Cuddle bunny.

We have several new "developmentts" to report, one of the most adorable being Max has mastered the concept of cuddling (though he's a bit of a tease). We've gotten into the habit lately of fetching him in the morning when he wakes up and bringing him into bed to cuddle. In order to get him to cuddle we entice him with things like our iphones, which hold any number of items of interest for him (pics and vids of him, youtube animation shorts, and apps featuring talking animals). The thing that's really funny is that sometimes in the middle of the day, and totally out of the blue, he'll start saying "bed" "cuddle" or "nap" at which time we migrate to our room, climb into bed and play fort, read books, and - yes - cuddle. It's pretty great.

Other misc. updates include: Max peed in his potty for the first time - woohooo! Hopefully bathroom independence (aka potty training) is in the not-too-distant future. Unfortunately, I missed this momentous occasion as I was in Portland, OR for work! Also, Max had really been working on stringing words together and now has several two or three word phrases, i.e. "appa juice peese!" or "go stella out!" He's pretty good with "please" and is making headway with "thank you" - yesterday he said thank you for the first time unprompted - I was verrrry pleased!

Above, Max "helping" me pack for my trip to Portalnd. Meaning he climbed in my suitcase and insisted on filling it with his toys. . .

New, warm weather PJs with a "sark!"

Morning nature walk with momma. there are lots of babies around the lake right now - baby geese, ducks, turtles, even a baby heron - ahh, springtime! Max also likes to collect pine cones whenever we go there: specifically he wants 2 "babies" (smallest cones), 1 "momma", and 1 "dada." Seems like everything is grouped / identified this way lately. How cute is that??

Momma and other boy - 25 weeks, hanging out at Amy, Mike, and LaLas.

Hanging with 1/2 of the twin equation after a BBQ at our place. The 3 boys had so MUCH fun, right up until the end that is when Max and Kellan were playing chase and one of the boys abruptly changed directions, leading them to come around the corner and crash into each other in a full-speed head-on collision! Max's dome got rocked - he was verrrrrry sad. Kellan somehow shook it off.

Building a "tooowaaa" at the Barnes & Noble. He loves legos. What kid doesn't, right?

Other Boy at 22 weeks & Unicoi Revisited

Above is me at 23 weeks. Once again, it appears I am smuggling a basketball under my shirt. Below are a couple of the ultrasound shots from our most recent trip to the Doc. I'm now 24 weeks; these are from 22 weeks. Other boy is doing great far as everyone can tell. At the 22 week appointment they did a fetal echo and his heart checks out just fine. He's really been ramping up the kicking the past couple of weeks, so it looks like he's taking after his big brother who I often feared was going to crack some of my ribs in those last weeks.

Last weekend we escaped the hustle and bustle of Atlanta and drove up to Unicoi State Park, located in the N. GA mountains. The trip was a much needed getaway as we have had little, if any, quality family time for the past couple of months. It was also significant because this is where we took Max for his first "vacation" at the end of my maternity leave in June of 2010. What a difference 2 years makes! I've included a couple of comparison photos from the 2010 trip just to remind y'all of how much our boy has grown. He was such a TINY peanut in June of June 2010, just all arms, legs, and head! While that trip was great, this one was - in all honesty - so much more fun. For one thing, now that the boy sleeps through the night momma and daddy were themselves much more rested and able to enjoy all that the park has to offer. Secondly, the boy was obviously much more aware of his surroundings and, for the record, he is a huge fan of the mountains. We went on hikes, hung out at the lake beach, played around on the cabin deck, and tooled around the alpine village located just outside Unicoi. I guess technically this was "other" boy's first trip to the mountains, following in this little tradition - hopefully we'll be back with both boys in the not too distant future!

Immediately below is Max and Elena (aka "LaLa") being silly at a little gathering we had for Jeff's birthday.

Just hanging out on the deck at our Unicoi cabin, sporting a diaper, sandals, and daddy's sunglasses.

Not sure what's going on here - Max doing his best surfer impression?

Shortly after we arrived at the lake, Max was tentative for about 30 seconds before walking in up to his shoulders and generally acting like a total lune.

