Bees, Trees, and Sugarsnap Peas

Well, the first year has officially come and gone. I think I've said it in every single post so far, but I CANNOT believe how fast the time has flown by. When I started this blog, Alex was just a tiny bump that gave me an excuse to by a new wardrobe. Now I'm writing this while he's standing next to me and stealing corn off my dinner plate and then "walking" his way around the room to play with all his toys. One of his new favorites is a Leap Frog musical activity station, hence the "bees, trees, and sugarsnap peas" reference--just one verse of a million syrupy baby jingles it plays. :)

We've had a wonderful year filled with lots and lots of happy memories and thankfully only a few bumps along the way. Alex has been very healthy and happy and though he tends to be nocturnal, a really easy baby. (Kevin says I have to stop calling him "baby" now, but I just can't do it.) He weighed a whopping 22 pounds at his 12-month check-up and is 30.5" tall. He's got 6 teeth now and getting new ones all the time. He's started to eat table foods and loves chicken and goldfish (the cracker variety, not as sushi). He took a few steps the other day but has yet to repeat the performance. Video cameras are standing by, just in case. But he crawls like crazy and pulls up, opens, and/or climbs on everything he can. Our house has turned into its own gated community and resembles a mini-obstacle course for grown-ups and toddlers alike. Need to open a drawer or cabinet, go down stairs, or plug something in? Good luck!!

Alex can say "da-da" and "no-no" and every once in a while will give a "ma-ma". The intensive tutoring lessons did not work and it looks like "da-da" is going to have to go down as his first word. Sigh.

Thanks again to those of you who made it to his 1st Birthday bash, and for those who missed it, pictures are up at http://www.shivers.photosite.com/, under Alexander James. There are also new pics from months 10 and 11 too (hey, it's hard to work at a computer now that he's into EVERYTHING!!).

We're looking forward to another exciting year, especially as so many friends are having new babies of their own and joining us on this crazy ride (congrats to the newest mommies, Kristen, Christine and Christy and their new babies!).

Have a great summer!

Oops...Seven, Eight and Nine Months...

Time flies when you're having fun, er, I mean chasing a baby!! :) Alex is now TEN months old (crazy, isn't it!) and is doing great. At his 9 month check-up he weighed 20 lbs, 7 oz and was 29.5" tall. He looks like a little toddler now and people are always suprised that he's not as old as he looks. He is now getting into everything--he rolls, scoots, crawls, and this week has learned to pull-up to standing. We were so used to being able to just leave him in one spot and those days are SO over now! He has been quite healthy except for last month when we almost earned our own parking spot at the doctor's office. I'll blame it on being a 'nervous new mom'--but it seemed like we were there every day. Nothing too serious--apparently the doctor's office was doing a fundraiser and needed our co-payment more than usual. Haha.

Kevin has had a great season of soccer with his team at Jackson High. They are actually one game away from the state play-offs. Alex has been a good fan and usually makes it through most of a game before getting bored. He is a very curious and active baby--thank goodness for Cheerios! A handful of those and he's at least content for a little while.

I'm still enjoying being a stay-at-home mom, and thankfully I've been able to do lots of photography work as well. Alex and I have joined a playgroup and it's been fun for him to be around other children. We also did a mommy-and-baby swim class in February and that was really fun too--Alex is quite a fish in the water!

Anyway, I could go on and on (I usually do) but I think that's a good update for now. There are lots of new pictures on my website at www.shivers.photosite.com, under "Alexander James". I have several new videos too, but they take longer than a nap-time to upload. :)

Hope you are all doing well and having a great Spring!

Six Months and the Holidays...

Let's see... Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season--ours was great and especially nice as we shared lots of "firsts" with Alex.

Alex is doing very well. At his 6 month check-up he weighed 17lbs and was 26 1/2 inches long. He's got two teeth, can sit on his own, and he rolls all over the place. He's dangerously close to saying "da-da", but mommy is adding in extra tutoring lessons, haha. He still likes to growl when he's not getting his way--which can totally surprise strangers whenever we're out in public! :)

Pictures from his sixth month, Thanksgiving & Christmas are all at www.shivers.photosite.com under "Alexander James".

There are a few videos as well...

"Where's Alex?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX8UoAyUKgE

"Feeding Oscar" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDC50JPnGEE

"Bouncing Baby 1" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nr5KZNs15U

"Bouncing Baby 2" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8gAGzOCPM8

More next month!
:)