Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Soooo...tomorrow we leave for a much deserved, much needed vacation to Sunset Beach, North Carolina. I'm beyond excited and can't wait to shove my toes in the sand! I LOVE North Carolina and hope one day to call it home, but who knows where we'll end up after Oklahoma. Anyway, we're packed and hyped to go. I'm just praying for a few things:
1 - Jackson will go to bed on time tonight (10-11pm-ish), so that I can get some rest. We have to leave the house tomorrow at 3am to make our flight.
2 - Jackson does well on the airplane. I hope he sleeps quite a bit and that he'll take his binkie or a bottle on take off and landing. I don't want to be that lady on the plane that everyone wants to shoot b/c she can't get her kid to shut up! That lady always drives me nuts, so I don't want to be her tomorrow. I think he'll be alright b/c he tends to sleep the most in the morning and he does really well in the car, so if the plane makes a similar motion he should be fine.
3 - That Justin's bad travel luck doesn't follow us there. The last thing we need is to get any of flights overbooked or delayed or cancelled. It just always seems like that's his luck. It's very rare when we have a smooth flight, but I'm going to be hopeful that we'll get there and back in one piece...although, I may not EVER want to come back :0)

In North Carolina, I plan to do the following things:
1 - RELAX and catch up on sleep. I want to not worry about anything, but taking care of the kidlet and making sure he has a good time!
2 - Play mini golf. I LOVE palying mini golf and we won't be far from the mini-golf capital of the world (Myrtle Beach, SC), so I intend on playing at least one round.
3 - Spending a plethora of time at the beach with my toes in the ocean and butt in the sand. Nothing better than an ocean view...I feel like I'm happiest close to the water. I'm beyond excited to show Jackson the ocean and dip his little behind in the water.
4 - Spending quality time with my husband, son, and family members-in-law! Can't wait to play cards and dominoes and just hang out with them. Hopefully, I'll get to :0)

Ok, so that's the plan. I intend on taking a ton o' pics, so be ready to view them. Well, I better go take the spud for a walk before it gets too dark.

1 month old pictures

My little man at 1 month old...time just goes by too fast!

Our 1st family pic in Bartlesville, OK


Our 1st real bath...he loved it!


The Gerbers with the newest addition

Has it really been a month already?

Hello everyone!

I can't believe it's already been a month since our little guy was born. It's amazing how much he's grown and changed. He has such a personality and is jus the sweetest little thing. Here's some things that have happened/changed in the month since he was born:

1 - Sleep patterns - Currently he's gone 7 nights in a row and slept the whole night through. He's gone to bed between 11 and 12am and slept until between 6 and 7am. It's been very helpful for this tired mommy. HOWEVER...the boy is a total cat napper. He barely ever naps for more than an hour during the day and he is more likely to sleep on our walks or in the car than he is anywhere at home. He doesn't really nap in his bassinet or crib...anytime you lay him down in our room, his eyes pop open as if he's just seen Santa Claus. He'll sleep sometimes in his swing or in his papasan chair and a lot on my chest, but not very much anywhere else! I'm just lucky he's sleeping at night!

2 - Feeding - He's feeding about 8 times a day...sometimes we can make it every 2 1/2 hours, but sometimes we can't even make it 1 1/2 hours. This is the only time he really cries is when he's really really hungry. He's currently taking 3 bottles a day with 1/2 breastmilk and 1/2 formula. The rest is all bewbies! It's been hard on me, but getting easier by the day. For as much as I've complained about feeding him by breast, I don't really like feeding him by bottle. He'll take it either way...anyway he can get it!

3 - Things Jackson likes: baths (yesterday, he didn't cry until we took him out of his very first real bath), cuddling (he's a total cuddle buddy), looking around (he is the most alert baby I've ever met), fresh air (this helps him fall asleep when we sit outside in the garage at night), walks (he loves the motion of the ride), car rides (he LOVES his carseat), throwing up on mommy (he only does it on himself or on me), pooping (he makes the biggest explosive sounds I have ever heard come out of a baby....I'm hoping to catch it on video one of these days), sticking my tongue out, and of course eating and sleeping.

4 - Things Jackson doesn't really like: being laid in his crib for a nap, burping (this kid maybe gassy, but he doesn't burp much), being hungry, daddy being away during the week (this has been hard on all of us!), napping for longer than an hour (he doesn't want to miss anything), wearing hats, having his eyes covered (he gets very fussy when he can't see!), broccoli (when I eat it, he gets very fussy soon after), and when mommy finds a new tickle spot.

5 - Body growth - He's already gained 2 lbs since his first week and we have another doctor's appointment on Monday. He's also grown about a full inch! He's a very long and muscular baby. His face has really filled out and he almost doesn't look like the same baby. Jackson also doesn't fit in his newborn clothes anymore...just too big! He's also pretty good at holding up his head when he's on our chests or laying on the floor...around 20 seconds. He can also scoot and turn himself around when we have him on his back on the floor or in his crib. We're afraid he'll be crawling soon! He also can stand flat footed when we hold him very gently. Our little man is very strong and growing by the minute. We're just so proud of him! He hasn't really smiled yet when we do something silly, but he smiles a lot when he sleeps and eats, so we're hoping he starts to smile at us very soon!

As for Justin and I....we're doing great! It's been wonderful having help almost the entire time since Jackson's arrival. I'm starting to feel more capable of taking care of him by myself and managing all of the responsibilities. I think I may be ready to take on motherhood without help...at least I THINK SO! Eventhough, he's sleeping through the night...I'm still pretty sleep deprived b/c he just won't nap. Everyone says to sleep when he sleeps...well, when he sleeps, we're usually in the car or on a walk! I'm hoping he'll get better at napping soon, but I won't want to take away anything from my sleep at night. As for my health, I'm healing up very well. I take a mile walk daily unless it's too hot here and it's raining/humid. I'm hoping to up my walks to twice a day and for a longer distance soon! I've already lost about 30 lbs of baby weight and so now I'm trying to work on that last 10 pounds around my middle. I really don't want to look like a pear forever :0) Well, gotta run...the little man is up and hungry...AGAIN! I hope the next month doesn't go by any faster....he's getting too big already! I will post pictures as soon as I get some on my new computer (thanks mom and dad for the early birthday gift :0)

2 Weeks and Growing

I'm writing this blog while our bean is sleeping, so it may be brief....

I can't believe we've survived the first 2 weeks and 4 days. It blows my mind how fast it's all going! Jackson has been an absolute blessing and is a really good baby. He only cries when he's super duper hungry or wants something to suck on. We weren't going to do a pacifier, but if it calms him down, we'll have to deal with the consequences later! (I also think he might become a thumb sucker b/c he keeps trying to shove his thumb/fingers/hand in his mouth when he's hungry or upset). Last night was a good night (he slept for 2 hours at a time without waking up), but other nights he wakes up every hour. He was requesting food every hour and a half, but now we're trying to keep him just eating every 2 or more hours. Jackson takes about 1 3 hour nap a day and it could be at any time (sometimes in the morning, sometimes at night, and sometimes in the middle of the day). I'm just trying to sleep when he does, but it's not always easy to sleep when it's like 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

As for eating...boy this kid can eat! I think he must already have gained 10 pounds since he was born. We've been doing the whole breastfeeding thing which is good for a few reasons: 1) Jackson likes it, 2) poopy diapers aren't so bad, 3) I've lost a lot of weight, and 4) I get to snuggle with my little man. BUT it's been hard for a few reasons too: 1) ouch in my chestal area, 2) he tends to fall asleep really easily, 3) he has started using my chest as a pacifier (especially when he's super tired), and 4) I feel more like a cow than a mom. We've started introducing him to bottles (just one bottle a formula a day) just to give me some rest b/c breastfeeding is so exhausting for me and plus I can get in a nap while he's taking his bottle. For the first week or so, he was eating every 2 hours and then he went for a few days every hour and half which was horrible during the night. BUT the doctor said we need to try to keep him eating just every 2-3 hours, so we're trying to limit him to just those times, which isn't always easy. I had no idea what to expect about breastfeeding, but it definitely wasn't this! I want to quit just about every time he cries, but once you start...it's hard to stop without feeling like you're harming the baby. I know it's the best thing for him to breastfeed, so I'm going to do it at least for a month, if not a little longer. Hopefully, we can make it another 2 weeks without having to add on too many more bottles of formula!

Jackson's personality is just so sweet. The boy LOVES to cuddle and I just adore him for it. He's also very alert and likes to spend time on our laps just looking around trying to figure things out. I swear he's going to be a smart one! The bean is also very strong. He lifts his head up a lot and for a long period of time for only being 18 days old. It's funny to watch him try to head butt us :0) I also should've known the boy was going to be a total wiggle wart. When he is awake his arms and legs are going about 100 miles a minute. I just know that he's going to be an Olympic swimmer or football player. He's also got quite a set of lungs on him and talks all the time. His squeaks are the highlight of my day and I just love the noises he makes! The only thing I'm still trying to get a hold of are his explosive diapers. OH LORD! the boy can poop. He sometimes wakes himself up with the gas he has! I swear one of these days he's going to blow a hole in his diaper! It is amazing his poops! I'm also trying to get used to being peed on or pooped on. I could've sworn I would never get hit...boy was I wrong! Within a few hours of being home, he had both pooped at me and peed on me. The first time he peed on his head, I balled like a baby. It was so sad seeing this little stream of pee hit him straight in between his eyes...it was horrible! BUT I learned quickly that that will not be the only time he will pee on his head :0)
His personality has earned him the following nicknames: Pterodactyl man, Frog man, cuddle buddy, poopie tail, wiggle wart, etc. etc. I have about hundred names I call him b/c he's just so sweet.

Anyway, as for my mothering skills...that's still up in the air. I feel about hundred times a day that I suck as a mom and that I'll never get a handle on what I'm doing. I worry that I'm not doing things "right" and I know I should realize that there is no right or wrong way to do things, but I just worry... If you measure a good mother by how happy the baby is, then I think Jackson is one happy little guy! He hasn't smiled at me yet, but he smiles in his sleep and that let's me know that he's at least happy in his dreams :0) I just hope that I'm giving him everything he needs and more! If how tired and exhausted my body is is any indication of how hard I'm working as a mom, then I'm working pretty darn hard!

Well, I should get going for now...I'll have to post pictures later. I haven't taken very many new ones, so I'll have to work on that for ya!

A Baby Story

This May has probably been the best month ever in my life! First, our beautiful son Jackson was born on May 11th. Then, Justin and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on May 17th. How lucky! Here's our baby story:

Monday morning I woke up to go to work and finish just a few things. Got to work feeling pretty tired and overly pregnant, but I did what I needed to do and left. Then I went to Kohl's to pick up a Mother's Day present on the south side of Tulsa. I started to feel kinda weird there, so I paid for my things and decided I was probably just hungry. I decided to drive across the road to Wendy's and get some lunch, but I felt the sudden urge to go to the bathroom, so instead of going through the drive through, I got out of my car and headed for the door. As soon as my hand hit the handle to Wendy's, I felt a gush of water down there. I said to myself, "OH CRAP! I just peed my pants!" so I waddled quickly into the bathroom and did my business, noticing that there was more going on than usual. I didn't think my water broke at that point, so I cleaned myself up (luckily I wore a feminine protection product that day!) and got back in my car and went through the drive through, ordered my meal and was on my 1 1/2 hour trip back to Stillwater. About 1/2 into my trip, I noticed I was still kinda leaking, so I got on the phone and called a few people and asked them what it was like when their water broke b/c at that point I was pretty sure my water broke. I called the hospital and they said to come in immediately b/c they were also pretty sure my water broke. By the time I got to the hospital around 1:15p.m. I was a little nervous b/c I couldn't get a hold of Justin and I was super MAD! I thought for sure he had gone to the gym and left his phone in his car, so he wouldn't be there when the baby was born. I was SUPER MAD! Well, anyway as soon as I step out of my car, a huge GUSH of water came leaping down my legs. My thought: "OH GROSS! OH GROSS! Please just let me get upstaid without anyone seeing me!" b/c I literally looked like I had peed my pants. I waddled upstairs to labor and delivery and as soon as the nurse saw me she said, "Yep! Your water just broke!" Cue the panic and embarassment for having it happen at Wendy's. Anyway, they got me cleaned up and into a hospital bed and discovered that I hadn't dialated at all! So began our waiting game...hours passed....and nothing! Luckily, Justin had checked his phone at the gym and was heading our way b/c I was very scared there by the myself . In the meantime, I called my parents and told them to get on the road...the baby was on the way. Shortly after Justin arrived, the nurse started the pictocin and HELLO CONTRACTIONS! Can I just say....OUCH to those! The contractions were steady and painful, but I still wasn't dialating. I was glad that doctor consented to giving me the epidural early b/c me likey not feeling my legs while contractions are going on. At around 9:30pm at night, the nurse rushed in to check the fetal heart monitor. She said the baby was getting stressed and his heartrate was dropping and my contractions were getting weird. So, she took me off the pictocin and my contractions went back to normal, but I still wasn't dialating...FRUSTRATION! The doctor came in around 10:30 pm and said we could either go back on the pictocin and risk the baby getting stressed or we could go ahead with the c-section. Justin and I decided to go ahead with the c-section. They got me drugged up some more and ready to go. Basically, they got me in and Jackson out within 20 minutes. The c-section was successful and Jackson was perfect. I on the other hand was sick as a dog....all I kept thinking was geez o' peets, I'm still getting sick! Regardless though, I was so happy to hear him cry that I cried and couldn't wait to cuddle him. Justin was just over the moon in love too! We were lucky that everything came out so well!

4 days later, I was released with our new family from the hospital. Things were pretty easy with the help of my parents and the fact that Jackson doesn't really cry unless he's got an upset tummy, is hungry, or is about to blow a hole in his diaper with poopie. He's a really good baby...very happy and very healthy. Since leaving the hospital, he's gained all his weight back plus some. He's now 7lbs. and 10 ounces. He's also grown and is now stretching out a little bit more than 20 inches long. Jackson is just amazing and I feel so very blessed. It hasn't been easy b/c he doesn't really let us sleep at night and seems to always fill up a brand new diaper as soon as it's put on. We've also been breastfeeding and oh my goodness, it's a lot of work! I want to quit about every time Jackson wakes up and is hungry. It's also been hard b/c Justin started his internship this past Monday and hasn't been here all week. Thank goodness for my parents for helping out and keeping me from crying 24 hours a day! I'm so sad they have to leave on Monday. I'll be by myself for about a day and half before Justin's parents get here next week. I thank God everyday for my family and their support.

So that's our baby story! Sorry about the long blog, but I thought ya'll would get a kick out of my water breaking at a Wendy's. Here's some pictures to enjoy as well:

Announcing the Arrival of Jackson Felix Gerber

I'm typing with only one hand as I hold my son, so this will be brief. Just wanted to give you some details. Jackson Felix Gerber was born by c-section on May 11h at 11:08 p.m. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 5.6 ounces and is 19 1/2 inches. He has strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes and he is super handsome. Here are some highlights from our exciting day:


His very first visitors: April, Ben, Grandma and Grandpa Kirk


Stay posted for the details on delivery and the growth of our little guy. Can't wait to share every minute with ya'll :0)

Happy Mother's Day

To all the mommies, future mommies, and almost there mommies like me....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I know it's still early, but Justin and I kinda celebrated Mother's Day yesterday and I had a wonderful semi-1st-official Mother's Day :0) He took me out to dinner at a great Mexican restaurant and then to a movie down in Bricktown in Oklahoma City. We love Bricktown, so we had a really great night. It was good for me to walk around...even though I have to waddle super slow b/c I'm having a hard time getting around. Justin gave me a really great Mother's Day present...tickets to see Dane Cook! I LOVE Dane Cook, so I'm super excited he agreed to tak me. Every moment I get to spend with Justin, I fall more and more in love with him. We're both so excited about the future, especially because the bean will be here very very soon!

In fact, he'll be here either Wednesday or Thursday. At our last appointment, the doctor told us he was going to induce on Wednesday night. He's a little worried about how big I am and how swollen I am (MY FINGERS HURT SO BAD!). I think he can also tell that both Justin and I are just done being pregnant. I'm exhausted all the time and it reads all over my face! I'm glad that I only have about 2 or 3 hours of work on Monday and then I'm off until early August...YAY! After Monday, it'll just be a waiting game until the little man is here. My parents are coming down Wednesday and I'm so glad that they'll be there for little Jackson's arrival and they'll get to stay for more than a night and they haven't gotten to do that since we moved here :0) We just can't wait!

We also can't wait for our 1st anniversary. One more week until we've been married for a whole year. It has been the best year of my life. I'll have to post pictures from our wedding day next weekend (if I have time....we'll have a little tyke by then!). I think the next year will be even better :0)

I'll end this blog..my final as an almost mommy...with my last pregnancy pics. Here I am at a few days shy of 40 weeks and baby Jackson being here: