Disneyland!!!

Today we spent the day at Disney.  I've been wanting to go during the holidays for a while and we finally had an excuse today.   Carmen's friend Bard and his family were going this weekend and we were invited to tag along.  So when we were (finally - it took something like 30 minutes this morning) done with breakfast this morning, we packed up the car and took off for Disneyland.  Because we're so lucky, about 20 minutes later we were parked and waiting for the shuttle bus from the parking lot to the park.

We had a great time today and Jayden was amazing.  Both Carmen and I were expecting at least one meltdown, maybe more.  But no, I think he almost got fussy once.  We went on a couple "rides" and then he passed out in the carrier and stayed asleep through the entire Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  We met up with Bard, Jody and family after that, he woke up and we went on more adventures.

As Carmen and I repeated over and over, it was so fun to experience Disney with a child.  All of us went in to Toon Town for the first time in our lives (and saw Jessica Alba, in case anyone cares), we learned Pirates can be quite scary, the Tiki room has never been better and two Saturdays before Christmas is a crazy time to be at Disneyland with a stroller, five adults, an infant, two toddlers and a four year old.

I took a rather large amount of pictures - and we accidentally got one video, so here goes.  Enjoy!

As soon as we walked in the park, there were a number of characters available to take pictures.  The first one, and luckily my favorite, was MICKEY!!!  The line actually wasn't crazy so we waited.  Note to self: next time check the settings on the camera before handing it to your husband to get a rushed picture.  Although sometimes it works out for the better.  This was supposed to be a still picture, but the camera was on video, we only had a second or two to take the picture (Disney doesn't mess around, they push you through these things) and Carmen didn't realize it was on video.  The best part about it is that at the end, the video caught Jayden actually reaching out to touch Mickey's nose.  Awesome.

The first challenge was surviving the shuttle ride to the park from the parking lot.  Turns out buses can be scary too!  As soon as we turned him around so that he could see outside he was fine.  

Cinderella's castle had snow!  LOVE Disneyland at the holidays.

In line for the Jungle Cruise.  This was after we'd gone to the Tiki Room.  Jayden was jamming in the Tiki Room.  He wanted to move around and was "dancing" and pointing at everything he noticed.  It really was so fun.

Asleep on Mama's chest.  We were walking around New Orleans Square and Jayden was awfully quiet.  I looked down, turned his face toward Carmen and asked if his eyes were open.  Carmen said "barely.  Actually no."  Jayden had fallen asleep in the middle of Disneyland in the boba carrier - he'd never slept in that carrier before.  He stayed that way while we waited in line for Pirates, while we rode Pirates, which includes two little drops, canonballs, gunshots, etc. and while I lugged him and myself out of the boat and walked out of the dark ride.  This kid can sleep through anything.

Waiting in line for It's a Small World.  We wanted to let him down so he could move around a little and get his legs moving.  He took a few steps, which was great.

In Daddy's arms while waiting for It's A Small World.

He loved It's a Small World.  He was pointing at the lights and going "da!" throughout the whole ride.

Ho Ho Holidays!  Carmen said "this is for your grandma," so Mom, imagine country-themed holiday music!

Driving a car in Toon Town.

Santa in the parade.

Jayden's first visit to Disneyland.  He got a pin.  That blurry thing in the bottom of the picture is the  one souvenir Jayden got, which was a stuffed Mater the Tow Truck.  We "vroomed" the tow truck all over the stroller and him and he thought it was amazing.  Until he got tired, he was "vrooming" it himself too.

Tired boys on the shuttle back to the car.  Once we got into the car, Jayden was asleep within a few minutes and continued to sleep once we got home.  He ate dinner, took a bath and went back to bed.  Such a wonderful day with the family.  

Healthy "Baby"

Since Jayden isn't technically a baby anymore I don't know if I can still call him that.  But unfortunately for him, he'll probably always be my baby.

Jayden had his 15 month check up today.  The doctor said he's very healthy, no problems.  He did say that Jayden is a late walker, but he's not worried.  I think Carmen and I are even less worried than the doctor is.  Jayden is fine - he's just cautious.  And he has developed so many other skills that he can't develop every skill at once.  So if he walks late, it just makes it easier for Carmen and me.  :)

Jayden measured in at 33" (although the nurse does this with Jayden laying down on a piece of paper on the exam table, so we think he might be a little bit taller), weighed in at a whopping 26 pounds and has a head circumference of 49 cm.  All in all, he's growing quite well.  He's still in the top 10th percentile as far as height is concerned.  He has gained quite a bit of weight and is now in the 70th percentile for weight.  He's still clearly not chubby but he's definitely putting on the pounds.  His head circumference, like his height, has also remained high, in the 90th to 95th percentile.

While we were in the doctor's office Jayden took 4-5 steps on his own, probably the most he's taken ever.  It was so funny to watch him roam around the exam room in his diaper.

Jayden wants so badly to talk; I feel like he's doing his best to say words and communicate his thoughts and wants and frustrations to me and he just can't form the words.  He did very clearly say "mama" to me on Tuesday, which was pretty awesome for me.  He sat on the step between the entryway and the kitchen/family room area, held his hands up to me and said "ma-ma."  I might have possibly ran to him I was so excited.  It was so cute.  He's said it maybe two or three times since then; the rest of the time it's combined with more syllables: ma-ma-ma-ma or ma-ma-na-na-ma-da-da or something.

