Hooray for jogging!

Jackson and I have LOVED our morning walks together for the past few weeks. The weather here has been terrific! Today was different though, and in a good way! The weather was a bit cooler and the air was thick with moisture--like all the rain was just stuck mid-air. Well, we went out for a walk like normal, but I just felt so good I had to jog. With a husband entering the medical field, I feel guilty not obeying the doctor's orders to wait 6 week after delivery....but I couldn't help it. After all, I'd been waiting much more than 6 weeks--it's been almost 5 months since I've jogged! So Jackson and I enjoyed a few miles of the wet morning (even though it looks like he's screaming in the picture, he was happily sleeping just seconds later).
Oh, and thanks to Anya for the awesome jogger!! We love it!

Curry Delight

Aside from pizza, Michael also loves curry. I've made it for him before, but it's just not the same as when he puts that special Caribbean touch into it. So yes, I had him cook his own birthday dinner---and on fast Sunday! What a terrible wife! Anyway, we definitely enjoyed a curry feast, thanks to Michael's awesome skills!! He even made the roti. Awesome.

Michael's 26th Birthday Festivities

Sweet little Jack was sleepy-excited for Dad's birthday excitement to begin. Our neighbor Sarah was an awesome chauffeur and decoy for the somewhat surprise evening we planned for Michael. We first went to the Temple and walked around the grounds for a few minutes and then Sarah drove around town a bit to confuse Michael as to where we were. (I didn't insist on the blindfold this year--he just had to close his eyes. I had to show some mercy after I made him carsick last year!) We ended up at the Cope's house where we enjoyed Michael's favorite Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza that I'd made earlier that day. After dinner, our wonderful friends the Travellers and the Walkers joined us for dessert and talking. We were supposed to play games...but we had too much fun just chatting and watching Michael roll around on the floor with Tommy and give him horse rides on his back. He's SOO great with kids! Especially with our little Jackson.
By now you're probably wondering why Mike is in a picture with two other women~ Well, it was a multi-birthday party because Laura and Randi both have birthdays this week as well. We enjoyed some yummy carrot cake together.
On Saturday, I took Michael out for a birthday lunch at Orlandos. Are we surprised that he ordered pizza, even though he had it the night before? Not really! I think he's obsessed. I'm just glad he's still a kid at heart and that he let the staff come sing him happy birthday and bring free dessert! I'm proud of my 26 year-old man!

The Mommy Chop

As a child, I had super short hair. Through the years I experimented with some different lengths, but mostly I kept it chin-length or shorter. I started growing my hair out just before I left on a mission--as in, just after I had dated Michael long enough to know that he really liked long hair. Thus began the 3-4 year journey of growing it out. I didn't mind long hair at all, but I always told Michael I'd be cutting it whenever we had a baby. Alas, the time came! Jackson is here, and I chopped 7 inches of my long hair. Don't worry--I saved it in a brown paper sack so Michael can always remember my love for him. :) Ha ha!! The more I look at this picture, the more my hair still seems long to me...so there's likely another chop to be coming soon!

Jackson Michael Henderson

Jackson Michael Henderson was born to us on September 2, 2011 at 2:11pm. He weighed 5 pounds 8 ounces at 19 1/2 inches long. He is the most peaceful, handsome and sweet boy! We love cuddling with him, bathing him, singing with him, and just watching all of his adorable facial expressions! It's hard to believe a month has already passed! He grows every day. He was weighed today at 7 pounds 4 ounces--we feel like he's all grown up already! He brings us the greatest joy!!

TODAY is our last Sunday in all eternity without a BABY!!!

I wish that for this post I had a scanner so I could put in some of Jackson's recent ultrasound pics. We got to see his face last week, and I got so weepy because I'm so excited to just see that face outside of my belly and in my arms! And that will be happening soon enough! He's scheduled to be induced on Friday, September 2, 2011. We're still hoping he'll come on his own before that, but it's quite unlikely. He's still just over 5 pounds, even though we're at 38 weeks now. So, we're hoping he's not too stressed in there and that he can handle a few more days while his lungs finalize development.
It's crazy to think about how much our life is about to change...but we're so excited! We just pray that he keeps growing well these next few days so he's ready for life in the world outside the womb!

Mike/Jackson's new Diaper motor bike

I just had to post a picture of this awesome gift from our neighbor Sarah~ She's like the most creative person I've ever met! She made this cute diaper tricycle equipped with a hand-made crocheted blanket for handlebars, a bottle for the headlight, bibs for the seat, and a cute teddy as its rider. Seriously, this is the first time I've ever even seen or heard of anything so cool! I was so impressed with her work!

Baby Shower

These are the awesome wives of LDS med school students at Tech~ and they were kind enough to throw me a baby shower! We had so much fun talking, sharing mommy and birthing stories, playing awesome games that Christina came up with, and eating amazing food from Laura, Christina, Dessie, and Katie. Left to right and back to front in this picture: Sarah Quisenberry (our neighbor), Abby Anderson, me, Natalia Wilding, Mariah Evanson, Katie Mathews, Laura (and Annie) Cope, Ariel Fisher, Rondy McClellan, Christina Walker, and Brooke Cowles. Mindy Dahl and Brittney Strebel left before the picture was taken, and Dessie Willnauer was sick and couldn't come :(

Interview at Texas Tech!!!

Michael was privileged to be invited for an interview at Texas Tech in Lubbock~ the very school he's really hoping to get into to start the MD/MBA program in May. If you can't tell from the picture...he was very excited on game day!! :) He had awesome interviews and became even more convinced that this is the place for him! We're happy to be in Lubbock. The soonest we'll find out if he's in will be on October 15th.

