Recent Pictures

Some recent pictures of Jack:

His first mohawk.

Just smiling for Mom:)

Taking a ride in his new Tonka Truck his Daddy bought him. 

Lily (our dog) thinks it is the most fun game to chase Jack in the Tonka Truck!  In turn, Jack thinks Lily is the funniest game ever:)

Another day, another ride in the Tonka Truck.

These last 3 pictures are from yesterday morning.  We met Nana and Papa at Cracker Barrel and they took Jack home for the weekend.  It was windy outside so we put Jack's hoodie (thanks Aunt Gretchen) on him and I had to get a few pictures.  He was having the best time!

His bottom teeth are really coming in now.  His 2 top teeth should come in any day....we keep singing...All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth:)

Emma Kate's Birthday

Lee was on 'Daddy Duty' last weekend while I worked.  He took Jack to Emma Kate's 1st Birthday party and Allison sent me this awesome picture:)  

BTW - Emma Kate is Jack's future girlfriend....just saying!!

TRANSITION

Transition.....this has been the description of my life for the past 10+ months.  Let me tell you why.....

Baby Jack arrived on January 23rd and life has been non stop ever since!  Nothing prepares you for baby.  Not the birthing classes, or the 'how to take care of baby' classes or the books or the things you can read on the internet or the iPhone Apps you can download or even your own Mom.  You just can't really be prepared for a baby that you know nothing about.  You can have all the onesies, sheets, blankets, burp cloths, diapers, wipes.....you get the point.  But, what if your baby spits up a lot?  What do you do?  Do you change formula, do you treat them for acid reflux?  What if your baby wants to eat every 1.5 hours?  Is that normal?  What if your baby wakes up in the middle of the night screaming but he doesn't have a fever, he doesn't seem to be sick, so what gives?  What about the nights that you are up at 3am rocking/feeding baby while the rest of the house is pitch black and quiet.....No one prepares you for the loneliness of those nights.  Now, don't get me wrong, there is a tremendous amount of bonding that goes on with Mom and Baby during those night hours but I admit, I was lonely being up at that hour with the Moon and the Stars:)  So, you get my point that I wasn't prepared and it took me a while to feel comfortable with Jack and my new 'Mom' status.  But then, I had to go back to work.  That is the next 'transition' because work for me was never the same.  I just found myself in a circle that I couldn't get out of.  This seemed to go on for months and finally Lee and I decided that the best thing for our family was a new job for me.  I was offered a fabulous opportunity and I jumped at it!  I've been at my new job for almost 2 months now and I can feel everything coming together......finally.  We also moved into a new house in November.  Lee and I were both feeling a little claustrophobic in our apartment.  We were busting at the seams and needed more space!  Jack seems to have transitioned best out of all of us!  He loves the house and loves his new room.  He started a new daycare on Monday (Merryhill Flower Mound) and he has transitioned beautifully there with Ms. Claire and Ms. Sara.  

Hopefully, this is the last of our transitions for a while.  I don't think I can handle much more:)  I have been out of a routine for so long now that I have taken Jack to daycare and left his bottles/diaper bag at home.....twice!  I met my parents yesterday because they are taking Jack for the weekend.....and I left my wallet and iPad in Jack's diaper bag (now they reside in Tyler until he comes home).  And then today I didn't leave the top lock unlocked for Lee so that he could get into the house (long story but I have the garage door opener and he goes in thru the front door for now), so I had to go home and let him in and then head back to work.  I don't know why I can't get my self together but I am in desperate need of that routine again.  It's coming, we've got it down - almost.  

Never did I realize how getting out of a routine would effect my family's daily routine!  

That, short and sweet, catches you up to where the Gwaltney Family is today.  

For those that are interested, our new address:

Gwaltney
1129 Coker Dr.
Flower Mound, TX  75028

Jack...aka...'The Monster'

Lee and I have called Jack a 'monster' from the beginning as he will make you believe the world is ending if he doesn't eat soon:)  We have a stuffed elephant (thank you Aunt Gretchen) on his changing table and we always change his diaper right before he eats.  We started realizing that Jack loves his elephant but he also tries to eat the elephant because he is so hungry.  This is hilarious and don't judge that I took video of this and delayed him eating by 2 minutes.....

Jack's First Day at MerryHill School

Today was Jack's first day at daycare!!  The MerryHill school he is at is not even a mile from my office.  So I'll be going to check on him at lunch:)  And any time I 'need' a break!  He did awesome this morning and he has two awesome teachers so I know he is in good hands! 

Pictures with Mom and Dad on his first day.....

Quick Update

Back to Work - I can't believe it but I'm already back at work!  I've actually been back for 2 weeks now!  I've adjusted well to not being around Jack all day but I miss him terribly and I am always so excited for 5pm so I can get home and see him!  My Mom watched him last week and my Mother-in-law watched him this week.  Next Monday he will start daycare at the Merryhill School right by my work.  Literally I can walk to the daycare.  They have an open door policy so I will be going to visit Jack during lunch or when I feel like taking a break.  The thought of being able to go spend 15 or 20 minutes with him during the day, whenever I want, just makes my heart happy! 

Speaking of Jack, he will be 8 weeks old on Monday.  He is really starting to fill out and get some meat on his legs and arms.  He is so fun right now!  He will smile and he makes the funniest faces, especially when he tastes something that he doesn't like.  There isn't much that can prepare you for being a parent and I feel so blessed that Jack is healthy and that Lee and I are able to communicate our way thru stressful times.  I am so thankful for all the help Lee and I have had with Jack.

I have taken the camcorder out so I promise to post video of Jack as well as lots of pictures!

Some of the pictures below are from several weeks ago (if you haven't noticed, I'm not the best blogger these days:).

Jack's first walk outside.  Mom and I took him for a walk when we had a nice day and Jack loved it!

This is a video of Jack waking up.  He was stretching and making his usual noises - I took video of him and sent it to Lee at work.

This is Jack's 'I'm hungry and becoming a monster' face:)

Sweet picture 

Jack in his 'I love my aunt' onesie from Aunt Meredith. 

Sleeping peacefully, swaddled and with paci...

Cute whale pants from Aunt Gretchen. 

This outfit is from Aunt Gretchen - I think he looks like 'Sailor Jack'! 

Lee and I bought Jack this onesie with 'Monsters' on it because we call him a monster when he gets hungry!  He loves to eat!! 

The cutest smile! 

Tummy time on Daddy's tummy - making his neck so strong. 

Until next time....

William Jackson Gwaltney - Est. 01/23/2012

Finally....right?!  I have now been a Mom for a month and I still feel like the fog hasn't lifted much.  There is so much to learn and so little sleep to get when it comes to being a Mom.  I wouldn't change a thing...I'd just like an extra hour of sleep every now and then.  So I have a lot to write to get everyone caught up on what has happened at the Gwaltney Household in the last month.

January 22, 2012

Regular day - Lee and I went to Cracker Barrel for brunch (I had pancakes) and then we headed over to Bass Pro Shop to look at guns.  Yes, guns.  Lee is interested in getting a gun when we buy a house.  To be prepared if we have to be.  Anyway, we went home after that and Lee had pitching lessons that afternoon and then a basketball game at 9pm that night.  I was in bed when he called after his game, it was around 10pm.  We got off the phone and I 'rolled' over and felt a bubble.  The next thing I know, I am feeling water and I get out of bed and there is more water.  I'm in shock.  I really didn't think I'd have my water break that early (if at all).  Lee got home a couple of minutes later and I called him in to the bathroom and explained what happened.  He was in just as much shock as I was.  I think his first words were 'I need to take a shower', lol.  I called my doctor and spoke to the OB on call.  He said to go ahead and start for the hospital.  We packed our bag and Lee took a shower, then we said good bye to our current life and left to start our new journey.  We got to Baylor Frisco around 11:30pm and by this time I am having contractions.  We check in and get into our Labor & Delivery room.  Our nurse was awesome.  We get hooked up to the heartbeat and contraction monitors and we wait.

January 23, 2012

Still hanging out, listening to Jack's heartbeat and trying to breathe through my contractions.  Lee's parents and brother are at the hospital at this point.  So is my sister, Meredith.  Once my OB got there, she examined me and said she thought Jack felt like he was breech. They did a sonogram to confirm and at that point it was decided I would have a C-Section.  I think it was about 2am.  At 2:54am Jack joined us:  at 7lbs 5oz and 19.5in., he was beautiful! 

January 26, 2012

We brought Jack home on Thursday.  I was so emotional about going home with him, yet I felt a certain peace about it.  I can't even explain the emotions you go through after giving birth, I was a crying machine.  I'm better now:)  Jack sleeps in a bassinet in our room. 

February 1, 2012

Mom helped me the first week I was home with Jack.  We took him to the pediatricians office on Wednesday to get him weighed.  They are supposed to be back up to their birth weight by the time they are 2 weeks old.  I wanted to gauge how I was doing nursing him.  He weighed 7.5lbs at birth and 6.14lbs when we left the hospital.  I wanted him to at least weigh 7lbs, he weighed in at 6.13lbs.  I felt defeated but we continued on until our 2 week  appt.

February 5, 2012

Jack had newborn pictures taken today.  He wasn't thrilled about this but the pictures turned out amazing!  Jill Ann did such a great job!

February 8, 2012

Jack's 2 week appointment went fabulous.  He weighed in at 7.6lbs!  We were so happy we could have thrown a party!  He measured 20.8inches long. 

February 14, 2012

My Mom was in town today so I was able to leave for the first time.  I felt like I had escaped something:)  I went to get Lee a couple of things for Valentine's Day.  It was nice to be out and about again.  I'll be so happy when Jack is big enough to be out and about with me. 

February 15, 2012
Lee and I had our first date night since Jack was born.  We went to a sushi place and it was great!  We had such a fun night out!

February 22, 2012
Jack's 1 month appointment was today.  He is growing just as he should and got an A+ from the doctor.  He now weighs 8.6lbs and measures 21.5inches.  He had to get one vaccination and he was not happy about this.  It made me so sad for him:) 

These are the milestones so far.  I have a little over a week before I have to start back at work.  We will put Jack in a daycare that is right by my work (I could walk to it).  But we will wait until Jack is 8 weeks old, my Mom and Mother-in-law will watch him for a week each once I go back to work.  We are so blessed that Jack is healthy and progressing so well!  Thank you all for the well wishes!

Kristen, Lee & Jack