Air Force Crawl

In honor of his Grandpa Swistak and Uncle Jeremy, Alekzander decided that this weekend was THE weekend to learn to do an "air force" crawl (also known as military or army crawl).

Grandpa Swistak served in Vietnam and Uncle Jeremy is serving in the Middle East and we love them and thank them for the sacrifices they made & make to serve our country.  They are an inspiration to live a life of discipline and honor.  

We love you Grandpa Swistak (gps) & Uncle Jeremy.

PS -  Alekzander may not know about discipline yet, but he sure knows about determination!!

In Motion

Alekzander is in motion.  

He discovered his toys on the bottom shelf of his cubby 

and chose his favorite block to take for a little crawl-scoot.  

We are having fun!

Prize

{{Zoo worked hard for this piece of paper.  It traveled all across the room to entice him to crawl.}}

Some S's at Six

At six months...

Alekzander is recovering from his first sickness... a yucky stomach virus.

Alekzander's stats are 16 lb + 2 oz  (25th percentile) and 26.5 inches (50th percentile).

Alekzander got his six month shots today.  A long, silent scream followed.

Alekzander has perfected the art of sitting!

Alekzander is learning to use a sippy cup, slowly but surely.

Alekzander's second tooth is breaking through the surface. 

Happy Half

Alekzander,

In just half of a year, you have made our family whole.  Right here in Charlotte and Cornelius, all the way up in New York, and out on the coast of North Carolina, you have brought smiles to our eyes and happiness to our hearts.

Your laugh is completely edible.  Dada and I will do anything to make you giggle.  You love playing peek-a-boo and belly nuzzles bring you great joy.  Your little arms flap with excitement when you see something you like or want.  Without fail, a high-pitched squeal of delight exits your mouth soon after seeing the dogs and cat each morning.

You have an adventurous little soul.  You love to swing... high and fast.  You love speed... in a shopping cart and in the baby jogger.  You like to climb and you love to move.  You are a little monkey, our little "Zoo."  Anything that can be banged or pounded, you do it!  You are our little Bam Bam.

So fun.  So content.  So sweet.  So lovable.

We love you, Zoo.  Happy half year of life.

Electric Brain

On Friday, Alekzander took part in the second part of an on-going biomedical research study.  What other six month old can claim that?  Apparently only about 70 other babies in the area!  Remember our grand adventure up to Kannapolis a few weeks ago?  We trekked back up to the Nutrition Research Institute and met Dr. Carol Cheatham.  She is investigating the relationship between a certain gene (that possibly controls how the body uses fatty acids (found in breastmilk)) and a child's ability to remember. 

Alekzander was fitted with a stretchy net that recorded electrical activity generated in his brain.  Under the watchful eye of a camera and the researcher, Alekzander sat on my lap and watched a series of pictures on a computer screen.  The same image was repeated twelve times; this image became "old" as Alekzander was used to seeing it.  Next, a series of 100 pictures was shown; among those 100 pictures a percentage of them were the "old" picture and the rest were new.  Brain activity, or electrical impulses, were measured as the pictures flashed on the screen.  Ideally Alekzander should have been able to recognize, or remember, the old pictures each time he saw them.  The recognition would have 'sparked' an electrical impulse in his brain.  Quite amazing!

Normally, Alekzander is a model citizen and is quite complacent.  I thought he'd be a star pupil this time around.  Unfortunately, he fussed much of the time and barely looked at the computer screen (even though he can't get enough of my laptop at home), so I'm not sure how much help our results will be.  He did get a special bear and pacifier for his troubles.  And I thought he looked pretty cool at the very least.  

For more information about this study, contact Julie or Karina at julie_stegall@unc.edu or karina_agopian@unc.edu or join the Cheatham Nutrition & Cognition Lab on Facebook.

The Sacred Faces of Infants

In his poem, Faces, Walt Whitman includes 

"The sacred faces of infants" 

among examples of faces that are 

...inspiring, complex, beautiful...

...faces of reality...

...faces that are abstract... 

He later goes on to say, 

"faces, and faces, and faces: 

I see them, and complain not, and am content with all."  

I, too, think my infant's face is sacred, beautiful, sweet, inquisitive, 

and his smile is deliciously infectious.  

I spend each day watching him, drinking in each moment.  

Complaints are far from my mind 

and contentedness is a wild understatement.

Oh how I love this face.

And these ones too.

Little Baby Blues

They were born 8 weeks apart.

They live 1/4 mile away from one another.

They are on the verge of crawling.

They have beautiful, big, blue eyes.

They are precious, loved, little boys. 

Today was a monumental play date.  Caitlin and I try to get our boys together at least two times a week, but it rarely works out.  Today, both Alekzander and Brooks were awake, fed, and happy.... at the same time!  And they had so much fun together.

 I can't wait to watch these two sweeties grow up together!

Priceless Prunes

Note added by Andrew 5.21.10:

So far Alekzander has had avacado, sweet potatoes, green beans, butternut squash, mango & pears and has loved every one of them.  Ashley (with some help from me at times) has made all of his baby food so far with a processor or hand blender and the prunes were the first try at some store bought food.

All this being said, I think Alekzander somehow knew the prunes weren't made with the love that Mommy puts into making all of his other food.  Its his way of saying (at such a young age) that Mommy is a good cook.

Boundaries

Boundaries.

We have none.

Sorry Oliver,  Alekzander hasn't yet learned:

You can pick your friends.

You can pick your nose.

But you can't pick your friend's nose.

Oh boy.

These boys are going to have some fun together!

Covered in Love

And covered in green beans.

{{ ps - if you look closely you can see a tiny white tooth! }}

Bucket

Have you ever thought about making a bucket list?

I'm a pretty simple girl who prefers to stay at home, hates to spend money, and loves to be in the company of friends (most days!).  I'm afraid my bucket list wouldn't be too extravagant, but this weekend I did get to do some of my favorite things with my favorite people.

1.  Baby shower for a sweet friend  ::  celebrating a new life, eating yummy food, and meeting new mommy friends.

2.  Walk to the duck pond to see 11 fluffy ducklings  ::  counting ducks, naming ducks, and feeding ducks.

3.  Trying a new recipe for dinner  ::  fresh basil, hysterical laughter, and a pinch of pride.

4.  Birthday and graduation celebrations, outdoor style  ::  playing in the grass, making new friends, and quiet time under the tree.

5.  Impromptu dinner date with friends  ::  silly husbands, sleeping babies, and a perfect night on the back deck.

6.  Splashing in the pool with Alekzander  ::  drinking Frosty's, catching up with ATB and Andrew, and dodging big, fat raindrops.

7.  Running errands with ATB   ::  spending money, being silly, and enjoying girl time.

8.  Yummy family dinner  ::  cold beer, fresh chives, and summer goodness.

Mohawk Muscle Baby

I Spy

{{ i spy with my little eye ... a very cute guy }}

{{ enjoying allen's "i spy" quilt at the lesher's b-day/graduation celebration }}

Safari

Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try.  

Perhaps you can think up a blue elephant going by.  

Recently Alekzander and I went on a safari.  Much like the Chronicles of Narnia's magic wardrobe, Alekzander's closet holds some magic too.  Upon opening the doors, you can see lions, tigers, and monkeys ... oh my!  Monkeys seems to be Alekzander's favorite; however, he can roar with the best of them.

{{Check out Alekzander on his first safari here}}

Chronicles of Alekzander Part 4

Dear ATB,

Two scoops for you.  Or maybe some more.  I don't know how to count yet.  

What kind of scoops do you like?  Ice cream? Or noodles?  Or yogurt?

I like two scoops of pureed pears, butternut squash, and rice cereal.  I can share some if you want.

Mommy told me your silly story this morning.  You are pretty brave to go toe-to-snarly toe with an Uptown Charlotte rodent.  Mommy won't let me go in Ryan's parking garage (ever.again), but if I could come, I would bring some dinosaurs with me to scare those rodents away.  You like dinosaurs, right?  I've heard they can be pretty scary, but I have a snuggly one that you gave me that is nice.  But I'm sure he could be mean if he had to ... to protect my ATB.

Next time you have to get a shot, don't go to the Emergency Room.  You can come to my doctor's office.  They are really nice there.  When I got my shots, it hurts for a second, but then like magic, I have a yellow band-aid with circus people on it.  Did you get a band-aid?  You should have.  I've heard ER visits can be expensive.  Don't worry about money.  I think it grows on trees.  When I look out of my bedroom window, I see lots of green on the tree.  That's money, right?

Here are some pictures to make you smile.  

If you didn't live so far away, I'd come be a snugglesaurus for you today.

I love you.

Alekzander

Balancing

{{woah.  mad skills.}}

"I Love My Mommy" Day

Sweet boys.

Fresh bagels.

Expensive smoothies.

Long naps.

Sunshine snoozes.

Delicious strawberries.

Mama ducks and fluffy babies.

Flower headbands.

Turquoise jewelry.

New South Kitchen.

Fried green tomatoes.

Decadent chocolate mousse cake.

Delirious baby chatter.

Absolute perfection.

Alekzander was a sweetheart and even offered to pay the check after inspecting it closely.  
I am so lucky to have such a sweet baby and a thoughtful husband. 

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy (1st) Mother's Day Ashley!!!

 

We took a Mother's Day walk to our neighborhood pond where we visited with the Mother duck and her 11 ducklings. 

Happy Mother's Day to both of our Moms & all the other Moms out there!  Special Happy Mother's Day to Ashley's childhood friend Ashley Thow Bonham who just had a baby girl (Abigail Ann) yesterday!

Naked Fish

Master

Today I received my Masters' of Arts in Teaching.  As of late, I've become a master at feeding a baby, singing to a baby, and comforting a teething baby.  The latter accomplishments are, definitely, more valuable than the former, although I am happy that I completed the Masters' program at Queens University of Charlotte and am, now, smarter than my father (according to him)! Ha!

My sweet hubby and son were there cheering me on (which was against the "rules") as were my sweet friend Rebecca and her preshy big girl, Lila.  Despite my misspelled first name and my mispronounced maiden/middle name, I fully claim and celebrate the closing of this chapter of my life.  

For now, I plan to focus on being the best mommy that I can be.  Thankfully there is no degree necessary; while its often a crash course in survival, I think I'm passing with flying colors ... and enjoying every moment.

Peek-A-Boo

{{I see you}}

Practicing

They're about 18 years too early for high school graduation or 22 years too early for college graduation, but Alekzander and Norah got to practice (in great detail) how to "walk" at Queens' masters' graduation practice on Wednesday.  Here they are strolling from Dana Auditorium to Burwell Lawn.

They even crossed the stage with Lucy and me after sitting through an hour's worth of all the other programs/schools practicing their commencement exercises.  A very silly man on the stage told me that Alekzander needed to be in "that same position" on Friday ... meaning on my hip, crossing the stage.  Oh, silly man, don't tempt me!

Chronicles of Alekzander Part 3

An Alekzander Original

...your guess is as good as mine...

 iuh  hjk'

,  nuj'

'-[

l
?" nhn c  

 jin ,kl;

+

{{self portrait}}

Yummmm!

Yesterday I made my first big batch of baby food.  We've fed Alekzander fresh avocado, baked sweet potato, and mashed bananas, but hadn't yet mass produced any of it.  In short, it was a messy production, but it was well worth it!  

(I think I spent $2 on the one pound butternut squash and got 15 1-oz servings... which makes it $.13/ounce.)

 

Clean, cut, and bake butternut squash.  
Scoop out "meat" and puree with liquid/milk.  
Portion out and freeze.  
Thaw in microwave for 30 seconds.  
Enjoy!