Christa is 5 Months!!

Hello all! We've had a very busy and fun week! Where to start.... well, we had a great weekend in Rome. On Friday, I went against every motherly instinct I have (once I got permission from some of you) and drug my little baby daughter into 3 hours of 30 degree weather for a football game. Darlington made the second round of the playoffs, which was great, but sort of messed up my personal weekend plans. Long story short, I had to choose between Atlanta traffic on the busiest shopping day of the year, or frigid cold. I chose the cold.

Saturday we headed back to Atlanta so the guys could go to the GA/GA Tech game. Christa had her first Varsity experience (which was crazy crowded - whose idea was it to go to the one right next to the stadium???), but it was fun. The girls watched the game from Chas and Bethany's Atlanta condo, then all of the family went to the undisclosed location of the "Jackson Family Christmas Picture Taking Experience." I have a funny story about that, but I'm sworn to secrecy until the cards go out. For those of you who aren't familiar with this tradition, Cline's family does a themed card every year, complete with the perfect picture, a corresponding slogan, and an original signature from every member of the family on all 200 cards that are mailed. Creating this masterpiece is the highlight of my mother-in-law's year, and it's quite an experience to see how it all comes together. Friends of mine, if you'd like to be added to the Jackson Christmas Card list, e-mail me your address, and I'll see that you get one. We returned to Augusta late Sunday, and Christa's pretty much been sleeping since we got back. I think we wore her out, but she was a trooper, and we had a blast seeing all of the family.

Speaking of Christa, she perfected her rolling over skills yesterday. She doesn't get much floor time because she loves her bouncer, takes long naps, and we don't have a whole lot of floor for her to lay on. But when I placed her on a quilt trying to get a cute picture last night, she worked at the rolling over until she mastered it. She had a big smile on her face as I clapped and "yayed" for her new accomplishment. I was lucky to get it on video!

This weekend we're headed to Rome again to spend some time with my family. I suspect mom and I will squeeze in some Christmas shopping, and on Sunday we have our first appointment to see a house! I am so excited to start this process. Time is going by so fast - June will be here before we know it!

Well, I'd better wrap up, as this is getting long. This will likely be my post for the week unless something amazing happens in our family before tomorrow. I may add an official 5 month picture later today. Have a great weekend!

Happy Turkey Day!!

Hello all! Hope your Thanksgiving is off to a good start. We have much to be thankful for this year; we have a beautiful baby girl, a great marriage, good health, financial blessings, a President that isn't Hilary Clinton... Sorry - I'm really worried she's going to win in 2008. More about that another time.

Cline and I are on our own today - he's stuck working tonight, and both of our families adamantly refused were not able to come down and spend the day with us. I was all ready to spend Christa's first Thanksgiving at Denny's, when some good friends who are also stuck here invited us over for a traditional dinner. I am so excited; it's nice to do something different since our own families don't even want to see us , and I hear we're having some cultural dishes, so I can't wait to try the "Italian stuffing!" Somehow I got away with only making squash casserole and pecan pie, so it's a good day. How are you all spending the day?? Anyone getting up at 3 am to shop tomorrow? I usually do, but can't this year because of Cline's work schedule. Friends in Rome - beware - I will recruit you to join Cline's mother and me next year :)

Cline officially signed the Cartersville contract this week, so we'll definitely be moving back to Rome in 7 months. We're in the process of learning about loans so that we can get pre-approved for a loan and start house-hunting. I'm ready to actually go look at some houses, but football keeps delaying those plans. We were going to go the first weekend in December, but if Tennessee loses this weekend, and GA goes to the SEC championship, Cline insists we're going to the game :) This would probably be a good thing- if I were to get my heart set on a particular house, I'd be tempted to go ahead and buy it so we'd have the guarantee that it would be ours, and it's still a bit early for that.

Christa is still enjoying her baby food. She seems to love carrots and bananas. Peas and peaches are OK; she does not like squash. I keep obsessing (imagine that) whether I'm feeding her too much or not enough. Lots of moms are still doing straight breastmilk or formula at this stage, but the nutrition guide I have says feed cereal twice a day, and her Dr. said go ahead and do the stage 1 food. What did you do with your kiddos?

Well, I'm off to do my cooking and enjoy a day of eating as much as I want without guilt. Shanda and mom - I have taken your advice and stepped up the walking. If 2 miles, 3-4 times a week doesn't do it, I guess I'm just not meant to fit back into my old clothes. And I'd forgotten about the crystal light options - that's helped some this week. Thanks for those suggestions:)

OK, OK, Here are Some Pictures

Mmmmm..... peas!

Let's go shopping!!

..... and today.... that tiny white speck on her bottom gum (towards the left) is the top of her tooth!

Random News

Hello all! The Jacksons are doing great this week! Christa is at such a fun age right now. She's smiling and laughing all the time and has lots of personality. She's eating her cereal and baby food great! (Mom, I let her have peaches this morning, and she seemed to like the carrots better, so HA!) I'm pretty confused about how much and how often I should be feeding her, but I asked her doctor, and he pretty much said do what I want. So we're doing twice a day feedings. I am thinking of buying stock in Shout and Oxy Clean - it will be quite an accomplishment if we get past this stage without ruining all of her clothes! I took her to get Christmas pictures made yesterday, and we finally had a great experience at Olan Mills. This may be because she is older and has longer periods of awake, fun time. At any rate, we got some GREAT pictures. We had such fun taking them, and I can't wait to see the finished products.

Christa also had her follow-up Dr. appointment yesterday. She gained another 1/2 pound or so in 2 weeks, so we're good. She's still on the small side for weight, but if I were in the 15th percentile for my weight group, I'd be thrilled - I envy her! Can anyone out there tell me how to get rid of this last 10 pounds??? I have tried everything except dieting! (I've resorted to working out, people, so you know I'm getting desperate). Maybe if I gave up 3 of my 4 daily Cherry Cokes.... Woah, I'm talking crazy (must be hypoglycemia - haven't had my first Cherry Coke yet).

A few people have asked if we have "officially" accepted the offer from Cartersville yet. The answer to that is no. Cline has the official contract and has given it to a lawyer he works with to review it and make sure everything in writing is as good as it sounds. Once Cline and the lawyer can meet to discuss it, we do plan to sign it, barring any advice from the lawyer that we shouldn't. Cline did get a very tempting offer from Valdosta, but it's just too far from Rome (although it's nice and close to Disney). We've been gone so long (10 years... I feel old), and are anxious to get back home, especially now that we have a baby. Margaret Anne, can't you move to northwest Georgia??

Well, that's it for now. We're looking forward to a weekend home after Thanksgiving. Ya'll have a great week!

You Must Not Know 'Bout Me

Alright, here's the "splaination." I confess that these statements are not nearly as glamorous as I have made them sound, but, that is the fun of this game!

1. I once saved a baby from a house fire.
True - I actually forgot about this until I started this game, and I hardly remember it. I was around 11 years old or so and playing with the Safigan kids two doors down from my house. I happened to be holding Molly, who was still a baby at that time, when the smoke alarms went off. All I remember is the living room being filled with smoke and Jamie (the mom) yelling at me to get out of the house. So I carried Molly outside. I don't even remember what was on fire, just the smoke. The house was fine, and we returned inside after a few minutes of airing it out.

2. I once survived an after-dark gang encounter in New York City.
True - This would be a Heather and Sallie adventure during or shortly after college. We were near Time Square, looking for a restaurant or something. We found ourselves a little farther off the beaten path than we'd intended just as it was getting dark. We walked straight through a large group of thuggy looking guys who I can only assume were involved in some sort of gang. We were a little scared by it, actually, but they walked past us without incident (other than a comment or two about how we were "looking good.")

3. I once was shot with a gun.
True - I was a riding my bicycle in the road in front of our house as a kid. Two teenage boys thought it would be funny to shoot at my bike with a B.B. gun. They hit me in the rear. It was just a little bruise.

4. I once dated a gay felon.
True - (but slightly exaggerated) - This one's actually scary. Shortly after I started dating Cline, my roommate, Megan, and I thought it would be fun to go to dinner in Atlanta (where we lived) with our 2 neighbors. They were very nice, and we were friendly with them, but we were all just friends. Cline gave me the OK to go and said to have a good time, but insists to this day that it was a "date" because it was 2 single guys dining with 2 single girls and one of the guys paid for everyone's meal. This constitutes a date, apparently. Well, after I moved away, I learned via the Atlanta Journal Constitution that the guy who paid had been convicted of intentionally spreading HIV to other men. He was an Emory medical student when I knew him.

5. I have had 20 teeth pulled.
True - I had 8 teeth pulled as a kid one summer, 8 more pulled the next summer, and 4 wisdom teeth pulled sometime after high school.

6. I was once flirted with by a member of Sister Hazel.
True - Ok, "flirted" might be a strong word for it. This is another Heather adventure. I went with her and a couple of other girls to a late night Sister Hazel concert at the Tabernacle in Atlanta one night. The thing didn't even start until midnight or so, which we all know is way past my bedtime of 9. Not to mention, I'm not really a concert person. Well, we got in after standing in line forever, and much to my dismay, it was standing room only. We made ourselves comfy right by the speaker on the stage, and I leaned against it and went to sleep since I was way exhausted by that point and didn't care about the concert. One of the band members came over to me during their performance, leaned over, and made me touch his guitar. I think he wanted to make sure I wasn't passed out drunk or something. No drinking necessary for me - I can pass out next to a blaring speaker just fine on my own, thank you very much.

7. I have never seen Pretty Woman.
Dirty Lie - I have seen Pretty Woman LOTS of times - it's a great movie! (Good job, Kimberly).

8. I was once on the Sally Jesse Raphael show.
True - Yet another Heather adventure. If you need some excitement in your life, hang out with her and her mom (Sallie)! We were in New York for the first time, I believe, and were given some VIP tickets to the Sally Jesse taping during a random outing. (This was towards the end of her run, and they were desparate for audience members. Did you know that shows like that give the homeless a free lunch to sit in the audience every day???) Anyway, we went, and sat in the audience, thinking it would be a fun, cool, New York thing to do. It was neat, and my face appeared a couple of times in the final cut. I was even recognized by someone in Rome who didn't know I was there, so it totally counts!

9. I married a man who once apprehended a purse snatcher in London.
True - Cline can tell this story so much better than I can. He and his twin brother, Chas, were in London for a choir tour. They witnessed the unjust burglary of some old lady's purse, I believe. They looked at each other, and in true, do-gooder, comic book fashion, chased the guy down, retrieved the purse, and held the guy until the police got there. (Apparently I got this story slightly wrong - it wasn't a purse, but rather something from a pharmacy. And they didn't actually hold the guy down until the police got there. Rather, they drug the guy back to the pharmacy, which was the scene of the crime, and held him there until the police arrived. Same concept nonetheless).

10. I have never seen Dirty Dancing.
True - Never have. I was offended by the title during the adolescent years I most likely would have viewed it, and haven't had a desire to see it since.

11. I have a 1st degree relative who knew "Alex" from Gray's Anatomy before he became super famous.
True - My sister. She went to New York for Fashion Week with a college class just before Gray's premiered. As they were walking back from dinner, they stumbled across an ABC studio party, and saw tons of celebrities like John Stamos and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Their group was a big hit because of their southern accents, and "Alex" ran across the street to be photographed with them, and they chatted. They also got a free VIP limousine tour of NYC. Very cool.

12. I am 3 degrees of separation from Reese Witherspoon.
True - A former roommate's father (who I know through her) used to work with Reese Witherspoon's father. Also, my brother-in-law, mother-in-law, and grandmother-in-law were extras in Sweet Home Alabama. So, if you think about it, Reese and I are practically family.

This Could Turn Out Badly

Hello all! I have been spending today chasing an eager 7 1/2 month old around our apartment and juggling my own little one while searching for inspiration on what to write about today. We don't have any news, which is wonderful! I am enjoying being home for several weeks in a row. My apartment is resembling a clean, livable place again, and the laundry - well, laundry is never caught up, but it's managable now. I did discover this morning that Christa has sprouted her first little tooth! I'm quite proud. She's enjoying her cereal and stage 1 babyfood - we've started with peas, which I'm starting to get tired of for her, but the Dr. says we have to stick with one food at a time for a few days to detect any allergies. So peas it is for another 2 days or so.
Since I don't have any "random thoughts" topics on my mind today, I thought I'd try a fun game that I've seen done on other blogs. I am going to list some statements about myself and all of them will be true except 1. You guess the lie. Next week, I will explain all of the statements. Ok, here goes:

- I once saved a baby from a house fire.
- I once survived an after-dark gang encounter in New York City.
- I once was shot with a gun.
- I once dated a gay felon.
- I have had 20 teeth pulled.
- I was once flirted with by a member of Sister Hazel (they're a famous band for you grandmothers).
- I have never seen Pretty Woman.
- I was once on the Sally Jesse Raphael show.
- I married a man who once apprehended a purse snatcher in London.
- I have never seen Dirty Dancing.
- I have a 1st degree relative who knew "Alex" from Gray's Anatomy before he became super famous.
- I am 3 degrees of separation from Reese Witherspoon.

*By the way, if you happen to know the lie, make it look like a guess, so the comment section doesn't spoil the game.*

We Remember

Two years ago today I got a 6 am phone call. My heart broke before I answered it; I knew exactly who it was and what she was about to say. It was Margaret Anne calling to tell me her daughter, Victoria, who I adored, had been given a heavenly cure for her cancer - not the earthly one we were hoping for. She was 8.

Victoria's prognosis was poor from the start. Her cancer had already spread from her brain to her spine, and it was one of the more aggressive types. She went through countless complications and emergencies during the two years I watched her fight it. And yet she never looked sick. She looked bald and gained weight for a while from taking steroids. But I can't remember a time that I saw her where she wasn't smiling and playing like a normal 6 year old, then 7, then 8 year old. It's been 2 years since I saw her, and I remember her like it was yesterday that I hugged her goodbye. So today, I want to share some of my favorite memories of her:

- fetching midnight snacks of broccoli and cheese and spaghetti noodles
- being "shhhhhhed" by Victoria while her mom and I attempted to visit during her 100th viewing of Finding Nemo
- walking out of the hospital after a night shift, and passing Victoria and her mom on their way in. Victoria gave me the biggest smile, and said "Hey Jessica" from her wheelchair.
- walking into my ICU shifts to find nice surprises in my mailbox - some form of Hershey's chocolate, a note, and a picture colored by Victoria
- watching Victoria laugh for absolutely no reason, and then joining her
- standing at the end of the hall on 3 East with my arms outstretched as I watched her walk to me for the first time after she learned again
- giving her a hug at Chick-Fil-A where we had lunch the day she and her mom delivered the birdseed bags they'd made for my wedding
-having a panic attack the day I introduced Victoria and her mom to Cline at the hospital - I'd pretty much overstepped every other professional boundary with this family, and they wanted to meet my boyfriend since we talked about him a good bit. I don't know if it was "against the rules" per-say, but I'm pretty sure it was frowned upon. The day Cline came up to meet them, the medical director happened to be sitting at the nurses station! Cline struck up a conversation with her, and she loved him. Go figure.
- Victoria relapsed shortly after Cline and I were married and living in Augusta. She had to go to Egleston on a day we happened to be in Atlanta to get a spinal tap. She was really groggy from the anesthesia as we went into the room, so we visited with Margaret Anne while she slept. Aunt Martiele came in, saw me, and yelled "hey Jessica" with a big hug and smile, sort of ignoring Cline. When we had to leave, Margaret Anne gently shook Victoria and said, "Jessica's got to leave now." Victoria grumpily yelled, "NOOOOOOOO" and went back to sleep. Cline raised his hand and said softly, "um... excuse me, but I'm actually leaving too." We all cracked up laughing.
- sitting cramped in half a car seat while Victoria stretched out as we drove through the night to St. Jude after her relapse. I said, "Victoria, you're hogging the seat." She replied, "it's OK." She was right - it was OK.
- talking to Margaret Anne all night as I gripped the steering wheel when it was my turn to drive. Margaret Anne had a huge SUV, and I was used to driving a little sedan. It was late, dark, and the roads were curvy and narrow. I just knew I was going to wreck and cause Victoria not to get her treatment, and I was terrified. But Margaret Anne and I "enjoyed" our chatting as much as we were able to, and I was honored to be driving a sleeping Victoria to what we'd hoped would be life-saving treatment.
- meeting new colleagues at the hospital who, upon hearing my name, replied, "oh, you're Victoria's nurse. She talks about you all the time." I was very proud to be known as "Victoria's nurse."

