Max Anthony

I realize I haven't even done a proper post adding this little guy to our family blog...and now he's already 4 months old!  (Can you say, second child?!)  Sorry Max.  Being the second born myself, I completely understand. :)

Max was born July 24, 2012 at 5:50pm.  He was 7lbs 8oz and 19.5 inches long.  Mason was an emergency c-section, and for various reasons I had to plan another c-section with Max.  Unfortunately, I went into labor 2 days before I was scheduled to have my c-section.  The good part?  I know he was fully ready to get outta there and I wasn't pulling him out beforehand.  The bad part?  I had to go through hours of unnecessary labor and pain when I knew he had to come out via c-section anyway.  (I had eaten breakfast that morning not knowing I was in the beginning stages of labor, and had to wait 8 hours after eating until they could do the c-section for safety reasons.)  The hours of waiting was the worst part.  My labor pains were bearable, especially when I was sitting up and not on my back.  But I just had to breathe through it all and wait.  And wait.

Finally they prepped me for everything and I don't really enjoy talking about the rest as it gives me anxiety just thinking about labor stuff/surgery while awake/etc.  But long story short....they let Marcos watch the c-section because he is a medical student, the baby came out with no complications, and I survived it all.  I'm not a fan of c-sections, but this one was at least WAAAAAY better than the emergency one I had with Mason where I was put under completely and didn't get to see him come out and was worried about his welfare.  I never had cause to worry about Max during labor/delivery, and I got to see him after he came out.  I felt truly blessed.

Mason has loved Max since day 1.  He kisses him and nuzzles his head.  His only problem is that sometimes he shows too much "love." :)  When Mason first visited with Max in the hospital, he would look at him with wide eyes and smile and "oooo" and "awww" over him.  Mason seemed to know from the start that this baby was different from other babies he'd encountered--that this baby was OURS.

Mason's least favorite thing is when Max cries, and he will often show Max toys and say gently, "It's okay, baby Max."  Mason even shares his toys with him.  (For now) :)

At first I was a little sad I wasn't having a girl, but I honestly could not be happier than I am with my boys.  They are AWESOME.

Welcome to the fun, Max.  We are so happy to have you!

Halloween 2012

This was the best picture we could get of Mason and Max in their Halloween costumes.  Mason can't sit still for the life of him, and Max looks all scared from the bright flash of the camera.  Mason was Woody...and it would've looked better if he had been willing to wear the cowboy hat.  I should have learned my lesson from the Halloween where he was Mario and wouldn't wear the red hat with the big "M" on it....so he just looked like a kid in overalls with yellow buttons.  Anyway, lesson finally learned.  The kid doesn't like hats.  Just like his mommy, comfort wins out over appearance every single time.

This year we did the church Trunk or Treat with all the other various foods and festivities there.  It was fun, but for some reason once it was dark and came time to go car to car trick or treating, Mason got super scared.  Not of any one thing, just trick or treating in general.  He kept telling us it was scary and made Marcos hold him the entire time going car to car.  He wouldn't even say "trick or treat" because he was scared.  But after people put candy in his pumpkin he'd get happy and say a loud, unprompted, "Thank you!"      People sure got a kick out of that.  What a sweet, scared, polite little boy.  Maybe next year he'll be more into trick or treating.

Max wore the same little pumpkin sleeper that Mason did at this age, which blew my mind!  I totally remember Mason in this costume.  This baby is growing so fast it's insane.  It seems like he's growing way faster than Mason did for some reason.  It's kind of nice that I had them both at almost the same exact time of year, so I already have clothes the right size for the right seasons for Max to wear!

Mason 2009

Max 2012

Mystery Shiner

"You should see the other guy."

Last week Mason got his first real black eye.  Well, wait-let me explain, because that's not entirely accurate.  He woke up Thursday morning with a big bruise and bump on his cheekbone (you can see it on his cheek).  The next day, the bruise migrated to his eye, as bruises tend to migrate.  This picture was on day 2.

How did he get it, you ask?  We're still not really sure.  It's a mystery.  As a toddler he falls a lot...maybe it happened one of the times he got hurt the day before and we didn't know then how bad it was?  He's been sleeping in a toddler bed....maybe he was playing in his room in the dark during the night and got hurt (even though we heard no crying)?  I guess we'll never know for sure.

But one thing is for sure...he was still a happy boy!  It didn't seem to hurt or bother him, which I'm glad about.  Because it looks really sad.  But he wasn't.  He was his same active, goofy, fun-lovin' self.

The lighting in the tub made it look especially dramatic.  You can tell by the yellowing that it's starting to heal, but it still looks pretty bad.  I've had to explain myself to every single stranger who sees him and endure their accusing eyes.  Seriously people?  He's TWO!  Kids get hurt!  The worst part was when they'd ask what happened, I was honest and said I wasn't sure.  Then they'd raise their eyebrows and look at me like, "Your kid got hurt this badly and you don't KNOW how it happened?!"  And I, in turn, was inwardly yelling, "Don't you have kids?  Don't you remember how they got hurt all the time?!"  Some people understood.  Others judged.  It bothered me at first, but now I'm over it...and wishing I'd come up with a better story...

It's been over a week, and it's still very noticeable even though it's getting a lot better.  At least he's still a happy kid.  Maybe we'll get lucky and it'll be healed by next weekend for Tracy's wedding, so the mystery shiner doesn't become immortalized in her wedding pictures.  Eh, here's to hoping. :)

How a Toddler Eats Cheerios

A few months ago, Mason did NOT feel like eating Cheerios for breakfast.  And it was just too funny.

Wild Animal Park June 2011

Earlier this summer while visiting my family, we went to the Wild Animal Park.
They've since renamed it and made lots of upgrades to the place, but to me, it will always be the Wild Animal Park!

The tram ride is SO awesome!
They made it a lot nicer and you can see the animals so much better while you're out on safari!

Family picture in front of the elephants.  We have to tickle Mason to make him smile for pictures. :)

Mason looooved the petting zoo!
He walked right up to all the big animals to pet them and wasn't even scared.
We were pleasantly surprised.

Classic picture on the rhino!

Mason's most favorite thing by far, though, was the lorikeet exhibit.  It's a large, caged enclosure you walk into that's filled with colorful lorikeets that land on you.  You can buy little cups of nectar (for a pretty penny of course) and the birds land on you as they drink the nectar.  Mason really likes birds and was excited that they landed on him even though he seems stunned in the video.  We just laughed. :) I think he was afraid that if he moved the bird would fly away off of him.  And he wasn't thrilled about the flapping by his face at the end.  But he didn't want to leave, it was so much fun.  P.S. When these birds poop on you, it's clear poop.  So it's not AS gross as normal....and they have very nice washing stations upon exiting complete with soap and paper towels. :)

More petting zoo.  He wasn't even afraid to walk up to these full size deer all by himself.

Marcos and I in front of the beautiful landscape and big hot air balloon.
  We had such a great time!

Cousins at the Playground

Mason Turns 2!

Last week Mason turned 2!  I cannot believe I have a 2 year old!  Mason is such a good kid.  Pretty goofy too I must say (but I'm not surprised considering his parents). ;)

3 Funny Things About Mason:

• He does a great fake laugh.  If you say, "Mason, laugh!"  He'll laugh "HA-HA-HA" in forced but real way that we happen to find hilarious.
• He walks like an old man.  If you say, "Mason, walk like an old man!"  He'll hunch his entire body forward at the waist and take careful tiny steps forward.  (He started doing this walk all on his own, because he thought it was funny.  We simply labeled it.)
• He will smell your feet.  If you say, "Mason, smell your feet!"  He will put nose to toes and make dramatic sniffing sounds.  He will smell anyone's feet you tell him to and he thinks it's hilarious.  Marcos gets credit (or blame?) for teaching him this.

These are just some of the very important things one must teach their child.  Mason makes me laugh everyday.

We don't have much room for entertaining in our apartment, but we have a great little park in our complex where I held Mason's birthday party.  It was perfect!  Mason and his friends loved playing on the playground and blowing the bubbles I brought.  Here are some pictures I snapped of our wonderful party guests.  

Marcos and his cousin Annette

Chiara, Courtney, and baby Eva

Kathy, Ira, Colin, and baby Asher

The Michie Family

Miles and Andy

Thanks for coming everyone!  We had so much fun with you!