It's almost hard to believe!

We had an interesting weekend with Jaxson.  He has 2 teeth coming in at once.  This makes for one unhappy baby.  Landon and I went to the movies on Saturday night.  Rare occurrence and definitely spur of the moment so we dropped Jaxson off at Landon's dad's house.  "Pop", as we so kindly refer to Landon's dad, said Jaxson didn't want to crawl around and play and he just wanted to be held.  I brushed it off as it being an unfamiliar place that we were leaving him.  Sunday at church, we peaked our head in to check on Jaxson in the nursery.  I guess playing wasn't in the books for him that day either and he was in the arms of one of the ladies that helps every Sunday.  Last night (Sunday) was a PRODUCTION!!!  Jaxson refused to eat his food unless being held.  Even then, it was tough.  Landon and I were eating fajitas so I chopped up some fajita meat and a tortilla with cheese and let Jaxson have that.  I knew the day would come when we no longer could depend on the convenience of food in a jar for Jaxson and I'm afraid that day is today.  Maybe our food just tastes better...who knows??!?!?  So like any mother would do I went straight to the message boards to ask other working mothers what they pack for their children for lunch when they go to daycare.  One mother was so kind to quickly respond exaclty what she does for her 9 month old...here we go:  

Breakfast:  Cut up fried egg, sauteed spinach, carrots and asparagus tips (sauteed until soft), bananas, and a small amount of cheerios.  Everything was sprinkled with wheat germ.

Lunch:  Baked salmon, butternut squash, cut up cherry tomatoes, mango, a few yogurt melts.  Everything sprinkled with wheat germ.

Snack:  Plain whole milk yogurt mixed with wheat germ and chunks of kiwi, cheerios.

For each meal, try to do a protein, vegetable, fruit, and whole grain.  Try to make everything colorful, which means a variety of vitamins - orange carrots with green spinach, red tomatoes with orange squash, green kiwi, yellow banana, etc. 

I think I need to hire a private chef for Jaxson.  I was just thinking maybe a ham and cheese foldover?!?!?! 

HAPPY MONDAY!!!!!

How Do I Say this Politely?

I have a somehow managed to co-create an incredibly cute kid!  When Jaxson was born I thought he was the most handsome baby boy in the world.  That's what a mother is supposed to think; however, he has continuted to grow into his looks.  Brad Pitt look out....I've got America's next heart throb on my hands.  We do have some things to work on before he makes it on the cover of People's 50 Most Eliglible Bachelors though. 

1.  Chewing on your fingers and then wiping your spit on someone's nose isn't that becoming.  I tolerate because I am his mother but I'm sure his girlfriend wont.

2.  Boogers.  We have to work on those.  Jaxson ALWAYS has a booger. 

3.  Calling everyone and everything Mama.  Again I love it but his girlfriend wont.

4.  Pooping at the dinner table.  This one is pretty darn predictable.  For awhile we had concerns about Jaxson's bowel movements.  He just wouldn't poop.  Now he is unstoppable.  As his Nene puts it, he has some "Texas size" poops. 

5.  Hiding Cheerios in his hands and saving them for later.  I can't tell you the number of places I have found Cheerios lately.  In my bed, in the bathtub, under his bed, in Salem's food bowl, in the dryer, in my shoe....the list just goes on....Old Cheerios are yucky.  Please don't save them for a midnight snack.....

I've started planning the big 1st Birthday Party.  Jaxson chose to have a baseball theme.  You are probably asking yourself how does a 10month old child request a theme for his birthday party.  It's easy.  I held up a baseball bat and a farm animal he went for the bat!  You can go ahead and add intellegent to his resume.  I am needing some suggestions on wording for something.  I don't want to sound tacky when I tell people that he doesn't need toys for presents.  I feel like this is the best place for me to get this worry off of my chest.  Jaxson UNLOADED at Christmas.  He has more toys than FAO Schwartz.  We are so lucky to have so many friends and family that want to give give give.  I LOVE IT!  I want to make a smart choice for Jaxson and request in lieu of toys please give money for us to put in his college fund.  Please don't get me wrong.  I know some of our family members have gifts that they would like to give that they have been planning for this year.  Jaxson will enjoy everything he receives and we will always be grateful. Now HELP with the words.  I feel like this is really the only birthday that I can get away with this.  Soon he will look at everyone like they are crazy if they show up with an envelope with money versus the newest baseball glove or Nerf fun.

Parenting Magazine's WORST Nightmare

I've labeled myself as Parenting Magazine's WORST nightmare! I am a total pushover when it comes to Jaxson sleeping in our bed.  I've thought from the beginning that our "bedtime routine" has been awesome.  Jaxson eats dinner when he and Landon get home.  Landon cooks dinner while Jaxson and I play.  Landon and I eat dinner then we all go upstairs for bathtime.  He loves bathtime like I've told you before. We let him snuggle with us while we watch a little TV and he gets his nightime bottle then its off to his own bed.  I know where my mistakes are being made.  He falls asleep in our bed and then I move him to his bed.  It's always been this way. I MUST start getting him to fall asleep in his own bed.  My next mistake is when he wakes up at 11:30 and I go get him and put him back in our bed and he goes right to sleep.  It's not that he CAN'T sleep...he just WILL NOT sleep in his own bed. 

Landon and I have discussed the method of letting him cry himself back to sleep.  Not only is this just heartbreaking to me but I can't sleep throught this.  It disturbs my night of sleep and it's just easier to go get him and snuggle him next to me.  At this rate we will not be having our baby #2 for the next 15 years.  I don't know what I expected.  I was this same way with my parents.  I know my mother still hears my whispers in her sleep....."Mom...Mom.."! *snicker*

This is Landon's childhood bear Snuggles.  Jaxson loves to Snuggle

with Snuggles (Landon does too but we won't tell..ssshhh)!