Category: Holidays

(I know I’m a day behind here, but I was too tired to post anymore last night)

I think Ajax’s first birthday was a complete  success.  Guests, big and small, all seemed to have a good time and Ajax was happy for the majority of the party!  We had almost 40 guests plus 10 or so kids.  We polished off an 8 foot sub from Subway (I didn’t have the energy to cook and really who doesn’t love a big sub?) and two birthday cakes.

The weather wasn’t as nice as Friday, it was warm in the morning but at noon it turned windy and a little rainy.  Of course the party started at noon and the kids did an Easter egg hunt in a little drizzle, but no one seemed to mind.  The kids were in a mad dash to find eggs and the parents of the littler ones were pointing to eggs trying to get them to pick them up and put them in their pails.   This was beyond Ajax so Dara held him and they watched (along with the other adults who were watching from the cover of the garage), which seemed to suit him just fine as it was quite blustery and cool outside.

Ajax sat while everyone sang happy birthday and I blew out his candle (he was pleased with all the attention I think).  We gave him a large slice of chocolate cake and at first he just sort of poked at it to test it out, but once he realized how sweet it was he more than delighted to gobble it up.  There was hardly any on the floor or his chair; he didn’t waste much.  He has never had that much sugar before and toward the end of it he had this sugar glazed look to his eyes.

After cake and ice cream we opened gifts.  Well, I opened the gifts as Ajax wanted nothing to do with it.

Thank you again to our families who helped so much in preparing for the party, we wouldn’t have been able to do it alone.  And of course thank you to everyone for coming out and celebrating with us, I hope you had as much fun as we did.  Oh, I also have over 40 minutes of video from the party, as soon as I figure out how to chop it down I’ll post a little of it.

Today at Baby Group there was an Easter Party!  My Aunt Terri said that Ajax did wonderful!  He really is a happy little dude and enjoyed playing with the other kids as well as playing solo.  It’s also been transitioning into a beautiful week.  Today was almost 60 and sunny.  The weather report says that it will be in the 70s by Friday (perfect birthday weather).  I would just like to point out that this time last year it was cold, gray and hovering in the 40s.  I remember when Dave drove me to the hospital at 6 am it was cold with bitter rain and two days after Ajax was born we were hit with a snow storm.  Love Michigan weather.

Today was a Federal holiday, so I had the day off and was able to stay home with Ajax!   This worked out well as my aunt is in England visiting her family.   Ajax and I did a ton of running around today; I feel great at how much we got done.

The majority of our time, however, was spent at the mechanic’s shop.  I had Dave’s car and it needed new tires and an oil change, so I offered to take it in for him today as he unfortunately had to work (I am such a great wife).   We were at the shop for over an hour.  The mechanics were very nice, all talking to Ajax and waving.  Ajax got a kick out of it.   Everyone at the shop also guessed his age to be a year and were shocked when I said that he was only 10 months.   Ajax did great the entire time at the shop, only toward the end did he begin to fuss, but only because I refused to let him crawl on the ground.

It’s Valentine’s Day, one of my favorite, yet not highly celebrated holidays.   Last night my parents babysat and Dave and I finally had a real date night.  Dave treated me to dinner and a movie (Book of Eli– basically a Western); we also did some miscellaneous running around.  It was a lovely evening.

Today has been a quiet Sunday, my mom and I took Ajax visiting over my grandpa Nader’s house.   Ajax for some reason got very jealous every time my grandpa held little Elijah (who is 6 months old… I believe).  It was kind of funny, Ajax would crawl over to my grandpa and try and pull Elijah off his lap.

Well we’re home!  We had a great time up north and a wonderful New Year.  Dave’s whole family was home for the holidays and on top of that my family and good family friend, Carol, made the hike up north as well for New Years eve, so there was a full house!   I ate way too much and there was a lot of Wii playing going on.  Ajax also had lots of people to walk him around, which again is just his favorite hobby at this time (he also likes to step and stomp on things in his way).  Ajax has also crawled a few times, but hasn’t done so consistently.  Dave and I picked up some child proofing items because it looks like it’s time to prep the house for a little mover.

We had a very relaxing time up north, visiting with family and eating.  I also went to play bingo with Dave’s mom, grandma, and sister, Theresa.  Three of our group actually won!  I walked away with a winning of $40!  I almost missed my bingo, but thankfully Theresa was watching out for me!

