Wearing Daddy Out!

You wouldn't think this sweet face could wear you out.  He's just so much fun!

Going on a walk with Brittany and his cousins.

Playing with Dad

 But sometimes, it's just too much...

Max played quietly while his dad napped.

The baby food making is going well.  My Vitamix is so great for blending/pureeing!  Today it was carrots and cauliflower.

Middle of April

I couldn't believe it - Max fell asleep in the car!  This never happens!!!

Video - Max is getting really good at his army crawl.  Here's him crawling at Brittany's (thus the cousins that want to get involved).

 Playing with dad on the couch

Oops - Now he's coming to get me!

Max thinks he's a pretty cute kid.  He has always loved looking at the frame photos we have of him as a newborn.  He also likes watching videos we have taken of him.  I have learned that a good way to get a smile out of him is to take a picture with him on my phone but to "switch" to the camera on the front of the phone so he can see himself (think of a mirror).

 He has spotted himself on my phone.

 Coming in for a closer look.

 "Man, that's a cute kid," he's thinking.

 Trying to grab the phone.

If you remember from a long time ago, Max didn't like seeing himself in the mirror on his play mat.  He would get upset at the baby in the mirror and I had to move the mirror to get him to stop crying.  Those days are definitely over.  Brittany sent me these pictures of him playing one day and really liking checking himself out in the mirror.

Here are some things about Max:

• He has started saying the "N" sound all the time
• When a stranger says hello to him or gives him some attention, he will give them a big smile and then turn to cuddle his face into my shoulder because he's shy
• We gave him water out of a cup for the first time on the airplane
• He's still having problems with constipation.  His little system just can't get used to the solid foods, I guess?  We tried a bottle of prune juice mixed with water in Vegas and it's been our go-to since getting home.  This is the first time he's had fruit juice.  Of course, he downed it (ew).I don't plan on giving him juice.  Our pediatrician doesn't see any real value in giving them juice and suggests water instead and I completely agree with her.
• He HATES getting boogers picked out of his nose or getting his face washed (I was disappointed with this because I tried from the time he was born to make wiping his face a fun thing/not a big deal.  That worked until he started eating solids.)
• He is a fantastic eater and opens his mouth nice a big for incoming bites.  There is no need to play "airplane" with the spoon for this boy.  After he swallows, he immediately opens his mouth big and wide for the next bite.  You know when he's done because he stops doing that.
• On the 11th of April his 6th tooth popped through
• When we got back from Vegas for about 5 days in a row he slept through the night.  It was awesome (and sad at the same time).  But, it didn't last and he was back to getting up 3 times a night.

Returning a favor

Brittany is so kind and is our go-to babysitter.  So, we wanted to return the favor.  Peter and I offered to watch Brittany's boys so her and Joe could go out on a date.  We had bought Joe tickets to go watch a pro soccer game (FC Dallas).

I wish I could tell you we were as good at it as Brittany was.  :)  Hayden had a great time.  Landen, not so much. 

 Max loves his cousins!  He was so excited to see Hayden.  This is him looking up to Hayden and waiting for a kiss.

 I took this picture of Landen to send to Brittany soon after they left to show her that he was happy and doing great!  I shouldn't have taken the picture because I jinxed us.  Right after this he started crying.  Poor boy (and Peter), I couldn't get him to stop for a long time.

Eventually he fell asleep on my lap.

I am not deterred!  I will be a great aunt babysitter.  Let me do it again, Brittany! :)

Lunch pics from the first half of April

Pictures I took at Brittany's when I'd go there for my lunch break to nurse Max and eat her yummy lunches.

 Someone's not a happy camper.  This is commonly the reaction I get when stop Max from nursing.  He would nurse forever if I'd let him.  He'd only sleep while also nursing if I let him.  He doesn't always stay focused on the task at hand when nursing anymore and will pull away multiple times to look at something going on around him.  When it gets to that point, I usually tell him he's done and sit him up.  Boy does he get mad.  He just wants to keep going and going even when he's on and off and on and off.

 Crossing his feet even when nursing

 Turning when I call his name

 Almost there...

 ...Got it!

 An example of the awesome food I eat.  This is homemade chicken tortilla soup with avacado topping.  She even made the tortilla strip garnish.  Isn't the presentation great on this?  Brittany is amazing and talented!

 (I stood him up for this pic)



Ta....da!

Tootin' My Horn

I don't toot my own horn about work but this is pretty special, so perhaps just this once.

We HAD to leave Vegas even though I was tempted to extend our visit because I had the semi-annual Excel Inter-National Leadership Conference to attend at CROSSMARK.  This is a meeting for the senior leadership at CROSSMARK (Director level and above).  Only about 200 people attend and CROSSMARK has 32,000 employees so do the math on that percentage!  There are speakers, breakout sessions, team building, awards dinners, etc.  Not something you want to miss if you are career minded.  I didn't get to go to the meeting in the fall because I was on maternity leave so I was looking forward to attending and seeing co-workers from all over the place that I don't get to normally see.  Plus, meetings always pump me up.

Well, this one was special because at the awards dinner, I unexpectedly received an award and was recognized for my hard work.  I received it for my efforts as Director on the Walgreen's CCR team (until I went out on maternity).  It was totally unexpected and much appreciated. 