Jayden had to get four shots today, including the second installment of the flu shot.  With the last flu shot in September Jayden ended up with a fever and was miserable for a couple of days.  We purposely made the appointment on a Friday this time, so at least if he gets sick it'll be on a weekend.  It will suck for us, but better for him (and less worry for me!).  He also hadn't napped at daycare before I picked him up, so within a few minutes in the car after the appointment, he was out.  And he stayed out for the next hour and a half:

After I heard about the tragedy in Connecticut today, all I wanted to do was run to Julia's and hug Jayden.  Luckily I had to leave early to take him to the doctor so it gave me a legitimate excuse.  And when we got home and he was still passed out like this, I picked him up and we cuddled on the couch until I finally gave in and woke him up to eat dinner.  I really may never let him go to school.  There are just too many crazy people in this world.  And he is too innocent.

Walkin', Walkin', Walkin' Machine!

I got two videos tonight of Jayden on the move.  Both are pretty dark and a little grainy, but I was the spotter and the videographer, so there's only so much I could do!  The first is of Jayden taking a couple steps by himself.  The second is of Jayden walking holding my hand with one of his hands.  It's pretty awesome.

Parents escape, baby survives

As some of you know, Carmen and I left Jayden for the first time since he was born.  We've both left at various times, but this is the first time he had neither parent with him overnight and for a few days.  Carmen and I flew to NYC last week, leaving Jayden in California with my mom.  It was difficult, but knowing that he was home and with my mom made it a whole lot easier.  And having left him in October with Carmen actually helped me as well.

I am sure Jayden was spoiled to death while we were gone, getting to climb on things he's not supposed to climb on, getting to be rocked to sleep a lot more than usual, etc.  But you'd never know anything was different - he's been essentially the same little boy since I got home yesterday.  The only difference is he is a whole lot more clingy, especially to me, than he was before I left.  There has been very little playing with his toys - mostly we have been playing with puzzles and reading books, usually with him in my lap, or at least within a few inches of each other.  It's as if he's afraid if he lets go then I might disappear again.

He is getting even more teeth (did you notice, Mom?).  The two molars that were coming in on the bottom seem to be pretty much pushed through.  The tooth in between the front four and the molar, on his right side, is popping through.  And I think it may be pushing through on the left side also.  I don't think he's getting any more teeth on the top, but it's hard to tell.

He definitely is walking more and more.  Oh!  I don't think I've updated this for a while.  He took his first steps last Monday.  He just took two quick ones, from the couch to my arms, but they were definitely steps on his own.  Mom said that she spent a good portion of her days walking him around the house - she'd hold on to his hands and he'd walk her around the living room, down the stairs into the dining room, back up the stairs and around the living room again, and on and on.  He continues to take the occasional step or two on his own, but no more than that.  He is pretty proud of his ability to stand up on his own though.  He practices that quite frequently.

And now on to the more interesting part of this - the pictures!

From when we went to work with Carmen a week ago Saturday.  Jayden's personality didn't show through - he had just woken up and he was a little overwhelmed by the new surroundings. 

Getting a hug from Grandma before it was time for her to go to the airport.

"Dancing" in the middle of the floor.  Crazy how much better his balance is getting.

Happy Holidays!  Looking up at the Christmas tree while sitting in the window seat decorated with lights.

Double fisting!  So many water bottles, so little time.

Playing with the sand at the park.  We met a little girl, probably three years old, who shared her sand toys with us.  Jayden appreciated it and the little girl was very patient, until Jayden started trying to mess with her sand "soup."  So we went to a different part of the park so as not to start a fight.  :)

We were looking at our belly buttons.  I think Grandma may have taught him something new!

My mom took a WHOLE bunch of pictures, but turns out it's nearly impossible to download them.  So more pictures will come later when I figure out how to download the various pictures she has taken.

I'm going to do my best to try to get a video of the steps and/or the cool noises he makes (he makes this "rrrrmmm rrrmmmm" sound for cars - it's awesome) but every time I turn the camera on him he freezes.  So hopefully I can be sneaky about it and can get something passable.  For now it's back to work/Ju-ju's for us.  Only four more days until the next weekend!

Low-key Saturday

We finally decorated the tree with all of the ornaments.  We're still missing one - I'm going to continue the tradition I had as a kid where each year we get a new ornament.  So I still need to get my ornament for Jayden for this year, hopefully tomorrow.  We had a good day today, not doing all that much.  Jayden and I met Carmen and his office, at the end of a meeting with a new recruit, went to lunch, came home, decorated the tree and just relaxed.

Sitting on the hood of his car.  He developed this "game" where  he climbed up on the  hood, sat down, slid off, leaned forward, stood up, leaned back against the hood and then climbed back up again.  It definitely never got old.

The "standing up" part of the game.  He is oh so proud of his ability to stand up on his own now.  He's inches from being able to walk - one foot slid a little today while he was standing - but just not quite ready.

Jayden and me decorating the tree.  He was so helpful; we'd give him a soft ornament and  he'd gently place it on a tree branch.  It was awesome.

Riding on Daddy's shoulders in the only part of the house that is tall enough for him to do that!

The tree and the front of the house all decorated (and almost all cleaned up - still working on the cleaning part).