2 Months

While it seems unreal to say that we have a two month old - it's true!  These weeks are flying by for sure -- take a look at how he's growing!

That face - it literally makes my ovaries twitch.  It looks like he's saying "come on mom, pull it together - I'm over these pictures already!"  But we press on, week to week - because I love that little mug :)

 

We visited the doctor on Thursday and once again he was such a champ.  His new stats are:

 

Weight:  13 lbs 10 oz

 

Length:  24.5 inches

 

Champion of:  social smiles, filling diapers, cooing, snuggling, being patriotic, and eating

 

Learning to: grow hair up front (bye bye receding hair line), tolerate tummy time, gain neck control, and sleep through the night

 

After the usual length and weight measurements at the doctor - Max was due for his first round of vaccinations.  This included three shots and an oral vaccination.  The nurse came in and Max took the oral vaccination like a pro - he practically licked the spoon clean!  Next up, the shots - I literally had to hide behind Rob.  The minute I saw the syringes, I felt so bad.  So, Rob stood up front and held Max's little finger.  After the first needle went in - he was SOOOO upset.  He screwed his little face up and it got really red and then he let out a big wail.  And, cried REAL TEARS - usually he just sort of wimpers, but he lets some real ones fall this time.  Poor baby - Rob was able to calm him (and me) down quickly, we got three silver band aids, and were on our way.  Max fell alseep on the way home and I got a fountain diet coke! Win, win!

 

This past month with Max has been a blast (probably I will say that every month).  Ever since he started smiling it's pretty much the best thing ever - though his smile can quickly turn to a frown as he's into making lots of faces.  He can also arch one eyebrow which is pretty hysterical too. He loves to hang out in his diaper on hot days and mommy loves those swaddle blankets for a little extra protection when the air conditioning is blasting.  Another thing that mommy and daddy are grateful for - longer sleeping at night!  He is sleeping close to 6 hours - we start his bedtime routine (diaper change, outfit change, bottle, and sleep sheep) betwen 8 and 8:30 - so he's usually in his crib by 9.  Daddy is usually more successful than mommy when putting Max to sleep.  While we don't have a "nap schedule" so to speak - he usually takes a long nap in the morning and again in the afternoon with a short one right before or after dinner.  Mommy went through a crazy two days where she was convinced Max had "torticollus" - which basiclly means favoring one side of the neck over the other.  But, with some simple changes to the way we lay him in his crib and on the changing table - we saw almost instant improvements to him being able to turn his neck to both sides.  Most of our days are filled with hanging out on the exercise mat, kicking it in the snug a bunny chair, reading books, listening to Pandora, strolling around the neighborhood and singing "itsy bitsy spider". 

 

Mommy continues to dread going back to work (another post for another day) - and Daddy is obsessed with his new car and new grill! 

 

Xoxo

Our New Normal

 In the not so recent past I would catch myself saying things like "when I'm a mom I won't do that" or thinking things like "well it can't be that hard..." - it's funny how quickly my tune has changed!  I think it probably started in the hospital.  After Max arrived (via a long labor and eventual c-section) - I became a mom and Rob became a dad.  The things that Rob saw and helped me through...I can't even.  I cannot even.  Those moments had a way of humbling me and probably preparing me for what was ahead.  When they say "having a baby changes everything." They mean every. thing. In an abstract way I knew our lives would be different, but I really had no idea what was in store for us.  It's not just "Carrie and Rob + 1".  This new plus 3 has completely changed this former party of 2.  I'm not just me with a baby.  I'm a mom.  And as much as I may have resisted that change, it's safe to say I'm more than okay with it now. 

In the spirit of embracing change...here's a glimpse into our new normal.

 

It started in the basement.  The basement has never been what I would consider completely organized.  But - what it lacked in organization - it more than made up for in rubbermaid tubs.  The tubs at least protected our posessions from water and spider webs and helped me not lose my mind.  But then we added diapers to the mix.  I don't know if you know - but diapers are expensive.  So - if I can buy in bulk or there is a coupon - You better believe I'm picking up diapers.  The diaper box to rubbermaid tub ratio is quickly increasing - while the floor space is quickly decreasing.

