Nine Month Check Up

On Jax's 9 month birthday we took him to the pediatrician for his well baby check up.  This might have been his favorite visit because there were no shots!  Jasper couldn't make it to this appointment because he was out of town so Jax and I went by ourselves.  

 Jax decided to bring him laptop and check his e-mails while waiting for the doctor to come back to the room. 

 

Here were Jax's stats:

Weight:  21 lbs 4 oz  70 percentile
Length:  28.5 inches 60 percentile

So Jax has chunked up a little since our last visit. :)  Everything in the visit went well.  We talked about the milestones he has reached and what to expect over the next few months.  Jax wanted to show what he had learned in the last few months so he babbled lots for the doctor and was crawling all over the table.  One of the only causes for concern we had was that Jax still had no interest in solid food (other than purees).  He doesn't seem to like the texture of solid food and won't put food (puffs, steamed veggies, apples, etc) in his mouth.  The doctor mentioned that it could be a sensory problem that some babies have.  Some babies are hyper sensitive to certain textures (in foods, fabric, etc) and don't eat certain foods or can't wear certain clothes.  

Great, now I am worried my kid is going to have some weird sensory problem.  The doctor told me not to worry though and we would see how he was doing at his one year check up.  

I went home and when it was dinner time I thought I would just continue to offer Jax food like I have every time before.  After he ate his pureed food, I put some puffs and shredded cheese out on his tray and he immediately grabbed a piece of food and put it in his mouth.  After deciding it wasn't that bad he ate about 5 puffs.  I swear he heard me talking about him at the appointment and just wanted to prove to me that he could eat if he wanted to. :) 

Nine Months Old

Jax,
We may sound like a broken record by now, but this age is our favorite.  You are such a fun little baby to be around.  You are so animated and active that it can be hard to keep up with you!  We are started to realize how different life is with a mobile baby.  You seem to want to constantly explore your surroundings.  Currently, you are obsessed with boxes and baskets.  In every room you head straight for the baskets to turn over and see what treasures are contained inside.  After examining all the contents of each basket you then immediately turn them over so that you can pull up on them and stand.  You are even starting to try and climb over them though that is a trick you haven't mastered just yet.  You still refuse to lay on your back most of the time. We have even resorted to putting you in pull up diapers which say they are for "active babies."  That is you son, active.  

You recognize many people now other than us and get so excited when visitors come over to play (especially if that visitor is one of your grandparents).  When Daddy comes home in the afternoon your face lights up and you get so excited.  We love playing with you upstairs each evening before starting your bedtime routine.  That bedtime routine seems to be coming even earlier these days.  We have to practically beg you to stay up past 6 pm anymore.  You are just a tired baby in the evenings.  We think it is because when you are awake you are in a constant state of motion!

You are still our cautious little baby.  You approach each new experience with a bit of skepticism which we find hilarious. This month brought you your first swim lessons.  Mommy brought you into the water with all the other moms and kids and you held on so tightly.  As with all other first experiences you have had, you slowly warmed to the idea of the swimming pool by the end of the lesson, though you still never wanted to leave Mommy's arms.

In fact, you stay pretty attached to Mommy these days.  Even a quick trip out the play room door to grab a drink or throw away some trash often results in some tears.  We know that soon enough you will outgrow this attachment phase, so right now we cherish it.  We love you so much. 

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Rookie Mistake

Just when I think I really have the hang of this whole motherhood thing, I am taken down a notch.  Today I was supposed to take Jax for the second round of his flu shot.  I knew it was either at 12 or 12:30, so when Jax went down for his first nap at 9:30 I went to look at my calendar and see what time it was.  Turns out it was at 10:45. I knew Jax wouldn't be up from his nap in time for us to make it.  Great.


I called to reschedule and then decided to take a little trip to Costco and the mall to pick up some things we needed.  It was rainy outside so we bundled up and headed out.  We reached Costco and as I was getting Jax out of the car seat I noticed that his pants were all wet.  Great.

I look in the diaper bag and realize that I didn't pack an extra outfit.  What a rookie mistake!  Isn't it one of the first rules you learn in parenthood ... always have an extra outfit?  I quickly look through my car, which has more stuff in it that I care to admit, for some pants, a sleeper, anything.  No clothes in sight.  Great.


Since we were already at Costco and it would a long drive back to the house with a kid in wet pants, I decided  to just take him in and grab an outfit there to buy and change him into.  We go in, grab the things we need and a cute little outfit for the little man and I check out.  After getting through the checkout line I head to the bathroom when I realize my diaper bag is in the car.  Great.

I take my urine soaked kid out to the car (in the heavier rain) to get the diaper bag.  I thought again about just heading home from here but I already had a new outfit and it is a long drive home.  Plus by now his pants are REALLY wet.  So we run through the rain again and head to the bathroom.  By this point I am really wet, and my kid is soaked (and I only wish his was rain water).  Jax refuses to lay down on the changing table so there I am holding my kid who is standing on the changing table while I strip him down.  I must have looked pitiful because when a woman walked into the bathroom she said "can I help at all?"  I told her I appreciated the offer (which was true) but that I had it under control.  I don't think she was convinced.  

After we were all cleaned up we decided to forgo the mall.  I thought we had all had enough excitement for one day.  So we didn't accomplish much today, but we did get an outfit that looks adorable. 

Starting the Week Off Right

I never used to be a fan of Mondays.  Now however, they are a lot of fun.  Jax and I got our "work week" started off right today as he was all smiles this morning.  You know my camera cannot resist an adorable smiling baby, so here are a few pictures I snapped. 

This afternoon was a big one for Mr. Jax as it was his first swim lesson!  I really wanted to get him into swim lessons before this summer so he was comfortable in the pool.  More importantly, I wanted to start on the "survival" swimming early on.  In the class we are doing, Jax will learn to float on his back and eventually be able to be thrown in from the side and turn over and float.

He started out doing great in the class.  There were three other little girls in his class that were all close to 2.  He loved watching the bigger kids play and he was splashing around in my arms.  I even noticed him becoming a little more adventurous, kicking around as if he wanted to move through the water himself.  Then half way through the instructor had him go under water so that he would get comfortable with water on his face.  After that Jax was not a happy man.  He SCREAMED and clung so tightly to my arm.  The other moms all said their little girls had done the same thing at some point and that it was ok.  My little man wasn't buying it though.  The rest of the lessons he held on for dear life and "observed."  You could tell he was very interested in what the other kids were doing, but was scared to let go for fear I would let the instructor dunk him again!

I really like the class overall.  The instructor was great, there was a combination of swim instruction and play time in the pool (with lots of fun songs as well!) and the class is taught at each kids own pace.  You graduate to the next level when you child can pass certain skill tests so you don't move on until the child is ready. 

So every Monday you will find Jax and me hanging out at the pool, not a bad way to spend the dreary winter months.

Let It Snow

Last week didn't just bring a bug to our house, it also brought our first snow!  While we have a had a dusting of snow before now, this was the first accumulation we have had and I was excited for Jax to see it!  Ok, before you think I am a terrible mother that risked my son's health to play in the snow, we were actually advised by our pediatrician to bundle him up and take him outside as the cold air would help his breathing.  So we got to follow doctors orders and check out the snow!

There wasn't much snow, but it was still exciting!

Getting ready to brave the elements. 

Could my guys be more alike?

 Jax wasn't sure about things.  I am not sure he knew what to think about his new snow suit.

We tried to sit him down on the ground and he immediately fell back.  

The snow suit was so stiff he couldn't sit!

I will say it reminded me of Randy in A Christmas Story.  

 

We figured out that the only way Jax could sit and check out the snow was with Jasper propping him up.  I think this look is priceless.  "Mom, what are we doing out here?"

Then Jax noticed the snow and was intrigued.  

Snow angels!

Ok so maybe it wasn't a massive snowstorm, but it was still fun to get out for a bit and the cold air really helped Jax's breathing.  Now we are really prepared for the first major winter storm.  Bring it on!

