Pax is growing up before our eyes.
Tonight, Chris went to his bed to soothe him, as he was having trouble falling asleep. He came downstairs, bemused that Paxton has become so capable at using his little hands. Chris had handed Pax his watch and Paxton held it with one hand, turning it and moving it to his other hand, then taking one finger and flicking the little buckle on the watch.
I remember the first time I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Paxton using his hands to hit the play bar that is on his carseat. Now I can't imagine him not reaching out for things in front of him. He is so enamored with drinking from a cup that every time I have him near me and am sipping on a Diet Coke, he reaches out with vigor and force to get it from me. Fear not, I've not given him any, but he makes it difficult to refuse. The kid's got some muscle.
I gave Paxton his first non-organic food yesterday. Every time we go to a restaurant and Paxton sees me eating something, he looks at me with puppy dog eyes that look completely betrayed that I would eat without offering him some. Of course, chips and salsa or salad are not on his menu just yet, so I reluctantly avoid his eyes and continue munching, trying to distract him with toys. Yesterday, Chris and I took Paxton to an Irish pub/restaurant for Chris' 40th birthday and I brought along these rice husks I bought the other day. They are called Baby Mum Mums and they are supposedly safe for a baby Pax's age. They just melt in his mouth. They're fairly nutritious, but they didn't have an organic offering at the store I got them. I've seen online since then that you can get them organic, so I'll have to keep my eyes open. It was the first time I gave him a non-pureed food, so I was a little nervous, and a little sad. He's able to eat so many different things now--sweet potatoes, apples, carrots, pears, blueberries, green beans, sweet peas, squash, bananas, prunes. He's growing up too fast.
Paxton isn't a big laugher. He chuckles consistently when I do certain goofy things and say specifically silly words (shazam, alakazam, zap), but they're more polite chuckles than outright belly laughs. He laughs more when one of the animals walks in front of him (fuzzy is funny). I regularly dance around the living room, trying to charm him and he does find it kind of funny when I flip my hair around my head, but still he does not give those great baby laughs that I live for. Hopefully that will change as he gets older. I yearn to hear his little laugh. It's the greatest sound in the world.
Keep in mind that I reserve most of my baby raves for this blog, sparing my myspace friends the gag-inducing mush. I know they appreciate it.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Social Time for Babies and Their Wards
I took Paxton to toddler story time at the local library last week. There were oodles of babies of all baby ages there. It's supposed to be for kids under two years old, but big brothers and sisters dotted the room. Paxton loves kids, but he was overwhelmed by the sheer number. We were fifteen minutes late so we discreetly grabbed some carpet and settled in for storytime. The funny thing was that you could barely hear the woman reading over the chatter of little voices. It was really cute.
Between stories, the woman led the group in songs. I've never felt my fallibility as a mother more than when I was the only person in the room who didn't know the hand motions to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat". Was there some sort of handbook that they forgot to give me at the hospital? Is this on the Baby Einstein videos that I've resisted allowing Paxton to watch? I felt like I was in church, smiling uncomfortably while everyone joyfully belted out hymns that they've probably known since they were children and which I was hearing for the very first time as a woman in her 30s. Out of my element. At least I was familiar with Row, Row, Row Your Boat. I've even sang it to Paxton several times. The gibberish song with the chorus that says "I Like Books" was catchy, but wholely unfamiliar. It made Paxton laugh, though, and that's good enough for me. I get the idea that this Toddler Storytime is a regular social event for the parents, as well as the babies. Most people seemed to know each other. I hope to go again and Chris is all set to cut out of work for an early lunch so he can go with us. We love seeing Paxton in his element. Our whole life now joyfully revolves around making his life as fun as possible. Chris is turning 40 next weekend and he said that he'd rather do something fun with Paxton and me than have a party to celebrate his big day. I'm probably not going to let him off that easily. He has a gig next weekend, so we won't be able to celebrate until the next weekend, but I do want to get together some friends to have an informal party for him. And, of course, we'll make sure Paxton is a key factor in the celebration. Thanks to him, we have a lot to celebrate! :)
One last thing--Paxton doesn't quietly babble like most babies. He shrieks loudly enough to shatter glass. I seriously think I've had some hearing loss in the last week. I googled this new twist and found that it's common among babies Pax's age. They've discovered their ability to make a new sound and you can only hope that they'll soon get bored with it. I don't know--it's been months and he's still not bored with bouncing. On the contrary, he bounces more. I'm going to have my hands full with this little guy. We all are.
