1 year old!

Just a couple weeks behind on this post- this one year old keeps me BUSY! We celebrated Axel's birthday in the backyard with family and friends, hot dogs and cake- and mustaches! It was a warm day, so we opened gifts inside. It was a great time celebrating his sweet little life.

  Axel started taking a step or two at a time shortly before his birthday, nowadays he's getting brave and seems to walk whenever he gets the chance. Crawling is still his most efficient mode of movement, he's a little wobbly (Frankenstein-ish) when walking, but he's pretty proud of himself! (VIDEO)

  The week before his birthday Axel caught Hand Foot Mouth Disease. He was tired and cranky, but didn't seem overly bothered by the sores on his feet and hands. He was feeling better after a few days, but he's still healing up from the sores. This was really the only illness he's had, maybe one little cold when he was smaller, but we've been blessed with a healthy baby who eats well and sleeps like a champ! How dare I complain about anything?!

  Axel has switched to whole milk. I had intended to nurse him until it was no longer "easy" or if it seemed to stop being the best thing for us. After he bit me one evening while nursing and made me bleed, I decided it was no longer best for us! He had a few tough days where he fought the transition, but he's fine now and drinks his milk from a cup fine.

  Axel has teeth! He had the two center bottom teeth pop thru at the last week of July and first week of August... which is how he was able to draw blood when he bit me. He is a bear of a teether, the trick seems to be keeping him medicated.

  Axel started playing peekaboo- covering his face and pulling it down. He'll even hide his face behind furniture, etc and then pop out (VIDEO). He's pretty proud of himself, and we're thoroughly amused. We spent a few days at the beach with my parents in August. Axel loved the pool, loved splashing and crawling around... but HATED the beach itself. Cried when he was on the sand, cried in the water... no love for the ocean.

  Axel is still defiant. It is quite a struggle to shepherd his stubborn heart. He can be sweet and funny and good, which makes it that much more frustrating when he chooses to do things for negative attention. This too shall pass...

Axel's Stats: according to the doctor a little less than last month...
Height: 31.75 inches
Weight: 23 lbs 11oz

So ends the month to month updates for Axel. The first year is filled with SO many changes, challenges and triumphs, I wanted to document them all. But do not fear... I'll be starting a new chapter for a new sweet little life in spring 2015 :)

Baby Lake #2

Due Mid March 2015

11 months old

  It seems like every month goes by faster than the one before- is it because it's summer now, or is the world just spinning faster? Axel is weeks away from being ONE... HOW did this happen?!?! He is fully mobile with his wacky crawl (VIDEO). He continues to pull up and stand without holding onto anything (VIDEO). Sometimes he even manages to just push himself to standing from sitting on the floor- walking is very close! He'll hold my hands and take steps, but will plop to sitting once I let go and try to coax a step out of him.

  Axel has about 101 faces- such an expressive face! So much personality- people remark over him everywhere we go. He has his standard blank face, his "cute baby" grin with the head cocked to the side, his "I might cry" grimace, his little pout face, his full-on cry face, his stern scowl (typically when meeting someone for the first time), his ridiculous "O!" face, his sunny scrunchy smile face, his belly laugh face... on and on the list could go-- each face adorable in their own right.

  Axel is a strong willed little booger. He is ever more intolerant of being told "No." Even without a gentle hand smack for repeat offenses (pulling on electric cords, picking up shoes, and myriad host of other things he's been told "No." about before) he will cry like he's been beaten and told he can never have any fun again. World-crushing weeping and screeching. I'll have to get a video... for memory's sake. He knows he shouldn't do these things. He will crawl over to a shoe, sit next to it, look at me and pick it up (I swear with a smirk on his face!) and usually he won't put it down until I come take it from him and smack his hand... sometimes he'll pick it up again and I'll have to remove him from the area and hide the shoe.  Defiant booger. He has plenty of toys, but these forbidden objects are too enticing.

  Axel continues to be a good eater. Lately he's been eating like a starving man, cannot get food into his mouth fast enough or in large enough quantities. The only thing he doesn't seem to like is kiwi, and neither of us like it, so that's no loss. He loves savory and sweet- he'll scarf down cottage cheese, raspberries, raw peppers, tiny chunks of chicken/meat, green beans, okra, squash, peaches, berries... he eats it all with abandon. Perhaps it's a growth spurt, he seems taller, and he is an inch taller than last month! Maybe it's just the way he carries himself that makes him seem bigger.

  In the weeks ahead I'll be weaning him off breastmilk/nursing for the most part and transition him to cows milk. So far this isn't easy, he really seems to derive a lot of comfort from nursing, so we may have to start letting him have a paci at what would have been nursing times. Tricky business :) He has transition to mostly table/finger food and enjoys feeding himself. He also continues to be a good sleeper/napper, so that makes everyone happy :)

  Axel remains toothless and word-free- though obviously he understands words. He happily plays on his own, but loves to crawl on Kellen and be read to and sing songs, be tickled, etc. We hang out in the pool in the backyard periodically and he enjoys splashing and watching the trees and birds. He still starts quite easily. Just today Kellen sneezed loudly in the kitchen and Axel nearly jumped out of his skin and cried.

Axel's Stats:

Height: 32 inches

Weight: 24 lbs

10 months old

"Who took the time?!" Ben and his family were here just last week for a visit and as their time here was drawing to a close Halle said those words :) And now I'm saying them because seriously- 10 months already?! We had such a big time with Ben, Rhonda, Halle and Ezra during their visit. Lots of fun cousin time! Axel loved watching all of them playing- and pulling their hair- oops. He's got busy hands that love to grab and doesn't yet understand how his hands can hurt. Thankfully his cousins were gracious and forgiving :)

Axel started crawling 2 weeks ago. He started with bear crawling VIDEO, and seems to me mostly knees now. And man is he motoring! Crawling everywhere and pulling up to stand any chance he gets. He likes to practice standing too. He is SO proud of himself when he's standing there balancing himself. Then he'll start to fall and he laughs. And he'll do it all over again- making a game of it. He even plays fetch with himself. VIDEO

He's got a lot of personality and opinions. He knows what he likes and is not afraid to let you know when you've made him happy, or mad. VIDEO He babbles and squeals and makes all sorts of noises, but still no first word yet. and no teeth yet either :) VIDEO

He's as happy and as easy going as ever, but loves more interaction these days. He'll happily play on his own, and then crawl over for some bouncing and the stand/fall game, then go play on his own again. He's into everything- which is ok for the most part (yay baby proofing), but every once in a while he'll get his hands on something he shouldn't play with (an old laundry detergent bottle, a shoe or a remote) and when we take it he throws a bit of a fit, but recovers quickly with some diversion.

He's sleeping well through the night- just a couple nights of tough love letting him cry it out a month ago and he's been right back into a regular sleep schedule (hooray!). He takes a couple good naps during the day at regular times, too. He goes to sleep easily and typically wakes up happy.

Axel's Stats:
Height: 31 inches
Weight: 24 lbs

9 months old!?

9 months in, 9 months out

 How are we at 9 months already?? It took 9 months for Axel to ripen for the outside world, and now he's been "out" as long as he was "in." He still brings us such tremendous joy. Such a good and happy baby, most days. He shows little sign that he may be teething, some fussing, grabbing at his mouth, but Tylenol seems to help.

  He has apparently learned what "no" means, and he is not a fan. He started biting me when I nurse him and I'll tell him "no" and unlatch him and his lip shoots out in a pout and he cries, then he'll look me in the eye and do it again! I say "no" and again he cries... kinda bratty, right? He has also started pulling up a bit. He was doing it in the tub the other night and I told him "No, Axel, you might fall and get hurt." He sat down and cried... and repeat, at least 2-3 times. He has fallen in the tub after pulling up, so it's not idle warnings; he didn't really get hurt, but his face got wet and he was quite displeased.

