15 Months Old!!

Little Man,

You turned 15 months this week and like I say every month, I can't believe 15 months have already gone by! The last couple of weeks have been pretty exciting for you!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Last week the NC State Fair was in town and despite all the warnings to not go as it was the "infamous H1N1" breeding ground, we went anyway! You enjoyed watching all the people (and yes, you have learned early on that there are some strange people out there!), seeing all the lights, listening to the sounds of all the games. You even rode a couple rides with Daddy. We were able to visit with our friends, Michelle, Gage & Isaac for a little while. You enjoyed watching Mommy & Daddy eat all kinds of food as you snacked on your piece of pizza. We even played games to win you a few prizes!

You are still quite the picky eater. As you still eat your veggies, fruits and pastas, you are still staying far from meats. I think it is because you still don't have your molars to chew. You now have 6 teeth and have been chewing on your fingers so I fear your molars aren't far behind!

Mommy & Daddy had to do the dreadful deed of cleaning out your closet this week. Daddy wasn't happy and mommy was in tears. We had so many clothes, 6mon-12mon, that we had to pack away. Some of the gender neutral stuff we have given to your cousin, Ariana, some we gave to some families in need and MOST, we packed away for later....We couldn't part with most as the memories were too fresh to just get rid of them right now. People say this will get easier and lord I hope so! So, we had to go shopping for more stuff--boy how we love shopping for you!!
We went shoe shopping with Grandma Currie this week and you got 2 new pairs of shoes for the Winter! You love your new shoes!

You and Daddy have enjoyed watching football on Sundays and most of all baseball as the Yankees finally got to the world series this year! We are still waiting for you to grow into your "Jeter" jersey!

You still love playing ball and running around the house. You have a game where you beat on the wall while we count 1-2-3 and then you yell GO and run across the room to another wall. This can keep you busy for hours! You have found a new love in books and you will sit while we read them to you over and over again. We took you to Barnes & Noble where you were super excited to see so many books! Can't wait to take you to the library! You are learning new songs at school and love to sing "If you're happy and you know it..." and "Row, Row, Row your boat".

Halloween is this weekend and mommy was able to get off work so we can all go Trick or Treating as a family! Cannot wait!! You are even saying "Boo!" when you see the Halloween monsters! Love it!!

Until next time....

Pumpkin Patch

Hey big guy! Fall is finally here! We couldn't resist taking you out to a pumpkin patch this weekend to enjoy the crisp air. You had lots of fun climbing the bales of hay and watching the older kids jump from one to the other. You got a brave streak in you a few times and acted like you were going to jump as well, but thankfully didn't. You really weren't too sure what to do with a the hay around you. Daddy assured you it was ok to get dirty...this once. :-)

You and Daddy played on a real tractor. You loved pretending you were driving it!

We also did a corn maze. You relaxed in your stroller while mommy & Daddy went crazy trying to find the 10 check points. We did it! And in the words of your Daddy, "if in doubt, go right!"

After the corn maze, we went on a hay ride, pulled by a tractor. You were able to sit right up front and loved it the whole time!

I think your favorite part was the pumpkins at the end! You liked the tiny ones that you could throw around like balls. Anything round is a ball to you right now and boy, you have an arm!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A quick update on you....Mommy & Daddy are really enjoying all the time they get to spend with you! You are growing up so fast and are really becoming a big helper around the house! You are a week away from being 15 months! Mommy really enjoys looking at pictures of you from just a year ago and seeing how much you have changed already! You still only have 4 teeth, but there are 2 others cutting through as we speak. Your favorite things right now are macaroni and cheese, dancing, playing ball and still vacuuming! You are repeating more and more words after we say them! Just the other day, you did something and Mommy said "Wow!" you turned right around and repeated her and just laughed as if you knew what you had said! You have started saying No, however it isn't just "No", its "Nnnnooooo....".

Halloween is coming up and we have your costume...Its a Monkey. You hate it because of the hat that goes on your head. Hopefully you won't hate it too bad, when the big night comes!!

Can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring....

Just a year ago...
Look how much he has grown...

Our little tarheel!

When we started this blog, we first thought the world would be excited to read about "our lives". (That is funny!) However, when we first learned we were pregnant with out 1st child, it became the window to our world as a "pregnant couple" and then the window for family and friends to see us as "new parents". For the past year, you all, family and friends have watched Alexander grow from "our little chocolate chip" in mommy's belly to our "big boy"! I have decided to change the direction of our blog and it be more a "To Alexander" as I will write to our son, our thoughts and feelings as we go through the wonderful years of raising our child. So, here it goes....

