Max's Cheek

It was my fault.

I let him play on something that I knew was unstable. Then I only half paid attention to him while I tried to subtly talk James out of buying something. We didn't buy it. The hurt crying child was not the reasoning I was hoping to use.

Thanksgiving

We went to Grandma Robyn's for dinner.

Yummy food and good company.

Here are the boys watching Charlie Brown.
(We have every Charlie Brown holiday movie & they are part of our tradition.)

(Max didn't get a nap so he is exhausted.)

Goodnight Jesus

Max's bedtime routine includes saying goodnight to Jesus, the trains, the tractors, the trucks, the animals and anything else that catches his eye followed by naming eyes, ears, mouth, nose, chin, head, hair, shirt, pants and socks.

Max's Toddler Bed

When we caught Max trying to climb out of his crib we decided it was time. Time for big kid bed. I was not ready. I was planning for that in about March when he was two. With one swing of his leg over the crib he changed my mind for me. I asked a few people for advice and input about their experiences and then started searching Craigslist and KSL. I looked for toddler beds and twin beds and finally settled upon this Fire Engine Toddler Bed. They normally sell for $225 and we paid $40 for it. If I had been able to find a twin bed for a good price I would have just gone directly to that but this will last him a few years and will be well worth the money. We borrowed James' Mom's truck and picked it up on Saturday. (The little boy who it belonged to started to cry as he realized we were taking it away. Even though of his own choosing he now sleeps in a bunk bed with his big brother.)

The look on Max's face was awesome! He loves it so much!!! He took his last nap in his crib and when he woke up we put the crib away and put the new bed in his room. We rearranged the bedroom and I really like the layout of it. He spent nearly the entire afternoon, almost til bedtime playing in his new bed. I was a nervous to see how the night would go with him having a new-found freedom. We had his normal bedtime routine and he did his normal protesting when I laid him down. No matter how asleep he seems to be as soon as he is laid down he gets up and throws a tiny little fit. In his crib it would take about 30 seconds before he laid down and went to sleep. I laid him in bed and he immediately stood up crying. I stood outside his door waiting to see what he would do. And to my relief he cried for just a minute, then laid down and was out.

The next morning it was so fun to hear him rattling around in his room playing with his toys. No crying or fussing, just playing. He opened his door and went to the stairs and called for Dad. And so my little boy is not quite so little today. In fact he grew up so much this week that I am wondering where my baby went.

This week we put away his booster chair. He fought it hysterically and would not eat anything. I was struggling not to take it personally as he refused to eat anything I offered. I decided to take away the thing that he was fighting against and see what happened. Much to my delight he now happily climbs into his chair and eats anything I put in front of him. How easily I am excited...watching him eat makes me feel like all is right in our world.

Also this week he had his first haircut, got a new bed, perfected drinking out of cup, learned to say please, ask for help, tell us when to change his diaper, drink out of a straw and with Daddy's help learned how to open doors. (I think all of the mothers will understand how I felt when Daddy proudly showed me how he had taught Max how to open the doors.) It was a week of watching my baby grow up right before my eyes. Proudly and a little sadly I watched and cheered for him.

He still wants his bottle, still refuses to hold it himself and still wants to be rocked to sleep. So there is still something for Mom to do. Maybe that is why I am in no hurry to push him to give up that last bottle. And maybe why I am feeling a bit baby hungry.

Max's 1st Haircut

We finally did it! We cut off all his curls. When the curls were more nappy than cute and were bugging him, we finally just cut them off. I admit it; I cried a little. Max was great. He sat and giggled and let us cut it. James started out, showing me a bit of how to use the clippers. But when I started to get teared up he stopped, said he wished we hadn't done it and handed it over to me to finish. I didn't do too bad of a job. It is not professional by any stretch of the imagination...but the hair is out of his face, off of his neck and it isn't embarrassing.

Before

During

After
He looks so grown up!

Garage Sandbox

We moved Max's sandbox into the garage and have a fun place for him to play when the weather keeps us inside. He has his sandbox, tractors, shovels, rake, table, sidewalk chalk, bouncy ball, strollers, wagon, Dad's bike and a bunch more random things for him to play with.

He is very happy with the arrangement and sometimes even chooses to play in the garage rather than go outside. Hopefully this will keep both of us sane through the winter months. Today I bought him a pair of snow boots and I am thinking I need a pair myself. I always liked to hole up during the winter months, but this year I will be found outside playing in the snow. The things we do for our children!

Blowing Kisses

Is there anything sweeter?

Max watching TV

Leave me alone Mom...I'm busy.

His new favorite way to watch TV...

(He really does sit like this.)

