Three!!! (And A Bit ... )

Buddy,

You are now three years old, my big boy! So much has happened for you this past year (give or take a month or two ... Mommy's been a little lazy with your letter)

You made a best friend (other than your sister). This was big for you because while your sister has had numerous friends that she mentions (often) in conversation for some time, you've never said much about other kids. Well, when asked about a specific child, you'll often say, "I not like that boy." You prefer little babies that are not independently mobile as you will not be required to share your toys with them. Then you met Zachary Dover. And suddenly your conversation was peppered with mentions of Zachy. Zach's mom even started refering to you both collectively as "Daxary." The two of you played so well together, mainly a mixture of action figures, Toy Story references, and calling each other "poopy diaper" while laughing hysterically. I'll admit I didn't understand it, but I was certainly thankful for it. You would do ANYTHING as long as I could answer your "Zachy will be there?" with a "Yes." Unfortunately the Dovers had to move to Nashville. We'll visit, but it won't be the same and you know it. You miss your Zachy.

You have some really funny verbal quirks that I love. You still call your sister "Dee-ya." This is more habit than anything. If I ask you to say "Julia," and you stop and think about it then you pronounce her name correctly. Since it doesn't seem to bother Julia, I don't correct you. It will be a sad day for your Mom when you start saying Julia's name correctly without thinking about it. I'm sure it will be like so many other little things about you growing up and it won't register on me until you've been doing it for a while. And I'll ask you yet again, "When did you get so BIG?!?!" and be a little sad that things change so quickly and so subtly that there's no chance to mark that exact moment you grow out of a behavior. I imagine it is better this way. You would much rather hear about the excitement of the First Times than the poignancy of the Last Times. It is much more comfortable for me to reflect on the joys as well, but somehow looking back to discover I didn't realize we reached the end of a phase on this journey reminds me that it is moving all too quickly.

You've also started pausing when asked a question, then prefacing your reply with "Actually ... " You really have to be there to understand how cute it is to see your little head cocked to the side with those blue eyes sparkling and dimples showing and hear your little boy voice draw the word out as long as you can. Makes me laugh every time.

You think the biggest insult to anyone is to call them "Baby!"  You overheard the Justin Beiber song and now sing the first part of the chorus to anyone you want to make angry.  No one really understands that you're trying to be mean, and you are satisfied just to say it without getting an angry response.  Except with your sister, this is pretty much true of your interactions.  You like to make Julia cry when you get mad at her so you yell, but with everyone else you just mutter things like "You're a BABY!" under your breath while walking away.

You have a wide vocabulary and excellent pronunciation.  Nearly everyone understands everything you say.  You have a few words you can't quite say yet: 

"Yuke" = "Luke" (the little boy next door)

"Wellow" = "Yellow"

"Alent" = "Alien" (you have a little alien toy from Toy Story)

When you don't know a word, you are particularly descriptive when trying to get Mommy to understand what you want.  I love hearing your descriptions for things.

You recently got a big boy haircut for the first time.  I was a little worried you'd freak out about the clippers, but you giggled the whole time about how the clippers tickled you.  You look so handsome.  And big!!  When anyone asks about your haircut, you immediately duck your head to show them the top.  And Sunday at church you told me, "Mommy, I get to go into my big Sunday School class now because I have a big boy haircut!"

(picture by Julia)

You are completely potty trained.  It took me by surprise.  It seemed to take forever to get you interested in even sitting on the potty.  You really couldn't see the point in worrying about whether you went in the potty or in your Pull-Ups.  Then one day when we were watching one of the Toy Story movies (again), you asked for a Buzz toy.  I told you that Buzz was a big boy toy and to get it you had to be a big boy and go in the potty.  A few days later, after taking Buzz away when you went to the bathroom in your Pull-Up and giving him back after you went in the potty, you were potty trained.  A few weeks later you decided you didn't like wearing Pull-Ups at night so you went completely to underwear.  Like your sister, you wake yourself up if you need to go to the bathroom during the night.  Unlike your sister, you refuse to pull your pants down (or up) by yourself so you yell to me to come help.  At this point, though, I'm so excited about being done with diapers, I don't mind at all!