To my little man, Alexander:

July was a special month for us as you turned 1! HUGE milestone for you and us as parents. We have managed to raise another human with no large "oops" moments for an entire year. :-) You have grown from such a teeny tiny baby (not really that tiny weighing in at 8lbs 1oz) to such a big boy!

You started walking right after your first birthday. Something both mommy & daddy had encouraged and spent hours in the family room trying to get you to do! When you took those 1st steps there with Mommy and Daddy present, you would have thought you won the Nobel Peace Prize! Hey, good enough for us! We were sooo happy you were walking. We forgot what this really meant for us! :-) You are cruising the town now. You are not only walking, but running! We see the back side of you quite often! You no longer want to be held, you want down, you want to explore the world. While that is so bitter sweet, I miss cuddling with my little man. You are definately into everything. We can't turn our backs for more than 10 seconds or you are into something!

You have been able to spend a lot of time with Daddy the past few weeks, which you have loved! You have become such a "Daddy's boy!" You love watching and even helping him cook, you love playing ball. You have learned to throw and kick. Daddy even lets you play in the cul-de-sac with the big kids and you enjoy every minute of it! His love of vaccuming has rubbed off as well!

We celebrated Daddy turning a year older! You loved helping open the presents and eating the cake!

You are such a great eater, devouring most of everything we put in front of you. We let you feed yourself, so meal times are definately messy times. We are introducing the fork and spoon. You love it, just not sure how to use it. You still enjoy your fruits and veggies. Meat is another story. Still kinda picky with that. We still love introducing new dishes to you and can't wait till you get more teeth to enjoy them with! You still only have 4!

You still hate sleeping! However, once we get you to sleep you sleep through the night and are a great napper. We finally gave up on swaddling you. It only took a year! :0)

You will be 14 months in just a week...not sure how much you weigh at this point but for sure you are growing! You have quickly grown out of your 12 month clothes and onto 18 months! You are surely showing your "2 year old" side with the small fits you pitch, but they give us a laugh every once and a while! It is funny to watch you run across the room and throw yourself on the floor when you don't get your way. I know, this too is a phase.

Little man, you are the joy of our life, for sure! Can't wait to see what you bring to us in the next few weeks as you surprise us daily in different words you say, different acts you perform! You have sure proved being parents is the BEST thing in the world! We love you!!

Alexander is 1!!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Alexander! Happy Birthday to you!

Since we last blogged, lots of fun and exciting things have happened! Alexander is enjoying trying all kinds of foods now! He will eat just about anything! It is very nice to go out and not have to worry about bottles and formula, but more so what can we order for him. Daddy took him out the day before his birthday and they ordered his first happy meal! Alexander ate 1/2 the hamburger while Daddy ate all his fries! We have started giving him his bottles of formula in sippy cup to hopefully get rid of the bottle for good. That has been tough...only for mommy! We will stick with the formula for morning and night time bottles for now, but he is getting whole milk during the day.

We have started transitioning into the "Big Boy" Toddler classroom at school. Thankfully we have a full week of transitioning next week as well. I know he will do great, just a big change for ALL of us!

Daddy took Alexander to the zoo last weekend while Mommy had a girls weekend away! He loved seeing all the animals and I can't wait to go back with them!!

We have a new addition to our family. On July 10th, we welcomed Ariana Ryan Baker, Alexander's new cousin! Auntie Toni had her baby girl and she is beautiful. The only picture I have is from Alexander's birthday party....

She is sleeping and has NO clue!

Alexander is not too sure what to think. He likes her, wants her paci but surely doesn't like Mommy or Daddy holding her and not him! We are definitely not ready for siblings! :-) I know they will grow up to be just as close as Mommy & Auntie Toni are and they will have a blast together!

Speaking of birthdays....Alexander turned 1 on Friday!! I know...they grow up sooo fast, but celebrating his birthday has put that in perspective. A WHOLE year has past. He is no longer my baby. He is now my little boy! He has not yet took his first step, but I know it is just around the corner! Before I know it, I will be chasing him out the door to wish him luck before prom night! :-)

Alexander, Mommy & Daddy had a wonderful day spending time together on his birthday! We went shopping, got his very first haircut, had 1 year pictures taken and had Mexican for dinner to end the night! Here are some pictures from our day....

Pre-Haircut, playing in the lobby before our wonderful neighbor who owns her own Salon, Sharper Edge in Holly Springs, cut just a few of his curls off!

Surprisingly, Alexander did very well! He only fussed one time and held very still. Neither of us had the heart to cut off his curls off, as that is what makes "Alexander, Alexander". So, we just had a trim!

After we had pictures made, we went and rode the rides in the mall! Alexander loved the car, airplane, Clifford and Bob the Builder!

