Jack & Scout

Here's the beautiful boy! He's wearing his Classic Pooh outfit (the hat, which you can't see, is a Pooh hat, with socks to match)....a gift from Ms. Ernestine...thanks for the wonderful gifts and to all the others...I'm am gratefully amazed!

The stuffed animal is a sentimental one...Chris brought it to the hospital in 1999 when I had my ectopic surgery...it represented Scout, the first big red dog....our first 4 legged son. He's been gone over 3 years now and there's still a lump in my throat when I remember him. So "Scout", the stuffed animal, looks over Jack. Jack likes to touch him!

Eye color...it's still open for discussion...I'm thinking I need to look in a thesaurus to find the name of the color for Jack's eyes. Dark, dark blue with something else...flecks of brown/green, but I wouldn't call it hazel right now....It's OK, we have 16 years before he has to tell the driver's license examiner what to put on his driver's license.

Brothers: Sleeping Together

When Tarheel88 is at work, the boys begin their day together in bed....Mr. Tarheel saw this great opportunity to take a picture of Jack and Tucker sleeping...Tucker is very gentle but we make sure he can't step on Jack.

Isn't a sleeping baby the most beautiful picture in the world?

We had about 6 inches of snow in Enumclaw yesterday....here's our house, looking from the drive way. Yes, don't worry, Mr. Tarheel gave the cows extra food since it would be hard to graze on the frozen grass underneath all the snow.

Yes, there was screaming last night...during the game...Sorry Cougs! There wasn't a bus accident on the way to the game....I'll back up...I told some die hard Coug fans that the only way they could win, is if the Tarheels got into a bus accident on the way to the game. Now, I like the Cougs...except when they are playing my boys! Even being a UW graduate, I don't have a UW coffee mug, but I have a WSU mug...so stay off my back, you rabid fans!! Sorry about the description...that's the pot calling the kettle black, huh? Now, we're on to Elite 8...Only 11 more days until April 7th and the National Championship game!

A Belly like a Bowl Full of Jelly

Jack loves bath time...it's a special time with Mommy....After I dry him off, before he gets dressed...I "blow" a hole in his belly....as you can see...he has a nice big belly to use...He's starting to laugh before, during, and afterwards...My special boy!

Special Aunt Linda

There are Aunts in the world and then there are the very, very, very special Aunts...now Aunt Linda is one of those. She has the kindest heart and loves Jack & Tarheel88 so much...& we love & miss her already. She came for a nice visit and Jack went to his first wedding! I didn't cry until I thought about the future when I'll be at Jack's wedding and I thought that even though the groom's mother is so happy for her son, she must also be heartbroken to lose her baby boy....So he's my baby for now and hopefully, I'll be ready & willing to release him to the next love of his life when he's old enough to fall in love...

You know he won't be old enough until he's 30! By then, I'll be over 70 & rocking in my chair, with the southern breeze blowing through my hair!

Tarheel Jack

Tomorrow's the big day...the first game of the NCAA tournament for UNC...only 6 more games until we're National Champions....Jack wanted to celebrate his excitement for his Tarheels along with Easter...it was only fitting that his Easter basket was a basketball...filled with eggs and chocolate candy that Mommy & Daddy want to eat! Doesn't he look good in his Mom's blue wig? The look on his face is the questioning look of:

Why did you take my binky away from me?

New activities for the week....Jack sucks his fists but he doesn't know they are there ALL the time....

He loves his bath and now even loves getting dried off b/c Mommy always blows holes in his belly...& that's a belly to write home about...he's one healthy boy!

UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC

Good Morning all you Jack & Tarheel fans....the excitement is brewing (& Peet's coffee too).....Mama Tarheel filled in her brackets last night and can you believe what I filled in first....UNC, UNC, UNC, UNC....all the way to the National Championship box. Yes, we have a great chance this year and I'm starting to think about my promise *(or threat)* to run around with my body painted blue after we win. Even Duke fans may be happy with my bracketology....I have Duke winning their first game. Ssssppppp....don't tell them that I have a tradition of always having all ACC teams win their first game!

Last night, in a dining room in Enumclaw, were descendants of Bessie and Frank...all eating & talking & laughing....who would have believed in back in the day...sitting in Dublin, NC (home of roasted peanuts & pickles)....the most special was my wonderful Aunt Linda, who loved on Jack & we'll miss her alot....but her home in Cerro Gordo awaits....

Here's Jack with his Pooh at 3 months and busting out of 3 month sleepers. He's a happy boy!

Jack's a Smiley Boy

There's so much to be happy about....my stomach's full, my pants are dry, and I have already quickly trained my two older parents to meet my every need as quickly as possible. I hardly ever cry for more than a minute before they rush over to help me...this is the life. What other baby has already been to North Carolina and Hawaii before 3 months old?

Another wonderful thing to be happy about...DUKE LOST! Sorry, Coach K, you'll be watching us today in the ACC Championship game beat the Clemson Tigers on TV but maybe you can review your next State Farm commercial...

