Take me back!

To FLORIDA!

Okay so the weather wasn't great down there, but my child doesn't understand why we aren't going outside all day long for a walk or something like we did last week! Even though it is mild here it isn't probably a real good idea to be outside. One of these days I will figure out how to upload photos to my blog in the order I want, so I will start at the end of our Florida trip and work my way back to the first day!

Xavier was not a fan of the sand this time around. So I put him in a beach chair for some pics!

What are you looking at?

Look at me I am standing in the chair!

While we were in Florida my Aunt and her family were in Sanibel Island, which is about 30 minutes from my grandmothers. So we went over and visited for a day! It was great, I love Sanibel! I think I went every year for just about 20 years and then now I had not been back for probably 5 years or so. My parents, brothers and sister's family and ours is spending a week next year there and we can't wait!

Xavier playing with his buddy and cousin Charlie. Charlie did NOT want his swim diaper on but more than that he was NOT putting on his swimsuit either! Note the bottle still......work in progress on that. It makes me break out in a sweat when I think of how I am going to have to just go cold turkey and take the dang bottle nipple away from him.

Xavier LOVED the pool! He also loves to be thrown up into the air. That is usually reserved for Daddy though, but I was safe in the pool!

Look at me! I love that our condo has a super duper long step area, it is great for kids playing! He could just walk the width of the pool along a step that was about 8 inches in the water.

Sunset at my birthday dinner. By my face you would think I was staring into the sun.....oh well!

Me, X and Gigi for a sunset picture

Nothing prettier than a Florida sunset on the beach!

Family pic

I'm free!!!! Xavier loves to just run around. He never runs back to you though, just away from you! :) At my grandmothers, we walk across the street, hop on a tram, ride down the boardwalk and we are the beach! It is so great!

On our daily morning walk along the boardwalk all bundled up! We kept X in his footed pajamas, with a jacket that had a hood and his blanket!

Daddy liked to push! We found a great place in Naples that rents all kinds of baby gear! So we had a car-seat, a stroller and a crib delivered and picked up for the week!

Jake and I spent a couple afternoons sitting at the beach bar sipping a cocktail under heaters. It was crazy being in Florida in March and it being low 60's and cool. The trees along the boardwalk looked a little like they were growing upside down, sort of hard to see but Jake is trying to touch the branches, they looked kind of dangerous actually like if they fell on you, you were in trouble!

We thought for sure X would like the beach like last October, but nope! He really didn't want any part of the sand. He sort of didn't mind the harder sand by the water, but still it only lasted a minute. So we had to snap fast for a family pic!

Gigi and X

Thanks Mom for going to Florida with us, or taking us I guess! Gigi stayed in the condo with my grandparents while X napped so Jake and I could go to the beach bar every afternoon!

Can you see the Gator head? Walking along the boardwalk there is a Marsh where all kinds of birds and gators play! X and I kept walking while Daddy took this picture, but we usually saw at least 1 gator a day while walking (probably the same one, she moves from place to place)

All bundled up but excited to be outside!!!!!

The sunglasses only lasted about 5 seconds, but somehow I got a picture!

Xavier and Poppy

Xavier learned or said 2 new words in Florida. Pop and fish. We would say where is Poppy and he would look and see him and then he just said "Pop." When he says fish he sort of sounds like he is whispering. No Mama yet...........

We brought some toys with us and then we bought some toys, but he loved to play with Grandmothers cane the best! He would swing it around, beat it on the ground and just walk around with it! Half the time we had to go in search for it so that Grandmother could use it!

Overall we had a GREAT week in Florida! We got to spend time with my Grandparents and even though X won't remember it will still be cool to tell him he spent a week in Florida with his Great-Grandparents who were 92 years old!

The weather was awesome, on my last day there! But oh well, being there with a 1 year old, I can't exactly be out in the sun from 9-4 like I used to! Priorities have changed! The Knott family has been in Florida for 2 record setting weather weeks! In October it was the hottest on record and in March it was the coldest, go figure!