Eventually, though, you are going to have to work at dressing yourself.  You have no interest at all in doing this for yourself.  You don't even really care what clothes Mommy picks out for you to wear each day.  Although, you have started announcing that you won't wear any shirt with a collar unless we're going to church.  Fortunately, you don't differentiate between church the Sunday morning service and church the building yet.  So, I can usually get you into a cute polo or button down most days because we head to the church building several days a week for various activities.

You have several favorite excuses when told to do something for yourself:

"I can't do it!"  (very direct)

"I'm too tired!"

"My tummy doesn't want me to!" (you blame a lot of things on your tummy)

You will sit and cry for twenty minutes rather than try to take off your shoes on your own. Mommy's had to step in to stop Julia from helping you after you beg her "Will you do it for me, Dee-ya?" Since I only ask you to do things I know you can do, I don't feel bad about leaving you rolling on the floor in tantrum mode.  If left alone you will eventually do the task yourself.  It just takes a while.  Which is frustrating.  I'm working on my scheduling to get you started getting ready at least an hour before we need to leave the house. (You also do the "I'm too tired" when you are done walking as well.  You squat down and refuse to go forward.  I try to find the humor in the situation rather than get angry. Sometimes that even works for me.)

One area you have excelled physically in is riding your scooter.  You figured that thing out fast, and then proceeded to beat the pants off older kids when "racing" at the park.  You were quite pleased with yourself.  Although we need to work on your sportsmanship ... shouting "I win!!  You lose!!" at everyone over and over isn't something I want to encourage.

Out of everything you do, you love to watch TV the most.  You constantly ask for it.  You've moved out of the Lightening McQueen stage and moved on to the Toy Story movies.  You are very specific about which one you want to watch:

"the one with the birthday party" = Toy Story

"the one with Jessie and Bullseye" = Toy Story 2

"the one with the mean bear" = Toy Story 3

I'm really tired of all three of them, but you love to watch them.  I can pretty much guarantee that will be your first pick when it's your turn to choose what we watch.  If I tell you we don't have time to watch a whole movie, you pick "Diego" (which Mommy likes better than Dora because there is no Swiper to scare you guys).   Tom and Jerry is also a favorite.  One day when we were in the car, I stopped on a classical music station and you piped up from the back seat, "Mom?  This is Tom and Jerry music?"  Pink Panther is also a favorite.  You have figured out how to access Netflix on Mommy's "toy" (iPod) and if I haven't heard from you in a while, I can usually find you curled up underneath my covers stealthily watching something.

You favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, pizza, popcorn, pancakes, hamburgers, chicken nuggets, french fries with ketchup to dip in, grapes, and strawberries. You are not really fond of anything remotely resembling a vegetable.  I sneak spinach and carrots into your smoothies, count the ketchup as a veggie and call it good. If left alone, you will eventually eat most things on your plate.  (Can you tell you don't like to be bossed around?)

You still love Echo and talk to her in the sing-song voice you usually reserve for babies.  We've been visiting my friend Amanda's house and she has two dogs.  Rudy is her golden cocker spaniel that lives inside.  You adore Rudy.  You get so excited when she runs up to greet you and tell us, "He likes me!!"  (gender specific pronouns are causing you fits). Duke is Amanda's husband's hunting dog.  He lives outside and you love to give him treats, too.  This makes Mr. Greg happy since he doesn't want Duke to feel neglected.

