Happy Father's Day 2014

For Father's Day, we did a little photo shoot for Dad.  I was going to take the pictures and print out a couple of my favorites and do something crafty with them (or something).  Didn't happen.  In fact, when Peter reads this blog, it will be the first time he's seen these pics.  Hope you like them, Peter.  We love you!  (Tell me your favorite and I'll get it made into something cute...)

I took Maxwell to Kohls and he picked out two shirts and a tie for Peter.  I let him pick the shirts out all by himself from one display and then I let him pick the tie from a couple of choices.  (I didn't lame out by giving Peter ties, he ASKED for them!)

Max helped me make a card for his dad too.  I asked him what he loves about his dad and then I also asked him some questions about his dad.  His responses about what he knows about daddy are cute.  Here's pics of the card or you can watch the video and hear Peter read it.

Video - Peter opening his presents and reading his card

We love our Daddy

What Max likes to do with Daddy: Play with him, kick the soccer ball

Why Max loves Daddy:  Because we just play with him every day

Why Emmalyn loves Daddy: He's comfortable to sleep on and changes her diapers

Maxwell  - 2 years 9 months

Emmalyn - 2 months

What we know about Daddy

Favorite color: Red

Favorite food: Watermelon

Favorite thing to do: Play

Favorite toy: Truck

Daddy's job: To Build

Favorite game: Shapes

How old?: 3

First name: Peter

Last name: Daddy

Middle of June 2014

Loving all the smiles

Max doing "noses" with his sister

I think she wanted kisses.  :)

It's hot so we sent the boys outside with some sponges and a bowl of water.  They had a blast throwing them at each other.

I made strawberry freezer jam and some bread in the breadmaker.  HEAVEN!

Max cuddling with his sister (it's usually head to head)

Holding hands

She totally puts up with him and doesn't cry if his head bonks hers when he's trying to cuddle.  She just smiles and looks at him.

Stop the presses!  The day has come when Max's legs are too long and I needed to lower the foot rest on the high chair.  I can't believe it.  I remember when we first put him in it and I thought, "What a waste that foot rest is.  He will never reach it!"

Where's Max...

...there you are!

Such a handsome kid

We went to the splash park with a couple friends from Kindermusik - E and B.  You would think the three boys had a blast together.

But instead, this is what happened most of the time.  Max did his own thing and the other two played well together.  He just doesn't really get the whole "play with your friends" thing.  He spent a lot of time by me as well.

It was a really busy day today.  We tidied in the morning and I had a good time getting Maxwell involved in some "chores".  He helped me fold wash cloths, wipe down the leather couch, push laundry into the dryer, and tidy up toys.  Then Jessica came over to visit with C and C and Max kinda played together.  He had a quick nap and then it was time to go to the splash park (see pics above).  We came home around 5 pm and met daddy at home and went to the Athletic Club to swim with Momma and Daddy (after his work out).  Emmalyn sat in her car seat on the sidelines while I stayed with Max.  Brittany offered to watch her but I told her that she "got the day off" and I didn't want her watching either of the kids at the pool.  I appreciated her offer but I feel like often when we are out she ends up helping with my kids and I wanted her to be able to just focus on her own.  Max went down the water slide in the kids area for the first time- good job buddy!   I was WIPED OUT by the end of it but was pleased we were able to do so many fun things.

The next day I took the kids to the library.

Emmalyn hanging out

Max was showing her his drum

He then sat it next to her

And then put it on her head.  Ah, what a brother.

But she survived! 

Video - It was a summer downpour so I challenge Max to run in it and touch the fence.  :)

Max started calling me "Kal" today, but it sounds like "cow".  I have no idea where that came from.  No one calls me Kal.  Such a silly boy (his dad is still "Peter" more than "Dad" or "Daddy").

If Emmalyn gives you a really big smile, watch out because massive spit up is probably about to follow.

I feel like I am finally starting to understand her. Her cries. Her looks. Her routines. Her likes and dislikes...Just starting to, which is encouraging...

Hair today...gone tomorrow

I can feel the end of my maternity leave creeping closer each day so I'm trying to get out of the house more and do things with my buddy, Max.

While Hayden was in summer school, we took the boys to the park (Emmalyn slept in the shade).

Silly Landen, Stylin' Max (with stickers on his shirt).  See Max's nice long hair?  It was wet with sweat by the time we left.

It was fun to play at the park with Max.  For awhile I pushed him on the swing and even did the thing where you push them high and then run around him.  It made him nervous but he laughed.

After the park we went to Kohl's so Max could pick out some presents for Father's Day.  I let Max pick a few things all by himself.  I thought he did a great job!  Peter's going to like what he gets.

Apparently being a new mom is tiring!

We hit up the neighborhood pool.  Max is doing great with his swimming and getting quite brave.  He loves jumping into the pool and swimming to dad.

Sweet girl just has to hang out while everyone else swims

I don't mind keeping her entertained.  :)

She's so much more fun now that she's smiling and cooing.  She tries so hard to talk and sometimes nothing comes out and you can see how frustrated she gets with that.

Her onesie says "I'm the little sister"

We started a new curriculum at Kindermusik.  Max was excited to read the new book...

...and play with his new castanets and blow up beach ball.

Peter had asked him earlier if he wanted to get a haircut and he immediately said yes and then continued to talk about it on the way to Kindermusik and back.  He REALLY wanted to go.  So, momma took him to get his hair cut (although I know what he really wanted was the sucker he gets after the hair cut).  I decided to try a shorter hairstyle for the summer.  I picked out a style in the style book and crossed my fingers.

Before...such beautiful hair!

Yikes!  Look how much hair is on that cape.

He was AMAZING and sat there with no problems.  So proud of him!

The after is so dramatic that he stopped outside to look at himself some more in the reflection.  He called the spiky part at the front a "hat".

Enjoying his sucker

And the after picture....ugh, it's so dramatically different.  I really miss his longer hair.  Why did I do this!?

Washing some fruit in water and vinegar.  I thought it was a beautiful thing.

Hanging out more by the pool while daddy, Maxwell, and the Mejias swim

Dinner at Mooyah means he gets to write on the wall

The 3 ninjas 

(They were all dancing to the music)

Max is certainly growing up.  I went it to check in on him when he was sleeping and he was sleeping with his HEAD on the pillow instead of laying, with his whole body, on top of the pillow.  Sad.  :(  Plus he wasn't sleeping all curled up with a stuffed animal or blanket.  It's such a weird contradiction to enjoy seeing your child grow but to also hate it at the same time and want to keep them just the way they are today.

Max has gotten the hang of using feminine pronouns when referring to Emmalyn and will now say "she" and "her".

One of the things I love about Emmalyn is how after I'm done nursing her and she's fallen asleep, I will lift her up to burp her and she will keep her feet all tucked in to her body like they were when she was nursing.  I find it so sweet.

Good news - she has only pooped on me once in a few weeks so I think we are finally past that stage!