Walk up the stairs to the main level of our house. Rob knows I always like to keep a certain level of clean (especially in the main living areas).  I think because there are so many things I can't change about our house...like the size, neighborhood, number of rooms etc. that when it comes to cleaning I become a little pyscho.  It's one of the things I can control (I mentioned I like control...right?).  Everything has a place in our house.  And, if it doesn't have a place - it has a basket, bin, cabinet, or rubbermaid tub that it goes in.  Enter Maxwell James.  It's so crazy how much crap you need with a baby.  I use the term "need" loosely - as I'm sure many of the things we have are just luxuries...but that stuff can get out of control quick!  The precious real estate in our family room has now been consumed by a pack and play, swing, and 3.2 million books.  And now, instead of my carpet...I see the exercise mat, rattles, balls, blocks, and a myriad of other tiny human toys!

(Exercise mat = great enrichment for Mr.Max)

(Trying to contain the small library of books and toys)

(When it can't be contained...piles become my best friend)

 

Moving up a level to the kitchen....at any given point you might see 8-10 bottles, caps, nipples, collars, and other bottle washing supplies strewn across the counter.   At first I was all, "why did I register for these dishwasher baskets?"  I will just hand wash and sterilize the bottles with my organic bottle soap..blah blah blah...  Two months in - I'm about putting those bottles in the dishwasher.  Ain't nobody got time for that! Amiright??! 

And, if you part the blades of grass on our "lawn" drying rack on the counter- you might see about 6 pacifiers.  Going into this whole motherhood thing I thought - "my child will never use a pacifier" ha!  First night in the hospital when Max wouldn't stop screaming?  Yeah, we totally popped that pacifier in his mouth - and now, it's the only brand he'll take!  So, of course we went and bought more at Babies R'Us.  The most common phrase as we exit our house now..."did you get the pacifier?".  While he doesn't need it all the time and actually spits it out frequently - there are certain times when it just helps soothe him in a way that Rob or I can't. I'm okay with that.

Upstairs - you will find another addition to the bedroom. (Spoiler alert - it's not the sexy kind!)  Enter the monitor.  Previous to Max - Rob and I were great sleepers!  Enter a nine pound bundle of joy that needs round the clock care.  Sleep?  What's that?  I joked with my friend Liz today that I feel like now I sleep with one eye and ear open at all times!  I crank both monitors up to the highest level before tucking myself in for the night.  Now, I don't get up at Max's every peep - but they provide a certain level of security - and they act as flash lights too.  I love a two for one! :) 

And...when all else fails - I've turned to coffee.  Forget about Diet Coke or energy drinks - I go straight for the cofee in the morning. 

So...when I really think about it - I owe a lot of people an apology.  To my mom, Rob's mom, all my mommy friends, who I was so quick to judge.  I'm sorry.  I had no idea.  No idea what I was in for.  No idea how hard it would be. How brave you are.  Or, how lonely the days could be. Or how much you may have needed my support.  Or a frozen meal.  Or a phone call.  Or heck, a cup of coffee.  On this motherhood journey, I'm only about 8 weeks deep - but I get it.  I really get it. 

Thankfully, I have this guy. 

And this guy.

 

So...it's totally worth it and I wouldn't trade our new normal for anything!

 

Honorary Auntie Kathy

Dear Max,

On Mother's Day, as I was just beginning my journey as your mom - I posted my status on Facebook as "Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible women in Rob and I's life..." This statement is so, SO true. Our family has some pretty amazing women in it.  From your marathon running Aunt Cassie (maybe someday my body will look like hers??) to your Mema, Grandmim, Grandma Sugar, and boss lady Aunt Stacy - you really are lucky to have such strong women to look up too. 