But your first love and best friend is still your sister.  You guys are so incredible together.  You play games together with long, elaborate scenarios that you make up.  Barbies, Buzz and various super heroes make frequent appearances.  You two can play together for hours.  Julia will happily build you circles with your train tracks and you will let her diagnose all sorts of ailments as your pretend doctor.  (Mostly, you are told you have a loose tooth.) In true brother/sister fashion, you know exactly what to do to drive her to tears or extreme frustration.  Tattle-tales have made their appearance as has "I'm not going to play with you ever again!"  But, I've also heard Julia tell you that she won't let her friends be mean to you and direct you not to let your friends be mean to her.  You tell her "Okay, Dee-ya!"  When it's time to pick out what color candy or what kind of drink, if I ask you first, you tell me "It Dee-ya's turn to pick first!" You then listen to what she decides and choose the same thing.  Once you both have it, you yell, "Dee-ya, we match!!!" as if it is a huge surprise to you that such a thing has happened.

Little man you are such a joy.  Any amount of time spent with you means I end up laughing.  I love your sweet heart. You are my snuggle bug. I'm so glad I get to be your mom.

I Love You,

Mommy

The Dentist

At some point this summer Julia went for her first dentist visit. She dressed up all fancy ...



And wasn't at all nervous to get her teeth cleaned ...




She received an excellent report. Dax climbed in the chair and had his teeth counted and threw a fit when he wasn't allowed to get his cleaned like "Dee-ya." Hope he holds onto that attitude when we go back in six months and he has to take his turn!

Y'all

DAX PEED IN THE POTTY!!!!!!!

Last One!

5 April 2009

Is She April Fooling Me?

Today Julia made her usual request for a pen and paper to draw on and I gave them to her as I typically do. And she drew this:


Which is pretty typical of her masterpieces these days. However, today (for the first time) when I asked her to tell me about it, she pointed to the little circles I've boxed in red down below and told me they were "Shoes. Socks. Shoes." A little later, when asked, she said the same thing. Pardon me while I go frame this work of art!

(The green boxes are my drawings and meant to be ignored. I don't have her Daddy's skills.)

A First Birthday

(as always, you can click on each picture for a bigger version ... )





Start your morning with a present ...

At first, it looks like he knows what he's doing:


After approximately 6,000 pictures, we start to doubt he understands the concept of opening presents. Then, he gets an edge ...
... and after 20 minutes, this is what he's unwrapped so far:
An impatient Mommy takes over.
Now, what is wrong with this picture? (Besides my weird flippy hair thing):
Grandma, Julia's fishing game is a hit!
Finally! He gets his hands on his hammer! (Thanks, Aunt Laura!)

Move on to a lunch of mac and cheese ...


Then, after a nap, another present ...

And I'll spare you the majority of the pictures of him playing with the paper:


It took Julia about 20 seconds to get her gift unwrapped. And that's only because Uncle Christopher wrapped it in several layers to try to distract her while Dax opened his present!

Playing with the new gift:

After a pizza dinner, it's time for a trip to the barbershop! First haircut:

One last look at his "flowing locks" aka The Mullet:

Trying to distract him so Daddy can cut his hair:

Sporting his new 'do:


And then, BIRTHDAY CAKE!

Sushi cake, decorated by Dad:

Julia inspects her piece:

Waiting for the song to end:

And immediate disgust once his fingers get in the icing :)


Julia trying to show Dax what you do with cake:

He refused to eat it until Dave cut off the icing parts and shoved a bite of cake in his mouth. After tasting it, Dax was ready to eat the cake part. But no icing please! :)

Then baths and off to bed!

I AM ONE YEAR OLD TODAY!

... and my Mommy is in denial.
... and I'm trying to walk SO HARD, sometimes I even take a few steps without any prompting, just because I want to!
... and I'm still taking a bottle, but just until the formula runs out!
... and I'm down to one bottle a day (bedtime)
... and I'll eat just about anything.
... and my favorites are bananas and goldfish.
... and my other favorite is dog food.
... and I babble to myself quite a bit.
... and I am always trying to climb up things.
... and I take a really long afternoon nap, but that's it for naps for me.
... and I'm getting my first haircut today.
... and if I hear my sister coming, I turn and crawl away as fast as I can until I make sure she's not coming after me.
... and I have a Super Clingy Grip that helps me hang on to things that my sister is trying to take away from me.
... and I've learned that a really loud whine gets some attention from a grown up.
... and I love to drink fruit smoothies.
... and sometimes at night I cry out, but I'm not really awake.
... and I try to copy the sounds that I hear people say.
... and I could care less about watching TV.
... and I love to dance to music.
... and after my nap, I often sit in my crib and play with my toys; my Mama thinks it's because I'm enjoying some alone time without having a big sister constantly trying to snatch things away from me.
... and I love looking through the window to see what's happening outside.
... and I take Singulair every day so which helps with me breathe without wheezing.
... and now I don't have to have breathing treatments.
... and I go to bed at 8 pm and wake up between 7:00 am and 8:00 am.
... and I am constantly curling my tongue up to touch the roof of my mouth.

Love,
Dax

Guess Who Took Two Baby Steps Yesterday?!?

If you guessed Our Baby, you are right!!!

Last night as Dave got Dax ready to take his bath, he stood that wobbly boy on his pudgy feet and let go! Dax took two little steps towards Dave before falling forward!! I tried it with him this morning and he did the same thing! Looks like we've got ourselves a little almost-toddler!!

(and that makes me a little sad ... my baby's getting SO BIG!)

I Am Ten Months Old Today ...

... and everybody says I look just like my Daddy did at this age.
... and I love to eat: black beans, baked beans, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, peas, carrots, broccoli, green beans, apples, bananas, pears, chicken, crackers, Goldfish, whatever I can get into my mouth (including crayons, paper and leaves).
... and I hate going down for naps.
... and when Mama sets me down, I grab her leg super quick so she can't get away.
... and I can stand for a few seconds on my own.
... and I love to put things in a cup and take them out.
... and I enjoy chewing on things.
... and I have 7 teeth now.
... and I get funny little bumps on my tummy when I get too hot.
... and I like to push my big trucks around the room.
... and I am now tall enough to fall into the bathtub.
... and I babble a lot ("mamamamamamamama", "babababababababa", etc.)
... and I still drink around 32 ounces of formula a day.
... and I eat three meals a day.
... and when I'm sleepy I rub my eye with my fist.
... and I like to toss things out of my crib.

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Love,
Dax

Guess Who Went Pee-Pee In The Potty Last Night?!?!

Well, technically, three out of the four members of our family did ... but only one did it for the FIRST TIME!!!

Reading her Princess book with Daddy
(After many, many trips to the bathroom yesterday, she waited until Daddy got home)

Checking out her sticker

Dear Julia

You are TWO YEARS OLD TODAY!!! That is amazing to your Daddy and me. On the one hand, it doesn't seem like our baby could possibly be that old; on the other, it's hard to believe that you've only been with us for two years since we can't imagine life without you.

You have grown so much this year. On the outside, it's easy to see, you've added inches and maybe a few pounds. You are a very tall girl. You keep bonking your head on the corners of tables that you used to be able to walk underneath. You've also become adept at so many physical skills: using a spoon, using a fork, walking, running, kicking a ball, throwing a ball (or any other object light enough for you to lift), somersaults, drinking from a cup

You have learned how to hop. Your Daddy and I think you learned at church one day. We came home and your Daddy asked me, "When did Julia learn to hop?" And I asked him, "Julia knows how to hop?" You love to hop. We think this is so cute except for the times when we are trying to get from Point A to Point B quickly and you want to hop. Then we think it's a bit annoying (but also still a little cute).

We love watching you twirl. You spin around and around in circles with a big grin. In the glimpses we get of your face, we can see your eyes looking as far to one side as possible. You like to keep an eye on where you've been when you're spinning.

You have become terrified of loud noises. We noticed this a couple months ago. In a parking lot, if a car starts up nearby, you come shrieking back to us and insist on being carried. You now cry when the vacuum cleaner is going. It's been an interesting few weeks.

