Month: February 2010

Alex slept a little later today, but still wasn’t up to 100%. Wade entertained him with pinball:

Then Alex took a four hour nap and was full of energy at tonight’s Small Group.

Today was my day off. Wade got up with Alex at 5:45 am (poor little guy isn’t sleeping well) and watched him most of the day. I worked out, ran to the grocery, and got my car washed. Then we took a family trip to Racine to visit Chick-fil-A. I got my favorite milkshake and Alex tasted his first nugget (and loved it). We brought back a platter of nuggets and Wade had the Young Couple Guys over for Mario.
The nuggets were a big hit, as usual, and gone in just a little while:

I played Mario for a while, but eventually went to bed. I’m not even sure how late the boys stayed:

We are driving back to Milwaukee tomorrow so I had quite a few last minute errands to do for Mom and myself. We also made time to visit Granny and Papa (Wade’s grandparents). Alex has become quite attached to me in the last few weeks and isn’t always eager to be held by someone else. I was pleasantly surprised when he was content to sit on Papa’s lap:

Alex had his first fever today. This probably explains the intermittent fussiness over the past few days. He was pretty grumpy all day, but the Tylenol and a toothbrush helped a little:

Happy Birthday Andy!

We have spent a lot of time around the house. Mom is doing great and walking without a limp, but she isn’t quite up for running around town.

Alex has been great about playing in the den and entertaining Gram. Today he was showing off his movement skills:

Dabney came for a visit and showed Alex how to play the game “telephone”:

Then he showed Gram how to use her walker:

Alex Using Gram’s Walker – 12 months from Wade Burch on Vimeo.

Today we did a lot of nothing. Alex wasn’t in a great mood, but he found a bell and a ball that seemed to turn the day around:

Later in the day Gram tried to build Alex a fort with her walker and show him what her grabber could do.

Happy Birthday Amy!

Alex and I spent most of today in the car. We left falling snow in Milwaukee about the time for Alex’s first nap. We drove until he woke up and then stopped for gas and breakfast at McDonald’s. Alex had a pancake:

We got back on the rode and Alex was a model passenger. He amused himself with his toys and laughing at my singing. We arrived in warm Paducah (60 degrees) about 3:30. Aunt Beverly was staying with mom and Dabney and Joyce arrived soon after. Alex put on quite a show for everyone using Gram’s walker (Mom had hip surgery on Tuesday and is doing great. She doesn’t really need the walker but they recommend using it initially to help with her gait.)

Alex is showing his independence already. He loves being able to get his sippy cup and take off on his own:

We got Alex in bed and then headed out with the CUMC Young Couples. First stop was BBQ at Silver Spur in Elm Grove. Wade and I both enjoyed dinner, but I’m not sure we would count it as a “real” BBQ place. Then it was on to games at Nate and Amy’s house. The game of choice was Mexican Train. I’m not sure we even made it half-way through before I was too tired to play.

Two of the things Alex loves the most: a lens cap and a power cord.

I had to rescue a lady’s lens cap at Gymboree class today. Alex made a beeline for it as soon as he saw it on the ground.
Happy Birthday Matt!

Alex had his one year check up with the doctor today. He is 30 3/4 inches (80%) and 21 lbs and 14 oz. (35%). He was really excited before we went to the back:

He even did really well with the doctor, but he screamed when the nurse gave him his shots. That lasted about two minutes and then he was back to being happy and kept that up all day:

The facts I found interesting:
1.) It is recommended (not required) children face backwards in their car seats until age 2. My doctor said to try to keep him rear facing until he doesn’t squeeze into that position any longer.
2.) The peanut butter question has no answer. My doctor told me all the studies and his experience and then lets me decide. (We’ll wait till age 3.)
3.) Because we live in an older house Alex needs to be tested for lead.
Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Our neighbor, Abram, loves firetrucks. I’m not sure if it is all little boys or maybe Abram told Alex, but Alex loves his new firetruck:

Alex also climbed from the bottom of the stairs to the top (with me right behind him). I think we are ready for baby gate #2.

Alex’s birthday keeps going. The Hoiums dropped off a gift for Alex and it was an immediate hit:

Wade and I found a sledding hill and took Alex for a ride in the tube.

I think Alex may have enjoyed watching the other kids more than sledding himself, but Wade and I had a great time:

My Mom and Judy joined us for swim class today. They have heard lots about Alex in the water, but never seen him swim. Judy took some pictures

and even a video:

Alex’s birthday started with lots of smiles and giggles. Judy played with him in his room while the rest of the house got an extra hour of sleep:

Then we had our traditional birthday muffin and plate present:

Then Alex helped Granny arrange his caterpillar cake before his morning nap:

Wade came home for lunch and celebrating:

Alex wasn’t too sure of the candle:

But he loved the cupcake and icing!

We spread the presents throughout the day and finished with dinner at Organ Piper Pizza – where they played Happy Birthday to Alex:

Finally we get an awesome snow this year. The snow started Monday evening and ended today with a total of about 14 inches. I had big plans to take Alex out in the tube. I think it was a hit before we even left the house:

Judy, Alex, and I bundled up for a trip to the front yard. Alex seemed fairly indifferent to the initial experience:

But he loved being pulled by Judy in the tube.

Wade had built Alex a snow monster last night, but I couldn’t get Alex to look at it. Maybe it was too scary.

My mom is having hip surgery next week so she couldn’t play in the snow, but she watched us out the window and couldn’t wait for a hug when we came back inside (hat hair and all):

The rest of the day passed in giggles and snuggles:

Gram and Granny were arriving on the train this afternoon. Alex and I spent the morning getting the house ready for visitors. While I finished the laundry and did a little ironing, Alex found that a roll of toilet paper can be great fun:

I decided it was worth the roll if it kept him entertained.

Judy and Mom arrived on the earlier train at 2:30. My mom was all set to experience her first true Milwaukee snow. Judy could have done without the snow but was excited to see Alex.

Wade and I left the grandmothers with a happy Alex and went on a date:

We drove downtown to see the Pistsons beat the Bucks. The tickets were a Christmas present from Wade. I love former GaTech player Will Bynum, a Pistons player.

Alex made another “discovery” in the toy cubbies today.

And of course Madison had to get in on it too:

The bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter cups provided enough entertainment to make it through the entire trip to the grocery – and he never even got a bite.

In other news, Alex has finally mastered tilting up a glass to drink. He can now drink an entire sippy cup of milk in the car which makes for a happy Mom and a happy Alex:

Wade has gone to Memphis to visit his parents for the weekend. I spent the day at home with Alex and Madison. We had lots of smiles and giggles:

And some playing too. Alex loves to watch Madison play tug or dart around the room. He just giggles and giggles.

Alex has always played with Madison’s toys, but just discovered the bowl of dog toys. Now he darts for it to pick out his favorite:

Alex has never been a baby who settles into a routine. About the time I think we have one, he changes. We have been consistent on three naps a day, but they all vary in length from 30 minutes to 3 hours. The last couple of weeks, the third nap is becoming iffy. If he does take one, he wakes up crying and cries through dinner and bath until he’s back in bed. If he doesn’t take one then he goes to bed at 6 pm and is waking up anytime between 5 and 6:30 am the next morning. That might work for some people, but I am having serious issues dragging myself out of bed that early! I did really well when he got up at 7:30. I even do okay at 6:30. I refuse to get up at 5 am – especially when I know Alex normally sleeps at least 12 hours at night (and going to bed at 6 pm and waking up at 5 am is not 12 hours).

I have seen ads for this children’s clock (Ok To Wake by Onaroo) on a lot of websites and blogs recently. I think it’s a great idea. The parent can set the clock for a specific time. At that time the clock turns green and the child knows he is allowed to get up. I just wish Alex was old enough to understand the concept.

I wrote in a previous post about our interest in international adoption. We found out today that we have been approved for the 2010 adoption list for South Korea! I have no idea if that means South Korea increased their allowed number of adoptions, if someone dropped off the list, etc. Wade and I are both very excited to begin this adventure. The adoption will take an average of 24 months and the child will be between 8 and 12 months of age. We won’t know if it is a girl or a boy until we receive a referral – about 3-6 months before going to pick up the child. I know the process is long and tedious, but we can’t wait to get started. Now we just need to finish this formal application we were invited to fill out.

Alex isn’t even walking yet and it is all I can do to keep up with him. He has learned to open and shut doors (most of the doors in our house don’t latch closed). Every once in a while he’ll get stuck on the wrong side of a door and realize he is all alone in a room. Then he yells for help:

Alex is walking more and more behind his push toy. The issue now is he walks a straight line and then gets stuck at the fireplace or the chair. I have to turn everything around for him and off he goes:

I looked up a little later to see that he had turned over the toy and was examining the wheels:

Also of great interest are the firestarters -which he is not supposed to play with. I’m sure I’ll be finding them a new home soon:

Alex is babbling all the time and today fell down in a fit of giggles: