Happy Mother's Day!

 What a fun day!  The weather was beautiful and it was great to spend time with family.  We had a nice brunch with Jarek's family and my family at the The Edgewood.  After that we went to hang out at Nana and Papa's house.  The weather was perfect for hanging out on the back deck.  My brother borrowed my camera and took some of these photos.  I wish I would have remembered to take out the camera at Mike and Paula's house, too!  Thanks to everyone for spoiling me on my first mother's day. 

Three Months Old!

I haven't posted in a while.  Going back to work has been keeping me busy.  It has been a fairly smooth transition.  I think it really helps to know that I just have 7 more weeks to go until I get an 8 week break.  I am glad for that!  My students are funny, too.  They ask me every day how Max is doing.  They want to know, "What is he doing right now?" Silly kids...  I hear them explaining to kids in other classes that Max is just his nickname.  His REAL name is Maxwell.  We had a response to literature writing assignment last week.  The kids were supposed to answer a specific question and use evidence from the text to explain their reasoning.  One boy's essay read, "One day my teacher had a baby.  Then we had another teacher for a long time.  Then my teacher came back."  Unfortunately, the story he was supposed to summarize was about a little girl on her first day in a new school.  I guess it is good I am back.

Even though I have been busy, I did remember to take Max's 3 month photo.  Today he will get his 'real' pictures taken.  I already can't wait to see them.  I hope little boy wants to cooperate so we can get some great shots!

He is holding his head up a lot better.  He is really becoming interested in watching his surroundings.  I have noticed him checking other children out in public, the cats, me cooking, etc.  I wonder what he thinks about it all?  We are going to Quinton's birthday tomorrow.  I am interested to see what he does there.  (By the way, I can't believe little Quinton is going to be SIX years old.  That just blows my mind!)

He rolled over the other day for Jarek from tummy to back.  Daddy got very excited!  I saw him do it once, but it was a long time ago.  I am pretty sure it was just reflexive back then. 

His hair and his eyelashes have grown a lot.  His eyelashes stick straight out.  There is not a bit of curl to them.  Picture Snuffleupagus...that is what they look like!  I have been watching his fingernails grow also.  His fingernails from when he was born are now completely grown out. Why do I notice these things? Or feel the need to mention it as important growth information?  I guess it is just so amazing.  Every single thing about the last three months has been.

Fun Times!

I am going back to work on Monday...sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  I know that I have been away from work for 5 long months and I should be ready to get back to the grind, but I just want to stay home and play!  I have never spent so much time at home in my life as I have since November.  It was definitely a big adjustment to have so much down time, but now I am in love with it.  I can't believe that I will only have 2 days a week to chill!  That is assuming the cleaning/shopping/organizing fairy comes to the house on a nightly basis while we are all asleep so the weekends can be dedicated to hanging out. 

Here are a few photos from my last day at home alone with Baby Max.  He is so much fun to play with during his awake time these days.  I love the cooing, laughing, and the letting mommy do whatever she wants to me time. So, mommy decided she was in desparate need of yet another photo shoot.  Too bad I don't have any real skills!

Look at those lips!

He loved being naked and having this soft blanket wrapped around him. 

Still flailing around a bit...

Sitting up (thanks to all the props)!  Check out that head control :)

Reading books with his buddies.  This was actually the first time we have ever played with stuffed animals, but when he liked how soft the blanket was I thought he might enjoy these cuddly guys, too.  Notice his arm wrapped around the shoulders of his puppy friend?  Ha, ha!  He let me read him 4 books and pretended to be enthralled with all of them. 

Should've never said that...

Sleeping through the night has come to a stand still folks! Boo

Bath Time

Nana (my mom) and Aunt Katie stopped by to spend some time with Max yesterday while Jarek and I ran out for a few minutes.  They took some cute photos!  Max got a little grumpy so they gave him a bath which always calms him down.  Check out the progression of their visit...

Happy baby playing after a short nap.

Starting to get grumpy...

Lay him on his changing table and he settles right down...especially
 if he gets to take off all of his clothes!

Gazing at his Nana.  His hair is always standing straight up!

That is until it gets wet!

Such a sweet face...time for a nap. 
Can't you just smell that clean baby?  Best smell ever :)

It Finally Happened!

My boy is sleeping through the night!  I better not jinx myslef by posting this.  During the past week, Max went from sleeping 3 hour stretches to 8 and 9 hour stretches.  Basically, I haven't had time to post lately because everyone in this house is always asleep.  :)

Big Boy!

Happy Two Month Birthday, Max!  The last 8 weeks sure did zoom by! 

Max is a healthy, growing boy.  Jarek and I are so grateful for this!  I thought it would be nice to compare some photos to see the changes that Max has made. 

He has a lot (well, a little) more awake time these days.  It is fun to play with him during these periods of time.  We are getting lots of smiles and a few coos.  He really likes his Baby Einstein play mat which means I have time to make a pot of coffee in the morning or at least go to the bathroom!  

Just the other day I started using the delay button and getting my pot ready the night before.  Genius plan!  Now if I could just get a consistent wake time from this kid I could figure out when to start the pot.   

He is filling out a bit more.  Ya know...chubbier cheeks and a round little belly.  He is now in the 20th percentile for weight.  He kinda holds on to you a little bit when you are carrying him over your shoulder which feels very sweet.

Did I mention yet what a perfectly tiny Jarek Max is?  They really have so many likenesses it is bizarre.  (All

the way down to their toes!  I probably should get a picture of that soon...)  We still only have one person that has said he looks like a Whitesel, but I have always seen a little bit of Matt in his face.  Now I am seeing my dad in some of his expressions.  Don't get me wrong, if he looks just like his daddy forever that would be great for me.  I love the way his daddy looks!  :)