Maxwell 3 year old photo shoot

Took some pictures with Maxwell...similar to when he turned one.  My lawn doesn't look as nice as it did back then (stinking water restrictions) and the day was super sunny (stinking shadows).  Oh well.

Maxwell is going to preschool

We did it.  We signed Maxwell up for preschool at a Montessori School.  I really like that he will be with kids aged 3-5 and that he will be able to learn at his own pace and be challenged regardless of what place the other kids are in.  It's been a stressful decision because he is just barely 3.  If he was older, I think I would have stressed a little less.  Plus I stressed over whether to put him in a traditional preschool class or pay the extra tuition for the Montessori.  I think we've made a good choice but as Peter reminds me, we can change our minds at any time.

So we went to the information night with the teacher.  Maxwell did pretty good sitting quietly the whole time but he didn't like when another boy got close to him.  Oh boy, that made me worried about how he'd do in the class.

So I asked all my questions and was okay until I asked about pull-ups during nap time and his teacher said they wouldn't put him in pull ups during nap time. The expectation was that he was potty trained.  I said he was but not at nap time.  I quickly got that there was no arguing this point.  So then I asked if the teachers would wipe him after he poops and again she said that the expectation was that they were potty trained.  And that it may mean that he might come home with little bits of poop on his underwear sometimes.  I was stunned.  So what I walked away with was that they were completely unwilling to help with anything having to do with the potty.  My son needed to do everything on his own. 

Well, crap.  (haha! get it?!)

Maxwell doesn't always stay dry during his naps and we've always wiped him after he poops.  How in the world was I going to teach my barely 3 year old #1 - how much toilet paper to use #2 - which way to wipe #3 - to keep wiping until he's clean etc?!  And in a few days?  (Today was Friday and he was starting on Monday.) Any one of these topics could take many days for him to get and now he's got to get it before Monday?  And he usually poops once a day so that meant I was going to get one shot on Saturday to teach him and one shot on Sunday to solidify it.  That was it.

Seriously, I was stunned.  This wasn't what I was told when I asked on the phone if he could wear pull ups during nap time.  

I almost changed my mind about starting preschool but decided we'd do the best we can and then hope the teacher would be compassionate and help out a little.  They can't expect a BOY who turned 3 a week ago to have this all down.  (Even his pediatrician said it's normal for 3-5 year olds to struggle to stay dry when sleeping).

Maxwell in his classroom

Okay, let's go home.  We've got work to do!

Other things we worked on that weekend...

Using his nap mat

Putting on his backpack

So cute right?  I searched FOREVER for a backpack I didn't hate, let alone liked.

My new life - labeling everything he takes to school.

Emmalyn at 4 months Old

Emmalyn at 4 months...

Loves her dolly, it's her favorite toy
Is pitting up a ton
Recently we've struggled to get her down at night
We work hard to get tiny giggles, and found we get more giggles when she's nearly upset
She doesn't want to suck on her binky much anymore
Has THE cutest smile (especially with her tongue)
Has pretty, blue, big eyes (I wonder if they will stay blue)
Will coo and talk like crazy on her changing table
Has a temper - screams when she isn't happy
Loves her brother and just watches him.  She looks at her dad until he acknowledges her.
Hates the act of being swaddled but then is okay when it's all done
Sleeps in the swing a lot during the day but can lay awake for a long time first
Is happy on her play mat and ok with tummy time but doesn't like to sit
Wants to be put to sleep upright, on your shoulder, while you pat her back
Loves the bath and loves to splash
Loves to be outside but not in the carseat or in the car (heaven forbid the car stops moving)
Has lots of interest in what I'm eating lately
She's still 100% breastfed and is starting to get distracted when eating
She's getting 4 oz of milk at a time when she gets a bottle
Her hair is coming in lighter
I think her digestive system is okay with me having milk in my diet now but I still try to limit it
We are moving towards 4 hours of sleep at a time at night


More pics from the last half of August 2014...

The boys playing in their fort while eating their apples

Landen and Emmalyn are buddies

Tummy time, there's that tongue

I took Maxwell to his pediatrician for his 3 year checkup. He was so excited to go.

He was a little nervous to get his blood pressure but was so brave.

The first time we were in this room he was 2 months old.  It's amazing that 3 years have past!

He did great on the developmental questionnaire - It was for 2 - 4 year olds and you are supposed to go until you get 3 "no's".  We did the whole thing and only got 2 "no's". (both were physical development focused)

Maxwell Stats:

Weight - 32.6 Lbs 60th percentile!

Height - 35.75 inches 13th percentile! (not bad)

Blood Pressure - 100/65

Heart-rate - 108 bpm

I took the kids to the neighborhood splash park and we had it all to ourselves!  I later learned that's because it was back to school night so all the kids were at school learning who their teachers were, etc.  Maxwell actually played, which was nice for a change.