Ajax’s ear infection was much worse than last time and his ear drum burst on Friday night.  Luckily we had two nurses at the house who looked him over and while it isn’t necessarily a good thing that it burst, it must have been a pretty bad infection and now at least the pressure will hopefully ease up for the little guy.   In short, no one  has slept in a week, thank goodness Dave and I have tomorrow off.

Ajax was thrilled when we provided him with a brand new toy… of course, the Christmas tree.   I know he was thinking, wow mom and dad, thanks for this fantastic thing with lights!  It may just be his inspiration for crawling as he wants to be near it all the time.  Call me lazy (Dave did), but I didn’t bother putting any ornaments on the tree…. I didn’t have the energy to order Dave to bring up all the boxes and then unwrap each ornament with the fear that Ajax was going to pull the tree down on top of himself.  So we have kind of a peanuts tree this year with a star and a few of Ajax’s toys on the branches, but I’m OK with that and the kid just loves the lights… we could have a strand of lights in the house and he’d be thrilled.   I would like to point out that I do in fact LOVE the holidays!

Today Ajax met Santa Claus!   There were no tears and no screaming, overall a successful encounter!  Ajax seemed most interested in Santa’s white gloves and the lights on all the Christmas trees in the “snowy village.”   We met my mom at the mall in Ann Arbor to get photos with Santa, and then my mom was nice enough to watch Ajax for an hour while Dave and I ran around doing some Christmas shopping.

Well Turkey day this year was a hit!  I ate too much and am still recovering.   Dave, Ajax, and I headed out to my parents house early yesterday to help get ready for dinner.  There were quite a few friends and family over my parents’ house for Thanksgiving and it was great seeing everyone.   We stayed the night at my parents’ and then Emily and I got up early and went shopping.   We hit up three stores and I was able to get everything I wanted.  We didn’t hit the road super early, but we got to the first store a little before 8 am and by then the craziness of the crowds had simmered a bit so it wasn’t too bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ajax has been a bit under the weather lately.  It seems if it’s not a tooth, then it’s his vaccines, then he’s had a touch of a cold, and now a majorly runny nose.  Poor little guy.  I’ve also learned that unfortunately there’s not much to be done for a congested baby.  I keep thinking, when will you learn to blow your nose?  If only you could blow your nose!   Because Ajax was so congested today, his nap schedule was off , so our day wasn’t exactly as planned, but that’s ok.

We were up and about pretty early today, Dave cleaned out the gutters and worked outside, while I did laundry, started a stew for dinner, and made some baby food (sweet potatoes- Ajax’s favorite, and cauliflower- which it seems Ajax simply hates).  We then headed over to my grandpa Nader’s house as a few of my aunts and cousins were going to be there decorating pumpkins and going trick-or-treating.  Well, we got to grandpa’s house, dressed Ajax as a lion, and bam, the fact that he hadn’t napped well all morning/afternoon hit and we were home by 3:30.  So no pics of Ajax with his cousins in costumes, but he’s too young to know the difference yet anyways.

My parent’s came over for dinner and to see Ajax.  We only had about 8 trick-or-treaters, quite pathetic really.  Since we have no sidewalks, we get very few kids, which is a shame, because we sit on the couch and watch out the window, is that a kid?  do you see anyone?  are they coming to our street?

Overall, a very nice Saturday and a great first Halloween for Ajax.

Well, Ajax is still a bit under the weather.  He has an ear infection, a little cold with a stuffy nose, and having a hard time from his vaccinations this past Wednesday.  Poor little dude.    We have therefore stayed around the house this weekend with only one real outing.  Today, we headed out to the pumpkin patch.  We attempted to get to our favorite apple orchard, but after an hour of navigating detours and construction we ended up at a place literally 5 minutes from our house (really, 5 minutes.  Actually as we passed it on our way out I suggested we just stop there, but then Dave and I decided no, no it would be nicer to go to the other one which shouldn’t have been more than a 30 minute drive from our house, tops).  Anywho, we were out picking out a pumpkin and getting donuts for maybe 25 minutes, packed it up, and went home.  Our great pumpkin adventure.  Ajax was great in the car, he was warm, and just liked to look out the window, so overall the drive was at least nice.