Snow Day

"It's the Storm of the Century!"
At least that's what we've been hearing for the past few days on local and national news broadcasts...and if it's not the worst wind/snow storm we've been through, it's pretty close! But with the cold, blustery winds and drifts of snow comes a snow day when Steve and I both get to stay home with our little guy!

Here's a picture of our back deck - Steve couldn't get the regular door open because of the drifting, so he had to go out the sliding door. He said that the snow is packed under our deck (which is a second-story deck), and all of the lower windows are covered in the back of the house. Fortunately, because of the blowing wind, our driveway is fairly clear...for now!

Garrett and I stayed inside while daddy was outside with the dogs. So I took advantage of a good mood & cute outfit to take some pictures...

Right now daddy & Garrett are watching a re-run of last night's National Finals Rodeo on TV. It's hard to believe that exactly one year ago we were in Las Vegas seeing it all live! Can't wait to go back!

Some Favorite Pictures

This morning I put Garrett down for a nap with a beautiful throw that my mom's friend Debbie knitted for him. When I peeked in to check on him I had to laugh when I saw his little toes sticking out of the throw. Couldn't resist snapping a picture to share!

Last Sunday was one of the last really nice fall days that we have experienced here in Iowa. We took advantage of the day by making a road trip to a local state park that is filled with beautiful scenery and sounds from the Des Moines River that runs through it. We hiked on one of the trails with Garrett in the stroller - at least as far as we could go before we hit too many bumpy tree roots and thick piles of leaves. Garrett and I posed for a picture before we loaded up to head back to town.

Garrett enjoys playing on the floor, kicking his legs and pumping his arms while he plays with mommy or daddy - whichever one of us is on the floor with him making funny faces and noises to get him to grin. He is starting to pay more attention to his toys that make sounds, like the little pig in this picture. So much fun! He'll be rolling over before we know it!

Garrett @ 3 Months

Can you believe it? Garrett is 3 months old today! It is unreal how quickly the past 3 months has passed me by. It's also amazing to consider how much our little buckaroo has changed in such a short time. It has been fun to observe Garrett's discoveries, such as his hands and, most recently, his tongue (he likes to stick it in/out as he contently sits in his bouncer chair and gazes around the room). It is also hard to get over how quickly he has grown - particularly in the tummy, and thigh regions. And can you get over those cheeks??
I have truly been blessed and cannot recall a time in my life when I have been happier or more thankful for what God has given me: a husband who loves me unconditionally, and a son who fills me with awe every time I look at him. God is good!


This week we had family pictures taken. Garrett did SO good! I was concerned that he would be fussy or refuse to cooperate...but he was such a good little boy! Here is a sneak peak at one of my favorites (thanks, Aunt Ginger, for the cute cowboy boot socks!)
Also - Happy 4 months to baby Colt! Can't wait to meet you!

Recently we've caught some of Garrett's chatty times while he's been lying on his changing table of all places. We'll often catch him smiling at the pictures in the frame we have propped on the table. I'm guessing he likes seeing the happy faces staring back at him...though I doubt that he realizes most of those faces in the picture collage are of him!
This video was taken a few days ago right after bath time. He still loves his baths. He enjoys splashing his feet, is starting to grasp at bath toys, and he likes me to "shower" him with one of his cups that has holes in the bottom.


We took this next video clip today right after the OSU Cowboys defeated the Iowa State Cyclones. Go Pokes!! The t-shirt came from Coach Weis & his wife Donna, who live in Stillwater. Coach Weis was the head track & cross country coach at Oklahoma State when Steve was an assistant coach there. It's hard to believe it's been nearly 10 years since we were in Oklahoma!
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New Favorite

Garrett loves the Jumparoo that he received from his Great-Aunt and cousins!

Play

Every day Garrett interacts with us and expresses his happiness through grins and contented sighs. The other day we were playing on the floor with his Ocean Wonders play mat. He really likes the inflated ball that makes jingly noises...


...while I like to watch his excitement as he learns to play.

**I should point out that yes, Garrett is wearing a Christmas outfit in October! We took some holiday pictures the other day, and this is what he wore. Good thing too because I'm fairly certain the outfit won't fit him in December!

Garrett First - Grabbing Toys

Now that I have the means to do so, I'll be posting clips of Garrett along with photos! Enjoy!

Here's a "first" video clip of Garrett! Steve and Garrett were playing together the other day & Steve noticed that Garrett grabbed on to one of the toys on the toy bar of his bouncer! This is the first time he has actually reached out and grabbed a toy to play with! It's been fun to watch Garrett as he has been discovering his hands. He likes to grab at things, and sometimes will be sitting contently while he gazes at his hands and opens/closes his fists.

Bittersweet

It's a sad week for me. This is the last week I will spend at home with Garrett before I head back to work full-time, and he starts daycare. Though I am looking forward to the freedom of getting out and about to see co-workers (new and old) and friends on a more regular basis, I'm sure I will experience some sad moments throughout the day when I will wish that he is there with me. It helps that we have chosen a daycare facility that we feel will be a safe, nurturing, loving environment for Garrett to spend his days...

I'm including this super-cute picture of Garrett's most recent bath time moment so that I'm not ending on a sad note. :-) He LOVES bath time! Doesn't he look laid back in his little tub?

Such a Cutie!

I was playing photographer over the weekend and got some fun pictures of Garrett hanging out with his daddy.

Here's our content baby...what a yawn!
It's hard to believe how fast Garrett is growing! I attempted to put him into one of his little outfits the other day & it was WAY too small! Figure I need to start pulling out some of his 3 month items before it's too late! Here's a cute froggy outfit he received from his Aunt Sandy!
There's a little frog on the bottom of the outfit - you can see it here with our friends Trepp and Laura.

Some Firsts for Garrett

Our little guy is growing every day! We weighed him a few days ago and were somewhat shocked to find that he's up to 11 pounds! I guess we shouldn't be surprised considering his chubby cheeks, double chin and jiggly thighs! He's experienced some firsts just this past week...

First time drinking from a bottle - he took to it really well:

First time to wear shoes - all dressed up for the baby shower thrown by Iowa Central:

First ride in his new swing (gift from the Distance Learning Group):

Garrett's First Jeans & Polo (gift from Grandma Jackson) - he's actually been wearing the jeans for a while now, but he looked like such a little man when we paired the jeans with the polo!

First bath without the newborn net. His bathtub (which came from his Fitzpatrick cousins in Rome) has a little net-like attachment that you can put baby on so he doesn't have to be completely submerged in the water (you can see the net, it now lies in the water as a cushiony seat). Now that he's over the weight limit for the net, we bathe him in the actual tub. It turns out that he much prefers to be sitting in the water instead of hovering over it!

Garrett is 1 Month Old!

It is so hard to believe that our little guy is already 1 month old! Here are some fun pics of him that we've snapped over the past few weeks:

This picture was taken on the day Garrett turned 1 month. He has always had good control of his neck, but now he's starting to look back/forth a lot more. He's also able to lift his head and turn from side to side when he's on his belly.

Family Picture - Garrett is just under 1 month old in this picture.

He is such a little snuggler!

Family Time

We have had some fun visits from family and friends since Garrett was born. First my mom was here for 2 weeks...it was wonderful having her here, and very hard to see her go. I have a feeling she's going to be racking up the miles on that new Toyota over the next few years! While she was here, 2 of my aunts from Orange City dropped by for a visit. We spent the afternoon at a local apple orchard, where we had lunch and did some shopping. Fun day!

Aunt Ruth using her Grandma skills to calm a fussy Garrett:
Grandma Kae and Garrett just before she heads back to Georgia:
On the day that my mom left, Grandma Jackson came back up to Iowa via her sister Ginger, who lives in the Kansas City area. Garrett looked quite a bit different from the last time Grandma Jackson was here! He was definitely more alert...and more vocal this time around! We also spent an afternoon at the orchard while they were here. This time we got to view sky divers while we ate lunch outside. Every Labor Day weekend, hundreds of sky divers get together and jump from sun up to sun down here in Fort Dodge. It's quite a sight...especially from the orchard, which is very close to the airport.

Aunt Ginger and Garrett:
Grandma Jackson and Garrett:

Just a few days ago, Garrett got to meet his Uncle Dave! My brother was in the area for a short time while he drove bus for some sports teams from the college he works for. We met up at a truck stop along I-35. It was a short meeting, but I'm so happy that they got to meet each other! Garrett even wore his favorite tractor shirt just for his Uncle Dave!

It was sad to see our family members go...but hopefully they will make their way to our home again sooner than later!

3 Weeks Old!

Can you believe that our little guy is already 3 weeks old? It's crazy how quickly time has passed us by!

Today (Friday) is the last full day that Grandma VandeBerg will be here before she makes her way back to Georgia. She has been such a great help with Garrett...I'll be sad to see her go! Can't wait until she decides to move closer! (hint!)
Tomorrow Grandma Jackson and Aunt Ginger will make their way to Iowa to see Garrett! It will be a beautiful weekend, weather-wise, so I'm looking forward to getting outside and enjoying the company!

I don't know what I'll do with myself next week when I'm on my own while Steve's at work. I imagine our days will look a lot like this... ...and hopefully not this!
I'm hoping to get the stroller outside and walk along the newly-installed sidewalks near our home. It's been too windy & cool to take Garrett out lately, but the sun is starting to shine again!
Well...I can hear some fussing upstairs, so I better go relieve Grandma for a while. Have a restful Labor Day Weekend!

1 Week Check-up

Today Garrett had his first check-up. He was very good and did not fuss at all the entire visit! He did make a little wet mess on daddy as he removed Garrett's clothes to be weighed. The nurse assured us that it happens all the time! Garrett weighed 7 lbs 12 oz when he was born; 7 lbs 2 oz when he left the hospital; and is now back up to 7 lbs 13 oz, which is right on track. I asked about the fact that he has occasionally been experiencing some deep, gurgly-sounding hiccups, but his doctor assured us that is normal. Other than that he's perfect!
Dressed up & ready to see the doctor!
On the way home...even though his brow is furrowed, Garrett does love to ride in his car seat!
His next visit will be in 2 months. I don't imagine he'll do as well since he'll receive a series of shots...we'll see!

Other than that, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Grandma VandeBerg. She will be here Sunday & we can't wait for her to meet Garrett! I know she is super-excited as well. He will be a very spoiled baby for the next 2 weeks!

Garrett & Daddy

As I've mentioned, Garrett loves to be cuddled, and he especially loves to be held by his daddy. When Steve gets home from work, he will talk and sing to Garrett as they rock in the glider or recliner. Garrett loves to suck on his pacifier and gazes up at daddy with wide eyes as he listens to what he has to say. He is always the most alert when he is with daddy. It's so awesome to watch them form a bond together.