Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Merryhill School

Well, the time has come to put the kids in school!  I have loved every second of being home with the kids during the week but am ready for some free weekends!  So we did a lot of research and found a school that we both feel comfortable with.  It is Merryhill School and it is 5 minutes from our house and on the way to/from work.  It is a private preschool that takes infants/toddlers too, part time.  So the kids will go to school Tuesdays and Thursdays and I will go to work!  I think it will be good for everyone. I was very excited to get them started and am very pleased with the school we chose, so I wasn't expecting the mixed emotions I had on their first day!  I held it together as I dropped them off, but when I got to the car, the tears started flowing.  It is such a tough thing to do to drop your kids off with complete strangers and trust that they are going to care for, nurture and protect your children!  Ashlyn and I dropped Paxton off in his room first.  I wanted her to know where his class was and that he would be there with her.  He did great...made himself right at home with all the fun toys!  Next, we went to Ashlyn's class.  As soon as she walked in the door all of the kids came running up to say "hi" to her and give her hugs.  It was really sweet, but maybe slightly overwhelming!  She was so brave and held it together but her bottom lip was trembling as she fought back the tears (similar to our Santa experience). I peaked in the window as I went to my car and she was sitting at a table playing so that made me feel better!
I was scheduled to work, but was cancelled last minute so I found myself with almost 6 hours of kidless free time!  WOW!  I don't think I have had that since Paxton was born.  I started at the mall, but found myself missing the kids!  I would see mom's pushing strollers and start tearing up!  I also kept thinking I heard Ashlyn calling me!  I left the mall and ran a few errands.  I did enjoy hopping in and out of the car without dealing with car seats, diaper bags and strollers!  It was so amazing how quickly I could get things done.  I had lunch on a patio and realized I still had 4 hours to kill before I picked up the kids!  I drove by the school (one more time) on my way home.  I rushed around the house doing laundry, dishes, cleaning, picking up, paying bills...etc!  It was now 1:30!  Decided to lay down and take a nap!  Couldn't really sleep so I read my book for my book club...finished 180 pages and dozed a little.  Now it was 3:30...was trying to wait until 4:30 to pick them up!  Ran a few more errands on my way to get them and pulled into the school at 4:15!
I was so excited to see them and hear how their first day went!  I picked up Ashlyn first.  They were having circle time and as soon as I walked up to the door, she hopped up and pointed and said "Mommy"!  She was very excited to see me and was all smiles.  She actually said she wanted to stay at school which made me feel great!  Her teacher, Ms. Irena, said she had a great day and even took an hour nap!  Ashlyn and I went to pick up Paxton and he didn't give me quite the warm welcome.  He burst into tears and starting bawling!  The teacher started laughing saying "He has been the best baby and those are the first tears I have seen all day!"  Tugging at my heart strings!  He only napped for 15 minutes (I totally expected that because he is such a light sleeper) and fell asleep as soon as we pulled out of the driveway.  All in all it was a great day and I am sure my emotions will get in check as we settle into our new routine!
Loaded up and ready for the day!


Finished with swimming lessons and ready for school

Ready to walk in for their first day!
Made himself right at home with the toys!
Paxton and Ms. Inez (I think...not exactly sure how to spell it!)
Ashlyn's warm welcome!
Ashlyn and Ms. Irena
Holding back the tears

Took this picture in the car...can't get it to flip around!



11 months old

Another month, in the books!  Here is Paxton at 11 months...

Pax Facts:

Pax Stats-no well visit so I am not sure about his height and weight...but I will just put BIG!  His eyes are still big and brown!  His hair is a light brown and could use a little trim :)  Still mixed reviews on who he looks like but everyone agrees he is a cutie pie!

Wears-shirts 12-18 months, shorts/pants 12 months, diapers size 4, shoes size 2-3 (little feet)

Eats-pretty much the same as last month.  Still 3 meals a day + snacks and 4-6oz bottles and water in sippy cups!  Some of his favorites foods are:  blueberries, pancakes, any kind of meat, bananas, mum mums, cheerios, sweet potatoes...actually, there aren't too many things he doesn't like!  But if he doesn't like it, he will definitely spit it out.  And it seems to be more of a texture thing...slimey, squishy things (like mango) come right back out.  He pretty much feeds himself all of his finger foods and is great with a sippy cup. He is practicing with a spoon and is very messy!  When he is finished eating, he does the windshield wiper on his highchair tray and makes a huge mess, before he styles his hair with his leftovers.  He holds his own bottles and is such a big boy.

