Paxton gets SO excited every time I pull out the camera. 
Paxton and our puppy love when Daddy blows bubbles for them to pop!
This is from when we took Paxton to hear Terri Hendrix play at the KAP benefit! He had a great time!Wednesday, November 26, 2008
We're getting ready for Christmas early this year. I started putting out Christmas decorations last week and the splashes of holiday red are spreading throughout the house daily. As I carried Paxton downstairs this morning, he stared at a giant red stocking newly hung in the stairwell with great curiosity. Wait until we get our Christmas tree! He'll surely lose his mind with equal parts glee and confusion! Which is exactly how I'll feel, probably, by day three of him nearly toppling it over. But it will be well worth every moment of peril and stress. It's Paxton's Second Christmas! YAY!
First, of course, we'll enjoy Paxton's First Thanksgiving! We are spending it at my mom's house. Our friend, Greg, will hopefully be joining us. And, if Chris and I can strong arm control of the television, we'll have Paxton in his best burnt orange, cheering on the Longhorns. Every holiday takes on new meaning with Paxton's presence. I know without a doubt that Chris and I are most thankful for him this year.
It's been a while since I last updated the blog. Paxton has added one word to his vocabulary--"duck". Of course, to do so, he's essentially let "dog" fade into oblivion. And "cat" is, at best, "dat" now. One step forward, two steps back.
Speaking of steps--he's so close to walking. He amuses himself endlessly by balancing in a standing positon and putting his hands up to me, while I sit just in front of him. Three times now, he has taken one tiny step before hurling himself into my arms happily. Friends and family predict that he'll be walking this month sometime. We'll see. He seems to learn new things in great bursts of action. He goes to sleep one baby and wakes up another.
And sleep, he does. I'm so thankful that since about the age of six months, he's been an exquisite sleeper. We lay him down around 7 each night and he generally doesn't wake up until around 7 the next morning. For the first six months of his life, when he woke up every few hours to nurse, I honestly wasn't sure I'd ever see this day. But now it feels like old hat. He may start to cry when he sees his crib, knowing that he's about to be left to his own devices, but the tears never last more than a few minutes. Then he's fast asleep.
He's also amazing me with his love of relatively unusual foods. Last night, I folded to the constraints of time, and made him a Kashi frozen dinner. It was penne pasta with pesto, peppers and carrots, I believe. He ate it like he had been deprived food for days. We swallowed the pasta whole and didn't stop for so much as a breath between bites. Three times I made Chris stop what he was doing and marvel at our child.
Paxton seems to go through phases of what kind of food he enjoys. And then he is Over It. There was a time when bananas were his favorite. Now he sniffs in disgust when he is offered one. The edamame pasta salad he once lived for? Now it is beneath him. Even the baby "puffs" that I reluctantly gave him that he once ate as if his life depended on it? He now grabs them and chunks them on the floor with disdain. This morning I discovered that he now has no room in his life for toast. He'll accept scrambled eggs, but only if I feed them to him. I hope he still likes hummus and raw veggies, because that's what we're having for lunch. One thing he seems to never tire of? String cheese. He inhales it.
We're making a very quick trip to Pennsylvania next week. I wish we could stay longer, but I didn't feel comfortable flying with the baby without Chris, so we had to adapt to his work schedule. I'm so excited to see my family and friends and to show off Paxton at this stage. If I had countless money, I would visit them several times a year, but I will take what I can get. It just means so much to share Paxton with the family who so adores him.
Have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving! I'll report back soon!
First, of course, we'll enjoy Paxton's First Thanksgiving! We are spending it at my mom's house. Our friend, Greg, will hopefully be joining us. And, if Chris and I can strong arm control of the television, we'll have Paxton in his best burnt orange, cheering on the Longhorns. Every holiday takes on new meaning with Paxton's presence. I know without a doubt that Chris and I are most thankful for him this year.
It's been a while since I last updated the blog. Paxton has added one word to his vocabulary--"duck". Of course, to do so, he's essentially let "dog" fade into oblivion. And "cat" is, at best, "dat" now. One step forward, two steps back.
Speaking of steps--he's so close to walking. He amuses himself endlessly by balancing in a standing positon and putting his hands up to me, while I sit just in front of him. Three times now, he has taken one tiny step before hurling himself into my arms happily. Friends and family predict that he'll be walking this month sometime. We'll see. He seems to learn new things in great bursts of action. He goes to sleep one baby and wakes up another.
And sleep, he does. I'm so thankful that since about the age of six months, he's been an exquisite sleeper. We lay him down around 7 each night and he generally doesn't wake up until around 7 the next morning. For the first six months of his life, when he woke up every few hours to nurse, I honestly wasn't sure I'd ever see this day. But now it feels like old hat. He may start to cry when he sees his crib, knowing that he's about to be left to his own devices, but the tears never last more than a few minutes. Then he's fast asleep.
He's also amazing me with his love of relatively unusual foods. Last night, I folded to the constraints of time, and made him a Kashi frozen dinner. It was penne pasta with pesto, peppers and carrots, I believe. He ate it like he had been deprived food for days. We swallowed the pasta whole and didn't stop for so much as a breath between bites. Three times I made Chris stop what he was doing and marvel at our child.
Paxton seems to go through phases of what kind of food he enjoys. And then he is Over It. There was a time when bananas were his favorite. Now he sniffs in disgust when he is offered one. The edamame pasta salad he once lived for? Now it is beneath him. Even the baby "puffs" that I reluctantly gave him that he once ate as if his life depended on it? He now grabs them and chunks them on the floor with disdain. This morning I discovered that he now has no room in his life for toast. He'll accept scrambled eggs, but only if I feed them to him. I hope he still likes hummus and raw veggies, because that's what we're having for lunch. One thing he seems to never tire of? String cheese. He inhales it.
We're making a very quick trip to Pennsylvania next week. I wish we could stay longer, but I didn't feel comfortable flying with the baby without Chris, so we had to adapt to his work schedule. I'm so excited to see my family and friends and to show off Paxton at this stage. If I had countless money, I would visit them several times a year, but I will take what I can get. It just means so much to share Paxton with the family who so adores him.
Have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving! I'll report back soon!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
He's A Talker, Like His Momma
Paxton said his first two words on Sunday morning. Not at all surprisingly, they were "cat" and "dog". Chris was holding him as I walked the dogs, and the cats ran along after us. Paxton looked at one of the cats and pronounced her "Cat!". Chris and I stared at each other wide-eyed, careful not to make any sudden moves that would leave Paxton afraid to speak again. "Cat," he repeated, confidently. Chris mouthed "wow", while I tried to play it cool. I said, "and that's a dog". "Dog," he repeated. "Dog".
Now, to be clear, I have no idea when babies are supposed to reach most milestones. It's a blessing that way, because I never think, "Oh, crap, he isn't walking yet" or anything like that. Instead, I am flummoxed and awestruck when he achieves any small stepping stone, leaving me certain that he is nothing less than a genius. It works out well for both Paxton and me that way.
The next day, I was at the library and wanted to show my friends that he could say these words. I found a book with a cat on it and showed it to him. Everyone watched with bated breath. And he said...nothing. He looked like he wanted to say something. He even readied his mouth as if about to utter a word. But until everyone looked away and started talking to one another again, he said nothing. Confident that the attention was turned away from him, he quietly said, "cat". Carmen swears she heard him. But she's also really nice.
I took him over to Mom's house after to show off to her. He saw her cat Sweetie and declared, "Cat!". I had him say it a few times for good measure. But Mom, being the eternal speech therapist, said that it was coming out more like "dat". It's true that by day two, he was either getting lazy with his enunciation or he was confusing "dog" and "cat" into one new word. But still--he's 10-months-old and he has a specific word for a specific object. That's freaking amazing to his shell-shocked mother.
Yesterday, he crawled all through the house saying "cat", "cat", "cat", "cat", and when he actually crossed paths when one of our five cats, he would excitedly shout "CAT!!". If he is dropping the "C", I direct him "ca-ca-ca-ca" and then he says "cut". He says the "t" with a real edge. It actually comes out "cat-uh" like a little Russian boy. "Dog" is "dog-uh".
