Who is this guy Mommy???

we were not too sure about the big guy in red this year!!!

Trick-Or-Treat

For Halloween this year, Jaxon was a monkey. Very appropriate, as I call him my little monkey all the time.

We got started on our trick-or-treating a little later then planned, as Curt was in a golf tournament that day, and it ran a little later then expected.

By the time the night was over, Jax had quite the little bag full of goodies. He was wired because every time he received anything he felt that he needed to have a little of the treat.

(good thing he brushed his teeth before we left(pictured above), with all that candy that he ate)

Our first house we met up with Jaxon's friends Jazlin and Hadleigh.

Hadleigh was a monkey just like Jaxon.

LOOK OUT, MONKEY BEHIND THE WHEEL!!!!

My Little Monster

Well, my little monster did not get a good report from the babysitter last week. On Thursday night when I got home from work Curt had to tell me that Jaxon was a bad boy at the sitters that day. He was pulling Leah (a new little girl that has just started full time last week) and he was biting Jan (the sitter). Well I guess him and his dad had a little talk on the way home from Jan's house and then I had to tell him how disappointed I was to hear that he was not being a good little boy.
I guess our words to him did not mean anything, because when I call on Friday to ask Jan something she told me that he had been spending a lot of time in time out for the day. He was still misbehaving on Friday, so she was trying a new tactic with him.
We tried to continue to do the time out (or something of the same nature for a 1 year old) with him through the weekend when something he did deserved him to have a time out. He only had to have it a few times, but it does not seem to be working. Friday night I spent almost an hour with him because he would not leave the dog dish alone. I would put him on time out for 2 min, and then we would discuss the situation. He would then proceed to get off my knee, look at me, and then go directly to the dog dish and play with the food.
I think we could have a long road a head of us with this little guy. He always knows that he is doing something that his not suppose to because either he will give you a kiss before he does it, or he looks to make sure that you see him and you are going to give him a reaction.
I ya ya...parenting is hard job!!!!

Happy Birthday Riley!!!

Yesterday we had a 1st Birthday party for Jaxon's friend Riley.

We had a wedding on Saturday, so yesterday was a little tough to go to party where there were about 15 kids running around yelling and playing. Thank god it was only for 2 hours, and we got through it.

It was a very nice party, with lots of friends and family there. The party was at Riley grandma and grandpa's house, and good thing they have a big house, because there must have been at least 40 people there.

Riley and her cousins are a little spoiled by their grandma and grandpa, and have some wonderful toys there to play with. Jaxon was lucky enough to take a ride in a little red Corvette. I hope he enjoyed it, because that is probably as close as he will ever get to driving one again!!!

Congratulations Curt & Jaycee

He took his first steps......

Some Happening of the Last Month

October 4th was Reed's 1st Birthday. I can not believe how fast the last year has gone by.
Clint and Trisha had a party for him out at their place, so the McLaughlin's and the Fischer's got together to celebrate.

Reed decided to mark the day with taking his first steps as well. Trisha said that they have been very few and far between since then, but what a day to do it on....way to go buddy!!!


The week before Thanksgiving I had to go in and have carpel tunnel surgery done on my wrists, so I had a couple of days off to spend with Jaxon. We had to go over to my mom and dads so they could help with out with things as I was pretty much incapable of doing anything for myself, but I did manage to get Jaxon to the library on the Friday morning so that we could go to the Early Year's program. The theme of the day was turkeys, and Jax got to make a Turkey hat. Well, that is not entirely true, mommy got to make that hat, and Jaxon got to play in the glue!!!

We had family gathers for Thanksgiving as well. On the Saturday night we went to my Grandma Strachan's place for my dad's family. Jaxon got spoiled with attention, as he is the only great grand child, and also got some special time with his GG Strachan playing Chinese Checkers.

Sunday was spend at my mom and dad's with my mom's side of the family and Monday with at Curt's mom and dad with his family.

What a Difference a Year Makes!!!

On the weekend we made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch to get our pumpkins for Halloween. Last year we did this, and decided that is was going to be an annual even that our family was going to do.

