And the stockings were hung....errr...propped on a chair...

I finished wrapping the last present on Christmas Eve and, I have to admit, I went a bit overboard. I've been buying and stashing toys, books, etc. for Dax since probably around September and finally brought them all out to wrap last week. I don't think I realized how much I accumulated. Granted, most things were purchased when I found them on sale for a great price, I had a coupon, or some other money saving time like that. And, I've been saving some things like new books, new, cute bibs, etc. for stocking stuffers, but still. Mommy outdid herself on the quantity of items for Christmas. So much so that I couldn't even hang Dax's stocking on it's holder because it was too heavy. All of this and he's not even going to notice or know what's going on. He's just going to go about his day as usual except will get to tear open some colorful paper and have his family over to spend time with. Should be a fun day!
Oh, by the way, these pictures don't include his "big gifts" that Santa is bringing.

Decorating for Christmas=FAIL

So, every year I decorate for Christmas. I have been adding items to my stash for years: faux snow, beautiful flowers, all things glittery and bright, etc. So this year I was so excited to bust it all out again and show Dax how beautiful our little cluttered house could get for the holidays. I had Mike bring the boxes down after Thanksgiving and figured I would be done by Dec. 1st. Well after a hellish week of working at PB, I was too pooped to do anything for a few days. And then there was digging through all my old clothes that I cannot squeeze into anymore for a consignment sale. And then there was the moth problem and days of laundry. The list goes on and on. So now, it is Dec. 17th, the Christmas tree was decorated last week, the stockings are hung, and that's about it. No snow, no glitz and glitter, nada. Such a sad house for the holidays. This was supposed to be the easy year to decorate with a new baby because, well, he's just that, a baby. Not mobile yet. Not super needy. But there was just always something else that I needed to get done first. So I'm having to come to terms with the fact that my house won't be spruced up for our 1st Christmas with Dax. But, at least we have a tree...

Drive through Santa...

So I was headed to the mall to meet some friends and thought "why not?" So I quickly changed Dax's shirt and we drove to see Santa. Even though Dax had no idea what was going on, I was kinda excited. I hadn't decided if we were going to take a picture with Santa this year, but thought it might be fun. So we got there, stood in line, and watched all the kids take their pictures and get there treats. Then it was our turn. First, Santa had to get up and have a word with the girls taking the pictures. Then, he was a little frustrated as he sat back down. He motioned to me that he was ready and I sat Dax down on his lap. Dax looked up at him, then forward and me and towards the camera and "click" picture was taken. The girl said "it looks good". I glanced at it and it seemed ok, and we were rushed in as they escorted the next child to Santa's lap. It all took less than a minute. I paid and we were done. When I finally got home I anxiously got the CD with the picture out and uploaded it on the computer. That was the moment that I noticed that 1) Santa wasn't holding Dax very close, 2)his pant leg was riding up, and 3)he had this confused look on his face. Not quite the experience I was hoping for, but oh well, I guess we got our picture.

6 month stats

Just a quick update since we went to the pediatrician today for Dax's 6 month appointment. Our child is growing like a weed. He is now 18 lbs. 12 oz (yikes!) which puts him in the 75th percentile in weight and is 27 1/2 inches long which puts him in the 88th percentile in height. He's a big boy! Just a reminder that at birth Dax was in the 10th percentile weighing 5 lbs. 4 oz and was 19 inches tall. I love my chubby baby! Apparently this is his "plump" time since he's eating solids but not mobile yet according to the doctor. Oh, and on the subject of food, he has now successfully tried the following: peas, green beans, broccoli, avocado, prunes, and bananas. We started with the greens first, the prunes were to help a *ahem* problem, and the bananas were an intro into the good stuff. He still eats oatmeal twice a day and loves it. Next on the list is pears, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, and pumpkin. I'm making the majority of it myself which is quite fun. I love knowing what is going into his food. Oh, and he has tried a sippy cup. Loves to hold it and play with it. He does successfully drink from it here and there but most of the time just "chews" on the spout. Other fun facts are that he now sits for long periods of time unassisted, he is starting to scoot on his tummy a little, loves to turn around and around in his exersaucer, and thinks it's cool to make farting noises on his arm with his mouth. He hasn't quite rolled from his back to his tummy so he still sleeps on his back and still has a bit of a flat spot because of it. He is such a happy baby and smiles all the time!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It only lasted for about 30 minutes but it actually happened and we got a picture of it!

Happy 1/2 Birthday Dax!

My baby is 6 months old today. Really? It's been 6 months? I can't believe how time has flown and what a whirlwind these past 6 months have been. Every week has been a new experience, Dax changes practically overnight (I swear he grows during the night), and I've even changed as a person. I never knew I could love someone so much and want to give him so much. He is my world and I can't imagine life without him. Yes, we've had our rough patches, and I know we'll have plenty more, but he truly is a gift from God.
Dax is the happiest baby I know. He smiles all day, every day. The best is when I go into his room first thing in the morning and peek over the crib. Once he realizes that I'm there, he throws the biggest grin at me and every part of him moves as he squeals in delight. I squeal along with him sometimes. He loves to dance. I turn on music and start dancing in front of him as he sits on his mat, and then he just starts kicking his legs and waving his arms, and rocking back and forth to the music with me. He definitely has rhythm. At this point he sleeps through the night about 12 hours with some occasional 4-5am wakings to keep us on our toes. He started eating veggies a couple of weeks ago and eats like a champ. He even started drinking from a sippy cup. He's growing so fast.
Ok, that's a few things about him...I will post more later after his doctor's appointmet on Monday and once I get the rest of his pictures from his 6 month photo session. Happy Birthday my angel!