Our night time hours have left much to be desired the last few months. We’ve had all three kids hitting typical sleep problems/disruptions (bedtime struggles, nightmares, bathroom visits, diaper changes, feedings) at the exact same time. A normal night has us up 6+ times with the three kids. We’ve joked that nighttime is a lot like…
Motherhood
January Progress: A Clean(er) Home
When I was sick last year a friend came and helped us out for a week. On one of my few visits to the kitchen I discovered a clean microwave and felt so cared for. Emily ran upstairs at another moment and exclaimed, “Mom, you should see the floor. It is so clean! I love…
Bringing Back Structure and Self Care
The last month I’ve been trying to be flexible. I’ve let go of a lot of our schedule and slacked on routines. For me it has been a healthy way to manage postpartum anxiety as well as “Come what may and love it.” It has become apparent, however, that the majority of the Jacksons here really…
Mr. Jackson Goes to Washington
A lesson I have been learning over and over again this last year is that divine help is readily available. God will walk with me daily. He will guide and magnify my thoughts, efforts, and abilities if I ask. He is the source of all success and strengthening. It is a very humbling, joyful learning…
Laura’s Birth Story
Laura Carolyn Jackson was born at 12:22am on Monday, November 20, 2017. She weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 19.5 inches long. She shares a birthday with the labor and delivery nurse that was with us. But her birth story really starts on Tuesday, November 14. After weeks of contractions I hadn’t felt a single one…
One Week Old
Dear Laura, Life with you here is so so good. Emily, Dad and I walk around all day saying things like, “I love Laura so much. I’m so glad she is here.” You are a sweet girl and heaven feels so close right now. I cherish the time I have you snuggled up on my…
38 Weeks
The last two weeks have been full of pre-labor symptoms, mostly during the night. I finally figured out that if I walk at night then all contractions stop and I can sleep. My routine has now flipped and I love having my mornings back to doing something besides walking and stretching for an hour! I’ve…
36 Weeks
I can’t believe we are so close to meeting our little girl! This weekend I had loads of contractions that woke me up and kept me awake from midnight on until Monday evening. On Friday I was feeling really sick and achy so by Sunday night it started to seem like the real deal. Except the…
30 Weeks
First off, we are having a girl!! We think! We had the anatomy scan at the end of June. The tech spent about 45 minutes with us and tried many times to figure out the gender. No luck – we were told we’d find out in November. I went to Utah and three weeks later…
Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence
The last few months I’ve struggled with discouragement. There’s plenty of rough things about having a mom and and wife who is lying down the majority of the time in a 24 hour period and completely reliant on others for much needed food. I’ve had loads of time to think myself into dark places: about…