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Thanks...giving

This year was filled with lots of THANKS and lots of giving to me from my friends and family.  Jackson enjoyed some stuffing and Wholefoods organic free range turkey as well as some sweet potatoes for his Thanksgiving dinner.  We had a wonderful time with Grandma and Grandpa Deevy, Great Grandma Tribert (GG), Uncle Ian, and Grandpa Dave...there was lots of laughter and leftovers.

Of course there are too many things to mention that I am thankful for but I am most thankful for my healthy, beautiful, "gifted" son!  He amazes me each and everyday and right when you think that you are going to have no more thoughts about the omphalocele your baby may decide not to eat normally for several days, or their poop schedule is off, or you see him grabbing his stomach, or you watch him point and poke at his daddy's belly button and wonder if he is wondering why his doesn't look like his daddy's and then the omphalocele rears it's ugly head...but it's okay.  I have now realized that I am so used to Jackson's lack of a belly button that when I see kids with belly buttons I think they look weird and I have to laugh at the thought of that idea.  I kind of like that I think people with belly buttons don't look normal...HA!!  It makes me think that perhaps our little man will feel the same way too. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  TO the new moms who have joined my site I am thinking of you and I am here for you.  Send me a message and I will email you my personal email if you haven't done so already.

Happy first birthday Jackson!

 Jackson is enjoying his car from Uncle Ian

 Jackson's cupcakes

 Jackson making the rounds at his party!

 Jackson trying out cake and icing for the first time ever!

I cannot believe that my little O baby turned 1 today!  It is really unbelievable...I remember the day I had him like it was yesterday.  We love you more than words can say Jackson!!

Pumpkin Picking

 Jackson and Daddy listening to the story teller.

 Jackson picking out his own pumpkin to paint.

 Mama and Jackson listening to the story teller.

 Jackson trying to eat the paint brush while painting our pumpkin.

 He is just picture perfect!

 Lost in a pumpkin field!

Last weekend the Harris enjoyed a day of pumpkin picking!  Jackson was dressed perfectly for the slightly chilly weather and thanks to Anna (lifeisgoodatthebeach) on Etsy he had a beautiful hat to match.  Many of you may remember the pumpkin hat from his NICU days...I contacted Anna a couple weeks ago thanking her for Jackson's original pumpkin hat and told her how much it means to us and a little background on Jackson.  This kind woman was just starting another one and offered to make it in Jackson's size for this year!!  Thanks Anna, here is a link to her beautiful work if you are interested in purchasing one too!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/57018781/knit-pumpkin-hat-size-newborn 

Apple Picking

Today we went apple picking at Applewood Orchard in Warwick, NY.  Jackson had such a wonderful time.  We gave him an apple to chomp on himself and he absolutely fell in love with them.  Here are a few pics from our trip today!  Enjoy everyone. 

I just need to get over myself...

   So this is my and Jackson's first FULL week of school.  I have to say that I am pretty much dreading it.  I like Jackson's daycare, I really do but I just can't seem to get over the fact that he is there and not with me.  

  I know Jackson is having tons of fun, I read his daily reports and they paint, and explore sand and glue, they go outside on their very own playground, work on language (Spanish, English, and Sign) and they go for buggy rides (which Miss Paula told me Jackson loves). I know it is all of this great stuff is making him look so exhausted when I pick him up and making it difficult for him to stay awake past 7PM.  I can tell that they love to take care of him and listen to myself and husband when we ask them questions or have concerns or just need to talk.  But it is the days that I pick him up and he smells like them that make me a little sad...I want him to smell like me.

   I guess I just need to get over myself and know that this is what I have to do for my family right now.  Just know that I love you Jackson!!

Day 1 of Daycare=Success, Day 2 of Daycare=SICK!!

Here is Jackson playing with the rabbit and cow at daycare right before we say good bye on Wednesday.





The picture of my little baby sleeping on the couch is my poor little man on day two of daycare because guess what happened?!!!!  Jackson woke up on Thursday with a fever, cough, and congestion!!!  YAY daycare!!!  I was so upset, I cried and told Chris that this was a sign that I was supposed to stay home for another year.