 

One very special lady who is very near and dear to my heart is Auntie Kathy Casto.  I know Auntie Kathy through your Grandmim.  They are very good friends (besties as Stacy and I tease)....and while I don't remember the exact details of our first meeting (most likely at the scrapbook store)- she is so special to us now.  It's almost like she's just always been a part of our family...and man have we been on some adventures! 

(Kathy and her husband Dave at your dad and I's wedding) 

(Kathy showing of her funny side in the photobooth at the wedding)

 

When the Cloud ladies decided we wanted to go to Kenya in the summer of 2007 - Kathy came along too! It actually worked out perfectly as Auntie Stacy and I were roommates and Auntie Kathy and Grandmim were roommates.  Kathy managed to herd us hang with us for 14 days - mothering us each day - reminding us to eat breakfast, bring our snacks and cameras, hustle us into the open air jeeps, and tuck us safely into our "luxury tent" each night.  (If only someone would have given her the right adapter for her beloved curling iron - which ended up a melted, bent mess).  She will likely kill me the next time she sees me for posting these pictures!

(In the back of our open air jeep!) 

(Hanging out in the lodge - pre curling iron melt down :)

 

Since Kenya, Kathy has been such a wonderful part of my life and now yours!  She is quick with a helping hand (just ask Stacy about Kathy hanging the curtain rod in her house), generous in spirit (half the plants in my garden are likely from her), can keep it real (she called my poppy out on his big old belly), and she's one of those people who keeps chocolate in her house all the time.  Everytime we go over there - she has these little chocolate covered crunchy bits in a candy dish (side note:  I think people with candy dishes are the BEST!  Who doens't love chocolate?)

 

Kathy also has what I like to refer to as "real life skills" - like she knows how to use power tools, can probably change the tire on her car, understands how all her appliances work and just how to fix them (or who to call if she can't), figured out how to get the fire going in the terra cotta pot for smores (apparently it needs air circulation) - and even fixed my parents timer on their Christmas blow mold nativity. All this time though - I thought her main talent was scrapbooking - but she was holding out on us Max!  She crocheted you the most beautiful baby blanket.  It's soooo soft and huggable.  Perfect for your little body to cuddle up with. I couldn't resist doing a little photo shoot with you all wrapped up in it.

(The ironic part is that Kathy also gave us most of the bedding we registered for when getting married) - so this picture is special for lots of reasons!) 

(Max has deemed this blanket perfect for napping on. Man, this picture doesn't feel that long ago - but Max you are certainly growing on us!)

 

Then, she went and surprised us again - with cross-stitched baby booties!

(Max - you are going to be a total babe magnet with these monogrammed shoes!)

 

Little did we know that she was cross stitching up a storm....because on Father's Day she gave us another present - beautiful cross stitched bibs and a sippy cup to boot.  And man, cross stitching is serious business - it's not one of those hobbies you can do while catching up on The Bachelorette (or is that just me?)  You have to really be paying attention, counting stitches, and keeping it all from getting to be a big knotted mess on the back.  Amiright??!! She does impeccable work!

 

 

 

 

(Look at the detail - can I really put these on you Max? They are practically works of art!)

 

You just never know what Auntie Kathy has up her sleeve (or at her house - did I mention the hummingbirds?  She has lots of beautiful hummingbirds - so many in fact that she had to get a special "swing" for them to sit on while they take turns on the feeder...it's pretty adorable).

 

So Max, while I work on getting my mama sea-legs - we are so lucky to have such wonderful women (and men!) in our lives.  They make me feel more capable and confident as a new mommy - but more importantly, they surround us with love and support everyday!

