Wrapping up June

We went back to check on the house again the next day on the 29th and were surprised with what had been done.  We wanted to show Brittany the house and didn't expect there would be any changes but we were wrong!

 The brickwork and stonework was basically done!

 I took the picture to remember how open the neighborhood was.  The house on the right with the lower roof is our house. 

 The cabinets were all covered up because...

They painted!!!

 Max surrounded by his toys.

On Saturday we went to Kindermusik and then hit up the farmers market around the corner.  We didn't stay long, it was HOT!

Later that evening we went to Top Golf to celebrate Tida's birthday (her and Jason were in town) with friends.  We had to leave when it was bedtime.  It's the new "normal".  Our lives are now limited according to Max's schedule.

John and my favorite little redhead baby, C.

Here's some videos to enjoy of Max from this month.  Sorry for the focus issues, I'm still learning how to use my new camera.

Video - Max playing with his drum.

Video - Max trying to play with his dad's laptop.

Video - Max eating some turkey.

Video - Max is starting down the road of walking.  Here is a video where he walks while holding onto Peter.  He's unhappy about it because he just wants Peter to pick him up.

This is the place...

On June 28th, it was my turn to "babysit".  I took the day off an enjoyed a day at home with Max.  It was fun to be with him.  While I really do enjoy the break I get by going into work, I still miss him terribly.  Right now I think my perfect world would be working part-time (4 hrs day) so I still get a life outside of Max but don't miss that much time with him and keep my current salary.  :)  Of course that isn't going to happen...so for now we will keep going the same way.  We had a good day but I think he gets a little bored with just Momma to play with instead of Landen and Hayden.  :)

Getting him to take a nap was HARD.  Eventually I had success.  Isn't he a sweet sleeping baby??

YUMMMM - See Momma?

What's he doing?  Nursing.  But isn't he lying on his belly?  Yup.  He has turned into a wiggle monster/acrobat when nursing which is sometimes comical, sometimes painful.

Waiting for the elevator to go downstairs for a walk.

That night we went over to the house to check on the progress of the house that we had decided WAS THE PLACE.  It was awesome to have finally made a decision although it made me incredibly nervous.  This is a major decision...what if it was the wrong one???

I did like the house and Peter really liked the house.  It just was hard for me to commit.  It felt a little scary.

It was amazing how much had been done to the house!  I felt like I knew what the house would be like when it was just studs but now you could really tell how it would be.  I loved what it was turning into!

The kitchen (I LOVE the knotty alder cabinets)

The nook in the kitchen

The family room (from the perspective of the kitchen nook)

Looking from the family room to the entry.  The arches were one of the things that first struck me when we were walking through the house.  I hadn't seen ANY house like this.

The doorway on the left is the study and then on the right is the dining room.

The half bath and a hall closet

The front hallway and the coat closet.  See the hardwoods?  They are all unfinished...just wait until you see them done - -WOW.

Looking into the guest bedroom at the front of the house

The garage (what a mess!)

The hallway by the garage looking towards the family room.  The black square in the middle is the fireplace.

The family room

Standing in a corner of the family room looking towards the kitchen

The stairs

The media room

The game room upstairs.  The windows look out onto nothingness...soon that will be houses.  One of the benefits of being first in a neighborhood is for awhile, you have some solitude.

The hallway into the bedroom upstairs

Upstairs bedroom

Master bedroom

Master bathroom

Max hanging out in the master bedroom.  He was trapped in the car seat where he couldn't get dirty or find some nails to suck on.

Another view of the family room

Front of the house - almost all the brick and stone is up!

Is this the place?

On June 23rd we took Brittany and Joe over to check out the few houses we liked.

They liked the house that Peter liked (and I liked as well, I just thought I liked the other one better)...   Is this the place we are supposed to raise a family in???

 Outside of the house - they had just put up the stone.

Way to go, Peter!!!!!

On June 22, 2012 Peter reached an awesome accomplishment.  He finally achieved that seemingly unreachable goal...

He had lost 100 lbs!!!

He has been diligently working on losing weight since around the beginning of the year.  He works out 6 days a week in the morning before going to work.  And he eats the same healthy meals nearly every day.  I have been so proud of how committed he's been to getting healthy and losing weight.  He has stayed right on plan without being tempted to "cheat" unless, of course, it's his once a week cheat day.

Here's a little visual of what 100 lbs gone looks like...

Amazing, right?!?! 

So proud of you Peter, you handsome man!  I am one lucky girl.  :)  You inspire and motivate me.  It's so awesome to see how your life has changed as the weight has come off.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

A New Babysitter

Britt and her family went on vacation to visit Joe's family.  That left me with a new dilemma... What to do with Max while Peter and I were at work???  We both took some time off and on 1 day he went to stay with my friend Jessica.  She's a teacher and thus has the summer off.  She graciously offered to watch Max.  She's got a darling daughter who is 3 months younger than Max so Max would have someone to play with.

A whole new place to explore! 

Jessica has the same activity table we do so Max felt right at home.  :) 

Playing with C.

2 cute babies!  Although Max is so little, C is going to probably be able to beat him up before long.

Max did well at Jessica's.  (I was so worried he'd scream the whole time.)  Thanks Jess!

Yikes, I am behind!

NOT GOOD!  It's been almost a month since I've blogged which means I am falling even more behind.  Guess that means lots of pictures with not so much text is soon to follow...Here's some pictures from June 20 - 26.

Pick me up, Momma!

I was playing with Max and spinning my head so my hair would flip in his face.  He was cracking up like nothing else!

The puff eating process...Give me one

Don't try and take it.

Hurry, I need another one!

I could eat these forever!

Max trying to grab Landen's toy through the sliding glass door.

Like father like son

Max LOVES going to Kindermusik class.

He is now wiggling his arms out of the swaddle and sleeping like this.

 Max loves his big cousin Hayden

 My front room has been overrun by toys.

Max standing on his tip toes trying to get his dad to pick him up so he can "play" on the lap top.

I know, this is really close up.  Notice the red mark on his right eye (left side of the screen)?  He has been scratching himself with his fingernails when he rubs his eye regardless of how many times I cut them.  So recently this wound seems to be a permanent fixture on his face.

Also, it's hard to see but on his left cheek (right side of the screen) he has a little blood vessel that is visible.  The shape is a mix between a greater than sign (>) and a backwards letter C.  He has had this since birth.  I wanted to get a picture of it in case it goes away as he gets older.  I spend a lot of time looking at that little blood vessel while he's nursing.

On July 27th Max's 8th tooth popped through.  Now he has 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom!