Dear Laura, This last week you have grown so much! You are loosing the newborn look and are squarely in the baby realm. I’m amazed at how tall/long you are. The Indiana humidity has brought out your curls and it is so fun to have another curly girl in the house. Laura we love how…
Family
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…
My Vision for 2018
For the last two years I’ve been eyeing the Powersheets, a goal planner created by Lara Casey. Last October I decided I would go ahead and buy it. After telling my mom about the system, she decided to get them too. She spread the news to Grandma Blomquist and Christine and they also got them so…
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…
Recommitting To Motherhood
In a lot of ways this last year has been all about me, at least inside my head. How am I going to meet my needs and take care of myself? And please go to bed so I can get to the things I really want to do! And I need to sleep. The list…
2017 Christmas Card and Family Photos
Last January I decided that 2017 would be the year we send out our first Christmas card. I scheduled on my calendar to take a family picture in October and collect addresses in November. In March when I found out Laura would be joining our family in November I pushed everything back a month. While…
The First Six Weeks, Part 8: Utah to Iowa and Home
On Thursday afternoon some of the cousins gathered together for one last project at Grandma’s house. In past years we have cleaned out old canned food from the storage room. We all have great memories from working together. This time we emptied out canned and bottled water – some dated as early as 1985 –…
Two Months Old
Dear Laura, We love having you in our family so very much. You are growing, but not too fast, and we are soaking up every last remnant of the newborn phase. You are eating really well. The first month of your life there was concern about your tongue being tied on the sides of your mouth. …
The First Six Weeks, Part 7: Laura’s Blessing
One of the beautiful gifts Grandma gave us was the opportunity to bless Laura Carolyn, who she is named after, in her home with all of our family. Thursday morning, the day after the funeral and our last day in Utah, Andrew’s family drove down to Provo to join us. My mom prepared the dress…
The First Six Weeks, Part 6: Funeral
Monday morning the kids were up and going around 8am and Andrew and I rolled out of bed sometime after. Emily and Nathan slept in the children’s room and by the time we made it in there they had pulled out just about every toy in the closet. A dream come true for those two….