He wants to speak so badly now. He is saying little made-up words for most of his waking hours. Sometimes the words that he chooses are a little bawdy. At the thrift store today, he kept saying "cock", "cock", "cock", "cock". I'd say, "I think you mean 'dog'" with a red face and he would shout out "COCK!!". The woman behind the counter said "well, my goodness", as I awkwardly laughed it off.
In one week, Paxton will be 11-months-0ld. I've just started making plans for his first birthday. We're going to have his party a week after his actual birthday, in hopes that people will have more spare time after the excitement of the holidays settles down a bit. I read an article that said you shouldn't invite more than 10 people to the party, as it may make the baby feel overwhelmed. I hope that's not the case, because I have met such great people who have babies who I'd love to come to Paxton's party. And, of course, family can't wait to celebrate the little guy's big day. Luckily, he's used to being around big groups of people. He's a social butterfly who loves to crawl around a room, getting attention from everyone. I think as long as we make sure to keep the party under two hours, he'd have a great time. How could he not?
Now, to be clear, I have no idea when babies are supposed to reach most milestones. It's a blessing that way, because I never think, "Oh, crap, he isn't walking yet" or anything like that. Instead, I am flummoxed and awestruck when he achieves any small stepping stone, leaving me certain that he is nothing less than a genius. It works out well for both Paxton and me that way.
The next day, I was at the library and wanted to show my friends that he could say these words. I found a book with a cat on it and showed it to him. Everyone watched with bated breath. And he said...nothing. He looked like he wanted to say something. He even readied his mouth as if about to utter a word. But until everyone looked away and started talking to one another again, he said nothing. Confident that the attention was turned away from him, he quietly said, "cat". Carmen swears she heard him. But she's also really nice.
I took him over to Mom's house after to show off to her. He saw her cat Sweetie and declared, "Cat!". I had him say it a few times for good measure. But Mom, being the eternal speech therapist, said that it was coming out more like "dat". It's true that by day two, he was either getting lazy with his enunciation or he was confusing "dog" and "cat" into one new word. But still--he's 10-months-old and he has a specific word for a specific object. That's freaking amazing to his shell-shocked mother.
Yesterday, he crawled all through the house saying "cat", "cat", "cat", "cat", and when he actually crossed paths when one of our five cats, he would excitedly shout "CAT!!". If he is dropping the "C", I direct him "ca-ca-ca-ca" and then he says "cut". He says the "t" with a real edge. It actually comes out "cat-uh" like a little Russian boy. "Dog" is "dog-uh".
He wants to speak so badly now. He is saying little made-up words for most of his waking hours. Sometimes the words that he chooses are a little bawdy. At the thrift store today, he kept saying "cock", "cock", "cock", "cock". I'd say, "I think you mean 'dog'" with a red face and he would shout out "COCK!!". The woman behind the counter said "well, my goodness", as I awkwardly laughed it off.
In one week, Paxton will be 11-months-0ld. I've just started making plans for his first birthday. We're going to have his party a week after his actual birthday, in hopes that people will have more spare time after the excitement of the holidays settles down a bit. I read an article that said you shouldn't invite more than 10 people to the party, as it may make the baby feel overwhelmed. I hope that's not the case, because I have met such great people who have babies who I'd love to come to Paxton's party. And, of course, family can't wait to celebrate the little guy's big day. Luckily, he's used to being around big groups of people. He's a social butterfly who loves to crawl around a room, getting attention from everyone. I think as long as we make sure to keep the party under two hours, he'd have a great time. How could he not?
Friday, November 7, 2008
Dear Paxton,
Three days ago, America elected its first black president. I hope that when you're old enough to realize this, you will know a country that recognizes and respects the rights of all people. I hope that the idea of denying homosexuals the right to marry seems archaic. I hope that the notion that we had 43 presidents before we ventured outside the norm of a white male seems ridiculous to you and nearly impossible to believe. I hope that you grow up with a sensitivity to the plight of others. I hope you never grow cynical and always believe that we are better united than divided. You, my sweet boy, can be anything you want. And this world you have to navigate just got a little better.
Sweet Paxton, you won't remember it, but you were part of this historical moment in our country. When you were just a little guy, we kept you up late to vote in the caucus. You went with us weeks ago to early vote. On election day, you were in my arms, and together we waved signs in support of Barack Obama. We got lots of positive honks, a few thumbs downs and one ill-natured man who flashed the finger. Any man who would flip off a woman holding a baby is probably not someone either party would be quick to embrace. But we endured. You in your Babies 4 Obama onesie, and me in my Barack Obama t-shirt. Tizzy was there, too, with Seymour wearing one of your old t-shirts, decorated with the words "Dogs for Obama". We're a silly family, and we have a lot of fun in every circumstance!
On election night, I woke you up, much to your initial dismay, and took you to the poll-watching party for the Democrats in Hays County. There were so many people there! You made a little friend who played ball with you on the floor, while we all cheered as we watched the polls close and the good news come rolling in! We stayed for about an hour before you needed to head back to bed. Home we went, and you were all tucked in to your crib while Daddy and I watched John McCain's gracious and good concession speech. He is a good man, but after eight years of Bush running our country into the ground, America opted for a change.
Then we watched Barack Obama come onto the stage in Chicago with his beautiful, young family. A moment that simple and pure was rife with emotion. It represented so much more than met the eye. This country took a giant step forward to equality. This country looked beyond color to the heart of an individual. I felt so proud of the United States and so thankful to be a part of it. President-Elect Obama's speech was elequent, as expected, and inspiring, as always. For the first time in two years, the message was about healing the divide in this country, and healing the wounds of war, economic collapse, floundering students, negligent insurance coverage. Obama has a hard road ahead of him, and we can only hope that Americans will be patient. Your daddy and I have faith, though, that he will work toward making this world a better place for your future. And you were a part of it, baby boy. You were there every step of the way.
Three days ago, America elected its first black president. I hope that when you're old enough to realize this, you will know a country that recognizes and respects the rights of all people. I hope that the idea of denying homosexuals the right to marry seems archaic. I hope that the notion that we had 43 presidents before we ventured outside the norm of a white male seems ridiculous to you and nearly impossible to believe. I hope that you grow up with a sensitivity to the plight of others. I hope you never grow cynical and always believe that we are better united than divided. You, my sweet boy, can be anything you want. And this world you have to navigate just got a little better.
Sweet Paxton, you won't remember it, but you were part of this historical moment in our country. When you were just a little guy, we kept you up late to vote in the caucus. You went with us weeks ago to early vote. On election day, you were in my arms, and together we waved signs in support of Barack Obama. We got lots of positive honks, a few thumbs downs and one ill-natured man who flashed the finger. Any man who would flip off a woman holding a baby is probably not someone either party would be quick to embrace. But we endured. You in your Babies 4 Obama onesie, and me in my Barack Obama t-shirt. Tizzy was there, too, with Seymour wearing one of your old t-shirts, decorated with the words "Dogs for Obama". We're a silly family, and we have a lot of fun in every circumstance!
On election night, I woke you up, much to your initial dismay, and took you to the poll-watching party for the Democrats in Hays County. There were so many people there! You made a little friend who played ball with you on the floor, while we all cheered as we watched the polls close and the good news come rolling in! We stayed for about an hour before you needed to head back to bed. Home we went, and you were all tucked in to your crib while Daddy and I watched John McCain's gracious and good concession speech. He is a good man, but after eight years of Bush running our country into the ground, America opted for a change.
Then we watched Barack Obama come onto the stage in Chicago with his beautiful, young family. A moment that simple and pure was rife with emotion. It represented so much more than met the eye. This country took a giant step forward to equality. This country looked beyond color to the heart of an individual. I felt so proud of the United States and so thankful to be a part of it. President-Elect Obama's speech was elequent, as expected, and inspiring, as always. For the first time in two years, the message was about healing the divide in this country, and healing the wounds of war, economic collapse, floundering students, negligent insurance coverage. Obama has a hard road ahead of him, and we can only hope that Americans will be patient. Your daddy and I have faith, though, that he will work toward making this world a better place for your future. And you were a part of it, baby boy. You were there every step of the way.
Monday, November 3, 2008
I have been going through my garage, trying to slowly organize the mess in there and I found baby shower pics that Jessica sent me last year. This is the only one where I don't look like I have fourteen chins. I just thought I'd post it here, because it was Paxton's Pennsylvania welcome to the world! I can't believe this was just a little over a year ago. Amazing.
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