The place that we go to has a lot of fun stuff for the kids to do like a corn maze, straw bail jumping, pumpkin launch and so on, but we are still a little too young to partake in those kind of activities at the pumpkin patch, so we stuck to the main reason that we went and come hope with 3 of the best looking pumpkins that we could find!!!

Baby Show

Saturday was the fall fair in Milverton, so I packed Jaxon up in the morning and headed over to the baby show. Since the Listowel fair is always on the weekend that Curt and his dad play in a ball tournament is Sauble Beach, we always miss it. Since Jaxon did not get to participate in the Listowel baby show, I thought I would bring him to the Milverton one. It was kind of special anyways, because I was in the Milverton one when I was in a baby, so it was a bit of nostalgia.
Anyways, there was I believe 7 in Jaxon's category (1-2 year old boys) and my little boy one for the biggest smile.
It was too bad that Curt could not come along with us, because there was a category for look-a-likes, and they would have won for sure!!!!

Time with Gampy

Jaxon and I spend the evening at mom and dad's on Friday night, so Jaxon go to spend some quality time with his Gampy. Mom and Cara where doing a wedding cake, so I was on supper detail and Jaxon and Gampy got to play, have a snake and watch t.v. together.

There is defiantly not any Strachan in the boy, but I do believe (and it is unfortunate) that he might have got his Gampy's ear's!!!!

New Normal

Well, or new normal has begun. I started back to work on September 8th, and we are now in our 3rd week of routine, and I think that we are staring to get the hang of things.
Jaxon loves his new sitter. Curt usually does the drop off and the pick up, but on Thursdays I don't go into work until later, so I do the drop off. My first Thursday to do it I took him in and he could not never stick around to say good-bye to me. Off to the toy room he was, and I got into the car with a little tear in my eye. Everyone said it was better to have him do that then to cling onto my leg not wanted to leave me, but I at least would have like to him to stick around to say give me a wave or something. Oh well, last week he did give me a kiss, and stuck around for a wave. I felt much better that day driving to work.
I am not sure this whole working full time thing is for me though. I am having one heck of a time keeping up with the laundry, the groceries shopping, making dinner, and trying to keep the house clean. Not to mention that I still do hair one night a week, so that takes away 4-5 hours out of the week as well. Curt has been spoiled for the last year and a little bit with not having to do the cleaning or laundry, but he has soon found out that is going to be joint team work from know on so we can keep up with everything.
Not only am I having a hard time keeping up to my wife duties, I am having a hard time keeping up to the mother duties as well. Curt is good at getting dinner on the table for when I get home, but I usually try to have it all planned out for him. I have tried quite a few new crock pot recipes that he will put on at lunch time, and will be ready for me when I get home from work. This still takes a lot to effort to get ready though. The night before I am usually preparing the next nights dinner just after we finish that nights. I only have a few short hours to spend with Jaxon before he is ready for bed, and it sucks when I have to spend it in the kitchen doing preps for the next day.
Oh boy, life has changed. If anyone out there has a job for me, where I can only work part time, but still make as much as I do know....let me know.
I have managed to re-arrange my hours at work though and I am home by 4:45 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. Thursday it is not until 6:30-6:45 and Friday 5:45-6:00.
Anyways, I know that every family has to go through this, but you really do not know exactly what it is like until you have to experience yourself.
As I said on the 8th, it was the first day of the rest of our life with our 'new' normal!!!