I turned 31 in Florida, sometimes I seriously cannot believe that I am in my thirties already.

We have 2 major things to work on in the next couple weeks and they are Crying-it-out, Phase 2, and no more bottle. Xavier's sleep is like the weather in Indiana, 1 night it is pretty good and then the next night it is completely the opposite!

He has been napping pretty steadily in the morning and afternoon for about an hour or so each time. Last night he woke up and you would have thought I was pinching him or something by his screaming! So much for my nap this morning while he naps! Dang computer!

And the poor guy just scratches and scratches his already dry scalp. His skin is getting better, just depends on the day sometimes.

We went to the Pediatric Dentist(one of Gigi's best friends from Purdue) before Florida and Dr Becky said she could feel the points on his bottom 2 1-year molars and so those will be arriving any time IF they are not already arriving! It is hard to tell, if I try to put my finger in his mouth, he clamps down! I yelped in pain last week while trying! We took Caden for his 2 year appt and Xavier for his first, those hygienists and Dr Becky are saints for dealing with screaming kids everyday who DO NOT want them looking in their mouths! Thankfully we didn't have to be in the room with them, but we could sure hear them!

Xavier loves yogurt, applesauce, mac n cheese, cheese and his baby snack stuff. Sometimes I can get some green beans down but anything that is meat, he will not touch! I try to sneak it in there and he eats whatever else and spits the meat out. I worry everyday that he is not getting enough to eat but he is drinking his milk (in a bottle of course) and he eats the usual. So that is another goal to find ways to get him some more nutrient foods.

I am NOT looking forward to Daylight Savings time this weekend.......somehow I doubt X will sleep in until 7! And of course being in Florida part of the week I didn't get to the putting him down 5-10 minutes earlier every night before hand, so we will see what Sunday night brings! Can't wait to CIO!

Lots of plans this weekend! We have Pops and Grandi's "Sing-a-long" tonight at their house, a friends 2nd birthday tomorrow afternoon and of course the Boilers in the Big Ten tourney this weekend! Boiler-Up (toot-toot)

Hoping this weather feels more like Spring so we can get outside, have a great weekend!

Snow, snow go away

X man smiling for the camera!

What? I am not supposed to stand up in my chair? He stands and holds onto things and does this little stomp/dance thing. He didn't want to get out of his crib yesterday because he was having fun dancing with the rails! I love these Target pajamas. Jake calls it his leotard. They are a tad tighter than his sleepers. These are 18 months but they are a "slim-fit" his 24 month ones look a little looser!

I like to eat stuff off my high chair tray AFTER mommy takes me out of the high chair!

Something about this green cup! Every time I go to fill it up with some water he wants a drink. And he gets this HUGE smile on his face after he takes a sip (which I did not get a pic of!) Here I let him have a sip by himself and the water pretty much ended up all over his face and shirt, but that smile still appeared! If only he would enjoy his sippy cups.......

Crazy morning hair!

Thought I would post a pic of my sister with her kids since she hasn't updated her blog in a couple months! I know though, she is busy and sometimes doesn't have access to a computer. Caden is eating an "Uncle Jake" cookie. He isn't eating it in his designated spot though......

Gigi with her boys

Caden crawls through the poop tunnel.....

Xavier crawls through the poop tunnel.

It is called this because Caden used to always go in and poop in it and now sometimes X does too now.

Not much new, just super duper excited to be heading to Florida and crossing fingers for warmer weather there! Anything is warmer than here! We are tired of the snow though and just want to go outdoors and walk or something!

TGIF!

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY OTHER BABY!!

29-Enjoy the last year of your 20's babe!

In tribute to Jake's birthday today I thought I would put some pics up from the past. It is also my brother in law Brady's birthday today. Who would a thought my sister and I would marry men with the same birthday!

Jake, Brady and Deno 2 nights before Deno married the love of his life, Lacey!

Not so old, but Jake and his little man X at Christmas, 2009

Kevin, Jake, Brady and Josh at the infamous and forever loved in our hearts, Stacks. This was back in 2006 (I think that is the year) it was the night of my sister Ashley graduating from Purdue!

