Just call me Picasso

Tonight I got my inner artist on at Swirlz Art in Clarksville. Swirlz is an art studio that does group paintings. To be honest, it was a lot of fun and kind of relaxing! A while ago I was watching tv and a couple went to a place like this and I had thought to myself that I would love to try it sometime. So, when my friend April mentioned that she was going to have her birthday there I was all over it! The night was full of paint, wine, and laughter with girlfriends. Aaron and Jackson had a man's night at home while I was gone. The funny thing about that is that I left the house prepped for a babysitter. I had J's bottles measured out and medicine already in one. I walked out the door spouting last minute instructions for bath and bedtime, lol. I am assuming it went well because by the time I came home at 10 I found them both snoring away in their beds. Now to enjoy the peace and quite before taking a shower to clean off all of my "extra creativeness" on my fingers and arms...and elbows!

Time...

I can't believe that I am already catching myself say, "Where did the time go?" You're warned when you are pregnant that time flies and before you know it they are grown, but WOW!! In 5 days I will have a 4 months old. That's right...4 MONTHS!! I can't believe how fast and yet absolutely amazing the past couple months have been. I find myself going through pictures of him and I can't help but smile and shake my head. Definitely going to have to cherish each and every day my little man is in fact little. The funny thing is that as sad as I am to see the first couple months gone, I'm extatic for the months to come. Each and every day is filled with new discoveries for Jackson. Currently its blowing "raspberries" with his tongue. He will blow and then giggle and then thrashing his legs and arms in the air...then do it again! I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.

Friends

A True friend laughs at your stories even when they are not so good, and sympathizes with your troubles even when they are not so bad.

 Today I realized how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends. When Aaron joined the army I was a little nervous about leaving my family of friends I had created for myself in Boise.. I am such a social person you would think it would be easy to go out meet people in an environment like Ft Campbell. However, the army is a lot like high school. There is a lot of drama and people you just don't want to know, let alone hang out with. Fortunately I have managed to surround myself with some pretty amazing women. This morning Jackson and I went to coffee with some ladies from FCW and ended up spending 3 1/2 hours there. The conversation and company is always so fun and laid back the time just flies by! Then, to end my night my neighbor Mari (my Sister From Another Mister) came by. I love that I have friends that will randomly stop by the house because they noticed that my car was in the driveway and they hadn't heard from me in a day or so. She ended up staying for over an hour...again the time just flew by! I am so blessed to have all of these incredible women there for me, no matter what! I in turn will be there for them. Besides, we are all the family we have when the husbands are gone.

My Inspiration

I have always been what I like to say...a Fluffy Girl. I've never been happy with it, but have grown to accept it. I know my life and future is worth getting healthy for and it is NOT something I have to accept ( I promise I know)! Now that  Jackson is here I have no better reason than him to get my life in order. I have decided that I am going to live my life with the No Day Like Today attitude from this point on. I am truly blessed with friends and family who love me for me! I just need to start loving me for me. I'm Worth It and so is he...look at those big beautiful eyes...how is that not anything but inspiration!!!

The Day of Jack-Jack

I've have decided to name Jackson's alter ego Jack-Jack (like the Incredibles). For those who don't know of Jack-Jack, he is a relatively happy baby until you upset him then he turns into one seriously Pissed Off Baby!!! Usually Jack-Jack will make an appearance in the Malone Household once every couple of days, for 10 to maybe 20 minutes. He cries, screams, is tired, hungry, and just plain mad all at the same time!!! Today was one of those days; however, Jack-Jack has been with me ALL DAY LONG!!!! Jackson has made random appearances throughout the day for 20-30 minutes each time. Let me tell you it has left this Mama absolutely exhausted. *Side Note, Jackson is currently present* Usually I am able to keep my cool and stay relaxed to help him calm down, but today that was just hard to do. No matter what I did I couldn't make him happy and it almost killed me! He is such a happy baby that I am not used to not being able to console him. Not gonna lie, I had to put him in his crib for a couple minutes so I could take a quick breather. I don't know if he is going through a growth spurt (he has randomly become Huge), or he is getting sick, or possibly teething. Whatever it is, I need it to fix itself pronto. I want my baby back...NOW!!! Seeing how its almost 8 Jackson is starting to get tired so I am going to attempt our Night time routine. When I say my prayers before bed I am going to pray that my sweet baby boy returns to me tomorrow. *Please, Please, Please*

First Night

Tonight I am going to attempt something that I have never tried before. I...am going to put Jackson to bed in his crib. It seemed like such a simple thing to plan on doing, before he was born. I figured he would be close enough for me to hear him cry if anything was wrong. Boy, did I underestimate the emotions of being a mom. He likes to sleep on his stomach so I am paranoid to check to see if he is breathing or not. I wake up panicked at night because I feel like its been too long since I had  touched his back or heard him talk in his sleep...and that is with him in the corner of our bedroom. Now he will be ALL OF THE WAY across the hall...Ah!!! *Laughs at Self* Aaron is giving him his last bottle now and attempting to put him down. I promise have every intention of him sleeping in his room, but don't hate me in the morning when I tell you that at his 3-5am feeding and diaper change that he slept the rest of the night with us!

Laughter...

"The greatest prayer you could ever pray, would be to laugh every day. For when you do, it elevates the vibratory frequency within your being such that you would heal your entire body."
                                                                                                                                          -Ramtha-

 Aaron and I were talking the other day about how much we have laughed since Jackson was born. Its not like we were the kind of people who didn't stop to smell the roses and were serious about Everything in life. We love to laugh and do so quite often. However, with Jackson's arrival we laugh ALL of the time. Who knew that something as simple as a smile, look, or giggle from someone so small could make such a huge impact on our lives. He has truly shown us what happiness is. Everyday I find another reason to smile about this beautiful boy. I can't wait to see how his personality evolves as he gets older. All I know is that he will be amazing and that our family will have many days...weeks...years FULL of laughter ahead of us!

Just Like Daddy

Aaron was packing for Air Assault School tonight. Jackson was in awe of the chaos taking over the living room floor. He was full of smiles seeing the acu print and watching Dad walk in and out of the room as he checked off his packing list. We decided to help him out by playing with his helmet. What do you think? Do we have a future soldier in our midst?