so I could take her to the hospital.  Who knew she would be the one taking ME to the hospital?!

We got settled and bravely listened to the NICU surgeon go over the statistics of a preemie...he may not be breathing, I may not get to hold him right away, we could expect a 6+ week stay in the NICU, depending on his health they may have to do certain procedures immediately, and on and on.  But I never gave those disclaimers a second thought -- God had given me a sense of peace (or else I was too naive to know how serious this could be).

Ben arrived a couple hours later -- he was 4 hours away and managed to "safely" make the trip to the hosptial in 2 hours.  I was just starting to have major contractions so he got to practice his lamaze "coaching" skills and was such a supportize & loving hubby. 

After only 4 hours of ative labor & 2 pushes later (with an audience of 12), Jackson Isaac Talbert was born, weighing 4lbs ll oz and 19 inches long.  He was only 34 weeks gestation, but came out screaming & I got to hold him immediately.  He was as healthy as a full-term baby and was only in the hospital for 3 nights.

Its amazing to think that almost a year has passed since God gave us this precious little blessing. We are so thankful for our son and strive every day to nurture, teach and lead him.  We are constantly amazed by him and fall more in love with Jackson everyday.

Yardsale, swimming pool, wedding shower, oh my!

So rather than buy other people's junk this week, Ben & I had a yard sale of our own.  We've been in de-clutter mode for a while and our pile of stuff to get rid of was taking over our garage, spare rooms & office.  We also wanted to get rid of the pool table (circa 1968) that we inherited from Ben's parents when they moved to Texas several years ago -- it was occupying prime real estate in the garage that is much better suited for parking my car.  So after hours of sorting, organizing, pricing, displaying, selling & hauling off, we netted $400.  Not bad for a bunch of junk that we would have donated. 

Our driveway, chock full of junk!

The proud new owners of our pool table

By 1pm, Jackson was up from his post-yard sale nap and we were suited up & headed to the neighborhood pool for his first swimming experience (other than the torturous Labor Day swim when he was 10-weeks old).  To clarify, we don't have a neighborhood pool of our own, but the pool we go to is definitely a neighborhood pool, just not ours.  Jackson absolutely loved the pool, he is a water baby for sure.  He would dip his face under the water & just giggle.

Sunday, Jackson & I headed to Hickory for Jenn's wedding shower while Ben chipped away at the never-ending honey-do list.  Jackson got to see lots of grandparents and Uncle Mikey & spent some QT with Poppy while the ladies were at the shower.  This little boy certainly has lots of people that love him to pieces!

Bebe & her little grandson

Jackson was mesmerized by Uncle Mikey

Poppy even taught Jackson how to eat cheerios from his toes -- eww!

Mom & I with Jenn & her mom at her bridal shower on Sunday. 

Less than 2 months 'til the big day!