Hanging out

Our Valentines Day was pretty low-key and chill…just another Tuesday :)

I did get a little gift for Jaxen and Zane and then bought Nik some Dove Dark Chocolate. We grilled steak and had roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli with strawberries and Nutella for dessert. Pretty yummy!

And I finally figured out what to do for valentines for Jaxen’s class…I bought gummy bracelets and wrote the kids names on them myself. I had grand plans of making something really cute (with Jaxen’s help) and letting him write names…but I procrastinated just enough (which is not normally like me) that I didn’t have the time. And when I went to the store…I barely got what I got because Easter stuff was already being put out! So - store valentines is what was had - and it was great :)

I thought this scene yesterday was so cute, of Zane and Nik just hanging out on the couch!

I think he loves his daddy! 

And in case you noticed his left eye looking a little odd - here is a close up.

Poor boy was playing and dropped a wooden box on his eye. 

After dinner, it was bath time for the boys and then we all ended up hanging out in Jaxen’s room. These boys had the best time wrestling with their daddy and running around like some crazies :)

These next pictures pretty much sum up their night!

Haha! So much fun, just hanging out with my family!

Someone was ready for bed!

And I don’t think it was the littles :)

Notice the magnets on Jaxen’s curtains?

He "made" that for me the other day.

Super-proud of himself!

And the shiny thing in the middle of the curtains? 

That’s his ‘wings’ pin from when he flew.

Whatever makes him happy!

Happy Wednesday - hope everyone has a great day!

Weekend-ing

Friday I woke up at 5am with a phone call from the school that school was cancelled for the day, due to a big snow storm that came in. Normally, I don’t mind a snow day…however, I was not thrilled about this one! Jaxen had already been out of school for 2 days and he was upset when I told him he had to miss another day :(

I think we got about 16-18 inches! That was the most we have had at one point, so far. I got out there and shoveled the entrances and walkways and then Nik finished clearing the rest with the snowblower. He is covered head-to-toe and I thought this picture was so funny!

Friday the boys did well playing together. I had things to do…but opted to stay in, warm, and out of the snow. So we just hung out all day. Jaxen was playing beek-a-boo with Zane in the pic below.

Nik had to work a good part of the day on Saturday, so again…we laid low at the house. Zane woke up with a croupy-cough and I wasn’t sure what direction it would take (no fever, just cough - I’m keeping an eye on him). And I tried to get a good picture of his two top teeth…. The pics are not great…but at least you can see his new teeth!

This weekend Zane discovered his love for the guitar :) He enjoyed playing (banging) on it all weekend!

This boy is a bit of a mess! Here he is, eating dinner (crackers, green beans and peaches). Notice it’s all over his face (and in his hair)!

Sunday morning started off a bit rough. But I pushed through and dressed my kiddos in cute Valentines clothes and took some pictures! Then I poured myself a Mt. Dew and we headed to church! 

While at church, Zane did a great job of entertaining himself in this little room during service. He was so happy (and a bit loud) but no one cared. It was nice to sit through most of the service!

After church we all laid down for some naps and had a great rest of the day!

And today is Monday…I have lots to do…beginning with heading to the store to figure out Valentines. I am way behind….hopefully the stores will have what I’m looking for. 

Life Highlights

I’m back! Don’t give up on me…sometimes it just takes me awhile to find the time to sit down and blog. But I still love to blog - so as long as people still enjoying reading, I will keep on blogging :)

Here are some of our life highlights here lately...

First up - Zane has 2 new top teeth! The first one popped through last week (finally) and the second was not far behind. He is a much happier baby with these teeth now through.

Zane loves to eat! I think I mentioned that in the last post, and since then he has tried (and loved) so many more foods. The new one we tried this week is shredded cheese. And then my sister gave him a pickle today and he loved it. 

chowing down on some green beans

and toast

he loves toast and bananas for breakfast

Jaxen and Zane love to play (race) with Zane’s walkers. They have so much fun playing together and it makes this momma heart happy!

So last Friday my sister came to visit us! Jaxen had a day off from school and so the whole family loaded up in the car for a road trip to get her from Pennsylvania. Jaxen kept insisting he was not tired and didn’t need a nap - pretty much as he was saying that…he fell asleep. haha!

After we picked Jessica up we found a Chick-fil-a and Zane loved the fries :)

Over the weekend I laid down with Jaxen as he napped and this was my view… those eyelashes!

