sitting here

I've been sitting here reading other people's blogs that I am a little obsessed with--I just love how people write about their lives-- and smelling my sweet little boy asleep on my shoulder. (I know I should go put him down but no!)

I was just thinking about how much I am going to miss the way he smells when he gets bigger. Dax got to take a morning bath today which almost never happens so he smells extra yummy. A combination of Johnson's shampoo, lavender Johnson's bedtime lotions, and that sweet breastmilk breath. I could just eat him up.

I also love and know that I will miss how he'll root around for me in his sleep. How he'll pat my face with his free hand or move his hand around until he finds something to hold on to- either my shirt or finger.

I just love this special time. Time he really doesn't get to spend or do with anyone else.

Ok going to stop writing and enjoy my sweet smelling, sleeping little boy. Later gator.

Spring Break

So on this last day of Spring Break and 2nd day of April I realized that I only posted one blog entry in March, what the heck? Hmmm could it be that March was pretty boring. Umm yeah that would be it. Dax is of course always interesting but really he didn't do anything monumental like rolling over or sitting up--- although he is SO close to doing both! I keep saying that he's SO close but he really is. I think he doesn't want to roll over because truly he's not a big fan of tummy time so why would he voluntarily put himself in that position? ha! he does LOVE to sit up so I'm sure that will happen shortly. I can't believe he's 5 months old already... I also can't believe that I haven't uploaded his 5 month picture yet, what the heck? I'll get on that soon! Before it's time to put up th 6 month picture!! Dax is a HUGE fan of raspberries--- he'll blow them on everything, his hands, his clothes, blankets, binky, toys, even my neck which was quite funny the first time he did it! He's also figured out how to blow air without make the slobbery mess. So fun! Oh did I mention he's curious about EVERYTHING and how quickly he can figure out the toys on his two exersaucer and how to get all his other toys in his mouth? What a smarty pants he is! It just totally fascinates me to watch him figure things out. I hope this is a sign of his future in education-- meaning I hope he retains that keep at it attitude! Love him!

Let's see what else has been going on... Dustin just got back from a trip to Florence Oregon and the sand dunes! Dax is still too little to make the big trek so we stayed with GiGi and Papa for a few days. Lots of fun was had by all but Dax and I stayed much warmer and drier than Dustin and Uncle Bill. Hopefully we'll make the trek down to Florence this summer when we can make lots of stops to stretch Dax's legs. :-)

What else... hmm... seriously it's been so boring in our lives! It's a good thing. :-)

New pictures... actually they are old now but they're the newest that I have haha!...

Whatcha doing Mom?
SO happy!!

I just adore this picture. I have a whole string of them of these two playing and Dustin going in for the raspberry smooch just makes me smile!

Look at this smiley boy!! How can ya not just LOVE that face??

ummm... March? What?

Wow, it's already March? Where did February go? People always told me that when you have a baby the time just flies by even faster. Boy are they right!



Dax has been SO much fun lately. He's a pretty easy going guy, thankfully! Although we need to work on his inside voice at the office. :) He likes to hear himself talk and wants everyone else to know he's there too.



He's really started to use his hands to play with his toys. He loves his rings, keys, and his exersaucer. His MP3 player that lights up is still a hot item too. Currently he'll play for about 15-20 minutes with his different toys before he becomes bored and either needs a change of scenery or a snuggle. Such a good boy!



Yesterday we piled into Daddy's Yota and headed out to the field at Grandma and Grandpa's to help dig fence posts. I should say that Dax and I sat in the truck and slept/played while we watch Grandma and Grandpa Strickland and Dustin try to get the auger unstuck from 6 feet in the ground.



Dax LOVED being outside. He snuggled right in to the front pack and passed out for about an hour. Of course I didn't have my camera with me but Dustin took a picture with his cell phone of Dax laying on the drivers seat in the sunshine. (No one worry, I was in the passenger seat watching him. He was not left un attended or put in any harm)



So here is Dax's 4 month picture, FINALLY! I already have some new March ones but gotta get 'em off my camera first. :)

4 month Dr. apt.

Well my little boy is almost 4 months old! We had his 4 month appointment and immunizations today and he weighs in at 14.4 pounds and is 23 3/4 inches long!

He has been reaching for and pulling on his toys, trying to roll over, talking VERY loud, and he now laughs! He doesn't laugh all the time but the couple of times that I have worked for his I've gotten him to laugh. It's the best!

So I am struck with how different my life is from a year ago. One year ago I was writing about turning 25. About the things I was grateful for and talking about how hard it was for me to turn 25. Remember how I said I didn't have any kids and I thought I would be the time I was 25? Little did I know that about 4 days later I'd find out that I was pregnant with Mr. Dax and then spend most of my 25th year waiting for him. I am so grateful for my 25th year of life and I can't wait to see what the 26th will bring....

P.S. I'm still a little apprehensive about this getting older thing but at least now I have a beautiful little boy to watch grow up. :)

Grateful

Get ready... I'm gonna brag.....and not about Dax this time.... but about Dustin! :-)

Can I just say how nice it is to have a partner that I feel comfortable with in every way, shape and form????

While a lot of Dax's birth has become a blur and even though I ask Dustin A LOT to clarify how some things went down... I will never forget how sweet and reassuring Dustin was. I will never forget how he held my hand and told me he'd be right there with me in the operating room. I will also never forget the first time I looked at Dustin while he watched Dax and the love I saw. I will never forget him reminding me how tough Dax is when we were re-admitted to the hospital and I kind of fell a part. I will also never forget how he picked up the pieces of my emotions every time I needed to have a cry.

Dustin really is an amazing, wonderful man. It's not every guy that would really step up when his girlfriend needs help doing the most basic things like walking to the bathroom (and making sure I can handle all of that on my own).... putting on my shoes.... helping me in and out of bed. There were several times that I remember crying in the hospital and after we got home because I just felt so blessed to not have to ask for help. Not having to ask is really a big deal. For someone to know that you just need that extra time from them means so much. It was funny though because when I would say something about how nice it was for his help he would say something like "well of course, why wouldn't I?" The thing is not every guy would.

Not every guy will stay in the hospital for a week with his girlfriend and new baby- not leaving for more than about an hour at a time. Not every guy would sleep on probably the worlds most uncomfortable pull out bed when his own comfortable bed is less than a mile away. Not every guy would make sure we were taken care of before doing anything else. Not every guy would feed his girlfriend while she feeds his son.

I am seriously blessed to have Dustin in my life as my partner and as the father of our son.

I don't tell him that enough. Even if I told him every day I don't think I would feel it was enough.

I am also blessed to be able to leave Dax with Dustin at any point without worrying at all. Truly it doesn't even cross my mind to worry about Dax with Dustin. Not even for a second. Dustin is Dax's Dad. He loves him just as much as I do. Several of my friends have commented about Dustin having Dax on Mondays. Most of them say that their spouses/boyfriends would have never felt comfortable with a baby as little as Dax. It just reinforces everything that I already knew about Dustin. He does a WONDERFUL job with Dax. Dax loves his Daddy and will follow him with his eyes everywhere. I can't wait for the day that Dax can actually follow his Daddy around the house or gets even more excited to see him when he comes home.

Thank you Dustin for all that you do for me and our son. I love you more than words could ever express.

Look at my handsome boys!!!

Oh the guilt

I love this little boy. I am head over heels for him. And... I have already screwed him up. Now my friend says that you can't screw up a three month old baby. Are you curious about how I've screwed him up??? Okay here goes... we still sleep together... and most of that is on the couch which also means that in the last 3 months I've probably slept in my bed with Dustin umm... hmm... well not enough let's just say that.

Now I know if any of you reading this are mothers you probably have some motherly advice to give me about things to try and I would love to hear them but really, this is my fault and my problem because I truly do love sleeping with him. I love feeling his breath on my cheek and knowing he is okay whenever I feel the "need" to check. It also does drive me nuts. I want to be able to sleep with Dustin, I want to sleep a solid night without my son draped across me BUT I know this won't last forever. I know that he WILL sleep by himself sooner than I am probably going to be ready. I love this little boy and when he's with me I know he's okay.

Please don't think that I don't leave him alone, trust me, I do. He has stayed with all of his immediate family members for several hours at a time and truthfully... during that time... I really didn't miss him too much. I like being me for a little while and not just Dax's Mom. I adore being Dax's Mom but any Moms out there know that from time to time ya gotta get yourself back.

As I type this Dax is sacked out on my shoulder... I should go lay him down but I know he will wake up immediately. I should go put him down, I will go put him down...... tomorrow....

Ya see my problem????

Christmas and Beyond

Oh my it has been too long since I wrote a post! Seems like any time that I have is of course devoted to Dax, Dustin and work. EEEKKK! Dax is growing like a weed and such a trooper. He did great on Christmas when we took him all over the countryside to be sure we saw all the family.

I went back to work on January 4 and even though I had huge trepidation about going back to work it really hasn't been too bad. I am truly blessed to be able to take Dax to the office with me, work from home two days a week and have my brother, dad and Dustin's dad off work to help out. So thankfully Dax doesn't have to be in daycare yet. Yahoo!!!

Dax's is now batting at his toys, babbling up a storm, smiling at people, and just entirely too sweet. I am so in love with this little boy!! I have no idea how much he weighs now but we go to the Dr again in mid February so I'll know details then since really household scales are detailed enough to judge his weight.

Sorry this post is so sporatic but that's my life these days! Oh yeah--- Dustin and I bought a "adult" truck! We got a Chevy 3/4 ton duramax diesel--- best part is the car seats fit SO much better in the backseat!! Don't even have to slide the seats forward or turn Dax's seat to fit it in the back, such a nice thing!

Ok on to pictures...