Chunky Monkey

I guess feeding Jack 3 ounces every 2 hours has paid off! He got a great report at his first pediatrician's appointment today. Here are his stats:


December 16 (the day he was born) 6 pounds 10 ounces, 21 1/4" long
December 19 (the day we came home) 6 pounds 3 ounces, 21 1/4" long
December 30 (yesterday) 7 pounds 2 ounces, 22 1/2" long

Dr. Ellison said everything looked perfect. He said Jack was very alert and able to focus very well for a two week old. Jack did great. He doesn't like to be naked, so as long as I kept him wrapped in a blanket he was happy. We love Dr. Ellison. He's a young man. For those of you who know Richard Reid, they graduated from medical school together, so he is around Richard's age. He is so friendly and was good with Jack. He talked to Jack and played with him for a little while. He reminded me of a doctor they would have on Sesame Street. Very kind and happy. He did not rush the appointment, he stayed and talked to me for a good while. Our next appointment is February 20 for SHOTS!! Until then, we will keep feeding Jack as much as he wants, whenever he wants - these are orders from the doctor!

New Pictures

Here are a few new pictures of our little man that we took over the weekend. We are excited because we finally got a picture with his eyes open! He is doing very well. He eats every 2 1/2 to 3 hours and falls right back to sleep. He is staying awake for longer periods during the day. He loves to stare at the Christmas tree. I hate that it's about to come down. We may have to wrap a string of lights around a plant or some other object so he can gaze at them a little longer.

We are going to Madison tomorrow for his first Pediatrician's appointment. I'm anxious to see how much he weighs. I would imagine eating 2 to 3 ounces every 2 to 3 hours has put a little weight on him. The nurses at River Oaks told me he should be eating 1 to 2 ounces every 3 to 4 hours, but they are not here when he is hungry, screaming and chewing his hands like he hasn't eaten in a month. I guess we'll see what Dr. Ellison says. His little face is really starting to fill out. His checks look like he's storing nuts for the winter and he has a double chin. I have to lift a layer of fat to clean his little neck. He is so sweet and loves to snuggle.

I'll try to post again tomorrow night and let everyone know how much my little chunky monkey weighs.

We love the pictures with his eyes open.

We have been waiting to get these for a while.

See his cute double chin in the picture below?

His little puppy dog slippers are huge on him,

but they stay on really well and look so cute!

Christmas Day in his Santa t-shirt.

Like most of his clothes, it was a little too big, but we wore it any way.

Jack's First Christmas

As you can see, Jack had a huge Christmas! We had to alter our regular Christmas routine just a bit, because we did not want to get him out just yet. John's mom and dad came over Christmas Eve for a visit, then my parents, sister and brother -in-law came over for Christmas lunch. Jack was actually awake for a good portion of both visits. Somehow I believe he knew all of the attention was focused on him. Santa was very good to Jack, as were all of our friends and family. Thanks to everyone for making this Christmas so great for us and for Jack!

Christmas made Jack very tired.

He has been sleeping better. Thanks to

everyone for their suggestions regarding

my request for HELP! He is slepping up to three

hours at a time and is awake much more during the day.

I think that's pretty to be only two weeks old!

Yes, that is an old fashioned spinning top

and sock monkey!

Santa found his way to our house and left Jack a chair

and stocking full of toys!

HELP!

Well, we thought it for a couple of days, but now it's official - Jack has his days and nights mixed up. He slept four hours last night, a.k.a - I slept four hours last night. He has slept nine hours straight today. Trying to get him to wake up to eat is almost impossible. If any of you have any advice as to how we can reverse this and get him on the right track, PLEASE leave your suggestions in the comments section of this post. I thank you and my husband thanks you!

Santa'a Little Helper

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!

Sleepy Santa

Peaceful Santa

Naughty Santa

Sweet Santa

I couldn't resist taking these pictures. Jack is wearing an outfit I wore

my first Christmas. It was so big on him, but he still looks adorable.

Happy One Week Birthday Jack!!!

So Far So Good

It's Twins! John and Mini Me

Our First Meeting

Jack and our FAVORITE doctor - Dr. Breeland

Well, we've been home three days now and so far so good. I have sat down to type a post several times, but I always get called away by someone much more important. Jack is doing great!

He is a very sweet, very alert baby. And with the exception of one rocky night, he seems to be doing well. He eats every three hours, sleeps in between and loves to ride in the car. When we left Jackson Friday he was jaundice, so we had to take him back to Jackson Sunday to the newborn outpatient clinic at River Oakes for a check up. Everything was great - jaundice gone! He slept the entire time! Even during the exam. We couldn't wake him up. He loves the car and, believe me, we have filed that piece of info back for a sleepless night.

