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I am head over heels, madly, deeply in LOVE.

A love that is intense, indescribable, pure and beyond measure.

It is filling, healing and captures your soul and gives it with warmth like the noon day sun.

It washes over you and you can't help but soak it all in.

And then wish for more.

It's so special because it came with a price.

Time, worry, anxiety, patience, prayer and a whole lotta faith from far more people than just my own heart.

I love every breath,

grunt,

sneeze,

yawn,

fingernail,

tiny toe,

soft squeal

and loud cry.

Every itty bitty eyelash,

patch of flaky skin,

and squeaky hiccup.

I adore every deep sigh, hum

and purr you make.

Oh, those baby blues squinting, trying to focus.

Your velvet skin.

Perfect pink lips.

Long feet.

Skinny legs.

Big hands.

And silky soft hair.

Love.

Pure and simple.

And as much as I would give anything to freeze time, just for a bit,

giving me an extra few minutes to enjoy you right now,

I do know that I have loved every moment of you since you arrived.

I have drunk in your smell.

I have kissed you from top to bottom and

snuggled you from head to toe.

As the days keep streaming by at a dizzying pace,

one thing will always remain.

A blessed constant in an ever changing world.

You are my baby.

And I am your Mother.

That will never change.

And I will love you forever.

Forever and ever and ever and ever.

Always.

For my life was incomplete without you.

I was waiting.

And you'll never know how grateful I am to finally have you here.

Until you have a little one of your own....

My Happy Place

For the past week most of my family has been here: DISNEY WORLDIf you know me well, I am a Disney girl any and every day. I would happily be at Disneyland or Disney World over just about any other place on the planet.And as much as I have loved getting emailed photos of the various parks and cell phone updates, I have to admit, I have been perfectly content being home, surrounded by tiny socks and diapers, wrapped up in blue baby blankets and covered in sweet smelling lotion. For this is my Happiest Place on Earth. Here with my new little angel. Sent straight from the Land of Sweet Dreams and Happily Ever Afters.

Meeting Grandma Blackhair

We are so blessed to have Rich's mom here with us until next Tuesday. There's nothing like sharing a new born babe with those you love.

Zachary

Introducing

Zachary Steven Jackson

First Day of School

August 12, 2009
7:45 AM
Veterans Park Elementary School
Lexington, Kentucky

Josh- 2nd Grade Mrs. Newton
Matt- 2nd Grade Mrs. McClenney
Trey- 4th Grade Mrs. Little

New Arrival

Our New Arrival - name to be announced at a later date!
August 12, 2009
6:05 am
8 lbs. 5 oz.
21 1/2 inches
University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center

Mother and baby are doing well! Special thanks to Ashlee Millar for answering a frantic phone call from Cheryl at 3:00 am this morning and spending the night and morning of the first day of school with Trey, Josh, Matt, Brynn and Kaitlyn. Seriously, we would have been in BIG trouble without Ashlee. We can't thank you enough.

There will be more pictures on the way. Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers on our behalf. Thanks to our mothers for helping us get through some first trimester challenges back in February and March.

And now we will get back to working on a name, an 8 passenger van and the first day of school.

Thank you for everything,

Rich and Cheryl

Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp

Today was our final day of summer break, so we had to make it a good one. After two hours of swimming at our neighborhood pool, the kids and I headed north to Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky where the NFL Cincinnati Bengals hold their training camp every year.

We watched the team practice, bought some pennants and pom-poms and got quite a few autographs. The boys loved getting up close to the players. And we all had a good laugh when Brynn shouted, "Lets go guys!" during the practice as she shook her orange and black "cheerleaders" (aka pom-poms). She's got quite a lot of spunk in her little body.

We only wish Rich could have joined in the fun. There's always next year (or a trip to Cincinnati for our first ever pro football game). We'll see...
WR Chris Henry
They film the practice
A few QB running drills
Post practice cool down and stretching

As far as autographs go, you simply stand along the side and hope the players will stop and sign. Most do, but it's still hit and miss to where they move through the line. The practice this year was on the upper field, so there were fans on either side. Some players would just go down the line, while others would go back and forth. Quarterback Carson Palmer only signed on the opposite side, so it was nice that we managed to get his autograph last year. Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco (aka Chad Johnson), who didn't sign anything last year, was coming down the line close to us, but then moved across before he reached us. When I got home tonight and read the free poster the boys got, I discovered that HBO is filming a show called Hard Knocks which documents the Bengals training camp and begins airing on August 12. I had noticed all the cameras and microphones on the field and saw that they were filming Chad signing, which left me to believe he was only acting nice because he was on camera. That's my opinion.
(LB) Keith Rivers (RB) Cedric Benson(DT) Domata Peko and (WR) Andre Caldwell(WR) Chris Henry

(LB) Ray Maualuga

Me M.D.

What I have learned first hand while being pregnant.....

Rho-gam shots

Expecting twins- twice

Pre-term labor

Breathane, Procardia, Terbutaline

Subchorionic hemorrhage

Low amniotic fluid

Breach baby

Non Stress Tests

Low platelets

Thrombocytopenia


All these medical factors might add up to why I am constantly in a state of losing my mind.

Or maybe they should just award me with my fake M.D. because after growing up with an OB-Gyn father, having an orthopedic surgeon as a father-in-law, two brothers in medical school, being married to a Radiologist and surviving a few medical conditions of my own, I seriously feel like I'm becoming an expert.

Just don't ask me to write a prescription or save your life, because it's a pretend M.D. remember and I'm losing my mind. Not quite the combination you want in your physician.

Welcome Home!!!

Elder Kurt Matthew Nance
Taiwan Kaohsiung Mission
September 4, 2007- August 10, 2009

Welcome home little brother!!! We love you and are so proud of all of your hard work. We only wish we could have been there at the airport to give you hugs and kisses in person!!

Oops!

One needed screwdriver
+ One hefty 8 year old
+ A few seconds of climbing on the garage shelving
= A HUGE MESS!!

UK Football Fan Day

For our second straight year we attended the University of Kentucky Fan Day held at Commonwealth Stadium. Saturday night, the field was filled with a sea of UK blue, flooded with Wildcat fans eager to meet their current football team. The players are spaced around the stadium ready to sign autographs and pose for pictures. The head coach is in the middle with pen in hand prepared for the long two hour signing session. They had their football bowl game trophies on display as well as new Cat hats, jackets and t-shirts for sale.

While we are not die-hard UK fans, any event that is kid friendly, outdoors and free, we will happily pull out the blue from the closet and attend.

The night ended with a 20 minute firework show. While it wasn't quite Thunder (which we missed this year due to my pregnancy), it sure hit the spot since we haven't seen to many fireworks this summer.

I am always impressed that UK holds a kick off event like this for families. School doesn't start for a few more weeks, so it certainly isn't for the college age group. I also love that they let the fans on the field, something that not many other schools would allow. I guess that is why many become converted to love UK sports when you moved to Lexington. When they host things like this, it's hard to not want them to succeed.

The grass is short and thick, almost like AstroTurf or a putting green. The boys brought their summer journals to get signed.
Head Coach Rich Brooks
Getting autographsBowl game trophiesWe had some time to kill before the firework show, so we took A LOT of photos. Here are a few.
Playing a bit of tackle football on the fieldThere was loud music and it didn't take long for the dancing to begin...(Telescope through the poster)
After a night like that, you just need to say "Go Wildcats!"

First home game is against Louisville on September 19. A great rivarly showdown. Can't wait.