Between stories, the woman led the group in songs. I've never felt my fallibility as a mother more than when I was the only person in the room who didn't know the hand motions to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat". Was there some sort of handbook that they forgot to give me at the hospital? Is this on the Baby Einstein videos that I've resisted allowing Paxton to watch? I felt like I was in church, smiling uncomfortably while everyone joyfully belted out hymns that they've probably known since they were children and which I was hearing for the very first time as a woman in her 30s. Out of my element. At least I was familiar with Row, Row, Row Your Boat. I've even sang it to Paxton several times. The gibberish song with the chorus that says "I Like Books" was catchy, but wholely unfamiliar. It made Paxton laugh, though, and that's good enough for me. I get the idea that this Toddler Storytime is a regular social event for the parents, as well as the babies. Most people seemed to know each other. I hope to go again and Chris is all set to cut out of work for an early lunch so he can go with us. We love seeing Paxton in his element. Our whole life now joyfully revolves around making his life as fun as possible. Chris is turning 40 next weekend and he said that he'd rather do something fun with Paxton and me than have a party to celebrate his big day. I'm probably not going to let him off that easily. He has a gig next weekend, so we won't be able to celebrate until the next weekend, but I do want to get together some friends to have an informal party for him. And, of course, we'll make sure Paxton is a key factor in the celebration. Thanks to him, we have a lot to celebrate! :)
One last thing--Paxton doesn't quietly babble like most babies. He shrieks loudly enough to shatter glass. I seriously think I've had some hearing loss in the last week. I googled this new twist and found that it's common among babies Pax's age. They've discovered their ability to make a new sound and you can only hope that they'll soon get bored with it. I don't know--it's been months and he's still not bored with bouncing. On the contrary, he bounces more. I'm going to have my hands full with this little guy. We all are.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
At the start of the festivities, Paxton was so excited! His eyes were feasting on the sights!
Mom, Paxton and me, waiting (and waiting and waiting) between floats. Notice my Ace Hardware hat.
Paxton's outfit said "America's Cutest Idol" and his booty said "Superstar".
He was out like a light as soon as the parade was over. Night, night, Packey.Happy Independence Day!
We took Paxton to the Fourth of July parade on Friday. I love that parade. Our little town feels so All-American and charming when I see the line of local businesses, politicians and athletes parading down the road on the back of giant pick-up trucks, throwing candy willy-nilly. We've been going for enough years now that we have an established game plan. We know where to find parking. We know never to set up our seats too close to children, because they're quicker than us and they get to the candy before we can. Because we always run late, we never are able to get there early enough to grab a shaded spot. In a way, it's okay, because the parade seems to start so late that if we were to get there early enough to find shade, we'd have to commit far more hours to the event than I'd actually care to. As it was, we got there 30 minutes early, got a spot right in the full morning sun and subsequently watched a family with four kids set up right next to us. BOO!
I dressed Paxton in his finest red, white and blue, but forgot to get something for myself to wear. I made do with a blue t-shirt with a red(dish) tank top peeking from beneath. It was good enough. I figure when I'm walking with a gorgeous baby, no one's really looking at me, anyway. I actually count on that fact.
Once set up in his stroller, I taped some flags out of his reach to add to the patriotic feel. As expected, he was awfully darn cute. Unfortunately, like his family, he was awfully darn hot, too. And that parade took FOREVER to start. I was getting crabby as my feet got more and more fried.
When the parade finally came to us, Paxton was bouncing with great merriment at the marching band. The kid loves music. It's in his blood. Of course, when he's late for a nap, he bounces quite a bit anyway, so he bounced himself into exhaustion by the end of the parade. We managed to score some candy, but most of the paraders just glanced our way, saw that we were three adults and a baby and withdrew their candy-throwing arm with palpable disdain. When I saw bubble gum or tootsie rolls get tossed our way, I moved out of that chair with record speed. When butterscotch hard candy or peppermints were thrown, I just sat there with a sneer and let the children think they were winning when the swooped them up.
Living up to the adage that 'it's all who you know', I got a free Ace Hardware baseball cap when my friends drove by in the Ace float. Score! It kept my scalp from getting any further burned. Plus, it was red, so it added to my Fourth of July-themed garb. Can't beat it.
