Pizza Boy

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I haven't been feeling very well lately and Max has been cutting his 2 year molars. Both of which have made life here at home very difficult for the last few weeks. There have been  quite a few adorable moments though and I plan on posting them.

Some of you may remember that Terry got us a bread maker for christmas. We have been thoroughly enjoying it and Max in particular has been enjoying homemade Pizza.

 Here is my Pizza boy spreading sauce on the homemade dough. Look at that concentration!

 Such a good helper. Daddy says he did the sauce and cheese all by himself.

Having the finished product. "More, please!"

He has started eating the pizza like a big boy lately. It is so great to see him growing up and trying to be a big boy.

Happy New Year!!

Happy NewYear Everyone!!

What a great ride this last year has been. I made it through another year as a mommy. I know, it isn't that difficult, but some days I still wonder if I am making the right decisions. Max has finally become his own little person. It is amazing to see him grow and change everyday. His personality is coming out and he is a smart, funny, empathetic and obstinate little man. He has so many of both Terry's and my best and worst qualities and has developed so many more of his own. Each day presents its own little challenges, some bigger then others. Terry and I both rise to each challenge and hopefully become better parents for it.

Our current challenge is potty training.

Isn't that the most delicious bum you have ever seen??

Back in October Max was very much wanting to potty in his big boy potty. He would tell us when he wanted to go. So we would rush to the potty and strip him down. He would happily pee, sitting or standing. I was sure now was the time. So we went out and got some big boy unders. Who else but Thomas the Tank Engine!

I foolishly decided to wait until December when Terry would be home to start potty training full time. Besides, I hadn't finished reading, "Potty Training Boys the Easy Way." That was my biggest mistake. I missed my window of opportunity. I thought he would continue to tell us when he was ready to go pee. In October, there wasn't a day that went by that he didn't go potty, at least once in the toilet. Now and throughout December, Terry and I have tried to get him to tell us when he needs to go. We have tried to get him to wear his big boy unders for at least an hour everyday. It has only worked once!!

That morning he had 3 accidents in 3 pairs of big boy unders. We asked and asked. We told him to tell us when he wanted to go. Nothing!! Until, "Uh oh!"

So we would clean up and tell him it was okay. Tell him we can try again later. He hasn't worn big boy unders since that first time. A couple of times we have just let go naked. That isn't working either. He won't tell us when he has to go. He doesn't want to wear his big boy unders. I am frustrated. Terry says it is no big deal. It takes time. He sees the accidents as part of the learning process. What a great dad!

I know eventually Max will get the hang of it. I, as usual, have to give in to the process. I think that is the key to parenting. Just give in and ride the ride. There will be ups and downs, sharp turns and pitfalls, but you just have to hang on and have fun.

So here is to a New Year and the wild ride ahead. Wish me luck!

Christmas Loot

This year Christmas was a blast! Max was much more into the Holiday this year. I think the Advent Calender definitely warmed him up. He and daddy making cookies for Santa, helped also. I began to worry about the quantity of presents that we got him as the days grew closer. We both agreed that it was A LOT. Lately on the news they have been taking about, recycling and re-gifting and reducing waste. Are we setting a bad precedent? Probably. Will I need a reminder of this next year, to not get so much stuff? Absolutely!

All that being said, I wanted to make sure to get, the first look, picture.

 The first thing he noticed was the plate with cookies.

 He chose the first gift and we thought it was going to be on after that.

 Nope! He was more interested in the desk. He checked out all the bins.

 Terry and I had to prompt him to open some presents. Note the birthday paper. That tells you how much stuff we got...I ran out of Christmas paper!

 Gramma and Grandpa sent him some really great Chevron cars. After the first one he said "All Done." Knowing that there were more cars I had to push him to open more. He was clearly overwhelmed.

 His favorite by far is the little blue pickup truck and horse trailer. Coincidentally it matches one of his favorite books, "Little Blue Truck." Way to go Gramma and Grandpa! Many, many thanks!

