Max - 8 Months!!!

In the last month the following have happened:

*He got his second tooth.

*Got really mobile (mostly via rolling, but he will scoot forward as well)

*Celebrated his first Christmas
*Started sharing a room with Parker
*Has gotten pretty good at feeding himself finger foods (He can down a whole banana)*Likes to play with toys (His favorite is a bouncy ball dinosaur thing he got from Grandma Rueckert for Christmas)

His sleeping schedule has pretty much normalized he is now sleeping from about 8pm or 9pm until 6am or 7am. He then takes a two hour morning nap, and a 1 hour afternoon nap. Part of me wishes he would take his long nap in the afternoon when Parker naps, and part of me like the one-on-one time I get with Parker during that time.

It seems like he is starting to slim a little. I suspect he is MUCH shorter then the average, because I can put 6 month sleepers on him and they fit him just fine. He weighs around 18 lbs. We'll get an "official" weight next month.

He sucks a Binky when he is in bed, but when that isn't available he quickly employs his thumb.

Max is such a GEM. I'm so happy he is my son!

Troy's Cross Country Ski Trip

Troy's family makes a yearly trip up to some yurts (similar to a tent, but a lot sturdier) near Evanston, WY each year. This year since I'm nursing Max, I stayed home, but Troy went.

The whole clan - you can see the yurt on the right

The trip requires a few mile trek to the yurts. Troy's family cross country skies. I'm sure you could snow shoe, but if you have tried both you know cross country skiing is much less work. Troy's family ALWAYS gets there in the dark so once they get to the yurt it is dinner, games, a little night skiing and then off to bed. The next day is the fun day where they find a nice hill and attempt over and over again to do a train with all that are attending. Usually they end in a tangled mess of skies, legs, and an occasional head.


This year there wasn't much snow, but there was enough to enjoy the trip. The ironic part if it snowed the morning after Troy got home. It would have been so nice to have some fresh snow for the trip, but this is just another example of god's sense of humor.

Christmas 2011

This Christmas was fun. We celebrated it out at Troy's parent's house. Due to some scheduling issues we ended going out to Troy's parents to celebrate everything one day earlier than usual. We had the spiritual Christmas on the 23rd. It was great as always. This year two of Troy's siblings lead the discussion. They did a great job, and made me think about two things: 1- What makes a gift special, and 2 - What everyday gifts have God given to me?

They then had their traditional hockey game on the ice in their backyard. I choose to stay inside and finish wrapping gifts, and getting other things ready for Christmas. It would have been nice to go out, but I just felt like I had so much to do that I wouldn't have enjoyed it.

The next morning (Dec 24th) was our Christmas. The tree was packed and family was abundant. Parker was fun this year, however he got tired of unwrapping present. We had to attack the pile in shifts. Next year the plan is one big gift (the goal is a swing set) and a few small things.

The "loot" before the madness began

Max with his stocking (no he didn't get a flashlight, but it did work great as a teething toy)

Parker with his stocking

Parker had a Mater Teeth sucker in his stocking

Some of Parker's top picks:

Bright Builders (Shhh - - Santa found these at the thrift store)

Curious George DVD

Max was as cute as usual, and just sat on the couch and watch all the action while sucking on his Binky. I was surprised he was so content, because I didn't nurse him when he woke up, but I guess with everything going on (and his Binky) he was content.


After a fun day out at Troy's parents we returned home. Christmas morning we woke up and treated like any other morning. We went to church and then went to my family's Christmas party that night.

This year was the year of big gifts for me so. Which made it nice, because then I was able to help the kids with their gifts. I did have a little to open on Christmas, but my biggest gift came a few days after Christmas. We have been wanting a upright freezer for a while, and I had saved a little money for one, but was still short so we decided to spend some of our Christmas money making up the difference and bought one.

In the end the wrapping and the packaging were a hit. One of Parker's gift was actually just a box filled with packaging pillows. He loved every minute of popping the pillows.

Parker insisted on climbing in this box. It is hard to see, but it was only about 3 inches wide.

Max enjoying the wrapping paper

Max crawled under the tree. I thought it was a fitting place as he is the GREATEST gift I was give this year.

Max at 4, 5, 6 and 7Months

Catch-up time . . . not only am I out of school for a few weeks, but I also recently moved the boys into the same room, which has resulted in them napping at the same time, and has left our office without a crib in it so now during nap time I can update the blog.