Soaking wet and super sandy and happy as a clam!

Momma & her boys (other boy hidden from view). Note how big Max is - and then look at one the pic immediately below from the deck in 2010!!

Momma & the Peanut circa 2010.

BEEutiful morning hike with Daddy - present day.

. . .And Daddy with the Peanut at Unicoi circa 2010! (Yeah, it does seem that Jeff is wearing the same shirt. . .perhaps a wardrobe update is in order!)

A (belated) birthday post for Maxwell James

Max turned 2 on April 7th. Unfortunately, Momma's been working long days (and nights) every day for about a month, so no big festivities this year and I'm obviously veyr late in commemorating the boy's birthday via the blog. Still, I wanted to write a special birthday post - even if I am 2 weeks late! So, here it goes - prepare for graphic material and a lot of mushiness.

I can hardly believe that it's been 2 years since Max entered the world. I remember his *birth* day SO well. The looooong labor - watching endless episodes of Lost while counting contractions, going to the hospital, coming back home and going back again, the delirium of reaching day 3 of almost constant contractions and being told I was still only about 2 cm dilated, the halleluah of just a "sniff" of pitocin and we were off to the races, the first push on the bed, the second push while walking, into the birthing tub and with 2 more pushes - VOILA, Max said "helllllo!"

Those first weeks were so exhasuting - Max would only sleep on our chests or during a walk. Jeff and I, like ships in the night, taking "shifts" up with Max. And it seemed like all.i.did. was nurse that boy. Still, we were beyond smitten and I wouldn't trade those early days for all the tea in China. Going back to work after 3 months home with my boys about ripped my heart out, but - like everyone said - it got better with time (and once I got more than 2 hours of consecutive sleep).

Before we knew it, the boy was crawling, then it was Christmas (home in Cali), and finally his first birthday. I didn't think anything could be sweeter than year 1, but Max has proven me wrong. The second year has been SOOOO WONDERFUL. As our boy's personality has FULLY emerged, as he's learned to walk and talk, we have had so much fun.

At two, Max is running and laughing every day. He's continued to be in very good health - a fact for which we are beyond greatful. With the exception of a pretty regular stream of bumps and bruises and 1 dislocated elbow - we've gotten through year 2 with only minmial injuries. . .a fact which is somewhat surprising given how much of a crazy.climber. daredevil the boy is! He jokes with us. He runs round with capes. He lies to us (boy that starts early!). He sings the alphabet song. He chases the dogs. He kisses his girlfriend (ok, and occasionally shoves her). and he tries to feed his baby brother crackers and cheerios by trying to stuff them in my belly button.

I know I'm forgetting a million Maxisms. . . but happy belated birthday my sweet boy - we love you so, so much!

xoxo, Momma & Daddda

We indulged ourselves and the boy this past weekend with a trip to the zoo, brunch at Thumbs Up and a trip to the pool. Here are a few pics - Max got a hair cut on Saturday, so note the before and afters. . . We both prefer the longer hair but at some point it just starts to get in the boy's eyes so. . .doesn't he look older with the short cut?

With his favorite accessory. . .those glasses have become ubiquitous!

Enjoying a well desrved smoothie after his hair cut.

love this shot - Max looking so French with his longish hair and his little stripy top. . . .

Having such fun helping daddy bbq some chicken out back - loves running up to the fire and saying "Hooooooooooooooooooot!"