Josh and Jake on the dance floor somewhere.....not sure exactly.

Jake and I at the Kentucky Derby, Day at the Oaks in 2008.

(look at that little boy haircut!)

And of course, my handsome little devil on Valentine's Day! He wouldn't sit still or stand still long enough for a good pic that day!

Not sure what this face is! Probably thinking take this stupid sippy cup away and GIVE ME MY BOTTLE look!

We had Xavier's 1 year check up this week, all is great! He has grown 2 inches since last appointment which puts him at 32.5 inches tall or 2 foot 8 as daddy likes to say. He weighed 23.11. Overall X is doing great! He has not taken a specific liking to ANY sippy cup for his milk (some formula still) and believe me, he has plenty to choose from! He will pick the sippy cup up, take 1 sip and throw it down. If he is really in a mood or hungry he goes to the kitchen and points to the sink where he knows an old bottle or 2 is waiting to be washed or is clean! They are waaaayyy smarter than you think! :)

So we are working on the transition to sippy cup right now. He sleeps well for a couple nights then throws in 1-2 bad nights and repeat! He is still taking 2 naps a day, for the most part. Sometimes the afternoon nap is a struggle, but if he doesn't take one he is falling asleep at 4:45 or just really grumpy! His morning nap, he pretty much tells me when he is ready to go to sleep! We also went to a very nice Pediatric Dermatologist, much better than the waste of time Nurse Practioner at my Derm's office. We are on a new regimen of creams and starting to bathe daily with only a certain soap for skin and hair. And we are seeing the Allergist next month to find out about the egg thing and the Derm is "quite certain" we are going to find that he is allergic to something he is eating or something in our environment that is making him dry and his scalp itch and his eyes look like they are puffy and red all the time! So I am anxious to see if there is something that he is allergic to that we don't know about!

He babbles and babbles all the time but have not heard Mama yet. He definitely says Dada and he will say Car! He also says Gigi or Gig, or something to that effect! He has 8 teeth and I am trying to feed him new things, but for some reason he all of a sudden has turned slightly picky. He spits meat out, not sure if it is the texture or what! So each day is a new experience in food!

We also took him to the Gym yesterday and left him in the Child's room. He ran right for the other kids and toys, so Jake and I were like, see ya. His time span though is probably about 45 minutes....Amber said he got a little fussy the last 10 minutes. However, I definitely think I can start working out again, I am no longer afraid to take him to the childcare! I went to spinning for the first time in over a year! It was great. I am really not too sore today except for my bum area, but that always happens when you ride a bike for an hour! I hurt less today than I did after my bowling night a couple weeks ago!

We are SUPER DUPER excited to go to Florida in a couple weeks! Can't wait to leave this snow and cold behind for a week!!!! Hopefully my 90 year old grandparents can handle a 1 year old around for a week! It will be a slight change from their otherwise quiet atmosphere! I can't wait to see what he does at the beach now and I already know he is going to love the pool! I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than to be in Florida!

Today Grandi, Pops and Aunt Be-be are coming down for Jake's birthday and we are going out to lunch to celebrate! Last night my sister and I "took" our husbands out downtown for their birthdays. We started at Kilroys to watch the Boilers and then made our way to Harry & Izzy's for a super yummy Filet slider! I think I am one and done at Kilroys. They have a "seat your self" policy which is so stupid and they were not prepared for a crowd apparently, because they had about 50% too few wait staff on hand. But the Boilers won and the waitress tried to keep up with Jake and Brady and cold beers! :) So all in all we had a pretty good time! Thanks Gigi and Opa for watching CW, Chlo Bug and X for us!

Everyone have a great week and thanks for checking in on us!

I'M ONE !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY PRECIOUS BOY!

I made my birthday boy some Oatmeal pancakes for breakfast! Uh.....they may be healthy for you, but they sure don't taste that great! I read the ingredients on the back of the box and didn't see any eggs listed. I thought, great, he can have some pancakes now. What I failed to read on the box was to mix an egg with the dry mix and some water. Well, since I couldn't do that, I just added water. This equaled-cardboard. Mostly he just picked them apart, didn't really eat them!