There was apparently some poor planning involved with the parade this year, because the floats were so incredibly far apart. Just when we'd assume that the parade was over, there in the distance we'd spot another float making it's way up the street. We kept trying to spot the culprit. There were a few clues. One "float" was just two little girls in an electric toy car. It was moving mighty slow. Their friend was actually running behind it, pushing it. One float had an abandoned unicycle tossed onto the back of it. Several of the floats had already run out of candy. After we had already walked back to the car, loaded ourselves and the baby inside and battled the traffic to make it to the road, we saw two more floats mixed in with the leaving cars!! One belonged to the Chamber of Commerce!! What is that about?!
Paxton was asleep the very second that the parade ended. He was so exhausted that he didn't even notice when I moved him from the stroller to the car and then from the car to the house and into his crib. He and I both napped for almost two hours. We are not sun gods, Paxton and I. The hot weather makes us crabby, sleepy and maybe just a little bit poisoned. Luckily, we both love to swim, so we can make it through the hot Texas summers with only mild complaints.
We came home with a bunch of candy that we don't really want, that we essentially took from children's mouths. It's sitting on our dining room table being ignored right now. I'm an adult. I can afford good candy. I don't need parade candy to get my sugar high. But it's the thrill of the chase. I don't hunt animals, but I ruthlessly hunt candy. It's much more delicious.
We wrapped up our 4th of July by boycotting the fireworks crowds and surrounding ourselves with the outdoor movie crowds, seeing Wall-E at the Corral with our friend, Jamie. It was Paxton's first experience at The Corral and he did amazingly. He watched most of it with great interest. When he finally got bored, he began to play with his feet. When he made a few small noises, it was drowned out by the robots' beeps and blips. He fell asleep three minutes before the movie ended and was jolted awake as we shuffled all of our possessions out to the car. He slept pretty well that night when he finally got to cuddle up in his own bed.
Just an aside, but the Fourth of July was my dad's birthday. I got a call from a friend of the family, letting me know that she was thinking of me and knew that it was a hard day for me. I felt a little strange because it really wasn't. I think the one thing I really learned from my dad was to appreciate life and celebrate each day as best I can. I know that he would be upset if I made his birthday a sad day. I spent a large portion of my life relishing opportunities to be sad. It's ironic that it took my dad's death to teach me to look on the bright side of life.
Just put the baby down for the night and we're about to eat some spaghetti for dinner. I'll post pictures from the parade before night's end.
I dressed Paxton in his finest red, white and blue, but forgot to get something for myself to wear. I made do with a blue t-shirt with a red(dish) tank top peeking from beneath. It was good enough. I figure when I'm walking with a gorgeous baby, no one's really looking at me, anyway. I actually count on that fact.
Once set up in his stroller, I taped some flags out of his reach to add to the patriotic feel. As expected, he was awfully darn cute. Unfortunately, like his family, he was awfully darn hot, too. And that parade took FOREVER to start. I was getting crabby as my feet got more and more fried.
When the parade finally came to us, Paxton was bouncing with great merriment at the marching band. The kid loves music. It's in his blood. Of course, when he's late for a nap, he bounces quite a bit anyway, so he bounced himself into exhaustion by the end of the parade. We managed to score some candy, but most of the paraders just glanced our way, saw that we were three adults and a baby and withdrew their candy-throwing arm with palpable disdain. When I saw bubble gum or tootsie rolls get tossed our way, I moved out of that chair with record speed. When butterscotch hard candy or peppermints were thrown, I just sat there with a sneer and let the children think they were winning when the swooped them up.
Living up to the adage that 'it's all who you know', I got a free Ace Hardware baseball cap when my friends drove by in the Ace float. Score! It kept my scalp from getting any further burned. Plus, it was red, so it added to my Fourth of July-themed garb. Can't beat it.
There was apparently some poor planning involved with the parade this year, because the floats were so incredibly far apart. Just when we'd assume that the parade was over, there in the distance we'd spot another float making it's way up the street. We kept trying to spot the culprit. There were a few clues. One "float" was just two little girls in an electric toy car. It was moving mighty slow. Their friend was actually running behind it, pushing it. One float had an abandoned unicycle tossed onto the back of it. Several of the floats had already run out of candy. After we had already walked back to the car, loaded ourselves and the baby inside and battled the traffic to make it to the road, we saw two more floats mixed in with the leaving cars!! One belonged to the Chamber of Commerce!! What is that about?!
Paxton was asleep the very second that the parade ended. He was so exhausted that he didn't even notice when I moved him from the stroller to the car and then from the car to the house and into his crib. He and I both napped for almost two hours. We are not sun gods, Paxton and I. The hot weather makes us crabby, sleepy and maybe just a little bit poisoned. Luckily, we both love to swim, so we can make it through the hot Texas summers with only mild complaints.
