Watching the band.

Checking out the sound through his noise-blocking headphones.

St. Patrick's Day 2010

Using his Bumble Ball to alter his voice.

A tired boy and his festive mommy.

His annual St. Patty's Day picture with a well-dressed Irish representative.

Handsome Daddy and his handsome boy.

With the last of our St. Patrick's Day energy, we entertained ourselves at dinner.

The Latest Musings of a Mother in Love

More cute tales from the world of Paxton...

• This week, as I was driving home from Stroller Strides with Paxton, he suddenly piped up from the back seat with the lyrics to The Black Eyed Peas "Boom Boom Pow". He sang, "I've got that boom boom pow, those chicks are jockin' my style". He wasn't doing it to make me laugh, but of course it cracked me up. As I was laughing uproariously, he decided to keep the fun going. "TA-DA!!!", he shouted. While I continued to laugh, he capped it off with "JENGA!" for good measure. He knows how to make him mommy laugh.

• Speaking of "Mommy", he has decided that he will now call me "Momma". I have no idea why he made this change, but it almost makes me feel like I have a different kid. It's so cute. I love that he just makes these changes randomly and without explanation. Keeps me on my toes.

• Since I call Chris by his name often, Paxton has picked up that that's one way to get Daddy's attention. The other morning, he was coming down the stairs and the gate was latched. He couldn't get it open, so he called out, "Daddy! Daddy! CHRIS!". He knows he can get a rise out of his Daddy when he pulls out the big guns. I've recently taught him that my name is "Shannon", but I'm hoping he doesn't start using it.

• When we went to the Austin Zoo a couple of weeks ago, we cut into Paxton's naptime. Because of that, he wasn't on his best behavior when it came time to leave. Rather than cooperating and coming along to the parking lot with Carmen, Harper and me, he ran the other way toward a planter that looked interesting. A family came up behind him and inadvertantly startled him. I went over to get him and the family was apologizing for scaring him. I took his hand and led him to the exit. The family walked in the same direction. He looked at the woman and said, with an edge of desperation, "I'm sorry, lady!". She practically melted and told him that it wasn't his fault. He knows how to work it to get what he wants.

• Paxton's capacity for language constantly amazes me. I make a point to teach him the proper words for things that he takes notice of. He's very interested in learning the correct names. If we're in Walmart and he spots someone who looks interesting, he asks me what the person's name is. If there's a singer on the radio he enjoys, he asks for that person's name. He asks by saying, "Momma, this one? This one? Name?". I always tell him. Tonight, while I was laying him to bed, he said, "See Momma? Bra. Momma's bra". I think I have told him the word "bra" twice in passing. And yet he is able to pull that information out when he needs it. He's incredible.

Having Paxton in my life is a source of constant amazement and amusement. Every day is better than the last. We're so lucky to know him and love him!

Rebecca and Paxton, playing on Christmas 2009.

Modeling a t-shirt from Aunt Sharon and Uncle Art.

Family Christmas photo!

Our annual group picture with Santa at the Trail of Lights in Wimberley.

It's Impossible to Take a Posed Group Shot of Four Exhausted Toddlers

Henry, Harper, Paxton and Tatum--the "gang".

Paxton's Actual Second Birthday

He has a much warmer reception to cake than he did a year prior.

Chris picked up a little cake for us to all enjoy on Pax's actual birthday.

Daddy helped Paxton open his gifts.

The View Master was a big hit.

Once again, he pulled some serious gift on his special day!

Prepping for a wild ride down the slide.

Rocking a faux-hawk at a Christmas party at Nic's.

He was a little scared and amazed by the weird Santa that came to the Wimberley Library.

He told one kid that he had a one-horned goat at home. It was perplexing.

Harper and Paxton's first rock band.

Paxton was reading books to Harper. It was so cute.

Chillin' by the Christmas tree, enjoying a snack.

Twirling his ribbon at Music Together.

Trying on his Mr. Potato Head glasses. Makes him look smart.

Playing Catch Up

Rarely do I disappear from blogging for months at a time. But it's been a strange few months. In late October, Chris and I conceived a baby. We conceived spontaneously, but went through our fertility clinic to ensure that we could maintain the pregnancy. I had to do blood draws once a week to check my HCG levels (unusually high) and progesterone (too low). When Paxton and I would pull up at the blood clinic, he would say, "Mommy give da blood". I don't think this kid will be scared of needles, since he saw Mommy get poked with them about a dozen times. My doctor had me on progesterone suppositories to maintain my levels, and had us in for two ultrasounds that showed the baby was thriving. Our first visit with my regular OB revealed that the baby's heart had stopped beating. I was about 11 weeks at that time. After a week of waiting for my body to miscarry on its own, I opted to have a scheduled D&C. They were able to test the fetal tissue to reveal that the baby had a condition called Turner's Syndrome. That means that there was a problem with the sex chromosomes. It's apparently one of the most common causes of miscarriages. It's not something that Chris and I passed on genetically, so we have been given the go to keep trying to conceive.

All of that and life in general has occupied my time and thoughts for the last two months. But Paxton has been a constant source of amusement and comfort. His presence has given me such a feeling of perspective and gratitude through all of this. I have enjoyed every moment with him, but regret that I haven't been better at recording his milestones and adorable quirks this year. It's time to remedy that! In the interest of time, let's take a bullet point approach to some of the highlights.

• When anyone asks Paxton how old he is, he always answers "Two in December". He heard me use that answer whenever anyone asked me how old he was. I suppose I should now correct him, but it's so cute to hear him answer with such blaise indifference that he's 'two in December'.
• We've been attending Music Together classes since Paxton was just under a year old. He absolutely loves it. Even when he's having an off day and feels overwhelmed in a group setting, he still gets in the car and promptly starts crooning his favorite tunes, complete with hand motions. "Rig-a-jig-jig", "A-Ram-Sam-Sam", "Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat"--all the toddler hits. And he has such admiration for our teacher, Miss Petra. He tried to imitate her every move.
• Paxton has known all of our many pets by name for a long time. What fascinates me is that he also knows which ones not to mess with. When he sees our cat, Tippy, he tucks his hands against his chest and frees one to just do the smallest wave while he sweetly says, "Hi, Tippy". Wise, because Tippy will scratch the bejeebers out of anyone who looks at him sideways. Soma, however, incites Paxton's full courage. He hugs her, tries to carry her, drags her around by her tail. She would probably benefit from one good swipe at his arm, but I don't think she would ever do something so rude.
• Paxton has a weird photographic memory for cars. It must be a guy thing. He knows that Mommy drives a Corolla, Daddy drives a Tribute, Tizzy drives a Prius, Carmen drives a Scion, and Pa-Pa drives a Mazda 5. He can also point out most of the cars on the street. He excitedly locates Mini Coopers on the highway, and has finally figured out the difference between a "police truck" and a "construction truck".
• While his vocabulary and pronounciation skills are both incredible, there are some words that Paxton stubbornly refuses to alter. For months, he would not call a motorcycle by its correct name. It was always "bicycle". Now he has made a baby step forward to calling it "motor bicycle". And no matter how many times I correct him, he's sure that an American flag is really a "ca-meer flag".

I'll wrap this up for now, but will post more often to catch up on all of the adorable little nuances of our boy's personality. I'll be posting more pictures, too, to further tell his story! Stay tuned!