Saturday was THE BIG DAY! Party time!! We had a cook out pool party at Nanas and he had a blast! He is such a trooper...or should I say Energizer Bunny! With a very little nap in the AM, he just kept going, keeping people laughing and himself smiling all the way! Daddy was a wonderful "Master of The Grill" while Nana, Great Grandma Sally and Aunt Shirley did all the sides. Food was yummy and spending time with friends and family was awesome! Alexander loved all the attention! He completely devoured his cupcake and Boy! Talk about a mess! Good thing we had the pool to wash him off in! I really thought Alexander would enjoy tearing opening our gifts and he did until he opened the gift with the "Happy Birthday" Balloon and blue monkey ball! Then it was all over! That was all he wanted! So, Mommy & Daddy opened up the rest of the gifts. THANK YOU to all our friends a family that shared this special day! We all thoroughly enjoyed it!

Cupcake "Cake"--Look closely it says "Happy 1st Birthday Alexander!"

Taking time out to swim with Papa

The Girls hanging out by the pool

Fun in the pool!
Loving my Rody! Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!
Everyone is singing and Alexander is making his wish! Hope all your wishes come true!!

Just getting a taste of the icing!

Really starting to like this!

"Here Daddy, you can have some!"

YUM!

"So ready to have my hands cleaned!"

The ball and balloon...that's all she wrote!

The one & only time he would wear a birthday hat!

Playing with Jae & Isaac while Mommy & Daddy open his gifts!

Tearing down the streamers...Time to go, folks!

"Is my party really over??"

The BIG 1-year birthday is done! A very HAPPY and sad day for Mommy and Daddy! Our VERY tired little boy is having very sweet sweet dreams as I update the blog! Only to wake up and spend the day playing in his new sandbox that Nana & Papa bought him! I know he can't wait!!

Now, here we are.... onto BIG things as a BIG 1-year old!!~

11 months old

Busy, Busy, as a bee---that is what we have been! I just realized that it has been nearly 2 months since I blogged and there is so much to blog about! I was able to celebrate my very 1st Mothers Day with my little man and that was so nice. Now we are getting ready to do Fathers Day. I know Eric has a whole day planned, just him and his little guy!

Alexander is just about 11 months old and so much has changed in his little world in just 2 months! I cannot believe I am preparing to plan his 1 year old birthday party! Time flies!!

He is babbling up a storm! He says "ba-bah" for bye-bye and will wave. He stopped doing the cute little baby wave backwards and now just throws his hand up at you like his daddy does. I listen closely as he babbles to see if I can make out any other real words. I still cannot get him to say mama or dada. Each time I try, he laughs and ignores me! His new word today is "pu-peee" for puppy. That is what I call both of our dogs and he has been trying the pu pu pu sound for a little while. This AM, I had him on the changing table and one of the dogs walked in his room, he pulled out his paci and said "pu-pee" just as loud and clear as day! I know one day he will be talking up a storm!!

Alexander is much more mobile now! Probably why mommy and daddy stay so busy! He is crawling all over the place. Pulling up on everything, walking around holding on the furniture and your fingers! He loves walking! He is even testing my nerves by trying the stairs!!

We definitely have a performer on our hands! Anytime he hears music, whether it is a commercial on TV, music on the ipod or one of his toys singing "ABCs" he is dancing and singing right along!

He went swimming for the first time 2 weeks ago! The pool was quite cold, but mommy braved the cold waters with him. He loves the bath so much now, I knew he would look at the pool as a big ole' bathtub, and he did! He loves to float in his cool floats, splash and play with papa!

He finally has 3 teeth!! Once one came in, they all 3 came in back to back! So, now he can chew a little bit better! He eats everything! I mean everything he can get his hands on! His favorites right now are macaroni and cheese and cheerios. We have tried meats now, he is surely not crazy about them but will eat them. Trust me, if he doesn't like it, out it comes! He is getting very independent with wanting to feed himself. Some things we just let him go at it and he thinks he is so grown picking up his food, cramming it in his mouth. Some things, mommy and daddy still have spoon control! :-)

Health wise, we have been better. After being sick with a tummy bug and battling 2 ear infections back to back, we went to see a ENT doctor to have Alexander evaluated for tubes. Daddy is not a fan, so we are holding off through the summer. Next ear infection he gets, the ENT will take a look and see how bad his ears get once infected. So far, so good. He plays with his ears constantly, but we're holding out!

The next month comes with very big things...

We are all looking forward to Alexander's cousin's arrival. Auntie Toni is due in 3 weeks and we can't wait! We had her baby shower 2 weeks ago, so Alexander was able to see his Great Grandma Joyce and other wonderful family! Here are some pictures of that.

