Almost 8 months.

7 Months and more.

Jax is climbing on everything. He especially loves the fireplace.

My cute little Dragon

This is what Jax does all the time...not sure what this is suppose to mean??!

Jax crawling.

I finally figured out how to post a video!! Yeah. So here is Jax crawling - its from a few weeks ago--I know its still just slow moving--but he is really starting to get all around the house. I now must keep my floors vacuumed and swept every day. Not like I didn't clean before, but now, its just more often.
Also--below are some pictures from the last few weeks.

6 months.

This morning my 6 month old climbed out of his Bumbo chair. I was not aware that was even possible. Luckily, it was on the floor in my bathroom while I was in the shower because sometimes I leave him up on the counter so he can look in the mirror. The funny part was that he was trying to climb back in but obviously could not quite figure it out. I guess he will no longer be using his handy dandy bumbo chair.

I was trying to post a video but it would never load so I'll try to shoot a shorter film this afternoon of Jax crawling. That's right - I said crawling. For the past month Jax has been up on all fours exploring this new strength. He has been rocking back and forth and scooting backwards and just this week he finally started using his arms and legs together to propel himself forward. He still uses his stomach occasionally but for the most part he is using his arms and legs. I used his pacifier to lure him at first but again this morning after the bumbo chair incident I put him out in my room while I was finishing getting ready. We played "Follow my Voice" and sure enough he made it to the door and into the bathroom. I can no longer leave him in a room for a short period of time because he is getting into everything. He loves chewing on shoes, books, diapers and now his play mat (as you will see in the picture below).

Jaxon eats everything. He loves carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, pears, green beans, and squash. I've been making my own food as much as I can, but sometimes the fruit is not so great - so I buy the Gerber stuff. I thought it would be a hassle and take up a lot of time to cook my own baby food, but I have discovered that the crockpot is a great way to cook the carrots and apples and then I use my Magic Bullet to puree them. It also makes it easy to puree the peas and other steamed veggies! I have never really used the Bullet before because I didn't see much need for it, but it has been wonderful and super easy to clean! This week I am introducing berries and its just too difficult to get all the seeds out so I bought the Gerber fruit mixes and he loved the strawberry banana this morning. I figured I should start him on other fruits besides just apples and bananas. I'm sure he's sick of them by now.

Here are some of the latest pics...

My First Biscuit (very messy)

Grandma and Grandpa Shanafelt came to visit.

Thanks Uncle Jason for letting me borrow your hat!

I love to eat everything!

5 months.

Okay, so I know its been way too long since I've posted any news and I have realized that I am just not great at this blogging thing. So, I will try harder to post more often, but if not then just check my pics on my facebook. I update that way more often.

So...the lastest Jaxon news is that he is almost 5 months old. Yup, that's right, he will be 5 months on Friday and I just cannot believe its been 5 months since he was born. Babies change so much and so drastically this first year, I am amazed.
Jaxon has been experiencing so much, like, rolling over from his back to front at 4 months and just last week he rolled from his front to his back in the crib. He is eating solid foods and LOVING it. He opens his mouth and the way he tries to figure it all out is just hilarious. But he gets the food down and surprisingly does not spit much of it out at all. He started with the rice cereal and now also eats sweet potatoes and peaches. This week I am determined to make my own food, so I will be making pears and apples but I have to go to the store to buy an ice tray so that I can store it in the freezer. Then next week I'll make my own sweet potatoes and carrots. I bought this really great book that gives recipes and tips and the nutritional information on each food and why and when you should feed it to your baby. I love it!
Jaxon sleeps like a champ. From very early on he has been sleeping through the night, so I have been so lucky with that. Lately, he's been going to sleep between 8 and 9 and not waking up until 8 in the morning. The other night he even went to sleep at 7 and slept until 8 in the morning. I couldn't believe it. I am nursing only 4 times through out the day and should be dropping another one soon now that he is eating solids. We'll see how that goes.
Jaxon and I recently took a trip to California with my mom and brother to visit my mom's family out there. We got to spend some time with my aunts and uncles and of course my Grandma. She just loved Jax to death and couldn't get enough hugs and kisses. She does not remember much these days but she remembers how to love babies. It was so sweet to see her and watch her love on my son. I don't know how much longer she will be around, so it was really important for me to get some pics with her and Jax.
So, I know it is only the 1st day of September, but I have already started decorating for the fall. I love the fall and the smells that come with it. I am not a fan of potpourri, but I love the fall ones, they are full of oranges and cinnamon and pumpkins and the best smelling spices. I know its early but I just couldn't help myself, I am so ready for some cooler weather and so I went ahead and put out my pumpkins and fall candles and I LOVE it! Plus, I can't wait to get Jax in some of his fall clothes, he has some super cute ones but its just too hot for him to wear right now...hurry up cooler weather.

