Catching Up

So, I have slacked a bunch since October...and lots has happened for sure! Let me try to catch up...

Pumpkins!!

We had a blast with X at the pumpkin patch this year...even though he was more mesmerized by the cars whizzing by than by the huge assortment of pumpkins. Note to self: find  pumpkin patch out in the boonies next year...with fewer roadside distractions. :)

 Daddy and his Little Man

 One of those precious moments...slipped right through my fingers . He was off and running a second after this shot. ;)

 My favorite shot...

 So grown up...

The true highlight of the morning...

Watching Daddy carve...

You want me to stick my hand in where? Um...nope...not gonna happen.

Halloween 2011

Xman was Yoda this year, and he was a super Jedi. He was a bit tired and ready for bed, but who's blaming him? Yoda is really old...he needs his rest.

His costume began to fall off of him piece by piece...totally big enough to wear again.

Take me out of this costume and put me to bed, you will...Jedi mind trick...it worked. ;)

We started a garden!!

Ever since we visited Mema and PopPops in North Carolina, we've wanted to plant our own garden. We'd go out every day with Mema and pick new veggies. It was inspiring! So, we finally did it...with the help of our friend Kenny. It will be a "shared" garden. We even have a compost pile. Our neighbors throw their "decomposables" over the fence...a community garden. ;) Now, let's just hope we get veggies!

Little gardener

We've planted tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, carrots, radishes, green beans, yellow squash, romaine lettuce, spinach, jalapeno peppers, and broccoli. Fingers crossed...

Three Weeks later...

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving at our house this year, and it was awesome, with the major exception of part of the family missing out due to surgery and bed rest. :( We missed Laura, Mikee, Micha, and Aunt Marge SO much. Everyone brought a dish or two or three (in my mom's case...4 dishes). :) We had a great time, and we took hardly any pics...I guess we were having too much fun. So, picture kids playing outside in the backyard, cinnamon, orange, and cloves simmering on the stove, a big happy family squeezed into a "just right fit" of a dining room, and lots of laughter. Here are a few of the kiddos having a blast. ;)

Uncle Trav and his guitar are always a big hit!

X dancing like usual...

Nani and Xman

Cousins :)

Papi and W 

Cousins :)

Cousins :)

Professor Waterfield

In January, I will begin teaching as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University. I am super excited and nervous at the same time. It opens so many doors for me in the future. I can't wait to dive back into reading instruction, my passion and love! This time, I get to teach aspiring teachers instead of 3rd graders.

 Photo Shoot

with my amazing sister -  Claudine Bartels Photography

 

Amazing  Moments

• 4 new teeth - canines...they're like vampire teeth! 
• New words -- Nani, Elmo, Bert, Grover, (Sesame Street), teeth, Grover, car...
• Sesame Street has now joined Thomas the Train among X's favorites!
• Nature exploring every day (in our backyard)
• Constant laughter and giggles

That should do it...I need to stay on top of this life we lead...so I remember everything when my boys are older. You forget the little (but amazing) things so fast. Gotta write it all down. ;) I'm sure there will be lots of wonderful December moments. Can't wait!

Lately...

Lately, I've been having a lot of moments with X where I think, "It will never be just us again...we will never have this moment between us in the very same way." It's not a bad thing...life is about to get doubly sweet. But, when we are reading stories before a nap, and X leans his sweet tired head on my chest, I rub his little blonde curls and think about how things are going to change. I hope I handle it well. I hope I give Xavier just as much love so that he doesn't feel slighted in any way. I hope I can divide my time evenly and fairly. I have faith that it will all fall into place...I think.

Come February, we will be a family of 4!!! It is so unbelievable sometimes, and I don't know if I'm quite ready to be honest. Is that terrible to admit? I know I will love the little peanut from the first second I see him. I know our hearts will multiply and there will be enough love to go around a gazillion times. I know that I want a big family. I want X to have siblings that he can share his life with. BUT - can we just stop time for a second? How has 17 months already gone by? How has my little tiny baby X become a 1 1/2 year old walking, talking, dancing miracle? All in the blink of an eye...

I think of Ferris Bueller..."Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Best movie ever. Bueller, Bueller...Anyone?  Anyone? Ok - I digress. My point? There is no time for worry, stress, or negativity. Don't let it seep in...no matter how hard it tries - and it tries hard for sure. Focus on the amazingness of every minute...even the little mundane minutes...they are often the best ones.

I'm taking the opportunity this Advent season to savor every second, to be grateful for all of our blessings, and to prepare for the new precious addition awaiting us just over the horizon.

To dancing in the living room...

Today, X and I danced in the living room...in the midst of toys spread around the carpet, fish sticks cooking in the oven, and canine teeth pain, we turned the music up loud and danced and twirled. It was awesome. The giggles and belly laughs that erupted out of little Xman will play over and over in my mind forever...

These are the moments. These are the things we'll remember forever. I need to remind myself to stay present in these moments...every day moments with Xavier.

Time is FLYING! X is growing so fast. He is becoming a little boy. A little boy who rubs my tummy when I say, "Where is the baby?" and reads books in his crib when he wakes up from his nap. He points at every plane that flies overhead, says Woof Woof when he sees a dog, loves to collect treasures in the yard, and blows us kisses when we leave.

I need to soak every moment in...savor each second....stay present and grateful for every minute we have together.

Lots of changes...

After an awesome summer, the school year is starting again. My teacher friends are all going back to school on Monday.  I always loved that first week of school - the cute, nervous, sweet smiling faces of little 3rd graders entering my room for the first time. I loved getting my classroom ready...new pencils, crayons, new desktags, rearranging the room over and over until I got it perfect, setting up the Book Nook so it was a cozy warm place to escape with a book, and starting fresh with a new batch of kiddos. One day, I'll be there again...but....not anytime in the near future. The only place I'd rather be? Home with my Little Man. ;)

This year with Xavier has flown by. I can't believe how many changes we have gone through. He is becoming a little boy. This summer especially has been full of changes. Here are just a few of the new things Xavier is thrilling us with.

Walking

X is a walking man. Well - actually a running man. He just takes off every chance he can get...and he does NOT look where his feet are going...he looks straight ahead at his destination...which means some stumbles and tumbles. His poor little forehead always has a few little bruises. As soon as it's clear and bruiseless, he runs into a wall or knocks his little noggin again on a toy truck. Thank goodness for hard heads and Arnica gel. That stuff works! ;) We had our first split lip the other day. Trav and I nearly had a heart attack when we saw the mouthful of blood. Seriously scary! But, all was ok...teeth were still in tact...but, X's lower lip was not. :( Within minutes, he was eating more canteloupe and goldfish. We were more affected than he was. I said to Trav, "Imagine when he is tackled on the football field, and we are on the sidelines, breathless, waiting for him to get up." Trav's answer? "Oh no...he's not playing football." Ha ha...tough guy, eh? ;) 

Eating Big Boy Food

Xavie is now eating lots of "normal" food. He's got his 8 front teeth and all his first molars are working their way through. Spaghetti, meatloaf, chicken and rice, fish sticks, eggplant parm, french toast, egg sandwiches, lots of fruit, especially bananas. He LOVES bananas. He points to them from across the room and I swear he has his own word for them. I can't pronounce it, but it is the same every time he wants one. ;) It's been fun to sit down as a family at our dining room table and eat together. He loves to eat what Mommy and Daddy are eating. ;)

MILK

Xavier is now a milk drinker. He loves milkshakes...not necessarily just a cup of milk. If you put milk in his cup, he spits it out - his cup is for water, didn't you know? But...if Mommy makes a milkshake with fruit, milk, and oj....yummo! He has his milkshake/smoothie cup with a straw. Don't bother him while he's drinking his smoothie...he hardly takes a breath. Every now and then...there will be extra and Daddy will get some too, but X usually takes that as well, which is where this milk mustache came from.

He understands English!

A few months ago, we noticed that Xavier understood everything we were saying. Uh-oh...time to be careful of what we say, Daddy... ;) Seriously, we are shocked by what he knows. It started by pointing to things...where is the tree? Where is the grass? Now...we say, "Hand me your cup," or "Want to go outside?" or "Come to the table for dinner" and he does what we say!! It's so cool and surprising. ;) Last month, Xman was in his carseat, drinking his smoothie. When he finished it, I reached my hand back, and said, "Hand me your smoothie cup," and he did it! I nearly drove off the road. :) Lately, his Mamamama and Dadadada have become Mama and Dada and he says them slightly directed toward us. ;) FUN! He also waves hi and bye and gives kisses (he makes the cutest kissing face).

Daddy Time

Xman LOVES his daddy. When his truck pulls in the driveway after a long day of work, X runs to the door and points. He knows when Daddy is coming home. As soon as Trav walks in, Xavier is following him everywhere...and patiently must wait for Daddy to take a shower before he can be scooped up by his favorite pal. He loves to play guitar and bang on the drums with his daddy. Trav has started putting him to bed most nights, now that nursing is a memory :(. We give him a bath, put his pjs on, say goodnight to all his stuffed friends, and I give him a big kiss...but, he doesn't even realize I'm leaving the room. He's in Daddy's lap getting ready for storytime. Mommy? Who's Mommy? Xavier loves this time with his Daddy. Plus - Daddy makes up the best bedtime songs. :) What a blessing to have such an amazing father-son relationship. I can already see them as X grows up. Ugh - tugs at my heart.

Little Musician

Xavier is going to be a musician - we are convinced. He has so much rhythm. He dances to all of the "good" music. His favorite band is the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It's amazing. He knows to hit the cymbals delicately, and he uses a pic to strum the guitar. Look out Jimi Hendrix! :)

Big Brother Xavier

Xavier is going to be a big brother, possibly the biggest change of all. He and his little brother or sister are going to be 20 months apart. I am hoping and praying that they will be close friends all their lives. We are worried about how we could possibly love another baby like we love our Xman, but everyone tells us that your heart just multiplies. I believe it! We're so excited for our new addition to arrive in February of 2012! :)