12 month well visit stats

Height: 30 inches 60th percentile
Weight: 22.5 lbs 45th percentile
Head Circumference: 47 cm 70th percentile

Some things to note about Pax at 12 months

Signs 'more' and 'milk'
Such a good stair climber (up and down stairs)
Loves stomping his feet
Can respond (when he feels like it) "roar" when asked the sound a lion makes
He would drink a half gallon of milk if we let him.
Loves to go rock collecting
Takes only an afternoon nap12:45 or 1:00 until 3:00-4:00
Blows bubbles in the water
Doesn't use bottles and still drinks a few ounces of milk before bed from a sippy cup



Wearing Dad's white under shirt!


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We all fall down!

Ever since the Writing Institute I've been inspired to write and blog about everyday life events. Not just the trips to the pool, parks or play dates. It's the everyday happenings I want to remember and that I want Pax to be able to read about when he is older. So this morning happens to be a perfect example of an everyday REAL moment in our lives!
This morning, after breakfast, I felt motivated to finally give the the dog a bath. It was very much overdue. You could smell him coming and with the heat of the summer days the smell was only going to grow worse. So I threw Melvin in the tub, gave him a good scrub and Pax watched alongside me in awe that a bathtub existed behind the shower curtain in the hall bathroom and excited to see such excitement early in the morning. Like I said, I was motivated to clean up the dog, so the minute Bob walked in the door from the fire station I hit him with, "Let's cut the dogs nails now!" Keep in mind that he had worked 48 hours straight and looked at me like, right now, really? But I knew he wouldn't argue. So out we all 4 went to the back deck to cut Melvin's nails. The plan? Bob and I stand in front of the top of the stairs of the deck so Pax won't tumble down the stairs. Bob holds the dog and I'll clip Mel's nails. I went after the first nail, feeling ambitious and hurried. I cut the nail way too short. Melvin started bleeding profusely. Bob snapped at me, "Why do you always do that? Cut his nails too short?" Well, I felt terrible for making Melvin bleed (again!), frustrated because Bob snapped at me and aggravated that Melvin couldn't be in the house because he would track blood in every inch of our carpet. So I came inside to pout and grab paper towels to stop Melvin from hemorrhaging blood. While inside I heard Pax cry, the kind of cry that indicates he's hurt, really hurt. I rush out to the deck to see Bob holding Pax screaming on one hip and Melvin on the other hip. I grab hold of Paxton and notice right away that he has two huge bumps on the sides of forehead. Being the awesome parents that we are, Pax was climbing on a table that had been folded onto the deck. He lost his balance and fell into the wooden spindles on the deck resulting in two goose egg bumps from two spindles. Now, Bob and I had a screaming, injured baby, and a bleeding dog. All of this in the first 10 min that Bob had been home from work. After Pax settled down Bob and I exchanged a few "choice words" which isn't how we intended to spend our morning with Pax. In the end it was Pax who brought some comic relief to our morning. Lately, we have been playing "ring around the rosie" and his favorite part is at the end when you sing "we all fall down" because he loves to topple over onto the ground. Sure enough while we exchanged our "choice words" there was Pax falling to the ground and giggling. His giggle is so contagious and exactly the comic relief we needed in the moment.
Thanks Pax for bringing humor to our lives when we need it the most. Your smile and giggle can always turn our day around for the better!


Evidence of the bumps and sweet smile that brightens our day!

Playing with neighbor Wyatt

Our neighbor, Wyatt, was born one day after Paxton. Ever since these guys were born Rebecca (Wyatt's mom) and I have tried to get them together often. Today was the first time they actually interacted with one another...








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"more"

This past week I attended a Writing Institute with some colleagues from the Blue Springs School District. Honestly, I dreaded attending. I wasn't looking forward to giving up 4 days of my summer and I didn't love the idea of getting up and "ready" to get out the door in the morning (I had to be there at 9:00, so I shouldn't be complaining!). I figure this is what being grown-up is all about, making yourself do things because you should and in the end you know it will be a great experience. And in the end it was better than a great experience. I learned so much about myself as a writer and share a special connection with teachers at my school (and other schools) that I will forever cherish. I am grateful for the opportunity to attend and I am glad that my parents instilled values in me to attend things because you should because one may end up LOVING the experience. I hope that someday Paxton can have the same understanding. With all that being said, during the Writing Institute we were required to publish a personal narrative. I chose to write about a small moment between Paxton and I that happened recently. Since it was a special moment that Pax and I shared I also want to share it on the blog, so that someday he can read it.

A funny, unforgetable moment that happend at the Writing Institute. A bird pooped on me, literally. It pooped on my writing piece, new writers notebook and sleeve. Hopefully it's not a sign that my writing is 'poopy!'

My writing piece...

It's our nightly ritual. We've done it since you were born. Each night after I've read aloud to you and you've sucked down the last drop of milk, I take the palm of your hand and trace a circle inside the palm of your hand and recite, "My love for you goes round and round." Then, I stop tracing the inside of your hand and push my pointer finger inside the center of your palm and exclaim, "My love never stops! It goes wherever you go even up to your nose!" I tickle my fingers up your forearm and tap your nose. Most nights a giggle emerges from behind your "binkafier" and I lay you in your crib. However, last night was different. Last night I did it to you and instead of just a smile with delight, you signed 'more!' When you made that symbol with your hands it was as if you were returning love to me. As if we were connecting and you wanted more of the warm feeling. It was like you said I love you back. It was like you promised your love to me forever.
How is it that simple acts such as Pax signing 'more' stay with me for days and make my heart ooze with love? I know it helps me get through the tougher "moments" when Pax doesn't nap all day or opens and shuts the kitchen cabinet doors or pushes the buttons on the dishwasher 7 times even though I tell him numerous time not to. In those moments I think back to the connection we share during our nightly ritual and I can be more patient, understanding and loving.

