Pax at 4 and 5 months

My baby boy will be 6 months at the end of this month. I guess I better get his 4th and 5th month documented now! I know I say this every time I post about him but it is so true... Paxton is such a joy! We are amazed with him each and every day. He brings so much balance to our family- that is hard to explain but that is how it feels to have him around, like he balances things out in so many different ways.



4 months:
weight: 15.9 lbs- 88%
height: 25.5 in- 88%
head: 16.5 in- 60 %














Here is what Paxton has been up to over the last few months...

• 2 ear infections- Unlike his older brother who also had many ear infections, I don't have to guess if Paxton has one; he cries really hard for a long time and nothing can console him. This is very unusual for Pax so I have known both times that we needed to go to the doctor right away and sure enough both times he had an ear infection. It was much harder to tell with Rowen at first so I hate to see Pax cry but at least I know that something is really wrong and I can take care of it quickly.
  
• seems to be teething- lots of drool and loves to suck on his whole fist, his fingers, our fingers, and anything else we put near his mouth. I am just sure a tooth will pop out any day but so far nothing.
  
• started eating a few solids- rice cereal, apple sauce, prunes, sweet potatoes. His whole body shuttered the first time we fed him rice cereal. Now he makes a disgusted face with the first few bites of everything, every time, but then he opens his mouth big like a little bird for each bite after that. I think he is going to like food just like his big brother!
  
• not interested in rolling over at all, rolls to his side and just teeters there then back to his back, has rolled over one time very recently but it was truly an accident!
  
• still dislikes tummy time with a passion- we do it but it doesn't last long
• likes to sit in his bumbo seat and watch mommy do dishes and make meals
• giggling lots- not only when we tickle him but also when we make funny faces or make funny sounds, such a darling laugh he has!
  
• smiles at everyone- strangers love this! Rowen still gets the most smiles :).
  
• those blue eyes continue to be his sweetest feature
• moving much more when he is being held- lunging himself forward or towards things (especially our food!)
  
• still not grasping at things very much, not interested in holding anything in his hands yet but is starting to more and more
  
• sleeps really well when he doesn't have an ear infection- 7 p.m. to anywhere between 3 and 5, then usually goes back to sleep until 6 or 7 ish (there have been a handful of 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. nights in there but not enough of them!)
  
• We are trying to get a nap schedule down but it has been difficult when I have to leave the house to get Rowen to and from preschool and music class. Paxton often falls asleep in the car and then doesn't nap well at home. I am hoping this gets better with time.
  
• major snuggler! I love this so much. He curls up against my chest as I carry him around the house, tucks his head in the crook of my neck and sucks on his fingers. He also likes to put his elbow on my shoulder as I carry him around and looks around at everything with such intense interest.
• blowing bubbles and making funny sounds with his mouth often, chatters and lets us know when he feels passionate about something weather happy or sad.
• Big brother greets Paxton each morning by going into his room and climbing up onto the crib and saying, "Good morning little guy!". Paxton smiles big right back at Rowen. It is truly so sweet. I often watch this exchange from the monitor in my room and I hope I never forget it!
• Sitting/standing in his exersaucer. Pax just stares at the toys and is starting to reach out to grab some of them but mostly is just very content sitting there looking around at us and the toys- such a laid back little guy!

5 months:
weight: 17.5 lbs
height: ?

An interiew with a 4 year old

Oh that camera smile! What a goof!

A few weeks ago I interviewed Rowen (thanks to a friend for the idea) instead of doing my usual super long, time consuming age post. Anything time consuming just doesn't happen around here right now :). Here is the interview...

1) What is your favorite color?

Red

2) What is your favorite toy?

Lightning

3) What is your favorite fruit?

strawberries and apples

4) What is your favorite TV show?

CARS or Little Foot

5) What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

" skip that one"

Rowen doesn't really like lunch. I have to work pretty hard to get him to eat lunch everyday. We usually do small stuff like a piece of cheese, a few crackers, cut up veggies and dip. Maybe yogurt or half of a pb and j on a good day!

6) What is your favorite thing to wear?

My lightning shirt and pants

7) What is your favorite game?

"skip that one" "oh yeah! matching cards or go fish"

8) What is your favorite snack?

graham crackers

9) What is your favorite animal?

lion

Rowen often pretends to be a lion for hours on end throughout the day :).

10) What is your favorite song?

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

11) What is your favorite book?

