Jackson's First Bath

Here's some video of Jackson's first bath. This boy does not like to get clean!

3 Weeks and Counting

I hate Sundays. Always have. Even as a kid, when I heard the familiar stopwatch on "60 Minutes", I knew the weekend -- and fun -- was over.

Sundays meant back to school, back to work, back to life.

That's how I felt on Wednesday when I had to leave Meredith and Jackson and venture back to work after a glorious 3-week vacation.

I am eternally grateful for the time off -- I know that many dad's do not get the luxury of so much time home with mom and baby. Believe me, I enjoyed every minute of it. Even the 3 a.m feedings and the crying jags that seemed never-ending.

Here are a few pictures of our time with Jacks...He's quite an active baby with hands and legs and head in constant motion.

When I get home from work at night, I want to sit and watch him sleep. I guess that's what new dads do.

Mimi, Mommy and Me

I got to spend lots and lots of time with Mimi (Mommy's mommy) last week. She stayed with us for an entire week...cooking, washing my bottles and clothes and helping Mommy and Daddy acclimate to having me around. She was a huge help!

I can't wait to see her again!

Poppy's Visit

What a surprise! 5 days after I was born Poppy (Daddy's daddy) paid us a surprise visit! I was in the middle of a nap when there was a knock at the door. Daddy peered through the peephole and noticed a familiar person outside. It was Poppy!

Poppy flew all the way from Baltimore to spend some time with me. He only told a few people and made sure no one spilled his secret.

He held me, rocked me to sleep, sang songs to me (even if he didn't know all the words) and made sure to give me some tlc.

He also gave Mommy's mommy, Mimi, a break every now and then. It's been great having them both around all week.

There's lots more visitors to come. Great aunt Susie will be over in a few weeks and so will Grandma Bonnie and maybe Grandpa Donnie. Then Daddy's mommy, Nana, will fly down for ten days. After that, Poppy and Gramsy will visit for two weeks. I can't wait!

Jackson's First Bath

We're following the baby playbook and recording all of the important moments in Jackson's early life.

To wit, the following photos of the little guy's first couple of baths at the hands of Mommy and Mimi. (Mere's mom, Cheryl)

Jackson did not enjoy it nearly as much as we did.

I'm working to upload video also...

Jackson James on TV

Jackson's entry into the world was cause for headlines amongst the Codd and Jones families.

It was also newsworthy at CBS 4, where Jackson's daddy, Carey, is a news reporter.

Photojournalist Jim Bernard took pictures of a 5-hour-old Jackson with his Mommy and Daddy. Then, CBS 4 News anchors Eliott Rodriguez and Erika Von Tiehl told all of South Florida about Jackson's arrival on the 5:30 news.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

The Entry of Jackson James...

Click on the photo to see pictures of Jackson's first few moments on Thursday, June 3 at 10:13 am.

The Entry of Jackson James...

Jackson James Arrives

June 3 will always be a special day for us. It's the day Jackson James, all 9 pounds, 3 ounces of him, entered the world. Did I mention he is 21 1/2 inches long?

It is a special day for two other reasons -- Jackson now shares the same birthday as his maternal grandmother, Cheryl, and paternal great-grandmother, Josephine. (Also, Carey's friend since first grade, Scott Brannan, also claims June 3 as his birthday.)

After 10 days of waiting to be born, Jackson joined us on a day revered in our families. It's like it was meant to be.

Mere was such a warrior -- enduring the agony without an epidural, even after taking Pitocin to speed up her labor.

The delivery was smooth -- even though when I saw the head poking through I didn't know what the hell it was -- and Jackson joined us with nary a scratch. Our midwife, Maria Claudia, allowed me to help pull Jackson out of the womb.

For us, there was an extra element of surprise -- the baby's gender. We chose not to know. When Maria Claudia turned the baby and I saw the penis, I must admit to some masculine pride.

Everyone's birth experience is unique, special and everlasting. Ours certainly was. Mere's mother, Cheryl, attended the birth. Her father, Donnie, and stepmother, Bonnie, arrived soon after with Mere's sisters, Mallory and Madeline and aunt, Susie. Later in the day our friends, Meredith and Rene visited bearing bagels and well-wishes.

Phone calls poured in from my Baltimore family and friends, as well as friends across the country. We may be miles from some of those we love and cherish but they are close to our hearts and even closer through Facebook.

There's a few milestones at the 24-hour mark:

He is breastfeeding.
He took a big dump.
He's got serious fingernails.
He favors his left arm and likes to kick his arms and feet out of his blanket (just like his dad).

It took Jackson a while to get here but he arrived when he was supposed to. We're thrilled to welcome him to our family.