We came home with a bunch of candy that we don't really want, that we essentially took from children's mouths. It's sitting on our dining room table being ignored right now. I'm an adult. I can afford good candy. I don't need parade candy to get my sugar high. But it's the thrill of the chase. I don't hunt animals, but I ruthlessly hunt candy. It's much more delicious.
We wrapped up our 4th of July by boycotting the fireworks crowds and surrounding ourselves with the outdoor movie crowds, seeing Wall-E at the Corral with our friend, Jamie. It was Paxton's first experience at The Corral and he did amazingly. He watched most of it with great interest. When he finally got bored, he began to play with his feet. When he made a few small noises, it was drowned out by the robots' beeps and blips. He fell asleep three minutes before the movie ended and was jolted awake as we shuffled all of our possessions out to the car. He slept pretty well that night when he finally got to cuddle up in his own bed.
Just an aside, but the Fourth of July was my dad's birthday. I got a call from a friend of the family, letting me know that she was thinking of me and knew that it was a hard day for me. I felt a little strange because it really wasn't. I think the one thing I really learned from my dad was to appreciate life and celebrate each day as best I can. I know that he would be upset if I made his birthday a sad day. I spent a large portion of my life relishing opportunities to be sad. It's ironic that it took my dad's death to teach me to look on the bright side of life.
Just put the baby down for the night and we're about to eat some spaghetti for dinner. I'll post pictures from the parade before night's end.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The sight I saw for most of the drive to Pennsylvania. This is the reflection in the mirror that hung in front of Paxton's carseat. He slept in these really uncomfortable looking positions. His pediatrician assures me that babies don't get neck cramps like we do. Whew.
I didn't realize these pics would be this small. Oops. Anyway, here we are in the first water well that Abraham Lincoln maybe, possibly drank from. The point of this picture was that Paxton is really way too heavy these days to fit comfortably in the Moby Wrap the way I had been carrying him. Here he is saggin down to my knees.
Drinking from his sippy cup at a Wendy's somewhere between Texas and PA.
Taking a bath at Nana and Papap's house. He covered his junk with the bath scoop toy all by himself. 
Oh, he is cute. Here he is in a pac-n-play outside at Kay's house, playing with his toes. I love him.Six-Month Well Check
Paxton had his six-month well check today. It feels like it's been so long since he's seen the pediatrician. I think it was three months ago, but he's made so many changes since that time that he seems like a new person almost. I had a huge list of questions for the doctor that I've been accumulating over the last several weeks. I remembered to ask all but one--am I supposed to be brushing Paxton's tiny new teeth? Any offerings of advice?
Anyway, Paxton is six-and-a-half months and he's 20 lbs and 4 ounces. That puts him in the 80-85th percentile for weight. And he's 27-1/2 inches tall, which puts him in the 75th percentile for height. The doctor said he's right on track for his expected adult size (somewhere around 6 feet, apparently).
I have been feeding Paxton solids every evening, mainly just because that's the only time I have most days, but I am to start feeding him solids for lunch and dinner now. And we're going to work in some oats and prunes over the next two weeks, because he's been really constipated. Poor little guy pooped a clay golf ball this morning. Nice image, right? He was in such pain trying to push it out. I kissed him and told him that we've all been there. It's no fun whatsoever.
The doctor was surprised to hear that Paxton already drinks from a sippy cup. He also drinks from an adult cup. He's not great at either, but he loves it. He's determined to 'do it himself'. He's thisclose to moving out and leaving me. Damn the clock.
I sure do love my baby boy.
Anyway, Paxton is six-and-a-half months and he's 20 lbs and 4 ounces. That puts him in the 80-85th percentile for weight. And he's 27-1/2 inches tall, which puts him in the 75th percentile for height. The doctor said he's right on track for his expected adult size (somewhere around 6 feet, apparently).
I have been feeding Paxton solids every evening, mainly just because that's the only time I have most days, but I am to start feeding him solids for lunch and dinner now. And we're going to work in some oats and prunes over the next two weeks, because he's been really constipated. Poor little guy pooped a clay golf ball this morning. Nice image, right? He was in such pain trying to push it out. I kissed him and told him that we've all been there. It's no fun whatsoever.
The doctor was surprised to hear that Paxton already drinks from a sippy cup. He also drinks from an adult cup. He's not great at either, but he loves it. He's determined to 'do it himself'. He's thisclose to moving out and leaving me. Damn the clock.
I sure do love my baby boy.
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