9 months....really late

Dear Jaxon,
9 months old…where has the time gone? I cannot believe that in just another 3 months our lives will be turned upside down. You will be heading to the sitter every day, and I will be heading back to work. We have to take full advantage of the next 3 months together!!!
This month has been full of events. You are fully on the move now. We were able to pack some of your toys away that you do not like to play with anymore because they keep you confined. You are one busy little boy, and you keep mommy on her toes all day long.
You also cut your first tooth this month. I had been expecting it for a couple of weeks, as you were showing all the signs of teething, and then one week, when you had no signs of it at all it popped through. Gammie was actually the one to find it, as you bit on her chin!!!
We spent our first weekend apart this month too. I went shopping for the weekend with the girls, and you and daddy spent the weekend at your grandma and grandpa McLaughlin’s. You had a great time, but I think you missed me. You were all smiles when you saw me on the Sunday night and it melted my heart to know that you missed me. You really did not leave my side for a couple of days after I got home too!!!
You also had your first weekend at the cottage. We headed up on the Friday night and come home on the Monday of the Victoria Day long-weekend. Your friends Hadleigh and Jazlin also came up for the night on Saturday night, as grandpa is building a bunkhouse there, and the guys come up to help with it. It was a cold weekend, so we were not able to be out side too much, but we did manage to take you for a wagon ride down to the beach and you loved it. You loved to watch the water. I am sure that we will have lots of time spend up there this summer, and you will get to love it more and more each time we go. I am sure that you will be spending a lot of hours in the water this year, you and your dad.
Well mister monkey, you are growing up way too fast. When we went to the doctor for your 9-month check up you were 30 inches long and you weighed 20lbs. You like to keep mommy going all day long, which is good. You keep me on my toes. I love you with everything that I have and no matter what the day bring, I always know that you will bring a smile to my face.
Love,
Mommy

8 Months OLD

Dear Jaxon,
Well mister man, you are 8 months old. Where has the time gone? Last year at this time I was just starting to feel you move around in my tummy and know you are moving around all over the place in this world of ours. Almost everyday I have to ask myself where my baby went that snuggled up with me all day long. Now all you want to do is be on the move and there is no time for snuggling in your day.
For the past couple of weeks I have been thinking that you are getting a tooth, but one has yet to appear. You have had all the signs of teething, but all for nothing I guess. It will come with it comes, and there will be many more to follow that first one.
You still choose to be a picky eater. I think that it is the texture thing that you do not like. You seem to eat very well for your father, but other then breakfast you want nothing to do with eating with me.
You celebrated your first Paddyfest and also Easter this month. For Paddyfest you went to the parade, but that was pretty much all the celebrating that you did for that. When you turn 19 I am sure that it will be a different story. For Easter you got to play with all of your cousins on the Robinson and Omand sides of our family, and we also spent time with the Strachan’s as well.
We continue to go to our Baby Time and Parent Chat through the Early Year’s Center here in town. We have also started to get together with our Infant Program friends. We will hopefully be continuing that on a weekly basis. We have not been swimming for a long time, and will hopefully get back to it soon.
The nice weather is finally here, and we have been getting out for walks. You love to go out and about through the town, taking in every little thing. You are too nosy to fall asleep when we are out and about on our walks, but realize that when we are 2-3 blocks from home that there will be nothing more to see and fall asleep,
We have found your sitter for when mommy goes back to work, and we went and met with her this week. You really seem to like her, and took a real liking to her dog Spencer. You had great fun with him and found him really amusing. I am not sure what it was about him, because he did not do anything that Lexy doesn’t do, I guess just because you do have to see him everyday (yet) he was that much more fun to play with then your own dog.
Well monkey, your dad is almost done tax season and we will have him back in our lives. It will be nice to actually spend time as a family, and have him home for the evenings. Summer is just around the corner, and that means that our lives are about the get really busy. Mommy and Daddy will both be starting ball soon, and your dad will be out on the golf course as well. We will be spending time at the beach, and going on a very special family trip. We have so many fun things planned to do with you this summer, I can’t wait.
Love,
Mommy