Mater Tales, Little Bear

12) What is your favorite cereal?

the kind with strawberries in it

this is a Kelloggs brand- i can't remember the exact name right now

13) What do you like to do outside?

play on the slide and maybe on the swing

14) What is your favorite drink?

milk

This kid will pretty much only drink milk and water- no juice or soda! He doesn't like the sweet drinks.

15) What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas and Valentines Day

16) What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

cars

There are always several lined up at the end of his bed each night.

17) What is your favorite breakfast?

waffles

EVERYDAY! Not kidding!

18) What do you want to be when you grow up?

A daddy. Because I like to be a daddy. Because I am a man.

Must be because he has such a good daddy :).

19) Do you like being 4?

Yes!

20) What do you like about being 4 the most?

That I get to play!

21) Who is your favorite baby?

Paxton. Because I like him, he is cute!

Rowen turns 4

Our big boy is really truly becoming a big boy. 4 years old. I think every birthday becomes more emotional for mama. This little guy is growing into a boy. I want to slow down the clock yet at the same time it is so much fun to watch him grow.

He is full of passion, determination, imagination, goofiness, giggles, and lots and lots of love!

I feel so fortunate to be his mama. This boy keeps us on our toes!

Rowen's 4th birthday celebrations started at preschool right before the winter break. Rowen's teacher planned it so that I was the mommy helper on the day we would celebrate his birthday at school. The day before, Rowen and I baked chocolate cupcakes and topped them with a dinosaur decoration. Rowen's cupcake was left plain- no frosting but with a candle! Rowen likes things plain and simple. His friends' cupcakes were another story :). As soon as we arrived at school Rowen was welcomed with big birthday wishes from his teacher, a birthday crown, and sticker for his shirt. After a fun filled morning of playing, singing, and learning, Rowen helped to pass out his birthday snack. Then his classmates sang him Happy Birthday. Rowen got 4 hugs from his teacher and he chose a special pencil from her birthday box. He also received a darling card from his classmates where inside every child's thumb print was stamped- "Thumbs Up For Rowen!".





On Rowen's actual birthday, December 27th, we started the day with a birthday breakfast with Grammy, Papa, Uncle TJ and Aunt Erin. Grammy and Papa brought all the food over, fresh out of the oven! Thanks Grammy and Papa for such a delicious breakfast.

Here is our birthday boy, fresh out of bed, enjoying monkey bread, eggs, and pigs in a blanket. We sang Happy Birthday to Ro and he blew out his candles.

Our family of 4 on Rowen's 4th Birthday!

Later that morning after Rowen had opened his birthday gift from Uncle TJ and Aunt Erin, mommy and daddy surprised Rowen with this huge T-Rex. Oh what fun he has been! He is the perfect size for wrestling with :).


After Uncle TJ and Aunt Erin left to drive home to Oregon, we left for Rowen's birthday party at Mobius Kids, downtown Spokane. We started out with cake and presents...

This was a dino birthday as you can probably tell!

The kids dive in, enjoying chocolate cake and milk.
Paxton is entertained by Rowen's T-Rex balloon.

A few of Rowen's friends- Josie, Cooper is hidden behind Rowen, Kariya, and Bennett.

Rowen enjoyed every minute of it!

Rowen opened gifts from family- Nana and Grandpa, Grammy and Papa, Uncle Chris and Aunt Nina and Liz, Matt, Charlie and Olivia, and Gigi. He was thoroughly spoiled per usual. Thank you family for such thoughtful and fun gifts!

Nana helping Rowen open one of his gifts. Paxton decided that he MUST eat right when Rowen started opening gifts. So there was some chaos but Rowen didn't seem to mind.

Finally it was time to go play!!!

The kids played in the museum for hours. Rowen loved having all of his friends there at the same time! And his grandparents too! It couldn't get any better.



These three boys were adorable! They played pretend animals for quite some time, roaring at each other and knocking down the soft blocks.



Rowen and Cooper were the last to leave Mobius. They played until their parents were so wore out we couldn't stay any longer.

Grammy and Papa took Pax home early so just the 3 of us (mom, dad, and Ro) headed over to Red Robin for a special birthday dinner. Rowen chose chicken strips and fries and then had a chocolate milk shake. What a great day for our great boy!

Christmas Day 2011

As soon as we walked in the door upon returning from our Christmas Eve festivities with the Gill family and Gigi, Rowen found his baggie of Reindeer food he had made at preschool and was headed out the door with daddy to sprinkle it on the lawn. Then he made a plate of 2 cookies, a piece of cheese and a few crackers and poured a glass of milk all by himself (this is what Santa told Rowen he liked to eat the most in one of the letters Santa wrote to Rowen only a week prior).

