1 week old :)

I CANNOT believe my son is already ONE WEEK OLD!  Ahhhhh...it's really been a week since I gave birth to the most amazing creature I've EVER laid eyes upon?!?  Okay, he's not a creature, but he IS my little monster...my little SWEETEST thing ever monster!  I think I'll do weekly updates about him until he is one month and then I'll go by months.  In the weeks between the month markers, I'll just update on what's up with us and post plenty of pics :)  I apologize if you're already on Jack overload :)

this looks like Big Cuz's "Call Me" to Mississippi State students and fans

looks like he's about to start his CATS cheer... "ohhhhh...C-A-T-S CATS, CATS, CATS!!!"

this was after his blow-out on Daddy

look at those nobby knees!!

Loves: his hands...it's a serious head over heels obsession for him!  Also, snuggling!  He loves being loved on by others, being held, and people making a fuss over him...he seriously eats it up!  He especially loves "skin-on-skin" time with Mommy, and gets his feelings hurt sometimes if he's not asleep and someone puts him down (he just wants to chill and hang out with all!).

enjoying those hands :)

even when swaddled in his "Jack Burrito", he will still work his hands up and out of the wrap and contort them in wild ways as he sleeps...it's so funny!

sweet angel baby

apparently in deep though as he sleeps

watch that finger, Bubba-wub!

a "Jack Burrito"!

oh heyyyyyy

Eating: at first, he wasn't eating too well, but now we are absolutely rolling with some breastfeeding and he is eating like a pure champion!  He eats about 2-3oz. every 2-3 hours - sometimes, he gets a little "Jack Snack Pack" in between our feedings that we're trying to regulate with a schedule.  He's really funny when he eats too, he makes the most precious faces and sounds that show he is enjoying himself and is more than satisfied :)

any questions?  Oh, yes...Jack Thomas?!?

in a milk coma

Sleeping: we're up about 3-4 times a night to feed.  Each time, he has a muddy diaper...seriously, this kid has NO trouble in THAT department.  Sometimes, though, he need some "skin-on-skin" time to fall back asleep peacefully.  Last night, he was only up ONE time and I was able to put him right back down with NO trouble.  I even had to wake him up at 7 in the morning to nurse and then he went back to sleep until after 9.  Hope this keeps up as we are trying to get a pattern and schedule established as soon as possible...we are cognizant that we have a newborn, but we are really trying to figure out something that will work for us and sticking to it!

this was the morning after our very first night at home - no sweeter sight in the world!

Firsts: Cubs game with Daddy; blow-out of diaper on Daddy (bahahaha!); pee-spray (it was a fountain with some serious distance! Ooops!); sleep at home with Mommy and Daddy; visits with many loved ones; sleep at home in downstairs cradle; holding neck up by himself (only for a few seconds) on Daddy; Mamaw and Papaw spending the night; Easter; sleep through the night; overnight with Nanny and Mommy - without Daddy in the hospital; overnight sleep without Mommy :(

this was because Daddy changed his clothes for the game

still cold...

...AAAAAAND, we're GOOOOOD!

Clothes: newborn sizes are too big for him; but preemie can be a wee bit small, so we're sticking to newborn size for now with a preemie onesie under it to eliminate some loose space.  There is absolutely NO hope in even wearing 0-3 months of anything.  They absolutely swallow him - it's a game of find the Jackman as he gets lost in all that extra space!

look how teeny tiny he is in that carseat :)

holding my head up!!

"turtling"

Funny Moment: Jackbaby HATES being cold (our tiny buddy has NO meat on his bones, ya know!) so B and I try to tag team diaper changes so we go fast to reduce the freakouts (usually one person hold legs and talks to him while the other cleans him up).  Well, during a freak-out, we weren't paying attention and Jack sprayed pee in a full arc back over his head - it was a rainbow fountain with some excellent distance!  It was hilarious!

i kept telling people when I was pregnant that I knew he slept with his booty in the air...here's proof!

Does it all the time!

