Quilts

Quilts are a big part of our family history. The first quilt I remember was the one my great-grandmother made me when I was five or six. It was a "little red riding hood" quilt. Since then, I've gotten several. My great-aunts made quilts and passed them down. My grandmothers made quilts. Now my Moma has started making quilts as a hobby. I remember being 10 or 11 years old and telling my grandmothers that I wanted their quilt racks when they passed, not the family jewelry or any expensive possessions but the quilt racks! I don't know if it's just a "southern thing" or not but I love it. I can't sew a button on so I don't forsee myself making quilts any time soon! Below are just a few pictures of the quilts my Moma has cut out, sewed together, quilted and binded in her spare time. If you know someone who just needs tops quilted, she can also do that. I am so proud of her and Jaxson loves the quilts she has made for him!

 I don't know whose adorable baby that is!

 Love this cowboy quilt! She can also make it with all little cowboy squares like below..

17 months

Exhausted. That’s how I feel most days. Exhausted. My little sweet precious cute Jaxson wears me out! Every post I talk about how busy he is but really…he’s B.U.S.Y.! I haven’t blogged lately. I love reading the updates on other peoples’ blogs but I dislike having to write my own. Jaxson had his 2^nd haircut June 2, 2011. Still traumatic event. We spend our weekends 1 of the following ways: Bolivar, Clarksville, wedding, river, pool or outside at home. The boy LOVES being outside and will throw a fit when you make him go inside. His new favorite word is “No”. “Jaxson, let’s go get dressed for school. No.” “Do you want your cup? No.” If you try to give him something he has already said no to he will take his hand and push it away. He knows what he wants. But if you say let’s go outside or get your shoes, he’s on it! He runs to the door! He doesn’t say a whole lot but he definitely understands what I say to him. If you ask him to go get something, he will bring it to you. If he hears the dogs barking, he perks up and says “Doggie Doggie Doggie Doggie” while looking at you with those little eyebrows raised almost like it’s a question. His Daddy taught him a new trick-the monster growl. He growls and shakes his head from side to side. He LOVES water. Give the boy a water hose and turn the water on and he will play for hours. He loves to drink out of the water hose-he soaks himself in the process. Sweetest thing ever to see too. When I point to myself and say “who am I” he replies with “nana” while pointing to himself. “What’s your name? dacson.” “What’s his name (point at Daddy)? Dada (pointing at himself of course).” My son calls me Nana. He really thinks he’s saying it with an “m” because I say “no mmmm mama” and he replies with “nana.” My parents love this because my brother, Jason, called me Nana from the time he started talking until probably when he was in kindergarten. Jaxson also calls a banana “nana”. Another love for him-bananas. And now banana popsicles thanks to Dada. Jaxson is still a really good eater. He will eat most anything at anytime of the day. He drinks his milk, V8, juice and water with no problems. He despises his allergy medicine and will clench his jaws and teeth together when he sees the syringe coming (I have to shoot it into his mouth). He likes to play/chew on straws and looks absolutely precious walking around with a juice box with those sweet little lips sucking on a straw. Another bottom tooth (towards the back) just popped through with 2 more on the way. He sleeps in his bed most nights all night. Fans on, stuffed animals and blankets tucked beside him=sleeping baby.

 Getting a drink of water...

Gunner taking care of a little bit of business in the background, hahaha

His hair before his haircut in June

The "P" word...

The bad habit. Jaxson’s attachment. Mommy & Daddy’s enemy. We are working to get rid of the pacifier. I struggle because it’s nice to have when he’s getting fidgety or when he’s screaming in a restaurant or other public place. But, he just looks too old for it when he has it in his mouth. Plus, I’m hoping by getting rid of it that it will encourage new words. He goes all day at daycare without it. But when he comes home, he wants it. He thinks he’s supposed to have a paci on car rides, while getting his diaper changed and when it’s night-night time. He even knows where we keep the paci’s in the house-box on his dresser shelf and bowl in the kitchen. I have hid the box in his bedroom. Yesterday afternoon began the journey. He had a meltdown after his bath (it was before dinner so that may have contributed a little) and stood in front of his dresser and pointed up to where the box was and cried and cried and cried. I know I’ve talked about his snubbing before but he really does get it from me. Crying hard brings on the “snubbing” and even after we are through crying we still snub a little. After about 10 minutes he came out of his bedroom and was okay. He had dinner and then we went for a walk around the neighborhood and he was fine. Then came bedtime…he already fights going to sleep so when he realized he wasn’t getting his paci then he was upset all over again. I put him in his bed for about 5 minutes while he screamed/cried/kicked. When I went back to get him, he was snubbing and went to sleep after about 3 minutes of rocking. He was even snubbing in his sleep. L I almost gave in…he went all night without it and even rode to daycare without it. Not saying that it was pretty trying to get him in the carseat without it but we did it. Picking him up this afternoon at daycare and not giving him the paci in the truck will probably be an ugly scene too. I’ve read some articles online all of which recommend taking it away around the age of 1. They say the sooner the better the easier. I don’t want to traumatize him because right now he doesn’t understand why I’m taking it away. Surely he won’t remember it when he’s older…I’ve read that if you cut the tip off of the paci and then give it to the child they will not want it because they think it’s “broke”. I don’t want to reintroduce it tonight after going cold turkey last night. The joys of parenting! I don’t think this adventure will be as easy as the bottle. The day after his 1 year checkup we put all the bottles up and we were completely done with them. He never cried for it. Hopefully this afternoon and the next few days will get better…

Beach Bound..

Well not yet but almost! I think we are going to head to Floriday in September. It won't be too hot then and the crowd will be gone. I can hardly wait to put Jaxson's little toes in the sand!!

Dedication/Father's Day

June 19, 2011 was Father’s Day and Parent/Child Dedication at church. I’ve wanted to do the parent/child dedication for a while and I’m so glad we finally got the opportunity. I just pray and hope that we can raise Jaxson to know God and to have morals and values. Today's world is tough and the temptations are awful. I worry that I won't tell him or warn him about certain things enough. And then there are always the "what ifs" What if he hangs out with the wrong crowd? What if he is a little rebel child? Our family and friends came to witness and support us and we were so glad they were there. I believe that it will take all of us as a team to raise Jaxson to be all that he can be and to help him prosper in this world. Jaxson did so good on stage and got a few little goodies. The church gave him a little blue Bible, he got 2 adorable picture frames, bubbles and a new pair of flip flops. A boy can never have too many shoes! Who said girls get to have all the fun! Speaking of shoes, Jaxson thinks he should be able to pick out his own shoes. This morning we had a battle because he picked out the navy blue Keds to wear but they didn’t match his outfit. I wanted him to wear the brown sandals. “Jaxson, you need to wear these shoes because they match. NO” I know I know…pick your battles but a) he’s almost 17 months and b) he’s a boy…just wear the shoes I pick out!  

After church we went back to our house for pizza with the family. I’m so glad we were able to spend Father’s day with our Daddy’s. I love my Daddy and have always and will always be a “Daddy’s girl.” He’s always been an excellent provider, caregiver, Daddy, Mr. Fix It, my personal mechanic…he’s got it all! I know that Emmett was glad to get to spend time with his Dad on Father’s Day as well. Emmett is such a WONDERFUL Dada to our Jaxson Cole. He’s always calm & collected and doesn’t get upset easily. Forgetful and pretty much useless when it comes to house work…yes he is definitely that but we love him anyway! Hey, you can’t have it all!

"Donuts with Dad" at daycare

Father's Day 2011