Go Hogs Go!!

Around our house these days it's all RAZORBACKS!! Woo Pig Sooie!

All of Collin's gear for the season!

Dad and Colling getting ready for the game!



9 Months

Collin Blake Jackson, You are NINE MONTHS OLD!

*You weigh 17.3 lbs (10th percentile) and are 27 inches long.

*You still wear size 3 diapers.

*Wearing mostly 6 month clothes.

*You are still nursing 2 times a day (morning and night) and having 2-3 bottles of breast milk while you are at daycare. We have filled in with the occasional formula bottle. Mommy just can’t pump enough for you some days!

*You are consistently eating baby food 3 times a day. Mommy hasn’t found any food that you don’t like. Yay!

*You started “army” crawling a couple of weeks ago! You can get anywhere you want to go! It is very strange to put you down somewhere and you not be in that exact spot when Mommy gets back!

*One day shy of your 9 month birthday, your first tooth FINALLY broke through. It is on the bottom on your right hand side. I’m sure the one next to it is coming soon!

*We are trying so hard to get you to understand a sippy cup. Three more months of bottles, and then it’s going to be ALL sippy cup. So get ready little man!

*You can say “da-da” and “ma-ma”. Thank you Collin, for finally saying “ma-ma”!

*Your favorite toy right now is a stuffed Ducky. You seem to love ducks right now. Mommy and Daddy have started planning your birthday party. We see a duck theme coming very soon!

*You sleep great at night. You let us know every night if we are just a few minutes late putting you down to sleep. You love your bedtime! We are having some trouble with naps. At home, you do wonderful! A long morning, and a long afternoon. However, at daycare there is just too much going on for you to get two good naps. Mommy is happy with one!

Before Shots:

And After:

Collin Bear,

 I am so proud to be your mommy. I have no idea what I did to be blessed with such a wonderful son. You make my day great with just one smile. I am trying my hardest to be the best Mommy I can be. I love you, my little sunshine!

-Mommy



Labor Day (extended) Weekend 2011:

Labor Day weekend was amazing! I have been feeling like I don’t spend enough time with Collin lately, so I decided I would use some of my vacation time and take an extra couple of days off! I took the Tuesday and Wednesday after the holiday Monday off. It was wonderful! I got caught up on house work, and spent some wonderful time with my little man!

Saturday though we went to Benton to visit with Jack, Tammy, and Tori. We had a BLAST! We took Collin swimming one more time and had a wonderful lunch. Eric stayed and watched the first Razorback game of the season with his dad, and Collin and I came back to Conway. The game was starting at 6:00, and would have been over WAY after Collin’s bedtime. We listened on the radio the whole way home though! Go Hogs Go!

Monday was a BEAUTIFUL day! The weather was so great. My friends Liz and Jennifer called and wanted to go to the walking trail with Collin and me. Of course, we couldn’t say no! We had such a fun time. They brought Marley- the most precious dog in the world. After walking, we went to Sonic for Happy Hour!

I really enjoyed my days off Saturday-Wednesday! I am going to make an effort to take some time off every once in a while to spend just with Collin. I feel like he’s growing up way too fast! I need to stop and enjoy every stage!

Nana: the good luck charm

A few weekends ago we ventured to Heber Springs to see Nana. Collin had never been to her house before so I really wanted to take him.

It just so happens that my Nana is a good luck charm for Eric. Two years ago when Eric and I were planning our wedding, we went to Heber one weekend to eat dinner with Nana. That same year, Eric won his Fantasy Football League. Last year, we didn’t eat with Nana, and Eric did not win. So… Eric has attributed this to the fact that we didn’t go to Heber to eat with Nana.

A few weekends ago, we went so that we could all see Nana, and so that Eric can do whatever he thinks is good luck to win his Fantasy Football league! Ha!

We took Kyndall with us. It was like we were a little family of four that day! I loved it!

Kyndall and Eric working a puzzle. Kyndall is hardly ever STILL, so this is the best picture I could get.

Couldn't get a smile from Kyndall Grace, but that's okay. She's cute anyway!

Da-da-da-da

Sunday August 21, 2011 it happened. My sweet boy. The one I carried for 36 weeks. The one I produce food for. The one that I feed, bathe, change most of the diapers. The one that I get up with during the middle of the night when he wakes up. The one that I suck those boogers out of with that bulb thing. The one that I play “peek-a-boo” with OVER AND OVER.


Yes, my sweet baby boy said his first word.



Da-Da.



That’s right. Not Ma-Ma. Ugh.



Oh well. Surely “ma-ma” will come soon? When he gets a bite of baby food he goes “mmmmm!” haha. So cute. Just add that little “a” to the end.



Seriously, congratulations Eric. Collin bear loves you so much. I’m so happy that he loves his Daddy so much. I’m happy that you get to share this with him. I’m very thankful for a husband who is such a great dad. Thank you.



Now, Collin… PLEASE say Ma-Ma soon!!! It would make me so very happy! I love you sweet boy!

8 Months!

Dad helping out with the pictures!

It is getting harder to get your picture! You are way too interested in the blocks!

*You weigh around 16 lbs. Still no clue how long you are.

*You are still wearing 3-6 month clothes. Size 3 diapers

*You went “swimming” for the first time this month. Daddy got in the pool and held you for a little bit. You LOVED it. Sorry about the pink hat… it was your Aunt Tori’s when she was little. Mommy forgot your hat at home. I won’t forget it again! Promise. Your favorite part was when your Papa Jack put you up on the side and let you kick in the water. You would have sat up there forever if we would have let you.

*You are sitting up by yourself! You're not 100% stable all the time, but you are definitely doing it by yourself. Honestly, you would rather stand up than anything.

*You even sat in a high chair for the first time this month. Mommy took you to eat at McAlisters with our good friend Robin! She is having a little girl in a few months. This is the best picture Mommy could get!

*You're not crawling yet, but I think it is right around the corner. If there is a toy out of your reach that you want, you will stretch your little body as far as you can and then whine when you can't reach it. You also get up on all fours and rock back and forth. Usually followed by a nose plant!

*You absolutely LOVE remotes, phones, cords, anything that you aren’t supposed to have. We are already having to baby proof everything!

*You love food!!! You have tried just about everything- except peaches. Mommy thinks they smell weird. Maybe we will try them soon. You have just recently tried vanilla pudding custard with bananas. It is your favorite by far!! You attack that spoon before Mommy can get it to your mouth!

*You still nurse about 2-3 times a day. You have to bottles at daycare (of breast milk). You also eat 3(ish) things of baby food while you are there. You have started eating some snacks. Mum-Mum’s are your favorite, with Strawberry-Apple or Sweet Potato puffs coming in a close second.

*You still sleep about 10-11 hours at night. Bed around 7:00 and up around 6:00. You usually nap 2-3 times a day.

*For some reason you have taken a big liking to your paci. I have no clue why- maybe you are getting a tooth? You have always been so indifferent about it. But now, you prefer to have it. I hope it’s not going to be a problem to break that habit!

*You still love to splash and kick in the bathtub! We have turned you around in your baby bathtub so that you are sitting up and not laying back. You seem to like it. Ducky has made some special appearances during bath time. Of course, he goes straight to your mouth!

*You want to touch everything! And after you touch it, you study it, then it ALWAYS goes straight in your mouth. For example, the other day Daddy had a drink from Sonic in his hand while holding you. It took you all of 5 seconds to grab that straw! Everything just fascinates you.

*You babble occasionally, we have heard all kinds of sounds- “ba ba, da da” Daddy swears you are saying “Da Da”. It is precious.

Collin Bear, we just love you so much. I love how much you have gotten attached to your Daddy. I can already tell there will be great times ahead for you all together. Nothing makes me happier than to walk into your room at daycare and those little feet start to kicking when you see me. Mommy loves you SO MUCH.

A normal Day:

This post is really just so I can remember how hectic I think our lives are right now. That way in a few months, or years I can look back and wish for these simple days. Ha!


I’ve been a bad blogger the last month. Our days around here are filled to the brim. I just haven’t made sitting down at the computer a priority. Something happened to my app on my phone. I used to could blog from there, but it quit working.

A normal day around our house starts around 5:30am. (5:00am for Eric) I get up and get Collin from his bed, and he comes to bed with me until 6:00. I nurse him and we have cuddle time. After a diaper change, I take a shower while Collin plays on his play mat. By the time I’m out of the shower and dressed for work, Collin has had enough of his play mat. This works out perfect.

We go to my bedroom and he lays on the bed and watches Baby Einstein while I dry and straighten my hair.

***I refuse for the TV to be a babysitter for Collin at any point in his life. I would really rather not turn on Baby Einstein every morning while I’m drying my hair. Some mornings, I don’t turn it on. I find him some toys to play with. It’s just so difficult since Eric has to leave for work so early in the mornings, I don’t really have a choice. He is limited to 15 minutes a day on the videos though.

Anyway... When I’m completely ready for work, I get Collin and we go back to the living room. He sits in his bouncy seat while I get his bag ready for daycare. Get his bottles ready, get some baby food for him, etc. I get my bag ready with extra bottles for me to pump into. Then we are finally out the door. Usually between 7:15-7:30. I get him to daycare then I’m at work by 8:00.

Around 3:30 each day, Eric comes to my work to switch cars with me. He takes my Jeep and leaves me with his truck. He goes and gets Collin from daycare and they go home and play. (This is a long story. Yes, we have an extra car seat for Eric’s truck, but I’m a nervous, over-protective parent and I don’t like how a car seat looks in his passenger seat. It’s just not safe enough for me! Even though, by the law standards it is.)

Typically on a good day, I can leave work a little before 5:00. (sometimes way later than 5, just depends on the day) I get home and get some Collin love. I nurse him for a little bit. He usually takes a little cat nap. Then we have dinner (Eric and I eat while Collin plays, then Collin eats his baby food). I give Collin a bath. Get him lotioned up and dressed. I usually read him Goodnight Moon or something. Then we lay down for a little more cuddle time until he falls asleep. It usually only takes about 10 minutes for him to be completely asleep. I pick him up and put him in his bed.

We eat many, many meals out of our crockpot. I love that thing. I don't know what we would do without it. Many nights I fix dinner for the next night before I go to bed. That way, right before I leave for work, I can plug it in and dinner smells AMAZING when I walk in the backdoor after work. Thank you Jesus for crockpots!

I clean up the kitchen, check on laundry, spend some time with Eric- then, to be honest, I’m so tired I can barely make it to my bed. Here lately, I’ve been going to bed around 8 or 8:30! Then wake up and do it all over again. Wow. I'm tired.