  Axel still nurses 5-6 times a day and gets solids breakfast, lunch & dinner. He has a voracious appetite (apple/tree anyone??) and eats pretty much anything we put in his mouth or mesh feeder. He loves fruit. No teeth yet, but he gums small chunks of food well. He drinks well from a sippy cup, though he much prefers watered down juice to plain water, sweet tooth?

   He is SO close to crawling! He gets himself up on his knees and hands and then rocks. He gets lazy though and lets his belly fall to the floor and sometimes puts his head down. He pulls up occasionally, not for long and doesn't seem to be making the move to walking anytime soon, but it was still surprising to see him do it the first time.

  He had his second haircut a few weeks back. Just trimmed the curls off the sides around his ears; he was looking a little sloppy. I left the curls on top alone- he still rocks them. He is all curls and cheeks- everywhere we go I hear about them from strangers :)

  His sleep isn't what it once was. For a couple weeks he's been waking up by 6:30, then this past week he's added at least one midnight wake/feeding. Hoping this is a growth spurt/phase because I miss 8 hours of continuous sleep :( His nap schedule is still pretty steady, but those nights... according to the doctor he doesn't need to eat, so it's likely just a behavioral thing, so we can let him cry it out. I hate that that may be the only solution, but obviously going in and feeding him 2 times a night isn't something he needs in order to grow, etc and it makes for one tired mama, so we've got to cut that out.

  We've been enjoying the warm weather. He loves splashing in the pool, hanging out on a blanket with some toys watching the trees and birds.

Axel's Stats:

Height:  30.5 inches (99%)
Weight:  21 lbs 12.5 oz (83%)
Size 5 diapers, 18-24 month clothes (12-18 mo fits him best in pants... short legs on that guy!)

In other news, Kellen took a new position as Assistant Principal of Leadership at The NCLA (where he's been teaching). It's been a busy and challenging position so far- much to do and only so many hours in the day. He enjoys the variety and that there is never a dull moment, but would appreciate prayers to be able to do his job well, to the glory of God.

8 months old

  Axel is 8 months old! He continues to be a happy, healthy boy who grows and changes daily. Even with his curls and chubby cheeks he's looking more boyish- time be still!!

  No teeth yet, but he is a smiley thing! Big gummy grins and giggles. When he meets a stranger he eyeballs them suspiciously, very serious face and only after some effort on their part will he grace them with his smile :) He doesn't seem afraid of strangers yet, but he definitely prefers the familiar, and will often look for me if someone else is holding him. Loud noises or things/people appearing "from nowhere" startle him, and sometimes that makes him cry, other times the surprise makes him smile. He likes a good peekaboo scare.

  He sits up very well on his own and only rarely falls over. He is not crawling yet, nor does he roll or scoot around. If I set him down in one place I will find him there, maybe turned a degree or two in order to get to a toy he wants, but nothing more. His hands and even his feet seem to be in a constant rotating movement, like he's turning knobs or something. He plays with toys with much more purpose these days. Pushing buttons and shaking things and always chewing on toys. Usually when he falls over it's because he was reaching for a toy just outside of his reach. He's started doing this thing where he cocks his head to the side when he looks at us, smiling and sometimes leaning his body far to the side. It's the silliest thing, and he knows it, fully expecting a laugh.

  He enjoys his bath time and I try to let him have time to splash and play even if I'm not soaping him up every day- I find the soap dries out his skin and scalp if we wash daily, even with liberal lotioning, but splashing keeps him fresh and brings out the curls :) He will chew on his bath toys and splash and squeal. He doesn't mind having water dumped on his head, just holds his breath and blinks, then goes back to playing. He's a water baby!

  He loves to bounce and jump- especially in our laps. He does not sit still in my lap, but instead rocks and bounces himself so violently that he would throw himself out of your lap if you didn't have a good hold on him. Even while he's nursing these days he's generally moving and gets distracted easily.

