Mr. Snuffleupagus

My poor baby has his first cold!!!  He is SO snotty, stuffed up and congested.  It started Saturday morning.  At first I thought maybe it was the hotel room or his allergies... but it is still going strong.  He seems to be feeling fine now and isn't running a fever (Monday he may have had a bit of a fever).  The only way you can even tell he is sick is to hear him try to breath and by looking at his poor nose.  Night time is the absolute worst... its so sad!!  He can't get comfortable and just tosses and turns all night. 

We even bought a cool mist humidifier on Monday because it was getting so bad.  I personally think the humidifier has helped him a little, but its hard to tell.  I went to my mom's for lunch today to visit with Jax and when I got in the car to leave, I found a boogie on my chest... ahhh motherhood ;) 

Feel beeter soon sweet boy!!!  Here are some pictures of him this morning... so dang cute!!!

Mobile Wedding Weekend

We ventured down to Mobile, Alabama this past weekend for a good family friends wedding.  My Family and the Neals moved to LaGrange about the same time in 1989.  They met at a party for the new doctors in town and we have been close friends ever since.  Our parents are in supper club together, we go skiing and other vacations.  Crichton (their oldest) is one year younger than me and got married this weekend to the super sweet Genevieve!  

We headed out about 1pm on Friday.  I wish I had gotten a picture of what the car looked like all packed... it is CRAZY how much stuff a 15 week old needs!!  ha.  I sat in the back with Jax because we didn't know how he was going to do in the car for that long (just over 4 hours).  SLEEP... that is what he did!!  We stopped one time in Montgomery to feed and change him and he went straight back to sleep until we got there.  He was AWESOME!!! 

We stayed at the Battle House Hotel in downtown Mobile.  It was really nice and one block from tons of restaurants and shops.  After we settled in, Matt, Jackson and I walked down the street to a restaurant that was recommended to us by the concierge... The Royal Scam.  Mom and dad went to the rehearsal dinner so we had a nice family date night.   Please take a look at how handsome Mr. Jax was for our date! :)

About to leave for dinner :)  My little man!!



Mommy and Jax during dinner



The Royal Scam was AWESOME!!  We sat outside on because the weather was perfect!  It was such a nice relaxing dinner!!  Minus the crazy rude lady that sat across from us... it was entertaining how rude she was... to EVERYONE!! ha. 

After dinner we headed back to the hotel room and settled in for the night.  Jackson woke up with a bit of a stuffy nose, but seemed to feel fine.  About 12pm Mom, Matt, Jackson and I headed out to explore and grab some lunch (dad stayed behind to work and dictate charts).  Crichton sent us to this yummy sandwich shop that was on the corner of Jackson St... how perfect.  You know I had to get a picture!!

Family shot on Jackson St.

It was SO nice to have a Saturday afternoon with nothing to do!!  We relaxed and watched football until time to get ready for the wedding. 

My Boys



The wedding was BEAUTIFUL...the cathedral was absolutely stunning!!  Jackson and I stood in the back during the ceremony... just in case!  I was not going to have my child be the one making noise during someone's wedding, ha!  He was perfect though.  Three of the groomsmen had babies within a month of Jax, so there were babies everywhere!  After the wedding there was band that led the wedding party down the street to the reception... it was SO fun!   

The reception was beautiful!!  It was outside in this courtyard completely surrounded by an amazing home.  We had a great time with friends, wonderful food and a super fun band! 

Me and the groom



This is what Jackson did during the reception... about 10 feet away from the dance floor, ha! 



A little dancing :)

   

Mommy and daddy were a little tired Sunday since we are not use to staying up late anymore, ha!  Jackson woke up around 7am so we decided to go ahead and hit the road so we would get home at a decent time (and maybe get a nap).  Jackson was awesome on the way home... we stopped 2 times.  It was such a treat to get away as a family for the weekend!!  We had a great time in Mobile!!

A "Sucking" Situation...

Recently Jax has become determined to suck his thumb.  He started about a week ago and it is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.  Please note, I DO NOT want to have a baby that sucks his thumb because that turns into a toddler that sucks his thumb and I hear its a nightmare to break!!  That being said, I LOVE watching him try.  He is so determined and is learning something new.  He is getting better at controlling his hand, keeping it near his mouth.  Not to mention, he makes the most precious noises while he attempts!!  Right now he has mastered the sucking of his hand/fist... just not the actual thumb.  He will get his thumb in his mouth every once in a while.  Its SO stinking cute, its hard to pull it away...

Here is a video from the other night (10/15/2011).  Please excuse the scratch on his face... mommy had apparently slacked on cutting his fingernails. 

I have a feeling we will attempt to end this before it becomes a habit... but in the meantime enjoy the cuteness!!! 

Jax's future best buddy!!



Welcome to the world -- Cole Andrew Dorsey!!!  Born Friday, October 14, 2011.  8lbs 4oz and 20.5 inches long at 9:54am. 



Beautiful sweet boy!!! 



The Dorsey Family!

You are already so loved!!!  Your mom and I have been the best of friends since 1999... that's right, for almost 13 years.  Ever since the day you mom called me up on my parents house phone (becuase we didn't have cell phones then, ha) and asked/told me she needed a ride to basketball practice.  Little did I know that one phone call would change my life in so many ways!!  I gained someone to make me look really dumb on the basketball court (I had to gaurd your mom  in bball practice and she is an awesome athlete!!), someone to stick up for me on and off the field/court, a ride (only for the 10 months that she was 16 and I was 15... once I turned 16, I drove!  I hope you get your daddy's driving abilities, ha) and a life long friend!  I am so thankful to have your mommy and daddy in my life! 

I have also know your sweet daddy for a LONG time too!!  I was actually on a double date with your mom and dad when they had thier very first date!  I also may have given your daddy my opinion when he picked out your mommy's engagement ring... he did the work though!! 

I can't explain to you how special it was for me and your mom to be pregnant at the same time!  We both wanted to be moms more than anything in the world!  When I found out I was having a boy, I secretly prayed that you would be a boy too!!  You don't know it yet... but you and Jackson are going to be best buddies!!!  Just like me and your mom :) 

Here is a picture of your mom and dad holding Jackson the week before you were born... they were SO ready for you to hurry up and get here!!! 

Every time your mom called me the last few weeks, I just knew she was calling to tell me her water had broken and you were on your way... but that wasn't the case!  I actually called her Friday morning to tell her "happy last day of work" since you were scheduled to arrive Monday 10/17/2011.  When she answered the phone she said "I was just about to call you" as she was brushing her teeth "my water just broke!!".  I managed to wait about 1 hour before I headed to the hospital... I just couldn't wait to meet you!!! 



Right before Larkin went back to have Cole.



Me and Cole

You are so sweet and so loved!!!  Im so glad that you are finally here so you and Jax can start hanging out.  We are going to have SO MUCH FUN in the years to come!!! 

Love you - "Aunt" Stout

Uncle Matt and Jax in the waiting room... he can't wait to meet you!!!

Pumpkin Fun!!


Warning... lots of pictures!! :) 

Mommy's Little Pumpkin :)



This Saturday we visited a pumpkin patch with friends.  The Bowens, Whites, O'Neals, Shaws, Stubbifields, Clays and Mallorys... it was fun!  It was a little hot for everyone liking, but still a lot of fun.  We got a cute picture with most of the babies (and big kids). 

Waiting patiently on the other kiddos

Sweet Gray and Jackson

Tyler was such a big help!! 

Best one I got of the whole group... Jax, Tyler, Gray, Seeley, Addy and Adler



Mommy and Jax



 I think we were all a little disappointed with the actual pumpkin patch... we were hoping for LOTS of big pumpkins and that wasn't the case.  Luckily, the babies are all still a little young to know the difference.  As I explained to Matt, this is really a trip for the moms to try and get some good pictures ;)



Getting ready for the hayride



We also went on a hayride through the corn fields.  The driver probably thought we were CRAZY because I think all we did was snap pictures the entire time!  Haha.  The sun was pretty much directly over head so getting a good picture was a challenge.  There were either horrible shadows or the sun was directly in the kids eyes. 

