OH MY CRAP! ITS BEEN 2 YEARS!

Well it appears that i have not posted to my freaking awesome and terribly popular blog for 2 years now. Kids can make time fly by, seriously. I'm just going to post a quick update for those that i havent seen in awhile. Shelby turned 2 in March, we remodeled our house, gary got his long awaited 65 inch flatscreen, i got a new car, we are planning to get pregnant this summer with child #2 - which will be the last of the Jackie/Gary clan. We already have the name whether its a boy or girl - Tate! I still work for SSA doing disability claims, Gary still works for Greene's Inc cutting concrete and Shelby still goes to the fabulous YWCA Lollie Eccles daycare where she is now learning chemistry 2010 and pre med courses. We are very happy in our own little Larsen world. We dont leave the house much, mainly for groceries or I take shelby to the duck pond for a bike ride. We love our life, no complaints at this time! More posts to come...

babies change people, its true

A baby can change a lot of things in life. Its funny how people that you have never talked to or dont even know suddenly want to see your baby and ask like 500 questions about them. Babies also bring families closer. Whenever we go to a family activity lately we are the most popular people there because everybody wants to see and hold shelby. Even family members that i wasnt on good terms with or havent talked to in years suddenly forget the past and become my friend again. As an example, just the other day i was at training table for lunch with gary and shelby. I had to take her to the bathroom to change her pants and she was fussing. I walked past the cashier counter and like 5 employees rushed out to see shelby and ask me how old she is and blah blah blah. I have to admit that while i was pregnant i was overly interested in babies. Once i was in the bathroom at Rainbow Gardens and a girl was changing her newborn baby. I wanted to see it so bad that i walked right into a wall while staring. Then i tried to exit through the closet, i was embarrassed to say the least. So i can see why people are so interested. Babies dont stay small for long and you dont really see lots of babies out and about every day. I must admit that Shelby is especially popular because she is SO STINKIN CUTE and everybody wants to see and touch her thick hair. Not only has Shelby changed me, she causes even the most tired and pissed off cashier at Walmart to smile and comment about how cute she is, instantly changing their demeanor. I dont know what it is about babies that makes people suddenly nice, its a strange phenomenon. All i know is that i like it =)

Deep thoughts of Shelby

Today I had a rough day. I am just bummed about going back to work. Im not bummed because i dont want to work, Im bummed because i will miss shelby all day long. I actually enjoy my job and my friends at work very much, but i also enjoy my shelb too. In all honesty, i have to work. Not much of a choice, this is the life that I have chosen and I love working and using my college education for something. I will be with shelb every week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and also every night after work. I dont feel guilty about having to put her in daycare, i feel that it will be a good social experience for her. I recenly went and checked out the daycare that shelb will be going to. Its right down the street from my house and the lady that runs it is SUPER nice and very good with babies. I felt very good about it when i went to visit. SO my question is this: why do people feel the need to express thier very strong opinions about child care to me when clearly i have a different opinion? I dont try and force my opinion on them, nor would i ever make someone feel like a bad parent for having to go to work to provide for thier children. What about single parents? Are they bad parents because they have to put thier kids in daycare? I think not. I just wish that people would keep thier rude opinions to themselves and do the most sensitive thing - put themselves in my shoes. Yes, I love shelby more than anything. Yes, I value our time together. Yes, I want her to have a good and meaningful life. Yes, I want her to have a good relationship with me and her family. No, I dont think that putting Shelby in daycare is "letting someone else raise my child". Shelby will grow up to love me as her mother because that is exactly what I am, I care about her more than anything and being a working mom just means that the time I get to spend with her will mean everything to me and i will make it the best i possibly can.

proud uncle!

proud grandma!

The whole Fam Damly!

smile!

Shelb has recently started to smile all the time, especially when you talk all sweetly to her. Her hair is also turning a bit red, you can see it in the above picture. This makes me so dang happy!!! Although I endured a lot of teasing when i was young, it was worth having a color of hair that is not very common. Shelb's hair is a darker red, we will see what it does in the next couple months of her life. Shelb wanted me to tell everyone that she loves you all and is so happy that people still come to visit her. She is growing up so fast, I cant believe she is 7 weeks old! I will be going back to work on the 8th of May, this is a major bummer for me as i have enjoyed the time off immensely. I will also miss shelb but i guess absence makes the heart grow fonder!! More pictures to come!

yo yo yo

Sup! This is Shelby the homie, she was trying out a new look the other day and we thought she looked pretty good! Just to update everyone, Shelby is chillin in da hood wit her coo self. Today Shelby spent the day at Grandma's house in Huntsville. According to Grandma, she slept most of the day, which totally screws me over because she will more than likely be up all night now. When my mom told me this, i wondered why shelby doesnt ever sleep all day when i am home with her. Then i came to the conclusion that its because i am so entertaining that she doesnt want to miss anything so she stays awake all day long. Oh, and there has been an addition to the family: Grandma Sue and Grandpa Joe were blessed with two bunnies for Easter. They are named Beast and Sprinkles and are living in the chicken coop in the yard. We would like to extend a warm welcome to them and invite you to visit them whenever you want. peace out yo.

