Spring

We have been enjoying this nice weather and taking advantage of our ability to do things while we still can.

Last weekend we went to Zoo America. Nate's mom got him a year pass so its a great quick trip we can take between naps and such. It was a warm day but Max always likes getting out.

Then we came home and played in the water to cool off!

34 weeks, hanging LOW and out!

We try not to encourage playing with our food but Max is one of those slow eaters who will come back to stuff if you just leave him there long enough so it happens.... this was just impressive. 2 grape pieces, a mandarin orange with a grape on top. We were impressed, which pleased him of course!

Wildwood Park

On Saturday, thanks to a tip from a friend (thanks Bethany!), we went over to Wildwood Park and Nature Center to their wetlands festival. Luckily the weather held out and it was a pretty nice morning/mid day. We grabbed some lunch first (Max ate his first hot dog actually in the bun and liked it). Then Max got to play a homemade instrument with the "band" that was there. There was a 12:30 show of animals from Zoo America I thought he'd enjoy but after the first 5 minutes (of 15) that the girl held and talked about a box turtle, daddy took him out because obviously it wasn't terribly attention holding for an 18 month old. We went for a nice walk instead. Once he gets older it will be more fun. There were even kids with wading boots and nets in the little creek searching for a list of things they were directed to find.

On another note, Nate's job is going great. He really enjoys his new position. It was a busy week for him last week learning all the new information and it was their busy week of the month but we're all getting adjusted to the new hours and were happy to have a nice weekend together.

18 months

Just a quick 18 month Max update.... these of course are more for me to remember!

Our Dr. visits are still always such fun. The tears start as soon as the nurse or Dr walk into the room. The shots are the quick and easy part really, the apparently painful parts are the head and body measurements, heart beat check, etc....all the stuff that doesn't hurt but the boy does not like to be messed with. Its only been in the last few months that I can actually cut his nails without a huge screaming crying fit!

So anyway, 18 months and all is well. He is right on with all the questioning and the Dr is not concerned about his lack of teeth. He did just have his bottom left molar pop through last week and the right side is on its way. Otherwise we still just have the 4 on top and 2 on bottom. He is 33inches long (69%) and weighs 23.2lbs (14%). I won't go in to my childhood obesity rant again but the stats just never seem to fit what he looks like! Because he has inherited my long torso and short legs he's still in 18 month pants but some 24 and even 2T in tops, PJ's and jackets.

His vocab grows every day, he's really into singing now, repeating real songs too. He loves his books and is eating well. I can sometimes get him to eat some veggies now and then but he likes his yogurt with fruit and veggies and his V8 Fusion. At least half his diet is fruit so that's good. He still loves playing outside, this weather is a tease but we take advantage of the nice days when we can. He still is taking 2 naps more than not so it still gives us a nice break (but also still causes some scheduling issues). We like that he sleeps so well so we don't complain!

Mom is doing ok. I have no real complaints and am lucky to have another healthy pregnancy so far but I have to say I'm more than ready. I'm just tired and uncomfortable most of the time but I'll survive another 7 weeks...

Big news for Dad this week! Nate got a promotion to a new department at Comcast. Its in the business department so he won't be taking customer service calls anymore which was really wearing down on him as anyone can imagine. He's very excited and I'm so proud, he was picked for one of the 3 open spots even before they finished interviewing:) He starts on Monday. Unfortunately he'll have to head back in to the office so we'll miss having him around. The other downside is he'll be working Tuesdays (which is normally daddy and Maxwell day). Until my maternity leave we have grandmas and some back up plans in place but starting September when I go back to work we'll be looking hopefully for a full day (at the very least for the afternoon) person to watch both the kids. Its not a task I look forward to but God always provides what we need so I'm sure something will come up and it will all work out. (side note- if anyone in the Hbg area knows of someone, please let me know!!) We're just very excited for Nate getting this position and moving up in the company.

Easter & DC/VA

First we had a great Easter weekend. We ventured back "east" for the first time in a while (again, apologies to all those loved ones we would have liked to visit but there is only so much time and so much running around I'm willing to do with Max! Next time!!)

Our friends Matt and Kristy had a baby months ago we still hadn't seen and we arranged a little HS friend gathering at her house complete with all the kiddos, a picnic and an Easter Egg Hunt! Max had been playing with eggs for a few weeks since I got out the Easter decorations so he was pretty good at it and didn't care much what was inside. It was a nice visit with friends and since we forgot the group shot we have to schedule another one before the end of the summer/fall.

This was funny because her mom told her to sit at the table with Max, meaning across from him cause he was in the middle on that side but she decided to squeeze on the bench with Max and share a snack!

Next we headed over to Grandpa's for some more fun outdoor play time. Luckily for mom and her need of lots of bed space, Max even slept all night in the pac & play, which he hasn't done for a long time, so we all got some decent sleep! The Easter Bunny even found him all the way over there!

Classic men and the tractor!



Learning about wind chimes from Grandpa...

No, we didn't have that in there all night or anything!

Sunday morning we headed over to my grandmother's church. Max did great, took a nap in the car on the way over and even stayed in the nursery there. Afterwards he had a fun visit with the family and enjoyed another egg hunt.

Nothing says Easter like your Sunday best, spring flowers and a neon green plastic screwdriver...

This past Saturday we planned a trip to head first into DC for the Cherry Blossoms and then for a visit to Nate's sister's and her family. As we kept getting closer in the city I realized the blossoms were DONE! (The peeked Easter weekend and I've never seen them be done that fast) but luckily it was a nice day and we had a good time just walking around outside. The tulip garden was in bloom and Max LOVED the carousel (until the very end when he needed to get "down")

A picnic by the tidal basin (all that green should have been pink!)

This was a classic... on the way out to Ellie's we heard paper noise and turned around to find this... he was just reading the DC metro paper I picked up on our way out, just catching up on the news I guess?!?!

Then we drove out to see the Browns and had a nice visit there with a picnic dinner and more play time. Luckily we had planned to head back that evening though cause poor cousin Luke got sick again (poor kid had to cancel his tonsil surgery, needs those things out badly!). Of course Aunt Ellie got some great shots at the nursery we went to.

New Outside Toys / Reflections

While I think Nate built this for his own enjoyment as much as Max's, the sand box is pretty much done and ready to be played in. Max does love it so its fun for him to have something to do in the back yard. Nate also had a good Craigslist find with the little slide. Max understood it right away except that he goes down head first (sometimes with his arms in front of him). At least its not very big that he doesn't really get hurt. Its just nice to have something that he is atually allowed to climb on!


Last Saturday evening we babysat for his friend so they got to play together and had a blast of course. One of Max's favorite parts is that we basically have to strip him down to come in the house in the evening now because he's so sandy and dirty and he loves being without pants and shoes/socks!






Otherwise we're still doing well. I'm starting to get sentimental about these being the last few weeks with just Max. Like Nate says, he truly is our best friend and I know everything is about to change a LOT in the coming months. I'm happy to be having kids so close in age so they can enjoy a close friendship but there are parts me that will really miss just having Max, and part of me that is a little sad knowing I'll never get that year with just baby girl. I know it will be a lot of adjustment for all of us (Max is a mama's boy and although he likes other babies, he doesn't necessarily like them on my lap...) but I know it will just make things that much more wonderful to have our family complete. I used to think I'd want more kids but besides financial/practical reasons I really just don't know that emotionally I could handle more than 2. I just don't know if my heart is big enough; not that mothers of multiple children don't love them all, I just mean for me I really feel like my time and emotions are better spent on fewer rather than more. In fact, the biggest thing I dread during labor is having to leave Max for 2 or more nights (which has never been done, only one night one time so far). The 3 days I spend at work each week are way more than enough time apart from him! (Although he is usually fine with his other family and friends when he has to be, I do want him to be well rounded!)

On the other hand, I am anxious to get things over with. I'm tired of being sore and easily exhausted and flat shoes! I'm looking forward to maternity leave being in the summer. I'm thrilled about all the pink that is about to come.
I do have some nerves about labor.... I would prefer to have some slow contractions instead of my water just breaking randomly and needing pitocin to induce contractions. I'd also rather not to have to push for 2 1/2 hours, and not have baby girl rearrange my bladder position on her way out~ but otherwise, with the wonderfulness of an epidural, I think I'm ready for this again....


So for now we just continue on, enjoying the blessings we have, with great anticipation of what is to come....

Max's New Room and Third Trimester

A few weekends ago we made the trip to Ikea to get Max his new crib. I'm not nearly ready for a toddler bed (plus Max really does love his crib!) but the one we got changes into a toddler bed and then an actual twin bed with a new mattress so he's set for a long time now! It sat in his "play" room for a few days, we waited to have him sleep in there until my work week was over Wednesday and after about 4 days he was finally good to go in there. At first he'd need me to lay in there, and we had a few naps on my lap in that room (luckily we have a recliner in there) but now I can lay him in the crib and leave the room and he's just fine. I did have to bring big George over though because the first morning he woke up in there he was asking for George. I guess he really did get used to having a room full of Curious George but he's quite fond of the new car room with all his toys too.

Nate also found him a cool train set at Ikea. I wish we lived closer to one, they have the best toys there!

We've had a few days of some really nice weather (relatively speaking) so Max has really enjoyed being outside. He takes lots of walks (both stroller and walking) and has his old play room back (the front porch) which also now has his sand/water table (minus the water yet, its not that warm!), some riding toys, trucks and of course his all time favorite, bubbles! The gated front porch is such an asset, though with him walking/running these days, we are starting to think the back yard may prove a little difficult and take some discipline.

Besides his teething (which we hate to always use that excuse but I've never seen anyone teeth like this poor child- his entire bottom gums have been swollen for weeks and still only the same old 6 teeth. I give him credit for being as content as he is some days after seeing how awful his poor mouth looks) but besides that he's been pretty good. He goes through hungry weeks where I swear he eats more than me (which is saying a lot these days!) and then other weeks where he hardly eats anything. He also continues to get more picky which wouldn't bother me so much if he actually had picky taste but he just refuses to eat things that we both know he likes sometimes. Luckily he still likes his milk, V8 Fusion and his vitamins so I guess he's getting enough nutrients. He has learned "please" very well. We not only use it for food but for when he wants help (not that he inherited my quick German stubborn temper or anything) but we try to divert a "flip out" into asking for help or working it out himself with some patience. He's getting better.... he's also been very content playing by himself lately too which we figured was a good thing to enforce now before baby comes! (From the previous post, we did stop standing/running on the furniture too, ha!)

This picture just cracked me up! We had some babies come that are in our small group so I made Nate get down a few of the baby things, like the bouncie seat. Of course Max thought it was the greatest thing ever. The weight limit is like 20-25lbs so he's technically ok in there since he's only about 22lbs but I do think he may be a little long for it.... apparently the monkey wanted to pose too...

Otherwise we're doing well. We entered the THIRD trimester this week. There is a bit of pink creeping into the nursery already. I've been blessed with TONS of hand me down clothes, this child has more stuff than I do and she's not born yet. She's becoming more and more active which is mostly good I think (except the bladder dancing). Except for my back getting sore very quickly from doing just about anything (especially being on my feet without sneakers) I'm still feeling good.