You are not at all scared of strangers, though, especially women. You walk up to them and lift your arms to be held. Or you try to take whatever is in their hands. It's really funny, but a tiny bit scary.We have to keep an eagle eye on you when we're out or you might just go home with anyone willing to pick you up!

You are such a helper. If Mommy unloads the dishwasher by herself, you get very upset. You love to go get a diaper, put a toy away, get the Kleenex away from Dax, run grab the remote ... anything that we're too lazy to do ourselves, you do joyfully. And your face lights up and you run to us with open arms and an enormous grin when we call out "Helper Hug!"

Your vocabulary is expanding. It still sounds like a foreign language most of the time, but through vigorous pointing, context clues and emphatic repetition, we can usually figure out what you're asking for or trying to tell us. Some of our favorites:

"Feeck" = fork
"Fun" = phone
"Schteek" = Chapstick
"Hep" = help
"Dee-Tee" = TV
"Ah-pul" = apple (although you use it for anything red and vaguely roundish)
"Ba-oon" = balloon
"Gee-see" = Jesus
"Day Doo" = Thank You (We think it's great that you're starting to say this one without any prompting)

Of course we adore hearing "Mommy" and "Daddy" You spend a lot of dinnertime pointing to everyone and naming them--"Mommy!" "Daddy!" "Dat!" "Ah-toe!". We gave you the hardest name of all to say so you generally save yourself until last. Often you just say "MINE!" instead of Julia.

You understand so much of what we're saying these days. Since you can't talk very well sometimes I forget just how much you do understand. Then I'll tell you to go to the living room to get your chair and get in it ... AND YOU DO IT! Then I have to rapidly think back over everything I've said on the phone in your hearing and wonder if you are storing all that in your toddler brain.

You are fast approaching the point where you will have been a big sister for more than half your life! You had such a huge adjustment to make, sweet girl. Now, your brother is your favorite person. You look for him first thing in the morning and love to have him sit in your lap. In a bit of a frustrating twist, your new skill of opening doorknobs means that Dax no longer has an uninterrupted nap time. You miss him too much and have to go find him. If he's asleep, you squeal as loudly as possible and poke at him through the bars. When I try to put the two of you down for naps at the same time, you both stand up in your cribs and jabber and laugh at one another while flinging anything you can get your hands on to the floor. I really find this hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. I love that you guys love each other.

I don't want you to think you're a perfect angel. Daddy and I spend quite a bit of our time at home refereeing. You've gone to Time Out more times than I care to keep track of for hitting or poking or shoving or stepping on Dax. There's no easier way to make you pay immediate attention to us than for one of us to pick up and cuddle your brother. And your favorite toy is always, always, always whichever one he is enjoying at the moment. Even if you just tossed it away like a piece of trash. Even if you have all the animals in the farm but one of the (many) sheep, you glare at him contentedly playing off to the side with his one little sheep and we can see the covetousness in your eyes. I'm not sure if it is the desire to have every single toy in your possession and power or if you just don't like him having fun without you. Either way, rather than playing with the toys you do have, you stand stock still and stare at the one he has until you can't control yourself any longer and you snatch it from him. Then he cries and you go to Time Out. And he gets the toy back. And you come back from Time Out and see him playing with it. And the cycle starts again.

We are starting to see tantrums begin to emerge. You really hate not getting your own way. And really, I understand. I don't like not getting my way, either. We'll work on it.

You are beginning to have definite opinions. Most recently these have emerged in the question of fashion. You loved the Christmas PJs Mama bought for you and Dax. Loved them so much, you didn't want to change out of them to take Dax to the doctor. It didn't seem to matter how uncomfortable those footie pajamas were when you had to put on your shoes. You thought they were grand. So did the nurses at the doctor's office. Now that you've had a taste of choosing your wardrobe, it appears there's no stopping you. The day after the doctor visit, you walked straight over to the dresser after Mommy got you out of your crib and you picked out the dress you wanted to wear that day. Since it was at least a size too small Mommy tried to convince you to choose something else. A short sleeved dress when the day promised a high of only 40 degrees seemed chilly so Mama tried to offer choices with pants and long sleeves or even just tights underneath the dress. You wanted none of it. You spent the day in a Spring dress that didn't even go past the bottom of your diaper and you loved it.

