sweet faces in december

This day started a little early for us.  We didn't quite make it to the 9:00 start time. 

But we did make it in time for the magician, who called Eva up on the stage.  And that look on Eva's face?  The magician said, "Pretend like you are excited!"  But she was.  That is as crazy as she gets.  Not shown: Samuel's face as he is rolling on the floor laughing at the magicians silly jokes.

Santa was there, too.  That look on Samuel's face?  He is excited, too.  Totally excited to see Santa and tell him that he wanted a remote control helicopter and a remote control "triantula." But he is in the stage where when there is a camera, he suddenly is unable to smile.  

 That look on Maximus' face?  Another one of  those that make me want to kiss the computer screen.  Looks like he liked Santa.  

 That look on my dad's face?  The one where he is adoring his littlest grandson?  This photo makes my day.

 And from the look on his face, it looks like his grandson adores him back.

 Can't quite see their faces but the two snowboarders are Eva and Samuel.  Eva is technically better and Samuel can go fast.  Surprise surprise.  I stayed home with the baby while Karl took them up.  I want to see them on the hill so bad.  

I look at these photos and I can't help but get sad that these faces will inevitably change.  The kids will mature, the baby will no longer be a baby, and sad to say, my dad will get older.  But I have these photos to help me remember these days and I am happy about that.    

first christmas for maximus

Trying to come up with the perfect gift, wishing I would have started earlier and swearing I will next year (but kind of knowing I will procrastinate again), using gifts and Santa as incentives to get my kids to listen, stressing myself out by trying to make stuff that would be easier and cheaper to buy... sure all those things make me feel like Christmas is here. But when I really feel like the holidays have come is when my brother and his wife come into town and we break out Settlers of Catan, consume large amounts of snacks and Martinellis, let the kids fend for themselves, and stay up until ridiculous hours of the morning.
So, Maximus, welcome to your first Christmas. Welcome to our family traditions.

time is flying

I was just looking for the power cord to my computer and saw my stack of magazines.  Unread.  That is the way they have been for two months now.  

That means that for two months the life I have been living has left me too busy to read about how to live it.  

Karl took this photo four days before Maximus was born.  This was after we went up to Ruth's Diner for breakfast.  This was my last breakfast out.  I am kind of useless in the mornings now.

I got kind of emotional when I found this picture (the benefit of being forgetful is that there is always a nice surprise waiting for you).  My kids loved Baby Maximus before he was even born.  They were always hugging, and rubbing, and kissing my belly.  I am not squeezing Samuel as it might look, he is cuddling Baby Maximus.  

Maximus is two months old now.  I have been getting sad because he is outgrowing his first set of clothes and moving on to 3-6 month clothes.  It is crazy to look at this big boy and think that he fit inside me just two months ago.  

I have been taking little videos of Maximus just being a baby.


Here is one of what I call a Minute of Maximus.

This little piggy stayed home...

Moving, cooing, snorting, sneezing, and finally pooping (tee hee) Maximus.  
His body is still figuring out the whole breathing thing.  Until it does, it is providing a little bit of entertainment.

Right after I had Eva, I was flying home from Chicago.  Babies and flying are a lot of work.  I remember looking at a lady reading a novel and thinking to myself that I am never going to be able to read on the plane again.  But the kids got older and before I knew it, I was reading on an airplane.  So I had another. Because it didn't seem quite right that I was already in that stage of life.  The stage where I peacefully read on an airplane (and wonder whose kid is making so much noise). 

And before I know it, I am going to read my pile of magazines.  And I am pretty sure it is going to make me a little sad.