Fun Facts: Jackbaby looks EXACTLY like his daddy, but has many a tricks that are synonymous with Mommy.  He is VERY mild-mannered, calm, and "go with the flow" (except during diaper changes but he's already MUCH better!)

he's very slightly  jaundice so here he is gettin' his tan on in the downstairs cradle under the window

Mommy Moments: Our first night in the hospital, I had serious separation anxiety in sending him to the nursery; I also over analyze EVERYTHING he does (especially in the eating/ disposing areas).  I typically cry when he cries too...I'm pathetic.

he LOVES his Daddy :)

Nickname(s): Jackbaby; J-man; Little Boo; Bubby-Wubby; Boo; Jackrabbit; bunny; Brosef

What's on our schedule for this next week: Jackbaby's 2-week appt., newborn pics with Aunt Lu-Lu; visits with some of Daddy's friends on Saturday while Mommy goes to a shower for Holden's Mommy (our friend, Christie who's pregs with Jack's BFF); Daddy going back to work on Wednesday :(

Here are some (okay, TONS) of pics of our little guy over the past several days of his life!

hands, hands, hands!

nightly "wind down" time - getting ready for some skin-on-skin action with Mommy to get ready to go "night-night"

crazy hands!  per usual

using his Activity Gym that Mommy and Daddy got him for his 1-week birthday - yes, it's early and he's a wee bit young but he was slightly intrigued!  We're ready to start trying some tummy time!

mealin' on his hands

watching the hanging items on his gym!

reaching!

"what's making that sound??!!?"

watching Mommy :)

"the Heisman"!

introducing...

JACK ROBERT THOMAS!!!

It is so hard to believe that it started with 2 lines on a pregnancy test, and ended with this...

We are seriously the luckiest parents in the entire world and are absolutely ecstatic that HE..no wait, OUR SON is finally here!  While I may be a mother with only 4 days experience to go off of, I can assure you that it is already the most rewarding and fulfilling experience of my life.  Being a mother is the one thing I have always wanted to be, and now that I am one, I can safely say that it is an indescribable happiness and fulfillment in which no other can compare.  I am absolutely smitten with my boy and LOVE being his mommy!  Jackbaby is truly a blessing from God that we in no way feel deserving of!  We certainly think our little guy is sensational and the best baby in the entire world and we have the best job ever in getting to be his parents! 

**WARNING: LONG post ahead (sorry...so much to say!  But hey, I AM a proud mommy!)**

Jack Robert Thomas was born on April 3, 2012 at 11:07a.m. (at Central Baptist Hospital) via caesarean surgery (c-section).  It was a wonderful experience because B got to be there with me the entire time and I did not have to go through the pains and anxieties of a natural delivery process.  I wholeheartedly salute you women who DO go through the natural delivery birth because I cannot imagine that experience...it actually gives me chills just thinking about it...absolutely terrifying!  Admittedly (and shamefully), I am a weenie and scaredy-cat about THAT!  With my c-section, I had my epidural/ spinal block and Jack was out within 10 minutes.   I am no surgery rookie so when this became the best scenario for us to deliver this way, I happily obliged.  Honestly, I had been secretly (or not so secretly?!!? hehe) wishing for it through the entire pregnancy.  Like I said, I am no surgery rookie and have been through many (try 6!) in my abdomen area alone...plus, I HATE (and I stress, HATE) suspense!  Delivering naturally would be too much suspense for me to bear and I would be on anxiety overload!  No bueno, so this was the best (and most convenient) process for us.  It was great and MOST convenient because my parents could PLAN to be there, Brad's parents could PLAN to be there, and B's sister (Jack's Aunt Sis) could PLAN to be there as well (she even brought Jack's cousin Spencer!)...no last minute phone calls to people in all parts of the state and surrounding areas for them to "hurry up and get here!"  It eliminated all hassles, stress, and hurried last minute visits.  Again, it was nice.  Delightful, actually.  No stress!

Anyway, onto our boy's birthday and other notes about him...

His BIRTHday:

Jack weighed 6 lbs, 4 ounces at birth and was 19 1/4" long.  He was born with a FULL head of jet-black hair and an EXCELLENT set of lungs...he was screaming and singing the blues early and for a while after he was brought into the world.  B was able (in his scrubs...he was so stinkin' cute) to carry him out to the nursery window for all awaiting family to see and ooooooo and ahhhhhhhhh (yes, I am certain they did...I mean, just look at him, HOW could they NOT?!? bahaha) our precious boy!  Then, my OB finished up the surgery and closing of my wound and sent me to recovery.  Jackbaby DID have a few issues at first...his heart rate was very fast, and he wasn't getting all of the gunk out of his lungs so they were unable to bring him back to me at first...or for a while for that matter.  I had only seen him for a few short minutes during the surgery when B was able to bring him to me and put him on my chest.  Then, they whisked him away to the NICU and finished up with me.  Once in recovery, my spinal block began wearing off, but I had yet to really "hold" my son and was in quite a bit of pain!  My SENSATIONAL delivery nurse said she knew what would make me feel better and went and got Jack from the NICU for a bit and his Daddy so we could bond for the first time as a family.  They still wanted to monitor him so we only got to visit for about 30 minutes and then they took him back again and I didn't get to have him in my arms for another few hours after that!  It was torture!

BUT...

I can assure you, the minute I did get to hold that precious angel baby in my arms for the first time was, without question, the MOST amazing moment of my entire life.  I know I'm biased, but my baby is so beautiful.  He, without question, is the most incredible thing ever and with holding him in my arms means I am holding everything.  We had to stay in the hospital 3 nights, but got to keep Jackbaby with us as much as we wanted which was fantastic.  People had told us from the get-go to send him to the nursery at night so we could get some good rest while the nurses tended to him.  That made perfect sense to us, so we did it, but not without separation anxiety and mother's guilt on my part.  I just couldn't bear to think of him with those other babies and not being the complete center of attention that I knew he'd be with me.  However, those worries soon subsided and we had NO issue having him head out for a bit and come back to nurse with me.  Breastfeeding is going very, very well and I am so happy that it is.  I had expected it to be somewhat of a trouble for me (as most things typically are...I seriously, never get the "easy road" with anything - there's always complications or something is bound to go wrong because that is just my luck) but much to my surprise (and delight I might add), it is going GREAT!  I love that time with my boy and the bonding experience we are getting from it.

Our boy...
Looks EXACTLY like his Daddy.  It is something crazy.  I told Brad that he should be pretty pleased with himself and his DNA...because it certainly is a force to be reckoned with! 
Jack is such a snugglebug.  He seriously LOVES to be held and LOVES when people fuss over him.  He is a total lovebug!  He also loves...and I mean, L-O-V-E-S LOVES his hands.  It's funny because in every single ultrasound he had his hands up by his mouth...well, now that he is in the outside world, there they are again!  He ALWAYS HAS to have them up by his face and even when we swaddle him TIGHT, he will work them up and out of the blanket/ wrap.  I tried yesterday to put some gloves/ mitt thingys on them so he wouldn't scratch his beautiful angel baby face, but he looked at me like, "Ummmm...no, try again mom" and off they went.  He is always very content, very calm, and very happy.  He is mild-mannered and "go with the flow", and is just very "chill"...a calm, cool, and collected little guy!  The ONLY thing that gets our little guy upset is being cold.  He HATES it with a fire-burning passion.  Since he is super skinny, there is obviously no "chunky monkey" fat yet on his little body, so no extra padding to warm him up.  Thus, diaper changing and clothes changing can get a bit dicey...B and I have to do it so fast, it seems as if we are on a gameshow! 

I will leave you with pics galore (only from my iPhone for now and until I get all the other great pics from my camera uploaded) of our precious miracle so you can enjoy the face that brightens and enriches our lives every second of every day!  There's some pics of some visitors too (but most are on my camera - uploads of those to come soon!) 

this was Thursday - they brought him in from the nursery and he was bright-eyed and bushy tailed and so alert!

"You talkin' to ME?!?"

"no more pictures, Mommy!"

looking at his Daddy :)

taking in the sights of the world around him

a big boy in his car seat!  Ready to go home!

his very first car ride!  Being the worry-wart I am, I of course sat in the back

snoozin' in the sunlight

The most precious little wildcat fan ever!

our first family photo - PLEASE excuse and disregard my complete FOULNESS - this was right after surgery

looking EXACTLY like his Daddy here!

meeting his Nanny for the very first time

a few hours old here :)

in his "SwaddleMe"  Seriously...best thing ever for swaddling those moving limbs!

"I'm hungry, Mom!"

laying on Mommy's chest - his (and MINE) very most favorite time - we both seriously LOVE this time!

our sweet angel baby

Daddy Braddy!

Aunt Beth and Uncle Kody

he is quite possibly, the proudest big cousin ever!

seriously NEVER wants to put him down!

such a big helper!  Mom said he could not wait to come over and visit with Sweet Baby J

Shawnee LOVES his Jackbaby!

this is their first meeting and it was so stinkin' precious how very excited Shawnee was to meet him and hold him!

so proud :)

an EXCELLENT "big" cousin!

happiness :)

making silly faces!

 I have TONS of other pics to share and will do so once I get them all uploaded from my camera.  Several were taken by the anesthesiologist during the birth (and are funny!) and many are of special visitors that came to see our boy so I cannot wait to share them!
 

Reflecting...

My last day of being pregnant.  Wait, let me say that again...THIS IS MY LAST DAY BEING PREGNANT.  Wowza...those words, no matter how many times I utter them, just aren't completely sinking in!  It just seems so surreal.  Matter of fact, as this time tomorrow, we will be holding our sweet baby boy...after 9 months of waiting and waiting!  Holy cow!  I know I am not the first woman to give birth and I most definitely am not the last so I certainly do not feel like no one understands what this day feels like...BUT, I just wanted to take some time to reflect on the top ten BEST things about the past 9 months of pregnancy for me...

10) the surprise of it all - I seriously thought this would NEVER happen.  B and I had been trying for quite some time and I had almost given up hope.  It was such an unexpected thing to walk up to 2 lines on a pregnancy test sitting on our bathroom counter. I in NO way anticipated that result!

9) telling friends and family.  We had fun trying to come up with different and cute ways to tell those around us that we were expecting!  I think the cutest was my father...we told my parents on their anniversary and my mom understood the card before him, and the minute he realized what it said, he had tears in his eyes.  It was truly special.  Cathryn's reaction was pretty cute as well.  I loved waking her up with a note and her face when the realization hit.  We were so excited!

8) eating, eating, eating...Duh!  While I have NOT enjoyed the weight gain, I HAVE enjoyed having an excuse to eat more and give into cravings.  Albeit 40 gained pounds later (yes, I have come to terms with it), I'm probably rethinking several choices along the way now, but I wouldn't change it for anything in the world because it helped pregnancy all that much more special for me.

7) the excitement of my students.  As soon as I told them, they all instantaneously became my little guardians, constantly making sure I was okay.  They even manned a countdown on our whiteboard and asked about how we wee feeling every other minute.  Kids really are so much fun and their excitement was contagious towards an already overly exuberant mommy-to-be :)

6) watching my tummy grow and grow.  While I did not want to wish away my pregnancy, I WAS dying to have a little baby bump.  It is something I had imagined for years and years, and then couldn't wait for it to happen.  Suddenly, around 12-13, out he popped and I finally had proof that Little Boo was in there!  Now, he is out and about and making his presence known for sure!

5) the ultrasounds.  Every single ultrasound was the best moment of my life.  There was nothing more special than seeing my precious son come to life on a screen.  It has been so exciting watching how the scans change from time to time and thus Jack getting bigger and bigger.

4)  the consideration of others.  Sounds silly, but people really are more considerate of you when you are pregnant.  It always about what's best for the baby and I love that people want to take such good care of our sweet son.

3) decorating Jack's nursery and focusing most purchases on little man!  I have loved painting things for his room and piecing together things for his nursery.  I have also loved devoting so much of my shopping to him.  It's NO secret to anyone that I LOVE clothes and have more than my fair share, so it's been nice knowing that I am in NO shape to buy things for myself, nor have I wanted to...it's been all about sweet Jackbaby!

2) the rich bond with others - especially my husband.  B and I have been together for a long, long time and thus, we've been through so, so, sooooo much and we've survived it.  Being pregnant has been something else to go through together and it has brought us all that much closer.  We know that Jack has to have a strong foundation for a relationship in his parents and I feel all that much closer to B now that we have created life together.  I see him differently and our bond has deepened and become more rich.  We are a team.  I have an ally in raising a child and I could not feel more blessed.

1) the bond with my son.  There are no words to adequately convey how much I love this child...already.  And I haven't even met him yet!  The most magical part of being pregnant has been feeling him inside me.  I have my partner-in-crime, my buddy, my companion, and my strength throughout this experience....and it's been even more special knowing we're in it together.  I am going to miss him in my stomach and feeling him jab, kick, roll, punch, and booty and head-butt me!  I have never...and I mean, absolutely NEVER not enjoyed his movements.  3-4a.m. or 4PM, I have loved every single movement, painful or not.  He's alive and he's inside me and I have gotten to feel the most mesmerizing and joy-inducing part of pregnancy!  Just thinking about it brings me to tears.

Oh boy, am I going to be an emotional mess tomorrow...I just cannot believe we FINALLY get to meet our son and can only imagine the sheer joy we are going to feel.  He is truly our blessing and a special gift from God that will enrich our lives FOREVER.

IF you are out and about tomorrow and have the time, we honestly would love for you to come and see us.  I promise you that you are not intruding or getting in the way.  B and I have discussed in depth about how Jackbaby is everybody's baby and we want him to meet everyone we can.  He's our little social butterfly :)  We also want everyone to share in our joy...so I mean it, come see us...we would LOVE to see you!  We will be at Central Baptist Hospital on Nicholasville Road.  The c-section is scheduled for 10:30a.m. tomorrow (Tues. 4/3) so come on by...we should be there until Thursday at the very least.