HELP, mommy!!  The sun is so bright

Kama, Addy, Jessica, Adler, Me and Jackson

Love this family shot!! 

 Matt was such a good sport!  He is such a great dad... I know he probably would have rather been inside watching football!  After the pumpkin fun, we went back to the Bowens for dinner and football.  The plan was to carve pumpkins while the guys watched football... but by the time we finished, everyone just wanted to relax!!  Next year I think we are going to venture a little further away from home to a bigger patch... hopefully it won't be 85 degrees again ;)

I can't wait for Tirck-or-Treating with this fun group of friends and kiddos.  We are so blessed to have them in our lives!! 

"Labor" Day- 7/6/2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 began like most regular week days.  I woke up a little bit late (like usual), rushed to get out of the house and headed to work.  I had been having regular Braxton Hicks Contractions for about 3 months but the last few days they seemed a little different.  I kept telling anyone who would listen that it felt different and it was a lot of lower pressure (and I might have kept saying over and over how I didn't know how I was going to do the next 6 weeks).  My pregnancy had been awesome up til this point so I just thought I was entering the "miserable" stage that everyone kept warning me about. 


I got to work and could not get comfortable in my chair!  I was also having some other issues that I won't write about but they caused me to call the doctor’s office just to make sure this was "normal" and nothing to worry about.  They decided I should probably come in to get checked out just to be on the safe side.  I went in and saw the NP Stephanie.  She did a test to make sure my water had not broken (it had not- this was at 1:30pm) and told me things looked good and it would still be several weeks... nothing to worry about.  So I went back to work and finished out my day after calling 2 of my closest friends to share the latest "pregnancy is kinda gross" details, ha. 


After work, I went to Wal-Mart to grocery shop.  It had been a long time, so I was there for over an hour walking all over the store.  My BH contractions were in full force, but like I said, this was nothing new.  Matt helped me unload the car and clean up the kitchen. I guess my body knew what was going on because I decided I needed to go ahead and pack my hospital bag and Jackson's.  I tried to convince Matt to pack his too ...rightfully so, he thought I was completely crazy since I was only 35 weeks and told me he would do it that weekend. 


After I successfully packed both bags, I then decided I HAD to clean our shower and the swing HAD to be put together RIGHT NOW.  Poor Matt had just sat down on the sofa with a glass of wine when I made this decision.  Bless his heart!!!  He just wanted to relax and I was acting like a crazy person... but he humored me and started working on the swing while I scrubbed the tub.


One hour, one clean tub and one impossible swing later I took Bristol out to go to the bathroom before bed... it was about 10pm.  He was being his typical stubborn self and wouldn't come when I called him... I finally yelled "Bristol come HERE!!!" and on the "here" I felt a trickle down my leg. (NOTE: Over the course of my crazy evening I had noticed a little something different when I would stand up... but it wasn't a full trickle like this).  My first thought was... did I seriously just "tee - tee" on myself?!?!?  But I knew that wasn't the case... I walked up the stairs to find Matt in the middle of the swing pieces and said "babe, I think my water is breaking".  Our birthing class we took told us that it didn't always happen like you see in the movies with the big gush... that it could be a slower trickle. 


I think we were both in shock!! 


I called the doctor on call and he said to go to the hospital.  I kept saying but Im only 35 weeks... its not time!!!  My other concern was that I had not washed my hair that morning and I didn't want to look greasy in the pictures...haha, typical!! 


I called my mom, who was on Skype with my sister in Peru (Angela was there for a mission trip, which made me SUPER sad) and Matt called his folks to tell them the news.   Matt threw together a bag (I got to slip in an I told you that you needed to pack your bag, hehe) and we were off. 


I got to the hospital about 11:30 and they ran a test to confirm that my water had in fact broken... Baby Jackson was on the way... 

Yes... your water did break!



Getting admitted...

My wonderful all night crew!!! They were so great!

My other night time visitor... sweet Jess came at like 1am to chek on me! 

Delivery day details to come...

What's in a Name?

Deciding on a name for this blog was one tough task.  I wanted something fun but also meaningful.  I went back and forth trying to come up with the perfect name.  Like I mentioned, the whole reason for wanting to even start this was to document my new life as a mom and all the fun, silly, hard, amazing and crazy things that I am facing in this new adventure.     

This got me thinking about my mom.  I know lots of people may say this... but I have the absolute BEST mom anyone could ask for!!!!!  My mom and I are super close.  Matt always jokes with me about how many times I talk to my mom each day (its SEVERAL and I Love it!).  I love the relationship I have with my mom... she is truly my best friend :) 

I have always felt like I could tell my mom anything, and I do.  Even when I was younger... I always knew I could go to her with anything.  My mom has always been the ultimate mom.  She NEVER missed anything with me or my brother/sister growing up.  Mom drove to EVERY ball game we had, brought me lunch most every day, never missed a performance... she was always there!  Mom has said several times that she was "born to be a mother" and I believe its true!  I am so lucky to have such an awesome role model to look up to now that I am entering the world of motherhood. 

Which leads me back to the name of this blog.  When I was in high school, all my friends loved mom too.  She was the "cool" mom.  One thing she didn't want was to be called Mrs. Stout... she hated it!  I think this is how she got the nick-name of Momma Stout.  EVERYONE called her that... several of my high school friends still do :)  SO I thought what better name could I come up with than Momma Mallory.  Its perfect. 

I only hope that I can be 1/2 of the mom to Jackson (and future sibling(s)) that my mom has been to me, Wade and Angela!!   

Love you, mom!
 

3 Months Old

I can't believe that is has already been 3 months since my life forever changed.  Jackson, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love you more than I ever thought I could love anything!  You make life so much fun. 

You are growing like a weed!  5 weeks early, who?  You would never know that looking at you now!  My best guess is that you weigh 12 - 13 lbs (we go to the doctor next week so I will know for sure then).  You are eating 4oz bottles with 2 scoops of rice cereal (to help with your reflux... the rice cereal has been a life saver!) every 3 hours during the day.  You have moved up to size 1 diapers and are wearing mostly 0-3 month clothing with some 3 month.  Mommy is really sad because the temperature has gotten a little too chilly lately and you have a  few REALLY cute summer outfits that you are just now big enough to wear (I may sneak you in them for a picture or two even though daddy says you can't wear seersucker in October... I think its fine, haha).  

Your personality is coming to LIFE.  You are so much fun, especially in the mornings!!  It makes leaving you to go to work almost impossible!!  You just smile and smile.  You are starting to do your best to "talk" to us.  You probably think I am a crazy person because I will sit and coo back to you... any noise you make I make too... I have the best time. 

You LOVE... I mean LOVE being outside.  You have been this way since the beginning.  Your favorite thing to do is to go on walks with Mommy, Daddy and Bristol.  We sometimes take several walks a day (to keep you happy).  This picture is from last Saturday at about 6:30am (note, mommy is not wasn't a morning person before you) in the driveway.  I was in my green "Merry Christmas" PJ pants and we were walking up and down the driveway because if we went inside... you would SCREAM! ha

But look how happy you are in your stroller!!

Sleep... until last week you were sleeping for 3 - 4 hour stretches a time.  Most of the time you would go right back to sleep after eating,not too bad if you ask me.  The week mommy went back to work, you decided you wanted to give me some extra Jax time so I wouldn't miss you as much... you decided this time should be from about 2-4:30am.  Luckily, this trend didn't last too long (I love spending time with you, that was just a little tough)!  BUT... starting 9/25/2011 you took your bottle around 9:30pm and went straight to sleep.  You only woke up ONE time during the night, around 3- 4:00am and then slept until 6am... it was AMAZING.  You have done this every night since then, WAY TO GO JAX!!   We are still having to let you sleep on your tummy or on our chest because you continue to spit up if you are on your back... pesky reflux!! 

Thanks for the best 3 months of my life!!  I love you so much little man!!