December Fun

On December 13th, we had lots of couples over for a fun night that Tyler planned. He had the idea of having people over and asking each couple to bring their favorite pizza. We had a pool tournament, played rock band, and some had a great time playing ping pong as well! The night was a great success and I think everyone had a good time--we'll have to do it again soon!

John had to come as a bachelor as Erin was out of town for the weekend

Daniel playing ping pong

Winners of the pool tournament-- Rachel and BJ Cox
Daniel, Rob, and John

Sierra and Blaine
While Axl was awake he had a great time!
Rachel, Sierra, Blaine, me, Natalie (hiding), Kate, and Shannon

Trent was obviously having a great time...haha

The next week on the 16th the Calls had several people over to go sledding in their backyard. It was the best time we had had in a long time! They had these circular discs that you could slide down on and the freezing rain we got the day before made for a VERY fast trip! The guys ended the night in the pond, but it was so much fun!

Tyler brought me a cattail

Heather and Dennis

Bryce and Gwen

A Gift of Pure Love

I found out about this late, as Christmas Eve is only two days away. But in hopes that some of the readers of my blog who haven't seen this yet will take part, I'd like to post this link for Rob, Natalie, and Branson Call. I'm sure they would appreciate any service you might share this Christmas season. Use the e-mail listed in the post- ncnataliecall@gmail.com

A Gift of Pure Love

Axl is 3 months old today!

1 month old 10/19/2008

2 months old 11/19/2008

3 months old 12/19/2008

I was definitely a better blogger this month, so most of the main events of this past month are already known. Axl has really shown us his unique personality and every day we feel more capable of taking care of him. I now know his hungry cry, his "please pick me up, I just need attention" cry, his "I'm uncomfortable" cry, his hurt cry, and of course, the occasional "I'm just trying to get to you, mom" cry. As for sleeping, we have somewhat regressed this month. He doesn't sleep through the night but wakes up only once. Some nights he even goes back to sleep with just the return of his pacifier (we call it his yummy); Other nights, I use it as a special bonding time for us.

Something a little weird- I have noticed a specific "Axl smell". When I've tried to explain this to Tyler, or anyone else they kind of look at me like I'm crazy, but Axl, and specifically his room smell a certain way to me. It's not a bad smell by any means. It actually kind of smells like the air right before it rains. I love it. I can really smell it when I check on him during his naps, the whole room smells wonderful. I guess I should appreciate this while it lasts, because I've definitely been in little boys' rooms that don't smell so nice, ha.
Each day is an adventure. Axl learned to roll over from his tummy to his back and the past couple of days he has really been noticing and studying his little hands. He brings his fist up to his face and then really slowly, and seemingly deliberately, opens and closes it.
He has become a better napper and takes most of them in his crib. Sometime during the month we graduated from the bassinet inside the crib to just the crib. Last night Tyler said "he looks so little in this big bed!" At night he still uses the swaddle blanket but I don't do it for his naps.
He resists any real schedule we try to establish. The only reason I'm pushing for this is that I have a fear I won't be able to pump enough milk for him when I go back to school in January, so I want to know better exactly when and how much he is eating. He does do pretty well with about a 3 hour lapse between feedings, which would work well because I think I can pump twice while at school.
Anyway, I'm trying to enjoy every minute I have with him knowing that I'm going to lose a lot of time next semester, but I keep reminding myself that if I put off this last year of school, it's going to be harder and harder to go back. So, Axl, remember...I'm sorry I left you for this little bit, but it's better now than later in your life. We're going to have so much fun together everyday once I graduate!!

Happy 3 months, Axl James!

Christmassy Stuff

My family, and I think Tyler's, always got the tree and decorations up the day after Thanksgiving. As you know, this year we were in Tennessee then and the next weekend we were gone to Detroit. So it felt like it took forever to get the stuff up (12/09/2008), and even longer-obviously-to blog the pictures. But here they are...Christmas is in full swing at the Hamilton House!

I'm going to take a picture each year of Tyler putting this star garland on the tree. It was his favorite piece of the tree as a child.

Just for fun- this is last years.
Axl wasn't that into the whole experience...
But he soon warmed up to the pretty lights :)I saw this in a magazine and thought it was cool...it looks better in person

The finished product

We're rollin'!!

