Someone got a BIG kid car seat

Well, I finally decided it was time to buy Jackson his convertible car seat. He was squished up in his infant carrier and it was just time.

I researched and researched convertible seats. James and I drove all the way across town to buy buy baby and even tried them in my car. In my opinion Britax is the only way to go. It's just so safe! We decided on the Boulevard. I actually ordered it from Amazon using my prime membership and it was a lot cheaper!!

So far I am very happy with it. Today I went and got it installed at the police station. So I know its in there right! Jackson fell asleep in it already, so I think he likes it! 

Here he is in it! This is right after we took it out of the box! He was so excited he kept kicking his legs!!!

Check out our blog sponsors

Hey! Check our our blog sponsors and all they are offering!!
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Have you heard of Grace Adele?

It's a cute little purse company. They have options to customize your OWN purse. How cool is that??

I was SO tired of carrying around a bag that looked like a diaper bag! So I decided to try out their "Sarah" bag.

Let me just tell you ... I LOVE IT!!! It has so many pockets and its just perfect for all of Jacksons stuff!!! I would  DEFINITELY recommend this bag!! James really loves this bag because it just looks like a purse not a baby bag.

Design your own perfect look by shopping "Grace Adele"

~available to US and Canadian residents (make sure you've selected correct country's flag in top right corner to view correct catalogue)

~FREE shipping on orders of $150 or more US & $200 CAN

~When you select "shop" you can "build your look" which means you build your own bag with clutch and accessories to suit your own personal style :)

~Get your girlfriends together and earn free products by hosting an "online party"... 

~and you can also access "Scentsy" from the tab at the bottom of the page


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Jackon's Minky Boutique 

What a sweet little shop!!!
Jacksons Minky Boutique is offering a baby bundle special. For only $49.99 including shipping you will receive a baby blanket and two matching bibs! The blanket will be approx 30x40, and the bibs are a standard size with Velcro closure. Customize it to the color and print of your choice!

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Disney Trip Expert-
Krystin is a certified Disney Vacation Planner. She would love to help give you the vacation of your dreams. She has years of experience in planning Disney vacations. She also has a wide array of knowledge, tips, strategies, history and facts about Disney that she wants to pass onto YOU! The best part about her services are 100% FREE!  

Krystin is doing a WONDERFUL March promotion!!

Everyone who books a trip gets to pick one egg (numbers 1-20) and will win the prize in that egg! How cool!!!

So sick

Sorry Iv'e been MIA.

I have been sick!

Being a stay at home mom and being sick is the one the hardest things. You do not get to "call in". My "boss" needs me no matter what.

A few days this week I didnt even want to get out of bed. I felt that bad, but of  course did. I have a spunky 9.5 month old that needs me!

James has really helped me out and I'm so lucky for that! I am still feeling pretty yucky but I'm getting better slowly.

I have a sponsor post coming up soon!

Neurologist update

First of all thank you so much for all the sweet comments and great encouragement.

Jackson's appointment went great. His neurologist took his time with us and explained all of our questions. Jackson is always very alert and social. He was smiling and interacting with everyone. The doctor said that is great. He confirmed the low muscle tone in his arms, but said PT should fix that! He said everything neurologically looks normal. The hand movements he does is just an involuntary movement (like twirling your hair). He should grow out of it. James and I have already noticed him doing it less and less.

I asked him why he thought Jackson was meeting milestone later then other kids and he really didn't have an answer. So, I'm just going to go with the fact that he is such a really relaxed baby. He wants to do things when he wants to do them.

Since he started pt he is already doing so much more...standing, rolling, pushing up, and the muscle tone in his arms already feels stronger!

Thank you all for your prayers!

2 years

Maddie,
 
  I cant not believe you have been gone for 2 years. It hurts me to even think I have not held you or seen your sweet face in that long. We all miss you so much!

 I tell Jackson about you everyday. I really think he knows who you are. He loves to smile at your pictures. I can not wait until he can say your name. It will be a sweet,sweet day.

Today we went to your spot. It is so bittersweet walking there with Jackson in our arms. We should not be visiting you. All 4 of us should be a the park playing. I know I can not change the fact that you are an angel, but I want you back Maddie. I always will.

Did you know you are amazing? You were only here for 4 short months and you have made such a large impact on the world. That is amazing!

Maddie, we miss you so much. I hope you can still hear me talking to you. I hope you can hear me telling Jackson all about you.

I love you all the way to Heaven and back!

XOXO,
Mommy

PT

I have written this post..erased it..re wrote it..erased it...and wrote it again...about 5 times. 
I haven't posted about this because it was weighing heavy on my heart. I didn't know how to say it, or if it was even true.

Last week Jackson went to physical therapy. This was the first visit for his low muscle tone. He had the same therapist for his tortocllis therapy. She is lovely. She is kind, sweet and just a nice person. I was very emotional that day. I missed Maddie and I was nervous about Jackson. She asked me a million questions: Did he lose oxygen at birth?, Way he born breathing?, Does he have any genetic disorders? Questions that seem easy but when you are upset they become very hard.