Today, like her parents, I know that Victoria is fine. I am grateful that she is no longer suffering, no longer having to spend a birthday in a hospital room, and no longer fighting the monster that is childhood cancer. But I think about her often, and wonder what things would be like if she were still here. Would she have come with Margaret Anne to meet Christa the day she was born? What pictures would she color for me? Would she like Hannah Montana? What would we do together when we visit Valdosta?

Margaret Anne, today we remember and miss Victoria with you. While I would change the circumstances if I could, we proudly call you, Lee, and your children a special part of our family. Because of Victoria, I hug Christa just a little tighter and play with her just a little longer. Because of Victoria, Cline orders extra CT scans and MRI's on kids just to be sure he doesn't miss something. I know things haven't really gotten any easier, and so we still pray for all of you. We love you, and we love Victoria.

(The sign to the right says 'We Love you Victoria! "More than words can say".' It was drawn by a 10 year old boy and held up by her therapists on a street corner close to the cemetary the day of her funeral.)

Houses and Tigers and Doctors, oh my!

Happy day after Halloween to everyone! All of you bloggers - I fully expect to see some cute Halloween pictures of your kiddos within the next couple of days. For those of you who don't blog - e-mail them to me. We had a very nice Halloween - one of the best I've had in years. We took Christa Trick-or-Treating with some friends who live in an actual neighborhood, and had a blast. Although Christa wasn't too into it - she got hot in her tiger costume and fussed at first, then went to sleep. We didn't get great pictures, but we captured the memory, so that will have to do (unless mommy sneaks the costume on her again when she's in a good mood and snaps a few belated shots :)

Besides Halloween, Cline and I have been busy researching houses on the market. We love this sweet yellow house next to my parents neighborhood, even though we've never actually seen it on the inside. I don't know if we'll end up getting that one, but we keep coming back to it over and over again for some reason. We're in the process of talking to a real estate agent and deciding whether to buy or build. We're trying not to do too much just yet as we have a good 4 to 5 months before we should try to close on something, but it's our first house and we're excited! I'm thoroughly confused about the different types of loans and who pays the Realtor commission and something about closing costs and taxes and arms and legs. We bought the book "House Buying for Dummies" (great tip, Ali), and it's been very helpful.

Christa also had her 4 month Dr. appointment this week. She weighed in at 11.5 pounds (15th percentile). This is only a pound more than at her 2 month appointment, but we're not worried about it. She only nurses for about 5 minutes and then seems content for a while. I've started offering her more a few minutes after she finishes, and she'll nurse for 10 or 15 more minutes, so I think we'll have no problem putting a little more weight on her, now that I know she's not getting quite enough. She's exactly 2 feet tall (50th percentile) and her head's still huge in the 95th percentile (gotta have lots of space for all that smartness)! She'll get her shots when we follow up in 2 weeks for the weight and a little stubborn eczema we're trying to clear up.

Have a great week!