I LOVE the camera so I came running when I saw it!

Cheese-a-roo sitting in his chair.

Sitting with Moosey and his new favorite toy, daddy's toothbrush! I was cleaning the bathroom yesterday, put the toothbrush holder low enough for him to reach (oops) and he snatched the toothbrush before I could catch him. He just chewed and chewed on it all day-both ends. I think he liked the toothpaste taste because he has both a little toothbrush and a big toothbrush that are already his to chew on and brush with but he didn't want any part of either of those brushes yesterday. So daddy got a new toothbrush last night!

What do you do with a balloon, a spatula and a big spoon? You play hit the balloon with them of course! He just went around all afternoon hitting the balloons! I know his daddy taught him this trick.

I am One! We celebrated with a cupcake, but oddly, he didn't want anything to do with it!

He was interested in the flame though! So we had to sing and blow it out quick!

He didn't want to destroy or eat this cupcake either, so I guess he isn't in to sweets just yet. Lucky me! Sugar would be all he needs anyway!

We ended the big day with a Birthday Bath! Xavier absolutely loves the bath. He has started to protest a bit when we start to take him out. His arms go slack and he becomes a wet, limp sack!

Other than his napping and sleeping schedule he is a pretty good little boy! Jake and I are so blessed and happy that he is in our lives, we love him so much! He is a true joy and we thank God everyday for him. It is so hard to believe that a year has gone by already and I am sure the future will only go faster!

He has 8 teeth and is enjoying pretty much any table food. He still gets some bottles because I am easing into the transition of milk since he seems to have an egg allergy. We go to our 1 year check-up next week so we will see how big he is then! I am quite certain he is around 25 pounds!
Xavier is off to Grandi's tonight for some grandma/grandpa time. Jake and I are going to Alegria, the Cirque de Soleil show here in Indy this weekend.

TGIF, have a great weekend!

Congrats to my friend Anne on the birth of her son this morning, don't know name or stats yet!

1st Birthday Party!

My 1st Birthday Party!!

Hmm....icing. I have never seen this before.

I think I will try a bite.

Done!

No he ate a little more by just putting his face in and taking a bite, but he never got messy! As far as I know this was his first bite of sweetness but he wasn't too interested!

Okay, one more try.....

Xavier is being polite by eating his cake with a fork!

Caden and Kennedy said they would help Xavier eat his cake! Caden kept putting his finger in the icing and taking a lick, put in icing, take a lick.

Xavier's little cake

The Big cake we all ate. Funfetti. Yum, daddy's favorite!

Me and my little man!

Too cute not to post. Karsyn and Caden were watching Shrek downstairs. Karsyn says to Caden, do you want to sit with me and share the blanket? Caden is a smart boy. Watch out Mama and Dada Cherry! :) Although I would have to say their biggest concern is going to be Kennedy!

Overall we had a great 1st Birthday party! Thank you to ALL our friends and family who made the trek through the snow and cold to help celebrate. We really appreciate it! Now for the actual big day on Thursday-turning 1! Yeah!!

B-day Party

Sweet Caden getting ready to blow out his #2 Birthday candle!

Cat in the Hat Birthday cake

We got Caden the "retro" Radio Flyer Tricycle. He LOVED it! Caden wanted to just ride it around inside on the hardwood floors, sorry Uncle Brady!

Easy buddy! The seat needed a little adjusting so he could reach the peddles!

Xavier and Charlie playing with a new toy. Xavier loved to pluck the tree out from this Little People's airport or train station, not sure what it was exactly. Or he wanted a little person. Or he would take the helicopter away from whoever was playing with it!

Chunky little Monkey-Chlo bug!

CW opening presents! He enjoyed ripping into them this year. Even at Christmas he wasn't really into it yet, but he made sure he tore them open this year, just a little bit of paper at a time so daddy had to pick up at least 20 pieces of paper from each present!