The end of an ERA: Dedicated to all SAHM's going back to work.

Well today was the last day of my job as a stay at home mom.  Tomorrow both Jackson and I embark on a new adventure.  Jackson will be off to daycare and I will be going back to teaching 6th grade only not English like I have for the past 5 years, nope, now I will be teaching social studies.

I cannot believe that this time has arrived.  As I drove to his daycare today to drop off some paperwork, I could feel my stomach churning.  As we spent the day together eating lunch, laughing, and swimming at the lake my eyes filled with tears several times but I fought to keep them at bay. As I type this blog entry I can no longer fight my tears...it isn't that I do not want to go back to work, I am excited to see everyone and teach again.  I just do not want to leave my baby in the care of someone else.  I want to care for my baby, I want to kiss his boo boo's, change his diapers, wash his face after he smooshes strawberries all over it, eat lunch with together, hug and kiss him whenever I want.  

Where has the time gone?  Why do we have to part?  Why do I have to go back to work?  These are all questions I have been asking myself for the past several weeks. I know, I know it will get easier, it's harder for me than it is for him, blah blah...I have heard it all...just let me cry, let me mourn the loss of my job as a SAHM.  Let me feel bad for myself for just one day, let me cry because for some reason that is all I want to do right now.

Raspberries!

Holy raspberries!  Jackson officially does not want Mama to feed him anymore, so that means that bath night is EVERY night!  I will say he is one smart cookie though, he will let me feed him soup.  It is as if he know that he cannot feed himself that just yet.  Genius I tell you, genius.

For all of you who are getting ready to go back to work, I wish you best of luck! I too am trying to mentally prepare myself for getting back into the groove of teaching, dropping off my baby to daycare, and learning how to juggle everything in my life!

Eating Lunch

Well I made some organic mac and cheese and then added some pureed broccoli to it for Jackson's lunch.  He seems to really LOVE it.  When I first put it down he used both hands to shovel it into his mouth.  

Jackson's new thing is that he loves to move his head in a side to side motion.  It is really cute, so I say, "Oh No you didn't" and he moves his head back and forth!! Take a look!

11:00

I tried really hard and even set 6 alarms to wake me at 1,2,3,4,5,and 6 AM but slept right through the birds chirping...blogapalooza is officially over...so sad...yet a relief!

Cousin Krissy ishere 10:00 post!

See I told you we were excited!!

Kidding, this is how excited we are!!

Well my fab cousin who relocated to North Carolina for some ungodly reason is here in NY for an extended amount of time and we are REALLY excited to see each other and each others babies we haven't seen in person yet.  Although video conferencing is great, it still isn't the same!!!

9:00 did I do this already?

Awake and playing. Almost time for second breakfast (The Office)!

8:00 breakfast

Jackson's awake and having first breakfast, milk. Second breakfast, pancakes.

Shhhhhhh

The baby is still sleeping! Wish I was too.

Alarm missed

Well apparently I slept through all the alarms I set to get up and blog through the wee hours of the morning.

Just in case I miss post I am doing an extra...so tired!!

Walking on the Piano from BIG at FAO Schwarz

Jackson fell in love with elephants during our trip to Central Park Zoo

Daddy and Jackson watching the Sea Lions

Mama and Jackson riding the train at Turtle Back Zoo

11 pm Teen Mom

I'm watching Teen Mom right now and I am really thankful that I didn't have Jackson when I was 16.

Ugh it's only 10 pm

I'm not sure I am going to make it. I'm exhausted!!

Water time 9:00

Jackson loves swimming especially with his girlfriend!

8:00 post: Look at those teeth

Can you believe all those teeth?  Today while we were at Panera a woman asked me how old Jackson was, she guessed 6 or 7 months?  I laughed and said, "Jackson is actually 10 months today!"  He is a skinny minny but you wouldn't know it by how he eats!

7:00 Seriously?!!

