First week of February 2016

Now that Maxwell has moved up to Level 7 at his swimming classes, here are the skills he's going to be working on. 

She likes to sneak and grab her dad and brother's glasses

Maxwell is so little compared to the other kids in his class (some are two heads taller!)

What a good dad - brushing Emmalyn's hair

He wanted to wear a tie to school... so of course, I helped make that happen.  :)

Maxwell in Kindermusik - he's wearing the red hat.  We have a new teacher - Ms. Carolyn. She reminds me a lot of my mom in her energy and passion.  I really, really, really like her and her teaching style.  It's fun for Maxwell to be back in Kindermusik (last semester there weren't enough kids to have the class).

Soccer skills class

Nice strong kick

Again, he's on the short end in his class.  This is going to be his life - sorry Maxwell!

Running the obstacle course

It was fun watching how his skills have grown.  I still don't like the coach and think he's too harsh on these little kids but at least Maxwell is improving.  

Her morning set up - ipad, cereal in a bag, and sippy cup with milk - - also known as "Bibad", "Cereal" and "Moak"

Peter and I went out so our favorite babysitter Bridgette came over.  The kids were happy to see her.

Maxwell is such a boy - - poop, "bottom", and farts are funny.  He sang jingle bells with "poop" replacing every single word and thought it was the best thing ever.

He has a crush on his aassistant teacher Miss. Shauna,  He told her when she gets married her last name will be Millar and he loves to help her and draws her pictures. It's pretty sweet.

Emmalyn counts to 13, She's really communicating what she wants.  For example: Jingle Bells is her favorite song and she asks for it continuously in the car.  She asks for "Frosty" on the tv, also asks for the iPad

Emmalyn's last few days as a 1 month old

Peter went with some co-workers to play paintball at a property in Denton but they ended up being rained out...I was glad that meant he was home sooner than planned!

Video - Max loves dancing to techno music.  It's a good thing he's too young for the clubs now.  :)

Pretty girl all dressed up

Wearing his sunglasses even early in the morning

I don't remember this happening so I must have been really knocked out

My new, awesome mascara!  It does great things to my lashes.

I find it so interesting how when she sleeps, her hands don't always relax and can stay flexed.

I've found that she goes to sleep easier if there's something on her head.  I'm sure it's super not-safe so I watch her closely when I do it and then I take it off her head as soon as she's deep asleep.

Cousins enjoying a cold summer popsicle after a hot bike ride.

I took Emmalyn up to work to show her off.  Everyone loved on her but she started getting fussy so I nursed her in my office.  While I enjoyed seeing many of my co-workers, it did not make me look forward to going back to work!

Soon I will be stuck at this computer but without those cute legs and feet looking back at me.

One morning, I felt things really clicked and like I was a great mom.  Usually Max is on the iPad for hours in the morning...while I sleep as long as possible until I need to nurse Emmalyn...then while I pump after I nurse Emmalyn.  It adds up to a lot of time in the morning.  Anyway, this one morning I had a stroke of genius and thought about an activity Max could do while I pumped.  I got out some little pompom balls from a craft bags and some little cups and gave it to him to play with.  I gave him challenges to complete while I pumped like sorting by color or size.  It was great!  He was engaged and unplugged and Emmalyn hung out happily to.  It was perfect! Wish all mornings could be like this.

What she does best - sleep while looking cute

Sometimes you feel like you are doing okay as a parent...for example, when Max says "excuse me" if he burps or farts.  It's nice to hear him be polite.  The other day he said, "When I was tooting, I was told to say excuse me".  So, at least he gets it.  :)

We are working on saying please as part of a sentence instead of by itself.

Maxwell is in a demanding phase.  If he is trying to get your attention and isn't getting it fast enough, in his opinion, he will come grab your face and talk right on your lips or he'll say, "Momma, momma, momma, momma, momma..."

He's showing more love to Emmalyn each day and gives lots of kisses on her legs or arms or head.  If we say something like, "she loves your kisses", he will remind us that she can't talk yet.  :)  He will talk about teaching her things when she's bigger like how to play soccer.  He has tried a few times to put in her binkie.

He just learned how to give a thumb's up!
He's really loving to eat "pan-a-cakes" (aka pancakes).

Emmalyn is getting bigger and stronger.  She will now let us hold her up and put some weight on her legs so she is standing up.

She has a little bit of cradle cap but it's not too awful.

She has had lots of gas and upset stomach problems this week.  Which means she doesn't sleep soundly.  Thank goodness it's mostly in the day.  She will just cry out in pain in the middle of sleeping.  Plus we are getting lots of spit up and drool.  Regardless though, she is really a cute baby.