6 months

Bennett B turned 6 months and these are some things he's up to!
1. Sitting up!
2. Eating solids. So far he's eaten sweet potatoes, peas and pears. He loves pears and really prefers his food warm. We continued the tradition of sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving just like his big bro.
3. Bennett's tongue hangs out of his mouth in the sweetest way while doing most things (smiling, playing, talking).
4. He loves to chew on his Nuby ring
5. At his last appointment he was 50th percentile in weight (17ish pounds), 85th percentile in height and 98th percentile in head size.
6. I have to trim his hair often around his ears and in the front. His hair is blonde and feels like silk.
7. 2 naps most days around 10 and 2.
8. Still nursing (50% breast milk and 50% formula).
9. Loves to play with Paxton's toys and is all about reaching for them and taking them from Paxton.
10. Loves Looking out the back window, he finds it calming.
11. Every night before bed I read to him from an anthology of nursery rhymes.
12. Hasn't rolled over and I don't know that he every will...
13. So very vocal, lots of different sounds, and volume of sound. I swear he is singing most of the day.
14. Loves to play peekaboo.
15. Loves spending time with his brother.

Bennett playing with his cousin Jordan on Thanksgiving

Morning cartoons are the best.  Handy Manny is the cartoon of choice these days.

Hanging with Uncle Jim.  Uncle Jim always makes him smile.

Dressed up for a Christmas Open House to raise money for  kids!

Christmas Time

The events leading up to Christmas are my favorite. We've had lots of fun so far this year. Christmas in the Sky, Christmas in the Park, Santa at Home Depot, Santa at Bass Pro, Gingerbread house making, work Christmas parties. This year we did the Elf On the Shelf who Paxton named "Apple because he is red." He appears every morning doing silly things, it makes Paxton laugh, but he is not super into it. He totally understands that Santa brings him a present and this year he asked for "a choo choo please!" Paxton was not interested in sitting on his lap so we talked him into standing beside him, which he did, and afterwards he said "I was really brave to stand by Santa!" Just today he asked me if Santa was real!?! It shocked me, but not too much, he's a sharp little dude.
Below are pictures of some Decemberness.

Sutton, Paxton and Bennett matching christmas jammies for Christmas in the sky.

Snuggling in the back of the car while waiting for fireworks for Christmas in the Sky.

Santa at Home Depot.  

Date night to FCI Christmas Party.

Emma and Paxton watching the lights in the back of our car at Christmas in the Park. 

Santa at Bass Pro. 

Paxton Conversations

Convo #1
Me: "Hey look at the beetle on the driveway, he's on his back."
Paxton: "And look mommy he is clapping!"

Convo #2
"I'm going to use Bennett's head for a pumpkin."

Convo #3
Me: "Grandads coming over this morning before Daddy gets home from the fire station."
Paxton: "I love Grandad. He's Nana's daddy!"

Convo #4
We are reading the Little Engine that Could and Paxton points to the monkey and says, "the monkey is doing yoga!"

Paxton also loves to read pretend stories he makes up about construction trucks, lawn mowers or Madilyn. He opens his hands like a book and turns the pages as he's telling the story.

Lately, he also randomly says "I love you." It's the best words of the day!



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Happy Halloween

Halloween is so much more fun with kids. Bob enjoyed Halloween so much that he missed his exit to work the next morning just thinking about how much fun it was. What made it so fun?
1. The Bixler's trick or treated with us, so Pax had a buddy to trick or treat with.
2. Seeing Paxton have so much fun and how he was so polite!
We didn't get any pictures of actual Halloween we were too busy enjoying it, but we did lots of Halloween activities leading up to Halloween like going to Bass Pro to trick or treat, preschool Halloween party for Pax and the neighborhood Halloween party. At the neighborhood party they have a contest for the best costumes and our little rocket ship won for 'most original costume!'

Annabelle, Gavin, Sutton

Neighborhood Halloween Party. 

Wyatt and Paxton

My sister took this picture the other night at my Dad's after we ate Sunday dinner and the picture makes me smile for so many reasons. First reason is I don't have many pictures of me with Madilyn. Secondly, doesn't Madilyn look grown up and so beautiful? Another reason is Bennett on my hip. There is something I love about carrying a baby on my hip. It feels like they fit there, you still have a free hand to do other things but you get the warmth of a baby body while you get stuff done. Also, little guys don't fit on your hip for very long, soon B will be too big to carry and I will crave a baby to hold on my hip. I try to focus so much on enjoying moments in life, and this picture captures one of those moments I want to treasure.

Location:Treasured moment

Bennett B at 5 months

Favorite age, hands down. He is the giggliest most talkative little dude. He hasn't figured out rolling over, but has perfected the wiggle. The wiggle is when he squirms around on his back, it looks like he's scratching his back. He's sitting up with support and wants to see what Paxton is doing always. No one, I mean, no one can make him belly laugh like Paxton can. Paxton does a few peekaboo's and Bennett can't stop laughing. At B's last appointment he was 80th% in height and 50th% in weight, he seemed long and skinny, but now he has some good chunk on him. I can't forget to mention his hair, it's getting longer, staying light in color, and turning up into possible curls at the ends. Could he have curly hair too? One afternoon I took him on a walk and his hair blew in the breeze!
Now Bennett sits with us in his chair at dinner and I love having him at the table with us.

Papa and Bennett at Grandma and Grandpa's anniversary dinner

Fall favorites

The weather is beautiful and we all love being outside. Pumpkin Patches, hay rides, Burr Oaks and spending time with family sums up my fall favorites. A few pictures that capture those memories.

Musical Soul? Or Future Chef?

I don't think I've blogged about Paxton's love for instruments and music. I was reminded today of his love for playing music when he got out his book Wheels on the Bus, turned to the back to the musical notes, grabbed his piano and started singing away "the wheels on the bus!"
In his toy box in the living room we have a guitar and ukulele that he plays daily. I would say his favorite "top 40's hit" is Justin Timberlakes song "suit and tie." Most of the time he is singing the happy birthday or ABC song.
He also loves to bake and cook. He is involved in cooking most of our meals and we bake at least once a week. Ashley involves him in cooking lots of the meals too. Sometimes, on a lazy Sunday, he makes his own creation for lunch. The picture below is an example of a lunch Paxton made (he spreads the PB and cuts the bananas himself.)!

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Oktoberfest Festival

Hot dogs+funnel cakes+kid rides +beer=an awesome time

This year was especially fun for Paxton because he had his friend Brody to ride the rides with and they both loved the rides. They also spent most of the time running and falling down over and over. They also had to resist the urge to jump in the fountain!
Bennett enjoyed the festival from the Bjorn, we caught him giggling, smiling or drooling most of the time. Even better, Brody's mom is expecting a baby boy which means Bennett will have a buddy next year!