1-800-NANNIE

The 2 weeks was way too short but not more than 5 minutes passed by without Jack getting kisses from his Nannie. He learned how to speed dial "1-800-NANNIE" so she could tell him secrets in his ear...We sure do miss her and of course, Jack cried more today because he wasn't as entertained as he was during her visit. Nannie taught Jack how to turn over from his back to his stomach and thought up new ways to disguise the taste of rice cereal. She gave him some super sink baths and made him laugh alot. What will I tell him when he grows up & asks me why we had to live so far away from so much love? We'll see her again in 10 short weeks...

Jackets in July

Nannie's here! Nannie is the name that my Mom uses & boy is she the best Grandma, I mean Nannie, in the whole world. Today, we took Jack to a park and he swung for the first time! He loved it! He saw his friend, Sean, and we had fun walking in the park with my friend Celia. Yes, it's summer, but sometimes, it's cool enough for jackets in July...

Jack's Shirt Reads "Property of Tarheels"

Here's Jack doing his standing exercises with Chris...He's happy as long as he doesn't know he's actually standing. There's no fear and probably won't be for a while, I've heard.

Jack is slowly sleeping longer (now up to 10-11 hours at night) and we are very rested parents. Gone are the newborn days when you hope to sleep 3 straight hours. He looks so beautiful and peaceful when he's sleeping.

I'm starting to feel what other parents describe is a normal process....you start telling yourself that the long pregnancy wasn't that bad and the sleeplessness of the beginning was pretty short...it's a process of convincing yourself that yes, you could do this again, maybe. That's when I get a little sad, knowing, that Jack is an only child and each stage that passes is gone forever. Then I have a moment of anger & sadness b/c I know that infertility robbed me of having more than one child---in my 30's instead of my 40's. The feelings pass when I hear my Jack laughing from the family room, where Chris is feeding him his morning bottle. One is OK, I tell myself, especially at my age. I will want to say goodbye to Jack in 18 years as he goes to college because I will be closing the gap to retirement...Wow!

Jack Likes (Plastic) Crab Legs

Jack enjoys bath toys and his first favorite is the orange crab above. He's also starting to enjoy his 1st/2nd fingers and occassionally his thumb. The pacifier is past tense now...rarely to never does he want it, which is fine by me. It will be a few years before he gets to try real crab legs!

Standing Jack

Jack Was Worth the Wait

Jack loves his exersaucer and his little (fat) feet look like he's doing the river dance!

Jack is 7 months today! Tomorrow is 14 years of wedded bliss....so many celebrations....Here, he's wearing his outfit that says..."I was worth the wait"....a wonderful gift from Ann N....one of my friends & mentors from Children's. Thanks Ann for believing it was going to happen! She bought this outfit way before Jack became a reality and that was a real gift of hope to inspire me!

You can see Tucker in the background...on is "Dog" bed...can you believe it? Tucker is now a (gasp) dog! He thought he was a person for so long and even sat on his green chair but now...he has to sit on a dog bed. He curls up and sleeps through all the noise & commotion. His life is still better than 95% of all other dogs...so don't feel sorry for him. He still sleeps between us on the king sized bed with the suede duvay cover....what a life!

Wearing Carrots: Up Close

I remember seeing lots of dirty faces on kids before Jack and wondering, why don't they (the mothers, whom I was so, so jealous of)...why don't they clean those dirty faces more often. They could even ignore the carrots that were all over the face. Now, I know....it's all about priorities. Well, it's also about time management, which is about priorities. Now, Jack's face is sometimes dirty and I may appear to be ignoring it...but it's b/c it's the best thing for Jack at that moment to have a dirty face. I pat myself on the back and tell myself (positive self-talk, instead of the usual motherly negative self- talk)...you are a great mother!

Wearing Carrots

Jack loves eating...carrots & sweet potatoes are his favorite veggies and spinach is great too. He loves fruit with applesauce & pears at the top of the list. He does like to wear his veggies too!

Jack likes to laugh and does alot of it when you are dancing with him....like here with Grandma California.

His Real Name Is.....Chris

I've been thinking about the names that I use on the blog..specifically, I'm Tarheel88 and Mr. Tarheel and I've decided to make a bold move and tell you that I've decided to call Mr. Tarheel by his real name...Chris. Most of you know this already, so why try to remain anonymous? He actually pretends to love (like) the Tarheel games as much as I do, but really, calling him Mr. Tarheel, is pretty dumb and inaccurate. He really only tolerates the Tarheel games and uses his concentration skills to listen to everything I have to say about the team. He knows that he won't be watching the Discovery channel or the History channel when my games are on and sometimes, he quietly leaves to get on the computer. If I have paused the game, he is sure to look up the score in real time and tease me by giving me the look of knowledge and asking me if I want to know who wins...but despite all this, we are madly in love with each other and our boy Jack!

Jack's Back!

I'm back...so, so sorry to all my readers for the long 10 day hiatus....I'll try to be more polite next time and give you a heads up. I've worked 3 long shifts and enjoyed a visit from Grandma & Grandpa California! Boy, oh boy, Jack loved having all their attention! Thank you for everything! Having grandparents visit is like calorie- free ice cream on a hot afternoon---so, so grand!

Future Sheriff

Notice the 3 yellow stripes on Daddy Tarheel's left sleeve...yes, today was his first day as Sgt...Jack was all smiles as he was wishing Daddy a great first day! Jack has his own (play) badge and it reads "Sheriff"!

Happy Father's Day Daddy Tarheel

Jack wanted to put the sign in his mouth...but it says...Happy Father's Day 2008, I love you...Jack Christopher.

Once upon a time, there was a very special Daddy, the kind that every son wants to have. He was the best father in the entire world. He was so special because he never ONCE verbalized (aka complained) about waking up in the middle of the night to help his baby boy. Even when he was double dog tired and Mommy just kept sleeping through the crying....he would jump out of bed, wash his hands, and help his son. There was a special twinkle in his eye when he talked to his son and the son always gave back a big smile and the "look" which said....I know I can count on you! Thank you for each and every moment...you are THE BEST!

First Tooth

Here it is...the first tooth after weeks of constant drool, a neck rash requiring hydrocortisone, doses and tylenol and motrin, and realizing that owning 30 bibs isn't enough not do laundry for 4 days....Jack's first tooth erupted on 6/10 and is making progress....

Flexible Jack

The Olympics are almost here and Jack's practicing his baby flexibility....yes, he can & does suck his toes. He prefers his big toes. Here he is doing his hamstring stretch...without the pain that will be involved in another 40-50 years....oh, to be young again....

Jack's Remote

It's only just begun...the battle in Seattle....over the remote control! Jack wants to grab everything now...even MY remote...so we have an extra one and gave him his own remote...sans(without) batteries. He's happy now!

Sitting Jack

I'm sure every mother feels this...but Jack is the most beautiful baby in the world. Maybe it's the hours and hours that I spend looking at him because I see other babies at work who I think are beautiful too. But no other baby melts my heart like Jack does. Here he is...an almost, non-supported sit. Mr. Pooh Bear isn't really necessary anymore to help hold Jack sitting up....he's so proud of himself...

Jack Likes Avocado

Jack's first food was rice cereal, then sweet potatoes (Daddy Tarheel chose this southern veggie, while Mommy was working)...and then...drum roll.....avocado! Now, we bi-coastal parents (one being from CA and one from NC) have to alternate our veggies....Sweet potatoes was first, then we have a classic Californian favorite veggie. And Jack loves both...like he loves both his parents!

20 pound Boy

I'm sure all you picture hungry people were wondering why didn't I post some pictures of Jack @ 6 months yet....well, I hadn't taken them yet...

We took Jack to Dr. Brian for his 6 month visit and here are the stats:

Jack is

20 pounds, 6 oz---can you believe it? And he is 27.75 inches tall---both of these are in the 90% percentile. His head is 75%--which is OK...& normal....& in the normal range (ha, ha). So here is a sample conversation between me & Dr. Brian:

From Mommy Tarheel...."now, Jack can roll over and has rolled over, but doesn't like to roll over very much. The Denver (a developmental scale) says that he should be rolling over @ 5 months...are you concerned?"

Dr. Brian, smiling.."look, he is sitting with minimal support and those scales were developed when babies slept on their stomachs, so there's no cause for concern."

Then Jack looked up and rolled over! Daddy Tarheel & I both laughed!

6 Months of Joy

Well today, Mr. Jack Attack, is 6 months old...I can't believe how fast it has gone or how slow all the long, sleepless nights have been for us over 40 parents. Each day is filled with it's joys and challenges and I have never been so very grateful for a gift from God, than for our baby Jack. For so long, I felt so angry and directed this toward God and others, when in all reality, I was angry at myself. Misplaced emotion, I call it. And so much wasted time and energy...

The anger has receded and even the relief. Yes, there was so much relief, when I saw Jack, born @ 37 weeks, and he was healthy. I'm glad of who I have become because of this process. Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't like walking through the fire. I resisted at every step. But, I have become the person that God saw would be the right person to be the mother of Jack. But the waiting was so agonizing.

So now, we're about the business of parenting Jack. He didn't come with a manual for an over-analyzing & sometimes controlling Mother. I'm sure there are more fires to walk through...maybe I'll remember faster next time (I really am a smart person, not as smart as RaRa, but almost)....there's value in the journey to your destination and hopefully, I won't waste so much time on misplaced emotion.

Hunting for Hugs

Daddy Tarheel took Jack to the new, big Cabela's store and Jack got his first hunting hat...you can't read it but it says...Hunting for Hugs! Mommy asked where was the orange hat that keeps a person from being the target of another hunter? Mommies have a different agenda when it comes to hunting...but she can forsee future October trips without her boys...maybe involving her sisters and best friends and a beach somewhere....

Wearing Cereal

Jack's eating cereal, or rather, wearing it...We're learning to prepare it....this time, it was a little too runny. Yes, that's a Florida Gator image on his bib (thanks Kim, my Gator friend). Yes, Jack can be a Gator except when they are playing the Tarheels...& I'm holding a grudge against them for winning 2 national championships in a row...(no fair)...

Our big boy is almost 6 months old....I feel that time is going in fast forward and I want to slow it down, but I can't. If I could, I'd stop the march across our faces too....

We Remember--Memorial Day 2008

Old Glory against the beautiful Northwest Sky!

All gave some, but some gave all...Jack & I took a drive today to Tahoma National Cemetery...the resting place for many, many heros. We walked around section 7, reading the stones....I had researched the location for SFC Nathan Ross Chapman...killed in action on 1/4/02. I remember seeing the picture of him and his family in the paper taken shortly before his deployment...I pledged never to forget his and his family's sacrifice.

We saw a 2nd Ranger Bn scroll & I remembered my year in Savannah, GA when Mr. Tarheel was there....

We ran across another hero...a police hero....

King County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Herzog was killed in the line of duty on 6/22/02 and was retired Army Special Forces. Jack & I only had one flag to leave..so we left it here....remembering...& thankful for their sacrifice.

Jack & Daddy

Jack & Daddy....& there's Tucker's back & his Ridge...all having fun together!

Happy Birthday Grandma Myers

Today is a very special someone's birthday....Grandma Myers! She is so sweet and loves us so much....We hope you have a great birthday! Since Jack can't talk yet, except to say WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, we wrote out a sign that he was so happy to hold!

Jack's New Talent

Here's Jack's belly and Jack....

Jack grabs and holds his feet...he likes his big toes alot! He can only do this with his diaper off though. He's quite proud of himself! Notice the strategic burp cloth placement...this blog is rated G!

Tucker & Jack

My, oh, my...here's the first picture of our month old bull calf...product of #38 and Buffalo Creek's Cherokee Canyon...yeah, yeah, yeah, you say...it's another cute red cow! We would've rather had a girl...you know....b/c they can have calves and baby bulls usually go to that pasture in the sky (AKA, my freezer)....OK, that's enough cow talk....On to Jack talk...

Here's a rare, hard to get picture of both Tucker and Jack....Tucker is smiling (AKA panting) and Jack isn't...Jack wonders...why does my Mommy disappear behind that big, black Nikon?

It's another (well, actually, the 2nd) nice summer day on the farm....

Hot Weather Ramblings

The new bath tub seat...notice, the "I'm not so sure I like this" look!

Jack has been sitting with support for awhile now, but here he is in his Bumba seat with play tray...it's great to keep those mooing cow toys within reach!

Concentration, extraordinaire! Maybe his thought is..."but my cows are red, not black & white!"

Every day is a new adventure and yesterday, we were off to one of our rare shopping trips to Babies*R*Us. I think I've spoken about this before, in my past infertile life, but for an infertile, going to this mega store is like a knife in the heart. When I was pregnant, it was mostly about feeling overwhelmed about deciding how much baby equipment and supplies to register for or buy.

Now, I'm one of the "other" types of people in the store...the mothers with the lists, the diaper bags, the intermittently ignored, whining baby...securely strapped in, of course. The women on a time-constrained mission. There is no browsing in my life. There is a baseline sense of urgency that permeates, even my creativity for blog posting (yes, it's 0544 in the morning, and I am enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee)....

So here we were....I saw other mothers there....there were brand new ones, who I had a very kind smile for...the smile that says, I know what you are going through and yes, despite your weariness, the love you have for your baby will get you through the long newborn days. The toddler mothers had a different smile for me...one that says, just you wait, when your son can scream "NO" louder than any other child.

We tried the new bath tub seat but Jack's not so sure about that one...I think he prefers to lay back so he can kick. Plus, he didn't want anything to do with the strategically placed whale that I needed to use to be discreet during his photo shoot.

Summer's here in the Northwest!~ Thanks to everyone who doesn't live here, but keeps up with our weather for us....you know who you are....celebrate with us when it's warmer than 60, but we don't have to keep discussing our rain for the rest of the 8 months of the year. The rain gets long and old and until you have been here, done that, you probably won't realize how we really don't want to keep talking like a broken record about the gray, wet weather.

Oh, by the way, Jack got hot yesterday for the first time in his life. Yes, really, hot...like sweating. He screamed, so I don't think he liked it. But he likes air conditioning...that lucky boy!

Swinging Jack

Jack is almost too big for his swing...but it still works to entertain and rock him...so we're keeping it for awhile longer. He loves to watch the circular mobile above him and he listens to the music....I know he is listening, b/c as soon as the music stops...he lets out a protest whine for us to restart it. He really does have 2 intelligent adults very well trained. Now, he will focus on one of the "flying fish" on the mobile and follow it all the way around...this involves tilting his head back a little....like in the picture. It's so funny to watch! He has a Tarheel88 look on his face...you know the mouth is slightly open because the level of concentration is so high....that's the look that I have when I have deep concentration.

Oh, by the way, have you noticed....green is his favorite color!

Annointed One

Here's Jack after his dedication at church on Mother's Day...he doesn't look too interested here, but he was actually very attentive and smiley....He didn't cry while Pastor Scott was talking about what his name meant...Annointed One... and looked out into the audience with interest. We're so blessed to have such a wonderful church family who have embraced and supported us throughout the pregnancy and since Jack was born. Thank you!

He wore a flannel shirt for the first time and looked so cute...and his 6-12 month Robez (navy & red...one with a football helmet and one with a football..GO SEAHAWKS! & thank you Aunt Joan!).

Jack was so generous with his Mother's Day present of new (nice) sunglasses...a pair of polarized Smith's...for once, Tarheel88's sunglasses didn't come from Rite Aid. Now, let's see how long I can keep from breaking them. Hopefully summer will be here soon in the Northwest!

There's Nothing Like a Mother & Her Son

Today's one of those days long hoped for, long dreamed about. The first Mother's Day of a new Mom....For so long, I was only a Mom-Wanna-be...Now, b/c of patience, perserverence, lots of money, and Jack...I am a Mom! Motherhood is so many things that I knew it would be, and so many other things that I never even considered. I knew I would have my Ah-Ha moments...that I had finally arrived at my destination or the end of a long, hard journey. I never dreamed of the ferocity or intensity of the love that you have for your child. I didn't consider the endurance and hard work that's required of motherhood. I never knew it would be so fun!

Jack rolled over (from tummy to back) on Friday...you know, of course, it was while I was at work and he was with Mr. Tarheel. Jack hasn't enjoyed tummy time very much but Mr. Tarheel put him down under his "gym" and he immediately rolled over, and over, and over...a total of 3 times. Now, I tried to get him to do it the next day....he would just look up at me, like in the picture above, and laugh and laugh and laugh. So much for Jack trying to impress his mother. I'll have to wait for him to get a little older to encourage him to perform his tricks after I get home from work!

Jack @ 5 months

Here's Jack @ 5 months old...he loves to laugh and put his fingers in his mouth. He's one happy baby!

Quack Quack Jack

Here's Jack in his thick, soft, Duck towel...after Mr. Tarheel gave him a nice long bath. He loves to put his 1st/2nd fingers in his mouth now and he's drooling constantly. I never knew a baby could drool through so many bibs in one day. I bought some of the water proof ones and they work better. No teeth yet...but Jack loves to put a cold teether in his mouth.

Here's some things Jack's doing now:

1. He's sleeping 8-10 hours a night with at least 2 naps a day...YIPPEE!
2. He found his ears and pulls on them sometimes...like, WOW, what's this? I looked into them with my otoscope (yes, I bought an otoscope, so I would know when to take him in if he gets an ear infection)...his ear drums are perfect....like the rest of him.
3. Some hairs on the top of his head are growing...I can comb it over and my boy looks so OLD. I'm already missing the new baby fuzz look. The hair over his ears is touching his ears now.
4. Tummy time is still a struggle....I let him go until he lets out a ear-piercing, horror movie scream...then I give in and turn him over....of course, I'm right there, trying to play with him...but usually to no avail.
5. He's 5 months old tomorrow.....I can't believe it is passing so quickly. A year ago, on 5/3/07, we saw Jack's heart beating for the first time....so one year ago today, I was a ball of nerves. A year has passed and my life is grand!

Mothers (Day) Month began yesterday...yes, I'll be celebrating for a month. An entire month, I say...because after so long of being a "Wanna-be mother"...I'm actually, yes, a mother. Some special people send me mother's poems/emails and of course...I usually cry. It (motherhood) is so much more (of many things) than I ever imagined.....I'm working on getting Mr. Tarheel on board for Mother's month...I've tried to entice him with promises for his Father's month..so we'll see how much celebration is in store for me.

You know there's usually a song in my head...and today's song is...Celebration...you know, by Kool & the Gang...I danced to this at my prom. Yes, the prom that I went to with my cousin....now that is a whole other posting...

There's a party going on 'round here,

A celebration, to last throughout the year

So bring your good times

And your laughter too

Cause we're going to celebrate this party with you

Come on, Celebrate good times, Come on

Maybe, that's right because I didn't look it up...that's how it is in Tarheel88's mind....