Skinned Nose

Cami's Baby Shower

The Invitation

Friday did not go at all the way I had planned/hoped. I meant to leave for Idaho by 3:30. I finally got on the road at 6:30. Some of that had to do with the several previous nights which were much lacking in sleep. Max has been very mommy-needy and when he wakes up in the middle of the night he just wants to be help while he sleeps. After trying unsuccessfully to put him to bed for an hour and a half I was losing it. Luckily James stepped in, sent me to bed and (annoyingly) managed to put Max to bed in a matter of minutes. I started packing Friday morning and thought I was doing good so went for a walk with James and Max. I was feeling exhausted and just did not know how I was going to make the 3 1/2 hour drive. So when Max went down for (a very late) nap I lay down as well. I am typically unable to take naps but this time I slept for a badly needed two hours. The only down-side to that was that it put me even farther behind. I d ebated whether to still go, but decided it was best.

After I got over the initial frustration of leaving so late the drive wasn't bad. A friend lent me a portable DVD player so I was able to keep Max entertained with Monsters Inc and I listened to the new Michael Wilcox audiotape. Going through some of the pass in the raining weather was a bit nerve racking for me so I took it slow and we finally arrived in Twin Falls at 10:00. Max was initally pret ty upset at being somewhere other than home. He calmed down once we put Monsters Inc on and I gave him some time to wind down. I was hoping to put him to bed and then visit with Mom and Cami and see Cami's house and baby stuff. That, however, was not what happened.

Four hours later (2:00 am) he finally went to sleep. I had my shoes on and our things in hand ready to leave; to just drive or to go to a hotel or maybe a store to find something to drug my child with. I'm not really sure. I just couldn't stay in that room anymore trying to keep him quiet while th e rest of the household slept. I made a bottle to take with me and Max seemed very interested. I couldn't believe that he would want yet another bottle but I gave it to him and felt that beyond-relief feeling when he fell asleep. I walked outside for a bit to breathe and was feeling that the whole trip had gone wrong and didn't know how I was going to get throught the day. I said a quick prayer asking for a few hours of good sleep; I think I said something to the effect of six hours would be awesome but I would take four. Five hours later Max woke up. I decided I would take it and enjoy the day. How awesome it was when he went back to sleep and I got two more hours!

Mom, Kimber, Cami and I went to pick up the food for the shower, then went back to Cami's where Jessica had arrived and we had a good time preparing food, setting up and decorating.

Cami is doing a jungle theme for her nursery so I decorated with little animals. We had to keep Max off the tables as he saw all of his animal toys spread throughout the room. We had chicken salad croissants, a fruit bowl and mini eclairs. Cami introduced us all to each other and then we had a bit to eat and then BABY BUNCO! It was the only thing Cami specifically wanted for her shower and she has fun friends who really got into it. In fact by they time they left several of them had plans for future Bunco nights.

A very cool part of the shower was connecting with Kells through the webcam and having her there to visit, play Bunco and watch as the gifts were opened.

After all the guests left we cleaned up a bit and then sat around chatting.
(Jessica is there taking the pictures.)

Ben arrived home just in time for all the cleanup. He had help from my exhausted little man.

The shower was a ton of fun and I am so glad that we could do it for Cami.
Congratulations & Good Luck CamiSue!

After Cami's Shower at Kimber's House

After the shower Mom rode with me to Jessica's house where I met Kimber. I left my car in Pocatello and rode with Kimber to her house. We arrived there late so Max didn't get to bed until about 10:00. Sunday morning he and I slept in while Kimber and her family went to church. Kimber came home for us and we went to RS and nursery. It was Max's first time going to nursery and he did great. As soon as he saw a big truck to play with he ignored me completely. We hadn't seen any of the family the night before so it was cute when both Hyrum and Nathan came over to say hi. RS was uplifting and enjoyable. We stayed until Tuesday. Max had a great time playing with cousins and I had a great time hanging out with Kimber and her family. Justin played piano with Max, Justin, Derek and Max played trains, Erika, Justin and Max played tractors, Max and Nathan watched Monsters Inc and Hyrum and Max tormented Harrison and played in the cat food.

This was one of my favorite moments...

Sunday we modge podged bottles to make the cute lanterns. We all thought we were doing a lame job and they turned out so cute. I actually said to myself at one point, "Korben did this, stop being such a perfectionist and have fun!" And I did.

Also on Sunday was my first time ever carving a pumpkin. I had to have Erika cut the top of the pumpkin because I am so squeamish of knives but I did all the rest myself...cleaning guts and all. It turned out so cute and was a real work out on the shoulders. It is hard work!

