Funny stuff....

Okay...some cute pics from this week:

Snuggle Bum....Jackson loves to be swaddled still, even though he is getting pretty big. I try to swaddle him so that he can get to his little thumb when he naps during the day. At night, we swaddle him tightly- he seems to like that security as of now & goes to bed much better when we do that. He got really used to that being in the hospital and seems to find a lot of comfort in it. Joe swaddles him incredibly tightly when he does it- nothing is getting out of that swaddle! =) He is one lean, mean, swaddlin' machine. Hehe. Jackson is able to fight out of it, but he has to really work at it. This was my "mid-morning swaddle"- a little looser and to allow him to find his little thumb if he so chooses. =) Hehe. What sort of crazy, pathetic mother takes a pictures of her child while he sleeps, potentially waking him up??? Hehe. Me, that's who. The same mother who turns his head to the left constantly even though it does wake him up sometimes and makes the entire napping process a little more labored. But it's worth it if they say that's what we need to work on!

Isn't he so stinkin' cute!!

So I attempted to take Jackson to church today- got a little tricky as he was really off-schedule. So when he got squirrely in the service, I took him out to the lobby to feed him. (I don't try to feed him in there as he is a very loud grunter and squeaker/shrieker when he eats and that would just be distracting I would think!) It's funny, b/c when most people ask how old he is, they are surprised because he is so big. Then I respond that he weighed 9'7" at birth and they give an understanding..."ooooohhh!!" =) The nurse had told me that babies typically triple their birthweight in the first 6 months, and then it generally tapers way off as they become much more mobile. Soooo...for Jackson to triple his weight...well, he is making progress, but has a ways to go. =) But he will probably be chunky until he starts to roll and crawl. Honestly, even though they tell us to expect it, I don't necessarily think he will be incredibly delayed even with the whole NICU situation as he is quite a wiggler, but who knows. =) We are really working hard with him so hopefully the exercises will pay off.

Anyway, so I had to change him once first b/c the little man FREAKS when he has even a droplet of pee in his pants, it is hilarious. So I changed him once. Then we take him to our Sunday School class, where he proceeds to wake up and begin pooping...which, for Jackson, involves much grunting and noise and stinkiness. =) Sooooo mom took him back out (heehee) and in the bathroom he decided to attempt to spray mom in the face. Fortunately, mom was akin to his little tricks and stopped that before it got too out of hand. But it was really funny.

This is what he looked like before we left- very stinking cute in his little Hawaiian outfit!!

Something else rather funny- as I was feeding Jackson, another mom came down and sat by me, and said to her child, "See...look, that baby will take a bottle, why can't you do that? You just won't even try..." =) The gal looked a little frazzled and must have had a crazy morning. I had to smile inwardly even though I didn't say anything, but I couldn't help but chuckle and wonder what sort of things we say to one another without knowing circumstances that might alter things that we say. It was just funny and I thought to myself how thankful we were for that miracle that the Lord has worked in his life. Thank you, Jesus!! =)

Anyhoo...Jackson and Joe are napping, and precious minutes are quickly evaporating for me to get some things done and a little nap in myself if possible. =) Soooo I will wrap this up... sorry no Elmo video Emily....I'm working on convincing Joe that it is necessary!! =)

Love to all!

Joe, Melissa, and Jackson Nathanael =)