Kim took these cool head shots of Jack.

Our trip to Zion with Pat, Kim, and Mary at Thanksgiving. Mostly more cute picts of Jack. One thing I really miss about living in Salt Lake (aside from my family) is Zion. Kyle, Pat, Dan, and I spent summers working up there and Kyle grew up there. Once you have spent time in the canyon there is nothing else like it. We spread Kyle's dad's ashes there after he passed away and I think that is not a bad place to rest. We will make sure Jack is well versed with the Southern Utah National Parks as he grows.

Christmas pictures of Jack

Once again Kim has taken some wonderful pictures! I can't decide if it is Kim's expertise with the camera or that Jack is just so dang photogenic - I am going with both!

Thanksgiving

We had a great weekend with the family in Southern Utah. Jack got to hang around with his cousins. Alex is six weeks and content to just sleep and be held. Brooks is eight months and wants to go, go, go! We went to Zion and did a small hike with the babies (I can't believe it was warm enough to go for a hike).

We are slowly introducing foods into Jack's diet. The Pediatrician said to start with apples which he is not to sure of. One food Jack loves is his biter biscuits. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a clean freak and the biter biscuits were made to send someone like me over the edge. But Jack sure loves them so of course he gets them.

On a recent visit from the grandparents we took Jack for a walk. It is so fun to dress him! Wish we could go for more walks, it is just getting too cold!

Jack was a puppy for Halloween! He is growing so quickly that from the time I bought the costume to when he had to wear it he had already outgrown it (about three weeks)! I had to cut holes for his feet.

3 months already!

Almost a month ago we visited Hurricane and Kim took new pictures of Jack. It is amazing to look at these compared to his pictures at one and two months. He is growing so quickly. He is so happy as you can see! Jack loves to be outdoors. I am dreading winter when we are only going to be able to look out the window!

LIttle Big Man

Jack never ceases to amaze me! Each day he does something new. He is almost 12 weeks and so much fun. He seems to be smiling so much lately. He has started grabbing things, his grip is still not directed and he will drop things and get frustrated. The other day he grabbed his toes for the first time! He sits in his bumbo a lot and he seems to have good core strength. I try to give him tummy time to strengthen his neck, he doesn't really like being on his tummy. He is babbling a lot now and seems to carry on a pretty good conversation. Jack has his hand in his mouth ALL the time. It is tough to get a picture without the hand. He has been drooling quite a bit and without a bib the front of his onsie would be soaked. It is exciting to see what each day holds!

Back to work

I started back to work part-time at the end of August for two weeks and then full-time September 1st. My stomach was in knots for weeks before the big transition. Kyle, bless his heart, used his week of vacation and stayed home that very first part-time week to be with Jack and ease my mind. Mary moved up a few days before I started. The part-time weeks were okay, I was really only away from him for a few hours. Full-time was a little tougher. My stubborn little Jack will still not take a bottle. So Mary is an angel and brings him to me at work at about 10:30, then I run over at lunch time, and she brings him back to me at about 3:30. It is a lot of work on everyone's part but I do love to see him throughout the day. The townhome where Mary lives now is about 2 miles from my work (7 minutes). Jack has become an efficient eater so my nursing breaks are about 10-15 minutes. I figure it would take that long or longer to pump. The only tough thing is if I have a meeting or someone in my office and I have to excuse myself to run outside. Mary pulls down the street to a dead end and we hang out, there is some kind of Buddha temple at the end of the street so we watch the goings ons while Jack eats. I am relieved to say it is going well. Both Jack and Mary It is weird to be part of the rat race again, fighting traffic in the morning and afternoon each day. In the past I have had a lot of jobs that allow me freedom during the day to run errands if I need to or to leave home late or get back early. This job doesn't have that kind of freedom. I am enjoying it and it is great to be the boss but my office is in the basement so I don't see the light of day unless I am on a nursing break. I love a new challenge so for now this job is good. You never know what the future holds.

Family Pictures

These beautiful pictures were taken by my sister-in-law Kim. She does photography was great at setting the perfect scene. They are all so cute I can't decide which one to use for the announcements. There is a link to Kim's blog site below and on her page is a link to her professional photography site. Her prices are great so if you are in St. George at any time and want picts, look her up!

Jack's buddy

One day I will be bigger than my teddy bear!

Jack wears many hats

My patient little guys allowed me to try on a variety of hats and poses!

Things no one told me about having a newborn

1. When he smiles up at me it absolutely melts my heart.

2. The comments about not getting sleep are SO true, I really only get two or three light hours at a time (proven by the black circles under my eyes).

3. I really would do absolutely anything for him.

4. It is very difficult to "rest when he rests" as I have been told to do, if I need to get anything done.

5. Pumping and breastfeeding are NOT easy (pumping is liking getting your boob sucked into a vacuum). In the beginning it is a constant worry - is he getting enough to eat, did I eat something to make him fussy, how do I pump and nurse at the same time effectively, etc.

6. I have to plan everything around his unpredictable nap and wake times.

7. The first few months the outside world disappears.

8. Returning to work seems like a huge feat and is by far the most stressful thing in my life (can today's women have it both ways - work and be a mom?) the idea of leaving him with anyone for any length of time completely stresses me out.

9. All my plans and ideas of how it was going to be have gone out the window, starting with childbirth!

10. Don't let him sleep with you they say! Try sitting up in bed to nurse for twenty minutes every two hours. I will take my chances on him getting dependent on sleeping with me.

11. If your relationship is strong enough having a baby does not change your marriage - it makes it stronger (sometimes the most hesitant of husbands when it comes to having a baby, make the best dads).

12. Schedule schmedule! There will be days when it is one in the afternoon and there is no hope of showering!

13. There will be days when it is suddenly eight at night and you have achieved none of the tasks for the day... and it is okay.

14. Sometimes your greatest aspiration for the evening is a bath.

15. Watch out during diaper changes, he really will pee on you... and spit up on you... and even poop on you if given the chance.

16. Babies learn quickly. Don't go by the milestones every baby moves at their own pace. Jack held his own head up at two weeks and tracked me with his eyes at three weeks. He is five weeks and smiles in response to my smile already!

17. Nothing will drive you more crazy than when someone holds your baby's hand with their dirty germ infested hand. You know as soon as they let go your baby will put his hand in his mouth!

18. In the end all the small inconveniences don't really matter. Nothing matters but him. It's true what they say, your life completely changes and it is okay... no it is great!