This is me and my new Breadmaker! Terry and I have been talking about one for years. We have so far made 2 loaves of bread and some really yummy pizza dough. Terry does all the work. Max and I just enjoy the efforts. The best type of gift.

This is Terry and his new Espresso machine. We decided if he wanted to feed the habit we should try to make it a little cheaper. I have almost given up coffee so this was all for Terry. As you can tell, he likes it alot. He made himself a mocha first thing. He says it tastes just as good as the coffee stand.

 We let Max play with his cars for a while, so that we could open some of our presents. Afterward, I grabbed one sure to get him back on track. Handy Manny!

 Then I brought out the big guns!! Max has loved taking pictures with our camera, so we got him one of his own.

Here he is waiting patiently for me to take it out of the wrapping.

 Taking his first picture while mommy reads the destructions.

 He loves it! Everytime he takes a picture he bounces just a little, so they are usually a little blurry. It sure is cute though.

 Desk in place, he is using it as a playstation.

 Here is Max drawing, finally, at his art table. Yup! He is a lefty.

This is Max and I enjoying daddys first loaf of bread. Now everytime we make some Max participates in loading the ingredients into the machine.

After opening presents we went to our friends Richard and Lucy's for Christmas Dinner. It was great to see them and Anthony and Nikki. I hope everyone had an equally great day filled with family and friends.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We hope that the new year brings you health and happiness.



Making Cookies for Santa

Yesterday while I was at work Max and daddy made cookies for Santa. Terry took some great pictures!

 Max was very helpful putting the chocolate chips in...

 ...one at a time!

 That was in between eating them!

He isn't the naked chef. He is the relaxed chef!

Santa loved the cookies!
 

Visiting Santa

This year at I took Max to Redmond Town Center to ride the train and horse drawn carriage and maybe, possibly, get a picture with Santa. He did great!! The first half an hour we spent riding the escalators up and down, up and down. I guess he needed to warm up to the whole idea.

Riding the train. He waved at everyone.

Next we rode in the horse drawn carriage. We both enjoyed that alot. Finally I made my way to the Santa house.

Please take note of the Candy Cane in Max's hand. That is how Santa coaxed him up on his lap. You have to love the deer in the headlights expression though.

He made me open the candy cane while we waited for the picture. To my amazement he actually started eating it right there. After the picture we walked back to the car and I loaded Mr. Sticky Fingers into his carseat where we started our journey home. I managed to clean him up before we left, but he wouldn't give up the goods. This is what Max looked like after we got home.

 Notice how much of the candy cane is missing at this point!!

Not to bad of a mess for, as my friend Bridge would say, being hopped up on candy! I had to pick some out of his hair and his fingers were one big mess. But those kisses were delicious!

Trimming The Tree

Literally every year that we have gone out hunting for the perfect tree we always end up having to "trim" it to fit the house, the space, the window, the cabinet, etc. This year the tree we picked is just about the perfect tree and only needed a little, by our standards, "trimming." Usually we end up cut about 2 or 3 feet of the bottom and then another 10 to 12 inches off the top. This year just a little of the bottom and about 6 inches off the top.

This year Max was also able to participate in the decorating. He seemed to be having a great time and thoroughly enjoyed putting the ornaments on. Of course we had to adjust a little, as most of his ornaments were concentrated in one central area. The lower, right, front of the tree. He was none the wiser to our efforts.

He was very excited to get out the ornaments.

 He was even able to put them on the branches all by himself.

We used his train table to elevate the tree and still put the train around the base. I am almost finished with the tree skirt and will put that on later before Santa arrives.

Patiently waiting for more ornaments to hang.

Daddy helping him to spread the love around.

It was a great morning and the whole, entire process only took three days because we have been busy and doing the decorating, slow and steady. I am so glad he has been so involved this year. It makes the Holidays so much more fun.