Just keep walking..

Today I did something for the first time. I let Jaxson walk through the mall all by himself with me tagging closely behind. I didn't strap him into a stroller, until he fell asleep that is with all his exercise. I did this with the help of his new backpack with a harness it's called. Before I was a parent I would see these and think, OMG they have their child on a leash. Now that I am a parent I see it differently. Kids love to explore, they also need to explore to stimulate their minds and senses to keep them learning all the time. Keeping them in a stroller while out and about when they are able and willing to walk is hardly fair and quite boring for them. I decided that I would rather let Jaxson be an energetic 18month old baby and use his legs while at the mall without worrying about him getting away from me. I decided that if I come home with my child safe I don't care what people think of me as a parent. I didn't take a picture of him today with it but it is very simple blue backpack. It isn't an animal and is pretty boyish and the best part I only spent ten dollars. Unfortunately I couldn't find a picture of it ( I thought everything was on the internet) but I will take some pics of him with it soon so you can see how cute and LOGICAL it is!

Best Friends

Jaxson loves his dogs and lately it has been Niley who gets most of the love and attention. Couldn't help but to post some of my favorite Jaxson pictures with Niley.. again.

Dominos

Wednesday Jaxson and I left Dave to his homework and went to Joannes to hang out with Lauren who made a trip home from MTown. We ate pizza and some more pizza and played a few games of Dominos. I haven't played for a really long time and this was a new version for me but out of three games that I played before leaving I only had a score of 15 and I won the third. I don't know how it ended but I was happy with my showing. Jaxson was pretty good at drawing the cards that I needed so I let him do most of my domino drawing.

PS Let me know, do you prefer the collage pictures or one by one when reading the blog? Thanks!

Oh, The Faces You'll Make

Jaxson is full of life as a one year old and his facial expressions are full of life as well. He was sitting with Niley and was looking at me with the most odd face, that is until I said CHEESE! He knows that means smile for the camera. Niley though doesn't seem to know that when I say Cheese she is supposed to look at me too. I think she was just happy that Jaxson wasn't pulling her tail at the moment.

Monday with Jake

I haven't been a Bachelor watcher since the beginning but the last few seasons have sucked me in. This season with Jake the pilot I didn't even bother trying to resist and sat down to watch the first two hour episode on Monday night. Dave had to go out to do something for work ( so he says) and left me and Jaxson at home. He made good on having to be out for the evening by bring home puppy chow fixings. Jaxson and I first ate dinner, then quickly got the puppy show mixed up and headed straight for the couch. I grabbed Dave's Snuggie on the way and we cuddled up and enjoyed our chocolaty, peanut buttery, crunchy goodness that is Puppy Chow.

Book Worm

I realized that sometimes I just have no idea. Not even a guess sometimes when it comes how to handle Jaxson when he is having a moment. When he is tired and upset or when he wants something and he just can't have it. I don't know if I should ignore, stay calm, yell back, or just cry myself. That is why I got the book Happiest Toddler on the Block. I have only had it for two days and am already half way through. It is such an eye opening book as it explains the tantrums and fits from their point of view. Duh.. If we don't get what they are thinking how do we stop the tantrum?? It reminds me a lot of training the dogs. No, I am not comparing Jaxson to the dogs (although sometimes both can be extremely frustrating) but once you understand their point of view you can get information across in a way they understand it. Then they listen. Then the sun shines and there is singing from above, the house smells like fresh baked cookies and your skinny jeans instantly fit. Ok, ok it doesn't make the world that easy but it definitely helps. My next challenge is to get Dave to read it....

Almost Forgot...

My dad came over for breakfast on Sunday a few weeks ago I totally forgot to blog about it. Oops.. Anyway it wasn't too eventful but I did get this great picture! They both looked extremely excited to be taking a picture don't they?

Predinsone = Crazy Baby

Jaxson is yet again wheezing up a storm. Anytime he gets a sniffle he gets so he can't breath so we were off to Dr. Fred's office Thursday just to check him out. We were there for an hour an half with breathing treatment after breathing treatment and blood-work to make sure he was doing ok in the inside. We came home with instructions for Predinsone twice a day, breathing treatments regularly, and more iron because of low hemoglobin which carries oxygen in the blood. What that meant for us. That meant trying to get Jaxson to sit still for 15-20 minutes every 4-5 hours for a treatment, and dealing with a 1 year old on an emotional roller-coaster. Prednisone is a steroid and it puts little kids emotions on extremes and keeps them wide awake well into the night. One minute he is so up he can't see straight singing and running in circles. You probably think I am exaggerating. I wish I was. And he can't sleep let alone sit down for a second which means sleepless nights for everyone. And when he crashes he crashes hard. He spirals into tears and fits. Five days.. and counting. To get more iron in his diet we had to find something he would eat that has iron. Our only choice.. prune juice. So on top of a child spinning out of control emotionally he has a dirty diaper constantly. Seriously... I think I am losing my mind as much as he is!

This is a picture I took with my phone about three hours after his bedtime and he was still going a million miles an hour.

Year Two Starts Now...

Jaxson's first friend Miss Aubrey Grace Holcomb turned two today. Friends and family joined at there house for food, cupcakes and lots of presents. We haven't seen them as much as we do in the summer (which is a few times a week it seems) but Jaxson and Aubrey started right where they left off. After some food Jaxson ran off to play with the seven other kids that where there. Together they found toys in places Leah probably didn't know existed in Aubrey's room. That should be fun to clean up. But it did keep everyone happy and occupied. Then it was present time. Aubrey emptied and unwrapped when bags were put in front of her as people stood around and took pictures. As soon as they were opened it was time for someone to put together the car she got from her Aunt Shelly. She couldn't wait to get inside! It wasn't until after everyone left that it was somewhat put together so both Jaxson and Aubrey crawled inside together and thought it was hilarious. All the parents did too. Happy Birthday Aubrey!

Watch your hands, her dad is watching!

Aubrey and her Grandpa.

What a good big brother!

Pictures!

For Elaine's Christmas present we went to have pictures done of all of the kids together. Unfortunately Jim, Dave's oldest brother, was in Florida so couldn't be there. I am sure he was perfectly happy enjoying the beach. We went to the Botanical Center in Des Moines and these are my favorites of the 190 that we took.

Michelle and Jesse

All the girls

Dan and Anne

Does it get cuter??

Michelle and Jesse

Dave, Michelle, Dan, the three of Elaine's kids.

The whole gang

My favorite of everyone together.

Say CHEEEESE

Jaxson has been in front of a camera his entire life, literally. I take photos on a daily basis having already taken 9000 with my camera since I bought it last Black Friday. It is always within arms reach and Jaxson is beginning to understand when he sees the camera he is supposed to look and be cute. This doesn't always happen but there are times when he hams it up big time. Last night was one of those nights. I always say cheeeesse and he puts his teeth toghether into his version of a forced smile. (It is about as good as Dave's forced smile.) He was making this face all night last night and would be playing with toys and stop in his tracks for a cheeesse as soon as he saw the camera. It was Aunt Mimi and Uncle Jesse's last night in Des Moines so we had to say our goodbye's until next time.

We were doing the Heisman pose.. not sure why but it made sense at the time..

New Year 2010

Michelle and Jesse came into town for the holidays and even though they should have been the one's wined and dined they did a lot of the wining and dining for us! We all joined at their condo to hors d'oeuvers, wine, champagne, and even sparkling apple cider for me. Jesse had just finished a project that he needed a lot of new year's party favors so put them in a box and shipped them back for the big showdown. Everyone enjoyed them, especially the goofy crowns for some reason. We actually made it to midnight but Jaxson crashed around 1115pm. I wasn't trying to keep him up but the poppers and various other stimulating things going on did a great job! Happy new year everyone. I am sure that 2010 will be great, how could it not be with such great people around me. And if I get see Jaxson's cute face everyday I know that it will be a great day. And if I don't see Jaxson's face for a whole day that probably means I am on vacation somewhere with just Dave, which would also make it great day so I am feeling pretty darn good about 2010.