We had a great time watching the super bowl and eating! My sister is a big football fan and we had a few people over for the perfect football-gathering. What a fun night! Zane enjoyed it as well.

We were asked by the school to take a picture of Jaxen with his favorite book. This is definitely it at the moment. Such a fun book for our family to read (and tickle each other) together.

I did not take a ton of pictures while my sister was here. But it was the best highlight of our past week! We loved having her here. When I asked what she wanted to do while here, she replied “just hang out and do what you do.” So that is what we did. She just hung out and lived life with us and it was so much fun. Oh, and we threw some cards in the mix - which makes any day way better - in my mind!

sisters

family selfie (minus Jaxen)

This afternoon I said goodbye to my sister and dropped her off at the airport. We had a great visit!

And that’s life lately. Well, the highlights anyway. The past two days Jaxen has been home with an ear infection and possible strep. He is on meds and has been fever free for 24 hours. So he should be headed back to school tomorrow. However, as I type this, a big snow storm is happening. And if we have a snow day my little boy (and honestly, probably me as well) will be heart-broken! He hates missing school and wants to be there so bad. 

Other than that - we are all well. Nik is a bit tired and stressed…but that’s just normal for this time of year for him. I’m hoping to get in a date night soon to spend some one-on-one time (sans kids, our house and technology) with my cutie husband!

Hope everyone has a good Friday and weekend…I have to figure out what to do for Valentines Day (for my family and Jaxen’s classmates) - eek… I only have 4 days left!

Zane - 9 Month Well Check

Today we made a visit to Zane’s Pediatrician, whom I love by the way.

He is very healthy and growing well, although he is on the small side.

Here are his stats (at 9 months and 3 weeks):

Height: 27 in.

Weight: 18.45 lbs.

Overall, he is in the 10% group for his age.

And here is Jaxen’s (for grins) at 9 months:

Height: 28 in.

Weight 21 lbs.

Overall, he was in the 75% for his age.

Zane still only has 2 teeth…however…

his top two are going to pop through any day!

They are super swollen and you can see them - I’m hoping they just pop on through tonight.

Zane still nurses (all day. everyday) and will continue to do so until he is one.

But he loves eating food now!

I do feed him ‘baby / pureed’ foods but he is so much more interested in feeding himself.

So I try to find some soft foods that he can handle.

Yesterday, we did green beans and he loved them.

In fact, he ate them again tonight.

And apparently, I was not putting them on his tray fast enough, 

because he grabbed the bowl and helped himself :)

The only issue with food that we have at the moment is eggs.

I gave him some scrambled eggs one night and his face immediately broke out in a rash.

I have been keeping my eye on him when he tries new foods…

and the same thing happened when he ate pasta (containing eggs).

So after talking with the pediatrician we decided to not give him any eggs 

or food made with eggs.

Which is a bit of a pain. 

But I’m hoping he grows out of this allergy/sensitivity.

Jaxen had the same issue, and grew out of it around 18 months.

Zane crawls great and super fast and very quiet! 

I have stepped on him a few times because he has moved and I did not hear him!

He can walk with his walker, or holding on to stuff,

but has yet to try to walk on his own. 

Or stand for that matter. No interest!

Zane loves to play “peek-a-boo” type games!

I even caught him on Sunday morning trying to play with the man sitting behind me.

So cute.

He loves people, loves to watch them.

But is super shy and not interested in them holding him.

Someone can get away with it if I’m not in his sight.

As far as speech goes - he can babble with the best of them!

He can say “mama” and “dada” and a few other sounds.

Zane’s skin is pretty sensitive, and will break out in little rashes if irritated.

(Example: when Nik’s beard rubs him - he gets red).

So I try to lotion him often and even got some special cream from the 

pediatrician today to put on his face.

His cheeks, nose and chin are super dry and looks almost like wind-burn.

And I can now say that we have finally mastered an early bedtime!!!!

Zane will typically go to bed between 8-9pm.

He has been waking up 2-3 times each night still and cries for a minute,

but then eventually puts himself to sleep.

And he will sleep until between 7-8am.

I am sooo excited that he no longer stays up unit 11pm or later!!!

I have worked hard on this - and will continue to do so to make sure it sticks.

I can handle so much more during the day if my kids will sleep through 

the night - by themselves - in their bed. Right?!

I think that is all the updates on our sweet little guy.

He is amazing. And so fun. And precious.

I love him so very much!