Rock'n & Roll'n

2 days shy of his 5 month mark, Maddox rolled over for the first time! It's such an exciting milestone, sort of the first, "Look at me Mommy, I'm doing big boy stuff!" I have to admit, I'm a little annoyed at his choice of timing however. While I am a big fan of my kids showing off all the cute things they do and learn to others, I felt a bit jealous that he decided to perform this adorable act for the first time in front of our Parents As Teachers lady instead of someone like Daddy or Grandma! Oh well, I guess he was just doing what kids do best... showing off!

After lunch Mommy was busy helping Brother w/ his regular bathroom duties. Max enjoys spending that time under the mobile in his crib. His crib is more of a giant changing table than anything else, a place he enjoys playing in more than napping or spending the night. It's Daddy & Mommy's fault, we haven't taken the time to get it repaired and since he still sleeps in his travel bed in our room, we haven't been too worried about it!

Jaxon & I were just finishing up when I hear Max start screaming from their room. Brother & I both ran in and found Max lying on the floor! Guess now's a good time to get that crib front repaired! Big Brother was sure impressed w/ Max's showing off... after he made sure he was alright that is!

Real American Super Heroes

Jaxon's friend Cody, is from a military family. Both of his parents are what Jaxon likes to call, Real American Super Heroes! As a special treat, Cody's Mom took the boys to see the tanks at Ft. Riley yesterday. Jaxon had the best time! Here are a few pictures from their outing!

Thank you to Cody's Mommy for including Jaxon on such a special playdate!

PreSchool Jam Session

There's really nothing cuter than a bunch of 4 year olds putt'in on a show! Jaxon & his buddies participated in their first school musical this month. Here he is rock'in out to "Baa Baa Black Sheep"! To see the kids in action, check out our home movies... it's worth a watch!
http://www.youtube.com/user/welchfamilymovies#p/u

Little Toy Trains

My living room floor has been converted into a rail yard! Daddy & Jaxon were busy little engineers making it a goal last weekend to use every piece of track that Jaxon owns, to create a mega train station. It looks a bit more like the entire Island of Sodor has up and relocated to our living room!


With the crazy weather and weeks of illnesses that we've been experiencing lately, I couldn't tell them no, take your trains elsewhere! And now, I have let the train remain set up for almost a week! Ask me how ready I am for Spring!!!

Check out our home movies for a even better look at Jaxon's train!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTfGMivanaE

Man Rules

My Dad sent me this forwarded email the other day. Normally I don't take the time to read what I call "junk email", but he was very proud of the content and insisted that I take some time to give it a read. I have to admit, it was rather enlightening... and by enlightening, I mean that it was interesting to me to see that all men really do think alike!

I have taken some time to review each "rule" and have given my opinion of what I think about each of these "Man Rules"!

The Man Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story. ( I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear " the rules" From the female side....
now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1 " ON PURPOSE!


1. Men are NOT mind readers. ( FIRST & FOREMOST RULE ) I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have heard my husband say these words to me! It doesn't take a mind reader or a genius for that matter, to figure out what your wife is thinking! Paying better attention is my idea of what should be a woman's first & foremost rule!!!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down. Oh please! When you begin cleaning the toilets then we will talk! Until then, I make the "toilet rules"!

1. Sunday sports, It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be. True... but Sunday only comes once a week! SportsCenter is not anything like a full moon or the changing of the tides especially when it's being viewed more than once a day!

1.. Crying is blackmail. I don't even have words for this!

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
I have figured this one out... thanks!!!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question. This is such a typical male comment! Why is it so hard for you males to have a conversation?!

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for. Again, figured this one out... the hard way! But I don't for the life of me understand why you must know what it is that I was talking to my girlfriend about or why you make comments like, "I suppose you're going to tell "Sally" about this!"

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days. Here's a little tip... think very clearly before you make the comment that could come back to haunt you 6 months later!!!

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. Well, that explains a lot! And if we say you still look as good to us as you did when we first met... ya don't!!!

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one. And if it does make us angry or sad... FIX IT!!!

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it , just do it yourself. Do it right the first time and I wouldn't have to critique or correct your work!!!

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials! I think my husband actually wrote this one!

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we. Then why do we own a Garmin?!

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is. Then allow us to dress you... all the time!

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that. Yes, we know! Just try harder to be discrete about it in public!!!

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothings wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle. Again, my husband wrote this!!! Why do you even ask if that's how you are going to handle the situation?!

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear. Oh brother! Really?!

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... really. When we have to go somewhere, help w/ the kids would be very much appreciated... really!!! And before you get dressed... ask if what you are about to put on is OK!

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as Football or Hockey. Once a week, would it really hurt you to talk about something other than sports?!

1. You have enough clothes. SO DO YOU!!!

1. You have too many shoes. SO DO YOU!!! Work boots count!

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape! No comment!

Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping. Now that I know sleeping on the couch is like camping to you... have a nice time camping!!!!

4 Years, 4 Months

4 Years ago I was a new Mommy to a 4 month old. 4 Months ago I became a new Mommy again, only this time I had a 4 year old at home! I'm sure my house was cleaner, I know I spent much more one-on-one time w/ my now 4 year old and I definitely felt a lot less stressed. But having Maddox as a part of our little family has been such a blessing! We just celebrated Max's first Valentine's Day. Here are the boys posing w/ their Valentine's from Grandma & Grandpa Meier.
Jaxon - 4 years

Maddox - 4 months

Max has been fighting off his first cold this month... poor baby! When he's not sleeping, eating or pooping, he enjoys playing w/ toys, riding in the stroller and doing whatever big brother Jaxon wants to do. We were lucky last week to have beautiful weather for a few days... now we're back to being stuck indoors again for a awhile. He has just started taking his baths w/out the baby net on his tub and seems to enjoy bath time even more than before. He has doubled his birth weight and is now wearing 6 month clothing. He has slept through the night twice now and we are hoping that when we get rid of this awful bug, we'll be doing lots more of that!

People are constantly telling us that we have a future football player on our hands... now they're telling us we've got two future defensive linemen!!!

A Delicious Valentine's Day Surprise

For Valentine's Day my Mom always tries to do something extra special for us girls... probably because she knows that our husbands are a lot like her own! Last year my sister-in-law, Traci, and I got flowers. It was set up for them to be delivered, which in the country is a big deal! It was really muddy much like it is this year and the florist needed directions to each of our homes. Instead of calling my Mom for directions, the florist called Traci & I but didn't tell us who the delivery was going to be from. Instinctively, I knew the flowers were not from my husband... and he made that perfectly clear when I told him about the phone call from the florist!!! If he were a smarter man, he would have gone with it and played it out to seem as though he had a sweet bone left in his body!!!

Anyway, my sister had a basketball tournament the day the flowers were to be delivered in the town that the flowers were to be delivered from, so I told the florist I'd be happy to come pick them up. I told my Dad that I was going to be stopping at the florist's to pick up some flowers and asked if he needed me to do some shopping for Mom. He thought that'd be a good idea! My Mom apparently had the same idea I did about picking up the flowers because as I was paying for her flowers, here came my parents! Surprise blown! Oh well, we both got flowers out of the deal and that's what matters!!!

So this year my Mom decided to do something a little different. Instead of getting something for just us girls, she picked something that each of our family members could enjoy.

Ever heard of a little place called Georgetown Cupcakes?

If you haven't heard of them, check out their hit show DC Cupcakes on TLC! And yes, they are as delicious as they look, maybe even more!!!

My favorite by far are their Red Velvet cupcakes... to try them yourself, click the link below!http://www.georgetowncupcake.com/about.html