practice makes perfect.

We had a fun-filled and exciting day full of walking practice today. And with walking practice comes the falls, bumps, and bruises that go along with it. Thankfully, Phoenix is a tough dude, because some of his tumbles were pretty severe. It scares me to death when he falls! I guess we need to keep practicing....
Here are a couple of pictures of the big boy.

 

 

 

Isn't it funny how he puts his hands in the air? I like to think it's as if he's saying, "Look at me!". It's probably more of a balance thing, though.

baby steps.

It's official. Phoenix has started walking! Already, you ask? Well, Taylor and I encouraged him a little too much, I guess. And, I think his buddy Jackson offered him a bit of encouragement. P just couldn't quite keep up with Jack during our recent playdate with him and his mommy. He took his first real steps last Thursday night. Taylor and I were sitting on the couch, P was holding on to the coffee table, and he just let go and took 3 or 4 steps. I wonder where he thought he was going. He definitely was on a mission, though, because he was headed in the opposite direction of mommy and daddy. He has definitely taken some rough falls the past couple of days. He has several battle wounds to prove it. I wish you could see his excitement when he takes a few steps. He is quite proud of himself! Every day his confidence is growing. It won't be long and he'll be off and running! I'll have to post some pics, or a video, soon!

10 months.

Phoenix turned 10 months old today. Wow, time flies. Here are a few pics of him at bath time this evening. He loves his baths!

 

 

Here is what P is into at 10 months:
-He loves to splash in the tub. And when I say splash, I mean mommy, the bathroom wall, and the tile floor all get a piece of the action.
-He makes lots of funny noises and faces with his mouth. He puckers his lips, makes kissing noises, clicks his tongue, and makes blubbering noises with his lips. The noises are actually quite funny! I'm attributing this to teething. Hopefully, he'll outgrow this phase before kindergarten. I don't think his teacher will think it's very funny.
-He loves puffs. Puffs, puffs, puffs. The kid would skip all three meals if we kept dishing out the puffs.
-His daily workout consists of 10 laps around the Around-We-Go. Instead of sitting in the seat and moving around the activity table like he's supposed to, he stands up and holds on to the chair, and pushes it around the table, lap after lap after lap. He gets going pretty fast! This is a sight to see.
-He is still into door stops. He finds them behind every door, in every room. I guess he loves the springy noise they make.
-He seeks out electrical cords. He is just plain fascinated by them. And, he actually tries to chew on them. This is mommy's worst nightmare. Next baby, everything in the house is going to be battery- powered.
-He loves to crawl under stuff. He will crawl under anything. The kitchen table, the coffee table, his rocking horse, the bed, the couch, dirty clothes. I think he feels like he is hiding from us. He is really going to like to build forts one day.
-He loves to get tickled....with feet. This may sound strange, but feet crack him up! If I move my toes even close to him, he laughs hysterically. Finger tickles don't get him laughing quite as hard.
-He loves to say "daddy". He says it all day, every day. I'm pretty sure he knows what it means, but he is obsessed with the word, and says it non-stop. If my phone rings, "daddy". If there is a noise at the door, "daddy". If there is a man on TV, "daddy". It really is cute. His daddy is his biggest role model. (By the way, he finally said mommy this weekend. It came out more like, mahmaaah. Close enough for me.)
-He loves to bang. He will bang on anything. The floors, the coffee table, the bathtub wall, his crib, his highchair. He loves to make lots of noise and get noticed. Is this indicative of his future personality? To get noticed? Probably. He loves to be the center of attention! He is nothing like his mommy.

I can't wait to see what eleven months brings.

new do.

Phoenix had his first official haircut today. (I'll admit, Taylor and I cut his sideburns one night because they were driving me crazy!) We headed on over to Snip-Its in Peachtree City for the big event. It was a really cute place that catered to kids, and the hairdresser was especially patient with P and his squirminess. Isn't the child-size chair just adorable? They had video games and bubbles and stickers and big flashy mirrors. Baby P was in heaven.


Check out his faux-hawk! He looked so cute....I almost toted him out of there before the lady could even get out her scissors. Maybe one day we will let him sport this look!


He loved the mirror, of course.


And here he is looking all spiffy with his new do.


