Austin & Mommy Weekend

Zach went to Austin this weekend to finalize the PushLocal franchise contracts (more on that exciting news later) and Austin and I got to spend the weekend together!  He is so sweet and loving when it's just us and I am trying to savor these last few months with my only child. But I am not gonna lie, without the help of Mom and Dad I wouldn't have made it through the weekend, entertaining your baby while making a baby is hard work.

Saying hi to Daddy

We had a great weekend and the most exciting part was transitioning Austin to his big boy bed.  I was waiting for this weekend when Z was out of town in case this process went downhill then only one of us would be sleep deprived.

Putting the bed together- so exciting when you're 3' tall!

Recently Austin thinks it is really cute to snuggle up under the covers in our bed and lay on the pillow.  He makes a big deal that daddy and I are right next to him.  If I am doing something in the room he will say "momma....sit" and point to the bed.  Then he loves to just snuggle while watching TV and will sometimes reach out his arms and put them on Zach's chest and say "dadda" just making sure he is still right there next to him.  Then after a little bit he will say "Nite-Nite"  and he is ready to go to his room.  Well Friday instead of reading books in the rocker, we got in his new bed to read and then I told him it was time to go to sleep.  He grabbed Duckie and laid his head on his pillow (first night to have a pillow) and asked for his covers (first night to have covers).  To my surprise, he actually went to sleep......and stayed there!  WOW!! I was completely prepared for a screaming child beating at the door but instead God blessed me with the most easy going child ever.  Just like giving up the paci, he said so long to the crib like a champ!

You want to know what I did the entire first night- stared at this screen- seriously every hour I would wake up just to look over at the monitor to make sure I saw his little feet.  I felt like a new mom bringing a baby home from the hospital and checking to make sure it's still breathing.

Then, like clockwork, at his usual time the next morning I heard him start to stir.  He got his Noah book and read it for a few minutes and then went to the door and cried out.  The next night he did great too, this time when he woke up he stayed in bed and just hollered "Momma", and same with this morning.

This is him on morning 3- sitting up saying "momma"

So we are officially crib-broken and the crib is in the new nursery so there is no turning back now.

Back to our adventures this weekend while we had some gorgeous weather-

Look at my awesome mom crawling through the playground with Austin since obviously that is out of the question for me.  She is such a fun Grammy!

We went to the park with Grammy and had a big time....until the ants attacked him, twice.  We had to rip off his pants and shoes the first time and the second time the poor guy was down to just a diaper.  I think the way mom and I reacted immediately when we saw the ants all over him scared him much more than the ant bites.  He cried until we hugged him.  It's true what they say- a child looks to your reaction when they get hurt to see how upset they should be.

Here is the naked patient in the car after being rubbed with Benadryl cream and getting a treat for putting up with his loony mommy and Grammy- Fig Newtons, his favorite "too-tee".

 We also walked Grammy and Papa's dogs this weekend-- let me clarify- Austin walked each of them all by himself.  He insists you do not help him hold the leash, because after-all he sleeps in a bed...he is a big independent boy.

Mom and dad came over to help put the crib in the nursery and they cooked us a great dinner out at their house.

Sunday we had a great Sunday School lesson, I feel so blessed that my parents live here because I get to attend Dad's class and he is an awesome teacher.  Everyone seems to love his "never-boring/make you think/packed with humor" teaching style.

Austin and I went to a Super Bowl party at our friends house and Austin had the time of his life running around with all the kids.  He didn't want to leave but after bribing him with a cookie and getting to see daddy arrive home he was excited to go.  I don't think I can put into words Austin's sheer excitement when he saw Daddy walk up the stairs.  It's those moments when you feel so blessed with your little life and those in it.

Big Boy Club

Yup, that’s right…someone stole my baby and replaced him with this sweet boy.  Zach and I say “he looks so old” almost every morning.  I’m not sure when this will cease to shock us. Two major milestones mark his entrance into the Big Boy Club.

First, we broke him of his paci which wasn’t hard at all and to think I had dreaded it for weeks.  He asked for it around naptime/bedtime the first 2 days and then he just moved on.  Go Austin!

Our next milestone will take place next week when we get his big boy bed down from the attic and attempt to give up the crib.  This scares the bejeezes out of me since he can open doors and his room is upstairs but with the combination of safety knobs, the gate on the stairs, and the squeaky bedroom door I refuse to put WD40 to for the sole reason that I can hear the door open on the baby monitor…..I think I can do it.  I have no idea how he will react.  He has never tried to climb out of his crib, he loves bedtime, and he always sleeps 12 hours nights so I am hopeful that a change in location won’t change these good habits.  Wish us luck-  tips and tricks welcome!

As far as the third component of the BB Club- potty training….I am in NO hurry to begin this process and I personally think he is too young to start.  I find no inconvenience in changing a disposable diaper but I find a huge inconvenience in changing soiled clothes, cleaning soiled carseats, rugs, bedding, etc every few hours. I know everyone has their own opinion but I thought it was ridiculous when I saw someone giving grief to a friend of mine (with a child 1 month older than Austin) on Facebook for not having started her child on potty training.  To each their own and only you know when your child is ready-  my plan is to get Baby Girl in her sleeping routine (hopefully around 7 weeks) and when the fog of the new baby lifts, I may entertain the idea.  He will be approaching 2 at that time and I think that would be a good time if not later.

All the lil' Sicklings

Last week we had a full on war with immune systems and the Jexes were not victorious as we went 3 for 3 with a variety of things.

After getting his blood taken- poor baby.

Patient #1: Austin had been fighting a runny nose and cough right before Christmas and last week it finally got to the point where I started to worry it might be something more.  After a flu test and a lengthy dr. appt on Monday he ended up just having a cold.  Thank goodness we have still not had to experience a flu or an ear infection.  We treated with a daily dose of Claritin and weaned off the Cold Medicine but Friday morning he spiked a fever at Mom’s house and was not acting at all like his normal playful self and spent the majority of the day snuggled up on mom in-and-out of sleep.  His fever got worse so Zach and I took him to the after-hours clinic after work.  I was convinced the fever, shallow panting breaths, and sinus drainage meant flu or pneumonia from what other parents were experiencing. After tests and blood-work they said he was fighting a virus- not the flu but one of the 3 billion other things going around right now.  I was so relieved- we continued Claritin and doses of Motrin and Tylenol and by Saturday noon he was fever-free and acting completely normal.  Kids are so resilient. (sorry for all the details but this is how I remember what he had/how we treated so when baby #2 comes along and I have no memory, my blog will help me function as a mother.)

Patient #2:  I can’t remember if/when Zach has ever taken a sick day from work.  He got hit by the sick train and was laid up in bed for 2 full days.  Not sure if it was a severe cold or something more like the flu (since he doesn't believe in going to Drs) but my lil’ sickling was pitiful.  I had two sick boys and life consisted of a lot of medicine, electrolytes, and chicken-noodle-soup.  But since I am the MOM and made of stone I thought I would be the fine and make it through the week unscathed.  No such luck, by Wednesday we had the next victim…

Patient #3: ME L Just a cold but I was so achy and lacked any energy.  I couldn't take time off work since I had too much going on and I needed to save the days for maternity leave so I sat in my office as pitiful as they come, working my way through 2 boxes of tissues and almost blacking out one time (repeat of Austin’s pregnancy).  Oh and I got to end the weekend with the return of 2 days of morning sickness...not cool!

But it looks like we are all back to 100% and I pray that lasts a while.

Christmas

Christmas Eve...

This Christmas was wonderful for so many reasons.  First, ever since Mom and Dad moved here our highly coveted days off are not spent on the road traveling which is such a huge blessing.  Finishing construction in the new nursery was delayed due to all the rain we were getting so Dad gave us one of the B&B’s for the Jexes to stay in and it worked out perfectly having them just a few streets away.

Although it felt nothing like Christmas Eve outside with the humid 75 degree weather, we enjoyed the day by cooking, taking a wagon/dog walk to the Malt Shop, and then the traditional Christmas Eve gathering at the McCullough’s where we catch up with good friends that have become like family over the years, and eat/drink from a beautiful spread of delicious food and winter drinks.

Our handsome boy on Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve Service was beautiful as always and I got Austin from the nursery right in time for Silent Night.  The entire congregation lights a candle and walks outside to the front steps of the church while singing Silent Night.   Austin was in complete awe the entire time seeing the candle light and singing and he even got his own battery operated candle to hold.  This was one of my favorite traditions in my church I grew up in back in Kingwood so I love that our Church here does it too.

Christmas morning...

Sending love to Afghanistan 

Trying to decide what to open first

My hubby's gorgeous wrapping job!

Pure Joy

Christmas morning was so special.  Since the Jexes were in the B&B down the street and my parents were at their house, we spent the early morning as a little family sharing our special gifts, drinking coffee, and having breakfast together.  My favorite part of Christmas morning is sitting on the couch in our PJs opening our stocking.  Zach stuffs mine full of the most random stuff and it is so much fun seeing what comes next, this year he tucked a very special gift down in the toe!  Then I put out a a full breakfast and finger foods or as I call it “grazing food” and everyone came over to hang out.  Zach and I prepared a roast dinner with the entire family which is pretty much the only day of the year I set the entire dining table- this year we had 13.  I laughed just thinking of Christmas dinner 3 years ago- we hosted 19 and I had the table and house totally done up complete with custom hand-painted ornaments at each place setting--- wow, I can’t even remember having that much free time before kids and I laugh knowing I will not be hosting anything of that caliber again until probably when the kids come home from college and maybe not even then.

Batman came to the party! c/o Aunt Becky

Everyone loved the jam session!

Christmas night was perfectly relaxing as we sat around listening to Zach and Kellen play the guitars, Becky snapped pictures, and Austin danced in the kitchen with the family and at the end of every song signed “more, more”.  Abby, Hayden, and Julia Claire were busy reading books on their Kindles and playing with the puppies. Sue and Mom were superheros like always and washed all the dishes as I drank my weight in Mom’s Apple Cider and Dad enjoyed my famous Chocolate Pecan Pie. I felt so fortunate to have everyone in the family healthy and happy even if we couldn't all be together. I wish I had gotten more pictures of the day but we were too busy enjoying every moment, inside since we had a downpour the entire day.

One of my favorites!  c/o Aunt Becky

Hayden and Abby snuck off to the study for some piece and quiet!  c/o Aunt Becky

Hayden, Abby, and Julia Claire just chillin

One of his favorites- a board of lock and latches

Action shot: Dancing with G-Pa

Austin Lately

(old post I forgot to publish)

In the famous words of our family friend Lisa Horack...."WHAT FUN!"

Austin is just that, a fun and funny little man!  Some things he has been doing in November at 16 months old:

• Sleeps from 7:30pm-7:30am
• Takes 4 sippy cups a day of Vitamin D milk (doesn't always drink entire cup- usually 6oz)
• Loves bananas, chicken salad, grapes, bread, Life cereal, pancakes, peaches, apple juice.  Not into veggies right now as much as I try.
• Bursts of energy and conversation!  Walks around the house giggling and talking really loud and screeching with excitement.
• Sydney takes her food into another room to chew it and he follows her from her bowl to the dining room- repeat about 500x.
• His new "job" is to feed the dogs.  He stand patiently (as he screaches with joy and claps his hands and stomps his feet) at the drawer where we keep the dog food.  We scoop it and he delivers it to each bowl.  Then he "helps" carry the gallon jug to each water bowl.
• His favorite song right now is "Itsy Bitsy Spider" he sticks his 2 index finders out trying to make his spider, sticks his hands straight up and then lowers them down for "down came the rain...", sticks his hands stright up and wiggles his fingers for "out came the sun", and repeats his spider at the end.  Then claps like crazy at the end and wants to do it again.
• Says "bayybee" all the time and will lift up my shirt to point to my tummy.  Last night I said "Can you kiss the baby" and he leaned over, pulled up my shirt and kissed my belly.
• LOVES when daddy plays the guitar.  He dances and claps before Zach even begins.  Then he stands there mesmorized as Zach plays and sings.
• Still loves trucks and hot air balloons.
• Says "Ooh-rah" the Marine's battle cry in honor of Uncle Cory
• Is starting to put together different syllables for multi-syllable words.  It's not just Pa-Pa or Da-Da now he says "Sissna" (Sydney), "Ooh-rah", "Baybee" (Baby), "Grammy" (only said 2x but Grammy is really excited!),
• He repeats every name after you say it in our family book.  Or at least tries to sound it out, his favorite is Aunt B...he says Bbbbbbbbb.
• Loves to get on his stool and look out the living room window for Brulee, our neighbor's dog.  Will stand then for long periods of time looking for him.  Says "boooooo" or "Boooo-ayyy" for Brulee.
• Still loves his darn paci, even more now that he's getting a lot of teeth.  We will be breaking him of the paci once the molars are in.
• Loves to read books.  Sometimes he brings them to you and crawls in your lap to read and other times he crawls in his chair and "reads" them to himself.
• He is a dare devil and not afraid of much.  The vacuum and car alarms or load car noises in close range are the only things that really bother him.
• Favorite toys- golf clubs, Frosty the Snowman singing/dancing doll, blocks, cars, Powerwheel

Baby Girl's Nursery Progress

We keep saying Baby Girl is already a Diva, getting anything and everything she wants.

Her nursery is the 4th bedroom and had been my storage closet/exercise room/catch-all room for the last few years.  For a period of time it had bunk beds, then a queen bed and a treadmill, then no bed and random antiques, and finally prior to cleaning it out it was pretty much just one of everything-  i total mess, hey but at least the rest of the house looked good.

Major work has already gone into this room and it's far from being complete.  Here is the breakdown:

1.  So first things first, we cleared out the bedroom and closet.

2.  Next Zach lime washed the brick chimney and it looks absolutely amazing in person.  Huge upgrade and so perfect for our daughter's beautiful retreat.

BEFORE LIME WASH

After just one coat, it went on like the consistency of milk.

After just a few hours, this is what happens! Still only 1 coat.  It is amazing how  it darkens with every hour.

AFTER LIME WASH

3. Zach removed the nasty, dated carpet and carpet pad.  It was awful and didn't even deserve a picture.  I really don't want to remember that image/smell. Good riddance!

4. Zach sanded all the moldings and trim, patched all the imperfections in the walls, and caulked the base boards.  Although this is one of the least noticeable changes in the room, it made a huge difference.  Zach is a huge details person and the little stuff makes a room look perfect in the end.  Also I gain so much piece of mind knowing that every surface in her room is now "new" and clean!
5. I began paining what I could reach without a ladder (which wasn't much) the sweetest pink color imaginable- SW Possibly Pink.  Then Zach came behind me and painted all the high areas pink, painted all the trim and baseboards fresh white and repainted the doors white.  He even repainted the entire ceiling white. AHHHHHH! It looks amazing!

OLD GRAY WALLS

NEW PINK WALLS

6. Zach decided he wanted all white outlets in her room so he replaced all the cream plugs, light switches, and facings with new modern ones.  Another small touch that I think made a big difference.

7. Zach installed a new fan- same one we put in Austin's room.  White, quite, and remote controlled for those 3am feedings when your comfy in the rocker and the baby finally fell asleep in your arms and you need the light dimmed and the fan speed higher.

8.  Dad and Zach begin to tackle the subfloor {insert prayer that we will not have any legs come through the ceiling this time around}.  After years of pets prior to us moving in, you can image what a subfloor under carpet looks like---nasty.  Yet another reason no pets will ever be allowed upstairs in our home.  They will replace the subfloor, then lay another 1/2' plywood layer prior to the Brazilian Cherry wood floors being put down.  Here is the kicker- Zach wants to have this complete by Christmas.....and when Zach starts a project it gets done fast so that might just happen if the weather cooperates (for the outdoor saw).

My favorite part of the entire process is Zach's painting shirt....I made it for him to wear to a Sorority Swap we went to in college called "Thank God I'm not...".  His shirt had a picture of a little girl on the front with her hands on her hips (foreshadowing maybe???) and it read "World's Best Dad" and I wore a 50's style dress with an apron (very Donna Reed) that read "I cook, I clean, I keep my man happy".  hahaha my, my, my how things change.  I love seeing Zach doing back breaking labor sporting that shirt....now the words are so true.

Happy Birthday Boo!

I always tried to make Zach's birthday special since he was a December baby and it's easy to get lost in the shuffle of all things holiday.  Usually by December 8th, you've decorated the home and tree, you have a few holiday parties under your belt, and you've gone to share your Christmas list with Santa.

Don't get me wrong I don't always take it to the level of the surprise party we threw him in college, but it's definitively not just another day around our house.  Besides, a quite dinner with family is more his style anyway. He doesn't even ask for gifts.....who is this guy??  I can't relate.

Being a mother now, I understand what a huge deal the birth day is.  July 16 (and a TBD day in April) will never be just another day to me..... it might not be significant to many other people but that is a day when the world was blessed, enhanced, and changed forever.  A day I counted down for 9 long months and I am sure Randa counted the days for December 8th as well.

Happy Birthday Michael Zachary Jex! Hope you have a special day since 32 years ago on this very day the world was blessed, enhanced, and changed forever.