Granny

Our love goes out to Granny, (Joy) who had an operation on her shoulder and is recovering now at home - Get Well Soon!

Bathtime

Loving the sheep skin Lollie! We take it with us when out visiting so Jackson has something familiar to sleep on.
Getting ready for bathtime
Roast Gus
Take the picture already dad!

Again - too cute

A big thanks to Sharon and Matt who sent this georgous outfit to match Kamryn's - she has the pink set and from what I've seen looks just too cute in hers too. Again - I think he is just too cute! Am I biased? never! We have recieved so many packages from friends and family that we are so grateful for, it is so heart warming to know that Jackson is loved by so many people, so thankyou again to everyone who has sent him welcoming gifts, and treats for me too - I have enjoyed spending leangthy times in the shower using all my new products!
My friend Gemma is over visiting from the UK, Jackson was REALLY happy to see her but not as much as me - I have missed her very much and am sad she is soon to return to her new love Simon, as she will miss getting to know our son. Jackson gives out smiles now to everyone - especially those with cleavage!
O.K so I know that I've said it already but really this is again just too cute, Brad has had this past week off and him and Jack have been getting to know each other, he just loves hugs with his dad! Brad also has next week off for the Christmas break and we have no plans but to enjoy the nice weather - well that is if I can get Brad outside, he is prefering to mooch around the flat with Jackson.

Happy New Years to everyone! Brad and I hope it will be a fun and safe one for all those venturing out. We are headed to friends Caz and Tim's although doubt we will make it to midnight.

Cute Pictures

These are just a few pictures that Christal forgot to put up. This first one is of Jackson in the hospital less than a day old.
Jackson eating his way out of his stocking.

Christmas

Jackson slept through his first Christmas, while Brad and I enjoyed the company of Carl and Tony - who cooked up a delicious Christmas feast for us and their families who were visiting from both the mainland (Tony's parents and grandma) and the USA (Carls mother) all of who were happy to babysit!
Carl (graduated with Brad this past November), Tony, me and Brad - we are in front of a Christmas tree but with these tall blokes you can't really tell.

O.K so I am with Jackson all day, Brad comes home and the smiles start - jackson is 15 days old here and just loves spending time with Brad - they giggle and smile together as Jackson bobs his head up and down and pushes up on Brads chest. We are following the sleep, eat, play routine recomended by the midwives in my new mothers group, we had heard of this before from a book called babywise, however when the midwives recommended the same pattern we thought why not - it has been a lifesaver. Jackson eats, has waketime/playtime and when he starts to show tired signs its down for sleep. It promotes healthy sleep patterns and he is now in a 3 hour cycle during the day and at night we leave him to wake on his own which has been giving us 4 to 5 hours sleep at a time which is good for my mental health! He does not really like sleeping in the cot during the day and I am working on settling him in there and so is Brad, it takes persistance as we both just want to pick him up, but after a few minutes he settles and the crying stops. I don't know why this happens only during the day, as at night he goes right down without a fuss. Brad has two weeks off over Christmas which we are all happy about and looking forward to some lovely day trips now the weather is so nice down here, will be sure to post photos.

Enjoying a day at the park
Too cute!
One very proud Paw Paw on the birthday of Jackson - bob travelled across the ocean to be with us all for this very special day - we think the wait was worth it!

Dad (George) (Gungy) with Jackson Angus - The midwives thought Dad was straight out of the outback and even asked "Where'd you leave your horse?"
Caz and Tracy admiring the newest boy on the block - soon to be joined by a little one of Caz's.
Downing a well earned cold one on our first day home - (the fridge was stocked full thanks to dad - oh and thanks for defrosting the fridge while we were in hospital!!)
Enjoying a first bath with Dad.
Lollie (Jill, mum) enjoying a cuddle.

Wanted to let everyone see this beautiful photo of Kate, who married Dane on the 25th of November in a lovely afternoon ceremony in a local garden park. I'm hoping she'll join the club of new mums that seems to be growing by the day down here in Tasmania - I think its something in the water!

Birthing

Well no one said it would be easy - Jackson Angus Harris wasn't eager to enter this world, at 10 days overdue, and many eyes on me waiting and watching, I was induced and frankly it didn't go well. My natural birth plan went out the window along will all decorum as I laboured for 14 hours, followed by 2 and half of pushing all to no avail and then an emergency ceasarean - the end result a healthy baby which was my goal all along anyway. Brad and I both cried as he was lifted from me and we heard a wail - I asked Brad "What does he look like" - brads reply - "Purple".

On my way back from recovery my father in law Bob Harris was ready and waiting with that damed camera of his and managed to snap the worst photo of me ever taken - thanks Bob - thats a snap I really want to remember - I looked like a drowned rat and thanks to the epidural that worked to well i couldn't feel anything from the neck down - I could barely lift my arms! Plus as any woman who has laboured for that long will know - not the time for photos!!!

Since the birth I have discovered I love my shower and chocolate in equal proportions, and I love my husband Brad more than ever - he is truely wonderful with Jackson and me. He knows just how to settle Jackson - who he has taken to calling Jacko (this is not going to last). He also knows just how to make me beautiful despite the mother of all rashes that I have thanks to one of the antibiotics I was given in hospital before the op.

We now have the apartment to ourselves which we are thankful for as we stumble around in the new land of parenthood. Not that we didn't love having our family visit - my parents came down from Queensland and Brads Dad Bob came over from the states to welcome Jackson into the world.

Jackson Angus Harris - Born: 06/12/06

Here he is! This is Jackson meeting the world. Christal checked into the hospital Tuesday afternoon and finally had an emergency cesarean on Wednesday evening. We left the hospital on Monday and have been trying to settle into some sort of normality ever since. Everyone is doing quite well and we are very happy. I am showing Christal how to work this 'blog' thing so she can makes updates as often as possible.