  He really enjoys his food these days. He's eating 3 meals a day, about 1/4 cup at each meal, and I think he would eat more if I let him, but for now most of his calories should be coming from breast milk. He's progressing away from smooth purees and enjoys food with more texture, and can even chew up tiny pieces of soft fruit and veggies. We discovered in the past month that he is allergic to egg whites. Yolks are fine, but  whenever he eats something with the whites in it he breaks out in hives wherever it touches his skin. Poor guy. We'll hold off on giving him those til after he turns one.

  His sleep has been a little off the past week. He's waking up once or twice a night and will only be soothed by nursing for a couple minutes, then he'll let me put him back to bed (while he's awake) and he'll drift back off to sleep. He's also waking up around 7am for the day, which is not what we "agreed" upon... I'm trying to rework his naps and feedings, since I think he's missing some of the calories from breast milk from eating so many solids and waking up a little hungry. Last night was better, he woke at 5am, but I just re-swaddled him and let him fuss for a couple minutes and he slept til after 7:30... so here's hoping that's settled ;)

Axel's Stats:
Height: 29.5 inches (I measured several times I couldn't believe it!!)
Weight: 21+ lbs (our bathroom scale isn't precise)

  The other night I woke up to Kellen making noise digging under the bed. I asked him what he was looking for and he said "My gun... I heard some banging." So, he loaded his AK and headed in search of what was going bump in the night. He didn't find anything or anyone, so we went back to bed and then he heard the noise again and I heard it... turns out it was the sound made from Axel lifting up his feet and slamming them down on his crib mattress! It's a sound I hear often during the day- for some reason it doesn't come through on the monitor, but you can hear it clearly in our room through the wall- and even downstairs in the kitchen.

7 Months Old

Happy St Pat's Day- and happy 7 months to Axel!!

 Axel is sitting up quite well on his own. He topples over occasionally, so I still don't put him down on uncarpeted floors without some padding around him, and always away from hard objects (table legs, etc) that he could hit his head on, etc... by and large he's pretty dependable, unless he's reaching for something, etc. 

  He's a 21st century baby- zones in on a smart phone as soon as it's in sight- I can't check my phone with him in my lap or he's touching the screen- he watches it even if it's not on! He's also still a babbler- giggles, screeches and "talking." His favorite sound to say over and over is Bah, but if he's sad (sleepy or hungry) he kinda moans or hums a Mmmm sound and then opens his mouth to an Aah sound, which means he's saying MaMa! Of course, he's not saying my name, just making the sounds that happen to sound like it :) Kellen says he's also said Dada in the same way... it's a race to who he actually calls for first ;) 

Mama Video

  Axel is still a blur of movement (see above?!). He wiggles more and more when I feed him, arms and legs waving and kicking, opens and closes him hands, transfers object from hand to hand, brings his feet to his mouth. He's getting more coordinated with his hands- he's able to get his mesh feeder to his mouth on his own and feed himself. And he definitely has more interest in food these days. If we are eating, then he is watching every bite and will often reach and fuss for some for himself. Still no teeth :) He's eating purees and gums on solid slices or chunks of food in his mesh feeder.

"Got your ear elephant!"

 Axel is a BOUNCING baby boy. He loves jumping in his jumperoo (VIDEO), he loves to bounce in your lap and if you hold him, supporting him in a standing position he'll jump and jump until your arms can't support him anymore! He's still just as happy as ever, healthy and an absolute joy. He enjoys playing by himself- sitting with toys or jumping in his jumperoo. Other times he wants your attention, loves tickles and kisses, peekaboo and singing and just being talked to. He's still a great sleeper, but getting him on a dependable schedule is tricky. Nighttime is typically to bed around 8:30- 9pm and he wakes between 7:30-8am, the naps are trickier- usually naps are 9 or 10am and 1 or 2 pm, but they may last only an hour, or 2+ hours... trying to drop his evening nap, but some days he needs it depending on how the naps go...

