Big Girl Bed

Guilty mom moment...I just looked over the last few posts, including the one I just did for Xavier's dedication and realized there hasn't been a Natalee update in awhile. So many things are happening in her life, too, that I thought I'd better catch up.

Natalee's vocabulary is just like a miniature adults. She says anything we say and more! She's truly a child that's always listening...a while back while in a check-out line the person in front of us cursed and she repeated that word 5 minutes later in the car. ACK! She truly didn't know it was naughty because we really just don't curse around here. So, we're working to fill her head (and mouth!) with The Word, instead of wordly phrases she hears in check-out lines. Her first Bible verse that Daddy chose for her to learn is Matthew 22:39, "Love your neighbor as yourself." She does pretty well and will have it down in no time!

big girl ponytail with her hair all pulled back!

Natalee's also getting to have an opinion about everything...which is endearing and frustrating (until I remember that she's 2!). On the things that she can have an opinion on we let her...like pink coat or brown (PINK!), red socks or purple, one ponytail or two, and what color bow (GREEN F'W'OWER!). We're trying to give her more responsibility, which helps with the 2 year old woes. And most recently we're try to break the little whine that's tagged itself onto her voice. WHOA!

The other day I looked at her and realized she's really growing up. She can climb up and down on the furniture, understand what I say, and knows how to mind (I didn't say she made good choices all the time!). It's a bittersweet surrender, letting her have these freedoms that mean she's moving from toddler hood into a preschooler.

One of the biggest "big girl" things happening in this house is that we moved Natalee from her crib/toddler bed conversion into a big full sized bed. She LOVES it (thanks, Aunt Penny, for the mattresses!). We LOVE it, too...love laying with her & reading books, snuggling for awhile, and just knowing there's 2 big beds in the house (funny, we might be growing up, too!).

last nap in her little bed

First night in the big girl bed!
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Natalee's still holding onto 2 big 'baby'isms...diapers and pacifiers. We're working on them and will have them phased out by summer...and then she'll be all grown up (tear).

Dedicating Xavier

Xavier turned 7 months old this week...he's the perfect image of a "bouncing baby boy." He's cheery, drooly, giggly, and sweet. Besides not eating much baby food/table food and drinking an insane amount of formula daily he's healthy as they come.

At 7 months old Xavier is mobile--not crawling but bottom scooting and pushing around on his belly. He has his 2 front bottom teeth (the 2nd one came in last Sunday the 23rd) and an all around good boy. He still wakes in the middle of the night to eat and doesn't like to go back to sleep in his bed after that...so *sigh* he bunks with us. It's okay--I don't sleep as good when he's in there but the alternative is endless crying where no one sleeps so it's a fair trade I guess. Xabe likes daddy fine still but if I'm in the room he's mama's. He can make a lot of noise but hasn't formed any words for us, yet. I have a feeling his first would be 'sissy' if he could get it out. Did I mention he thinks she hung the moon......?

She thinks he's not bad either...

We dedicated Xavier in the church today...to raise him up in Christ and teach him to walk the walk and talk the talk. A tall order....but with much prayer and the help of the 'village' we'll do our best. I was reminded of the meaning of his name more poignantly today than ever...

Xavier = to build a house
Micheal = to walk with God
our interpretation = to build your house with God as the center (your Rock)

Xavier Eating

We have been having a lot of trouble getting Xavier to swallow baby food from the first time we introduced it. I'm working with an occupational therapist friend (former co-worker) of mine that specializes in sensory integration techniques (b/c I really thinks it mostly a sensory defense) and we are making some slow headway. He's able to eat a couple TBSP a night with little tears and gagging.

However, while looking for tips the other day on the internet I came across this comic and initially dismissed it because it had nothing to do with the information I was looking for...
But something the pediatric cardiologist said to me last week has stuck with me and is really rubbing me the wrong way (so you get to hear my beef) & I realized it kind of went with the comic so I retraced my steps and found it again.

Let's back step a minute...when at the doctor for the kids' wellness check-ups the pediatrician picked up on an irregularity in Xavier's heartbeat. The short story is that she referred us to a pediatric cardiologist to follow-up with it and it turns out his heart gives an extra beat every 6 seconds but since he has no blue spells we need not worry about it at this time....

Anyhow, while at the cardiologist's office he was doing the health history and asked how often he nursed or how much formula he drinks a day. I told him he takes upwards of 40 oz of Gentle formula because I was unable to keep a supply to nurse and he's have a resistance to solids that we're working through. And do you know what he told me??? That 40 oz. of formula was too much and I needed to cut him off at 32 oz. and then make him drink water. WATER!

#1--He's a baby.
#2--Bite me (oops, that was rude).
#3--He's BABY.
#4--No way in the world that he would drink a bottle of water...NO WAY!
#5--HE'S A BABY!

When I questioned it he said, "Fat babies make fat adults." Well, as a heftier adult I take offense to that (okay, I was a fat baby, too, but not ALL fat babies make fat adults...it's lifestyle, parenting, genes).

I just keep thinking about it. So what, he's a little chubby. I wonder if I'd told the doctor I nurse him for 1/2 hour every 2 hours what he'd have said? I know formula has more calories than breastmilk--trust me, it wasn't my first choice, but water? Seriously?