When they announce the award, the person presenting the award reads a little blurb about the recipient and their accomplishments without stating their name until the end.  Usually you can tell who it's going to be after a few sentences based on specifics being given.  I was only semi-listening during the awards ceremony because it was late in the evening and I was anxious to get home to Max.  Well, I'm sitting there listening and all of a sudden I get this little tingle and I'm like, I think Jim N (Chief Technology Office/Executive VP) is talking about me...no, couldn't be!  Then he mentions CCR and I KNOW its me.  CRAZY!  So I go up to get my award and feel completely special to be acknowledged by our senior leadership group as well as my peers who are cheering warmly for me.

I asked Bob H (VP, my ex-boss, and the one who nominated me) if I could get a copy of the write up that was read because I really wanted to blog it.  (And just remember it too because like I said, I wasn't completely focused on what was being said until about 1/2 way through.)  Plus, it would be nice to have it written down to look back on during those tough days at work when I want to thrown in the towel.  Well, Bob never got back to me with it and I didn't want to push too hard because I already felt kinda weird asking for it anyway.

So...something nice was said about the work I did on Coinstar, Walgreen's CCR, and how I solve problems, etc.  I do remember they read a quote from my contact at Walgreen's who said that "Kallie is the best person I have ever worked with at CROSSMARK".  That meant a LOT - because #1 - This guy is known for being a jerk and very hard to work with and please and #2 - He's worked with people higher up the ladder than me.  When I was working on CCR, I worked conscientiously and diligently to ensure we had a good working relationship while also not being a doormat/pushover with him either so it was really nice to hear those words.  (Bob said later that he had also included in his write up that I had done all these great things while ALSO being pregnant.  Which I think deserves special recognition because come on, successfully running a team while you are tired, have nausea, are plagued with pregnancy brain and can't think straight or remember any words you used to use or what happened yesterday, and your emotions don't know what "stable" means is a pretty big deal!  Bob, who has a wife that is 4 months pregnant, thought so too.  But apparently Jim decided to edit that out.  Such a male thing to do.)

I received the "Commitment to Excellence" award which was only given to 8 people in the company this year.  You have to be nominated and the senior leaders have to agree that you deserve the award, so it's not based on something like just making your P&L for the year.  Pretty AWESOME in my book.  The award is a nice metal (HEAVY) replica of a bigger sculpture of Excel, the CROSSMARK mascot (he's one of the bulls we own that live in the pasture in front of the office).

Side note...
How do you know you work for a company with headquarters in Dallas? :)  Don't take this the wrong way - CROSSMARK is forward thinking, an industry leader, awarded for their technology, and has a very nice corporate office.  This stuff makes me chuckle though...

• The company owns the pasture next to the office and raises both Buffalo and cattle (longhorns)
• The company mascot is a bull and the company commissioned a sculpture of the bull
• The top award given to leaders in the company is ridiculously heavy, mini-sculpture of that bull

Crap!  I just realized I should take a close up shot of the award and add it to the blog.  It is at work so I can't take the picture now but I'll try and remember to do that and update this post.

Here's the blurb that went up on our company website:
_____
CROSSMARK Leaders Honored for “Going Beyond”


CROSSMARK leaders from around the world attended a recent company leadership conference themed “Going Beyond.” CROSSMARK CEO John Thompson reinforced to the group that the company’s goal is to be the number one choice of sales and marketing services providers among all consumer goods manufacturers and retailers. And he said that will require exceeding expectations and going the extra mile to deliver outstanding results. At the same time, a number of those leaders also were honored for their success in doing just that.

At the conference, awards were given to associates who demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement of annual performance objectives. Recipients were presented with awards for excellence, inspired by and showcasing “Excel” the longhorn bull, CROSSMARK’s mascot that represents excellence, strength, and leadership.

Dwayne Hamilton, Division Manager of the Johnson & Johnson Dedicated Team, received the top honor with the “Excellence in Leadership” award for demonstrating outstanding leadership.

In addition, eight other associates were honored with “Commitment to Excellence” awards for their outstanding performance and leadership over the past year, and 28 recipients were awarded the “Circle of Excellence” for achieving their business objectives.
________

Last day in Vegas

We had some time in the morning on Monday before our plane left so we made the most of it.  We met early for breakfast at dad's house with AJ's family and Marriann.  And then Lalo came over and visited.  It was nice to see him!  He was excited to meet Max.  We visited with Dad and Lalo until it was time to leave and Kimberly came to take us to the airport.  Thanks to Kimberly and Dad for letting us use their cars at different points during the trip!

 Aaron playing with Max

 Lalo, Peter, and Max

 Hanging out, enjoying each other's company

 Max let Kimberly hold him.  :)

 When we finally got the airport, poor Maxwell was so tired.  He didn't get his morning nap so he was really unhappy.  Then we didn't want him to sleep in the terminal because the plan was to nurse him and have him fall asleep when we were taking off.

 Poor baby with tired eyes

Trying to keep him happy

He did a great job flying home, only minor fussiness.  He nursed a lot.  Poor kid would only sleep when nursing so that's pretty much all he did.  It was hard leaving after such a short visit.  I wanted to spend more time with family but had to get back to Dallas for a work meeting.  I love my family.  I hate leaving them when it's time to go home.