We made a drive up to Maryland for my Aunt Jane's memorial service. A sad reason to go, but it is always so good to get to see our family. We stayed with the Bartlemans (my cousins whom I nannied for 10 years ago). The kids are all grown up at 10, 9 and 7- unreal how time has flown by- and continues to fly by! I know the next 10 years will be gone in a flash and I'll be looking at Axel in disbelief, wishing for these baby-days :)

On our road trip from the DC area to home yesterday, Kellen and I stopped for some dinner. We parked the car so I could nurse Axel and Kellen went into the store to get some fried chicken. Axel got distracted once Kellen got back to the car with our food, so his feeding got cut short. Axel sat on my lap in the front seat while we ate and he kept grabbing at my chicken. I finally put some in his mesh feeder and he went to town! We hit the road, and he started fussing, so I gave his his mesh feeder again- this appeased him for a while, but we had to make one more pit stop to finish up his interrupted nursing. A typical 5 hour trip turned into 7 hours with our extra stops along the way- but for the most part he is a very agreeable, albeit needy, passenger :)

A boy and his chicken... on the road...

Axel's Stats:
Height: 28 inches
Weight: 20 lbs (according to our bathroom scale)

6 months old

Axel turned 6 months on Monday. I can hardly believe that there was a time when he didn't exist, but I can also hardly believe that he could possibly already be halfway to his first birthday! I want to gather up all the clocks in the house and break them in hopes that it'll slow down time just a bit... but on it marches and bigger Axel grows. Seems like he does something new everyday- some new squeal, laugh or sound, some funny face or mannerism, or some new motor skill- reaching & grasping with purpose, bringing things to his mouth, spinning and shaking toys. Kellen had him play with a baby piano app on his phone- Axel looked very serious- furrowed brow, pursed lips, intensely looking at the screen as we wiggled his fingers over the screen- mesmerized and shocked with the affect his hand had. VIDEO.

I suppose he's still just as dependent upon me as he's always been, but he entertains himself so well and is in such a great routine, that he is not close to being a burden. My days are filled with the not-so-glamorous, but I love it. I understand now just why I had longed so much to be a wife & mother, though to be fair, he is such a good baby, he makes my job easy. If he was a colicky fit thrower who never slept, perhaps I'd feel a bit different.

 Axel is eating solids, though most of the time with much less gusto than he has for milk. That is fine, though; his pediatrician says that he should get most of his calories from breast-milk anyway, and doesn't need to eat solids more than once a day until he's 9 months old. He definitely has a preference for sweets- the fruits seem to be gobbled up in a hurry, while grains and most veggies are met with a clamped down jaw. He gets one regular meal mid-morning, something new every 3 days, and some days he'll eat with us at dinner. If he's awake while Kellen and I eat I usually put him in his highchair with us, and have started giving him food in a mesh self-feeder (pictured above, enjoying banana). He seems to enjoy it.

Axel is still a happy little guy. He is more in control of his body and voice these days. He'll stiffen his body, straighten his arms, make fists and growl/screech, not in displeasure or to be sassy, but just for fun. He'll do that while looking at me and then smile, and do it again. He'll have "conversations" making noises and laughing, we'll mimic him and he'll do it again.
He seems to be in constant motion. Even while he's nursing he has a hand going and feet often kicking. If he's being held he is usually rocking or bucking in your lap. If he's on his play mat he brings his feet to his mouth, swings his hips tick-tocking his feet, reaches for toys to chew on. He is better at sitting up, but still working on it. The next motor skill after sitting up is crawling...
I now understand the heart of the mothers I nannied for when they would get sad about their babies moving onto the next milestone- yes I'm proud and glad that he is growing and developing as he should, but he's growing up and out of the baby stage so fast, as all babies seem to do. I know I will love & enjoy him at every age/stage, but the first year is such fun- I hate to see it go!

Axel's eyes are still deciding what color to be. They say between 9 months and a year old is when it settles. They are looking hazel or green these days. His hair continues to be curly and often out of control, a bit on the long side, I fear a trim is in his near future.

