where to begin… how about with the latest accomplishment… i just took a shower!!! yes, ladies and gentlemen, i did it. i know it sounds ridiculous to those of you who are not yet parents, but those of you who are totally understand me right now. for the last few weeks, i’ve had help at the house, whether that was paul or my mom. so there was always another set of hands, if not two more sets of hands, to help with the baby when i was in need of my much loved shower-time. (i should mention how i have a brand new affinity for showers since it is my only alone time that i now have). anyway, there have been many days where i have gone without showering since we brought jackson home (be glad that i’ve been hibernating and the only one who has had to put up with my stench is my husband). today however was THE DAY. jackson is down for a nap (which is another story that i will get to in a moment), i took the baby monitor in the bathroom with me, and took a shower…. though it was the fastest shower of my life, i found a moment to shave my legs too. BONUS POINTS FOR ME!!!

ok, i’ll back track to the nap thing… incase you haven’t heard, our sweet son is apparently lactose intolerant. since i am breast feeding, this means that all of the dairy products that i had been consuming carry on to jackson when i feed him. jackson’s little belly cannot break down the proteins in the dairy that i had consumed, and he has been in a lot of pain when it comes to poop time. the only way to combat this is for me to be dairy free until his stomach “matures” (which will be hopefully by 6 months). those of you who know me know that this is NOT a treat considering how much i ADORE ice cream. the rasberry sorbet has not been cutting it, but nevertheless, it’s what jackson needs… anyway, this whole lactose intolerance thing has been completely messing with jackson not only in terms of his baby belly but the fussiness has been awful and he has not been sleeping at all during the day time, which of course means no rest for mom who is still recooping from surgery. good times all around. i had been on the phone with jackson’s pediatrician a few times in the past week or so since we got this diagnosis with all sorts of questions and wondering how to get jackson some relief. paul and i took jackson in to the doctor yesterday morning and got some good news. we should start to see improvement soon, and jackson has put weight on!! this was HUGE because if he wasn’t, i was afraid the doctor was going to suggest supplementing, which i really didn’t want to do. i am proud to say that jackson weighed in yesterday at 10 lbs 7 oz and is growing like a weed. the breast feeding will continue, since he is doing so well with it. and though my milk is what is hurting jackson right now, the dairy is making its way through my body and his and will hopefully be gone soon. i can’t tell you how much it has pained me to know that the food i was feeding my son was hurting him. in my right mind, i know it’s no fault of my own (how would i know that he would be lactose intolerant and what that would mean for us?)… but in my not-so-right mind, when i’m up with him for the millionth time with him wailing, i just wail with him because i can’t console him. but things are on the mend…. jackson took an excellent nap yesterday and is currently napping now. i’m praying that this is the turning point for baby jackson’s belly.

hmmm…. what else…. oh!!! jackson is getting used to tummy time these days. he has been lifting his head for quite some time when paul and i burp him on our shoulder. his latest accomplishment has been lifting his head and then turning it from side to side. jackson also loves to test his strength, so when paul or i hold him upright, jackson will push with his feet and we’ll pretend like he has just jumped the highest of mountains and is sooooo strong. paul and i are absolutely exhausted these days, but playing with jackson and watching him makes it all worth it.

here are some new pictures of our little magoo. oh, and if anyone has any wonderful meal ideas for a dairy free gal like myself, please share!!!

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