Video - Maxwell at the splash park

Sneaky hands worked their way out of the swaddle when she was sleeping

Our first box from Tiffany's.   Peter got to pick something out of a Tiffany's catalog for his one year anniversary at work.  We (me) picked a pair of square candy dishes.  Because, you know, M&Ms taste better when they are in a dish from Tiffany's.

My silly kids

Emmalyn got to watch a little TV.

Max turns 3 years old

Maxwell turned 3 on August 19th!  I can't believe he's that old.  He is such a great kid.

Big girl sitting in a bumbo  (We will see if she likes it.  It wasn't a big hit for Maxwell.)

We moved the bookcase that was under Maxwell's bed so now they can go under his bed.  The boys are having so much fun with that!

Playing his new Candyland game

Painting the letters for his upcoming 3 years old photoshoot

He got a lunchbox since he is going to start pre-school.  He's pretty excited.  (I think it's a pretty cool lunchbox!)

All painting done by Maxwell

I made Maxwell muffins for his actual birthday since he loves them.

Starting his morning out right with a little time watching shows on the iPad with Cereal and Milk to enjoy.

video - How old are you? (working on that "TH" sound)

Enjoying his birthday muffin with candles, of course!

He was a little confused, understandably, because he thought he was already 3 because of his birthday party.  I knew he would probably be confused but I didn't want to lie to him and tell him he was already three at his party.  He didn't fret about it too long.

I let him eat lunch out of his lunchbox for fun

Silly boy

She's all dressed up for his birthday.  I am totally smitten with her.

Emmalyn and her favorite Aunt Brittany

We took Maxwell out for pizza for his birthday dinner since he loves pizza.  He was pretty happy about it.

Cuddling with daddy

...and quickly we go back to silly

...and just as quickly back to sweet

We finished off his birthday with some swim lessons.  (Note the sign - Happy birthday!)

Video - Maxwell's doing great at swimming lessons!

Video - Maxwell's Birthday Interview

This is such a cute video, it captures Maxwell and his personality!  I am going to transcribe part of it though so I'll have it written down below.

All about Max at 3 years old!

• If you say he's little he'll correct you and say, "No, I'm not.  I'm short."
• He's a "terror" - lots of time on timeout for not listening lately
• He frequently tries to negotiate
• He won't try new foods
• Typical breakfast foods he eats are - oatmeal, eggs/toast, yogurt/applesauce, pancakes
• Typical lunch foods are - pb & j, mac n cheese, slices of turkey and cheese
• Typical dinner foods are - spaghetti, pizza, asparagus, broccoli, tilapia and quinoa, (he does not like hamburgers!)
• I feel like it's a struggle to get him to eat anything even the stuff he likes
• He's got lots of moves.  He does ninja moves, loves to dance to music, and mime punching while saying "punch punch"
• Nighttime Routine- PJs, brush teeth, few minutes on the ipad, read a couple books (he reads one sight book), then cuddles with Momma and Daddy and Emmalyn and singing.  Since I've gone back to work actually wants me to put him to bed which is nice.  So after we finish the routine in our bedroom, I carry him to his room and turn on the sound machine, put some covers on him and sing a song to him about how much I love him.
• He loves new shoes!!
• When we are singing at night, he sometimes requests songs by the track number on the c.d.  He are always listening to a kindermusik cd n the car which we refer to as "maxwell's music"
• He's a great swimmer.  He is in a class with boys double his age and more than a head taller than him and he's the most skilled.
• He can ride a trike or his scooter, but still a little short for the push bike we have for him
• He loves anything that involves a ball - basketball, soccer, baseball, football
• He will tidy up if he's in the mood and will sing "clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere..." while he does it
• He can put his clothes on and take them off for the most part
• He still goes on the little training potty except poop - that always happens in the big toilet but we have to life him up there... he is still working on wiping himself.  At night time and nap time he's in a PullUp since he still has accidents then.
• He lays at the head of his bed, the wrong way, with blankets on top of him and sometimes with his stuffed animals when he's sleeping
• He calls for us to get him out of bed in the morning and after nap time - peter or momma.  But he never gets up on his own.
• He loves play doh
• He has such a great memory and is so inquisitive - why why why
• He loves Emmalynn, wants to kiss her or hold her hand or burp her, and will help grab a burp cloth or binky if we ask him to.
• He's funny and so endearing.  People are drawn to him and quickly like him.

Some of the questions from his 3 year old interview:
How are you today? 3
What is your favorite color? red
What is your favorite fruit? banana
What is your favorite vegetable? Strawberry
What is your favorite animal? Horse
What is your favorite sport? Football
Do you like being a big brother? Yes
What is your favorite movie?  Ninja Colby (???? I have no idea what this is)
What is your favorite tv show? Veggie Tales
Who are your friends?  Emma and David (have no idea who they could be) and Hayden
Favorite food is Banana and he also like peanut butter and apple