Last Sunday, we welcomed our little baby boy to the world and his name is Jackson Lee. He is absolutely perfect and cuddly, bringing endless joy to our lives. This first week with Jackson has thankfully taken its time and Lee and I have enjoyed staring at Jackson's every movement, hiccup, sneeze, and facial expression.
On October 4th at 12:29 P.M., Jackson was born at the Ormskirk Hospital--just a hop, skip, and jump away from Edge Hill University where this blog took infancy seven years ago. He weighed an impressive 9 lbs. 3 oz. and although doctors do not measure the length of the baby anymore, his head measured 36.1 cm. But, when he was born, I wasn't concerned with the numbers and figures rather only that he was healthy, had all of his fingers and toes, and breathing strongly. Jackson has a "three-month-old cry" according to the nurses and his fingers are very long--according to their observations--which leads us to believe he will have a good chance of learning to play the piano like his mom.
The first night in the hospital, Lee had to leave at 9 P.M. so I was alone with my little one until 9 A.M. the next morning. Jackson slept very well and gave me time to rest after five days in the hospital--we both had a rough ride to the end. I kept waking up, not believing that he was finally here and also realizing that I had never felt more unprepared for anything else in my life. I've read the books and have every physical thing that Jackson could need for his first year of life, but to be responsible for a little, helpless babe isn't really anything that can be written about in an instruction guide for parents. It truly is a feeling that is brand new.
When we were discharged from the hospital on Monday at around 4:45 P.M., we very slowly (mainly due to me) made our way to the parking lot and packed Jackson gingerly into his car seat. Jackson didn't sleep as easily as he did the first night in the hospital, but it was much better to be in the comfort of our own home instead of the hospital. Lee and I noticed Jackson's signature "double sneeze" from the first day and his very expressive face. Jackson also has a very strong neck and arms as he will pull his head up on his own and pushes himself up when laying on our chests. This is something else that the nurses noted: his great strength for a newborn.
He loves being in his Fisher Price vibrating bouncer when he's sleeping during the day and after two nights, he got used to sleeping in his bed-side crib with his Sleep Sheep playing rain sounds. Jackson hates getting his diaper changed, changing outfits, and getting a bath. Although, he loves the rush of warm water that goes over his cleaned hair at the end of a bath. Jackson was especially calm during his "heel prick test" for the midwife who came to the house, yet he found the weighing process much more traumatic because he had to be stripped down. This happened on the fifth day and his weight dropped healthily down to 8 lbs. 8 oz. He settled down during changing time if "When You Wish Upon a Star" sung by Cliff Edwards was played, but this sent me into a flood of tears because I realized he was already growing and moments were passing that will never come again.
I'm sure that every new mom is emotional and it obviously wears off or else every mom would be walking around with their camera in hand and stroking their child's cheeks forever. I am so happy that I get to take this first year off of work to be with Jackson and I take comfort in knowing I won't miss a minute or have to hand him off to a daycare center after just a few weeks. It is true what people say about your baby becoming the center of your world, though. Lee and I really can't concentrate on anything else and we "ooh" and "ah" over every sound that Jackson produces. When a telemarketer called me this week, I politely said that I was busy and couldn't talk at that moment, he said, "It will only take a minute," I shot back that I didn't "have a minute--I have a newborn baby to watch." He still asked when it would be a better time to call me back. This person must not know what new parents know and how obsessed they can be with their precious baby.
We are so lucky to have this perfect little baby to look after and teach for all the years to come. This first week, Jackson has taught us so much about our capabilities as parents and what caring for another human being entails. He gives us strength in the middle of the night to jump up out of a deep sleep and suddenly become coherent enough to do anything required to calm him down. We are looking forward to every blissful, magical week to follow and ensuring that we savor each precious moment.
If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.
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