Does it even matter that he has food all over himself, the highchair, and the floor when you get a smile like this?  Dinner tonight was the same as last night except it was Mexican all over...the dog sure loved it!  Jackson is off to dreamland...bath, book, and bed.  AHHHHH now some steak for Mama, grassfed farmer's market steak ofcourse!

6:00

Jackson has risen cranky and crabby. He is obsessed with the beading on my shirt, pulled my hair out of my ponytail. What a sweety!

5:00

Jackson is napping on my lap. I'm going to miss this when school starts.

Eating

So Jackson will pretty much eat anything now however, I am pretty picky with what I feed him.  Jackson eats almost strictly organic, no fast food, and all healthy.  I have been making food that the WHOLE family can eat so that I do not have to make two meals.  I love it, Chris on the other hand isn't too keen on the "healthy" menu I prepare.  Above is Jackson eating his vegetable lentil stew!  He loved it and as you can see I am no longer allowed to feed him!!

3:00 hour

Well I am finally home where the WIFI is plentiful!  Jackson fell asleep on the way home from shopping but of course the minute I pick him up to be put into the pack and play he awakes.  Ahhhh stay tuned for some great photos of my son who does not want his mommy to feed him anymore...he wants to do it himself!

2:00

Hello!! Still in the Starbucks parking lit listening to my little man sing.

Phew!!

Here's my 1:00 post. I couldn't find a wifi anywhere. Thank god for Starbucks!!!! BRU to get sippy cups.

Shopping

School shopping with my little man at Paramus.

Welcome to the first post of blogapalooza

We just had our orientation at The Goddard School where Jackson will be attending daycare. Sad and exciting all at the sametime. My little man is growing up!

Blogapalooza

Next week on August 17th I will be taking part in blog2print's Blogapalooza...this means that I will be trying to blog every hour from 11am August 17th to 11am August 18th.  If I succeed I will also get a free blog2print book, which I really want.  I have always thought about how I am going to keep my blog forever for my little man to see and blog2print is the way to go!!  Get ready blogger world, Omphalocele Mom is COMING!!

More walking!!

This time Jackson makes a pit stop and then keeps on trucking over to Mama!

Walking!!

Yes that is right my nine month old has decided to try a new mode of transportation!!!  Watch out world here comes Jackson.

9 months old...I cannot believe my eyes!!

Here is our little man.  Jackson is 9 months and 2 days old today, it is truly incredible.  I cannot believe how fast the time has gone, how soon I will be going back to work, and sadly the day is nearing that Jackson will have to go to daycare.  It is interesting how people who do not have kids yet or do not have to put their baby into daycare try to console you about having to do just that with your little one.  I know their kind words are being said to soothe me, but hearing them doesn't make it easier and unless you have to do just this I think it is hard for you to understand:
"It will be good for him to socialize."
"It's only for a couple hours."
"It is good for you to get back to work and socialize with some adults"

It is nice to hear these things but unfortunately none of them make me feel better and I get very emotional just thinking about having to drop him off to daycare.  I envision Jackson crying in a crib and no one coming to soothe his tears, falling and no one to kiss his boo boo, and just not being cared for as well as he was with me.  

No words of encouragement are going to make it any easier...I get jealous when I hear of other mom's who are staying home indefinitely and even angry when they try to tell me how great it is that he is going to go to daycare...I want to say, "Well if it is so great then you should do it too!"  I know they just mean well, but this is probably going to be the second hardest thing I have ever done in my life.  Jackson just know that Mama loves you VERY much and I would stay home with YOU forever if I could! 

My favorite website!!

I love www.spoiledbutnotrotten.net  It continually helps me save money on everything for my little man.

Check out this link to as well to enter to enter to win 20% off coupon for amazon.com for diapers! Tell them omphalocele mom sent you!

http://www.spoiledbutnotrotten.net/2010/07/giveaway-20-off-diaper-coupon-for.html

4th of July

We were out on the party barge to watch the fireworks on fourth of July.  Jackson loved watching them and wasn't afraid at all...in fact he passed out on my shoulder right after this picture.

8 months and he just keeps getting cuter!!