Oh, But I Love Him

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.