She watched him move, roll, kick and play. She also concluded that he has low muscle tone in his arms and his legs, yet he has a very strong core. As we were leaving she suggested we go see Jackson's pediatrician. She told me I may want to ask for further testing because he will not bear any weigh on his leg or arms. This freaked me out...further testing?? I was scared.

Luckily I had already scheduled his 9 month checkup just a few days later. Jackson had a high fever for a few days which I was also concerned about. I was a nervous wreck for those few days just waiting.

Finally the day came. We headed to the pediatrician. She checked him over. His ears were clear, lungs sounded good, everything looked great. She thought his fever was from his teeth. I expressed my concerns of what his therapist has said. She tried to stand Jackson up and of course he did not bear any weight. She put him on his tummy and he wouldn't push up. He is doing excellent in his fine motor skills, but his gross motor skills are lacking. She suggested we go see a neurologist just to make sure there is nothing going on in his brain. Wow. Freak out mom mode here. I was so lost. What could it be? She kept asking me about muscular dystrophy. Was there any family history? I asked her if she thought he had it and she just kept telling me I needed to take him to the neurologist. She was mostly concerned due to him not bearing any weight on his legs. By the time we left I was in tears. My perfect sweet boy. How would it be? I just kept telling myself...this is not a diagnosis. She is just a pediatrician....not a specialist.

As you can imagine my mind has been going a million miles an hour. I have tried not to research very much because I know it can just make it worse! I have just been loving on my sweet baby boy.

We went back to physical therapy on Wednesday. She was amazed at how much progress Jackson had already made. He is now rolling everywhere, bearing some weight on his arms, and pushing up a little! Go Jackson! James and I have really been working hard with him.

Yesterday Jackson gave me the BEST Valentines Day gift ever. We were practicing rolling, crawling, and standing....and guess what?? Jackson stood up with he holding his hands for the first time EVER!!!!!! I was so proud. I couldn't stop smiling. He did it...not once...not twice but MANY times yesterday. He is also pushing up WAY better on his arms. He has improved SO much in just a few short days.

So, today we go to the neurologist. I hope he will laugh and tell me there is absolutely nothing wrong with our Jackson boy. I honestly think Jackson does have some low tone in his arms (you can feel the low tone) but I think he is just stubborn and lazy. He only wants to do stuff when he wants to do it! Please pray for us. This has been such a hard week and it not over.. Maddie's angelversary is on Sunday.

9 months

Jackson,

  You are 9 months old! I can't believe it! In 3 months we will be celebrating your 1st birthday!!! I feel like this month you have really grown so much!

You are out of your helmet for good now! Getting you the helmet was one of the best choices we made! I am so glad we decided to get it for you. Noe you have a nice round head!

You have been teething away this month. You have 4 teeth on top and they all came in at the same time, poor baby! So you have 6 teeth total...4 on the top 2 on the bottom.

Here is what you have been up to:
-You are in  12 month and 18 month onesies
- Size 4 diapers
- You weigh around 22 pounds
- You do not like breakfast at all!
-You eat 2 solid meals a day. Lately you have not really been wanting baby food because your teeth hurt. I have been giving you more big people food lately.
-You have been doing SO much better with your sleeping lately. I think its because you are fully out of your helmet. You will wake your self up sometimes and roll over on your belly then you get very upset.
-You are also starting to nap. I can't believe it! You are not on a "schedule" yet, but we are working on it still.
-You love to play! I think you could play all day if I let you.
-You are such a boy. You love to turn toys over and spin their wheels, crash things, and destroy everything.
-You are a mamma's boy. You love to give mommy hugs!
-You love to eat everything! Most of your toys you just chew on!
-You still do not like to play on your tummy very much, but we are really working on that!
-You are not crawling yet. We are working hard on getting you strong!
- You love Bella. You love to pull her hair. She is so gentle with you.
-You are such a happy baby. You smile at everyone!
-Your hair is getting SO long.  We need to get it trimmed but I'm just not ready. Your fohawk is more like a full mohawk now!
-You do not like your jumper very much, but we put you in it to practice standing on your legs.
-You will only put pressure on your legs for a few seconds, that is all. We are also working on that daily.

Jackson I love you so much. I am so lucky to be able to spend every day with you.

Love you to the moon and back,
Mommy

Nervous..

I am an absolute nervous wreck.
I'm worried about Jackson. I am worried that he will not stand up (with assistance). I am worried that he will not pull up, or push up on his tummy, or attempt to crawl. He also will not roll over anymore. So, so, so much to worry about.
I know, I know. Everyone tells me not to worry and he will do it all in his own time. But, I cant wait. Not this mom. I am scared to death.
I know he has low tone in his arms. But, will that affect him for the rest of his life? I have so many questions. I need the answers now!
We start physical therapy this week. I hope they are ready for ALL my questions.

As for now I am working with Jackson many times a day on crawling and putting pressure on his arms. We also moved his jumper down a level so he is really just standing in it. Hopefully this will help until we start PT and they show me the correct ways to help him.

I know some of this has to be because February is such a hard month for me. We will get through this. It's going to be hard, but we are going to make it.

Here are some pictures of Jackson in his jumper outside.