Jackson's First Birthday

Our baby boy turned ONE last month and we celebrated with family, friends, mexican food and a smash cake! My mom made Jackson's cake and sweetened it naturally with applesauce and bananas. She added some sugar to the cream cheese frosting and obviously the frosting was Jackson's favorite part. I was amazed at how long he sat, slowly eating the frosting. Rather than "smashing" the cake, he started to pull each layer apart from the four layer cake. I knew he was done when he started to push the cake under his tray! So much fun! Thank you to everyone who came over to celebrate Jackson and surround him with so much love. We are so very thankful for the love and support from our family and friends over the past year.  The meals that were brought over when Jackson was born, gifts and words of encouragement all meant so much to us. Most importantly, thanking God for this blessing of a happy and healthy baby boy.

These adorable cookies were made by my mother-in-law and her friend! They made 5 dozen and they tasted just as good as they looked!

Some photos from the morning of Jackson's birthday:

We lucked out having our friend, River (who also happens to be an amazing photographer) visit for the weekend and he was generous enough to snap all of these photos for us!  Thank you Riv for this gift that we have to look back on and cherish forever.

Photos:  River Jordan Photo

One Month

A family friend was generous enough to take photos of Jackson at 3 weeks old and we are so thankful to have these photos to look back on and show Jackson someday!  As I write this post, Jackson is now 1 month old.  The last month has gone by very quickly - parts of it are a total blur.  Each day has its challenges and joys.  I was told by friends that my emotions would be a series a "ups" and "downs," but I wasn't prepared for the reality of that.  It's crazy how one day I feel like I've got this thing whole motherhood thing down and then other days feel like a chaotic disaster.  Matt gets home from work at 5:30 in the evening and I am still wearing my pajamas, Jackson is crying and I've cried numerous times throughout the day.  Those are the days that I wasn't prepared for.  How can you be prepared for the challenges of breastfeeding and sleep deprivation?  I have always been a 9 hours of sleep gal, so getting up in the middle of the night is hard.  I also had no idea how difficult breastfeeding can be.  I thought it would come naturally, but now that I am struggling with it and talking to other women - I am finding that many women have had struggles with breastfeeding as well.  Despite the challenging parts of motherhood, the joys far outweigh the hard  times.  I look at Jackson's tiny fingers and toes and am in awe of this beautiful miracle from God.  We are beyond blessed to have this healthy baby boy in our lives.  

|  A big thanks to Wes for taking these beautiful photos of us!  |

The Nursery

Jackson's nursery was completed in large part due to the generosity of our family and friends who gifted us with so much!  We are blessed and thankful to have been gifted with so many beautiful pieces that helped shape this room.  The "hand me downs", purchased items and hand made gifts from family and friends are all so appreciated.  I cried when my work gifted us with that awesome glider chair!  Jackson is well loved.  

I really enjoyed dreaming up a nursery for our little guy and was excited to start from scratch on designing the space.  I wanted to keep it simple and gender neutral so that I can re-use all of these items in the future if we are to have a girl.  Listed below are the resources for almost everything shown in the photos above.  Thank you to everyone who generously provided gifts for Jackson!

|  Resources  |

Crib:  Oeuf Sparrow Crib

Dresser:  Vintage via Lounge Lizard + Painted

Glider:  West Elm Graham Glider

Pouf Ottoman: West Elm (no longer available)

Table Lamp:  Target 

Rolling Cart:  IKEA Raskog

Storage Unit: IKEA Expedit

Storage Bins: IKEA Drona + IKEA Kvarnvik

Wall Shelves:  IKEA Ribba Picture Ledge

Wall Sconce: One Forty Three Double Wall Sconce

Framed Whale Print:  Terry Fan The Whale Art Print

Mobile:  Made by my mom and I

Crib Sheet:  American Baby Company 

Blanket:  Little Giraffe Chenille Blanket

Stuffed Elephant:  Made by a friend

Stuffed Lion:  Jellycat Cordy Roy Lion

Wooden Toys:  The Joinery

Swaddle Blankets:  Aden + Anais and made by a friend

Wood Box:  Made by my dad

Jackson

One week ago, we welcomed Jackson Paul Smith into the world!

Born March 30, 2014 at 3:24 pm  |  7 Pounds 2 Ounces  |  20 1/4 Inches

We are so thankful for this healthy baby boy!  Such a blessing from God.

Due Date Week

|  39 Week Bump  |

This week is my due date week!  It doesn't even seem real that baby Smith could arrive any day now.  I haven't felt any contractions or big changes so I don't think he will be arriving on his due date (March 27th).  Matt and I both think he will decide to come late, but we will see!  The nursery is pretty much all done (photos coming soon) and the car seat is hooked up and ready to go.  We had an ultrasound yesterday and he is about 7 pounds 11 ounces right now.  We have a favorite name picked out, but probably won't make an official decision until we meet him. 

On a random side note: yesterday, my friend and I made freezer crock pot meals.  If you haven't heard of these, look them up on Pinterest!  This is a great idea for easy and healthy weeknight meals.  Just by planning ahead, I spent less money at the grocery store than usual and a couple hours prepping 8 meals that I am storing in the freezer to be thrown in the crock pot.  Seriously, check it out!

Those are the latest pregnancy updates!  In the meantime, I will be puttering around the house and finishing up last minute errands, slathering on Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil (I love this stuff) and wearing stretchy clothing.  Oh and forgetting what I am talking about mid-sentence... preggers brain does exist my friends! 

Maternity Photos

While daydreaming about taking our maternity photos, I had visions of frolicking through the forest, bare foot like it was the middle of July or something?  Turns out that taking photos in March (in Portland, Oregon) doesn't typically call for sunshine and blue skies.  Instead of roaming around the forest, we pulled the car over and took some quick photos on the side of the road... while getting drenched by the rain.  I was determined to wear my wedding dress (now shortened), even though it's a little ridiculous to be wearing a white dress out in the rain.  You might be wondering how I was able to fit into my wedding dress at 37 weeks pregnant.  Well, the beauty of this dress (other than the fact that it is made of yummy french silk lace) is in the bias cut of the fabric.  Magic, I tell you!  

A big thanks to Matt's cousin, Colleen who got soaked in the rain while taking these photos of us at 37 weeks pregnant!  We are so thankful that we will have these to look back on and show baby Smith someday.  I can't believe how soon he will be here!  

|  My dress:  Lena Medoyeff  |