Singing in the Rain

On Thursday evening, after a great Infant CPR and Car Safety class together, Michael and I enjoyed running around in the POURING RAIN! Lubbock hasn't had more than sprinkles for almost a year, and we got a full-on storm--lightning, thunder, and a whole hour of downpour. The little lakes around town are all full! We had fun getting drenched and enjoying the fresh, cool evening.
And... we haven't been great at tracking belly shots throughout the weeks and months of pregnancy...but for the record, here's baby Jackson in my belly at 35.5 weeks! He's moving well and seems to be growing just right! We're super excited for him to join us, but I still have lots of nesting to do beforehand!

Lovin' Lubbock

We are so blessed to have wonderful friends here in Lubbock! Chas Willnauer organized an awesome BBQ for all the LDS Medical students and their families that are going to Texas Tech right now. What amazing people! I loved meeting everyone and talking with all of the ladies. It's always great to see Michael with Greg and Austin--who knew these boys would be together again? Not only is it GREAT to be here meeting new people, but the Lord is really blessing us and helping things to fall into place. Michael has a job interview on Tuesday (cross our fingers for no more bike shop!!) AND....drum roll please...an interview at Tech on Wednesday! What great opportunities. Soon enough we'll find out about a new job, and then (probably sometime after October 15) whether he'll be selected for the MD/MBA program at Tech starting in May. Lots of excitement around here! I'm very proud of Michael and grateful for his hard work!

Life in TEXAS!!!

Well, the whole purpose of this blog is supposed to be to keep friends and family in the loop of our lives now that we're so far away...but that doesn't work if I never post! So I told myself I would do it today, and of course the day has quickly slipped away. Oh well--no pictures and it'll be short~ but here's a brief update on our lives!

Michael is amazing to me. He's working at the bike shop, and positive as ever, he's making the best of every situation. He's made great friends with everyone there and has already had such an influence on many people. His friend Akeem even came to church with us today and had dinner with us afterwards! We are LOVING all of the missionary opportunities that surround us. We prayed that Heavenly Father would prepare us for the people we would meet here, and I truly have felt that blessing as we've interacted with new neighbors, friends, and investigators. The Church is true and it's such a blessing to share it!

I've loved having Michael around a bit more, and so relaxed this past month after taking the MCAT. We're anxiously awaiting receiving his score back on Tuesday.

As for me, I've been working online as much as possible, while still trying to get everything organized, unpacked and in order. We finally have the internet, our OWN washer and dryer (yahoo for doing laundry at our own house!), and I found a doctor. Those were HUGE blessings and answers to prayer this past week. Aside from those household type things, I've spent more and more moments staring at my growing belly and being AMAZED at the way this boy moves inside of me! I love it!

We've been soo thankful to have wonderful friends here; the Copes are amazing and so helpful. We also love our new ward members and are enjoying meeting so many new people all the time!

The Crazy Month of June!!!

Wow, what a month! Time is flying by as we prepare for the big move to Lubbock, TX. This week was the most eventful~ Michael took the MCAT. What a neat experience for us as a couple, and also for our family as a whole as we all united in fasting and prayer. What's more, Brandon and Amy got sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple and had a wonderful luncheon and preception, Tyler and Brooke and their wonderful families are in town (meaning lots of joyful playing with the nieces and nephews!!), and after hours of research and comparison,we FINALLY decided on a place to live in Lubbock. But don't worry--those were only the big things. This week, I also worked and packed a bit, Michael and I dominated my dad and Tyler in two games of tennis, and we had the 3rd annual HendeRUN with the greatest participation yet!!!

Texas Medical School Applications

The past few weeks, Michael has been laboring on applications for Texas medical schools~ a tedious, but growing experience for both of us together. Isn't he a handsome applicant? We were so grateful for the help of all our family and friends in the editing process. We'll never forget how loopy we got on Tuesday night when we stayed up 3 hours past bed time trying to finalize everything...and then decided that we needed another day. So, Wednesday was the day we finally pushed submit and sent the check for 8 schools in Texas. We celebrated with some delicious pizza at Nicolitalia's. I'm so proud of Michael and all his hard work!

Mother's Day!!!

What a special Mother's Day! We drove with Ashley and took dinner up to Grandma and Grandpa Hobbs' house to finalize preparations and await Mom and Dad's arrival home from Texas~ the surprise worked like a charm! It was so special to be together with everyone. Michael had the awesome idea that we all share why we love Mom and Grandma~ I loved hearing that Grandma still says nighttime prayers with Uncle Mike. It was a true reminder to me that motherhood is an eternal calling--and not just for eternity, but for ALL of time. I'm grateful for the examples of wonderful mothers around me!

Life with Michael :)

It’s been so fun the past few days helping Michael with his Personal Statement for Texas Med School applications. I just enjoy the time we get to spend together, and the fun we have. Tonight, I had so much fun giving him a haircut~I don’t ever want to forget the way we do the haircuts--him sitting in the bathtub on our giant wheat storage bin, his back covered in the curls from his head, and the way he always cleans the shower and the drains afterward. :) He’s great.

Here's a funny story from today: So, Michael is obsessed with the single tulip that’s growing outside our front door. He’s been its brave protector-- covering it with a garbage can to shield it from the morning frost, etc. Today was the first day we’ve seen it’s beautiful yellow petals open up! It's gorgeous and smells amazing. Well, also today, the lawn care guy was out doing the yard, and he walked past the window with a big blower that looked like a saw. Right as I saw him go by, I jumped suddenly and told Michael he was going to "get" the tulip! Before even thinking about how ridiculous my statement was, Michael leaped across the room and ran to the front door. About when his hand touched the handle, he knew I’d gotten him good. It was HILARIOUS to see how silly he felt---all about this little tulip! I love the way Michael is so concerned about plant growth. Hopefully someday we’ll have an awesome garden.