A Familiar Site

This past week, I have been getting flashbacks from living in Utah. Not because of our weather, but because of HOMEWORK! Mike has found a unique way to study, yet still be in the same room as us. Although that is a Nintendo DS connected to his ears, it's actually music he is listening to. The music drowns out the noise so he can focus! Works for me!

Belly Dancer

Paxton has really been exploring his possibilities on his tummy recently. I love the "Free Willy" type move he does when he lifts his arms and arches up! I keep waiting for him to roll over, but not yet! He almost did at my mom's the other night! He definitely has the whole scooting backwards and in circles thing down. Will he be like his sister, and wait until ten months to crawl? We shall see!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Paxton had an explosion that was not worth wasting 70 wipes on, so I put him in the sink! I know that it probably looks really gross seeing all of those dirty dishes next to him, but I did Comet the other side before I put him in! He could stay in the sink forever. It works out well for both of us, he is content, and I can clean up the kitchen!

Pampers

A few months ago, I was given the opportunity to review a few different Pampers products. I would like to share with you my observations and opinions on each of these items.

For Paxton, I used the size three of the Pampers Baby Dry. I really like the how well these diapers stretched. They seemed nice and comfy, which is very important for me when it comes to a diaper. I despise the diapers that have no stretch and constrict the babies tummies! There were two downfalls for me. The first, I could not have Paxton wear these overnight. Every time I tried, he was soaked through his jammies in the morning. My next issue relates to my first, they seem very thin. The diaper would feel drenched after being worn for just a short time. I didn't have any problems with them holding his explosions in, which is a good thing! All in all, I did like these diapers, but would not buy them on a regular basis, mainly because, per diaper, they are more expensive then the diapers I currently use.

These are the wipes that I used for Paxton. I did enjoy these. They were sturdy and did not rub apart while using them. The were soft and stretchy. I only have positive to say about them. Once again, I would consider using them more, but I love the individual packages with the flip tops that the wipes I currently buy come in.

For Lyric, I got the Pampers Easy Ups. Since she is potty trained, I actually had her use these for naps. I really liked how the side tabs came undone. Of course the fact that they were Princess designed really won Lyric over! The only downfall is that they seemed to run a little small. I would have gone up a size, had I known that.

Lastly, I tried the Pampers Clean -n- Go wipes. I really liked these. The packaging made it very convenient to travel with. I actually kept the wipes my car. I always seem to need a wipe for one reason or another, and it was very nice having them with me. I love the flip top.

Thank You!

I have to, once again, thank Jamie for redoing my blog. I absolutely love it! I searched through HUNDREDS of different backgrounds today. I found the one I liked, and she did the rest! She can whip them out and makes it seem so easy! I found my background at a site she had listed one her blog, Pyzam.com. THANKS, J!

Back to School!

Tomorrow, Mike starts school! He is going to get a Master's in Business Administration. I have to be honest and say that I have mixed emotions on this. I am 100% supportive and proud of him for doing this. Selfishly, I know these next 2 1/2 years will feel a little more stressful and at times I know I will feel like I am raising two children alone! I'm not trying to play the pity role, I'm just being honest! I know this will be so worth it in the long run. I also know that now will be easier than in five or ten years. He feels very excited and ready to start this journey! I am so grateful that he is so self-motivated. He has a drive to succeed and do his best, and I have no doubt that he will do just that! GOOD LUCK, MIKE :)

Skirts

This is Lyric's latest obsession. Everyday when we get dressed I hear, "Mom, I don't want pants, I want a skirt." Now, I have nothing against skirts. The problem is that she only has a few that meet her specifications, they must be long, and preferably have some shade of pink in them. But, when the choice comes between pants or a not so favorite skirt, she'll choose the skirt. I wish I would have known this phase was coming so I could have saved money on all of the pants she has! I am truly learning to let go a little and let her be happy with what she is wearing. I have a tendency to be an outfit Nazi, I like everything to match specifically and look cute.

This morning, I tried non-chalantly to lay out pants with her shirt. I told her it was too cold for a skirt. I actually started feeling like a mean mom, all she really wanted was a skirt! I did what my mom has taught me, "pick your battles." I realized this battle was not worth fighting! So, she ended up in the above outfit. I know there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, I just think it would have looked cuter with jeans :) This skirt was not her first choice, but when I said, "This skirt or pants," she gladly accepted the skirt.

Watchin' Mom

A sure way to keep Paxton happy while I am getting ready, is to set him on the bathroom counter. I know it may not sound like the safest thing, but I am standing right there and keep a close eye! I set a few toys in front of him and he is set! He typically ends up having more fun exploring my makeup and combs and clips!

Who Knew?

Who in the world knew that a six month old could already have very strong opinions about things in life!?!? I guess I still think of him as a little lump of chub that just sleeps and eats! Obviously, I am wrong.