He went to the doctor on Monday and was declared a well baby- everything looking as it should. He got 4 shots and an oral vaccine- cried with much gusto- a fine set of lungs on that boy! He settled down fast enough and napped hard that afternoon. Today slept til 8:30 (I woke him up) he took a 3 hour nap this morning, and is working on a 2 hour nap right now. Most days he'll take 2 good naps (1.5- 2 hours) and then a cat nap in the evening, still sleeping about 11 hours through the night. We often take that for granted, but sometimes watching a TV show, or hearing about other parents' struggles we are reminded of just what a blessing it is that Axel sleeps so well and so reliably- that with him being such a pleasant baby, good health, our lovely home and Kellen's job- our cup really does run over.

Axel's Stats:
Height: 27 inches, 68% (clearly the nurse's 4 month measurement of 28 inches was off!)
Weight: 19 lbs 11oz, 86%

One last thing- with all this lovely snow we've had Kellen has had snow days- which will be made up come summer, but it is nice having him home unexpectedly. Axel took his first trip down the hill in our backyard- laundry basket sledding at it's finest :) VIDEO

5 months old

  Axel turned 5 months this past Friday. We celebrated by introducing solids on Saturday :)
  He wasn't too super impressed, but the next day he did better, more stayed in that was spit out. Today we tried avocado, and he ate it well, even if he wasn't too thrilled with the flavor/texture. VIDEO
  Axel enjoys spending time in his Jumperoo while I make meals/work in the kitchen and also loves wallowing on his play mat- bringing his feet toward his face and always pulling off his right sock and chewing on it til it's a slobbery mess. Everything goes into his mouth these days- still no sign of teeth- and no hurry either! He also has a Summer Infant seat (similar to a bumbo, but with toys like an exersaucer) which he really likes to sit in and will always spin one of the toys as soon as he can with intention. Kellen thinks this seeming awareness of cause/effect makes him a genius, and of course, he is probably correct ;)

  Axel is learning to sit up on his own. He does well with a bit of support, and can even balance on his own for a few seconds, but he can still be a bit spastic with his body and all of a sudden he'll jerk his head in one direction and end up toppling over. He doesn't seem to mind. He definitely prefers to be upright when held, not cradled, unless he's getting fed/having a bottle. He also seems to prefer falling asleep laying down, than being held, which of course is a great thing. But one night a week we're out with small group, and it would be nice if he would settle and go to sleep in my arms, but he just holds off until he's riding home in the car to drift off.

  He is still a very happy/easy baby. No shortage of giggles and grins, so easy to love. I spend some part of my day still amazed that this little guy is mine and I get to help raise him up.
  Stranger-danger is starting to show up. He is starting to cry at some strangers. He usually will give a small smile to friendly faces, especially women, but often men will bring him to tears. He doesn't recognize children as "strangers" yet, still smiling easy for children he doesn't know.

  He continues to grow and push out of clothes that fit him just at Christmas. He routinely wears size 12mo and is in size 4 diapers. He sleeps and eats well. His nighttime sleep is pretty dependably 11 hrs uninterrupted (hallelujah!) with his daytime naps being a bit more sporadic, lasting at least 45 minutes, sometimes waking after 45 minutes and then talking to himself for 20 minutes and drifting off again for another 45+ minutes. Other days he'll take a solid 2 hour nap. He naps at least 3 times a day, sometimes 4 and heads to bed by 8:30 typically. Most days he'll sleep til at least 7:30, maybe needing a paci put back in his mouth if he stirs around 6 or so. He wakes up SO happy, sometimes laughing out loud alone in his crib.  
  Axel's Stats:
Height: 28 inches? (I only measure about 27 inches, but that's what the nurse measured last month...)
Weight: 18.4 lbs

  We are homeowners! We closed on our house Jan 6 and moved the following weekend. We've been here a little over a week and are settling in nicely. We enjoy the space and it seems like a good area.