I know, I know, it has been a long time!

Hello everyone!
  It has been a long time since I have been able to sit at my computer and blog.  With all of these snow days I am finally getting my chance.  
  Jackson is doing incredibly well.  He loves school, loves to play, run, play the drum and is pretty much a tornado or destruction everywhere he goes.
  When we go into his room in the morning to wake Jackson for school he giggles and smiles and often times pretends to be sleeping or runs across the crib so you have to chase him to get him out and ready.  Daddy gets him ready for school since I am back to work and every week Jackson and daddy go into school late and go swimming at the Y.
  Jackson had a voracious appetite in the morning and it gets smaller as the day goes on.  He loves Fiddle Sticks, bananas and his all time favorite is popcorn.
  Christmas was great...we woke up at home to see what Santa had left us here and then we were off to see Grandma and Grandpa Deevy and GG Tribert.  It was a great day!
  Then we were off to the Caribbean for a cruise with Gran Mar and Grandpa Phil...that was nice...not great weather but great company.
  In January we had Christmas with Grandpa Dave and Noni...Jackson loves his jungle gym but his favorite gift was the red sled that Grandpa Dave pulled him in for days around the house.  Here are some pics for you!

   

Crazy Coupon Mommy contest!

Crazy Coupon Mommy contest Click the link to enter the Crazy Coupon Mommy contest for Michael Angelo"s Gourmet Foods!!Who doesn't want some free food?!!

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!!