Wigley Family Reunion

Last weekend was interesting to say the least!  I was really excited because Mom and Dad were coming and they were bringing Ma with them.  On Saturday we were all supposed to go to El Paso (Arkansas) for a Wigley family reunion.  This is my grandmother's family and she had four sisters and two brothers. I can't even imagine having that many these days!  Ma (or Mary Emily as they call her) is the oldest of the siblings.  The three older sisters have all passed away, so I know it was important for her to visit with her other siblings.  (Her youngest sister, Aunt Cheryl, lives in Georgia). 

I was fighting a sore throat, and in the middle of the night on Friday, Brent got up with the stomach virus.  So on Saturday morning we had to get him some phenegren, and get him taken care of before we left for lunch.  I was glad to get Jackson and myself out of the house - neither one of us needed that mess!  We had a great time at the reunion.  Jackson got to meet his Aunt Kay and Uncle Sluggo, and I got to visit with some family that I haven't seen in a long time.  By 2:30, it was time to go, and on our way out, something happened to my mom's knee and we had to wheel her out to the car in a wheelchair.  Luckily, she's OK now, but she also got the stomach bug, and so did Ma and Aunt Kay.  I felt horrible that we had spread it around! 

Here is Ma and her family.  I remember Mamaw and Granddaddy very well, as well as her three sisters who've passed away.  Can you imagine my poor great-grandfather - four teenage daughters! 

This is how I remember them. 

Here are the remaining siblings.  Aunt Cheryl, Ma, Uncle Sam (Sonny Boy), and Uncle Royce.  I was amazed at how much Uncle Sam looked like Mamaw and Uncle Royce looked like Granddaddy.  To me, Ma doesn't really favor either of them much, but she's the prettiest!  I hope I look this good at 82!

These are the 1st cousins:  Brenda, Sandy, Pam, Sluggo, Ronnie (my dad), and Dennis.  Not pictured are Darnell, Beverly, Bruce, Jerry Don, Jennifer, Bryan, and I think two more who I don't know their names). 

And here's the 2nd cousins.  Can you tell we're thrilled to see each other? ha!  The photographers kept telling us to act like we like each other and I said that we barely know each other!  We've maybe hung out together a hand full of times, so it's a little awkward.  And there's at least 10 2nd cousins not pictured.  We didn't even try to get a picture of the 3rd cousins because they were all too little. 

I love this one - apparently Uncle Sam is a cut up! 

This was Mr. Jackson's introduction to his Wigley side of the family, and he was the king of the ball!  Of course his Pops was so proud of him.

His Aunt Kay got lots of loving with Jackson too - it was great! 

I'm sure this won't be the last smile that Aunt Kay gets from J. She is a hoot!

Jackson and Mimi hanging out... she brought him a pumpkin outfit and a new book to read.  Yes - we read to him every night!  He's got to get scholarships to Ouachita, so we need him to start learning to read now. HA!

After the reunion, everybody went their houses, and I went to mine to relax for a hot second before the next event.  Our Lifegroup was having a fall picnic, and I was bringing the meat.  I was exhausted and probably should have stayed home (Jackson was also wore out), but we went for a little while.  I really love those girls and enjoy their company.  I just wished Brent could have been there - it would have been easier on me.  Because we were so tired, I didn't get any pictures of the picnic.  When we got home, it was bath and bed time for everybody.  I slept in the other bed, so on Sunday morning I decided we all needed to rest.  It was nice, but I hated to miss church. 

This week has gone by quickly, and I'm looking forward to another weekend.  I'm taking off tomorrow to take Jackson to get some pictures made, and then do some other errands.  Hopefully the weather will be perfect and we can get outside and enjoy it! 

Three Months Old!

Jackson,

You are three months old today!  Your personality is starting to emerge, and there is nothing better in this world than seeing you grin at me and your daddy.  For someone so little, you can have some pretty grown-up facial expressions that keep us laughing.  I know one day we won't be able to laugh right in front of you.  You absolutely, positively hate your car seat.  Once we're moving, you might be OK, but you have a look of panic and aggravation when I put you in the seat.  As Pops would say, "You just have to suck it up." ha!

The past week, you've had some reflux and I am probably going to take you back to Dr. Wilson to see about how to remedy the spit-up.  Until now, you've taken 6 ounces every 4 hours, so about 5 bottles a day.  You are sleeping through the night (for the most part), which makes both mommy and daddy really happy.

Weekdays are hard on us because of the commute, but we're settling into a routine.  When we get home, it's about 6, so we usually feed you (or play with you depending on your eating schedule), get our dinner fixed and eat, and then give you a bath.  After bath time (which you are liking), it's time to put on the PJ's and go to bed.  You like to be rocked and sang to just a little, but really when you're tired, you're ready to be put down so you can go to sleep.  I hope you always do that!

I also want you to know that your daddy is a huge help!  If I'm busy with you, he will help pick up the kitchen and wash the dishes. I also love to see how much he loves you!  When we all ride together to school/work, before I take you into the daycare, he always says "Love you buddy!"  He has also gotten you to laugh out loud for the first time today, and that baby giggle was awesome to hear!  (I tried to get you to laugh out loud as well, but you didn't think I was as funny).

We go to the doctor at the end of October for an official check-up, but last week you weighed 13 lbs, 9 oz, and I'm guessing you're a good 2 feet long now.  Your hair is starting to fill in, and your cheeks are just so sweet.  If I can only get you to quit scratching your face!  I guess I'm going to have to give you a manicure every other day!  You're still not rolling over yet, but I know that is coming soon by the way you're rocking your bottom half around.  You are very good at holding your head up and standing on your legs.  I'm amazed at how strong you are!

Right now, Daddy is working hard to find a new job so he can send you to college one day, and I want you to know how much we are relying on God to open the right doors for us.  We're praying and patiently waiting to hear about where He wants your dad to work next.  It's hard sometimes to not get discouraged, but that's why Jesus gives us Hope and we have to have Faith.  You've completely changed how we look at life decisions.

Daddy and I couldn't be more happy with you and I really wonder how we ever got along without you. We pray that you will always be happy, healthy, and love Jesus.  Everything else will fall into place!

We love you!
Mommy and Daddy

Three Month photo shoot.  He was not so happy about it this morning! 

And I have to do this every month...

Just born! 

One month! 

Two months! 

Three months! 

Lighting the Future

One of my duties at work is to send gifts to employees who've had babies.  Along with a gift card for food, they also get a cute onesie (designed by moi) that says "I will be lighting the future".  This is a play on SPP's motto of "Helping Our Members Work Together to Keep the Lights On Today and in the Future."  Or something like that.  So Jackson is just now big enough to wear his onesie, and I took some pictures for the intranet. 

This is the smile that makes me get up every morning!

It's been a long week at the Haywood house.  On Monday night, we could tell that he didn't feel good, so we gave him some Tylenol and decided to watch him.  He's had a few little cold viruses before, and I figured this was another one.  By Tuesday night, he was again running some low-grade fever, so I decided to stay home on Wednesday and take him to see Dr. Wilson.  He was also being weird about eating.  He will fuss and cry a few ounces into the bottle, so I was afraid that the dreaded ear infection had descended on our house.  However, the doctor said his ears and throat were fine, and she suspects it may be a little reflux.  I am going to watch him this weekend and see how he does, and if he's not better about the eating, I'm probably going to change his formula and see if that helps.  He doesn't spit up that much, and I found a term today that some babies can be "happy spitters."  He's obviously getting bigger, and he doesn't spit up that much.  But something is bothering him while he eats, so we have to figure it out.  Oh and on top of all of that, I started coming down with a sore throat on Wednesday.  That night I felt horrible and didn't sleep well, but I  went to work the next day.  By Thursday night, I had found part of a Zpack to take, and feel better today.  Still have a sore throat, but I can tell I feel better.  But I hate not being able to kiss those fat cheeks!

We're looking forward to a fun weekend.  Mimi and Pops are headed to our house and they're bringing Ma. Tomorrow we're all going to the Wigley Family Reunion and then later that afternoon we've got a Lifegroup picnic at the park.  Yay for fall weather and good friends and family! 

Hair Part and Bath Tub

When Jackson was born, he had a decent amount of hair, but had that dry skin/dandruff that babies have in the first few weeks.  I tried brushing it out and putting lotion on his head, which seemed to work, but also helped his hair fall out!  I know this was normal, but he still looked like a little old man.  The back of his hair was funky looking too.  But his hair has started to come in, and it's a lighter brown like mine is, but I noticed that he seemed to have a cowlick in the front.  A few days later, I noticed that his hair seemed to want to naturally part down the middle - right at his widow's peak (that he got from his daddy).  Last weekend when my parents were at my house, we were talking about his hair, and Dad reminded me who's hair parted in the middle.  My Pa's hair did, and so did his father's hair.  Crazy!  Not sure if that's really what it is, but I love those little reminders of my grandfather that I see in my child.  When his hair is wet, it seems to have a little bit of wave in it too.  It's not real curly, but it's probably going to be like mine.  I'm the only one in my immediate family who has curly hair, and I inherited that trait from my mom's dad.  Papa had wavy hair, so I think Jackson will probably as well.

You can see it a little bit of the middle part in the pictures below. Oh and look at those dark eyes!  There's no denying that he got those from Brent.

Look how sweet he is in his Polo outfit!  He's wearing the last of his 3month summer clothes, and I've had to go this week and buy some 6-9 month long sleeve outfits.  We've lived on onesies this summer,but now it's getting too cool to not have any pants on.  Another reason for mommy to shop!

He's smiling a lot these days, which just melts my heart. I can't wait to hear him giggle.

We got a bath tub at one of my showers, and it's been OK until now.  Jackson is so long that he was folded up like a pretzel in it and it didn't really support his head.  So I did some research and ordered this Primo Euro bathtub.  You can see that it allows him to recline, but still support his head.  And it frees up my hands too.  When he's able to sit up on his own, he will sit on the other side (where his feet are now), and that middle hump will give him something to hold onto.  I felt like it was a good purchase that will grow with us, but I failed to really do my measuring.  This thing is ginormous, and it almost takes up the entire bathtub! Oh what we will do for our children.

Our Little Razorback

It's finally football season, and we're excited about our new little Razorback in our house this year.  I bought him a Houndstooth Razorback shirt last weekend, and couldn't wait for him to wear it on Friday. (Also had to get mommy a new one too).  I love that the entire state rallies around the team, and even though I didn't go to school there, I've grown up calling those Hogs.  In fact, Jackson's great grandfather, Pa, went to Fayetteville on a football scholarship in the early 40s before he was drafted into WWII.  I hope I can talk Jackson's daddy into taking me to a game sometime this season.  I'm just itching to go! 

I've been a Razorback fan my whole life!

This was the Mister before school.  He was just chilling out. 

My parents were here yesterday afternoon, and went with me to get him from school.  It was also Grandparents Day at school, but obviously his class wasn't doing a program.  We got him, and headed to the mall to visit with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Josh for a little while before heading to Cabot. When we did get home (Brent was on his way home), I realized that I didn't have a house key.  So we hung out on the patio for a little while.  Dad got this great picture of him smiling at Mimi.  I just love it when he makes this face! 

This morning, I was getting ready to go to water aerobics, Jackson was waking up, but I could tell he was still sleepy.  So I put him in the bed with Brent, and got this sweet picture.  (Don't worry, Brent was really awake - sort of - and we don't put him in the bed with us). 

I got some new additions for Jackson's room. 

Jackson is officially sleeping through the night now. If he eats around 6 p.m., then we'll put him down around 8, and then get him up at 10 to eat again.  When he's done, we put him back in his crib all swaddled up and he's down until 5 or 6 the next morning.  A few nights last week, he ate at 7:30 p.m. and was down until 5:30 a.m.  I panicked when I woke up and realized what time it was!  When we swaddle him, I try to rock, snuggle, and sing to him, but he really isn't interested.  He will grunt and squirm around, until I finally put him down.  He'll turn his head to the right, close his eyes, and go to sleep.  It's the craziest thing I've ever seen.  But I must say that he doesn't sleep much during the day - maybe a total of 2 hours in the time that he's awake, so I know he's really tired after bath time.  One thing I've learned from having a baby is that you never know what kind of normal you will have.  Books and websites can tell you how it might be, but you never know!  I hope he is always a good night sleeper!

I know one thing, he is the cutest thing I've ever seen and sometimes I can't believe that I'm his mommy!

Jackson's First Photo Shoot

At the beginning of last month, I took Jackson to a friend in Monticello who has started a photography business.  This was his first official photo shoot and he did great!  He was just starting to smile at me, which was so great, especially since he was still a little colicky.  Thanks to www.juliepettyphotography.com for these amazing shots of the Mister!

These were my favorite three! 

Labor Day Weekend

Well, it's Labor Day and I have to document the exciting news.  Jackson slept a full 8 hours last night!  I fed him at 10:30 p.m., put him down at 11 p.m., and I woke up in a panic at 6:30 a.m. because I hadn't heard him.  I got up to see if he was still breathing, and of course he was.  In fact, he had turned 45 degrees in the bed, which made me laugh.  He was still in the swaddle, but it won't be long before he can bust out.

Here's the Mister in all of his cuteness.  This week, he's really discovered his hands and how good they taste, and he can also hold his first set of keys.  I have to pry his little fingers open to get him to hold it, but once he has it, he's fascinated with it.

Look at these cheeks! And he has a neck, but you can't see it.  In fact, after bath time, we have to almost turn him upside down to clean between his neck rolls. ha! 

His hair is also coming in nicely.  It's still a lighter brown, and it may have a little bit of curl in it.  (Just like his mama).  He is definitely looking more like Brent these days.  

Since Saturday was the first Razorback game, I had to put him in his Razorback onesie.  Saturday morning, we got up and went to North Little Rock.  We met Sarah, Jeremy, and Adam Clements for brunch at Cracker Barrel and then went shopping.  I don't know what it is about breakfast at Cracker Barrel that makes me feel like I'm on vacation, but it was fun.  We went to Bed, Bath & Beyond to get a new crock pot, and then headed to the mall.  This was the first time we put him in the stroller for a longer period of time, and he did great.  In fact, he even went to sleep for a little while.  

Touchdown Arkansas! 

On Sunday,  we hung out at the house and then went over to Brent's aunt's house for a family lunch.  I got Jackson dressed while Brent was getting ready, and when He came out of the bedroom, I realized that they were dressed alike. 

Proud Daddy! 

Cousin Whitney was home from New York City, so it was mini family reunion yesterday.  Jackson got to hang out with his cousins, and I think he likes them.  This is him with Judith and Hannah.  Brent is the second to youngest of his cousins on his mom's side, and there are 11 second (or is it third) cousins - Jackson is the youngest of Granny and Pap's great-grandchildren.  

Hannah is in the 1st grade and wanted to hold him so bad.  She did a great job here, but needs to work on leaving him alone when he's asleep. I think she wanted to keep playing with him. 

Today, I'm not sure what all we're going to do today, but I do know we're going to do some of it outside.  The high is going to be around 75 degrees today.  After 115 degrees one month ago, this is a much-welcomed relief.