Sleeps-BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT...he is finally, consistently sleeping through the night...yahoo!  (typing with one hand as I knock on wood:)  He goes to bed between 7-8 and wakes up between 7-8!  Usually 11-12 hours a night!  He still takes a morning nap around 9 (about an hour) and an afternoon nap around 1 or 2 (1-2 hours).  With swimming lessons starting and school, the morning nap has been very inconsistent.  We are still working on our new schedule.  He also is not a good napper at school.  Too much action!  He sleeps in a sleep sack, uses a pacifier and a sound machine.  His night time routine is very easy...bath, a little play time, then bottle while his sister reads some books to him, poems/prayers then bed!  He may play for a few minutes, but usually goes right to sleep with little to no fuss!

What's new this month-he has 1 1/2 new teeth...the top two are pushing through.  He pulls up onto everything and is cruising all over the place.  He can walk holding on to a push toy and he is a very fast crawler!  He can blow kisses and play peek-a-boo.  I swear he says thank you and he babbles all the time.  He is very talkative.  He shakes his head no and is very silly. He loves to dance and tries to sing the abc's.  He puts everything that is rectangular shaped (and some things that aren't) up to his ear and says something something that sounds like hello.  He waves hi and bye.  He is a good sharer and will give you whatever he has if you put your hand out for it.  He also gives five.  He is definitely a climber!  His laughter is contagious and comes from the belly.  Some current favorites:  his favorite person is still his sister (with his dad a close second these days). He can often be found playing in Ashlyn's closet, climbing in and out of her car. He loves clearing the shelves and refrigerator in Ashlyn's kitchen...he can DESTROY a room in under a minute.  He loves playing with balls and being outside.  He is a crazy splasher in the bathtub.  More favs-the vacuum cleaner (or any electrical appliance that makes noise), "helping" with laundry, the dogs (and their collars and leashes), playing with wipes, being noisy, and watching TV.  Not so crazy about: getting dressed, having his diaper changed, getting strapped in his car seat and being closed out of a room that his sister is playing in.

You are a very sweet boy Paxton Doyle!  We love you more than you could ever imagine!  Here are a few pictures at 11 months (I will not miss the struggle of trying to take these pictures every month...he does not stay still any more!)

I was over picture taking, so I didn't get a very good one of sister and brother!

Monday, April 29, 2013

Such a big girl

She is getting so brave and independent at the playground these days!  I was tending to Paxton and I looked up and she mastered the rock wall solo!  She also loves the monkey bars, but still needs a little help with those. 

Sunday, April 28, 2013

A weekend in the country

We head out to Emory for a long weekend to celebrate Grandma Sally's 87th birthday!  The kids and I surprised her with Mimi and PaJ for dinner on her birthday and then we had a big birthday brunch on Sunday with everyone!  In between that, we had a great weekend just being outside!  It was a great weekend with family.
Blowing out the candles with Great Grandma Sally
Helping Mimi plant flowers
Helping PaJ put together a new bike
Another helper
Feeding the fish
Hanging out with Mimi in the Ranger
A girls afternoon at the winery
We had a BLAST!
My guys ;)
Feeding the goats
Photo bombed by Aunt T
Loves the tractor
This girl had a great weekend

Silly Bubby

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Sunday, April 14, 2013

What up dog?


Soccer ball!

This chick loves to kick a ball around so Chance took her to Dick's and let her pick out a soccer ball.  They had a blast at the park swinging and kicking the ball around!

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Fun with Rah Rah

We dropped the kids off at Pop Pop and Gigi's house and Rah Rah stopped by for a little play time!  Chance and I went to visit Crew at Cook's.  He is having a hard time staying hydrating and keeping enough food down to maintain his weight.  We had a great visit and the kids had a ball playing with Rah Rah (and Pop and Gi)!  And we had an awesome steak dinner when we went back to pick them up! 

Working on patience

I WANT MY BREAKFAST NOW!