Max Salutes the USA

As a firm believer in celebrating all holidays and living them up to the fullest (fireworks, sparklers, smores, oh my!)- it's going to come as no surprise that Max had a surplus of patriotic outfits.  So many in fact, that he had to wear them all week long! My little pint sized patriot started out the week in this red, white, and blue pirate number.  I only wish I would have remembered to take a picture of the back.   It said "pirate's booty" across the bum :)  The crazy part is I remember my parents bringing this outfit to the hospital when Max was born and laying it over him - it looked so big!  And now....it fits pretty good.  Ahoy from First Mate Max!                                                               

 I actually went to Dayton a few days ahead of the Fourth...and I knew that my mom and I would be running around town visiting friends, shopping, and running errands.  So, Max's next outfit was a little romper that said "All American Boy".  He was certainly a man about town (and really has been since birth) - so he was pretty tired out by the time I remembered to take a picture.  Holy moly, I can't get enough of those chubby cheeks!!

Later on in the day - we had some fun with a bedazzled Uncle Sam hat.  (What, your family doesn't have dozens of patriotic props??)

On the Fourth of July Max had to make several outfit changes.  He started out the morning in some red, white, and blue overalls from Auntie Stacy. 

And, as my friend Lynn says, it's not a holiday unless there's a bib to commerate it - so we have the "My First Fourth of July" bib.  This actually works out quite well because Max has started wearing bibs when taking his bottle to catch the dribbles.

Rob came down after work on the 4th - and by that time we were on outift number two!  As it turns out Rob and Max sort of matched (unplanned, but now I'm obsessed with finding the two of them matching outfits!!!)  My two favorite guys sporting some red, white, and blue plaid.

While Max and I don't match - we're a pretty cute pair too!

Never fear - we also have a patriotic sleeper!  It should also be noted that on top of dressing Max in red, white, and blue all week I felt the need to pose him with patriotic props from all over my parents house.  Let's pretend Max is going on a picnic in the below photo :) 

The patriotic pants carried over to the next day too!

We put Max in one more outfit to commerate his first Fourth of July - it was a pretty simple onesie to keep him cool on our car ride home (spoiler alert:  we got a new car!!!)

(Stay tuned later in the week for pictures :)

 

So, Happy 4th of July from the All American Family!

 xoxo

Max Lately

I can't believe it's already July and Max is almost two months (wahhhh...where is the time going??)  Rather than focus on my dwindling maternity leave - let's focus on how adorable Max is! 

He was hanging out in his crib in the above photo while grandmim and I rearranged all his clothes :)  Turns out they really do make a lot of cute boy clothes and I might have purchased a lot of them!  Between Carters, Babies R' Us, Target, and Once Upon a Child...no place is safe for me to go when there are baby clothes to be bought.  Have no fear -they are now all organized by size in tubs and ready to go when Max needs them. (Grandparents - we have a lot of 6 months clothes/onesies...but are always looking for 9-12 months :) 

 

 

Most mornings Max and I hang out - wash bottles, take out the dirty diaper trash, listen to the      "Rock-a-bye Baby station on Pandora, and hang out on his play mat.  I try to vary things - reading stories, playing with finger puppets, rattles, and singing songs. 

Another thing we are really working on is tummy time.  While Max originally didn't seem to mind - he gets really grumpy now.  So, we are trying to ease into it.  Tummy time is important for infants to develop their neck muscles (among other things)...so like it or not - we have to keep going!

 

 

We also like to walk around the neighborhood in the evening...Max usually falls asleep on these strolls (as evidenced in the above picture).

My view of his adorable feet while on walk!

 

I purchased this "planet patrol" onesie on a whim while at Once Upon a Child with Stacy.  When I first put it on him the koala was folded up in the fabric and it looked like he was wearing a flesh colored body suit! This made me giggle so!  As it turns out - he looks adorable in it! And in the words of Auntie Stacy - I hope he never outgrows it!

 

Daddy was also getting a kick out of the onesie and sent me this picture with the caption "which way to the beach?"  It made me burst out laughing!  I love how it looks like Max has little arm muscles he is flexing!

 

Auntie Stacy likes to come over and visit...which we all love too!  He already has her wrapped around his little finger!

 

As the shirt above indicates - Max is pretty much Captain Cutie all the time!

 

We can't get enough of him :)