If I could make a suggestion ... maybe think about eating some vegetables? I'm not a big fan of peas myself, but you also toss out carrots, green beans, cucumbers, broccoli, squash, sugar snap peas ... without even trying them. These foods you used to love. Well, except for squash. I think you want to eat veggies because whenever you get in the fridge, you make a beeline for the grape tomatoes and bite into about half a dozen of them. You don't eat them, just leave them littering the fridge shelves. But you at least try them. To your credit, if we ask you to take one bite, you typically do. Often the food barely gets passed your teeth before you're pushing it out with your tongue, but we applaud the effort. You're eating a lot of tomato soup these days because it's the only thing vaguely resembling veggies that you'll eat. And you scarf it up. You'd eat the whole can for lunch by yourself if Mommy didn't make you share with her.

We're so excited to see what changes happen in this next year. We're really hoping it doesn't go as fast as this last one, though!

We love you so much,
Mommy and Daddy

I Am Nine Months Old Today ...

... and I look at you when you say my name.
... and I wear size 4 diapers.
... and my current favorite activity is swinging doors back and forth and back and forth.
... and if I could, I'd eat dog food all the time.
... and I'm easily distracted.
... and I have the best giggle.
... and I think being tickled is the greatest!
... and I really hate loud noises; they scare me and make me cry.
... and I'm always falling over and bonking my noggin.
... and I eat three "solid" meals a day and drink three bottles each day.
... and I wake up around 7 am, but Mom usually leaves me in my crib to wake up and talk to my sister until 8 am.
... and I wake up HUNGRY!
... and I do NOT like being left behind.
... and my favorite toys are balls and vehicles (I like things that ROLL!)
... and I also try to play with Echo's tail.
... and I'd really like to play with my sister's cups, but every time I manage to get my hands on one, it gets snatched away.
... and when I wake up in the mornings and after naps, the first thing I do is throw all pacifiers out of my bed and then I get upset that I don't have a pacifier.
... and I make the cutest face where I suck in my upper lip and then poke the tip of my tongue out.
... and I love getting kisses :-*
... and I'm really trying to give up my morning nap, but if I don't take one, I end up too tired to take an afternoon one which Mommy says is no good for anyone.
... and I prefer elastic waist bands because my diapers are giving me a rash around my waist and the fitted waist bands are too tight. (Mama, could we please switch back to cloth soon?)
... and I do NOT want to cuddle unless I'm getting fed my bottle or I've gotten scared.
... and I talk quite a bit.
... and if you pick me up, be prepared to stand there and hold me for a while because I do NOT like to be set down.
... and I find that banging things together to make noise is lots of fun!
... and when I cry, I look so pitiful with my tears rolling down my cheeks.
... and if you stand still long enough, I will try to climb up your leg.
... and I love to eat: peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, applesauce, apples & mangos, bananas, carrots, biter biscuits, french fries, tomato soup, puffs, Cheerios, butternut squash
... and if you put my sister and I down for a nap at the same time, we talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk until one of us crashes asleep (while we talk we're usually grabbing anything we can reach and tossing it on the floor).
... and I have six teeth.
... and I love standing up.
... and I've started crawling like normal (no more "steering leg") unless I'm in a hurry or need to turn a corner :)
... and my least favorite part of getting dressed is getting my arms in and out of the sleeves.
... and I hate getting my diaper changed because I have to lay on my back.
... and I still use my pacifier.
... and I chew on my thumb a lot, too.
... and I can pick up my pacifier and get it back in my mouth all by myself now.
... and I'm such a happy little guy.