4 Months

Max went from sleeping through the night to waking up ever 4 or so hours. I figured it was because he was either teething or hungry. I would just nurse him and then put him back to sleep. Around this same time I started another class for the semester so it was hard having to get up a few times during the night, and then function in school.

He was quite the droller

Happy boy!!!

5 Months

Max's sleeping pattern was still less than desirable however it was still better than Parker's was at the same age. Max would wake up about two times a night, and take about 2-3 naps during the day. Still drooling, but no teeth yet. For Halloween Max wore the same pumpkin costume we used for Parker when he was about the same age. Max is a little weightier than Parker was so it fit great. (If you are curious look for a Halloween post . . .I'll date it 10/31/11)

Our sweet pumpkin

6 Months

Max's was still waking a few times during the night. A few days before he hit the 6 month mark I decided to start feeding him cereal. I was hoping this would help him sleep longer, but I think he got in the habit of waking up during the night, because it didn't change a darn thing. He didn't seem to like the food, and practically shivered with every bite. (If you are more curious look for a Feeding Time post . . .I'll date it 12/15/11)

7 Months

Max FINALLY started sleeping better at night. I started feeding him two times a day with more substantial foods like fruits and veggies and that helped, but I also STOPPED nursing him during the night. I would just hold him and let him suck on a Binky until he fell back asleep. I knew he could self sooth, because he would do it during the day. But at night he grew accustom to me nursing him. A few times of me NOT nursing him led to him sleeping better through the night. Also he finally had a tooth break through the gums shortly after he turned 6 months. I also broke down and bought teething gel.

He is starting to love to stand. He can't do it by himself, but with just a little help he can. He is still SUPER happy . . . he doesn't cry much, and if he does there is usually a GOOD reason for it. . .like Parker growling at him or something. He does startle easily though and Parker's growling is just enough to set him off. He's getting really good with eating he is now eating pieces of food . . .like bananas, bread, pears, etc. He has also started rolling to get from place to place. He doesn't roll a lot unless there is something he wants then he gets there just fine and in no time at all.

BROTHER'S

Max standing . . . with the help of Big Brother Parker.

I can't believe how fast time has gone since we had him. I have to keep reminding myself he isn't a newborn anymore.

Another Semester Down

I just finished another semester, and when meeting with my advisor found out I only have 1 more class to complete before I'll have a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Cellular and Molecular Biology. I also qualify for a Chemistry minor.

I am so glad to be almost done. This last semester was really hard on Parker. I had class 5 days of the week, two of those days I had labs that meant I was away for around 6 hours. Not to mention the many nights I would lock the kids downstairs with Troy while I studied upstairs. There were days I would tell Parker I had to leave to school, and he would start crying. I wanted to cry right along with him, but kept my composure for him.

I contemplated whether I should take a lighter load then usual this semester because I had just had Max, and I wasn't sure how I was going to juggle the responsibilities of two kids, and two classes that both had a lab component. After the fact, I'm so glad I didn't. Max has been such an easy going baby that it made it possible for me to keep my sanity while juggling family, church, and school responsibilities. He is starting to get more mobile, and needs more attention so now next semester will be possible, because I'll only have the one class.

Many people have asked me what my plans are once I'm done. Well . . . for right now it will just make me a mom with options. I feel my time will be best spent at home raising my kids, but I find relieve knowing if something happened to Troy I have a degree. After my kids don't need me as much in the home I may choose to go get a teaching certificate and go teach secondary education biology, but that is still a few years away.

Feeding Time

I have to admit starting Max on solids caused me some emotional distress. First how in the world did he get so big so fast, and second it meant I now had to think about what to feed him and when. Before this I would just nurse him when he complained, and it appeared he was hungry.

Max seems to be a lot different at eating compared to Parker. Parker would eat everything and anything, and very quickly. I couldn't shovel it in quick enough. Max started out a lot more picky and is a slower eater.

Here is Max's first try at solids:


See what Max thinks of peas:


Here is Parker feeding Max:


isn't he so helpful . . .

Halloween

Troy and I dressed up as old people. SORRY no pictures . . . but just know we were cute, but not as cute as our two kids.

Parker was a sea otter

Max was a pumpkin

We handed out glow sticks until they were all gone, and then we handed out fruit snacks.