The best cure for a teething baby...

is a day outside!

The weather has been weird lately, but that's Arkansas for ya. 22 degrees one day and 60 the next! Although, I'm not complaining-I am happy to have some time outside with Pax. She is in the process of cutting an upper molar and I think it is about to kill us all. The early mornings, food strike and horrendous diapers are about to do me in. I pray that it is almost through and she can get back to her smiley little self.

Through the looking glass - Daddy Edition

I finally got some pictures of Cody at Paxtin's age now. =)

This one will be one of my all-time favorites for many years to come. =)

Locked up

Maybe a new idea for time out? Except that she enjoys the cage too much. HA!

bubbles, bubbles...in your hair...

So, with the temps last week into the teens, we had to make do with some indoor activities. Bubbles have always been one of Paxtin's favorite things to do and the excitement in her face is priceless!

We also ventured into play dough, as I mentioned, but I can't take pics just yet because I am constantly trying to fish it out of her mouth! Hopefully, she will come to enjoy the POUNDING on the dough and not the taste testing. :-/

And this is just a picture for Nannie. =) Paxi's BFF. (Well, besides the obvious, Diego.) ; )

Through the looking glass

I looove looking at old photos. Especially now that I have a daughter and have been told how much she resembles me. I still have a hard time seeing it sometimes, but then there are the days when I find myself staring right back at ME! I dug out some pictures awhile back of both me and Cody when we were little, to see who Pax was starting to look like. I found some at my parents today that are me at the age Pax is right now-maybe a little older/younger. I want to get some of Cody at this age too-

This picture is just sheer personality. Look at that stance! FIERCE.

I haven't changed much in my looks over the years-like most people like to tell me, "You look just like you did when you were little! You just got taller." =) This one though, reminds me the most of Paxtin. The eyes-are so her eyes. I was 2 1/2 here and it is kind of neat to wonder if this is what Paxi's little baby face will mature into.

I, however, was about 10 pounds lighter than Pax is right now-always a tiny thing-so her face is much rounder than mine ever was. But, to me, those eyes and mouth are undeniable.

I hope to get some pics of Cody this week and put those up, too. =)

19 Months Old

That's my big girl. All 19 months of her. We are over the halfway mark to two. TWO. Those second baby questions are starting to multiple by the day. It is completely shocking to me how fast 19 months flies by-especially when you are having the time of your life. I am in NO hurry to do it all over again, but wouldn't mind a bit if we had another one right now. =) Call it baby-itis...it never goes away.

So Paxtin at 19 months:

We actually went to the doctor yesterday, to take care of an ugly sinus infection she's been battling for weeks, and Pax weighed in at 26 lbs even! I didn't get a height on her, but I can always tell how much she changes when I notice how each pair of pants fits just a tiny bit shorter and a wee bit tighter. She is growing like a weed. Faster than I can control.

She's into EVERYTHING. And I don't mean that sarcastically even one little bit. I almost can't get anything done while she is awake and I am going to be LOVING my new Mother's Day Out day, I know for sure. She is into drawers, cabinets, anywhere/anything she can open. She's obsessed with the drawer her toothbrush stays in and also, still, with my makeup. She also has a new friend who goes everywhere we go. (You can see him in the picture above...) That's Diego and he's numero UNO in her life right now. There's nothing cuter than watching her trot around the house calling "DEEEEGO!" if he gets out of her sight. We are usually always on the hunt for DEEGO.

There is also a new development in the potty area. No-she hasn't actually done anything ON the big girl potty, but she is FULLY aware of what she is doing in her diapers. She walks up to me with a matter of face face and will say, "I pooped!" I was always determined to get her potty trained as quickly as I could, but now that I really think she is ready, I am scared. I think I will give her maybe one more month and then we will put the potty training into full drive. And I'm still scared. This is where my preschool teacher background will (hopefully) come in handy.

We have been venturing into some new activities since the temperature has been sub-zero. Play dough was first-right along with some play dough taste testing-and then we tried out her new chalkboard on her easel. I really hope that she gets my love for doing crafty things, but I can already see that she has Cody's patience, so that could be a problem. ; )

HAPPY 19 MONTHS PAXI BABY!!

New Year-New Changes

2010 is going to be a great year-I can feel it. =) I haven't actually made ONE resolution, simply because I never keep them. I am just going to generally try to be a better mommy, wife, daughter, and friend. To love the Earth and give back to it anyway I can & drink more water. Sounds simple enough right?!?! I try to aim low and that way if I OVER achieve, I feel more productive.

Today is Thursday and it was a BIG day at the Lawlis home. I have held off and held off on starting Pax in school as long as I could, until I discovered that I might be stifling her by keeping her cooped up with just me (and close family) all the time. It was a hard decision to make, but I committed her to a ONE day a week Mother's Day Out at our church to see how she would do. I think she was more excited to riffle through her new bag and lunchbox than anything.

I said MULTIPLE prayers to get me to this day and said a lot of happy thoughts this morning as I got her ready to go. She, of course, had no idea what was going on.
But she wasn't too happy that I tried to stuff her beloved "Deego" (Diego) in her new bag. He's apparently far too special. ; )

So, with Diego in hand and a fresh outfit to boot, I loaded up my baby and got ready to drop her off at her FIRST official day of school.

Not before we got in some booty dancin', of course. ; )

And to my COMPLETE shock-Paxtin just marched right into her new room, sat down with another baby and sparked up a little convo. I know she gets this from Cody and I am so thankful for it. I was the one who was nervous and frightened and she was none of the above. I thank God so very much for blessing us with such an easy going, fun spirited little lady. She's sure to keep ALL the kids in her class in line, I'm sure.

As I sit here, baby-free for the first time in almost 2 years, I feel so weirdly GUILTY! I know I should enjoy this day and go do something fun (I might still...), I can't help but let my mind wander to what she's up to and how's she is enjoying her day. Such an odd feeling that I have never had until now. I hope she makes lots of friends and is a friend in return.

In other, less than exciting news, our little laptop died (again), so I am using my parents to blog from. I will more than likely only be posting once a week (on Thursdays!) but I think this will make for more of a good read. =)

I'm off to the bookstore with Cody. ALONE! =O