Im a month old!!

squeeky cleen

bath time!!

A little less conversation, a little more action

In the words of the famous Elvis, "a little less conversation, a little more action. All this aggravation aint satisfactionin' me." I played this song for Shelby a few times the other night in an attempt to get the bean to go to sleep and low and behold IT WORKED!! Lately Shelby has been schooled in the music of U2, Rascal Flatts, Cold Play, Collective Soul, B 52's, Moulin Rouge, Green Day and Michael Jackson. Shelby has also traveled to such places as Training Table, Chili's, Elvera's Hair Salon, a foreign country called Huntsville and to the parking lot of Walmart and Albertson's. Shelby is currently learning the moon walk, the hustle and the macarena. After some long and vigorous IQ testing it has been found that Shelby's IQ is higher than both of her parents and is borderline genius. Shelby's favorite animal is the tree frog, which she does impressions of by suddenly throwing her arms out and flaring her fingers open. Just today Shelby told me that I am the coolest mom she could ever wish for...okay i made that one up but she gives me non verbal cues that this is the truth. Shelby currently enjoys baths, eating and getting her pants changed. After hours of studying Shelby's face I have come to the conclusion that she looks a little elf-ish with eyes from her daddy and a cute mouth and chin from her cool mommy. Shelby recieved 4 college acceptance letters yesterday and we are looking into sending her to either Harvard or Yale - a very tough choice as you might imagine. She has also been asked to pose for the July cover of Parent's magazine. Man she is busy, but she will continue to type this post for me every week =). What a good bean.

Set in my ways?

So the burning question lately has been: Am i set in my ways? And the answer is becoming more and more clear to me: YES! After almost 6 years of marriage, 4 years of college and like 8 different jobs I have found that i have never really had any time to be at home and relax or do anything for that matter. I have been focused on one thing: ME. The transition to motherhood has been a very hard one for me, much harder than i had anticipated. And although it has only been 3 weeks since my life has taken a huge turn for change I feel like a different person already. Shelby has forced me to think of something besides myself for the first time in a long time, and i have to admit that i am enjoying the sleepless nights and baby consumed days. I actually have become very engrossed with this child. Just last night I went to the General Young Women's Broadcast with my sister and my mom. I cried after being there for 5 minutes because I missed my baby shelb. If you think about it, I have been with her for about 11 months now, never alone. As I sat and cried I thought to myself how much i was going to struggle when i go back to work in 6 weeks. It will be very hard for me but i am going to enjoy the time i have left with her and make the most of it. Learning to take care of a baby is like learning a new job. It consumes your every thought and feels like something you will never catch on to, until you figure out that you can do it your way and it will still work. Honestly, i still have no clue what i am doing but i act like i do =). I am just glad that i have the support of my family and my friends because without them, i would definitly be lost. More to come....

shelby, gary, me and Dr Jiriko

more pics

SHE'S HERE!!

Shelby Lyn is finally here! She was born on March 7, 2006 at 4:30 in the morning. She was 20 inches long and 6 lbs 11 oz. I was in labor from 6:30 pm on the 6th until 4:30 the next morning. It was a very wonderful experience, we had to use the vaccum extractor to get her out because she was stuck on my pelvic bone so she has a little lump on her head that will take a few months to go away. Since we brought her home she has been keeping me up all night long and she just sits there awake until I try and lay her down and then she cries. Lately she has been doing some really funny facial expressions that are similar to her daddy's scuz look. She also smiles when she is tooting =). I cant believe that it has been 2 weeks since she was born, it has flown by and I love being with her all day long. I do miss my friends at work but its nice to have a break for awhile (even if it is a short while). The funniest thing that shelby does is pee whenever you take off her diaper to change it. She usually waits until you are looking at the box of wipes or reaching for her clothes to pee all over the changing table. She has a cute little face and of course i think that she is the cutest baby ever! I wont lie, taking care of a baby is not easy and it is very time consuming. It is hard to get up in the middle of the night, especially when i am used to sleeping for like 12 hours (like i did when i was pregnant). Its also very hard to have an added responsibility after being so stuck in my ways for almost 6 years, its definitly a challenge but i am working hard to do my best. The dogs are having sort of a hard time getting used to her, they bark when she cries and Kobe J gets very anxious whenever we have her downstairs. Hopefully he gets used to her sometime soon. Well, i am attaching more pictures since i am sure that is what everyone wants to see, make sure to comment if you would like and remember to leave your name so i know who its from!! PEECE!