After it was all said and done, he started to loosen up a little. He could have stayed in that chair all day, cheesin' it up for his growing audience of hairdressers, kids, and other mommies and daddies! He looked like such a big boy! My baby is growing up so fast. I'm trying to soak it all in. Before I know it, he will be moving out to go to college. Slow down, buddy. Some days I wish time would stop....or at least slow down a little.

in the blink of an eye....

it's gone. Over. Finito. Been there, done that. I am speaking of P's reflux. Hallelujah! I have been hesitant to post this, for fear that he was just tricking us. That the spitting up would come back in full force. But I think it's safe to say we are finally past it. Some of you may know how bad it really was. I'm talking spit up episodes at least 40 times per day, and I am not exaggerating. I think Taylor and I were just getting used to it when it suddenly disappeared. I swear ear infections are the reflux cure. I even asked the pediatrician if this was true. (I know, I have a medical degree, I should know better!) The weekend after Christmas, Phoenix started running a 102 degree temperature. We noticed that the spit up had diminished, but we thought Baby P just felt too bad to spit up. But the ear infection has come and gone, and the spit up remains MIA. Thank God! Although I'm complaining, the spit up did result in one positive thing....a new Coach purse for mommy. But that's another story. So, here's to ruined carpet, stained clothes, folded and packed away burp cloths, and lots of stories about vomit. This chapter in our lives is finally closed. Yay!

kangazoom.

Phoenix, Granny, and I took a trip up to Marietta to visit cousin Rachel and cousin Allie. Since it was sooo cold, we decided to take Master P and Princess Allie-Cat to an indoor baby gym in Marietta to let them play and, hopefully, wear them out so they'll sleep tonight.

It took a while for Phoenix to figure it all out....


But once he did, he played full throttle....




Here's adorable cousin Allie sliding down the slide.


Of course, P went straight for the mirror! He is slightly narcissistic....


It was tough keeping up with the wild childs, and that includes Granny!


It was a lot of fun, and we discovered that Phoenix LOVES to jump.


Rachel and I decided it was more of a workout for the mommies than the babies.


We had a lot of fun with Granny, Rachel, and Allie. We'll have to do it again real soon!

Today was also a day that will go down in history. Today, the first African-American was sworn into office as President of the United States. The enthusiasm of the American people is incredible! Let's hope our new President can get us out of this recession! The weather was also historical. It was freezing! The high today was only 32 and the low was 17. That is quite chilly for Georgia. Needless to say, it was nice to stay indoors.

new kicks.

Today we headed down to Kicks for Kids in Stockbridge to get Master P some new shoes. Shoes....Phoenix loves them! He loves to play with mommy and daddy's shoes, untie the shoelaces, put them in his mouth (don't worry, we are trying to put an end to this behavior), and bang them on the floor. He also loves when we put shoes on HIS feet. He laughs histerically and curls his toes, making it impossible to get the shoes on. Mommy says, "push, Phoenix", and he just curls his toes tighter and laughs even harder. I get a huge kick (no pun intended) out of our attempts at "shoe dressing". Needless to say, Phoenix goes barefoot most of the time.

But, we have decided it's about time for him to get some new shoes since he is soooo close to walking. I don't like to let him stand on the disgusting floor of public places without shoes on his precious tootsies. The lady in the shoe store was super nice and helpful. She was incredibly patient with Phoenix and his toe-curling. We must have tried on 15 pairs of shoes. I didn't know there were so many options for childrens' foot apparel! Well, our shopping trip was a success. We left there with two pairs of adorable, and might I add, practical, pairs of kiddie kicks. We were both satisfied with the purchase and ready for lunch. Mission accomplished.

9 month check-up

We went for Phoenix's 9 month check-up today. We is growing like a weed! At our last visit in October, we was in the 50th percentile for weight and the 4th percentile for height (short and fat). Today he weighed 22 pounds, 3 ounces (75th percentile!) and he was 28.7 inches long (45th percentile!). Maybe he will get my family's genes for height after all! He had to get one shot, which always makes me sad. He got pretty angry with the nurse who administered the shot, kicking and screaming the whole time she was in there. It was quite a scene! After the fiasco was over, we were waiting in line to pay, he kept eyeing the same nurse as she was cleaning things up and running back and forth between rooms. Then after a few minutes of watching her every move, he gave her a "hey" (in baby terms) and then gave her a great big toothy grin, as if to say, "I forgive you". It was the cutest thing ever! Even Phoenix understands the concept of "forgive and forget". I need to take lessons from this kiddo.

a day at the park

Phoenix and I took some time out of our day last Friday to enjoy this beautiful January weather that we've been having and go to the park. He loves the swing and laughs harder the higher I push him.


Mommy even let Phoenix sit on the bench. He thought he was such a big boy.


I am already looking forward to Spring so we can have many more days like these.

happy 60th birthday!

Today was a good day. There are very few days that we get to spend together as a family, all three of us. Today was one of the few. I tried to soak in every moment. This morning we set out to Ikea in Atlanta to find a wall unit for Phoenix's playroom. Santa was way too nice this year and brought P an abundance of toys and let's just say....they are EVERYWHERE! Phoenix doesn't even know what all he has because he can't get through the maze of toys to get to the others. Some of the toys just sit in the corner lonely and unplayed with. And this is not fair to the toys, or Phoenix, for that matter. I found the perfect wall unit with a place for a TV and 20 cubbies for all of his stuff. Maybe once we get everything set up in there, Mommy and Daddy can get a bean bag chair and sit next to Phoenix in his PBK chair and watch Baby Einstein. That will be fun! I will have to post a before and after shot of his playroom once we get it set up.

This afternoon was Grandaddy Rice's 60th birthday party. A lot of people were there and P loved all of the attention from cousins, great aunts and uncles, and everyone else.

Here is a shot of Phoenix with the birthday Grandaddy. He loves his Grandaddy! Don't they resemble one another?


Here is another shot of Phoenix walking with the help of daddy. He has perfected this skill. He grabs one finger, then the other, and the pulls you in the direction he wants to go. He made his rounds walking around the house with everyone that would participate, including Beme, cousins Denise and Christy, and Madison.


Today was a good day. I love these days with my family. Everything is just as it should be.

over the river and through the woods....

to Beme's house we go. Taylor and I had a much needed date night tonight and Phoenix went to Beme and Grandaddy's house for the evening. Beme said he was quite the talkative one tonight. In the past week he has really started talking, ALOT. His current vocabulary includes "duck", "daddy", "hi", and "bye". "Daddy" is his favorite word, but we're not sure he knows exactly who to say it to, but he definitely realizes it's an impotant word. He also says a gazillion other words, but we can't quite make sense of it all. HE knows what he is saying, though. He will look straight at you and speak in baby sentences about whatever he has to say, including slight variations in pitch and tone to emphasize certain parts, and then let out a sigh at the end as if to say, "that's all". He is at a really fun stage right now, and he loves an audience for his monologues. We're all ears, buddy. Talk away.

By the way, if you need a fun date night, the King Tut exhibit at the Civic Center was wonderful. We also ate at Kevin Rathbun's Steak, which was by far the BEST steak ever! Taylor told the chef that the meal was so good it touched his soul. If you check this place out for yourself, just remember to bring your glock....it is in the ghetto. But it is well worth putting your life on the line to taste a piece of the steak this restaurant offers. And I'm not a steak lover.

smartest baby on the block.

I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a baby IQ, but if there is, I am sure Phoenix's is above 140! I know, I know. Everyone thinks THEIR baby is sooo smart. But baby P really is. Today I discovered that he can point out mommy's nose, mouth, and eyes. Mommy says, "Phoenix, where's mommy's nose?". He looks at me with those big blue eyes and gives me a little chuckle, and reaches straight for my nose. He repeated the same thing with "where's mommy's mouth" and "where's mommy's eyes". Amazing! Coincidence, you say. I don't think so. This baby is smart! (He must have inherited this trait from Taylor.) Ever since he was like a week old, I tell him "I'm gonna get your nose!". I guess he picked it up after hearing it a gazillion times. One day he is going to get really tired of mommy's silly games. But for now, me and P will keep on playing and laughing and playing. I love you sooo much, P. You light up my life.

so here goes nothing.....

Hello family, friends, and fellow bloggers. This is my first post on this newly discovered passion of mine....THE BLOG. For those of you that know me (especially mom and Taylor), I am NOT a tech savvy individual. I am starting this blog partly out of pure and simple interest in the concept, and partly (or mostly, maybe) out of guilt. Baby P is 9 months old and counting and I have yet to start his baby book. I had elaborate dreams of how perfect and intricate his baby book would be....with all of the cute scrapbooking additions, stickers, and die-cuts. But 9 months later, I have come to the realization that I am NOT a scrapbooker. One of my neighbors warned me of this. She told me before Phoenix was born that some mom's have it, and some mom's don't. I guess I am one of those that don't! I even went to the trouble of creating a whole room in my house designated to my crafty scrapbooking. Let's face it. It's not gonna happen. SO....this is the next best alternative. I DO love my computer. Baby Center was my best friend when I was preggo. Taylor says it's still an addiction....I am in denial. This is going to be my new addiction. So please check back often. It is my goal to keep everyone posted on Phoenix's milestones and quirky accomplishments, and I might add a few stories about our crazy life as new and naive parents. We love all of you very much!