Crawling Out of the Hole

Odds are you haven't seen much of us lately.  That is because this last week and a half has brought us Jax's first real illness.  We were told by the Dr last Friday that he had a milder case of RSV or Croup.  Good times.  My poor little guy had a fever, snot that could go on for days and a bad little cough.  He really did well with it though and wasn't fussy much from it.  He also didn't let it interrupt his sleeping at all, and in fact slept more.  I tell ya, this kid suddenly LOVES his sleep.  It couldn't have come at a better time either because this momma caught a little of the bug going around as well.  We are finally on the mend though and feeling much better.

I was dealing with snotty noses most of the past week and a half so most of my pictures (which are few and far between) were taken on my phone.  These two show Jax's new habits he developed while under the weather.   

Feeding Himself

Jax is insisting on grabbing his spoon now.  He doesn't get much food in his mouth, but that doesn't seem to matter.  I am not sure which is messier, the food all over Jax and his highchair, or his hair. 

 Standing up in the crib

I was not looking forward to this "milestone."  The first morning Jax did this when waking up it wasn't bad.  I went in to get him and he was happy as could be standing in his crib.  When he went down for his next nap though, well that was another story.  My child who usually goes to sleep with little to no fussing, stood up and got all worked up.  It took 45 min (with me going in several times) before he went to sleep.  He also kept standing up and then falling back down.  Most of the time he fell into the sitting position, but once he fell back and bumped his head on the railing which resulted in loud screams and me running in to make sure he was ok.  Since that day he has gone down easily most of the time, though he still pulls himself up often. 

I am glad that we are now all better and have resurfaced from the "sick house."  Watching my little guy not feel well is hard on us and makes me realize how lucky we are that Jax is such a healthy kid. 

Birthday Spaghetti

Ok so this is a little late, but better late than never right?  Last weekend we celebrated Jasper's dad's birthday the same way we do every year, with a spaghetti dinner. 

Jax had lots of fun playing with his twin for the night, Shelley.  

You can't tell where one stops and the other one starts!

Here is Jax with his cousins Jack and Kaitlyn.  It is fun seeing the little kids together.  

I really can't wait until they all get older and can really play with each other.  I picked this picture because if you look you will see Jax and Kaitlyn holding hands.  So cute! 

Jax sat with his Mikey as we sang Happy Birthday.  

We didn't have any birthday candles on hand so we had to make do with a tea light.  :)

Jack was very helpful when Mikey was opening his presents 

and very excited about Mikey's special birthday cupcake!

 

Finally here is a picture of sweet Kaitlyn in the cradle Jasper's parents have.  I believe that every child in the family since Jasper has been in that cradle.   

Happy Birthday Mikey!  We love you so much.

What January Brings

So according to a very trusted source (you know, Wikipedia) January is named after Janus, the god of the doorway; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianua) – January is the door to the year.

Well January has opened the door for many new interests and talents for Mr. Jax.  Here are a few of the highlights:

Jax is SLOWLY starting to check out table foods.  He won't put a tiny piece of apple in his mouth but he will happily chow down on a whole banana.  Go figure.

Jax is in LOVE with his red convertible.  
He is an excellent bouncer.  I wonder where he gets it from?

 He also looks good while doing it!  

I think this is the look he would use when trying to pick up a girl in his shiny red car. 

   Here he is practicing his pensive look.  You know girls love a guy that is dark and mysterious.

I think this is his innocent face for when he gets pulled over by a cop for going to fast.  Unfortunately, if he is anything like his mom, this one might come in pretty handy in college.  

 

January also brought us Jax's new favorite talent:  standing!  The moment the kid got this chair from Santa, he was pulling up on it.  Within a matter of a few days he had mastered pulling himself up and now cannot be contained.  Fun times.  This also resulted in "safety first son" being the words most often uttered from Jasper's lips.  

While the chair is lots of fun to stand on, Jax also really likes to sit in it as well.  Maybe it makes him feel like a big boy?  Whatever the reason, we spend lots of time with him in his chair while we read and play with toys.  

 January has also brought another growth spurt for my not so little man.  I have yet again had to pack up a whole box of Jax's clothes that are now too small.  Don't worry though, the baby legs still fit! :)

Holiday Hangover

So the holidays have passed and we all started to feel a little like this:

 

What do you do to cure a holiday hangover, more celebrations!

We weren't able to be at the Christmas celebration for my mom's side of the family because it was the same day as another family celebration we had.  Luckily, some of the family was able to get together again after Christmas so we could see them.  This meant:

more toys,

a chance to check out Uncle Pat's mustache,

and a very happy baby cured of his post holiday hangover!

We are now ready to tackle the dreary months of January and February.  Bring 'em on!

Going Bowling

Louisville's football team was had a bowl game this year and it was in Charlotte NC.  As soon as the location was announced, we knew we would go down for the game.  Not only was it a quick trip down (and we are seasoned travelers with a baby now!) but it is also only 1 1/2 hours away from our good friends Jason and Marie!  They live in Greenville SC with their adorable little boy Max and their baby Sarah who is the same age at Jax.  We were set to leave the day after Christmas.  The morning went perfectly.  We were packed and ready to leave as soon as Jax woke up from his morning nap.  We got through the airport security in record time and were at the gate with a happy baby with a flight that arrived on time.  I am pretty sure Jasper said "well this has been perfect."  In travel language, I think that phrase is the kiss of death.  Soon after, we were informed their was a crack in our planes windshield.  First we were told there would be a delay and ultimately our flight was cancelled.  I pointed out that if you are going to get stuck without a flight, home is a good place to be.  Jasper got us booked on the next available flight which was the next morning and we headed back to the house.

Things worked out fine as we were then able to see some friends that night that were in from out of town for the holidays and the next day we were back at the airport and on our way to Charlotte.  By the time we landed and drove to Greenville there was not much time before we would have to turn around and head by the Charlotte for the game.  The original plan had been to leave Jax with Marie and her kids as Jason, Jasper and I went to the game.  Since we were just getting to their house so late though, I didn't think Jax would do well with us dropping him off and immediately heading back out.  I therefore opted to stay home with Marie and the kids.  I would like to pretend that I am just an amazing mother that sacrificed for my baby, but while I did put Jax first, it was also really cold outside and Marie offered wine after the kids went to bed.  I didn't feel like I was missing much. :)    

We had such a good time with our friends and their kids.  Jax loves older kids and was a big fan of Max.  I think the feeling was mutual.  When they were together, I called it "The Adventures of Max and Jax."

I am pretty sure Max was showing Jax how to slide across the wood floor.  Jax was just trying to keep up!

No idea what is going on here.  Maybe Max was teaching Jax how to sound like dinosaurs?

Max loved to come up to Jax and put his head down so Jax would pull his hair.  Since this is Jax's favorite game these days, he was thrilled to play.  I was so worried Jax was going to hurt him.  When I said "carfeul Jax" once, Max replied with "It's ok it doesn't hurt."  So there you go.

It wasn't just guy time while we were there though.  Jax and Sarah got to spend some quality time together.  One day when Marie and I were driving back to the house with the babies in the back seat, I turned around and in the crack between their car seats, I could see the babies holding hands!  They were so cute!

A perfect match I tell ya!

They just couldn't keep their hands off each other. :)

I found it very hard to get pictures of the two of them when they were both looking at the camera.  

This is the closest I got ...

before this.  

Bath time!  Don't let this picture fool you, Jax was NOT a fan of bath time. Maybe he likes to have privacy?  Either way he cried as soon as I put him in the tub both nights.  The second night we were able to distract him with toys just long enough to wipe him down quickly.   

The babies played well together and while they would occasionally swipe a toy from each other, 

there were no tears as a result.

We didn't leave the house much because with feedings and naps for three kids there isn't much time in between.  We did walk down to a park though and Jax got to swing for the first time!

I think Jason was having as much fun as Max!

It was close to nap time for the babies. :)

And of course Jax found a ball, Max's to be exact.  This kid is OBSESSED with balls.

On our last night there Max's favorite sitter came over and we went out to dinner after the kids went to sleep.  

We loved catching up with Jason, Marie and their kids.  

While we get to see them on holidays when they are in town, this was the first time we have been able to spend quality time with them and their kids in a LONG time and it was overdue.  

We can't wait to see them again and we are already planning our next trip to Hotel Richards. :)