Baby Bump week 29

Finally, here are some pictures of my baby bump.

Max just woke up from his nap and wanted lots of snuggling.

Max still fits neatly over the bump for regular snuggles.

Only 11 weeks left to go and she will be here. I am getting a little more excited everyday. Terry and I are doing our best to prepare Max for her arrival. We are reading books on being a big brother and he seems pretty interested and excited. I am not entirely sure he gets what is really coming. His personality is such that I really think he will be wanting to help do things. He wants to help now with everything. He and daddy just yesterday fixed the handle on the toilet. Daddy couldn't keep Max away. Hopefully that kind of big boy helping will carry over. We shall soon see. There will be lots of extra snuggles from his gramma and great aunt Panchita who will be here visiting for his baby sisters birth. Wish us luck!

Mother's Day

I know that I am a little late in posting these pictures but I have been busy, sick, and working alot.

I did however, have an excellent Mother's Day. I actually got 2 days for my day. How great is that?? I was woken up by my boys bearing gifts. A beautiful new stepping stone that Max put all the decorations in himself. He very proudly declared to me. Then they made me pancakes and then we headed to the Cedar River Watershed Education Center for their annual tea and talks. We actually participated in neither, but we strolled around Rattlesnake Lake and did some beautiful nature crafts. Max and daddy made me an amazing bookmark with real, actual, pressed flowers and leaves. It is laminated so I will have it forever. No doubt using it to mark my page in many a "how to raise children" books.

After crafting we headed to the lake, where I relaxed on the rocky beach in the sun while Max and daddy threw rocks and sticks into the lake.

 Though Max has demonstrated himself to be a lefty. He still regularly uses his right hand for lots of things.

 He showed no fear and stomped right into the lake. Though the day was quite warm, it was quite cold.

 He decided to throw rocks directly into the stump.

 Daddy was hesistant to get his feet wet.

"Hi Mommy!"

 Being extra careful how he walks on the rocks.

Throwing rocks back onto the beach.

Looking at fishermen in rafts and canoes.

When we got back to the house, Max and daddy had lunch while I went to the local nail salon for my annual Mother's Day manicure and pedicure. It was a great Sunday afternoon and I thoroughly enjoyed my day off. On Monday, I got the second half of my gift. Daddy was my garden slave at the pea patch. He tilled in some compost and we planted some veggie starts. Maxs new favorite thing is eating leaves. So, I planted lots of leaf crops. Spinach, lettuce, cabbage and broccoli, as well as cucumber, tomato and tomatillo. The pea patch gets alot more sun then the front of the house, so hopefully...I might actually get some vegetables this year.

I can't wait to see what next year brings. I am so looking forward to it.

Reaching the Pedals

You may remember from Christmas 2010, that we gave Max a tricycle for his Santa gift. He loved it, but sadly, could not reach the pedals. We actually got the Radio Flyer classic tricycle as a baby shower gift from a good friend and kept it stashed until we thought he would be ready. Max has periodically climbed up and tried to pedal, but to no avail. It turns out he wasn't ready until about 10 days ago. Daddy lowered the seat until it sat right on the frame of the tricycle. Max climbed on and away he went!

 Early in the day we started by riding into town to check out the trains.

 Then back past the house toward the creek and horse.

After a 3 hour nap, we rode into town to get dinner at our favorite Mexican joint.

All together I think he must have pedaled over a mile and a half that day. He even battled tested his helemt twice. The first time he got right back on and kept going. About 10 minutes later, he did it again. This time the tricycle actually ened up on top of him. He got up, pointed out a boo boo on his elbow, then climbed back on the trike and kept pedaling. He has been on his tricycle everyday since then. He has even learned how to control the tricycle on inclines and slows down using his pedals.

He so obviously loves the freedom that the tricycle affords. He stops and says hello to people and doggies. He stops and asks people, "What are you doing?" He even stops at intersections and looks for cars before we all cross the street. It is so amazing to see his personality come out.

We would like to thank our friend Karen Harmes for getting us the tricycle. Terry and I registered for it on a whim and we are so grateful that you chose to give it to us. You have made Max a very, very happy boy. Daddy says, next stop, Ducati!

Max's First Fishing Derby

This past Saturday morning, at the crack of dawn, okay only 7:30, we went to Max's First Fishing Derby. It is an annual derby sponsored by the Snoqualmie Police Department and Mt. Si Fish and Game. The fishing ponds are actually just retenion ponds behind the police department building. The Mt. Si Fish and Game stocked them with 300 fish for the event and baited them with power bait. It was like shooting ducks in a barrel.

We started out with some old bait that daddy had and a little unsure of the rules and fishing laws that would apply. Appearently, there weren't any. Max was super excited to be there and did great after daddy casted out for him. He listened to daddy and reeled in nice and slow and repeated the process a few times to no avail. Meanwhile the little girls next to us had a little help.

 He was a champ. Patient and slow.

After several attempts to catch something and coming up blank, this nice man from the Mt. Si Fish and Game group came over and outfitted us with the right hook and the right bait. It was on after that! Daddy cast and tried to give the pole to Max. He wouldn't take it, so I grabbed the pole and caught the first fish. Max was excited but by then had lost interest. I reeled it in and then he got back in the game.

 Daddy removing the hook and Max telling the fish, "nice to meet you!"

 First fish contact. No fear! Except when the fish flipped up and smacked him. Daddy took care of it though.

 One happy little fisherman.

 With mommy reeling in the 2nd fish.

Kissing the fish for good luck.

Max did great! He had a good time and went back after his nap with daddy and caught 3 more. He even reeled one in, all by himself. Daddy also got the chance to pay it forward and help out another dad by fixing him up with the right bait and hooks. Then he helped them catch their first fish. All in all it was an awesome day!

I want to thank Marv and Joyce Branch for giving Max his first fishing pole before he was even born. Marv, you now have a new fishing buddy!

Bye Bye Binkie Epilogue

For those of you following the Binkie drama, here is an update.

After 10 days of one hour naps and bedtimes that started at 8:30 and ended at 10:30 or later, a decision had to be made. Terry and I talked about what to do. I wanted to give Max back his binkie. Terry wanted to stick with the plan and give Max more time to find his way.

Here is what happened:

Maxs temperment had dramatically changed since removing the binkie. He was regularly cranky, whiny and cried at everything. Gone were the days of two to three hour naps and prompt bedtime routines. Terry took everything in stride. I continued to feel like the worst parent on the planet. I could tell he was suffering. He would tell daddy, "Maxie big boy, no need binkie." He would beg me for a binkie, at nap time and at bed time. After 10 days and regularly not wanting to go down for a nap, Max cried inconsolably for 25 minutes during naptime. I went up a few times to try to soothe him but he wasn't having it. Terry wasn't home yet from school and I tried calling but got no answer. I wanted him to reassure me that we were doing the right thing.

Finally, I broke down. I went up to him with the one binkie I had stashed in his diaper bag for emergencies. Instantly the crying stopped and he was out. That day he slept for 3 hours. I am still not sure I made the right decision but I know Max is happier. The binkie was never really a big problem. He only used it for naptime and bedtime and only in his crib. He clearly wasn't ready yet to give it up. I forced the issue, it was all me.

I, he, we learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes parents make mistakes. It is okay to show your kids that you are not always right about everything. I don't think Max will even remember what he just went through. I can't worry what he will think about this or if I made the right decision. I just know he is happier and we have our old Max back.

I will wait until he is ready to give it up next time. He will out grow it and if he doesn't, once he realizes that his friends don't use one, he will want to give it up by himself. In his world of parental control and regular use of the word, no, he has to have control over something.

Bye Bye Binkie Night #3

For all the drama of trying to get to sleep on night #2, Max actually slept through the night until about 6am. Now, only bus drivers and daddies are awake at 6am so I went in to lay down with him and he passed right back out, until 8. Usually I would just put his binkie back in and he would go back to sleep, no problem. Obviously, that is not an option. I am realizing now that we may just be replacing one thing, the binkie, with another, the comfort of mommy and daddy, but I am willing to risk it for a couple more days.

For night #3 we played hard after dinner, pizza, at Maxs request. We went for a mile long hike through the trails in Snoqualmie Ridge. It was great! The three of us together, running and walking and pointing out the native plants and birds. Max really enjoyed it. He was Lightening McQueen on the trail. Driving his way along. We saw blooming Trillium and native Bleeding Hearts, Wild Ginger and native Elderberry. We made it home around 8:30pm. Love, love, love daylight savings time. We had a quick bath to wash off all the mud from a couple of spills. Then stories and finally asleep by 9:45pm. This morning he slept straight through until 7am. Slightly more respectable.

Today however, at naptime, he asked and asked for a binkie. We talked about him being a big boy and not needing one anymore, but he kept asking anyway. No one every tells you how hard being a parent can be sometimes. Terry and I both wanted to crack the other night and just go get him another binkie. But we didn't. This is the right thing we are doing. Yes, it is hard for all of us, but things that are important, usually are. We are all learning from this and I know the time will come when he won't even ask anymore and everything will be fine. I just want it to be sooner then later.

Tonight I go back to work and Terry is on his own. I know they will have fun together tonight and I expect Max won't be in bed before 10 but, he will be pooped and ready for sleep. Unless he and daddy are laying in bed together making each other giggle silly, which usually happens, until mommy the killjoy puts a stop to it. I sure do love those boys!

Bye Bye Binkie Night #2

Well, things did not go as well as we had hoped last night or should I say this morning. Around 3:30 am, Max woke up crying and asking for his binkie. I went in to lay down with him and he was not about to go back to sleep. So at 4am, I put him back in the crib and went back to bed. At 4:45am, he cried out again. So I went in to soothe him. I stayed with him until he finally fell asleep at around 5:30am. He was back at it again at 7:45am, so I went in and we snuggled back to sleep until 8:30.

We had a pretty mellow day. We played at a new park on a choo choo and made it home for lunch and an early nap, or so I thought. He usually naps around 1pm. Today he fiddled around until finally falling asleep around 2pm.  I know he is struggling and slowly, maybe developing the coping techniques he needs to get over his binkie fixation. After his nap we met daddy at the fly park. I have been trying to keep him busy. Maybe that isn't the best strategy but I figure if he is exhausted he will hopefully just pass out at bedtime. We even stayed up later tonight, mowing the yard, playing in the sandbox and having a late bath. Finally teeth brushing, stories and what we thought was bed.

Not tonight. The inconsolable crying began. He started out by laying down with daddy, then they called me upstairs. We all lay together. Trying to console Max. Telling him what a big boy he is, how we are so proud of him. As he continued to cry, I started to cry to. I know we are making the right decision but hearing him is truly painful and makes me doubt everything. He finally passed out around 10pm. I am hoping that he sleeps through the night. I really need it. We have one more night together as a family to deal with this until I have to go back to work and Terry is on his own. I was hoping for a smooth transition, maybe tonight is the night. Maybe not. I don't know.