We're in BIG Trouble Now

No More Gymnastics

Gymnastics class ended last week. Gavin and Vivian each got a certificate and a bag of fruit snacks. They were very proud. Here's the last video of their last gymnastics class.

Lately

Lately, Paxton has enjoyed picking Gavin's window

stickers off the windows in the playroom.

Lately, Vivian has been in love with
wrestling gently with Paxton. 

And sometimes, she let's Paxton win.

Lately, Gavin has been testing out his
train-track making skills more often.

He's Door-Obsessed

Paxton is oddly obsessed with opening and closing doors. Closet doors, the front door, the mailbox door, the playhouse door, and all of the gate doors in our house. He loves 'em all. He likes to sit next to them or stand up next to them and swing them open and closed. He likes to control who can go through doorways, giggling as he opens the door for one sibling and not the other. He checks the mailbox everyday and squeals when he slams it down. He also closes the front door every morning as Gavin and Vivian leave for school. But his most favorite thing to do is to open and close the gates that are there to keep him in or out of a room in our house. We've even caught him standing "in" the gate and swinging on it as it opens. Crazy kid.

Sleepy Gavin

I've blogged about Gavin's incredible sleeping habits several times (see HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, or HERE to refresh your memory), but this one may take the cake.

Go Fish

Her Messy Bun

Lately, Vivian has been letting me put her hair in a messy bun. I'm dying over the cuteness. I hope she continues to let me put it up all summer long.

After Dinner Nature Walk

Last night, we took the kids on a nature walk at JMU's arboretum after dinner. It was gorgeous.

Gum

On Saturday, Gavin put a huge wad of gum in his hair. Well, this meant that his head was shaved almost to the skin on Monday. Oh well. It'll grow back. Eventually.

The Richelsen Family

Our dear friends, Steph and Tony, recently asked me to take some photos of their little family along with Tony's brother, wife, and children. Of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to spend some time with them and take some great photos of their family. So many of them turned out just gorgeous, but here are my absolute favorites!

MD Trip

A couple of weekends ago, we went to MD to visit family, do a photo shoot with some friends (post to come), and attend Lea's first birthday party. As usual, Pax slept in the car.

Friday night, we went to Chick Fil-A for dinner and the kids loved playing in a play place that was very different from the Harrisonburg Chick Fil-A. Saturday morning, everyone woke up super early so we decided to take a bath in GG and Max's HUGE tub.

Then Wes and I put the kiddos back in their PJs and took them to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast. Of course, we had to "cheers" our donuts.

When we got back, we spent some time in the community playroom (the kids all LOVE that room!) before getting ready to go take pictures of the Richelsen family (post to come) and head to Lea's birthday party (see HERE).

Saturday night was spent eating dinner with GG and Max and then Gavin, Wes, and Max went to a car show while Vivi, Pax, GG, and I watched a movie until bedtime.

Sunday morning was another early one for us (our kids never seem to sleep in when we don't sleep at home). But Cheerios and Mickey Mouse pancakes made everything better.

Somehow, Paxton found his way into the dishwasher when no one was looking.

We also went to the park and walked around the mall for a bit on Sunday morning.

Around noon, we packed up the car to head back to Virginia. But not before stopping for lunch with Grandma.

The ride home was filled with lots of sleeping.
 Not surprisingly, everyone was beat.

Paxton is 11 Months Old

Well, yesterday, he was 11 months old. And I'm sure if we're personal friends on Facebook, if you follow Jen's Love Lessons on Facebook, or if you follow me on Instagram, then you already got a sneak peek of Paxton's 11 month photo shoot. But since you read this blog, now you get to see the rest (lucky you)!

Without further ado, here are the photos from Paxton's 11 month shoot and the general update about our favorite almost-one-year-old (eek!). 

Overall, Mr. Paxton Marshall is looking and acting more and more like a toddler these days. He's not walking yet. He's still cruising while holding onto furniture and walking while pushing other objects around. And, he can stand unassisted for a good 10 seconds (or more) We don't really know how long he can actually stand because when we stand him up, he doesn't usually fall down. Instead, he just stands for a few seconds and then slowly squats before going into a crawling motion. So, we're really not sure if he could stand for longer. Basically, I'm not sure if he's squatting because of his inability to stand or his lack of desire to stand. Whatever.

In the last month, Paxton has really begun babbling excessively. All. Day. Long. It's quite insane at times, actually. He likes to say, "dadadadadabababababamamamama" and the like. The best part is when he uses a wide variety of insanely crazy intonations, tones, and volumes while babbling. It's presh.

There's the squat. 

Pax is still a late evening-night nurser while drinking formula during the day. When he has a bottle, he drinks a solid 8 ounces almost every time. We're also planning to start introducing a little milk here and there just to get him used to the taste. He really liked it yesterday. Fingers crossed that his acceptance of milk continues.

Still no teeth, still co-sleeping, and still ridiculously easy.

Love you, Pax!

Lea's First Birthday Party

Last Saturday, on our most recent trip up to Maryland, our dear friends' second child, Lea, had her first birthday party. Iad and Brandy (Lea's parents) have a son who is six weeks younger than the twins and Lea is six week older than Paxton. So needless to say, our kids are very close. It was the most perfectly beautiful spring day on Saturday, with highs in the lower 70s. The party was mostly held outside, which all of the kids absolutely loved. But we played inside a few times, too. Here are the highlights:

Vivian and Nick (Steph & Tony's first child).

Wes (the baby whisperer) with Nick.

Me & Paxton

Lea and Brandy's mom

As is usual Brandy fashion, she had a pinata!

L to R: Steph and Nick, Mitchem, Me, Brandy and Lea

Mitchem and Bam

I also had the pleasure of doing a photo booth at the party. I think it turned out great! Here are a few of my favorite photo strips:

 And of course, Miss Lea!

Happy Birthday, Miss Lea! 

We can't wait to come to many more of your celebrations!