Jackson's 1st Birthday Parties (12 Months, June 2010)

Jackson's First Birthday Party (With Family) 

Caaaaaaaaaaaaake!

Jax with His Cousin Lizzy

Mommy & Me

Daddy's Boy

The Schulz Family Circle

One Major Water Baby

A Pose in Between Splashing

Da Boys

    Jackson's 1st Birthday Party With San Diego Friends

Why are All of these Kids Watching me Eat?

Jackson and His Lil' Homey JJ

Jax & Auntie Steph (Oh and as Many Blocks as He can Hold)

His Favorite Place on Earth...The Pool

Jackson and the Little Ladies

Are Arranged Marriages Really That Bad?

What? Do I Have Something on My Face??

Here's Jax at 8 Months.

It's been too long since I updated the blog with some Jackson cutieness. He's crawling now, teething and into everything. I've been a busy momma. I love these black and whites they capture Jaxie's joyfulness!

My Fingers Taste Good

Gimme That

Is That My Bottle?

I Finally See the Light

I'm Not So Sure About That

My Toes Taste Good

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

Shy Face

Squeeshy!

Jackson At The Park (5 Months, October 2010)

I can't believe how fast our "Boy Wonder" is growing! Jackson is four months old now and, "he's just getting so big" This weekend, Ernie and I took him to the park so that he could experience his first birthday party. His little buddy Adan just turned two and Jackson especially loved his first time on the swing. I just love these pics of him. I think they really capture his innocent wonder!

Slobber Mouth Strikes Again!

Just Hangin' Around

The Face of Destiny

Whatchu Talkin' About Willis?

Whoa, that's a long way down

I Often Drool When I talk

Mr. Meat Paws

Your Thumb is tickling me Mommy

Deep Thoughts

That's What I Call Jolly!

Jackson's Zoolander

Our Countdown is Complete!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Our Labor and Delivery Story

Our first of many trips to the hospital :)

On Thurs. June 11th at around midnight I started having my first real contractions. They were coming sporadically every five to 10 minutes. By Friday morning the contractions were still coming. That evening the contractions still hadn't picked up speed, so Ernie and I went to the mall to walk around and try to speed things up, (to our chagrin) this only slowed things down.

By Saturday morning the contractions were even more intense and were starting to become more consistent, so I told my parents to hit the road. I couldn't believe I had been in pre-labor for over 24 hours. That night my mom, Ernie and I decided to make our way to the hospital. I had a feeling they might send me home, but it had been two days and I wanted to see how far along I was and make sure all was well with Jackson. When we got there I found out I was making progress, but I wasn't far enough along to stay. However Jackson was doing great.

Over the next two days we visited the hospital another two times only to be told that I was progressing, but not enough to stay at the hospital. When we were sent home for a third time Monday afternoon Ernie, my mom and I were exhausted and a little upset. I never imagined that I would be in labor for four days. Then we prayed and got our faith up and the three of us believed that my water would break that day.

That night my contractions were one right on top of another and they were almost unbearable, but I was determined not to go back to the hospital unless I knew it was for real. Then (Praise the Lord) my water broke and we were off to the hospital for the fourth (and final) time. This time when they checked me I was 4 to 5 centimeters dilated and Jackson was well on his way.

I was in the hospital for about seven hours and then it was time to push. The nurse told me that it would probably take 2 to 3 hours because it was my first time. I knew better. I was one determine Momma at that point and I can't tell you how badly I wanted to see my son. Forty minutes later I gave everything I had on that final push and little Jackson Alexander came into the world.

I was so overwhelmed I was crying but no sound was coming out. When they placed my little son on my chest I thought I might pass out from sheer emotion and Joy. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The first thing I told Ernie was, "Can we have four more." He was crying himself and he just laughed. He was the best labor partner I could have asked for and I looked at him and said, "We did it" It was one of the best moments in my life.

We have been blessed beyond measure. Our son is healthy in every way and more than we could ask for. God gives good gifts to his children and he has given us the best gift. Our countdown to baby Jackson is complete and we are so excited to raise this little guy in the ways of the Lord. Thank you Jesus!

Ready...Set...Go!

I'm 37 weeks today, which means my little baby boy is considered full term. So now, he can come at any time and be as healthy as can be. This is big news in the Schulz house. We have been praying, preparing and participating in all kinds of activities in the great expectation of our first child for months and months and we can hardly contain our excitement that we are so close to meeting him.

His little clothes (and I mean teeny weeny) have been washed in his special little baby soap and they are hanging up waiting to be worn, his bassinet is all assembled and waiting to be slept in, his car seat is in the car waiting to bring him safely home, the hospital bag is packed with all kinds of useful comforts and is already in the trunk.

Birthing classes have been taken, books have been read, registries have been made, showers have been attended, research has been done, blogs have been written, doctor appointments have been kept, advice has been given and received, cribs have been assembled, nursery walls have been painted, our home has been rearranged as well as our lives and all in preparation of a little tiny bundle that will soon join our lives.

Meanwhile, Jackson is in the womb all nice and toasty, unaware of all of the fuss and goings on. Little does he know that in weeks, days or maybe even hours he will be thrust into the world to began this journey of life.

The bible says, "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children are like arrows in a warriors hands and joyful is the man/woman whose quiver is full of them." Psalm 127.

I am truly in awe. I weep even now. (yes I'm pregnant so I cry a lot) but these tears are meaningful. Jackson means "Son of a Gracious God" and how true it is. God is so gracious and so good. He gives good gifts to his children. He is giving Ernie and I the most amazing gift of family. In these last nine months God has not just allowed us to have time to prepare our home, but he has prepared our hearts.

So I say, bring on the stinky diapers, 3am feedings, and plethora of hormones. What a small sacrifice for such a huge gift from our Spiritual Daddy. Thank you Jesus!

Mommy Schulz

Pregnancy Photoshoot (By Ann Pasquini Photography)

Last week our good friend Ann flew into San Diego from Texas. I was so excited because Ann is also a photographer and she lived in San Diego when Ernie and I were engaged and she took our engagement photos, which we loved. I was hoping that she would come and visit sometime during my pregnancy because I was dreaming of a baby bump photoshoot with her.

It was a gorgeous sunny day in La Jolla when we joined Ann. The three of us had so much fun frolicking in the park and playing at the beach. We took a ton of pictures but these are some of my favorites. (I will post more of them in a slideshow format later)

We only have about two months left in this pregnancy and it's amazing how quickly the months have flown. I'm glad this time as been captured on film, it's been such an amazing season. We are so ready for our son to join us and we are so thankful that God has blessed us with the miracle of life.