2 kids in 1 year....YIKES!!!!

Can you believe it? Because I still can't....After Jaxon was born, about 3 weeks out, I started going on long (4-5mile) walks to try to get back into shape. We were walking all over Phoenixville running errands and going to Valley Forge park and doing the loop (several massive hills that I hates!). After a couple weeks they were actually getting harder to complete, which was frustrating since I was going out 4-5 days a week and eating better. I was intensely tired all the time and couldn't figure out why since Jaxon was sleeping through the night and is a good napper. Then, I started getting up in the middle of the night several times to pee. I though at this point "I feel like I am pregnant" but dismissed that thought immediately because I hadn't gotten my period yet. Then I started to feel sick. A lot. I would be REALLY hungry and then as soon as I started to eat I was disgusted with the food that was on my plate. Still I pushed the notion that I was pregnant from my mind. The final straw was on Father's Day when I could barely button the skirt I wanted to wear. I was feeling really down on myself for all the exercise I was doing and not seeing results. So finally I took a test on Monday (day after Father's Day) and it was positive. I was sitting on the side of the bed, hugging my knees to my chest at 5 in the morning and Josh woke up asking what was wrong. I told him nothing and to go back to sleep--no reason for him to lose sleep if I was already stressing enough for the both of us. That wasn't happening, he knew something was up for me to be awake and alert that early in the morning. I told him my symptoms and that I had taken a test. He sat bolt upright in bed. I said "it can't be right...." and he dove across the bed and tackled me into the pillows. Best reaction I could hope for! I thought he was going to be shocked and scared like I was, but he was so happy!

I went to the OB the next day and he believes that as of today I am 12 weeks along! I never got my period so we need more diagnosticsc to pin point a due date. If he is right I missed my entire first trimester. Yikes! We are going for an ultrasound on the 8th to lock down a due date and then will have to decide where to deliver. I am torn between the sweet release of drugs that the hospital can provide, and the homey atmosphere and quick discharge of the birth center (where I delivered Jaxon).

Please pray for us over the next year (couple years). Specifically for strength, patience, energy and stamina. Also, of course, for a smooth and healthy pregnancy for the baby and myself. We are very excited for this next blessing, albeit much sooner than we had planned. Although, my plans for my life and God's plans for it never seem to line up. His have always worked out much better than mine, so I am trusting that he wouldn't give me something I can't handle.

So excited for this journey we are on and thankful that we have so many great friends and family to share it with! Hope to see you ALL soon! XOXO

1st Father's Day

Our first Father's Day was a good one! We celebrated on Saturday mostly because poppa had to work on Sunday :( Jaxon and I got up and let Josh sleep in while we made Josh a breakfast feast. We served him breakfast in bed and gave him his card and gift. Saturday afternoon we just hung out as a family and watched a movie and then went to Fogo De Chao to meet my parents to celebrate Father's Day with my dad also. Jaxon wore a new outfit and was super excited for the day. Even channeling Elvis in one of his pre-dinner shots :) On the actual Father's day we went to church, and Josh went to work, and then I made a dinner that was a disgrace so I felt better that we celebrated on Saturday and I had made him a good breakfast! We love daddy!!

Jaxon and his monkey....

As I said before, we aren't doing the weekly shots with Jaxon and his monkey (moving to monthly). So he hasn't spent as much time with the monkey as he would like--as you can see in the photos below. He starts with a hug and whispering sweet nothings in the monkey's ear and then gets right down to business gnawing on that poor thing's face. I like the photos we got though :)

Jaxon meets Traci and Noah

My dear friend from Indiana came in for a visit this past weekend with her son Noah. We went out for lunch at Ironhill and Jaxon (and daddy) got his photograph taken with the head brewer for their FB page :) (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150207181632219&set=a.10150207181497219.318576.50071072218&type=1&theater) We played a bunch of games on Josh's new Kinect, and I am embarassed to say that my legs were hurting the next day from the squatting. Such a great day! There are very few things I miss from my TU days, but Traci is definitely one of them!

Jaxon's first food!

Jaxon had his first experience with real food last week (we were away so there has been a delay in posting). He had sweet potatoes and loves them! He didn't seem to quite know what to do with them initially, but now scarfs them down. We have a couple more days with those then I will try something new. The sweet potatoes were courtesy of Gerber, but from here on out I am going to make his food--which I am super excited about! So if anyone wants to get something for Jaxon, we will now be accepting donations in the form of cash for our local fruit/vegetable stand. With the way he eats, our bill there will likely double soon :)

4 month check-up stats

Jaxon had his 4 month well check today and he is doing fantastic!! He is still growing like a weed and his head is catching up to the rest of his body now at 17 in (70%), up from 15in (50%) at birth; while the rest of his stats, height and weight remain in the >95%. He is currently 27 in and 19.6oz. Josh and I had a bet whether or not he would hit 20lbs by this check point, I lost :(

He got 6 shots today and was a champ about it. I, again, left the room to pull the car around. If Josh ends up not being able to make one of these appointments where Jax gets vaccinated I am going to have a meltdown. Hopefully once he gets older I will get better at it.

Doc said all looks great and he got the green light to start solids...well solids that have been pureed that is. I am planning on making most of his food myself, so well see how that goes. As you can see in the above photo he has been practicing sitting in his highchair and is super excited to start solids!

4 months

Jaxon turned 4 months today! I watched our birth video and cried. What a glorious day. Hard, painful, scary, but glorious all the same. Jaxon is doing great and still thriving. He is still battling his cold from last week although most of his symptoms are gone except for the nasal congestion, which makes eating hard for him, but I have just been feeding him smaller amounts more often and that seems to work and also is helping flush out whatever this bug is that has ahold of him.

Jaxon is so cute with his monkey now. He loves to sit with him and is getting good at "imitating" the monkey and copying his poses. He loves to knock him over, which always cracks Jaxon up. He also got his first shoulder ride with Daddy. He was so happy up there using J's hair as reigns.

He is starting to really like his little activity center that we got him a few weeks ago. His feet are flat on the bottom dome, he is spinning the toys that spin, grabbing others and is still pretty confused by the frog. He is getting a jumper soon so there will be pics to follow! He is, and has been for a while, rolling over onto his side but not all the way on to his belly. I think that is going to take a while since his belly is so big, I can't imagine that would be comfortable to want to roll over onto it. I remember when I was pregnant and being on my belly was the last place I wanted to be.

He is getting better at grabbing things--toys, teethers, and ANYTHING he can get his hands on goes right into his mouth. Also he has started to spin himself around while in his crib. Meaning I put him in feet facing one direction and I go to get him the next morning and they are facing the opposite direction. This morning he was actually laying sideways facing me when I went in. Won't be long before he won't fit in that direction. He has his 4 month check up on Friday so we should have some updates for you then (I also have my first check up since his birth that day).

After two and a half weeks it seems that I have FINALLY gotten him to nap in his crib. I am hoping that it is easier once he is fully healthy, but I am at least glad he is doing the 2 hours up there now. So much nicer for me to have a solid couple hours to get some work around the house done. I can't imagine having him sleeping in that swing anymore! Hopefully once he beats this cold it will be easier, I can put him up there awake, but tired, and he will put himself to sleep just like he does at night.

I am loving every minute of my new life. I was just telling Josh the other day that every day is better than the one before it, so I am literally living the best day of my life everyday. I am so blessed to have such a fantastic baby and wonderful husband who can provide so I can stay home. I could not ask for more.

On another note--I will no longer be posting weekly photos, we will be moving to monthly shots from here on out. Will still post significant events with photos, but the "photo shoots" will wait for each month from here on out. With the summer on the rise and a few mini vacations on the calendar you can be sure there will be plenty to report!