So it has been a tough lesson in the past week with Max and his new found persistent toddler behavior. Sometimes I just want to scream and pull my hair out and yes, sometimes I lose it but at the end of the day-I love my kids so much and I am so happy they are both in my life-even the annoying times. Check out these pics. Too cute, huh?

This is our typical morning. Yes, Max is making some funky face.

And then typical-happy toddler right after being funky. 

This is my little sweetie looking very cute.

Max’s new backpack!

And more tummy time for Samantha!!

My Dearest Little Boy,

I am always amazed by how much you change even daily. I am watching all of your pants become what is called “Floods” because you are growing so rapidly. You are actually three inches taller than your dad was at your age and three pounds heavier. I guess your momma made you some great breast milk when you were a baby..who knows. I am always happy when people say you are big because usually our people, the JEWS, are not very tall and so I am so proud of your height. Clearly it does not come from me, since I am not even 5 feet tall, but maybe from your Great Grandfather, Max Benjamin, who you are named after.

You are starting to talk more and more. You still like to call your Dad Ba and Grandpa is Pa. You like to make sounds of animals and especially the dog and the monkey. You also love to read Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see? You read every page with me. It is very cute. You can say TY for your friend Tyler and you like to blabber but not too much. I always think about your homeopath, who said that you would not talk until you could do it perfectly (he said this to me about a year ago). 

I watched you last week be so kind to a baby at your friends house. Your friend Max just became a big brother and you were helping his Mom while she was nursing. You wanted to bring the baby all of his blankets and stuffed animals. It was adorable. You also rubbed the baby’s leg while the baby was sleeping. You are going to be such an amazing big brother.

You are still the sweetest boy I know. I do look and see if there are others but there is something so special about you and how you treat the world. I looked at  Montessori school for you for Sept of 2009 because of the love and the free thinking that is taught at Montessori schools. I am making sure that wherever you may go a few mornings a week will honor your independent thinking.

We have gone through a lot of sicknesses lately. You and I went to see Maia at the Apothecary Garden and she recommended that we go off of wheat and gluten because we are both getting sick so much. Momma knows she does not do well with either and always figured that you had issues as well but we will find out. You are so my kid with all my good and bad.

So anyway, as always I love you and am honored to be your mom. I am honored to travel this conscious journey with you. I love you. I will always love you. Thank you Max!

Love, Momma

Here it is a a few days late. We took this picture on Sunday. I have not been the best at blogging lately and I do miss blogging but I just dont have the energy. I know that sounds crazy but my mind is in so many other places. I also have no slept that great this week and whenever that happens-I use my energy to take care of Max and myself and well the hubby gets the remaining. 

So it is getting close. I will actually be 37 weeks this Friday and I am amazed that we are going to meet this little girl soon. I have been worrying about our sleep situation with Max and the new baby but after talking to a friend, a stranger, my hubby and our pediatrician-I have let go. I know that it will work out. I just have that feeling that everything is going to be ok. I think it was important for me to honor my fears and because of it-well I worked on it and now they seem to have vanished for now. I am just now getting everything ready. The furniture arrives Thursday and the drapes get installed Friday. I need to wash clothes and buy a few onsies and stuff like that but as for everything else, we still have all the STUFF from Max so it just seems easier.

As for me, I have gained about 24 1/2 pounds and I am amazed that I have gained so little. I feel like I am eating so much more than when I was pregnant with Max but who knows.

It is going to be a few busy weeks weeks. I have doctors apt for max and myself and Max’s birthday party is in 2 weeks. Any ideas for party favors?

Well hopefully I can blog a little more and catch up on y reading of the blogs I follow. 

walking with my toddler

Originally uploaded by Maxsmom

We had one of those days today where everything just seemed to flow, LUCKILY!

This morning we got a phone call from a pregnant friend who thought she may be going into labor but was not sure. She asked if I was planning to take Max to his class today and if I could take her son as well. I was surprised that she asked since we are not that close but I felt that I could not say no. Of course it starting to rain as I approached her house to get her little guy. But Max was so excited to have a buddy in the car watching a movie with him and going with him to class. I got Max out of the car and walked to the other side to get Zack. I told Max to hold onto to the tire while I got Zack out. max listened. I also talked to the guys about being team players and what that means when you are a team player. We talked about it meaning holding hands and listening. They held my hands and we walked to class. We arrived and it was fine. I had to discipline Zack a few times since he can be a hitter and more aggressive than Max. But Max and Zack were buddies and they held hands and sang and danced during the music part of the class. It was cute.

I did notice that Max got a little jealous when Zack wanted to sit on my lap as well but then it passed and Max was fine. The best part of the day was when we were about to leave and it was pouring. I took one kid under one arm and the other under the other arm and ran with them like footballs through the parking lot. Crazy seeing my belly go up and down with two toddler footballs. But very funny. I guess I did my good deed for the day. I guess moms with twins have very full days. Thank goodness my kids will be 2 years apart. But Max cried when I took Zack home after class. It was very sweet.

 Here is a picture of me walking with my guy. Just thought it would be nice to post a pic as well since I love my little one soooooooo much.

I think we may do some next week with jeans and a bra or tank top or maybe just my arms covering my boobs. Who knows but it sure does make sense to have my mom do it and not somebody who I don’t even know-plus the amount of money I saved.

Anyway, the birth is getting near and I am getting impatient. I have been so chill but now I just want to meet this little girl. A friend gave me a ton of 0-3 clothes and my mother in law bought me some as well so now I am set. And now it is all moving along. As soon as the furniture comes in for Samantha’s room I will post pictures.

So here is me pregnant with our little girl at 35 weeks.

  

Dear Max,

I say this every month. I say every month it was a huge month for you and I am saying it again.

This month you began to say a few words: Ball, Blue and Woof Woof. You still call everyone BAAAAAA. If you are calling for you Dad, myself or a friend..you say BAAAAAAA! It is cute and I am sure as time goes on you will identify us as Mom and Dad. We don’t mind and we support you in taking your good old Max time.

You are such a big boy. Each day I look at you and I am amazed as how big you look and how grown up you are. Of course there are still days that I see the little baby in you but I think I will always feel that way since I am your momma.

This month you have been fighting going to sleep. You are so busy and you do not want to close your eyes. I have learned to actually get a little feisty with you and say, Max to bed or max sleep now! It actually works. I have realized that you are a spirited little boy and that giving you options in a low tone voice do not always work. We have realized that you need a little more boundaries that the less spirited kid but we would never trade your spirit for anything.

You are still such a sweet little boy. Each night I put you to bed, I lay with you and rub your head and back. Now you do the same for me. When I rub your back, you rub my back and then I rub your head and then you rub my head. It is so sweet. You are a great little caretaker.

You are also good at sharing. I am not saying that sometimes it is not hard for you but in general you are great at sharing food or your toys and you take pleasure in giving. 

I see so much of your Dad in you and I see so much of myself in you as well. You adore your Dad and it is wonderful to watch how closer you guys have become. It is wild to watch you grow and be a part of your journey as a little guy.

I love you so much. I am honored to be your mom. I am honored to be a part of your every experience. 

Happy 22 Months Max!

Love, 

Your Mama

I think I posted about our trip last week. I took Max gutter bowling with two of his friends. It was so cute. They all loved the bowling shoes and rolling the the ball down this metal ramp. It was fun to do for about an hour and then the kids were done. I was actually amazed that Max stayed in our two lanes for the entire time, despite some other families being there and playing as well. Max is a really good kid. I think I get spoiled because he is good and so when he is tired or not feeling well, it is tough. I am not saying that he does not have his moments but they are few and far between. Generally if I keep my kid moving constantly, which is what he enjoys, then he is pretty happy. I watch other moms who have to discipline minute to minute. I am grateful that Max is not that way.

I have noticed that Max needs a good morning activity to tire him out for his nap. He just needs some stimulation for at least an hour or hour and a half and then he winds down for thirty minutes and then he drinks a bottle and falls asleep. Some kids are fine just chillin’..but not Max..he likes to be moving constantly. Since he loves to be on the move, we are usually in the car for the start of his nap but as  I mentioned before, I have perfected the “sleeping baby from car to stroller and into laundry room” move. I have also noticed that Max needs to be asleep for at least 5 minutes and that he cannot be sick or teething really bad during this time because then he does not go into deep sleep and then he wakes and then I am screwed.

Thank goodness I feel pretty good because I do not know how I would take care of a go go toddler if all I wanted to do was lay on the couch during pregnancy.