Seven Months!!

Dax is officially seven months old today! We are so proud of some of his latest accomplishments too!!

As of tonight he actually crawled forward, twice! Until today he has only managed to crawl backwards and in circles, using a half roll/army crawl to propel himself forwards, but managing to stay on all fours for quite awhile- he loves to rock it out in this position, it's so cute!!

He has mastered maneuvering from a sitting position to a crawling position,

Can almost sit all the way up on his own,

Is able to pull himself up to a standing position from sitting while holding on to my fingers or his crib bars and can maintain a standing position so long as he has something to hold onto- such a table or walker.

He is also a very eager eater of solids and really wants to eat adult food- even though he's not quite ready, lacking teeth and all.

One of my most favorite facts about him these days is that his most favorite person is ME! His face literally lights up whenever I come home and he gets extremely upset whenever I leave, even if he is with Ryan. If I am holding him and then hand him over to Ryan or set him down so I can go do something in another room he will literally do everything in his power to maneuver himself to a position where he can see me. It makes me smile. He's always preferred me to others, but these days it has taken on more noticeable characteristics and while it may become a problem later in life, right now I am enjoying all of his love! It's such a wonderful feeling to know that my love for him is requited in a similar manner!

Seven More...

I may not be so good with my daily thankful posts, but I'm going to update with a list of seven other things I am thankful for. Here it goes!!

1. I am thankful for new experiences with Dax

Today was the first time it has snowed and I've been able to take Dax outside to experience it. It wasn't too exciting but it was pretty cute. He didn't quite know what to make of the white stuff and would spaz out and shake his head back and forth whenever a flake would fall upon his face. He's too cute!!

2. Movie nights with Ryan. We have developed a routine whenever we get a new Netflix DVD where we run down to the Reel Theatre (which has the BEST popcorn) and grab some popcorn, soda, and candy and then pig out on the couch during the movie. We did this just last night and it was fantastic!

3. My car. I do not have the nicest one but I have a car that is nicer than some and is paid off- thanks to my parents. And after today, I'm especially thankful that it has four-wheel drive, driving in the snow makes me nervous and I'm even more stressed out about it now that I travel with precious cargo.

4. Bonding with my little brother.

I'm not as cool to him as I used to be, back when he was about two years old, and, thus, enjoy the little experiences here-and-there when he and I get together. I helped him answer back his girlfriend to a dance the other night and had a lot of fun helping him with it.

5. Pictures.

I love capturing moments and being able to look back at them and realize how much things have changed and people have grown.

6. The morning when Dax lefts me sleep in, even if it is only for thirty minutes. Sometimes that makes all the difference.

7. Thanksgiving break. It is much needed.

Eleven..

It's the thirteenth of November today and I have only succeeded in posting twice about what I am thankful for, to make up for my slacking I will now explain eleven more things that I am thankful for:

1. Ryan.

I've known him for nearly five years now and still think every joke he makes is the funniest- whether I've heard it once or 1,000 times. He and I may not have had the most romantic, perfect relationship in the past but we have grown up together and stayed together despite our struggles. It's comforting to know that we are strong enough to make it through the worst of times to enjoy the best of times. Not to mention that he is one of the greatest fathers I've had the privilege of knowing, let alone being married to.

2. My house! Of course it is our first house and is not the biggest or nicest, but it has the charm and comfort that I sought after meticulously for years.

3. My dad.

He's the hardest working person I have ever met and has done so much to make sure that my family is well taken care of. He is also one of the proudest grandpas I've ever met. He lives for the weeks he is home to watch Dax in the mornings and pesters me for picture messages nearly everyday when he is away at work. Dax adores him too!

4. My job!

Boy, has it taught me patience! Working at "the Goose" has always been a fun experience and prepared me well for my new favorite role- being a mom. The kids there are some of the sweetest and silliest I've ever met and I always look forward to being there with them.

5. My family, in general.

I have some of the most supportive and caring grandparents ever! They have helped me out so much lately and I don't know where my little family would be without them! Not to mention my aunts and uncles who make life more interesting and my new family (the in-laws) who are some of the most compassionate people I've known. I'm also a pretty big fan of my baby brother. He can be a turd at times, but he's a good kid.

6. My physical and mental health! In no way, shape, or form am I saying I am an uber healthy person at this point in time (I still have a ways to go thanks to the beauty of pregnancy) but I could definitely be a lot worse off.

7. My friends.

Certain friendships have started to really develop for me this year and I'm so appreciative of that! I've experienced my fair share of disheartening 'friendships' in the past and am thoroughly enjoying the benefits of true friendship! It's funny that some of these people I've known for years and years but have become closer to them thanks to the major blessing in my life (Dax-he's quite the matchmaker.)

8. My education. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Although I will be graduating a semester behind what I initially had planned, I'm so fortunate to have received the education I have and can't wait to put it to use!

9. Lilly.

I know I already made a shout-out to my awesome friends, but she's a special friend. I know I can rely on her anytime for anything; she's my midnight call at a moment of desperation that arrives with chocolate delights and Diet Pepsi but still takes a minute to take a peep at my baby bear- she is a bomb "auntie."

10. My wedding. I never could have imagined a more special day in my life to celebrate the love that Ryan and I have for each other. My family went above and beyond to provide everything I wanted and made our wedding day the greatest; just another of the endless reasons why I'm so lucky to belong to them.

11. Dax.

I know, I know. I already posted about him in the other two thankful posts, but I'm extremely thankful for him. He's my all-time favorite thing and brings me happiness unlike anyone else. It's remarkable to me how much I can miss him, as I do now when he's in the next room, just because I want to hold him and snuggle him and play with him.

Bouncing Baby Boy

I am thankful to be the mommy of a healthy baby who is developing wonderfully both physically and mentally. Dax has quite the personality at this point in time and frequently entertains family and friends with his silly faces, babbling, and spastic movements. He's so much fun and he melts my heart every time I look at him!

The other night Ryan and I set Dax in his jumper while we were cooking dinner. He was getting so excited watching us move around the kitchen; he kept shrieking at us and whenever we would turn to look at him or talk to him he would flash us this silly face. It was the funniest thing he's done all week and I had to document it!!

I am also thankful for my own mom! She's done so much for me and I find myself constantly feeling incapable of ever appropriately repaying her. She is my best friend and the one person who understands me best of all. I do my best to imitate her parenting because of what an amazing mother she is and I hope that I am at least half as great of a mom to Dax as my she has been to me. I love you mom!

Appreciative November

Today at work I did a craft with the "school kids." I had the children write one sentence about just one thing that they were thankful for and then draw a picture to depict their sentence. For some reason a majority of the boys picked football, except for one who wrote that he was thankful for pilgrims. After finishing the assignment we all sat together and went around the circle telling the others another thing that we were thankful for and why, and it had to be something that they didn't write about.Most of their picks and reasons were pretty cute, ranging from "I'm thankful for you... Because you are a nice teacher" to "I'm thankful for my mom...because she is nice."

But my favorite "I'm thankful for" today came from little Taylor. She is in first grade this year and is the cute girl that is blunt and silly. When it was her turn she said, exactly, "I am thankful for my grandma. You wanna know why? Because she spoils me." At least she's honest.

Want to know what I'm thankful for?

Story-time with Dax and Ryan every night before we put Dax to bed. We all cuddle up on the couch together while Ryan and I alternate reading the pages to Dax.