Buzz Light Year, New Camera and John's Birthday

There have been a few changes in the Mattox household since my last post. Jack has moved from sleeping in a crib to his "new bed", which he calls it. Nana and Poppy were so kind to get it for him and he loves it. Sleeping in it is another thing. The first week, he slept in it all night long and took naps in it, but wouldn't get out of bed unless I came to get him. Well, he soon learned that he could get out of his bed all by himself and we've spent the past couple of weeks teaching him that he needs to stay in his bed and fall back asleep when he wakes up in the middle of the night. One night he got out of his bed at least 15 times between the hours of 3am and 6am. That was fun...NOT. He seems to realize now that once I put him back in his bed, that it means he needs to fall back asleep, so he won't get up. Now he usually only wakes up because he can't find his binky or his Buzz Lightyear. Which brings me to exhibit B (exhibit A being the bed).

For Christmas, Nana and Poppy got Jack a Buzz Lightyear action figure that when you squeeze its legs, these little lights swirl around the top of its head. Well, let's just say that Jack has found his new best friend. He takes Buzz EVERYWHERE. Anytime we get in the car, Buzz is with him. He sleeps with him, and talks to him. One day he said "Want chocolate milk, Buzz" right after he asked me for some. It's pretty cute. He also got Toy Story 2 for Christmas, so he watches it with Buzz and acts out all the parts with his own Buzz lightyear while they're happening to the real toy Buzz on the movie. If Buzz jumps or flies, he throws his Buzz up in the air...which is why after two weeks of this, Buzz lost a leg. I tried to glue this little tiny plastic piece back in place so he could still work (meaning so his lights would still work) but it was to no avail. Thus, if you look very closely to one of the pictures below, you can see the "silver bermuda shorts" that Buzz wears now, i.e. the duct tape.  It's pretty hilarious, and Jack doesn't seem to mind that he doesn't light up anymore, just as long as he has both of his legs.

Jack is quite the handful these days, but he keeps us laughing. He is constantly asking to drive the car, something I can only guess he learned he could do while at Maw-maw and Paw-paw's house when he got to "drive" the hotwheels Jeep that they have. He asks me every time we get in the car if he can drive it.

We also got a new camera. Which is why I posted so many pictures. Now we don't have to take them with our little video camera. I love it! It is very nice and takes some great pictures. I can't wait to take it outside and use it this spring when all the flowers pop up.

We also just celebrated John's birthday last Sunday. I made him Brazilian Stroganoff (soooo good!) and a German Chocolate Cake. It was my first time making both but they turned out really good. It seems that I may actually know my way around the kitchen these days. In fact, a few months ago John said "You're a really good cook now".  I said, "What do you mean 'now'"? haha....I know what he means. Let's just say we ate a lot of spaghetti/brocolli/chicken when we were first married. In fact, I think we ate either chicken or spaghetti every day. I've gotten braver these past few years and learned that practice makes good food.

Sister girl is starting to try to sit up on her own. She also is starting solid foods and is very sweet about it. No funny faces or spitting, she just keeps it in her mouth and swallows like a good girl, even though I have a hard time getting her to open up. I have to make her laugh and then sneak it in. She loves her big brother (even if he tries to bang her with his head like every day). If he gets too close to her she starts to scream and swing her arms as if she is saying "get away!". It's really funny. She just recently had her 6 month well-baby check.  (I can't believe it's been 6 months!!!).  Here were her stats:

weight: 17.9 lbs
height: 27 inches

She's just the sweetest little (big!?) thing in the world. Always smiling and happy and such a good sleeper. And, she has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. He wasn't sure what having a girl would be like, but she just melts him to the core when she smiles her little shy smile.

Learning to sit up

I went upstairs to put sister to bed and came down to find him in this....naughty boy.

Sitting in the high chair like a big girl

sweety!

He fell asleep during "quiet time" like this

German Chocolate cake...how recipe called for it to look

German Chocolate Cake with the choco icing on it!

hanging out together

"riding" his tractor with Buzz....can you see the duct tape shorts?