Helping In Class

Today marks Parker's 100th day of school. So today in class he teacher planned a buch of fun activities. I was able to go and help out in his classroom today. He was very excited to have me come to his school and help out. I haven't been able to up until know because I had been nursing Paxten and it was difficult to get away. Now that he is weened, I have a little bit more freedom. Parker's teacer, Mrs. St. John was excited that I was able to come and help as well. She had forgotten to line up helpers for this particular day and sent a not home last week saying she was in desperate need of help. I was glad that I was able to help her out as well.

Each of the kids were told to bring 100 of something to show the class. She gave the example of peanuts, mashmallows, paper clips. I wasn't quite sure what they would do with them so Parker ended up taking 100 tootsie rolls. While I was in the classroom I saw what a few other students brought. I kid had 100 q-tips, another had 100 crayons, another had 100 pretzels. I am anxious for Parker to get home and tell me the rest of what others brought.

While I was helping in class the kids were to make a 100 days fruit look necklace. First they put 100 fruit loops on a paper that had 100 squares. Then they had to string the fruit loops to make a necklace. It sure took those little kindergartners a long time to fill their papers with 100 pieces. It took them 2 center stations to finish, and most of the kids didn't even finish with their necklaces. Parker being one of them. He was prettt upset that he didn't finish, maybe when he gets home he can finish.

I was glad I could help, the kids were all very nice and listened and followed directions quite well. It was nice to put a face with a name and to see all the kids that Parker has become friends with. Mrs. St. John does a grest job with the kids and I can tell she really loves what she does!

Same Outfit

Did you notice that Paxten has on the same outfit in the next three posts?? Well the pictures all happened to be taken on the same day. I do change my kids clothes, and no they don't always wear mismatch clothing and look like this. It was a Sunday and we were all in our lazy clothes. We can all have days like that right?!

Cupcakes

 

It seems the more kids I have the sooner they seem to begin eating solid foods and sweets. Paxten is no exception, he was given a tast if ice cream at like 4 months and has been trying stuff like that ever since. We had cupcakes over the weekend and Paxten was wanting one of his own. Luckily they were mini cupcakes, so I didn't feel too guilty giving him the entire thing. I set him in his high chair, went to get the camera, and when I got back, he had practically eaten the entire thing already. I think he liked it! I can't wait to see him dig into his birthday cake. I think he will be the first kid I have had that will attack it and eat as much as he can. We will see!

Walking

 

Paxten is officially a walker!! He is getting better by the day! He still prefers crawling as his method of transportation, but he will walk for quite a ways. He is still a little wobbly, but is getting better at keeping his balance. I am sure he will be running before his birthday, which is in 9 days! He looks so funny walking all over the place because he is still so little. I guess he isn’t a baby anymore, I now have a toddler on my hands.

Adventure Seeker

 

Paxten is quite the adventure seeker. He doesn’t like to stay in one place for long. He is a mover and a shaker! I often have to go behind him cleaning up after him and helping him get out of situations where he ends up stuck. He crawls under tables, or between tables, or under the bed or crib and sometimes can’t figure out how to get out. It is pretty funny to watch. The other day, Sunday, I was at the computer working on a project and Paxten somehow managed to get the desk drawer open, after which he crawled into. It wasn’t good enough for him to get it open and pull stuff out, he had to be in the drawer! He often climbs inside he toy basket as well, looking for that specific toy. He is a silly boy and I love to watch him explore things for the first time and to see him try and figure things out. It is amazing how little they are and still how smart they are! I am amazed all the time at my kids and the things they know, and the things they are learning.

Tea Party for 3

Paige got this cute table and chairs and a tea set for Christmas. But we have yet to use it and have a tea party. Last week, while Parker was at school Paige wanted to play dress up and have a tea party. So we got out the dishes and got the kids a snack out and some water. It was a fun time. Paxten really enjoyed the mini oreos, as you can tell. We need to do things like this more often! I love spending time with my kids and seeing them smile and having fun.

Easy Entertainment

Whenever I am in the kitchen (Which seems lika a lot) this ie where Paxten is if he isn't at my feet begging me to pick him up.




He loves to play in the tupperware drawers. I have one drawer that is full of lids and one that is full of containers, he loves to take out as much as he can. It does make a big mess, but it is easily cleaned up and if it will buy me a few minutes to get something done, I am all for it!

