Six Months Old

Our little buddy is HALFWAY THROUGH his first year of life!

Jackson Nazir Morgan

Six months old on 6-18-14

Milestones and Memories

1. First and Second Tooth

So, on the VERY DAY we left for a trip to New Orleans sans Jackson, my mom called me while we were in our connecting flight city to tell me that GG (Great Grandma Mary Jo) discovered his first tooth popped through! And, the day was on May 18th--his official 6 month mark. Believe me, I had a moment of mom guilt for not being there to feel this tooth. But, even if I stayed home and never left, the possibility of missing something important exists for us all. 

On day two of being away from the baby, my mom called me while I was in Jackson Square (oh, the irony) to "report" that Jackson's SECOND tooth just came in. I thought, "dogggone it!" While I could not be there to, I don't know...feel the tooth..I was happy to hear of my sweetie's progress.

2. First Father's Day

My family started doing a Father's Day brunch a handful of years ago and this brunch was a great way to celebrate Thomas' first Father's Day and Jackson's first time of celebrating his dad!

As usual, my family had a TON of food. (This is just a small sample of all the food that was present.) 

Thomas' presents...

After brunch with our extended family, we went on a picnic, just the three of us. 

This is one of my absolute favorite pictures of Jackson. 

Daydreamers.

Like father, like son.

 3. First Rainstorm

This wasn't the first time it rained since Jackson was born, but, this was the first hard rain we received where Jackson was old enough to be aware that the stuff falling from the sky was pretty darned interesting.

4. Growing, Growing, Growing!

As much as I do not miss the sleepless nights and I am enjoying the growing interaction between me and my little buddy, it is pretty sad to see how much he is growing. Time is just slipping away so quickly. 

It seems like every time I turn around, I'm packing up clothes that no longer fit. 

Le sigh. Sniff, sniff.

5. Becoming Quite the Little Artist

I know I sound like a broken record I'm sure, but Jackson's school is amazing. They always do art projects for holidays, but they also randomly send them home with little works of art like the ones below. I love that my buddy is having so much fun while mom and dad are working. (And the best part is the mess is at school! Score!) 

6. Memorial Day Weekend and 6 Month Pictures

This Memorial Day weekend, we actually just hung out together and had no big plans. It was so nice to not have a jam-packed schedule and to just have extra time to hang out with Jackson.

Apparently Sears and Olan Mills no longer are in business for photos in our area when we needed to take six month pictures for Jackson. Luckily my mom and one of my nieces had recently gotten pictures taken at a relatively new spot in town called Portrait Renovations. We were able to get in and out quickly, had our pictures before we left and we did not spend a fortune. It was perfect. This is a picture of Jackson in outfit number two. Before he had a meltdown. Between outfit number two and three. I don't blame you, kiddo!

7. First School Pictures

Our little guy looked so dapper for his very first school pictures! You can't see the adorable tie in this picture due to the way he was positioned, but he was seriously ready for the cameras. :) 

Cheers,

Samara

Happy Father's Day

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, I was thinking I couldn't hide our pregnancy secret from our families much longer. I was running out of baggy blouses and about to explode with excitement. Fast forward a year later, and I sit here looking at a sweet little boy, fast asleep, swinging in his swing with stuffed monkeys rotating above his angelic head. His dad is still asleep upstairs after 9 a.m. and deservedly so.

I didn't know my father growing up. It wasn't a situation where I never knew who he was or never saw him, but I saw him only on visitation night, weekly, until around age 7. And then, I never saw him again until I was nearly 18. The formative years were gone and the ability to casually say "my dad" and have it mean anything and nothing at the same time all gone. Having a dad at the time was something other people had, not me. It just seemed to be a foreign concept.And to be honest, it was something I only felt the loss of on occasion. At that time, I couldn't have told you when Father's Day was except "sometime in the summer".  My mom gave me so much foundation and love all on her own that I often forgot what  I didn't have. 

My mom later remarried (during my college years) and I was fortunate enough to have a stepdad who adopted me and by any measure or standard was considered my dad. He helped me navigate some of the rough terrains in my young adult life. He always lent a listening ear and was supportive and I will be forever grateful for that. I love you, Frank Washington. 

