Top 3 reasons... from the other side of the bed

This post is about the top 3 reasons I appreciate Aimee's middle of the night feeding with Pax.

Reason # 3- I've never noticed how easy it is to sleep through a whimpering baby's cries when you know that your wife is going o breast feed your child. Somehow my mind switches my ears off and i rarely even hear him. Sorry Aim, but i do appreciate you doing all those feedings.


Reason #2- I have the greatest dreams about how to change the world, yet I too can't seem to remember them in the morning.

Reason # 1- I'm gone most of the day at work and really miss Pax and Aim. So when i get home i can't wait to hug and hold Paxton as we work on rolling over and standing up. I really love loving him whenever I'm home. However, I most appreciate that Aimee cuddles with him at 3:00am.

Here is some of the progress we've been making with his leg muscles and balance.

Top 3 Reasons...

This blog is about the top 3 reasons I appreciate the middle of the night feeding with Pax.

Reason # 3- I've never noticed the intricate details of our ceiling fans before. When you stare at them for a 1/2 hour each night you really notice the ins and outs of them. (Fascinating I know.) This however causes me to want to update them. (Don't worry Preston, I won't actually bring this up for at least another 6 months. I know my limits. :) )

Reason #2- I have the most brilliant thoughts of ways to change the world for the better in the middle of the night. Now, if only I could remember them in the morning.

Reason # 1- It is the only time my now 3 month squirmy and independent baby will let me cuddle him after being fed.

Our BOB

Our BOB is our jogging stroller. We got to use it for the first time this weekend. It was a beautiful Sunday morning with the sun shining and feeling relatively warm. But by the time we had an opportunity to get outside it was a bit overcast and chilly. But we were determined. I am not sure Pax even saw the light of day as bundled as he was. The ride put him right to sleep and we were happy he could just be outside getting some fresh air. Not to mention it was nice for Mom and Dad to get some fresh air together as well. The stroller worked very well. It has great shocks. We anticipate jogging with it and taking it on some trails when Pax is a little older.

Back to Pilates

This morning I started teaching pilates again. Now with Pax I need to get my classes done before Preston goes to work so I am teaching a 6am class. I thought I would be really dragging but it felt great! I only have 6 in my class so it makes it nice as I will have the opportunity to really give a lot of personal direction to the ladies. They were all pilates newbies which is always a blast to see people genuinely enjoy a new form of exercise. I always finish a pilates class energized because I love the exercises and love teaching it to others even more.
The 6am class works nicely as well as I can workout afterward. I am starting to get miles under my belt, so to speak, again. I don't have any too ambitious goals yet. I just want to be able to start running again without injury. Preston and I are planning on doing a Duathalon this April. I will run just over 4 miles and he will bike just under 30. Should be fun to do it as a team.
As I was making dinner, Pax and Daddy were goofing around. Here is a pic of their fun.
This made me laugh out loud because Preston loves to wear bandanas in his hair and I always tease him about it. It looks all the more cute (and ridiculous) on Pax.

Did that really just happen?

This morning Pax woke up all smiles and coos. It was so precious, and that is saying something considering it was 6:30 in the morning. So we laid in bed and had a calm feeding. Afterwards we were just laying there cuddling, looking in each other eyes. He was still so content and talkative. It was so precious, until suddenly an enormous amount of strangly familiar liquid hit and soaked my face, arm, chest and pillow. I was in shock! Pax spits up all the time so I am accustomed to frquent spit ups, but this was projectile throw up at its finest. After the initial shock subsided I looked at Pax, expecting him to start fussing or crying from this traumatic experience, but there he was laying there smiling and cooing as if nothing had just happened. Babies are so mysterious! Never a dull moment.
(Yes, Mom T. I know this is payback for all the projectile vomiting you dealt with with Preston. But seriously, why can't he keep it for his Daddy? You should have told me about this before I married your son. ;) )

Life of Paxton: Sitting Up

Installment #2 of our home Documentary staring Paxton E. Tippen.  Now we explore the wild world of being a big boy and sitting up on our own.  Mommy has been working on neck and trunk control, but daddy is ready to take it to the next level... sitting on his own!  After assembling the proper safety materials, don't try this without them (speaking from experience), we embarked on our first trial.  Watch as Pax amazes the world with his big boy skills!

Life of Paxton: the Documentary

Home videos are so much more fun with the invention of the Flip camera and easy to use editing software. It helps Daddy get his technology fix and teach Paxton to perform in front of the camera (still working on this as he seems to stop performing as soon as the camera is around). Today we have started the first installment of the documentary titled "Life of Paxton." Remember all actors are not paid and these lines are not rehearsed.
Today's video explores the phenomenon of "nakedness."

some new videos

We are amazed at how much Pax is growing and developing. He found his thumb..


We also wanted to share his extreme love for books at bedtime. This isn't his most smiles, but the best we caught on video. He tends to shy away from the video camera when he sees it so that's why this is from the side.

Smiles

Receding hairline, in need of a good pair of dentures, wearing a bib to catch the ever present spit up and drool... and still the cutest boy I've ever seen. He is more and more smiley every day.

Fridays are special Daddy and Pax days so Mommy can get work done. Glad to know they have so much bonding time. ;) Research shows that men bond best shoulder to shoulder so I suppose I should get used to this. Heck, skip gross motor skills, our child is working a Blackberry.
As for capturing his improving gross motor skills, we are still working on that. Whenever he is having tummy time etc. we are so busy cheering him on we forget to take a picture. By the time we think of it he is tired out and refuses to perform for the camera.

Heads Up!

Last night, while not watching the Super Bowl at a Super Bowl party I learned some helpful hints to improve Paxton's gross motor skills for the next few months. We have the priveledge of living in a very medically educated community so last night I sat around the table eating chili with 4 amazing women; a pediatric neurologist, a pediatrician, a family practice doctor, and a retired educationalist (PhD in curriculum development). I eagerly gleaned some parenting advice.

Tip #1: Don't read a parenting book that makes you feel guilty. Do what you feel as the parent is right and works for you, your baby, and your family. Sometimes we expect more out of our children then we do for ourselves.

Tip#2: Have as much face time with your baby as possible. Don't waste your money on all the latest stimulating toys.

Tip#3: Place him on his belly and sit him up holding as low as he will allow on his trunk as much as possible. (I thought I was only supposed to do a few minutes a day.) This creates opportunity for him to develop his arm, back and neck muscles.

I was also informed that it is normal for babies to sleep with their eyes only half shut as they flutter back and forth, something Pax has been doing recently and frankly creeped me out.

So here are some things for me to think on and work with Pax on this week. Thank you fine ladies!

On a side note I was reading a Montessouri based parenting blog the other day. There are so many different parenting philosophies to choose from. This one in particular encouraged putting your child's matress on the floor of their room so that once they can crawl and walk they can easily get up from nap time and explore their room. Granted, we have some time before venturing down that road, but definitely food for thought. What are my parenting philosophies? What will work for our family? I never realized how much modern baby and nursery fashion can determine your parenting philosophies without you realizing it. Having a degree in sociology and early childhood education, I know what intrigues me for institutional education and development but what will we choose for our home?....

I'll try and post some pics of Pax's increasing gross motor development soon. On a bragging note, everyone last night was very impressed with his neck control at such a young age. Smile. :)