First Steps

Jax took his first real steps today!  He's been crawling for ages and loves to climb (makes me very, very nervous), but his interest in walking has been practically nonexistent.  However, today he had a major breakthrough.

Here's how it went down:  Sadie was asleep, I was lying on the sofa (wishing I was asleep), and Jax was wide awake standing and holding onto the TV console.  We were playing a game where he opens the door to the TV cabinet and I tell him, "No, no Jax" and then he quick closes it and laughs.  Well during one door closure he became really excited and let go of the TV cabinet and started walking towards me.  He took a good 9 or so steps and then dropped to the floor and laughed.  I'm not sure he realized he had done anything special but I went berserk.  He's been so close for so long.  And I have been so anxious for him to walk because a) he is really heavy and it hurts my back and hips to hold him and b) he's always squirming/kicking/elbowing my huge belly wanting to get down.

I'm trying not to be too excited.  Sadie took 9 steps when she was 11 months old and still didn't officially walk until she was 15 months old.  However, all afternoon he kept letting go of the sofa and taking 5 or 6 steps so I think he's pretty close.  Yea!

Anyways, here are a few pictures from today to document what he's like lately.

We went to the playground this morning and he loved playing in the sand.

Can you tell his face is covered in sand?  Yuck!

Sadie found a little shade and made sand castles for a while.

Both kids' favorite activity is swinging.

This afternoon we went to the library.  By this point he was getting good at taking steps but I couldn't get any good pictures of him doing it.  He was climbing all over the place, though.

He loves to climb up on chairs, tables, pianos, into the dishwasher, etc.
But, don't worry, he's never hurt himself!

Those are some beautiful thighs, no?

Last picture - Sadie deep in thought.
She had just finished a very challenging puzzle and was taking a mental break.

First Birthday

Jax turned the big 1 this past week.  He's been a delightful, happy little baby.  We've really enjoyed this past year!

The family came up to celebrate with us.  We had a pool/pizza party.  Fun times were had by all!

Grandma Meyers shown above holding Baby James

Joseph shown above doing a cannonball

Ben and Jax doing tricks in the pool

Ethan shown above with Mike enjoying playtime

The cake - decorated by my mom.

The toddlers shown above eyeing the cake.

We asked them, "How old is Jax?"

Everyone had a turn blowing out the candle.  The kids loved it!

Jax was a little uncertain about the cake at first.  He warmed-up quickly, though, and put on a good show for us.

Sadie enjoyed the cake, too!

We love you so, so, so much Jax!  Happy birthday little man!!!

Lines for Ben

Dear Ben,

We're going to have a baby soon (but not soon enough).  Memories of Jax's birth are starting to resurface in my mind - the pain, agony, chaos, and uncertainty.  At the moment I would happily go through any necessary pain to have this baby out.  However, when the time actually comes to endure the pain I may need a few mental reminders to help me through.

Here are some lines that will probably help me in my hour of need:

• "If you did this with pitocin and stuck on your side for three hours - you can make it through this."  
• "Just an hour or two more and you won't be pregnant again. Think of how great it will be to sleep on your back, be free of aches and pains, and not have to use the bathroom every hour."  
• "Just relax into it; don't tense up against it."
• "You won't have to do this again for a long, long time - if ever."
• "It's awful to be uncomfortable but think of how much easier the recovery will be."
• "At least things are going smoothly and it doesn't look like you'll need a c-section, right?" (Let's hope all goes smoothly)

Other helpful topics to bring up to distract me:

• Is it a boy or girl?
• What should we name the baby? (Because I have a feeling we still won't have decided even at this point)
• The expressions on Jax's and Sadie's faces when they first see their new sibling.

Also:

• Don't forget to rock the bed with your foot.  That really helped last time.
• If the nurses/doctors are pushy or ornery will you please deal with them and be assertive - I don't want to deal with them.
• Please don't whistle, tap, or make any unnecessary noise - I'm very sensitive to extraneous noise.  Maybe we should pack some ear plugs?

My apologies in advance for any snippitiness I may send your way during labor and delivery.  Remember I love you very much and I'll be normal again soon (but not soon enough).

Your loving wife,

Alicia

Blossoming

Sadie has changed so much in the past few months that's she barely resembles the baby I once knew. No longer timid and shy, she has become outgoing and social. I thought I'd jot down a few things about her so I can preserve just how fun she has become.

Nicknames: Sades, Sade, Sadester, Say-Jay, Say-Say, Little Lady, and Sister.

Favorite Activities: Jumping on the bed or neighbor's trampoline, collecting acorns, dressing up in sunday dresses, throwing tennis balls into baskets, coloring and cutting, playing with water and her tea set, doing puzzles, watching YouTube dance videos - especially from Enchanted, singing primary songs, sitting in Jax's carseat, dancing, and mothering Shadow and Jax.

She loves her acorns.  We go out collecting them quite frequently.

Sadie shown above sitting in Jax's car seat/stroller.  She loves her little cave. 

Favorite Places to Go: The library to see her Bengal Tiger stuffed animal friend, the pool and beach, walks to the park and lake at night to play and feed the fish, primary, and Mimi's house.

Favorite Animals: Cows, tigers, and sharks.

Favorite Colors: Light blue and orange (so she told us, I don't think she even knows those colors).

Favorite TV Shows and/or Movies: Wonder Pets, Barney, Blue's Clues, Singing in the Rain, and her 'Jesus Show'.

Favorite Foods: Fruit snacks (sadly, her most favorite), pizza, cheese, yogurt, mandarin oranges, cereal, almonds, apples with PB, bananas with Nutella, corn, and strawberries.

Best adjectives to describe Sadie: girly ~ playful ~ emotion-filled ~ happy ~ strong willed ~ musical ~ ~ gentle ~ artistic ~ sweet ~ small ~ smiley ~ tender ~ giggly ~ affectionate ~ social ~ compassionate ~ observant ~ hysterical.

Favorite and Frequent Quotes:

• "I love YOU so, so much!"  (She tends to say this when I'm stressed and need a pick-me-up)
• "You're a good boy Jax." (As she pats him on his head)
• "Kimmy flys on an airplane to Utah." (This is her go-to line when she can't think of anything interesting to talk to us about)
• "No, I want to talk" (she hates it when  Ben and I talk to each other and always interrupts us with that line)
• "Jax, please be happy." (When he gets fussy in the car)
• "The four goes in the back." (This is what she says when she puts her underwear on.)
• "I want to do it by myself!" (Says this about everything - feeding herself, brushing her teeth, dressing herself, getting in her carseat, getting her shoes on, going potty, etc.)

What does Sadie want to be when she grows up?  Firefighter, teacher, or a boy(?).

Best Friends: Mary Smith, Sadie Tee, and Leana (the next door neighbor).

Boyfriends: Carson May, Fisher Emery, and Andrew Cricchio.

Favorite Songs: I Am a Child of God, I Love to See the Temple, The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock, Once There Was a Snowman, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus.

Physical Features:  Eye color is shifty - it's green or Hazel.  She's short and petite.  Still has her chubby cheeks, fabulous smile, and baby-soft skin.

Also noteworthy:

She has a very long attention span.

She is as girly as can be - loves to wear dresses, have her toenails painted, and her hair done.

She doesn't run - she prances.

She has high highs and low lows.

She is an excellent big sister.

She makes friends very quickly and loves 4 - 8 year olds.

She loves to pose for the camera.

She is extremely expressive.

Funny - we had been so worried about her when she was younger; but she has turned into a perfectly pleasant, social little toddler.  The transformation actually began shortly after Jax was born.  We were concerned how she would adapt to having a sibling and sharing the limelight.  But, Jax is about the best thing that has ever happened to Sadie.  His birth has forced her to become independent, yet she still feels loved and adored.  Jax is happy to let her be the center of attention, patient with her moodiness, and always entertained by her games.  They're really perfect for each other!

It's bittersweet to watch her grow.  I still think of her as a little one year old - so lightweight, needy, and snuggly.  I'm still adjusting to this new, confident, independent version of Sadie.  I'm so proud of the sweet little girl she is turning into and so grateful I have a front row seat to watch her continue to blossom.