I love to watch the Tarheels play on my big screen TV and listen to my Mommy, the #1 Tarheel fan, scream for joy when Roy's boys win the game with the last shot. Now, wonder when I can wear the blue wig on my little head...so I will really be in the spirit? Only 22 days until the National Championship!

The Little Girl Meets the Rock Wall

Great Aunt Joan...loving on Jack :)

Once upon a time, the little girl was walking merrily on her way...her baby Jack on her back in the pack, laughing. All was well in her world. Her head was down, looking at the beautiful lavender crocus, poking through the firm spring soil. She didn't look too far ahead, careful to savor every moment of this beautiful spring day. Then low & behold, she ran into an abrupt mountain...giant sharp boulders sticking out of a very tall wall that loomed up above the hovering cumulus clouds. Her first thoughts...now why did this mountainous, rock wall have to enter my world? She tried but couldn't go around it, she knew she couldn't go under it or through it...so she knew she had to go over it. Her first thoughts...how can I become an instantaneous rock climber and keep baby Jack safe? She sat down on a nearby rock to contemplate the future....

3 month Jack

Beautiful Jack @ 3 months old...

Relaxing with Daddy, being held by Grandpa CA...

no other words needed :)

UNC #1

Don't check the stock reports or even the international news...just check espn.com and you will see....UNC is #1! My "boys" or Roy's boys, as I call them are #1 again.....and it's on the eve of the big game...UNC vs Duke in Cameron Indoor...with all the Cameron Crazies...now remember when it was JJ's last home game and it was such a bad, bad disappointment for him...sorry JJ....now, with Ty Lawson back, I do believe we are better than we have been at any point of the season....

I'll be on the "hill"....aka "pill hill" on Saturday at work -but I will do everything possible to get all my work done to see as much of the game live as possible. Of course, I will be recording to analyze every possession on Sunday. So cheers to my team....please, pretty please....win for Tarheel 88. It will make her SO, SO happy!

Perception of My Perspective

Yes, little man isn't so little anymore. He's a big boy, growing really fast on Mama's milk. His eyes aren't so deep blue but a little gray...now have you ever heard of someone's driver's license saying gray eyes? Here's Mom & Dad CA on their last morning with us...and of course, Mr. Tarheel too. We all had such a nice visit...so much more than a "meet & greet"...Grandma CA is right there, taking great care of Jack and offering well thought out, great advice.....THANKS!

Jack misses his Grandma holding him...we're readjusting to life with just him and me....I know it will be OK, but there has been a raw nerve today. I know it's probably me wondering how will I fit in being a good mother and a good NNP or even a great mother and an adequate NNP and of course a wonderful wife, friend, sister, daughter...so many things, so few hours of the day.








GRATITUDE is the next word in my mind. I feel so grateful to be having these problems. Last year, I was on my medications, synchronizing my cycle to the donor's cycle, waiting, hoping for the timing to work out. It didn't, but it turned out OK. Really OK, b/c the donor stimulated well (made lots of eggs) and there were embryos waiting to become our precious child...Jack! Now, he's sleeping in the swing and brother Tucker goes back & forth between me & looking over him. So any little problem or inconvenience that I have now is so very, very small in comparison to the anxiety and anticipation that I was feeling one year ago.

Now let me work on my perception of my perspective...say that 10 times!

I Chose Jack

So, so, sorry to all my readers, lurkers, and fans....no time for blogging over the past week. Yes, I have good intentions to write something note-worthy but then life happens. Here's our big red barn....with us in front. Here's a synopsis of my week:

In-laws--I'll call them Mom & Dad CA (short for California) are here for a visit. Love in action...that's what they are. It's been a special time for Jack and he LOVES his Grandma/Grandpa.

Jack is 3 months old tomorrow! My little baby isn't so little anymore. No chest hair yet though. I thought about how short the time will be...it makes me just a little sad. Now, don't get me wrong....I'd love to have a few of those precious sleep hours back from that LONG pregnancy.... I figured out that there are about 6340 days in 18 years and that each day is about 0.0001578 % of the time. Lucky for me, he will be about 18 1/2 when he goes to college....so I have a few more days than average....So when my choice is to play/hold/kiss Jack or do dishes....I chose Jack (most of the time). If there are no clean forks, I must rarely choose dishes. I'm choosing not to sleep sometimes to get everything done but the good Lord above is helping me through each day.

Jack can have major, massive blow-outs and this is both funny & gross. I can both laugh and gag at the same time...I went with the flow when it was during church, especially since he looks at me with the look of relief while I'm cleaning him up. Thanks to my next door neighbor, Ms. Jo, we have a duck dispensing scented trash bags for our diaper bag!

Jack cried some during the UNC/Boston College game...up until the middle of the 2nd half when Roy's boys pulled ahead for good. I mean it was the UNC/Tyrese Rice game....you know, the 1 man show...and a brilliant one at that....Good job to Mr. 47 points for Boston College! Sorry, but our 5 players against 1, will come out ahead every time. The count down is on...6 days until we go to Durham to plan against Coach State Farm and his Cameron Crazies....my prediction is....we'll win by 12...& we'll be ranked #1 in the country come tomorrow....