This is what was left on Christmas morning. Most of the food was eaten and Santa left a note for Rowen.

Surprisingly, Rowen slept in on Christmas morning. I was the first one awake then Daddy and Paxton woke up and finally Rowen woke up at 8:30 only after I went into his room to rub his back, trying to slowly wake him up. Rowen rolled over with a smile on his face... he was ready to head downstairs right away. I recorded him coming into the living room and seeing his gifts from Santa. It was pretty darn cute! He saw the empty plate and glass of milk and wanted to know what the note said right away. Later after opening all of his gifts he asked Daddy to help him write another letter to Santa thanking him for all of his presents. He left it by the fireplace as he did all of the letters he wrote to Santa over the past month and sure enough, it was gone the next day!


After we opened gifts and our stockings we had a yummy breakfast. Then, I had to get a photo of my two kids in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Once again Rowen's forced smile is priceless :).


Rowen started playing with his new toys right away. Here he is riding his new plasma car around the house.


Soon family started arriving. This is the only photo I have of Christmas dinner! Grammy, Papa, Nana, Grandpa, and Uncle Shon joined us for a delicious feast... ham, prime rib and all the traditional side dishes. Then lots of yummy treats later of course.

After dinner we opened gifts between the Volk family members. Rowen got this cool new ski helmet from Uncle Shon and a pair of new shoes that help him run super fast ;). We went skiing recently and the helmet worked out perfectly!

Grandpa and Nana gave Rowen this telescope. It has great pictures to look at and it tells you interesting facts about the planets.

And one more surprise from Nana and Grandpa... a new art easel. Rowen is all set up to paint, draw, color, finger paint, you name it! We have used it lots already.

Everyone got a little spoiled. Paxton has some darling new outfits and two new pairs of shoes. Mommy and Daddy are looking forward to using their gift cards to go out on a few dates over the next few months.


Once again we had a great Christmas Day. We feel so fortunate to get to spend the Holidays with our family, that everyone is healthy, and that our lives are so rich with love and support from our family and friends.

Christmas Eve 2011

We started the day at Grammy and Papa's house for a delicious breakfast and gifts. Uncle TJ and Aunt Erin were with us too. We were thrilled to get to see them over Christmas as we weren't sure that was going to happen this year due to their work schedules. Rowen has sure missed his playful Uncle TJ and I am pretty sure he is still smitten with his Aunt Erin.

200 some shots later and this is the best family photo we could get... our 4 year old can't seem to make a normal face for photos :)

Once again, Rowen's attempt at smiling for the camera just turns out looking pretty silly! Yet so adorable too.

Rowen loved passing out the gifts to everyone. We were so proud of him. He was very patient and generous- just as excited about giving gifts as he was about receiving them. He was very interested in seeing everyone's reactions to certain gifts especially the gifts he chose for mommy, daddy, and Paxton.

Grammy took Rowen shopping to pick out a gift for mommy, daddy, and Paxton.

Rowen did such a good job. He chose the gifts with very little guidance from Grammy. He found the perfect gift for each of us!

A race car game for daddy! Perfect for daddy and Rowen to play together:). And they already have- many times!

A single cup coffee maker for mommy. No more wasting tons of coffee!

A darling, soft Pooh Bear for little brother Paxton.


Grammy and Papa wrapped one of Rowen's gifts in a big box with a hole cut out of the top. We all wondered why? Well, soon we found out...

Thank goodness it wasn't a puppy (daddy was seriously worried for awhile)! But we have welcomed 5 friendly dinosaurs into our family!

We all think they are pretty fun!

Paxton got some good snuggle time with Uncle TJ.

And a good nap too :)

What a fun Christmas Eve morning. We couldn't have asked for a better start.

After we had a chance to play with our new toys we headed to Sky High Sports. The Gill family and Gigi met us there. This place is seriously so much fun! Perfect for everyone to enjoy; however, I think the big boys had the most fun!



















After all that exercise we were ready for more presents and a delicious meal at the Gills.

What a fun Christmas Eve with our two boys and all of our family. It felt different this year having our 2 kids to celebrate Christmas with. It felt just right. Last Christmas we didn't know that I was pregnant with Paxton. We would find out in 10 days and our lives would be changed forever once again.
What joy and fun they both brought to every little bit of this day and every day.