He looks just like John! He looks like you shrunk John down to 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and 20 1/4 inches long. People would stop us in the hospital and tell John, "You have to be that baby's daddy, he looks just like you." They even have the same hair do.

We are really surprised by how alert and aware he seems to be. When we got home Friday afternoon, we were showing him around the house and he opened his eyes very wide. He made a cute little oval shape with his mouth that made it look like he was saying, "OOOHHH!" He loves for you to talk to him. He loves to stare at John and takes in every word John says to him. He HATES to be kept waiting or to have his diaper and clothes changed. He loves to be swaddled and held. He is a snuggler.

It really hasn't sunk in yet. He is a beautiful blessing and we are so in love. There's so much more I want to post about, but it's almost feeding time and I don't want to keep the little one waiting.

Jackson Wentworth Branscome is Here!

Hi everybody! I am filling in for Amanda while they are at the hospital with... baby Jack! He made his entrance into the world Tuesday at 2:46 pm. He weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 21 1/4 inches! He is soooooo pretty (I'm sure John would rather me say handsome). So far we can tell that he loves to be held and does not like to have his clothes changed. He has had lots of visitors, we were all so excited to have him here. Jack, mom and dad were resting when we left this afternoon. Amanda and John are both doing great - they are being wonderful parents! Thank you to everyone who has kept them in your prayers!

Don't you agree that he is the cutest thing ever???


Jack told me no more pictures Aunt Nicole!!!

(Do you think Amanda will mind that I gave her blog a makeover? Hope not!:)

Getting Ready

John and I have been very busy this weekend. I made a list and we've been checking it twice, making sure we had everything ready to go tomorrow. We check into the hospital at 3:00pm!
We've been packed for a couple of weeks, but John decided to re-pack his bag. And I made a last minute trip to Wal-Mart Friday for odds and ends - they've been packed away. So, it looks like we are ready to go.

We "attempted" to install the car seat last weekend and something didn't look right. So, we went to Betty and David's tonight to let David look things over and we feel much better. That car seat isn't going anywhere! Thanks Uncle David. I told John, when we left, Jack is probably thinking, "Why don't y'all just let me go home with them? They seem to know what they are doing - y'all don't!"

The car seat was really the last thing on our list - other than Jack! Thank you for all of your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. We have had so many phone calls, e-mails and visits this weekend and we appreciate each one. Keep checking our blog. The next post will probably include a picture of our Jack!

Update!

I had my LAST pregnant lady doctor's appointment yesterday. We check into River Oaks Monday at 3:00pm!!! They will not let me have any visitors in the labor and delivery unit, not even our parents, just John. I will be in this unit until Jack is born sometime Tuesday. Then I will be moved to another area where we can have visitors, but only between the hours of 2:00pm - 9:00pm (although I doubt John & I will still be awake at 9:00pm).

Today is John's last day of work until December 22. We will be trying to get a few last minute things done this weekend. There's always that last minute trip to Wal-Mart and I'm sure John will try to fit a hunt or two in where he can. Saturday I will be going to Carrollton to a baby shower of our dear family friend Jennifer Chambley Adams and her baby girl Maggie. Maggie is due mid February. I'm excited to see all of the pretty pink clothes Maggie will be getting after all of the blue I've been washing and getting ready for Jack. (I hope I remember my camera.) I'm also glad to have this distraction. We have so much to do before we leave Monday, I know the weekend will fly by.

A Scout Report

After leaving his perch high on top of the deer horns, Scout spent several days

checking things out from a branch of our Christmas tree.

This morning, I discovered he was, once again,

on the move. This time, I found him nestled inside Jack's

Christmas stocking!

My How I Have Grown!

Well, it's almost time! One week from this Tuesday we will finally get to see Jack in person. We can't wait! I went through his sonogram pictures today and realized I have not posted the ones we took a few weeks ago. So, I decided to start from the beginning - Week 7!

Week 7

Week 20




And our new ones
at about Week 32


Here you can make out his nose, lips, and chin.
We believe he is blowing bubbles.
And he is shaking his fist at us.
I know it's hard to see, but trust me.



This is a picture of his foot.
It looked like he was trying to put his toes
in his mouth.

The last pictures did not turn out as clear as the ones we had made at Dr. Perry's office in July (at week 20). Nicole may be able to export them to her computer and lighten them up, then send them back to me. If she can and they look better, I will be sure to post them.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mimi and BB!

Jack's Grandmothers, Mimi and BB, share the same December 7 birthday! If Jack ever forgets, he will be in double trouble. Happy Birthday to both moms. We Love You!

Christmas Book Review

Over the past couple of years, I have bought a few classic Christmas books. I wanted the stories I grew up with in hardback, with beautiful illustrations. I have the story of Rudolph and The Night Before Christmas, and the newly crowned classic The Elf on the Shelf. All three are very detailed stories with detailed pictures. I like to display them on my coffee table at Christmas and I can't wait to read them to Jack every year.



But one story has been missing - the most important one of all - the story of the birth of Jesus. I really wanted to find a hardback copy of the Christmas story with beautiful illustrations for Jack. I started really looking in September. I found a couple of cutsie books. And I even bought a board book for Jack titled Who's Coming to Our House. It's a sweet story told by the animals that lived in the stable where Jesus was born and how hard they work preparing for his arrival. Like I said, a cute story, but not the one I really wanted. I was shocked how hard it was to find a children's book about the birth of Jesus that followed the Bible. I looked everywhere. Then one day I was in Barnes and Noble, and there it was! I couldn't believe I had finally found exactly what I wanted. The First Christmas is a great book! It follows the Bible and the art work is beautiful. I was so excited to find this book for Jack and sad that it took so long. There are hundreds of great books out for Christmas, but I'm sad to say, not that many that celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. John and I look forward to reading this book to Jack every year, along with the others - but especially this one.

Betty told me the other day that she had been wanting to add a book like this to Matt & McKenzie's Christmas collection, but ran into the same problem I did. She was excited when I showed her my treasure. And I know there are probably others out there like us, that's why I wanted to share this book with you. I found it at Barnes and Noble, but I'm sure you can order it from Amazon or your favorite book store.

Jack's Room

I was waiting until all major contributors (Mimi, BB, Aunt Nicole, & Aunt Betty) saw his room first before I posted pictures of the finished product. His closet doors were hung yesterday. Betty & Matt came out this morning for their own private viewing, so here it is - Jack's room! John and I love his sweet little room. John jokes that it is now the nicest room in our house and that is exactly how it should be. The only thing missing are two cushions I am having made in Tupelo. They are going on top of his toy boxes. (The two wicker baskets under the window.) Nicole should be picking them up this week. I wish my camera could take a 360 degree shot of the entire room.

Aunt Nicole gave me this sweet sign as soon as we told everyone we were expecting. It looks so good on his door. A great way to greet his guests.

Aunt Nicole MADE this picture for Jack. I love it! I wanted something to go over his bed

that I could use for many years, something special, and something without glass in case he stood up in his bed and pulled it over on top of him. Nicole is a wonderful artist and did a great job!

This is the inside of his closet. Even though we now have doors, I don't want to close them.

I enjoy looking in his closet at his sweet clothes and toys.

My mom and dad bought me this rug for my birthday. My mom and I were at Woodland one day and came across this rug. The minute we saw it, we knew it would be perfect for Jack's room.

The glider rocker is on loan from my parents. My mom recovered the cushions and made the cowboy pillow. It is the most comfortable chair.

Jack's bed! I love this bed!! It was a gift from Jack's BB and Granddaddy Guy. It is beautiful and very fitting for a little boy. And the best part - it converts into three other size beds.

We will get many years out of this bed. I love the straight lines of the bed and the fact that it is taller in the back. That gives it a little character.

Jack's changing table/dresser. And my rocking chair. Over in the corner are his bouncy seat and bath tub.

The Walter Anderson turtle picture is something I have had for years. It's been in storage for a long time. We thought it matched really well.

John and I love Jack's room and we are so grateful to all of our family who helped make it so special. I wanted his room to be a great space just for him. His own special place that could grow with him. I didn't want it to be busy. I tried to keep everything in the same color family, with a few splashes of red, and went with different shapes in the fabrics and rug, keeping the furniture clean with straight lines. I also wanted to be able to look around and see special keepsakes - old and knew. Things that mean a lot to us. John's cowboy boots from when he was a little boy, my red rocking chair from my nursery, the hand painted picture from Nicole and the Willow figurines from Betty (just to name a few). Jack's closet holds many of John's baby clothes and blankets that Mrs. Branscome washed, ironed and brought to me last week. And I just have to mention my mom. I told Betty this morning, that no one has ever worked as hard on any room as my mom has worked on Jack's. I could have never done any of this without her. We really appreciate everything Jack's grandparents and aunts have done to help us and we intend to tell Jack how hard everyone worked to make his room so wonderful. Now all we need is JACK!