THE GREAT 8 IN PHOTOS

While enjoying the beautiful weather at our "home on the range," my camera and I were able to capture some priceless photos of Pax and Shane. As Pax grows more into his precious little person, I'm trying to seize every opportunity to catch all of the adorable and contagious smiles he throws my way! Which is getting harder and harder! I'm telling you, he is one VERY HAPPY little ham chop!! See if you can keep yourself from smiling at this handsome little fella!

Now, aren't these photos the berries, or what?!

THE GREAT 8

My baby is 8 months old. 8 MONTHS OLD!! Oh my goodness! Where has the time gone? I'll tell you. It's gone to many, many, many days of hugs & kisses, of smiles & laughter, and some of the most exciting times of "firsts." From the first time Pax held onto my finger, to the first time he smiled at me, the first time he rolled over, the first time he giggled, the first time he jabbered, the first time he ate "real" food, the first time he practiced crawling, and even the first time he got a boo boo (this one was very hard, folks … but boo boos happen, and I'm convinced they happen to toughen you [the parent] up for the many more ahead - I don't want to think about that, though)!

Oh, the many firsts. And there are so many more that I could go on and on forever, it seems!! Even the smallest things that make my husband and I turn to each other with amazement … "Did you see that!?" … "Can you believe he can do that already!?" Now, those are the moments!

Oh my goodness, how Pax has grown so much! Everyone has told me – and they continue to tell me – "enjoy every moment, they go by so fast." But I don't like to believe them. I don't want the moments to go by too fast. But they do. They are! So I am trying to soak up every little moment that I can, giving thanks to God for allowing each and every one of them to happen.

Then & now, WOW!
Birth weight: 9 lbs., 1.2 oz.  //  Now: 20 lbs.
Birth height: 20.5 in.  //  Now: 29 in.

Just for you, my sweet Paxton:
What I'm enjoying the most right now is that you still LOVE nursing. So much so that you rarely take a bottle. Which isn't so great. I want you to get all the breast milk that your little tum tum can get. But since you're now eating real food, and I get to make it, I add in lots of mama's milk so that you're still getting the goods! But back to you & me nursing time. I love it now that when you fuss or cry because you're hungry, only I can offer you what you want. Me, your mama. YOUR MAMA. Gah! Sometimes it's still hard to believe that I get to be your mama! … Anyhow, your bedtime feeding is my favorite because you fall asleep in my arms after you get full on your milkies, and it's the sweetest moment of my day. I whisper soft songs to you and say bedtime prayers over you. Then I breathe in all your wonderful fresh baby smells as I nestle my face next to yours. Once I feel you're soundly asleep, I carefully carry you over to your crib, swaying you slightly back and forth. I place you down to sleep, once more asking God to watch over you, hold you tight and keep you safe and healthy through the night … Sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night for more milkies. Sometimes you sleep all night long. But your first morning smiles are the most precious expressions that give me nothing but hope for the day ahead. There is truly NO better way to start my day.

One more thing. I want you to know that I am over-the-moon excited that you look SO MUCH like me (and Auntie Jessi - it's so great having a twin)!!!! … It's one thing to hear friends & family compliment your good looks and state the obvious, that you look so much like mama … but it's a whole other thing when total strangers approach you with the same excitement, with the same "handsome" compliments, and yes, the same perspective, that you look just … like … me. :) I realize this may not always be the case. One of these days you may look just like your daddy (and he's one mighty fine handsome steed, himself!), so I just want to relish in your adorable-me-ness right now, while I can. Paxton, it is so amazing to look at you and see myself. It's an overwhelming feeling. To realize that you really are mine… because of God's most precious grace. And I thank God for you every single day, and I always will. You are a true gift, and your Daddy & I are forever grateful. We love you so very, very much. Praise be to God, indeed.

Happy 8 months to the most handsome cheese there is.

I love you forever and always, my sweet Paxton George.

More photos to come soon from our 8 month photo shoot. :)

HOMEMADE FOOD FOR PAX

 
Several people have asked me, "what do you feed Paxton now?" And I'm so happy to share that I make homemade baby food for him! (Many thanks to my awesome sister for getting the Baby Bullet for me!!)

So here are some yummy combos that my hungry little monster LOVES to eat.

AVO-TATO-NANIES! (I'm making up these names)
1 whole avocado
1 small sweet potato, cooked
1 whole banana
+/- 4 oz. breast milk (I add this little by little because sometimes it takes a little less, other times a little more)

AVO-MMMKIN-NANIES!
1 whole avocado
1/2 cup pumpkin, cooked
1 whole banana
+/- 4 oz. breast milk

SWEETATER-SAUCE!
1 medium sweet potato, cooked
1 whole apple, cooked*
+/- 4 oz. breast milk
*I also substitute 1 pear for the apple, and Pax loves it just the same.

PEAS & CARROTS* (with Forest Gump accent, please)
1 cup carrots, cooked
1 cup peas, cooked
+/- 3 oz. breast milk
*Paxton hates the taste of peas (and green beans), so I have to camo them with other foods. He eats his P's & C's best when mixed with one of the first three recipes or any other sweet food (sweet potatoes, bananas, apples, pears, mangoes, etc. If I add more carrots to this recipe, he eats this by itself.)

Other info: Occasionally Pax has a hard time making dirty in his dipe. He grunts & grunts & gets all red in the face, and all that comes out is a little marble. And this makes us laugh, but we also feel for him, too. So when this happens, I simply add some pureed prunes (usually just 2-3 spoonfuls is all it takes) to his meal, and he's good to go!

So these are the foods that are working well for us now. We'll be trying new yummy things shortly, and I'll try to post them as we go.

Happy eating! :)

MY CHEESE

My sweet little man is one very happy cheese! You may ask, "why do you call him your cheese?" Well, when you want someone to smile, you ask them to say "cheese." This little mister gives me more cheese than a whole casserole of the cheesiest mac & cheese! Ah, his smile is the most precious expression I could ever hope for! Check it out for yourself. Enjoy!!

This kid! He really knows how to make my heart melt!!

OUR KITCHEN RENOVATION

Quite some time ago my wonderfully handy husband and I decided to take on a complete kitchen renovation. My initial hopes were to get it done BEFORE the arrival of our precious Paxton, but you know life happens, and so many other important things took precedence over it's completion. Until NOW! I'm so very thrilled to post, it is FINISHED!! And I couldn't be any more pleased with how it turned out. After many, many, many weekends of hard DIY work, we cannot wait to start soaking up lots of memories where we're sure to share many warm meals and plenty of stories of each of our days. This kitchen will definitely be the loving heart of our happy little home.

So now, the tour! … But let's first step back and look at our kitchen before this lovely little reno.

These were taken when we moved in, so please excuse all the moving clutter. The people we bought our house from are the sweetest and loveliest people. And they had the kitchen done up in a cute little country style that fit perfectly with their personalities. But it was a little too country for our taste. Thus, the transformation ...

Ta-daaaaa! Here it is! It's still country, because, hey, we live in the country, but it now has a more modern twist. {And it wouldn't be nearly as cute without that little stinker in his big boy seat!}

And just look at that precious puppy! She just had to make it in the shot, too! Okay, so check out that island! It's awesome, right? Well, that little piece has a restoration story of its own. It's an old workman's cart from the old GM plant in Dayton, OH. I found it on etsy from a lovely lady, and well, I just had to have it and make it into this wonderful island! Check out its "before" photos below.

Again, my wonderful husband had to help with this project, too (his welding skills were needed), but I'm proud to say I completed almost all of this restoration myself! Go me! So, go on and enjoy the rest of the tour!

This antique pie safe is a family heirloom. I'm so pleased to have it.

Kitchen cart/island goodness! And just look at that handsome steed back there! Gah!

Oh, and look at that chandelier! That's one of my favorite DIY lights I've ever created. I think it's beautiful, and Paxton does, too! He loves how the light shines on the ceiling!

Oh, my happy little cheese! Mama loves you so much, Paxton!!

These cabinets are straight from Ikea, but the finish is straight from me! I glazed all the doors to give them a rustic touch.

My sink! Oh, how I'm so very, very happy that I finally got my farm sink! And it's the perfect size for bathing a cute little baby!

We were going to do a white subway tile back splash. But my husband had some hesitation of the kitchen being too "white." So we kept our options open, and I'm so glad we decided on a much more colorful glass tile solution. And it matches just splendidly with the island!

Oh, happy little kitchen, how you will forever make our home so much more memorable!