Paxton loves his baths. So, last night I was confused as to why he was so fussy when I first put him in. I then saw him trying to drink from the water coming out, but he couldn't reach it. At that point, I knew what he wanted. He wanted to drink water from the shower head! He absolutely loves this. He does it every time he takes a bath. Sometimes I have to end it before he is ready because I know that he will throw up from too much water!

The First of Many

Today, Paxton's first tooth popped through! It was the bottom left one. I have been suspecting he was in the teething process for at least a month now. I just knew yesterday, that it was coming very soon! He woke up at 11 and by noon was ready for a nap. My mom came over, and at four I woke him up because I wanted her to see him before she left! He went to bed at 9:45 last night and woke up a little after noon today, granted he did wake up a few times to eat in between there! He also had been feeling very warm and clammy, and had a runny nose. This was the same process Lyric went through when she was teething. I think it is so sad that they have to endure such agony just to get these little teeth!

My Sunbeam

Lyric officially entered Primary today! She is in the little Sunbeam's class. I was prepping her yesterday so that she would know what to expect. I told her that she was no longer in nursery because she had become such a big girl, and that she was in a new class called Sunbeams! She was so excited.

I teach Primary, so I get to see her in there. I am excited to be able to watch her learn and grow. I cannot believe that she has graduated from nursery to Primary! She is becoming such a big girl. She is so eager to learn. I am also really excited about her teacher. She is a very neat woman. Last year, she and her husband taught the class, but this year there are only four children, so she is doing it by herself. Lyric came out of class with a handful of things they had done.

Paxton still has a full year until he is in nursery. I am ok with that, at least for now. I know I will get to that point, like I did with Lyric, where I cannot wait for him to be old enough! Funny enough, Mike got called to be in nursery during the second hour. It makes me laugh thinking about it! He said he was actually excited about it. It will be good for him.

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye...

So, we have been a little slow at getting all of our Christmas stuff down! I took the decorations off of the tree on Friday so we could put it in the ally. This afternoon, Mike took it out. Lyric had just gotten up from her nap as I started loosening the tree for Mike. He got the tree out the back door, not before four million needles fly all over the room, and I headed for the kitchen. All of the sudden I hear Lyric start crying. Not just whining, but a hysterical cry. I run back into the room to see what was wrong. "The tree," she sobbed. The poor child was so distraught that we were getting rid of the Christmas tree! I felt so horrible. I guess she thought it was a permanent fixture in our home! We explained to her that Christmas was over and that we would get a new one when Christmas came again!

Half of One Year!

I really cannot believe that Paxton is six months old! I think about how long the first six months of my pregnancy felt, as opposed to how ridiculously fast these last six months have gone by!

Here are a few updates on him.

-Totally sitting on his own, and has been for a month.

-Has yet to roll over.

-STILL sleeping in our room!

-His sleep habits are digressing! He now eats about three times in the night.

-Bananas are the only consistent thing I have found that he will eats, solids wise. At least there is potassium!

-No teeth yet.

Before I know it, we will be celebrating his first birthday! I love this little guy so much. He is just so incredibly content and happy!

Peas Please

OK Mom, I'm ready!

Oh, I'm not so sure what to think!

That wasn't so bad!

I have been having an interesting adventure with this whole food thing and Paxton. Besides getting constipated, I just don't think he likes baby food. I know this is still so new and things could change a million times. I have tried multiple flavors and he acts as though I were serving him caviar! Today, I put some peas in the baby food grinder. I figured they might taste better and have a little more texture than the actual baby food ones. He seemed to think they were ok. He just always is so interested in all of the big people food. I think he wants the real thing and not the gross pureed stuff!

Five Pull-Ups

Sadly, Lyrics naps are becoming a rare happening. Her no-nap schedule is 7am up, 7pm down. That works pretty good for us. If I am home or I know we will be having a later evening, then I like to make sure she has a nap. I have to set aside a good chunk of time for this, not because she actually sleeps that long, but because it takes a good half hour to get her to go to sleep. She doesn't fight it, she just likes to play, talk, and read before actually falling asleep.

Although Lyric is potty trained during the day, she still wears diapers for naps and bedtime. The other day she came waddling out of her room after her nap. I thought she just had a REALLY full pull-up. I told her to take it off and put panties on. She was struggling, so I went to help her. I was so confused as I saw layer after layer! During her little pre-nap playtime, she had put on five pull-ups. It gave me a good laugh! What, in her little mind, would give her that idea!

2008!

Of course, I have not one picture from New Year's Eve! I brought my camera, but forgot to take pictures. Jamie has lots of fun ones on her blog.
We had a really fun evening at Jamie and Tucker's. There were four families along with Ryan and Kristy that were there. We ate and played games the whole evening. I was so impressed with how well all of the kids did! They all made it to watch the ball drop, except Peyton.
I think everyone would agree that as soon as a new year starts, you wonder how the previous year just flew by! I think 2007 went by extra fast because I was consumed with pregnancy for the first half, and adjusting to two kids for the second half!