Disney

Brian, Axel and I went to Disney World last week. It was a short trip-Sunday thru Wednesday-but we all had a blast! Axel did great on the plane. We lucked out and got an extra seat for Axel on 2 of the 3 planes we were on. (we had a lay over in Detroit on the way back) The flight from Detroit (at least it was only 1 hour long) was tricky but all the other ones Axel did great. He loved having his own seat and played the whole way there. I thought he would sleep but No way! By time we got to our hotel it was 1am and Axel was still wide awake!
We spent one day at Magic Kingdom and the other at Animal Kingdom. Axel had a blast on rides like It's a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, a Buzz light year ride and he loved the Animal Safari. We got to see a parade each day. Axel thought the characters were cool but from a distance. He liked waving to them but once they came close he wasn't sure about them. Some of the characters are so big so I don't blame him on being a little cautious about them. He ended up liking Jimanie Cricket, Thumper and Goofy. He even kissed Goofy and the Jimanie Cricket! (I know I'm spelling his name wrong) But Axel's favorite was Donald Duck. He LOVES him now. He has been carrying around his stuffed Donald every day and can't stop giving him kisses! It's super cute. The last night in Disney I had to share my bed with Axel, Donald and the yellow ball that Axel won at the arcade in our hotel. There hotel had a crib but Axel didn't sleep well in it. It was short trip but it was very Magical! The weather was amazing and we come home just in time to miss the winter storm. I have a ton of pictures-I just need to get organized and then I'll post some.
On a side note Axel is officially done with the bottle!!! Finally...it's been 6 days and nights with out one! Way to go Axel!!!

Copy Cat

I have a funny story I had to share. Axel is such a copy cat these days. He will try to copy any thing you do from putting his own clothes on, feeding the dogs, the way I eat or talk on the phone. I knew this day would come but already?!
The other day I was on the phone with a friend from work. We were having a good talk-we were on the phone for maybe 20 minutes. In our conversation I happen to say some thing to her about wishing that "I had more balls." (meaning that I wish I was more daring related to a topic) Of course my copy cat picked right up on that one and before I knew it here's Axel in the back round "More Balls! More Balls!" He was saying it so loud that Lisa (the girl I work with) could hear it and or course he was repeating it over and over! Luckily he didn't know the whole meaning to the conversation but man....I sure do have to watch what I say around him. What a silly boy! I couldn't help but laugh so Axel thought that he was being so cute that he kept repeating it. He sure does amaze me daily, even if it's by repeating all the great things that mom says!

No more daycare

We have decided to try no daycare. We have been paying for full time daycare but only using about 1-2 days a week. So with the help of Grandma Ann we are trying it with out. Brian and I luckily have flexible schedules so we have been flipping our shifts to work around each others. Ann watches Axel on the days in between my night shift, otherwise Brian and I are on duty. We have done it for two weeks already and it seems to be working out. Axel just loves going to Grandma Ann's house and we are so grateful that she can help us. Grandma's rock!

Axel has started to get a little sassy lately. I don't want to say terrible twos quite yet but maybe that's what it is. He is a very good boy but he has started to get upset when things don't always go his way and he LOVES to throw his food. I can only give him a little bit of food at a time and then still half of the time it ends up on the floor. We started to try the whole 'time out' thing, but it is still a work in progress. He is just really starting to understand things and some times can't get his point across, he loves to try to do things on his own (no matter how long it takes) and he doesn't like to hear the word 'NO'. It's amazing how much language he has been getting. I swear he learns new words or meaning every day. I can't believe that he is almost two! Where has the time gone?

22 months

I can't believe that Axel is already 22 months old! Where has the time gone? I know it sounds cheesy but Axel sure is a blessing! He sure does know what he likes and what he does not like-and he will let you know about it. One of his favorite thing right now is to chuck things-like his dinner plate or a toy when he's done with it. I'm not sure where he learned that one but I think I could mop my floors daily. His newest word his "shadow". He just pointed to the wall the other day and said "shadow". Then pointed to mine and said "mom's shadow". I was like wow....yes that is my shadow! Where do they learn this stuff? Axel is really into all kinds boy stuff like trucks, tractors and trains. He had a doctor's appointment last week-he weighs 22 pounds and 6 ounces! He is officially on the charts at a big 4%!! Whoo woo! My big boy! We did make the big decision of turning his car seat forward. Gulp..I know...but he is forward facing and loving it!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween weekend. Axel and I hit the Cannonfalls downtown stroll and got a ton of candy! We went to Grandma Ann's and saw mom's friend Jackie on Halloween then headed home because it was kinda cold and dad wasn't feeling that well. (We are hoping it wasn't the influenza bug-we are hoping to keep that one out of our house!) Axel loved being able to carry around his light saber all night! All for now...

Halloween

Things Axel is in to...

I'm sure I could like of more but here are a few of Axel's likes and dislikes.
-He like to kiss and make it better-(when he has an owie-mom always can cure any thing with a kiss!)
-He will not eat any vegetables lately. He does ok with most other foods but any thing green touches his plate and No way..it makes it's way to the floor quickly! He's getting better at meats but still is mostly chicken nuggets and hot dogs.
-He has started to like trains-he even says "choo choo" when the Thomas show comes on.
-He loves to harass our dogs by running after them and grabbing their ears and tails.
-He is such a copy cat-any thing mom and dad does he just has to try.
-He loves to throw stuff in the garbage and say "bye-bye" to it.
-He has become very interested in the toilet, but not for potty reasons-just to put things in there and say "bye-bye" to it. (the other day I found at least 20 hair binders in the toilet!)
-He loves being outside and some days it is really hard to get him to go back inside the house. I dread winter for this reason-mom is not a cold outside weather girl!
-He is very curious about bugs-of all types. He likes to try and touch them and if he can hold them in his hand and bring them to his mom! Yuck...boys will be boys!
-He has started to talk with two word phrase-like "Hi Momma and Bye Daddy"
-I know this one is bad but he still takes the darn bottle-or as he calls it "bobble" only at night and with naps-when he's at home, but he will not give it up. I know it's a power game because he doesn't do it at daycare-he drinks from a regular cup there! But once he gets home he knows how to play the parent's! We are working on this one...I guess we are comfort people..if it makes him happy. I'm hoping he will break himself from this one quick?!
-He loves tattoo's and loves when I draw one on his arm. He will look at guys arms to see if they have one.
-He really likes books. We read each night before bedtime. His favorite right now is Goodnight Moon. no matter what book we read we have to end it with that book.
-He still really likes shoes-on and off all day!

Summer Fun

Hiking with dad.
Big Wood State Park
Axel's new whip!

Walking stick made from dad.

Playing with his bed tent in the living room.
Just being Axel!

He loves bath time!