Don't get me wrong...as far as a cardiologist we actually really liked the doctor, and I didn't really argue with him about the water because I get to play the mom card and disregard his advice. But I will say that I was shocked that the recommendation was given for a 6 month old to drink up to 2 of his bottles full of water a day. And I don't agree. This is a perfect example, though, of, while Mike & I believe that doctors have their place and we are grateful for them we also believe we know best for our child and the ultimate decision rests in our hands.

And my chubby baby boy is still happily chugging his 4 oz. bottles every 1 1/2 to 2 hours! (Although, he has cut himself down a little because 2 nights ago he started sleeping through the night!!...GO XABER!

Comparison in Photos

I purposely staged the setting of some of Xavier's 6 months photos to mimic those of Natalee at that age for framing/canvasing purposes in our home. I didn't realize until I compared the photos just how similar their mannerisms and expressions can be.

The hatbox...

The rubber ducky...

(cannot figure out why blogger keeps rotating the picture of Xabe but I give up trying to make it go back! you get the idea....)

Daddy's rocking chair...Natalee above, Xavier below.

Very fun to see these next to each other!

Boxing Match

In the first corner, sporting a classic white tee, brown pants & size 5 diaper, weighing in at 26 pounds, we have Miss Natalee Cynthia. She's bigger, she's older, and she's pretty darn fiesty.

In the opposing corner wearing a trim blue & white striped footed number & size 3 diaper, weighing in at 17 pounds, we have Mr. Xavier Micheal. He might not be able to walk but what he lacks in skill he makes up for in grit.

The big one starts out seemingly in the lead. She seems to have it made with her sheer domineering size & ability over the little guy.

But the little guy fights back! He goes in and grabs, never letting go...

Pulls her over where he traps her by making her giggle at his strength...

Pats her back to keep her down....1--2--3...

THE WINNER!

(This blog post was not in any way staged [truthfully], however the winner may have been reprimanded after the last photo was taken for pulling the hair of the opposing boxer after getting her down...however, he looks pretty darn pleased, doesn't he?)

Love Grows Best

I don't know if it's the hours upon hours on snow covered roads that we've spent these last few days or the fact that I just got done re-reading the Little House series (I know, how old am I? but they are my childhood favorite!) but I've been thinking a lot lately about my own little house.

I've heard it said many times that love grows best in little houses and sometimes I really think that's true. In our house there is no "alone time" unless you really seek it out. There is no "playing in your room" or "getting out of my hair". We are underfoot of one another all the time. And truthfully, that's okay. We've learned to adjust ourselves to that and even enjoy it. And though sometimes I get frustrated with the seemingly wall to wall clutter, I really am grateful for my home.

By the Little House book series standards it's a mansion--with really glass windows, a door that locks, 2 water closets with indoor plumbing...not to mention the appliances and electricity! I mean, I have 3 whole levels of space and we have a bedroom that is separate from our children's! We're blessed!!

By my standards it's a fine little house, too--here are some of the little oddities that make it unique and some of my favorites about it...

My little spice nook right by my stove. Although it doesn't hold all my spices it holds the ones I use the most (who I am kidding?...my mom only taught me to use garlic salt and onion powder!) and it's such a cute little door.
My GIANT drawer. Whoever built this potato/onion bin was planning on storing goods for the entire town. However, I couldn't justify using all that space for my measly 10 pounds of potatoes and 0 pounds of onions (we hate onions!). But I COULD justify using it as an excuse to not ever organize my plasticware again!! Oh sure, once in awhile Mr. Husband gets on a tangent and organizes them (see the lid drawer?) but I NEVER do. And if I ever build a house it will have a giant drawer just like this!!

My new bedspread. First thing I see when I top the stairs and it makes me smile. I also LOVE that our bedrooms are upstairs which frees up all the main level for living space. And I can hide my clean but not put away laundry much easier!


The kids' bedroom. One year later and I still love the paint. And their matching beds. And that they are very close to me but not in my room. By close I mean *very* close. Not down the hall...more like 10 paces forward. But it works for us, uses the space we've been given, and technically our kids sleep in their room (for the most part).

(by the way...YOU tell Natalee Christmas is over...until you try don't judge me for still having a tree in their room!)

My closet...by far not the largest closet Mike & I have ever had but it works. We store LOTS in there besides clothes. The infant car seat, hiking backpack, suitcases, ironing board/iron, etc., etc. It's full but functional and after growing up in an older house without closets I'm VERY grateful for this space.

Our master bathroom. It's just really nice. It's spacious and airy and makes me happy. The tub has jets, the toilet has a privacy wall (insert smile--come on, you know you want to), and there is plenty of room for our hamper and extra supplies...kleenex, toilet paper, etc. AND, I love that the kids have their own bathroom downstairs which really only matters to me because it means my tub is free of toys & baby wash!

And most of all I love the people that fill this house. Because, although we may trip on each other and skitter-scatter toys over the floor when we walk I truly believe that home is where the heart is and my heart belongs to them...

I'm not a blogger game person so I'm not going to "tag" anyone, but if you're reading I think it would sure be fun for you to blog on the quirks that make your home work for you. Or that make you smile. Or scream. Your favorites...or not so much. Give it a shot! We'll look back someday and these memories will make us smile!