Back to my husband and why his sleeping in is so deserved. Having a father around, period, seems deserving of accolades these days. Having a father who is excited to be a father is deserving of a standing ovation. From the time we began even talking about the prospect of children, Thomas has been happy and supportive. Maybe this seems a relatively "everyday" thing to be grateful for, but sadly, so many don't get that from their significant other.  Jackson has been loved by his dad long before he ever made his entrance into the world. 

Thomas was by my side, and by Jackson's side, for every visit to the doctor during my pregnancy and for the entire hospital stay once I delivered. He has changed just as many diapers, (if not more), fed the baby just as much as I have, played with him, laughed with him and most importantly, loved our boy to death. I often hear the two of them on our deck having conversations. Thomas imparts his wisdom upon Jackson and Jackson happily babbles back. And, as I headed back to work, and was still in school, Thomas totally picked up the slack as an amazing father would do. 

They attend sporting events together...

...lounge around and watch soccer at home together..

....and love getting dressed up for church together.

Some of my favorite Jackson and Daddy items:

The made up bath time song by Thomas

The song Thomas sings to Jackson that is basically a remix of Arsenal's fight song

Jackson and Daddy naps 

When Thomas asks Jackson: "Are you a big guy? Bigguy.com? Yeah!"

They have had a special bond right from the beginning.

Jackson has so many wonderful years ahead of him with Thomas as his dad. They are the best of pals. 

My heart is full.

Happy Father's Day from our little family to all the dads out there. 

Cheers,

Samara

My First Mother's Day

I've always loved Mother's Day. The weather in Michigan is usually beginning to take a turn for the better, the sun is often shining and the trees and flowers are beginning to bloom. Couple all this beauty with a brunch and the giving of gifts to my mom and you have a rather splendid occasion. 

This year was even better as it was my first Mother's Day as a mom. OK, true enough, I was pregnant at this time last year. However, because we were not out of the baby closet, I wouldn't call last year my first Mother's Day, not in the least. 

First and foremost, I want to wish (once more!) a Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Jody. 

My mom getting sworn into office Dec 2011

Everyone says their mom is amazing, but I will seriously never understand how my mom did it. She raised two kids--one of whom was severely ill (my brother) and hospitalized for nearly two years in the beginning of his life--while working two jobs. She had no spouse, no child support and did it without any other form of monetary assistance. 

My mom was different from other moms. Fun, but not attempting to be our best friend. Teaching us to work hard, but to make sure to take a little time for leisure, too. Preaching that the world owes you nothing, but make sure to give to your fellow man. 

I have a deep respect and admiration for my mom. She was a fix-it mom, a pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps kind of mom. She was strict, but loving. She equipped me for life in the most perfectly balanced manner. And she did it by just being her. That's a pretty awesome feat and I love her for it. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!

This Mother's Day was even better because I celebrated it as a mother. My brother Adam said something to my mother many years ago on Mother's Day when he asked her to do something for him. She replied to his request with "It's Mother's Day!" My brother said (jokingly, of course) "Yeah, so get to being a mother!"  This Mother's Day started out just this way--me "gettin' to being a mother". 

It has become somewhat of a tradition in our family to have the little kids present a craft of some sort to not only the mothers, but also the aunts, on Mother's Day. This started out because the aunts were highly envious of the adorable crafts the mothers were getting from my cutie pie nieces. My brother and sister-in-law were sweet enough to start including the aunts (muahaha). Of course, this came back to bite me in the butt as we now have to pass the tradition on. (Ha!)

So, with a wiggly and fussy nearly-five-month old, the crafting commenced. 

It was a little touch-and-go there for awhile, but we survived. The end products were adorable mugs for his aunts and GG. Jackson's fingerprints made a flower on each mug. Everyone loved them and I think it was the perfect gift for a family full of coffee drinkers. Cheers!

Jackson also made a special gift for his Grandma Jody. 

 This was touch-and-go as well as it was bottle time. We managed to eek out the required photos, though, to create this...

And my nieces managed to give me, once again, the absolute most perfect and adorable gift....

A framed magnetic picture of all of the kids on Easter. They embellished the frame with gold sparkles. Oh, they are just so FAB! :)

 We also had a lovely brunch with the entire family at my Aunt Margaret's house. The weather could not have been more perfect!

My aunt completely spoiled the family will all sorts of delicious breakfast dishes. I only snapped a few pictures as people were waiting impatiently to eat. (Not that I blame them one bit!)

Thanks, Auntie Marg!!

Next, it was my turn to open up my Mother's Day gift.

 After opening up a beautiful card with my little guy, I unwrapped my present and found this.

A photo album made for me containing the first 136 days of Jackson's life, day by day. Inside the cover was this note.

I absolutely LOVE this gift!! It's sentimental and something special I will always have to remember the early days with my buddy. 

I enjoyed looking through pictures from the very first days....

.....to much more recent days.

After all the gifts were unwrapped and the food was devoured, we all enjoyed a little family time, conversation, playing with the kids and enjoying the late spring breeze drifting in from my aunt's back patio door. 

I wish all of the mothers out there a very beautiful and decadent Mother's Day. 

Cheers,

Samara

Four Months Old

Our little buddy recently passed his four month mark!

Jackson Nazir Morgan

Four months old on 4-18-14

Milestones and Memories

1. First Day At Daycare

I did previously include Jackson's first day at "school" for one of my Five on Friday posts, but since this was a milestone event for him during his fourth month, I couldn't leave it out!!

Jackson's daycare is amazing. I was so hesitant (read: PARANOID) about leaving him at a daycare, but his is no average daycare. The activities they have for the children and the care that they give them have me confident he will be well-prepared for Kindergarten in every developmental aspect. I also happen to know he loves his teacher and she takes such good care of him. 




2. First Fancy Schmancy Shopping Spree

OK, I realize Baby Gap is not Louis Vuitton, but I can sure tell you that growing up without much, we never had Baby Gap ANYTHING! So to me, Baby Gap is pretty darned fancy. Since Jackson did so well for his trial day at daycare, we spoiled him just a little (OK, at this age, we're really spoiling ourselves with the cuteness overload) and bought a handful of outfits for him. 

3. Loving The Outdoors

Unfortunately this little guy was born into one of the worst winters ever. EVER. I used to prop him up in the window during one of many ice/snow/windstorms and say "See that out there? One day you'll actually get to experience it and not just look at it from the inside of our house!" 

It's crazy that at four months old, this kid is just recently starting to enjoy simple things like walking over to GG's and taking a leisurely stroller ride. No amount of bundling up would have been sufficient to take him out more than necessary in this winter. And even if I could have bundled him up enough, how in the world would I have navigated a stroller through all that crap? Icy sidewalks, uneven mounds of snow packed into the walkways making even walking treacherous let alone pushing a stroller. 

It's no surprise that his daily school reports have included bits about how he loves being outdoors more than any of the other babies. His reports say he smiles the minute he is outside and that he loves watching the cars drive by. 

4. First Visit With The Easter Bunny

I posted this picture to Facebook a few weeks ago.

Jackson was able to meet the Easter bunny for the first time. He was mostly laid back and just chewing away on his hand. I'm sure next year he will be much more aware, so I savored this first visit and relaxed demeanor by our little guy.

The Easter bunny was kind enough to bring little baskets for all who visited him and took a picture. 

5. Trying New Things

This Bumbo was given to me as a gift by a lovely co-worker of mine before our little guy came along. We finally pulled it out during his fourth month. He is still a little wobbly in it, but we can finally get him started in on using it. I love seeing his reaction to new contraptions as they give him a different vantage point to view his little world from. 

Here he is in his new bouncy chair. I'm going to try and scale back on all this stuff once he is moving and does not consequently look bored half the time. 

6. Talking, Talking, Talking 

Our little buddy is really beginning to find his voice. During the fourth month, he has made all types of squawking noises, attempts at vowel sounds and all other sorts of random practice for the day (not ridiculously far off) he will actually put those noises to good use--the day he begins to speak. 

Some of the noises sound like babbling and then he will begin to make noises that are more varied, that catch your attention, that surprise you and that make you laugh.

My absolute favorite talking sessions are first thing in the morning when he is awake in his room and just hanging out before Mom or Dad come to get him. It's like a beautiful little conversation he is having by himself and it is music to my ears to catch him in the middle of it.

Cheers,

Samara