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Love,
Dax

DaxMan + Peas

Before he knew what was coming

Okay, I'll give it a try

Uh ...

This is odd ...

I'm done! I'm done!

Actually, the pictures don't show it very well, but he was MUCH less dramatic about eating his peas than he is about eating his rice cereal. Considering the fact that he had just had a full bottle about an hour beforehand and it was past his usual bedtime, I was impressed with the five spoonfuls that he ate without crying or screaming or trying to launch himself out of the Bumbo.

I Am Seven Months Old Today ...

... and I've found my thumb, but I don't suck on it. I put it in the corner of my mouth and chew on it while wearing a HUGE grin.
... and I am ON THE MOVE!
... and I babble, babble, babble.
... and I go down for the night around 7:30 pm and wake up around 7 am.
... and I love to wrestle with the bumpers in my crib.
... and if I hear Echo running around or Julia talking or anything else while I'm being fed, I twist and turn to see if I can figure out where the noise is coming from. Mama tells me this is pretty frustrating.
... and I am scared of the vacuum.
... and I have no set schedule for naps. I'm a mystery to my Mommy on this point.
... and don't try to cuddle me to sleep.
... and if I am awake, I want to be able to move.
... and I am getting better at eating rice cereal.
... and I do NOT like to be left in a room by myself.
... and I can move well enough to try to follow everyone around, I'm just not fast enough.
... and I have a piercing SCREAM that I use when something isn't going my way.
... and I have a new car seat.
... and I don't sit up well enough yet to use a high chair at a restaurant so I have to go in my stroller when we eat out.
... and I like to be lifted waaaaaaaaay up high.
... and I am ticklish.
... and I love to play with my toes.
... and I try to crawl after my sister's cup or snacks or toy or anything else she has left on the floor.
... and unless I'm already mostly asleep, I WAIL when I am first put down in my crib.
... and I am learning to play in my crib after I wake up.
... and if my sister goes down for a nap at the same time as me, we usually end up keeping each other awake.
... and I like to "stand up" (with help).
... and I am a very good-natured boy.

Guess who doesn't like to stay still for his update pictures anymore?

Love,
Dax

I Am Six Months Old Today ...

... and I have TWO TEETH!
... and I am trying so hard to crawl.
... and two of my main motivators are 1) trying to catch up to my big sister and 2) trying to get my hands on Echo's tail!
... and I don't really like my rice cereal.
... and I wake up around 6:30 am.
... and I wake up a little noisy.
... and if you want me to stay up past 8 pm, you better be prepared for a cranky baby!
... and I eat 4-5 times a day, 6-8 ounce bottles each.
... and I enjoy my bath.
... and I LOVE my rocking chair!
... and my favorite toys are the ones I can squish up and shove into my mouth.
... and when my big sister thinks something's funny, so do I.
... and when my big sister cries, so do I.
... and I've been chewing on my tongue a lot. Mom loves this one :)
... and I'm wearing size 6-9 month clothing.
... and I'm still not very good at rolling towards my right.
... and the vacuum cleaner makes me cry.
... and I don't want to hang out on my back, I nearly always prefer my tummy (unless I'm in my ROCKING CHAIR!)
... and I can sit upright for about 30 seconds if someone makes sure my legs are in the right spot and I don't try to reach for anything.
... and the only toys my sister identifies as mine are my stuffed monkey rattle and my stuffed Peep. (She still steals these from me whenever she sees that I have them, but she does hold them up and say, "Dat!")
... and I do NOT like it when I have a dirty diaper.
... and my toes are still very expressive.
... and I'm demanding more face time with Mommy and Daddy.
... and I get fussy if I'm left alone.
... and I don't like to nap!
... and when you first lay me down, I kick my legs and wave my arms all around!

Love,
Dax

Dax Meets Rice Cereal

We started Dax on rice cereal last night. We held off as long as he could, but he drank 11 ounces of formula yesterday morning when he woke up. We were starving him apparently.