July 21, 2014

Time Flies

No seriously, time flies when you have a little one consuming all of your days. There just isn't enough time in the day to get done everything that needs to get done. Dax takes 2 naps each day, usually lasting 2 hours each. 2 hours sounds like a lot of time, but it really isn't when there is so much to do. I use that time to relax, lord knows that is a must, clean up a bit around the house, and now that school is quickly approaching I have been getting things together for that. When he is awake, usually for 2-3 hours between naps, I don't want to just put him in his jumper and wash the dishes, I want to spend time with him! I want to be a part of his learning process even if I am just a spectator, he is too fun to ignore!

Dax is in the middle of some crazy growth spurt that is never ending. I guess there is just so much to be learned! Since about 4 months old, he stopped sleeping through the night with a few night wakings here and there. Now, it seems as if I have a newborn in the house again. He will usually give a good 4-5 hour stretch in the beginning of the night (8 p.m-12 a.m/1 a.m), but then he is up every hour to 2 hours. Last night he woke up at 3 a.m and did not go back to sleep until 5 a.m, and that was after he had already woken up 2 other times. It was rough and this mama is tired!

He is at the age where he is realizing distance and relationships, learning to crawl, learning to babble, learning to eat, learning to communicate a little more effectively, and showing his personality so much more so I know his brain and body are busy. Did I mention teething? I am hoping that explains the middle of the night melt downs that happen at least once a night.

Speaking of eating. Dax loves pears and mango! It took awhile to figure out something he would eat without shaking his head, making a disgusted face, or gagging. I am doing a mixture of purees (which I am making myself) and baby led weaning. Baby led weaning is when you give them whole foods that are soft enough to pretty much dissolve when them munch with their gums. He loved getting a whole slice of watermelon and later this week we are going to try whole steamed or boiled carrots. The point of baby led weaning is to not force feed them, just like breastfeeding they are able to eat how much they want and at their own pace. He is also learning to drink out of a sippy cup, though that has become more of a teether right now.

Pictures below are from Dax's first family vacation. We visited family in Pennsylvania, saw a battle in Gettysburg, and spent some time hiking in Shenandoah.


First 4th of July                        
     
 Real grass in Pennsylvania!

First watermelon

Hiking with daddy

Hiking with daddy

Taking a break on the top of a mountain