Water Baby

{{Hi, Fish.  Aren't my rolls delicious?}}

{{Splash, splash}}

Sweet Boy discovered that water is fun!  

It looks like he is quite the little fish in the water.

Reaching Out

 Aiden (top) :: 7 weeks 
&  
Alekzander (bottom) :: 5 mos.

Bring Alekzander to Work Day

Today was an unofficial 'bring your son to work day' for me.  Ashley had a few appointments/errands this morning so I thought it would be fun to bring Alekzander into work with me.

 

Alekzander was great (as always) and after making his way around the office/school he must have been worn out.  He passed out while drinking his bottle and stayed like this for a while.

He heard the kids playing outside my window during recess and woke up just enough to chug down more of the bottle and pass out again.

Eventually he finished it and surrendered to the idea of taking a (short) nap.

Alekzander always loves visiting Dad's work/school and I'm sure this will be one of many trips to school before he's ever old enough to even attend one.

Blowing Rock Baby

Mia, Alekzander, and I went to Blowing Rock, NC
for a quick get-away after my birthday.  

We missed Andrew very much, but enjoyed the mountains...
especially when it wasn't raining. 

I love the mountains.
I love the rolling hills.
I love the flowers.
I love the daffodils.
I love the fireside.
When all the lights are low.

Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah.
Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah.

Five Months!

{{Tummy time with tons of toys}}

Happy five months of life!

May you always choose happiness in its simplest forms.

Drink in your colorful world, laugh often, and surround yourself with love.

We love you to the moon and back.

Happy Birthday Mmmmmmmmmmaaah!

Happy Birthday Ashley
(from Andrew) 

&

Happy Birthday Mmmmmmmmmaah
(from Alekzander)

You're such a great wife and Mom and we hope you got to have a special day today feeling like royalty at the Queens Cup! :)

You certainly looked the part! :)

We don't know what we did to deserve you but we thank God for you being in our lives and we hope you don't go 364 days without knowing how much we appreciate and love you (up to the moon and back again... squared).

Chronicles of Alekzander Part 2

Dear Ryan,

My mommy says its a good thing that I can't read yet.  I am wearing the
shirt you bought me that says "I pulled an all nighter"!  I am actually
sleeping all the way through the night.  Are you?

See you soon.

Love, Alekzander

The response:

Dear Alekzander,

Could your eyes be any more blue!  It is going to be hard to keep the girls
away with eyes like yours.

I'm not sure if it's a good look or not, but I stick my tongue out for
pictures just like you do!

I'm glad you are sleeping through the night these days.  When you grow up
the phrase "pulling an all nighter" may take on a different meaning for
you.  You can ask your dad or your "uncle in practice" about what that
phrase really means.

Thanks for the note and I'll see you soon!

Ryan

PS - I don't sleep too well these days, so do me a favor and catch some
extra winks for me!

Chronicles of Alekzander Part 1

Alekzander likes writing emails instead of napping.  He asked me to publish some with his favorite responses from his favorite people.

Hi Gruffalo.  I love you today and every day.  I took a monster nap for Mommy this afternoon.  It was after I ate some avocado mashed up. It was so good and filled my tummy.

Do you like my shirt?  You and Mia bought it for me.  I love it.  It was chilly today, so Mommy dressed me in it with my cool jeans that Mia also bought me.  Do you every take naps in your jeans?  Its not the most comfortable thing, but sometimes you are just so tired you forget to change your clothes.

Are your glasses clean or did you leave some of my finger prints on them?

Love, Alekzander

The response: 

Hey Zman, I love you bigger. Keep eating your vegetables and naps are always good. I do like your shirt and cool jeans..Mia dressed me in that same outfit.  We were twins. Remember!!  Once I wore the same jeans for a week.  The longer you wear them the more comfy they become.. You will know when they feel good. 

My glasses have your imprints forever. 

LOVE, The gruffalo man          

21

Today, on April 21, Alekzander is 21 weeks old.  In these 21 weeks, our world has been rocked... in absolutely amazing ways.  Here are 21 glimpses into things that have changed or lessons I have learned.

1.  I wake up in a good mood everyday singing a "good morning" song to my sweet boy.

2.  Our living room has been transformed into a mini-playland.

3.  Our sweet family has dinner together at the dining room table every night!

4.  Visits with family and friends are intentional and rich.

5.  We own two new-to-us vehicles.

6.  My job (and my baby employer) pays me with smiles and snuggles.  Being a mommy is so rewarding.

7.  Roars and squeals can be heard during Alekzander's waking hours.  Who doesn't love baby noises?!

8.  New mommy and baby friends have entered our lives.

9.  Trips to the store take twice as long, but purchases and gas usage are much more calculated and careful.

10.  There is no need for an alarm clock anymore.  Alekzander wakes us up between 7:20 and 7:30 each morning with his precious chatter.

11.  Baby eats first.  Then animals.  Then Mommy.  (Daddy is long gone before we even make it downstairs!)

12.  My creativity has increased.  You can sing a song about ANYTHING!

13.  My inhibitions have decreased.  Baby boy loves me no matter how silly I look, act, or sound!  No judgment from my littlest love!

14.  Laughter and smiles have increased exponentially.

15.  The top shelf of our freezer has been taken over by breast milk 4 ounces at a time!  (Praise God for plentiful milk production!)

16.  Recent reads:  Super Baby Foods, On Becoming Babywise, about 50 different board books, 3  entertaining, heartfelt daily blogs.

17.  We learned to Skype so that Alekzander can see his grandparents (and they can see him!).

18.  I have never been as calm or as happy.  Alekzander's mellow nature is contagious.

19.  There is bound to be at least an hour everyday when (household) productivity ceases and snuggles ensue.  This is my favorite hour (or two) of the day.  When Alekzander needs me, I'm there.

20.  Having an adventure does not require leaving the house. 

21.  We are reminded daily that God is good and He provides for our needs.  Jehovah Jireh.

From Smiles to Toes

From the top of your head to the tip of your nose 

to your delightful smile to your yummy ticklish belly 

to your piggy toes and everything in between, 

I love you up to the moon and back again.

Play Time with Pooh Bear

Forever Young

Since baseball time is measured only in outs, 

all you have to do is succeed utterly; 

keep hitting, keep the rally alive, 

and you have defeated time. 

You remain forever young.

-Roger Angell

Pictures from 3/17/10 JCP Photo Session. 

I don't know anything about baseball, but perhaps Alekzander will love the game.  In that case, I will learn as much about baseball as I can and be my son's biggest supporter.

I am learning quite a lot about time with an infant.  It goes way too fast!  We measure it in days, weeks, months, but most importantly moments.  I'd prefer that the moments pass slowly, but I don't want Alekzander to remain 'forever young;' I am excited to watch him grow in body, strength, and most importantly character.

Supermom Senses

This morning before the sun came up, I went on a Supermom Adventure.  It started and ended in less than 15 seconds... and it failed miserably.  I'd be lying if I said I was sleeping deeply (you don't do that with a baby next door on his belly), so in my slight slumber, with my supermom ears, I heard a cat meowing anxiously.  I immediately thought - Oh no, Ryelee is locked in Alekzander's room!  I didn't think Alekzander was in 'danger' at all (as Ryelee probably could not even jump up into the crib), I was more worried about the antique nursing rocker that I had recovered.  (Ryelee's silly cat habits shredded the material the rocker wore in a previous stage of life.)  Lickity split I jumped out of bed... supermom speed... check.  I headed straight for the door and ran into it with all my might.  Acutally only my Polish schnoz (not my big toe, or my forehead , or even my hands) hit the door, but it hit it with such force I immediately checked for blood!  Now you might wonder where my supermom eyes were at 5:40 this morning.  My vision is not very good at all, but to be honest, I'm pretty sure my eyes weren't even open... hence running into the door.  Hard.  Andrew nor Alekzander woke up even when I crawled back in bed after inspecting my nose in the mirror and giggled non-stop for about 5 minutes.

My supermom senses failed me this morning, but I'm ready for my next mission.

By the way, Ryelee was 'throwing his meow'... he was laying right outside of our door and the other two doors were closed.  He and Naughty Neighborhood Cat (who sets off my car alarm no less than two times every night) are conspiring against me.  I guess they don't think I should be sleeping through the night yet even though Alekzander does so wonderfully.

Friday Explorations

balls, blocks, books, boxes, and (itty) bitty fingers...  

we were busy today playing and exploring new sights and textures.

Good Luck Coach!

Like your runners, I will listen to your advice.

Like your runners, I will believe in myself because of you.

Like your runners, I will try my best all the time.

Like your runners, I will respect you.

Good luck today.  

{{Did I spell everything right, Mama?}}

Concentration + hard work (and a little play) + confidence = WINNING attitude

A Gift

Alekzander gave me a great, unexpected gift today.  He slept for 3 hours straight this afternoon!  It was amazing mainly because I was able to get part of my masters' project presentation done.  The process was time consuming, but fun in a completely nerdy way.  I like the stamped phrases which will find their home on my tri-fold presentation board later tonight. 

An even greater gift will be receiving my masters' degree in less than a month... and being able to spend uninterrupted, focused time with Alekzander!  

Reading bright, colorful board books is highly preferred over reading and writing 50 page research papers!

Milestones in Pebble Form

To call them big milestones makes me a little sad... so if we look at these transitions as pebbles, it makes it a little easier.

• Alekzander slept through the night from 8:30pm until 7:30am at 19 weeks.
• He's been rolling over from belly to back sporadically for about 4 weeks.
• He started eating solid foods (rice cereal) at 19 weeks.
• He ate avocado mixed with rice cereal at 19.5 weeks on 4/11/10.
• He started rolling over from his back to his belly on 4/10/10 at 2am.  Mommy slept on the floor for the rest of the night! 
• We moved his crib mattress down after Daddy found him on his hands and knees grasping the edge of the crib and eating one of the bars on 4/11/10.  Tricky boy had rolled over off his back, tucked up his knees, and somehow reached his hands up 6-inches.  
• According to Andrew, Alekzander says/cries Maaa when he needs me or can't see me.  It is one of his favorite sounds... but I don't think he REALLY knows its me, though I tell him about 20 times a day! 
• Alekzander slept through the night from 7:30pm until 7:30am at on 4/12 - 4/13.  Mommy did not.

Slow down sweet boy!  We know you are strong, smart, and absolutely perfect.  There's no need to show off anymore! 

Never-ending Noises

Our home is far from loud, but it is full of never-ending noises.  

Here are some normal noises noticed throughout the day.  

Most of them make my heart happy...

Baby babble

Squeals of excitement 

Doggy toe nails clicking on the wood floors

Hungry kitty cat meows (day and night)

"Moo" "Cow" "Vaca" followed by Baby Einstein's rendition of Old McDonald 

{{remember, its Alekzander's favorite button on his exersaucer?!}}

Frustrated screams (from Alekzander, not me)
Fake baby coughs

Mmmmmm.... ma..... hmmmmm.... aaaaaaaaahhh....
Rrrrroooarrr.... arrrrrahh....

Lovely little laughter from Alekzander

Silly belly laughs from Andrew
Sloppy "raspberries"

Birds chirping outside

Silent whirrr of the fan

Today Show personalities chatting in the morning

Sizzling pierogies

Christian rock/worship music

Snoring animals

Barking protective dogs

Incessant narrative from me

Tick Tock on the clock

Sweet sleepy silence

Feeding Brains and Bellies

Today we had a grand adventure all over Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties.  We went, first, to Kannapolis to the Nutrition Research Institute to participate in a UNC-CH research study.  The researcher is studying a specific gene that may regulate the amount of fatty acids in breastmilk.  These fatty acids are important for brain development and may be related to babies' ability to remember.  We each gave saliva samples (Alekzander was much better at this part than I was!) and I brought a breastmilk sample as well.  DNA testing will be done on each of the samples to determine our genotype on the gene that has been shown to control fatty acids; from the breastmilk, they will determine the levels of fatty acids present.  Simple, un-invasive, and very interesting to me!  We should be invited back when Alekzander is 6-months old so that he can participate in the second part of the Feeding Brains study.

After our time as scientists, we met Aunt Tessa Bug (ATB) for lunch at her casa with her gato, Rex, to feed our bellies.  ATB loves Alekzander so much!  We had a picnic on the floor and spent time staring at Alekzander and Rex.

We headed south once Tessa had to go back to work and picked up Daddy's birthday present (Garmin Forerunner 305).  We delivered his present and dropped off some (ATB) birthday cookies to Daddy's work.  The women there loved seeing Alekzander's chunky thighs, baby toes, and bright blue eyes.  Daddy enjoyed our visit too!

We finally got home from running around, but Alekzander refused to nap! So we laughed and played in bed instead.  His new favorite game is eating faces.  He grabs your face (or hair) with both of his hands and pulls you toward him with an open mouth.  I have been the recipient of many sloppy 'kisses'...  I love them and I love my brainy child!!

Sunday Swim

{{spike}}

{{splashing}}

{{naked swimmer}}

Buddies

{{blanket buddies :: norah & alekzander :: april 9, 2010}}

Nineteen Weeks... All Boy!

At nineteen weeks, my little guy is definitely all boy!  

Yesterday we sang the T-R-O-U-B-L-E song.  

Do you know it?  You can sing it to any tune... 

just make sure you spell the word correctly...  after all, little ears are listening!

Look at his "paws"!!  He was more interested in the orange bowl than the food in it!  

Bad habits... I know, but too cute to deny him some messy fun!

This was well out of his reach... I moved it four different times (while I was cooking), but he wanted it... perhaps a sign that I will have a good (adventurous) eater?!

Loving Daddy's (birthday) strawberry cheesecake frozen yogurt.  

Alekzander didn't try any, but he makes a cute spokesperson for our friend's TCBY!

Every baby has a picture like this, right?!  I know I did!  I was a 'good' mommy and wiped off the rim and inside the neck of the (empty) bottle.

Playing in his exersaucer before a trip to the park.  

He LOVES the cow button.  "Mooooo!" "Cow!" "Vaca!" 

"Floating" in his pool!  Once the pollen goes away, we can't wait to fill it.  

For now, we're enjoying waterless pool parties.  Come play!