Sneaky Sneaky

I like to think of myself as a mom that maked good, nutritious food for her kids. Although sometimes I do have to be sneaky. My kids are relatively good about eating fruits and veggies and I try to include them in our meals and as snacks. Ever since I began watchin Daniel every day, it is a little bit harder for me to get my kids to eat fruits and veggies at lunch because Daniel won't eat them, so they don't want to eat them. I thought my kids were picky, but then I met Daniel! He is by far the pickiest kid I have ever met, and sometimes I give him a hard time about not eating fruits and veggies. I try to get him to eat stuff, but he usually turns up his nose and we end up wasting food. Although I have become pretty sneaky. The kids will eat macaroni and cheese and they all love it and clean their bowls completely. What they don't know is that I put carrots or squash in the cheese sauce, so they are getting some veggies!! Hahaha (insert evil laugh here) I feel like such a sneaky person when I do this and I just want to say, hahah you just ate some veggies! But I don't, I don't want to ruin it, so I will continue to keep it a secret and keep being sneaky!!

Taking Baby Steps

 

He did it!! Paxten took his first steps today. We have been trying to get him to walk for what seems like months now. Every once in a while he would try and take a step but then would give up and sit down and start crawling. Well today he took about 4 steps in a row. The first time he was going after the remote and managed to make it about 4 steps before falling down. In these pictures he was going for the nasal aspirator and I luckily had my camera out and was able to grab it quick enough to get these pictures of him. Here he took about 4-5 steps. So it won't be long before he is walking all over the place. I knew he would be walking before he turned 1. All of my kids have been early walkers, Parker at about 10 months, Paige at 12 months, and now Paxten at 11 months. Does this mean he isn't a baby anymore and is considered a toddler?

Eating Like a Big Boy

 

Paxten does not like "baby" food anymore. It is a struggle to feed him anything because he thinks he is a big boy and can feed himself. He likes to eat what we are eating and doesn't like the food from the jars anymore. Although he will eat yogurt. Today I made the kids Macaroni & Cheese and Paxten was loving it. He was loving the fact that mom let him get messy and that he was able to feed himself. Notice he is holding a fork in his other hand, we haven't quite got the whole spoon/fork in the mouth thing figured out yet. He did pretty good for the most part at getting the noodles in his mouth, there wasn't much left on the tray after he was finished. Look at that cute face!!

11 Months

I can't believe my baby is only a month away from not being a "baby" anymore. This year has sure flown by. I am really amazed at how quickly Paxten has grown up, it really does make me sad. I have been thinking in the back of my mind that I need to start thinking about what I am going to do for his 1st birthday party, but at the same time, I am not sure I want him to turn 1. Can I do that? If I don't celebrate his birthday will that keep him from turning 1??? I want him to stay a baby for just a little while longer...then I won't get baby hungry again...maybe.

We finally got Paxten sleeping in his own bed, he has been doing awesome and both Matt and I are able to sleep better in our own bed. Paxten does still cry for a few minutes when we put him down for the night, but he is learning how to put himself to sleep, which is good. He usually sleeps for about 6-7 hours, sometimes more, which is great. He still wakes up once for a feeding and then goes back to sleep for a few more hours and usually wakes up pretty happy. I have also got him completely weened. I didn't do this intentionally this early, but had just been trying to get him to take a bottle in hopes of him sleeping better at night and then he just wasn't as hungry as often and before I knew it he was only nursing about 2 times a day. So my supply diminished and then I just decided to cut him off completely and he has been doing great ever since. It has been about 2 weeks and he seems more content and has eater his solid foods way better. I am loving being able to let others feed him and not having to worry about nursing. I don't think he was getting as much as he needed, and I feel bad about that, like I was starving my own kid! Maybe he will grow a little more now!

He is so close to be able to walk and occasionally takes one step. Although he is just content to be crawling around. When he is standing and we try to get him to walk to us, he looks at us and thinks about it for a second and then sits down and starts crawling. So he will be walking when he decides that he wants to. He definitely has his own personality and it is starting to show. He makes me laugh and smile each and every day, and I am so glad he is in our family!

New Year

I have had good intentions of getting on the computer to blog, but it seems like something (or someone) always prevents me from sitting down and doing it....Paxten. I love that little boy, but he still has an attachment problem. He does really well to play by himself as long as I am in the room, but the second I leave, he has to follow me and then wants me to hold him. So I have been doing a lot of just that, holding him and reading on my Kindle. I have read 3 books since Christmas and have 3 more loaded and ready to read. I love a good book!

I have also given up a few hours of sleep to get myself to the gym each morning. I finally got myself motivated enough to start going regularly. I have been going at 4:45 each morning for the last two weeks and at first I thought I was going to be so tired, but it hasn't been too bad. I was surprised at how well I have felt during the day and it helps me get a good jump start on my day and all the things I like to accomplish. Although I am tired and ready for bed my 9:00! I hope I can keep this up, it feels good to be exercising again.