My favorite age.....

Paxton,

You just turned 1 year old two weeks ago, and I've got to tell you, you're more fun than ever. It seems like everyday you are doing something you weren't doing the day before. Just yesterday, you started "stomping" on command! A day before that, you probably hadn't even heard the word. Now, I am not sure where stomping falls in the "proper development" timeline, but it makes us both laugh and that is "proper" in my book.

So right now, you're at my favorite age. However, I must admit I felt this way when you were 7 months and 10 months old, so I should probably keep a list and rank them. Any age prior to 4 months....those didn't make make the list.

It boils down to this buddy; Everyday you are turning more and more into a little man and not so much a baby. While your mom may wish you stay a baby for awhile longer, I am loving the new adventures each day brings as I watch you learn the world around you. Some days, it's just nice to sit back and enjoy it!




-Dad

Summer Fun

Highlights of our summer so far. I had no idea summer could be this good!

Burr Oak Woods.


Sliding with Kyla! Pax loved the slide




All of the JWE babies at Burr Oak Woods!


The zoo on his actual birthday!





Swimming at the neighborhood pool!






Helping water the plants in the backyard!! He loves water!


Playing with the sprinkler head without any fear of the water or the pressure of the water! I hope he is always this brave!








Brothers of the Sun Concert with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw!

Royals game with the families on Bobs shift. Pax enjoyed a few innings in the stands and then I couldn't pull him away from the fountain.


Ball pit at Paradise Park..


On his way to Summit Waves with spiked hair.



Summit Waves fun!



Hanging with family while Jess, Brianne and Saige are in town.



Attempting to use a spoon! Bob made cauliflower mashed potatoes for Pax to practice using his spoon!











The best days are spent in our PJ's playing at our house when we are all home.

Paxton's First Birthday Party...

We had the little guys party the day after his actual birthday! Friends and family received this invite...




This the front side! Nathan took the picture and designed the invite!




The backside of the invite!

We were fearful that it would rain and all 60 + people would have to hang out in our house, so the week prior to the party we decided to give the garage a fresh coat of paint and a lot of organization so that if it rained we could party in the garage but luckily the rain stayed away. The heat didn't stay away, but it was tolerable and our backyard is mostly shaded!




This is a picture of the night before the party. We (really Bob) blew up 72 balloons to make balloon garland.

The balloon garland was a colorful, fun and Paxton enjoyed playing with the balloons before we strung them.










The many faces of Pax during his first year.

What is a party without lots of banners!?









The banner draped across the front of the table my mom made using fabric from his nursery. Each birthday I hope to add new fabric that represents what he loves.







My mom and Don planted a hydrangea bush for Pax on the day he was born in our backyard so the flower had to be represented at his party!!











The party favor says "we hate for you to leave but if you really mustache, take this too!" Attached are cookies shaped like mustaches.

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Paxton's First Year Video

BBQ and Downtown Days

I love summer, the festivals, the BBQ, and that I get to be with Paxton everyday!
Speaking of festivals we went to Downtown Days this weekend. Pax did some people watching, tasted a corn dog and viewed the replica of a spaceship. It was pretty cool.







Sweet baby face!!

Downtown Days is in conjunction with the BBQ contest. The Friday of the contest the guys hosted friends and family for food and drink. Lots and lots of friends and family came out to support the team.




Including Emma, Paxton's future wife.




Talking with his Grandma Dena!










The meat that earned them 7th place overall with a tie for 5th in Ribs and 4th place in brisket.




This weekend was also a big deal because we traded in Bob's non-air condition piece of junk junk truck for a Honda Accord. We hemmed and hawed about what car to buy for months, we are over thinkers, over researchers and talk things to deaths before making decisions (I think we are afraid to make mistakes?!) So this car being a 2009 only having 19,000 miles and good gas mileage seemed like the perfect fit! It's hard to believe Bobs truck had a 154,000 miles! It's fun to zip around in a little car!


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Summer lovin' at Powell Gardens!

Seriously! We are having fun! My little man has become quite the momma's boy!

We spent four hours at Powell Gardens!



Lots of fountains to splash and run in! Who knew at Powell Gardens you may need your swimsuit!?


Strolling with his buddy Evan!




Peek-a-boo! The veggie and fruit gardens were impressive! At the barn we were able to taste some of their food straight from the garden. P loved the peaches!



I couldn't pull him away from the well. Which explains why he is drenched in the next picture. The kid loves water!






Kristin and Jensen met us that afternoon too! I didn't get pictures of those two little buddies.
Also, one of the highlights of the trip is visiting Grandma and Grandpa Redfearn since they volunteer at Powell Gardens. We were lucky enough to go the basement to see where they store samples of all the plants and Grandpa archives them in a database! Grandma's work is less intense, she works at the gift shop!
Powell Gardens is a place we will visit again this summer!

"Our Time"

Pax went to his first Royals game!









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