Here are some pics of Jaxon....Enjoy.

Munching time...

My Cutie Patootie trying to eat his hand. I just love him!

Jaxon at 3 Months...

I kept trying to get a picture of him smiling...but he would only smile in between takes...he's such a stinker.

Jaxon started playing with some of his toys...so precious!!

3 months.

Wow--it has been too long since I have posted any updates. Jaxon is now 13 1/2 weeks old, officially 3 months old on July 4th. Time has just flown by these last few months and it is hard to believe I was giving birth just 3 months ago. Feels like I just came home from the hospital and at the same time it feels like we have always had Jax in our lives.
so....a few quick updates on Jaxon....he has been sleeping up in his crib since week 4 and doing great. He now only eats 4 or 5 times a day and is usually finished by 8 or 9. He sleeps for about 10 hours at night with an occasional wake up to find his paci around 4 or 5. But luckily he goes right back to sleep after that. We were on a great schedule for about 8 weeks and then went to Florida last week for the Leuenberger family reunion and have had a rough time getting back into the swing of things. But Jaxon is doing so great, I know it will just be a couple of days and he'll be back to normal. He is growing like crazy, I'm sure he's well over 15 lbs by now and we have had to move up to the size 2 diapers!!! He has started laughing alot more than usual and it is so cute. When we sing "If you're Happy and you know it..." he just laughs and laughs and its the most precious thing in the world. Just this last week he has become interested in his toys. Before then I would hold them in front of his face but he wanted nothing to do with it. Now he plays on his floor mat and bats at the animals hanging down and kicks his feet at the little bars. I'm so proud of him and his accomplishments at such a young age. In the last week Jaxon has discovered his hands. He has them in his mouth almost all day long and enjoys sucking his fingers, but I have to watch him as he will occasionally gag himself because he puts them too far into his mouth. Lets see what else has he done...oh-we had a very successful 1st plane trip to Florida, the slept like a champ and didn't bother anyone. He went on his 1st boat ride, (don't worry-they had a life jacket for his size) and he slept the whole time on the boat as well. I think the boat and the airplane were very soothing for him.
I had my first night away from Jax last night and went to an Astros game with some girlfriends. Bryan took Jaxon out for some errands and fed him a bottle. They did so good for me so I could enjoy my night away. I somewhat expected Bryan to call with questions or to ask when I was coming home, but he didn't. He did wonderfully and it allowed me to enjoy my evening.
I'll have to post some pictures later of our Florida trip but my sister in law took all the good ones and I haven't received a disk from her yet.
I think that's about it for now. I'll try to be better about posting...and I'll get some new photos up soon.

Jaxon...almost 7 weeks!

My oh My - it has been way too long since I'm written anything on this blog. I am not doing a very good job of keeping everyone updated. Jax will be 7 weeks tomorrow and I just cannot believe its been that long already. He is growing so fast and becoming such a strong little man. He holds his head up so well and likes to push himself off the floor. He has started smiling and talking and it is just the cutest thing in the world. My heart melts everytime a little sound comes out of his mouth. Our little guy is a FABULOUS sleeper. He usually goes between 7 and 8 hours at night which is amazing. We get plenty of sleep, at least for now. I hope this doesn't change as he gets older. Here are some pics of him from the last couple of weeks. He's been visiting with his cousins who are here from out of town and Uncle Eric also came to play.

Here are some of the latest pics...

Bri and Chase making Jaxon laugh!!

Uncle Eric

Cousin Emma holding her "baby Jax-skin"

This is a Leuenberger face if I've ever seen one...

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Easter 2009!!