HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAX

Max-Just a few hours old
My how two years have flown by...This Christmas Eve 2 short years ago we welcomed our little boy into the world. What a special Christmas it was. The best we have ever had. We love our little guy so much. He has brought so much joy to us and we often reflect on what the heck we did for fun before we had him. Age two has brought many new fun as well as trying aspects to our household.

Max-6months old
Here are a few things Max is loving and doing at age 2: The Wiggles Show (still), Blues Clues (still), Elmo, movies (Nemo, Madagascar, The Incredibles...he goes in cycles with them), trucks, choo-choo train table, horses, outside, his cousins (especially Sarah and her dog Rowdy), balls, wrestling with Daddy, Uncle Mark, and Uncle Jeff, talking on the phone (especially when Mom is on it), going out for rides, the swimming pool, bathtime, cleaning with Mom and Dad (laundry, dusting, cleaning bathrooms with Dad), singing songs, coloring and much much more!

Max- age 1

Max-18 months
Max is saying all sorts of things...many of which we are still trying to decipher. Every morning he wakes up and asks first for a drink, then he says "Show" and we go through the list of which one he wants to watch first. He loves the camera and knows just what to do when we pull it out. He can count to 5, but generally not in order. We are working on colors and letters, but honestly, I think he could care less at this point. His favorite songs to sing are 'Baa Baa Black Sheep', 'Twinkle, Twinkle', 'Popcorn Popping', 'Itsy Weensy Spider', 'Wheels On the Bus', and all songs from Wiggles and Blues Clues.

Max-age 2

Max, Mom and Dad love you so much and can't wait for the years to come. You bring so much joy to life and we feel so blessed to have you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Pouter

This handsome boy has learned how to really ham up the pouting act. This one in particular was following a "No" to his requests to play in the refrigerator in lieu of going to church.

THANKFUL

I couldn't let Christmas come without first posting about Thanksgiving. This year we held Thanksgiving at Jolea's house. The food was absolutely amazing and the tablescape Jolea did up was worth the planning because it really was a beautiful dinner. We were disappointed that Mom couldn't make it, but we sure were glad that we were able to get Eli down here for 4 days. Jim's family and Carrie's family came as well as the newlyweds, Kelsey and Justin. We had lots of fun visiting, watching movies, playing games, shopping, and watching all the kids play and wrestle. Max loved having the cousins down and he especially took to Addie (Carrie's little girl) and Rowdy, Jolea's dog. In fact, he now goes around calling "R-o-w-d-y" out loud, hoping a dog will appear. I'm not so sure Rowdy is as fond of Max, who tries to ride him like a horse and holds onto his back hair to keep him from escaping. This Thanksgiving I was reminded of Elder Bednar's last conference talk about prayer. In closing, he issues a challenge that on occasion we issue a prayer only of Thanksgiving, asking for nothing. He promises blessings will follow. With all the blessings I have in my life, I think it only appropriate that I offer a prayer of strictly gratitude this season.

Happy 1st Birthday Addie

This is my niece Addie Jo. She turned 1 today and we just spent the Thanksgiving holiday with her where she showed and unexpected and spontaneous interest in walking. Way to go Addie Jo! We love you.

4 Great Years...

Yesterday was our 4 year anniversary. We celebrated on Saturday. It was so nice to go out together, just the two of us. We haven't done that in a long time and it was a nice reminder of how much we really enjoy doing things just by ourselves. I am so lucky to have Ryan and I can honestly say that he is my best friend. We love our friends and we love our families and we are blessed to live so close to many of them, but if we didn't, it's comforting to know that we like being together enough that we could keep one another entertained and happy. Ryan popped in our wedding video before we went to church yesterday. It was nice to watch it and remember that very special and freezing day. Max has only enhanced our relationship as will our other little one who will be joining us in a few short months. Oh, what was life like before all this bliss?

29...the countdown begins

Flowers and my new hair iron (girls...it's a step up from the CHI!!)My husband knows how to gift me.

I turned 29 yesterday. The countdown to 30 has begun. Somehow I'm not as fearful of it as I once was. All the 30 and 30+ people that I know are simply fabulous and all have great lives. A special thank you to all who gifted, called, emailed, text...Mom, thanks for the annual birthday jingle (although I expect something a little more creative next year). A very special thank you goes to my darling husband who always makes the day so special for me. Thanks for attempting to get my "to do" list done and for the beautiful flowers and gift. Thanks for babysitting Max so I could go shopping with the ladies. Another thank you to my always wonderful sister, Jolea, and her husband for waiting around for over an hour to eat at the Cheesecake Factory with us and to Mark and Jeff, who I can't imagine not having in my life. You all made 29 a very special day for me.

Who needs a brush and paint when you have a chip and BBQ sauce? Max takes painting to a whole new level at the Cheesecake Factory. Thank you Max for being so good and patient at my birthday dinner.

Apples to Apples

Enjoying a night time "apple" -- aka, plum

Okay--it's obvious to most that Max favors the Loveless gene pool. He looks like his Daddy, except for those BLUE eyes. Those are mine. But there is no mistaking a few characteristics that are distinctly from his Momma--one of those being his love for fruit. You might remember a certain craving of mine a few months back--Costco nectarines. Apparently my love for all things citrus has found it's way to Max's taste buds. First it was apples. He loved them but couldn't really chew them very well, so the nectarines were a viable substitute. Sadly, the season for them passed but not to fear--Momma dear found that Costco was now carrying purple plums. Again, Max seemed satisfied. Now that those are out of season, we've gone back to the Granny Smith and he has since gotten his eye teeth and all is well. To Max--they are all apples. Really, he calls them all "apples". In fact, most of the time he just helps himself to the fridge and finds one himself. He usually wants an apple right before bed as well. On Halloween, after a few pieces of candy, he asked for an apple. Isn't it strange how such an affinity for fruit can bring a parent such joy and pride? I recall feeling the same way when we discovered that he loved steamed broccoli. It makes me feel like I'm doing my part to end society's health crisis. Now, if I just wanted fruit over Halloween candy....

PJ's, apples, and a smile

Baby it's Cold Outside

While we haven't experienced a major dumping of the white stuff yet, I've realized that most days have been just too cold to let a child (who's already sporting a dripping nose) have his way in the great outdoors. I knew this day was coming and I have been trying to think of activities that he would enjoy and that would distract his one track mind from Finding Nemo (seriously, he would watch it on repeat all day). The first thing he says when he wakes up in the morning is "Nemo" and it's the last thing he says before going to bed. I'm fairly certain it occupies most of his thoughts during the day and a few days ago he started speaking "whale" so I knew I needed an intervention and quick. I remembered that I had picked up some cheap finger paints a few months back and stored them for just this purpose. I rolled out the poster paper, stripped him down to his diaper, and let the boy explore his artistic side. He loved it. Lately all he wants to do other than watch Nemo is color, so this was heaven for a little boy who loves to color and loves to get dirty. With plenty of indoor days ahead of us, I'm desperate for some more activity ideas to do with an almost 2 year old...Please comment...before I start speaking "whale".

It started out so innocent

Ooh, this colors your body too!

Body-Finger painting...by Max.

Not to worry. It's nothing a little bath time won't fix!

Look-Alikes

We had another ultrasound yesterday to get a better picture of the heart and vessels. All looks perfect and it was so fun to see a much larger-more baby-than skeleton picture of him. We got a pretty good look at his face and it sure does look a lot like Max's ultrasound did and even of Max as a newborn. He has the same cheeks and chin. So we are thinking he is going to look something an aweful lot like this...

Hard to believe that that is now this...

Shrunken Brain, Shrunken Calf Muscles

So as some of you may recall, a few 6 months ago I was 10 miles into my training for a 1/2 marathon. Interruption: Pregnancy. Granted it was a planned and much wanted pregnancy. What wasn't wanted nor anticipated was the 3 months of awful morning, afternoon, and night sickness that thrust it's ugliness upon my once very in shape self. Soon my runner's high was replaced by a new comfort--my sofa. From July to September, there I lay...day after day, just counting down the hours til my next dose of anti-nausea meds could be inhaled and until my husband came home to relieve me of my parental duties (which were less than stellar due to the fatigue that plagued my world). Gone were the dreams of putting all that training to the test in Provo Canyon, and soon enough, gone was the definition in my calves and the longevity in my lung capacity. Why is it that "In-Shape" takes so long to achieve while "Out-of-Shape" takes what seems like mere minutes to take over? It really is one of life's great injustices.Finally, a light...mid September brought a welcome surprise. The nausea dissipated, the couch looked uninviting, and I had a strange energy that seemed somewhat like a ghost from Pre-Pregnancy Past. That energy wanted to redo, repaint, redecorate, refinish everything in my house. I think my energy frightened Ryan and our bank account so he came up with a way to redirect my energy. He signed me up for a 5K at his work. Granted I had not run for a good 4 months now, but I laced up my runners, threw on my orange Xango shirt, loaded my 30 lb kid into the jogger and for some reason had no reservations about running a 5K at 5 1/2 mos. pregnant, with no training for months, all while pushing my brute of an almost 2 year old. Did I mention that while you are pregnant, your brain shrinks like 3%? It's true...because Dr. Oz said so on Oprah; it's the only logical explanation for my uncharacteristically calm state while displaying such irrational behavior. Oh, yes, I could have walked the mile trot, but that's not what Ryan signed me up for and 3.2 miles seemed like a walk in the park after my training just months ago. Ryan was in it to win it, so he went on up ahead, way ahead. I ran with some 50 year old lady from Sweden who runs marathons. We only walked about 1/4 of a mile during the entire race and finished in just over 30 minutes. Thanks to my shrunken brain, I didn't give any forethought to the way I would feel for the next week. Let's just say that things hurt in places I didn't even know I had. But when it's all said and done...I can always tell this new little one coming to us "Look what Mommy did when she was pregnant with you!" Which will be followed by Ryan saying "Mommy was missing a portion of her brain capacity; she's lucky she didn't leave there on a stretcher."

Halloween Review

I have to admit that I'm feeling like a bad mom. All my friends blogs all said they didn't really take their kids Trick or Treating because they didn't need the candy. Some even alluded to the fact that their little ones had never had a piece or tasted their first piece that day. My kid on the other hand figured the whole thing out after two cars at the Ward Trunk or Treat. By Halloween I think he knew exactly what was coming. Friday afternoon we went to Ryan's work and let our little fireman trick or treat on just his floor (my version of toning the candy down).

Max loves visiting Daddy at work, which isn't that often, so it was really a "treat".
He loves Daddy's desk...so what's it going to be...a Fireman or an Accountant?

Afterwards, Max and I popped a squat on the lawn to check out the loot. In my defense, it wasn't much. Mainly smarties and suckers.

The Muslim, the Witch, and the Fireman

As dusk drew near Ryan took Max to just a few of the neighbors and a quick stop to the Uncles house before we headed out to Jolea's for one incredible Halloween Bash. Our good neighbors, Matt and Krista, even came out to join in the fun. I have to say that Jolea really outdid herself this year. The Beatty house was the scariest one on the block. The food was awesome and the kids really enjoyed the games. It was a long day, but well worth the memories and watching Max enjoy the magic of the season.

BOO HOO...No ZOO

I am determined to do holidays differently this year and in years to come, meaning, I want to pick a few things for each holiday, load up my family, forget that the laundry isn't done and there are dishes in the sink, and go out and enjoy whatever it is we want to do. Last year we went to Gardner Village to see all the witches. I believe that I enjoyed it more than Ryan and Max who was pretty little still. He had no idea what we were looking at.

This year he has definitely picked up on Halloween and it's symbols (except he has no idea about the candy thing yet). Every time we pass a pumpkin or spooky yard scene he pulls out his "spooky voice" and says "Ha-yo-een!" He even knows where the holiday isles in WalMart and Costco are. Now that Christmas is starting to take over the stores, he's a little confused as to why the spookies are being replaced by large trees with twinkles on them and a why Jesus is suddenly showing up every where wearing a red suit and hat (yes, he thinks Santa is Jesus...at least it's not the other way around.)

So at the beginning of October we decided that we would just go to a few holiday events that Max might enjoy. We took advantage of CornBelly's $0.93 night and took Max to that. He loved the slides and running around in the big fields, but a lot of the things were still to big for him. The other event we wanted to take him to was BOO at the ZOO held only today. You dress up your little one in their costume and take them the the Zoo for trick or treating and fun. We haven't taken Max to the Zoo yet, and where he is so into animals right now, we thought it would be a great morning outing today. Apparently so did everyone else. As we were nearing the Zoo at about 10:30am and we saw cars waiting and parking as far back as a mile from the Zoo and we just looked at each other and thought...no way. As we drove by the Zoo and realized that the line of cars extended the other way for a mile as well and we saw the hoards of strollers, little monsters, and frazzled parents; we were pretty sure Max wouldn't be getting a close up of any thing at the Zoo besides someone else's backside. So we canned the Zoo idea for this weekend and headed on up to Park City and did some shopping.

Max had no idea what was going on so he didn't mind. We will tap off the Halloween season this week with a ward party on Tuesday and a big bash Jolea and I are planning for Friday. I'm sure it won't take our little fireman long to figure out the real TREAT that comes from Halloween.

Favorite Weekend Moments

Friday we went to Tooele and went out to this pumpkin patch.

Ryan finds his perfect pumpkin

Three pumpkins for 3 bumpkins

Max loved running down the dirt paths and all through the pumpkins...he kept saying "Halloween!"

Another favorite moment...Max has recently discovered a love for coloring (which we are grateful for since he used to just eat the crayons). Wonder where he got that from? (Actually, I've never seen him color and I thought it was just adorable)