Kimber and I had Monday to ourselves when the kids went to school. It was nice to have a little time with just her...well, just her and the three little boys. I got several folder games from her that I hope to make while I am recovering. It was fun to be there for FHE, especially to see the boys sew plastic canvas squares for blocks. It was a fun trip and I enjoyed it all! Thanks Kimber and Co.

The drive home was pretty uneventful. Max played with his tractors for the first part of the trip, held his own bottle (this really is a huge deal) and I only turned on Monsters for the last hour. I arrived home Tuesday in time to unpack, do laundry and spend a bit of time with James before heading to the hospital the next morning for surgery.

Folder Games

I spent much of the last two weeks making folder games. I am really excited about them and I really like the way they turned out. It was some coloring, which I find very soothing and a lot of cutting and pasting. Kimber had the great idea to start with color pictures to eliminate the coloring step and although I enjoyed coloring one I was glad to not have to color them all. I have many more that I can make but this is it for now.

Monsters Inc

Animals (Wild)

Tulip (Colors)
(In the future I will do much darker, bolder colors. They are very cute, but for a color matching game I think the colors should be more distinct.)

Animals (Farm & Pond)

Vehicles (Max's Favorite)

Leaves, Leaves & More Leaves

Two weeks after surgery this is what I did...

2 hours raking

1 hour bagging
22 bags of leaves
1 delighted-to-play-outside little boy
1 blessed pain pill left

Hunger Games

The book group book for this month is The Hunger Games. I have it on hold at the library but there are 474 holds before me. The girl who chose the book had a copy from the library and which is due Friday. She offered to lend it out if anyone thought they could finish it in time. I read quickly and because of the surgery I am not doing much so have time on my hands. I borrowed it from her on Wednesday, started it at about 9:00 that night and finished it at 3:00 on Thursday afternoon. It was a fast read and I couldn't put it down! It was a great book with some kind of horrifying plots and I think there will be much to talk about in book group.

Gallbladder Surgery

After 18 months of gallbladder attacks I finally had my gallbladder removed on Wednesday Oct 28th.

Mom spent a few days with us and she was such a lifesaver! She got up with Max so many times during the night and even spent an hour playing trains with him at 3 in the morning. The surgery was quick and pretty minor. Mom and I were at the hospital at 6:30 am and home by 11:30. I slept most of the first two days and I am very grateful for pain pills. I ate very little and threw most of it up. The ward brought in dinner for the first few days, which is always helpful and I am excited about getting recipes for new meals. A week later I have four little incisions which are a bit sore and I tire easily but I am mostly back to normal. I am so grateful that I will never have a gallbladder attack again!

My Neighbor Totoro

We picked up several movies from the library hoping Max would give something besides Monsters Inc. a try. We thought he would like Cars because of his love of vehicles. Funny enough, the movie he has really taken to is the strange little Japanese film My Neighbor Totoro. It is cute, a little strange and he loves it.

Dinner With Mara

I met Mara for dinner at Noodles and Co. It was fun to eat at a "girl" place and talk for hours.

Flowers!!!

I just got a delivery of FLOWERS!

They are beautiful and brightened my day.
I'm such a girl. :)
Thank you so much Jake, Jessica and Kylee!

Fall Pickup

Max and I just spent an hour following the tractors and trucks around the neighborhood. We sat in our swing while they picked up the trash in our cul-de-sac and then put on our shoes and jackets. We would walk for a bit and then sit down on the cold sidewalk watching. Max waved to all the vehicles and the drivers waved back at us.

Back In The Kitchen Again

I hurt tonight. More than I really have since the first day of surgery. Probably because I did too much. But I had to! My house was falling down around me. OK, not really...I just couldn't stand it anymore. I did the shopping that has been on my mind for a week, the dishes, cleaned up the kitchen, vacuumed and made dinner. I felt like me again. I am generally a good housekeeper (if we leave out the kitchen floor) and I am pretty good at feeding my family. But the dishes were growing mold, the floor was growing food and tonight was the first night we ate at the table in weeks. Max screamed the entire time. How quickly they forget.

I did hurt. But it was so wonderful to walk through my clean house after enjoying a meal I prepared. I still get tired easily and I have more recovering to do, but I also want to get back to my normal life. And the house should stay clean for at least a day or two.

The ward brought in meals for a few nights. Which was wonderful! Not as many nights as I was told they would, which worked fine because we had left-overs. It was just that we waited around for dinner instead of just throwing something together. And the truth is what I really would have appreciated was someone doing my dishes or cleaning my floors. I want to remember that the next time someone is in need. Do they really need food or is there some better way that I can help them?