Other Boy

As many of you have likely heard by now, we are going to be adding another boy to our brood! I am 17 weeks now and momma and "other" boy are doing well (see, we call Max the boy. . .so for now this little one is other boy). We had a pretty significant scare several weeks ago, but found out this week that all the worry was over nothing. In early February, after my initial screening (ultrasound + blood work) we were told we came back with an increased risk for Down Syndrome - my risk jumped from about 1/800 to 1/39. Thus, the worrying commenced. After much late night internet research I found out about a non-invasive test newly approved for DS diagnostics (ordinarily, to find out for sure an amnio is recommended, which we did not want to do). My awesome Doc. hadn't yet heard of the new test, but began researching and once convinced of its reliability, set it up so that I could get it. So I did. And then we waited. And waited. For almost 3 more weeks. The waiting was just brutal. While Jeff and I felt we could take whatever came, not knowing really messed with our heads - and we worried over the many, serious medical issues that often accompany DS (the kind of things that require heart surgery on a tiny infant, for example). And knowing the toll it was taking on us, we didn't want to worry family until we knew for sure one way or the other, so we didn't tell. Anyhow, this past Tuesday the results came back - negative. Phew. We were, and are, two very greatful parents. The following day we had an ultrasound and found out we're having another boy - and eveything looks great. He was super active during the u/s and is measuring perfect.

As for other updates, the (big) boy turns 2 in just a few short weeks - so hard to wrap my head around. On the other hand, all I need to is be around my big boy to be reminded of how much he's grown up this past year. He's such a hoot and such a joy to be with. He's also getting very crafty with his attempts to manipulate the parents. Two examples: when he deliberately does something he's not supposed to - like feed the dogs his food - he looks up and says "uh oh!", which he thinks is a free pass. . . also, when he's being naughty, if we have to scold him - like if he hits one of the dogs and we sternly say "Max, no hitting" he scrunches his shoulders up and says ever so sweetly "hug?", figuring if he gives us a hug, all is peachy. . .

Non-kid updates: 1) Jeff has only about 6 weeks until his very last final; 2) We are putting our house on the market in the remote hope that we can sell in this god-awful market and move to a better school district before baby #2 arrives; and 3) as always, work is absolutely crazy for momma. I expect to be working non-stop between now and june, at the earliest. So much for taking it easy while preggo. So the blog might slow down a bit - things are getting kinda hectic over here. Take care y'all!

A wave from our other boy. . .

what a cute little noggin!

16 week bump.

Amy and the babes: all children are OBSESSED with smart phones.

Max and LaLa hard at play

Hilarious. kicking back on our bed, looking at a postcard

the boy's favorite new accessory.


Max and LaLa playing their new game.

Week in review

It's been an eventful week. We've passed around the stomach flu (first Max, then Jeff, and now me) and Max had his first visit to urgent care after dislcoating his elbow while rough housing with momma. I'm whipped - enjoy the pics and hope y'all have a lovely week!

Don't you wish you looked this cute with messy hair in the morn?

No momma, this stick is not too big. It's juuuust right!

Tacos to celebrate the return of the elbow!

Urgent care. I'm allll better now, thanks Doc.

At urgent care just after Max got his elbow popped back in.

Ducks!

Our New Addition!

It seems I am getting worse and worse about keeping the blog up - but in my defense I tried to do it about a week ago and stupid blogger was down! Anyhow, here are some recent pics of the boy and - yes - the new addition!!! As most of you know, Max has a little brother or sister on the way. I am almost 14 weeks along and happy to report I think I'm through the "morning" sickness phase (though it was really morning, noon, and night!). I'm still struggling with some fatigue and dizziness, plus there's the insomnia and weird food aversions / cravings. So far, baby is measuring great and heartbeat sounds perfect. We're so excited to welcome another peanut. Since we already have one girl (though at 16 Syd's practically a woman!!!) and one boy, this little one will shift the balance. Will girls dominate. . .or will it be boys? Any bets? I have had 2 dreams that it's a girl. . .In any case, this baby will be born in the year of the dragon (like its momma!) and will in all likelihood, be a leo (also like momma - - and Grandpa Paul, or "Hoppa" as Max calls him). Our EDD is August 21st, so I will be big as a house in the midst of our disgusting Atlanta summer heat. . .should be delightful.


Playdate with the twins. Max always inserts himself on their momma's lap. Hey, what's one more?

The boy's latest thing - rearranging all the furniture.

hamming it up at the park.

bump redux. this is me at 13 weeks. 5 lbs up and it's all in the belly!

Here's Mizithra! (that's our nickname for this one. . . you may recall we referred to Max as Hondo while in utero).


Look at our big boy - it wasn't so long ago he could never have climbed on this big slide. . .