Introducing: Jackson Dale!!!

Oh my goodness.  So one of my best friends gave birth this past Friday to one beautiful baby boy...Jackson Dale.  He is SO precious I cannot even stand it.  To be honest, I know it was a super long 10 months for her because this little guy didn't make it easy on her at all - but I feel like it was just yesterday that I got an email from her saying that she needed to talk to me and tell me something really important - and I just knew that she was going to tell me she was pregnant.  Not sure why, but I did.  And that was it.  And I'm sure she was pretty much scared out of her mind, being that she just finished planning her wedding and all.  But you know what?  God does have a plan, and he definitely had it in his books for Jeff and Emily to become parents to this wonderful baby boy.  Just take a look at him - pretty sure he's one little swaddled miracle.

Up close picture of Jackson!!

And this guy was born pretty dang lucky.  He has a great mom and dad who love each other a whole freaking lot and pretty much complement each other more than any other couple with a LOT of love to give to him.  But he was also born with some pretty great grandparents, aunts, uncles and pretend Pi Phi "aunts".  And pretty much this lady right here, Sharon, is one of those great grandparents.  She has had some practice with sweet Olivia, Emily's niece, so she's got this thing down!!  Look at her - so in love!!!!  She's pretty amazing!

Yep, he's one lucky little boy.  And I was so happy that Jimmy and I got to meet him about 24 hours after he was born.  We actually even went up there on Friday night because I couldn't wait to get my hands and eyes on this sweet boy, but he and his mom were trying to make this whole feeding thing work (I mean, he's a hungry boy, just needs to figure it out!!!)...so we waited just a few more hours in anticipation to meet him.  And it was totally worth it.  Holding him and touching his sweet baby soft skin was pretty much heaven.  And even more fun?  When I was holding him right up close to me, his future bff, Baby Carter - well he started kicking - a LOT!  I looked up at Emily and told her that he knows.  I'm convinced that our baby knows that I was holding Jackson and yep, they are destined to be friends forever.  Since Jackson will be 4 months older...he will have to be a good example.  I'm sure he will, but I can only imagine what those two will get into and be up to when they are 2 or 3.  Oh man.  We are in for a treat with them I'm sure.  But that's what friends are for, right???

That is exactly what friends are for.  And I'm so lucky to have Emily as a friend!!!

Olivia, Emily, Baby Jackson and me!!

One of the sweetest things when we were there??   Olivia!!  Oh my goodness - she is so in love with her new cousin Jackson and when Sharon would ask her if she loved Baby Jackson, she would look up and give him a kiss on the cheek.  It was seriously the sweetest thing ever, I kind of wanted to cry.  Such sweet love she was giving him!!!

Olivia and Aunt Emily just snacking on cheerios

Emily looked amazing folks, just less than a day after giving birth to her adorable son.  She was super positive and said she was feeling good and I'm so proud of her!!!! Way to go Emily!!  Love you, Jeff and your sweet little baby!!!  

And Emily, you are going to be a rockstar mom because just watching you with Jackson was so sweet.  He was crying when we came in and she was being so patient and just trying to make him feel better.  I loved watching her calm him down and just look at him with more love than you can possibly imagine.  The love between a mother and her son is obviously something I haven't experienced, but I have to say that I'm pretty dang excited to know what it feels like.

A Mother's Love For Her Son

Author: Valerie Dupont

A mother's love for her son is pure and special.
It can not be broken or reckon with.
It's a kind of love that softens even the hardest of hearts.
Love between mother and son is strong and visible from the sea.
It brings peace of mind and drys sad tears.
It can bring a man to his knees and make him weep.
A mother's love for her son is not hidden or shy, but is ever lasting that grows stronger each day.  

Welcome to the world, Jackson Dale and congrats to the new parents, Emily and Jeff!!!