Also in the next month, preparing for Alexander's move up to the toddler room at daycare, we have lots of changes to be made. We are all very sad to leave the infant room as we love his teachers, but it is obvious he is a big boy now, no longer a baby when we see the other small babies that just started at the center. When he moves up right after his birthday, he will be in the toddler room. There, they no longer drink formula from bottles. So, we are weaning him off his formula onto whole milk and trying to get him to take it from a sippy cup instead of his bottle. That also means, adjusting his feeding schedule to not needing those 2 bottles in the middle of the day! So, we are obviously offering more "big boy food" and snacks to keep him full. In the toddler room, they also sleep on cots, no longer in a crib! Can't wait to see how they keep him on a cot! No more swaddling--he does great at daycare with this, not so much at home. He is doing well adjusting to less time with his pacifier. They put it away after he settles from arrival and then he doesn't have it again until naptime. Once nap is over, it is put away until we pick him up. When we pull it out of the bag, he acts as if he just found his long lost friend, but they say he does really well without it most days.

We have yet to travel down to the beach this summer but can't wait to do so. Dying to see his reaction to all the sand and water! Until next time--

9 Months Old!

Wow, this month has flown by and Alexander has been busy as a bee! He is so mobile now, it is scary! He loves to hold on to your fingers and walk around! He can crawl and definitely gets moving when there is something he wants! He loves pulling up on stuff and walking while holding onto furniture. I know, I know, It is not too long before he will be walking around the house on his own. When he wakes up at night, instead of laying there waiting for us to come get him, he is sitting up, tapping his knees begging us to come get him! He has started a habit of waking back up at 3am...hopefully this is just a phase!!!

Alexander enjoyed a surprise visit from his Uncle Billy, from NY! It was quick, but always a joy!!

We are finally healthy...just fighting allergies! Alexander battled pneumonia at the beginning of the month. Yes, even that was scary for a mom that is a nurse! It is so different when it is your child! After 5 days on steroids, breathing treatments and 10 days of antibiotic, he was back to his normal self!

(Enjoying the sun in papa's lawn tractor!)

It is so nice listening to him babble. And of course, we know exactly what he is saying. He will say "bye-bye" and wave as we go. He hasn't said "mama or dada" and as soon as we start "practicing" it, he sticks his pacifier in his mouth! For now, we will just enjoy the excitement he shows when one of us walks in the room.

He is starting to like his walker that Nana bought him. Loves standing at the back door and watching the outdoors. Not sure what is so fascinating...isn't it nice to just enjoy the little things! Still enjoys his music table & motor cycle. He is becoming less and less fond of his exersaucer as that is stationary and he doesn't like sitting still very long!

Alexander still loves to eat! We are enjoying trying different fruits. He loves peaches, pears, blueberries, bananas, mangoes, yogurt and so much more! We even enjoy things that are sweet, and probably shouldn't have -- nilla wafers, ice cream....and the list goes on! We are still waiting on teeth so we can explore more!

With the nice weather, we have visited the park a few times. We let Alexander experience sand for the 1st time, against Daddy's wishes! He liked it at first, but then realized it was "yucky".

For Easter, the Easter bunny brought Alexander a gigantic stuffed animal duck, a couple toys and books. He enjoyed them all, but wasn't very fond of the Easter grass! I think he will be like his Daddy, and not want to get dirty!

We have our 9 month check up coming up in a couple weeks. Will love to see how much he has really grown!

Alexander gets to meet our God-son this weekend--Nathan. Should be a blast and can't wait to post more pictures!!

More later--

Am I Cute or What?

Here are just a few pictures of our little man hanging out, playing.

He loves to stand and bounce!

Isn't much a fan of his sunglasses....he likes to chew on them though!

Still trying to crawl, if he is determined enough, he will get to it, one way or another!

We tried playing with bubbles! This was fun for a few minutes until he got really frustrated when the bubbles kept popping and he couldn't "hold" them!

I knew the day would come that he would be "on the go" all the time. My sweet boy is very much a busy body....He wants "up", then down. He wants to crawl, then be held. He wants to hold your hand and walk. He wants you to play with him, by his side. Don't dare think you are going to go do something else, while he plays in the floor. :-) Even as much of a busy body that he is, he still likes to have the occasional cuddle. Here he is with Auntie Toni...boy does he love her!

Everyone always says "the time goes by so fast!" And boy, does it ever!! I can't believe how "grown up" Alexander already is. He has such a personality. He lets you know what he wants, when he wants it. He holds his arms out for you to pick him up. Gives the best kisses (drool and all!). He can even say bye-bye and wave. I don't think Eric and I ever realized the joy we were missing out on until we had Alexander. We are SO in love with our little man!