So at Axl's 2 month appt. the doctor said he would most likely roll over late because he seemed so content on his stomach. He was wrong. :)

(You have to watch it for a while..sorry--not so predictable! And you might want to mute if you don't want to hear my silly baby coaxing, ha)

Merry Christmas!

Trip to Detroit

The past few weekends have been filled with fun for us! The Cooper Thanksgiving was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, then we traveled to Tennessee for actual Thanksgiving weekend, and then the next weekend we took a road trip to Detroit.

Since we started dating, Tyler has talked about wanting to take me to Detroit to see where he served his mission, meet his friends, etc. Truth be told, after having the busy weekends before this I wasn't particularly excited about the 5 1/2 hour trip to Michigan with our infant son who is not very predictable mood-wise, but I have to say that it was a fabulous trip! Axl slept the entire way there with the exception of one smooth stop to eat. Of course I was expecting a terrible night since he slept ALL day, but he only woke up once--I was SO proud...and rested!! It was awesome to experience Detroit with Tyler--he got so excited telling stories, introducing people, and showing me the sites...I think he was pretty proud to show off his son, too :) The purpose of the trip was to attend the sealing of a man that Tyler baptized while on his mission so we visited with him on Friday night when we arrived, went to the wedding on Saturday afternoon and visited with another family in Ann Arbor before attending the reception. (side note--I left the diaper bag in Ann Arbor in the burger joint so we had to borrow someone's diapers at the reception and drive all the way back there after leaving before going back to the hotel in yet a different town...Tyler could have/should have been really mad, but he was very nice as usual) Sunday we went to the ward where Tyler served the longest, the Howell ward. Seriously, almost EVERYONE remembered him, BY NAME! I was so surprised. I definitely had favorite missionaries as a child, but I don't think I could name more than 2 or 3 of them. He must have made quite an impression--of course he did, it's my Tyler. Probably just as good a missionary as he is a husband!

Waiting in the temple--first time Axl has been since he was in the tummy!!

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Pierce

This is an abandoned building in Detroit that Tyler thinks was used in the filming of one of our favorites-- TransformersAt the reception

Blimpie Burger--the people that work here are seriously REALLY rude..but the burger was actually pretty good- notice that I don't have the diaper bag on my shoulder.

Axl enjoying the restaurant experience.

Hamilton Thanksgiving

We traveled to Tennessee to Cousin Karen's house this year for Thanksgiving since Tom and Bonnie are on their mission. We left the day Axl got his first shots, but he did surprisingly well on the drive down. We had a small breakdown in the middle of Wendy's, but other than that the first road trip was a success. We got to see several of Tyler's cousins and their families and everyone had a GREAT time! thanks to Karen and Renee for sharing your houses with us!!

This is the comfy outfit I bought Axl for his first shots and the drive down. The hat was unnecessary as it ended up being fairly warm in Tennessee :)

I finally learned how to lay pinochle on the trip.

Just hanging out on the couch.

We definitely woke our infant son at like 3:45 in the morning for Black Friday...but he got to finish his sleep in the sling, ha.

Aunt Linda had the touch with BOTH babies.

Whoh...how'd Tom get there?? :)

Hamilton Family Thanksgiving 2008

What Axl graced me with right before Thanksgiving dinner...yes-it's pee. And what's sorry is that I just let it dry and kept on going...

Axl's 2 Month Doctor Visit

Last week we went back to see Doctor Wiglesworth for Axl's 2 month appointment. I went in knowing that he would get his first shots at this visit so I came armed with Tylenol drops and my mother...I couldn't give the drops to him before because we didn't know what he weighed, but as soon as they told me the amount I went ahead and gave it to him hoping it would take the edge off. Axl has had Mylicon drops before and loves them--no problem at all getting him to swallow. Tylenol was a COMPLETELY different story. As soon as the slightest bit touches his tongue he starts tonguing and spitting it out. Anyway--here are the results and of course, pictures. :)

11/26/2008
12 pounds 7 ounces 70th percentile
23 1/4 inches tall 50th percentile
Head circumference: 39 1/2 cm 50th percentile

Dr. Wiglesworth--he took care of Axl when he was born at the hospital, so we decided to continue seeing him. He is a resident and I think we may be his only patient--he kept saying, "I kept thinking that he HAS to be 2 months old by now!"--he was waiting for us, ha.
But we think he's great!!

In the waiting room

haha, gran'momarazzi'

I think this picture is priceless. As you can tell--it was a terrible experience for both of us.