Playdate with Amari

While Daddy was out of town for a couple of days, Cutter and I ventured down to Cove. We had a great time hanging out with the family. But our most important date was with this little princess, Amari.

They played wonderfully together. We are actually thinking about staying another night, not by choice, but because the weather may not let us come home. If it doesn't, we may have another date scheduled for tomorrow!
The best part of it all was that while they played, we talked!! It was GREAT to have some adult conversation going on!

My kid is not shy! He didn't even do the ole "yawn" to put his arm around her trick! He just did it!!

Everyone together now......

awwwwwww

Bath Time

Isn't he just the cutest little man ever!We have been fighting several sicknesses in the Nix Family. Cutter is just getting over strep, scarlet fever (which is a symptom of strep) and an ear infection. We have an appointment next week with the ENT to see about getting tubes in his ears. I really thought I wouldn't have to put my kid through getting tubes, but I guess you can't really help it.
I thought I was starting to feel like myself again, but it hit me like a fright train and I have been feeling pretty bad myself. I am fighting a sinus infection and the normal all-day morning sickness. We are doing as well as expected here in the Nix house and just trying to get everyone well.

12 things...

...to know about my 12 month old.

1. Cutter only has 4 teeth! We are patiently waiting for the rest to come in, so we can start exploring new foods. It has to be boring to be eating the same thing over and over. Don't get me wrong, we are trying new stuff, but I basically have to dice it to small enough pieces so he can gum it to death. He can feed himself, most of the time. Actually he prefers to feed himself and he prefers to use a fork. He will also eat anything I put in front of him - Broccoli, Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Tofu, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, French Toast, Pancakes, Waffles, Strawberries, Pineapples, Cherries, Apples, Blueberries, Yogurt and Crackers are just a few things this boy will chow down on when put in front of him.
2. Cutter is BIG boy. Not that you can't look at him and tell, but when we took him to his 12 month check-up - he is off the charts!! In all areas- head, height and weight! I asked when to start worrying about having an above average child and the doctor told me not too - I am blessed with a big boy!
3. He is walking like he has been doing it for years!! He gets frustrated when he falls, but picks himself right back up and keeps on going.
4. His Papa Homan is in Iraq! He left in December, missing Cutter's 1st Christmas and 1st Birthday, but it is ok. He'll be here next year, when it will be even more fun to watch Cutter open his gifts. We miss you Papa!
5. He is talking/babbling like I should know exactly what he is saying. He looks at me says something, tilts his head, and waits for me to respond. If only I knew what he was saying, I just look at him and respond back with what I think is appropriate for the situation.
6. Cutter is going through major, major separation anxiety. I have a feeling that he can sense that someone new may be entering his life in the next several months, so he is taking full advantage of Mommy time!
7. He can give you the biggest hug ever!! He actually squeezes and hangs on and I soak it all up. I squeeze back and he lifts his head gives me a kiss and is ready to go for the day.
8. He shakes his head "No" and nods his head "yes" when I ask him a question and 90 % of the time he gives the right answer.
9. He received a great toy from a neighbor for his birthday - he carries it around and NO one is allowed to play with it, but him. Not even Mommy and Daddy can play with it. What is it? It is a Playskool Form Fitter. He can put the right shape into the right hole, most of the time without help. He can find every piece on the floor and put it back in the box. He also puts other toys in the box. He doesn't go anywhere without it.
10. He is going to be a GREAT big brother! He is so sweet, so loving, and so kissable.
11. We have found in the last few weeks that Cutter has a low tolerance for citric acid, which is in just about every juice out there. Good thing Cutter loves water, there will be no juice in his sippy cups. Speaking of sippy cups, Cutter is drinking out of a cup 90% of the day. Mommy is having a harder time letting that night time bottle go, that is "our" time. We will with time, eventually give up that bottle, but Mommy wanted just a little more time.
12. This boy loves his Mommy and Daddy!

And that my family and friends are the top 12 things about my little boy! He is growing more and more everyday, he is becoming his own little person with his own little personality.

More updates coming soon, with photos. I am finally feeling like myself again and hopefully the creativity will start to flow again!

Happy Belated Birthday Little Monkey!

I have been slacking on posting pictures lately and for that - I'm sorry! For some reason the baby that is growing in my belly is taking all my creative juices away from me.



And for the much awaited Birthday Pictures....



We had a great time, I can't believe our little monkey is already one! He wasn't quite sure what to think about all the people there to see him.

The theme was rather fitting, Cutter has been climbing, hanging and just monkeying around lately.Cutter enjoyed opening all his gifts. He had lots of practice, since he was doing the same thing just 2 days earlier. He was more interested in playing with the paper, hey it makes noise, so why not! Despite the look of the picture above, his hand is NOT touching the candle. He wanted too, but I made sure he stayed away. Cutter was not so sure about getting all dirty with the cake. He took it easy and just used his hands to get dirty. I guess I taught him well not to play in his food. Little did he know, it was ok this time.

Overall it was a great day spent with lots of family and friends. Thank you to everyone who came and spent this special day with our little Monkey!!

SURPRISE!!

We were surprised and excited to find out that Cutter is going to be a BIG brother! We will be adding the new little one to our household sometime around the beginning of August. Hopefully this will explain the lack of postings (ie: Cutter's 12 month update and birthday party pictures). The last 3 weeks I have been battling the all-day morning sickness, the worst heartburn I have ever had and brain freezes like crazy.

With Cutter my pregnancy was as smooth as water, so we are hoping that this little one plans to do the same thing. We are approximatly 9 week and 1 day along, so we still have quite a ways to go, but if the next 6 1/2 months go by as fast as the last 3 weeks have, I am in BIG trouble.

Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers for the next several month.

Love, The Nix Family plus one!

Cutter's 1st Haircut!

I have been anxious to get Cutter's 1st haircut since he got hair. I like to have a clean-cut boy and his hair was getting a little out of control for me.

Yesterday we took Cutter to get his first haircut, by Frank. Frank is the barber that cuts Daddy's hair. He has been cutting Daddy's hair since he was five, so it was only fitting that Frank give Cutter his first haircut.

Before:
After:

Cutter did amazingly well. He NEVER cried and was happy to be sitting up there like the big boy he feels like he is. He wasn't scared of the clippers or the scissors.

His big blue eyes stand out so much more now that he doesn't have all that hair!

He was actually talking to his neighbor in the chair next to him. A little ole' man that had been getting his haircut in the same chair for the past 45 years and he had a good time talking to Cutter.
Frank and Cutter. The 1st of many haircuts! What a little cutie!

BTW, that bruise on his forehead, we have no idea where it came from. We figure he is a boy, they will come and go without any recognition of how it got there.

Happy New Year!

Wow, what a year 2008 was. I went from having a newborn to having a toddler. Where did the time go?!? I feel so blessed to have been able to spend half the year home with Cutter, since then the time has gone by waaaaay to fast.

Our plans for 2009:

1. Spend as much time as possible with our little man. Every moment spent with him is so special, even if he is throwing one of his one-of-a-kind tantrums. Yes, we have entered into that era of child rearing.

2. Learn even more about Him. We are committing ourselves to spending more time studying and teaching Cutter about God. I am so excited about this, as we have been more than slacking in this area.

3. Learn from Cutter. Enough said. He teaches us new things every day. We go to bed at night and talk about things that Cutter has done. Most of the times we laugh, he has a way of doing that to us. But we also cry, it is amazing that our little man is growing up so fast and it just brings us to tears to know that our time with him is so precious and sometimes we take that for granted.

We are wishing you and your family a Happy 2009. We hope that your year is as amazing as we are planning on ours being.

From our family to yours - Happy New Year!

Love,

The Nix Family