Growth Spurt

I don't know who programmed babies to have a growth spurt during their second week of life, but it is a a bit cruel to do to an already emotional mother.  It's amazing how much Jackson's facial features have changed within the first two weeks and how much more alert and active he is with each passing day.  It seems like he's always moving and making little squeaks--even in his sleep!

In England, parents need to register their child's birth at a registration office within 42 days in order to receive a birth certificate.  This means one doesn't technically need to have a name picked out before leaving the hospital which seems strange to me.  Last Tuesday, we travelled to Ormskirk to register Jackson's birth and buy copies of his birth certificate.  We received a 'short' birth certificate free of charge, but had to buy any additional longer versions for £4 each.  These versions are used to open bank accounts and order a passport.  The meeting was fairly short and luckily, Lee and I were able to answer all of the questions posed, so we essentially 'passed' and our baby was registered.

Earlier that day, we visited a pumpkin patch to get Jackson out in the sun--trying to escape any remaining signs of jaundice--and to fetch a couple of pumpkins so that he gets the most out of his first Halloween.  A British pumpkin patch is apparently a new tradition because the owner said this is only their third year of operation and Lee's grandpa said he had never seen a pumpkin until he went to the USA in the 1960s.  Therefore, the pumpkin patch was no Honey Haven Farms, but I did like the mini wheelbarrows they had available to collect the pumpkins and push them back to the storefront.  Halloween itself isn't celebrated a great deal here.  For instance, last year only three children came to our house for candy.  It also isn't spoken of at Catholic schools so I'd have to search long and hard to find any bobbing-for-apples, costume contests, or spooky stories like we had at Montgomery Elementary long ago.  Halloween doesn't have to be 'evil.'  When I think back to Halloween as a child, it was all fun and games and great memories...that is except for going to the Delaney house for candy.  Mr. Delaney knew how to scare the bejeezus out of every child in the neighbourhood by recruiting former students to create scenes of horror and sneakily follow behind trick-or-treaters from his cul-de-sac up the steep Rook Drive.  I remember feeling as though my legs wouldn't move trying to get up that hill running from the masked characters.  For a few years, I just avoided all the houses in that cul-de-sac because it wasn't worth the tricks for the treats.

Last week, the health visitor and midwife came to see how Jackson was doing.  His weight went down to eight pounds and four ounces, but she reassured me that was a normal weight loss.  Today, my favourite midwife came to visit--her name is Laura--and Jackson has gone up to nine pounds and six ounces.  She noticed his strong neck and ability to hold his head up and to sit up on my lap with great competence.  Since all was well, we were both 'discharged' from midwifery-led care and we're now in the care of the health visitor if there are any questions.

Today was also the day that Lee returned to work and Jackson and I were left to our own devices.  Because he is still going through a growth spurt, he is eating a lot and left me with only two and a half hours free--believe it or not.  The midwives warned me about these big days of non-stop feeding, but I didn't take the warning too literally or seriously.  Whatever Jackson needs, I'll provide so I am happy to spend these days at home with him and centre the hours around his schedule.

A couple of things that he hasn't 'grown' out of yet:  small tufts of hair on the side and back of his ears, quiet peeps of snoring, and sweet little whispery puffs of breath.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.

Welcome, Jackson!

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.

Home Improvement

Hello everybody!  It’s been quite some time since I updated you on our happenings so I will let you in on all of the latest details:

Currently, Lee and I are residing in our first house.  We are still very happy with the location and the neighbours have been so friendly—and friendly neighbours were hard to find in the last two places we lived.  

Our neighbourhood is very quiet and within a mile, we can get to the beach, a park and a golf course along with a variety of little shops, so there will always be something to do.  We’ve made ‘Howard’s DIY Centre’ our #1 place to go since with any house, there are approximately ten things to do at any given time.

Most recently, we’ve built an arbour for our front garden to adorn the entrance pathway.  This, along with the installation of Venetian blinds and a weekend of building IKEA furniture, was a true testament to our ability to make it through anything.

My first year of teaching is coming to an end in three weeks and as I was writing the student reports (report cards), I was getting a bit teary-eyed.  I truly have had a dream-team of students.  There were a few challenges in the beginning of the year, some big ones in fact, but all 32 of the children are now really well-behaved and very hardworking.  I forget sometimes that they’re only eight and nine.

Next year, the head teacher has asked me to teach a year five and year six class (fourth and fifth grade).  Of course this will bring new challenges because these children will be the oldest in the school and it’s amazing how different their attitudes can change.  Because being the oldest, to them, obviously relates to being the coolest.

Lee is doing really well at Wyzowl and learning to create 3-D animation.  He’s also been working on projects around the house and practising with power tools, tooth saws and hammers.  We both wish that we had taken woodshop in school—as well as plumbing, electrical work and masonry.  Watching Trading Spaces every weekend for two years was not enough training in preparation for owning a house.  I think I picked up a few helpful pieces of advice from the HG channel, so Lee and I are using the Internet along with our little background knowledge to decorate bit-by-bit.

Below are some photographs from our new house and neighbourhood.  I hope you’re all having a great summer!

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.778582477902.1073741829.59102651&type=1&l=1ee8d83109  You will be able to see the pictures even if you do not have Facebook.  Enjoy!