Dear Jaxon,
Well little man, 7 months old…I cannot believe it.
You are becoming such a big boy and so independent. Daddy and I cannot take our eyes off of you for more then a second or else you are getting into something. You do not like us to do thing for you anymore, you would much rather do it on your own.
You love to talk too. You really do not have a wide range of vocabulary, but you love to say the words that you can say….dada….adad….nana. If anyone else is talking you have to make sure that you show them you have a voice too and overpower their words with yours.
You have started to sit all by yourself, with very little falls anymore. You love this position because you can keep your eyes on everything, but still play with your toys. You have also learned how to roll from your belly to your back, so you are a traveling machine. You will still only roll to your left side, but you still manage to cover a lot of ground just by rolling back and forth from your tummy to your back.
You have decided that you are going to become a picky eater. You will not eat baby food veggies or meat, but will eat it if it is real food ground up. You will only eat it though if you feed it to yourself…no taking it from a spoon for you, you are a BIG BOY!!!! You still will eat your cereal and fruit when I feed it to you, but that is about it. You love your baby cookies and mum mum’s and have started to drink from a sippy cup as well.
The nice weather has made a few appearances in the past couple of weeks and we are getting out for walks. You love them. You have to sit up and take it all in, no laying back for you. You are quite the nosy little parker that way, always needed to know what is going on. Even when we are out and about, you will not have your naps afraid that you might miss something.
You got a new playmate this month too. On March 9th your friend Jazlin Nicole Johnston was born. You went and met her the day after she was born and liked her from the moment that you laid your eyes on her. Finally someone that is smaller then you. You are one little stud muffin with all these little girls surrounding you.
We have continued our Wednesday afternoon baby groups, and the odd Tuesday morning parent talks with the Early Years Center here in town and we still manage to make it swimming the odd Thursday. You and your cousin Reed are really starting to enjoy the water.
Well monkey, before you know it the summer is going to be here and we will be spending our days on the beach at the cottage. I am sure that you will love it considering your love for the water. I cannot wait for you to be able to sit and play in the grass, and go to the beach and play in the sand. Your dad informed us the other night that it is only 8-9 weeks until we will be making our first trip to the cottage for the May 24 weekend.
Some days I often sit and watch you playing and wonder where my little baby has gone. I do love that you still like to cuddle with your mommy. We will sit and rock together cuddling a least a couple of times a day, and I love it. It shows me how much you love me, and my baby has not completely gown up, although I hope that you never loose that cuddliness!!!
Love,
Mommy

6 Month Pics

Dear Jaxon,
6 months old, where has the time gone? Before you know it we will be getting ready to celebrate your 1st birthday, and I will be getting ready to go back to work. Before we even start to think about that though, we are going to have a great summer together and we still have to find you a babysitter.
The past month has been a busy one. I am not sure what all we have done, but I do know that I am not sure were the time has gone. You celebrated your first Valentine’s day this past month, and you spent the day with your Gammie and Gampy while your mommy and daddy went out on a date. You also helped Hadleigh celebrate her 1st birthday and your auntie Cara celebrate her 26th birthday. You and I also spend your first Family Day together, but daddy had to work so he could not share the day with us.
We have also started to go swimming with some of your friends. The first time we went we went to Hanover with Reed and Jayden and then we have gone to Wingham a couple of times since. You have gone swimming with Hadleigh, Tyson and Luke. You are really starting to like it. We usually take some of your bath toys along with us and you laugh and splash and have a wonderful time. You will be starting swimming lessons soon, so it is a good thing that you like the water.
You also send your Wednesday afternoons at baby group with a whole bunch of your friends. We go there to talk about different topics on a weekly basis, and you love when it comes time to leave because we will sit around in a circle and sing songs before we go. You have continued your love for music, and every time you hear it you will stop whatever it is that you are doing and just listen. You have also started to like to dance. You cannot do this on your own yet, but you love it when I move and shake you to the music. I am hoping that with this love so early in life you will have better rhythm then your father does.
You continue to be an excellent sleeper and let mommy and daddy sleep through the night.
You have started to eat solids this past week. I have been trying to get you to eat cereal for about 2 months know, but have had not luck with it. You would not take the spoon in your mouth, and when I do get it in there you will just spit it all out. Someone suggested to me yesterday at baby group to add fruit with it, and you seem to like it a lot better know. I still have a difficult time getting the spoon in your mouth, but have found a secret way to trick you. You have also started to eat some veggies, and don’t seem to mind them at all.
Well Monkey, you are an ever changing little boy, and my days with you seem to go by way too fast. I love you more and more each day, if that is at all possible!!!!
Love,
Mommy

5 Months OLD!!!!

Dear Jaxon,
Where has the past 5 months gone? I was just thinking this weekend that it was only a year ago that I found out that I was pregnant, and here you are changing every day.
This month was a very big month. You got to celebrate your first Christmas with all of your family and friends. We had family gathering with your great grandma McLaughlin’s family, the Bell’s, on December 7 in Hanover, and then we had the Omand family Christmas on the Sunday before Christmas. On the 23rd we had all of our friends over to our house to celebrate with them for the evening as well. Christmas eve was spent at Gammie and Gampy’s house. We went to church and then come home and opened a couple of your gifts. We read ‘The Night Before Christmas’ and then it was off to bed so that Santa would come. In the morning we woke up to find that he had ate the cookies and drank the milk that you left him, and he even left you a note to tell you what a good boy you are. We wandered down stairs and found that he remember to leave your gift at Gammie and Gampy’s house. There was a new rocking horse, a book, a few other toys and a new outfit. You were a very spoiled little boy!!!! It was very nice to have been able to stay the night at Gammie and Gampy’s. It was just like Christmas morning used to be for mommy when she was growing up, and she got to share that with you on your first Christmas.
On Christmas afternoon we headed over to your Grandma and Grandpa’s house to celebrate with them. Your great Grandma and Grandpa were there as well, and your cousin Reed, auntie Trisha and uncle Clint came in later. There were plenty more gifts for you to open when you got there!!!!
The rest of our Christmas happened a couple of days later by going to Stratford for our Strachan family, and then to Hayleigh and Emily’s for the Robinson’s.
Daddy was off through Christmas right until the 5th of January, so it was nice that you were able to spend a lot of time with him, because now it is his busy time at work and we will not get to see that much of him over the next 3 ½ months.
Sickness also hit our house over the holidays. Your Gammie had the flu on Christmas Eve, and your daddy and auntie Cara got it on Christmas day. I think that you may of even had a touch of it then too. Mommy got it on New Year’s Eve day. I guess those flu shots that we got did not prevent it!!!
You have become quite an active little boy these days. Last week you rolled over for the first time that I saw. You will roll from your back to your tummy, but only turning left. Last night we were at Gammie and Gampy’s for dinner and you rolled back to your back from your tummy, but I think that it was only because you could not get your arm from underneath your self.
Not only have you started to roll, but also you really have started to play with your toys. You got an exersaucer for Christmas, and you love it. There are animals all over it, and you love to pull them in and play with them. Of course everything still goes right in your month, but mommy makes sure to keep everything clean for that purpose. Your Jolly Jumper is still a favorite past time. In the last week you have realized that it jumps, and you know now how to get yourself going. Your playmate was another favorite place for you to spend some time, but know you do not stay on your back long enough to play with the toys on it. As soon as we put you down on the floor you roll right on to your tummy, but you do not seem to mind. You like there, and you are really getting a strong neck, pushing yourself up on your arms to see what is going on around you. Before you know we know it you will be crawling.
No toothies have popped through yet. I thought that there was one there on Christmas day, but it never can through, so we still are sporting the rosy red cheeks some days and still praying for our ‘2 front teeth’.
You still very much love your sleep, which daddy and I really appreciate. You sleep for 10-11 hours each nigh, and usually have an hour nap in the mornings, and a big 2-3 hour nap in the afternoons.
On January 5th you were to the doctors for your 4 month check-up. This involved some needles, and they must have hurt more then the last ones did, because you really pulled at mommy’s heart this time around with your cries. When we were there they weighed you and you tipped the scales at 16lbs.6oz. You are a growing boy, and very healthy. I had to pack away all your 3-6 month cloths last week, as you are know into all your 6-9 month stuff.
Well monkey, I do not know where the time has gone. Next month you are going to ½ year old. I cannot believe it!!!! Everyday when I go to get you out of your crib in the morning you greet me with the biggest smile. You melt my heart with each passing day, and daddy and I are so truly blessed to have you in our lives.
Love,Mommy

New Adventure

I have been really bad at posting lately, but here is what I have been learning how to do: