T-E-E-T-H

Max is 33 weeks old.

So, Max's bottom two teeth are still rising up and are definitely evident when he smiles.
Meanwhile, check out the upper deck.
This kid has the top 4, yes FOUR, teeth coming in.
Max will have 6 teeth all within 1 month's time. And, 6 teeth by the age of 8 months.
Poor kid.

Christmas Day... Eve

Overhearing Evie as she marched off to brush her teeth with dad, "But why do I still have to be good?"

Christmas Eve

Things just got a whole lot more exciting around here today:

Max's first sit-up bath

Max is 31.5 weeks old.
Max's initial reaction sitting in his tub seat was a slow wave of his foot underwater. When I asked him what he thought of his new bathtub (experience), he looked up at me and grinned. He likes it.


I remember not being able to style Evie's hair for a long time due to her not having any. Not in Max's case.

This new tub seat gives Max more control to do exciting bathtime activities... like grab his wiener more easily *sigh*

"What?"


This is not a great photo (due to the "deer-in-headlights" effect from the flash... but it really shows the color of Max's eyes). Aren't they incredible? I really hope he keeps them, these eyes coupled with his dimples just make him such a complete and adorable package...

Catch me if you can...

Grandma Ullman bought us a "Gingerbread Man" kit which was basically just a storage tin, cookie cut-out and recipe.
I added a few other shapes (star and Christmas tree) to keep it interesting.
We invited over D to help decorate.
I knew this activity would have about 20 minutes (max) of entertainment value.... but was still a little surprised that after maybe 5 cookies each, they were over it. Oh well, more for me to decorate...

Kids and Technology

I treated the family to a new iPad after receiving a surprise Christmas Bonus this year.
It didn't take long for Evie to not only figure things out... but to be addicted to the "games," as well.

Evie "coloring" on the iPad.

Giggle Toes

Yeah, so, we're doing this.
Evie's been in a couple of different programs at The Little Gym. We started somewhere around the age of 1 with some "Mommy & Me" type of classes. She hated it. She either cried the entire time or wanted to be held... the entire time.
We took a break.
Around the age of 3, I tried again with a dance class (she loved to "perform" at home to the song 'Dancing Queen' which she sang, "Dancin' ween...'). She didn't like the dance class and preferred the open gym that happened in the later half of the class. So, we took about 20 classes of gym. She stood there, inactive & chewing her fingers, for the entire duration of most classes. I would have stopped but she RAVED about how much 'fun' it was each time we got in the car. I was, essentially, paying for my kid to watch other kids play.
Here we are again.... now at age 4.5. I signed her up for an hour long class (once a week) called "Giggle Toes." They do 15 minutes of tap, 15 minutes of ballet and then 30 minutes of the gym. And, most importantly, they dress like little ballerinas.
At the first class, 3 weeks ago, Evie clung to me (I could tell she was testing my waters). I looked her in the eye, "You don't talk and you don't participate... then we don't ever come back." She raised up her eyebrows and gasped through closed mouth. I then watched through the window to see my tiny dancer cutting up a rug. We decided to join for the year... deja vu...
At the end of the first night, they LITERALLY had to fool Evie to run outside and locked the door behind her. She was that into it and into interacting with all the teachers.
Thatta girl.

Tasty Shoes... Nom, Nom, Nom

Max - 7 Months Old

Max meets Santa Claus this year!
(He didn't know what to ask for so Evie suggested a teddy bear when Santa asked).


Sounds: Max started saying "Ma-ma-ma-ma" while in Ohio for Thanksgiving break. Up until this point he would just screech, make an "ahh!" sound (both of satisfaction to himself and as if it meant "hello!" from acres the room) or blow raspberries. Max's raspberries are a rather awesome sound - they are perfect. He sounds as if he's a well-versed raspberry enthusiast. Just watch out when he gets going during breakfast feeding time... you might end up with pureed peaches in your eyebrows.
(sidenote: baby food peaches have a horrible smell... they make me gag, *bleech!*)

Choppers: Max started getting teeth! He's been drooling a lot throughout this month, so we knew something was in the works. I reached into Max's mouth while the family was out to dinner at Chipotle last week (December 5th)... I didn't expect the *chomp!* that I received! I was pointing out to Rob that I thought the lower front tooth, on our right (Max's left side of his own mouth), was due to pop out soon since his gums looked white in color... wrong! It turns out the three nubs were already poking out! We all took turns getting a bite from Max with giggles all around.
I checked Max's mouth for a closer tooth inspection the following day. What I found was this crazy little number off-to-the-side on the top part of his mouth, see my post on December 6th. I asked the dentist and he didn't seem too alarmed. Of course, the dental office added that nothing could be done about it anyway so, just watch it and see what happens. We waited.
As of today, here's what we are looking at [see photo]. The two bottom teeth are definitely up but not by much. His off-to-the-side top tooth is the one that is the most "in" right now with another front top tooth not too far behind! And, actually, front top tooth is coming in up way too high... it's no where near where it should be on the gum line. Ugh. What a mess! (I'm trying not to panic but I have to admit - am quite alarmed).



On the go (?): Max isn't really crawling yet, although, I did call Rob one night around a week ago to say he was... almost. He is starting to get up on all fours more lately. It started with him wriggle/rolling to places... not much with a purpose but just somehow ending up there. In the last 3 weeks he's been: first, much more coordinated to get up on his side and balancing... then, laying on his side evolved into getting up on one knee... and finally, this past week the one knee has been leading to him pushing off on a foot to gain some distance. So, all-in-all, Max can get up on one knee and push off ...once! He hasn't "put it all together" quite yet. I'm just glad he isn't totally discouraged or frustrated by anything so far. Not to compare, but Evie would be very upset and vocal for days leading up to her "break-through" into another milestone. I tend to notice Max's "break-throughs" less often since he seems to just do things and is rather content/unphased by when he accomplishes something. I'll be interested how these differences play out in his greater personality (like when he's in school or learning a skill/sport).


Temper: Still a rather easy-going baby (people have commented on this fact, too, so we know we aren't biased!). He seemed more frustrated when very little (under 3 months) but so far... he's still rather laid back unless one of the following occurs: diaper is too full, making a poop while sitting up, starving, tired at the end of the day and/or wants to be held (generally when tired). Max still loves "chaos". Large crowds filled with noise, talkative people and many things happening are somehow soothing to him. If not smiling throughout it all, he's totally content just sitting and watching. Case in point: I waited in line to see "Legendary Santa from 1:30PM until 3:00PM. Max stayed in his car seat... rather unattended for almost this entire time accept the last 15 minutes when he needed a change of scenery (so we held him). Again, kid is all around... easy-going.

Getting bigger: Max is certainly stretching the limits of his car carrier. The limit is 20lbs and I know he is over that by now (and if not, soon will be). Max seems to have thinned out significantly. He is getting longer but hasn't really up'ed his intake of food. Rob and I still seem to feed him the same amount of cereal/veggies/fruits as last month, which, surprises me. Max eats well but when he's full, he's full. Go figure.

Evie learns Christmas song lyrics

Evie's been watching the Peanuts special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
Shas been hearing the song at the end, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and trying her hand at singing it. She asked about what one of the words meant... mercimeld.
I paused. I hummed the song and sang aloud: "...Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled."
Evie listened a few times before singing again, "Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners wreck in style."

Evie also began this holiday season with hearing "Deck the Halls" either on the radio in the car or at home.
She wanted to know the words but couldn't remember "Deck the halls with boughs of holly," because, let's be frank, who says things like this in general conversation. I broke it down and explained that what the line means is, "Deck the hallways with holly branches."
She understood and sang back, "Dec-o-rate the halls with holly! Fa-la-la-la-la... la-la-la-la!"

Toothity-Tooth-Tooth (Max's First... Er, Second?... Tooth)

Max is 30 weeks old (or, nearly, 7 months).



During last night's dinner out at Chiptle, I noticed Max's lower front gums appearing more white on the one side. I told Rob, "Hey, it looks like he'll be getting in a tooth soon on that side [pointing to tooth #25]." I then reached in and ran my pointer finger along his smooth gums. Or, at least, that's what I started to do until he clamped down on my finger thus revealing my answer - its a tooth!
You can't really see the tooth yet but the bumpy ridges are definitely finished poking through and are sharp, sharp, sharp!
Rob reached in, "Ouch!"
In true, stupid family fashion, Evie had to have a feel, too. [Finger reaching in], *Clamp!*, "Oh! He bit me!" Evie pulls her finger back giggling.

Today, during dinner (and after Max had a rather fussy day today), I decided to reach in and see if he was getting in any top teeth yet. Evie got all 4 teeth in within a 2-week timeframe and I was curious if he'd follow her pattern. I felt the top of his gums and felt a more pronounced tooth than what I felt on the bottom. WOW! Usually kids get them on the bottom first but he must have been working on the top tooth sooner. I let him eat a frozen banana chunk and gum some cold ice packs before pulling him into the living room. I looked again - what the????
I grabbed the camera.
I pulled Max under the lamp.
Is he getting in tooth ... #10?

Road-trip Conversation with Evie

Evie has not been listening to me (asking questions again just moments after I've answered her, as well as, not responding to me when saying/shrieking/grumbling-through-gritted-teeth/commanding/yelling her name). She also zones out when doing an activity.

In the car, about 3hrs in an 8/9hr road-trip home from spending Thanksgiving in Ohio:

Me:"Can you hear it?" I ask about the DVD player behind Rob's headrest.
Evie, responding: "I'm an idiot?"

*later*
Evie:"Mom?"
Me: "Yeah."
Evie: "When are we going to be in another state?"
(Backstory: I've already answered this one by showing her on her watch and telling her it will be dark and telling her she'll be fast asleep and telling her time-based comparisons... Basically, we've covered this)
Me: "its going to be awhile, babe. It's going to be long after your movie ends (I look and see she is clearly not listening with open-mouth blank stare so I start BS'ing). Monkeys will fly out of your butt before we get to Maryland... And unicorns will fly across (I look in the backseat to see if there is any change in her reaction)the sky..."
Evie: Cross stare with frowny face. It's evident she is listening. Win one for me. I didn't hear this question again on the ride.

Max - 6 month old stats

Max is 27 weeks old.

Weight: 19lbs 8oz (80th percentile)

Head Circumference: 17.75" (90th percentile)

Height: 27.25" (95th percentile)

Max - 6 months old

Max turns 6 months old on 11/11/11.

Month 6 has been a busy month for activity.


You were really rocking and rolling the day you hit month 5. The very next day, you rolled over all on your own. Within the week, you were a rolling champ. Two weeks after that, you'd roll just for the sake of rolling and proudly push up on your hands with a back so arched you almost looked like your spine was bent at a 90˚ angle. And, each time you are in this contorted position, you grin ear-to-ear (happy as can be) while *tap-tap-tapping* your toes against the floor. Periodically, you'll either get tired from this position or overcome with joy, throw your grinning mug into the blanket/mattress/burp cloth below you. I learned quickly to have some padding beneath your face for just said occasion. Thankfully, you've also learned to turn your face before smacking your nose against the floor, too!

All this rolling and movement has been catching us off-guard in some instances. It's important to note that you fell off the couch mid-month. Dad had you on your back Sunday morning while I was doing something with Evie. Dad was right next to you but averted his watchful eye for just a moment (that's all it ever takes, really) and bloop! there you went. Actually, it wasn't at all a "bloop!" moment. It was filled with instant crying (screaming!) and all of us completely panicking. Dad rushed you into your room (why, I have no idea... its kind of a "home-base" for safety in such instances). He held you tight as he tried to rock & console you in the confines of your quiet room. I, on the other hand, stood there wringing my hands unsure of what assistance to offer. Fortunately, the crying didn't last long and all return to normal. Also noteworthy, you missed the coffee table during your fall - phew! Lesson learned.

You aren't quite crawling but you aren't quite stationary anymore either. I've already found you across the living room floor... off your activity mat entirely... thumping your feet against the fireplace hearth. You tend to squirm & wiggle, in order to get places. I don't even think you are trying to go places so much as you enjoy moving... you seem genuinely happy when you end up somewhere new as if it took you by surprise, too.
We now often find you in your crib turned completely around and on your belly (after putting your down on your back in a sleep sack). You also tend to get wedged perpendicular in your crib. Your babble begins to sound a wee bit frustrated and that's my cue to come in and pull you free.

You sit up on the kitchen table when we feed you (you eat b'fast, lunch and dinner now). You are actually great in the Bumbo. You are also a complete and total pain-in-the-ass in the Bumbo. You went from craning your neck to see what's on the table next to you to all-out-stretching forward to grab things are leaning way-y-y- out to the side to grab your bottle. Its both cool (Yeah! You have fabulous hand-eye coordination and are doing things at a much more advanced rate than your sister ever did!) and annoying (Geez, Max! Sit still so I can fed you this mushed bananas and still have time to shower before work!). *smile*



You had your first Halloween! We dressed you up as a glow-in-the-dark skeleton and, alas, it was freezing & rainy so you were bundled (and no one saw your costume). I had to work that day but raced home so we could get out trick-or-treating by 6PM. Dad worked HARD to carve a pumpkin that day, to get you dressed and to get meals together before I arrived home. Evie got into her princess costume and we snapped a few pictures before Duncan came over/before heading outside. I was SO HAPPY you two were all smiles for me as I eagerly took photos. This was also the first time we "trusted" Evie to prop you up next to her without our help. You've been sitting up more and more lately but, you still need someone nearby since you tend to quickly slouch over or slide to the side. Evie supported you and hugged you while I captured this moment on film. Your sister really does love you so much... its very cool to watch you together since I never had siblings. I couldn't have asked for anything more when I see how much you two genuinely enjoy each other's company.
Trick-or-treats was only 3 blocks one way and 3 blocks back. We stuck to our neighborhood this year due to the weather and you being so small. Evie actually got the best haul ever (this was her 5th Halloween!) and she's become quite the expert in racing from house to house.
I held you in the Baby Bjorn front-loader baby carrier with a blanket held tightly against you and an umbrella in my other hand. By the 4th block, you were fussy and unhappy (this was about 20 minutes in). I hurried back and hate to say it - but you had a fever and were sick the next day. But, we couldn't miss Halloween! And, you rebounded by day 3. *smile*

(You look so tiny when sporting a winter hat and seated next to your big sister)


Also noteworthy - "stranger anxiety" set in early with you. We sent you to the sitter's, part-time, around 3 months old hoping this would help. Nope. Kelly came over (you were about 5.5 months old), I handed you over while remaining standing right next to her. You blanched, slowly sputtered and tears rolled down your cheeks. Sad but hilarious, we couldn't believe you were already experiencing this. I thought maybe you were just grumpy after having just awoken from a nap (Nope, again. You howled every time Grandma La-La even LOOKED at you when you hit your 6 month old day and she stayed for the weekend. Oh well).

Lastly, on the day before turning 6 months old. I gave you a bath that evening and you discovered.... for the very first time... your wiener. You reached down, squeezed and looked... thrilled. You actually raised your left leg in the air (similar to what a cat does when cleaning itself" and you squeezed again and again. I even called your dad in to come see this sight. Evie, myself and your dad were all very happy for you and laughed along with your smiles.

OK, Let's settle this...

Yes, they are certainly siblings but, no, I do not think they look alike.
Evie never had the bright blue eyes Max still has (hers were grey until 1 year and then they slowly went hazel). Nor was her hair as long as his Max's until well over 1 year of age (hers was also more red, I think). Evie has a huge, round Charlie Brown head. Max's head is more oval. Max has deep dimples and Evie does not have any. Max certainly has my mouth and Evie certainly has Rob's. They both totally have the same nose... who's nose it is is up for debate, but most people think it's my side of the family on that one.

Max's opens his first Halloween Card

Max Sits Up!

Max is 24weeks old. 5.5 months.

Can you tell Evie is totally stressing me out while filming this video? Gah! She can squeeze too tight and easily knock one over... I was so worried she'd bounce Max backwards suddenly or hurt him in some way. I should know by now... he not only loves it but generally welcomes it. Such a boy...

Pacifier Milestone

Max is 24 weeks old.

Max has been waking up entirely TOO EARLY in recent weeks. 6:30AM was already much earlier than we have ever been awake in our lives (Evie was a 7PM - 7AM sleeper when she was this age). But, we've all adjusted to the 6:30AM and learned to live with it. However, when the wake-up started creeping back to 6:20, then 6:00 and then 5:30 and finally, 4:40AM (last night!) then new rules had to be enforced. We tried getting up (taking turns getting up, I should say) and walking across the house to give Max his pacifier. By the time we got back to our bed, though... Max would wake-up again. This would continue every 5-10 minutes for up to 45 minutes.... at which time we'd give-up.
Rob and I were, in a word, pissed.
So, recently, I told Rob - forget it. He's going to be up with or without us giving him the pacifier so let's just let him "play" in there till he cries.
Funny thing, he'd never cry. He'd "Oh! Oh! *pause!* Ohhh! Heh heh eh! *pause* Heee!" for 10-15 minutes and then ...silence.
But last night he got up at 4:40AM (I was so not happy)... he eventually fell back to sleep. Then at 6AM he was up again. Rob and I laid there discussing what our method of attack would be. Then, strangely enough... silence again. He feel back to sleep when my alarm went off and proceeded to sleep till 7:10AM!

Rob checked on Max at 7AM and asked me, "Did you give him his pacifier? He's in the there sucking away."
"No."

Ah, YES! The milestone of "finding their own pacifier" has finally been reached. This is a great stage to be in.
Of course, I also see he's been ripping down the bumper in his crib, too... which only means he's going to be in the "standing up in the crib" stage next. BOO.

Autumn Owl Craft

Eat your heart out, Martha.


We went for a lovely walk last weekend at our neighborhood park (Bryan Park). I went with the intention of taking a nice family photo (always an arduous task). I knew Evie needed focus so I brought a big ZipLock** bag and told her to find some cool stuff for us to use in our decorations at home (last year we found big acorns, pine cones, and walnuts to decorate the center of our Thanksgiving Day table).
Somehow her treasures came together in my mind as an owl so we hot glued this little guy this morning.
He's so cute, I think we'll go back today to find even more acorns and fuzzy grasses to make a few more for friends. :-D

**Its a good thing we used a ZipLock bag this year, too, cause here we are making crafts while we watch a grub worm trying to escape - ugh!

Oh yeah, and here's those photos of us:

Max

Evie

Bumps on a log

Max - 5 Months Old

Oh, time flies by... it's getting harder and harder to keep up (and keeping up with monthly posts is already hard! I knew it would be like this when we had more than 1 kid so I intentionally stopped keeping up with Evie in such a detailed manner after 1 year... but 5 months in with Max and it's already proving difficult to remember what's happened month-to-month!).

Well, big boy, you went in for your 4 month check-up on September 21 (so, technically, over 4 months old). You were 18lbs (in the 90th percentile!) and 25" long (in the 50th percentile!) with a head circumference of 17" (in the 75th percentile!). You aren't quite Charlie Brown... but you are a super chunk (and oh so adorable for it, too).

We were actually giving you 6 6oz bottles a day at that 4 mo check-up and the doctor said we could probably stand to drop down to 30oz total in a day. I immediately dropped one of your bottles and you did not seem to notice at all - phew! So, by mid-month, you are waking at 6:30AM (bottle), late morning 9AM cat-nap (bottle), lunchtime (bottle) quickly wrapped up with a 2-3 hour nap (unless dad's taking care of you, but I'll get into that in the next paragraph*), dinner time around 4-5PM (bottle) and, finally, bedtime (bottle) at 7:30PM.
By month's end you started... FOOD! Wee! So, you still have 5 feedings a day but they aren't nearly as organized as they once were.

*I said I'd explain my comment regarding dad and naps. Dad, is totally and completely unsuccessful at getting you to nap during the day. I know he'll read this and be unhappy with me stating that so flatly, but, ...it's true. Dad was really good at either understanding Evie or getting her to follow a schedule. Or, let's be totally frank, maybe it's just that second kids are not at all like first kids. Getting a schedule to work for everybody is a much more difficult challenge than it ever was when there was just the one kid in the household. This is true...
BUT.... then again... I rarely have a problem getting you to nap. And when I put you down... you nap for HOURS. So, I return to my theory that dad is the faulty piece in this puzzle.
When I work from home or am home on the weekends (and I haven't overloaded the family day with way more activities than the average person can handle) I can pull you into your bedroom, let you paw at my face while coo'ing softly, rock you in the glider quietly smiling down on you and before you know it... your coo's become soft sighs and finally... deep breathes. *Squip!* - out slips your pacifier and all is right with the world. I can get you from playful to coma in less then 10 minutes. I am quite proud of this (can you tell)? I never, EVER, was the successful with Evie. I like to think you and I are bonded more closely than Evie and I were when she was an infant. But, as much as I celebrate this ... I'm also fearful we won't be as close when you hit pre-school age. Evie's definitely more close to me than daddy these days... her affection being mostly for "girls" more than "boys." What if you think girls are yucky and I'm not as cool as dad? *sigh*, I hope you still remain snuggly with me even if those moments grow less frequent... I hope you still find comfort with me when you really need me.

Back to a more happy subject - food! Well, even that topic isn't 100% positive. You ate rice cereal, at first. The second time we gave you rice cereal, you blew it back in our faces with puffed out lips like a chimpanzee blowing raspberries. Blowing raspberries till spit rolls down your chin is a favorite of yours.
Dad bought oatmeal (cereal) a few days later and you didn't care for that one either. A day or 2 later I decided to steam apples and make my own baby food puree. You... hated that, too. Exasperated, we open up Evie's snack-size Mott's applesauces and tried that, too.
Hated. It.
We took about 2-3 days off. You were fine and happy with just a bottle (I mean, just look at your weight!), and, so are we (much less to cart around!).
I quickly began to feel like we needed to push you to eat so I bought Gerber's bananas, sweet potatoes and carrots. There's got to be something you'd like. We tried bananas. Tah-dah! We have a winner!


As I was saying about blowing raspberries earlier.... you also like to scream. It's this real happy, shrieking squeal of a scream. Its full of joy (as well as volume). You shriek suddenly and in these wild bursts. Sometimes, I must admit, it gets old and we kinda want you to stop... but I also know it'll fade very soon and I'll someday forget this moment just like all the others you'll outgrow. I try and absorb it for what its worth.
You also are getting more giggly and confident with your giggles. You laugh EVERYTIME I hold your chin back and wipe your stinky spit-neck with a baby wipe. Tonight you were super giggly and I asked daddy to get you going while I captured it for posterity. Baby laughs are seriously an amazing sound:


I can now carry you on my hip. It's not always perfect and sometimes... you fall backward (particularly when I am multi-tasking, example: carrying a flaming hot cup of coffee) but you are getting noticeably stronger. You can push up (fully!) on your hands when placed on your belly. You squirm back and forth on the changing table and are growing more challenging to hold steady. You do sit up in the Bumbo chair without listing to the side (I like to think this is partly due to your hefty size resulting in you getting stuck in the seat. We feed you from this chair perched atop the kitchen table and it works very well).
I've been walking around with you in the Baby Bjorn more recently - also working very well... despite my extremely sore shoulder muscles. You wiggle across the floor now... we can't leave you on the activity mat unattended or you get stuck against the coffee table or, today for instance, you were stuck straddling a pumpkin on the fireplace hearth. :-)
You also, ROLLED at the end of this month - weee!


I'm anxious to enjoy cool autumn days with you this October into November. I hope to capture some beautiful outdoor pictures in the leaves with your sister. I want to take a nice long stroll at the park a few times more before it gets too cold (or is night-time at 5 o'clock). I can hardly wait to go Trick-Or-Treating with you and to begin working you into our family holiday traditions this upcoming season. Each month just keeps getting more interesting and fun!

Bananas

OK, I'll try it... but if it's rice cereal, oatmeal or apples... I won't be happy. Here, lemme help guide your hand.

What was that? What was... THAT? That's... no bad...

Yeah, OK, I'll try it again, sure.

I don't...mmmm...mmm... HATE it..... its smooth and sweet. Yeah, ...mmm...mmm-k....

Yeah, let's try that again, I think I like that one...

Yeah, OK, fine. FINE! You win, OK? I kinda DO like food, alright? Let's just agree on the bananas and stick with that one for awhile, mmm-k?

After Apple Picking [Fails].

Our planned trip to Charlottesville to go apple picking at Carter Mountain went bust today.
The weather was beautiful, the timing - perfect (I have the following Monday off for Columbus Day & Evie has school so I'd have a nice, quiet day after this trip), and the organization to get out-the-door - impeccable.
We were ready-to-go at 9:45AM. Actually, we could have been ready at 9:30AM but we dawdled since Greg & Dany were to meet us at 10AM. Now, what I HEARD was that they were meeting us at our house at 10AM. What Greg heard was that we were leaving at 10AM and would meet at the mountain top.
We waited. At 10:15AM Rob, frustrated at wondering where Greg & Dany was, went to the coffee shop for a coffee. Around 10:30AM we decided to just leave. Little did we know they were already halfway there.
We picked up Subway sandwiches halfway to our destination and packed them in the car to eat at Carter Mountain. Around this time I realized how we had mis-communicated (Greg and I) and Max awoke with the car stopping. Max was also... PISSED. He had a very saturated diaper and was not at all happy with it. I eventually crawled in the backseat (wedging myself between the car seats) to try and comfort Max. His sniffling & fussing grew worse. He howled.
Evie muttered CONTINUOUSLY under her breathe, "I'm hungry... I'm starving... I'm hungry mom... when can we eat yet? I want to eat. I'm starving... I'm hun-"

I took Max out of his car seat. He was slightly comforted by me holding him but I grew anxious knowing this was the most unsafe decision with Rob driving totally frustrated in the building traffic.

We got off our exit. The cars were backed up to the exit ramp. The light up ahead was merging 2 lanes of traffic and EVERY a-hole imaginable was racing to merge as close to the end as possible. And everybody was letting them do it! I grew more and more angry with Max howling, Evie WHINING and our car creeping one whole car length for every cycle of the traffic light.

It was at this point I dropped no fewer then 13 F-Bombs begging, PLEADING, with Rob to pull over. He pounded the steering wheel. Evie, unfazed, "I'm hungry. I'm starving. Mom? I'm hun-"

We got up to the light and saw the bumper-to-bumper non-moving vehicles up to the mountain top.
"We aren't going apple picking," Rob declared as he flipped a U-Turn.
I begged Rob to pull over. He threatened to get back on the highway instead of stopping anywhere around here.

I threatened to "pop Max's head like a grape" if he didn't stop RIGHT. NOW.

We stumbled, quickly, into a neighborhood and I caught the shape of a playground. "Pull over HERE!" I yelled. Rob jerked the wheel and stopped. We all piled out of the car.
Thank. Gawd.
I had the same sensation one has after a horribly turbulent airplane ride... I almost kissed the ground.

I changed Max's near 2lb diaper and we quickly smiled. His crisis was solved.
Evie was running up and down a fake rock wall. Her crisis was solved.
Rob pulled out the blanket I packed and was eating his sandwich picnic-style. His crisis solved.
Phew. All is right with the world.

Max basked on the picnic blanket - relieved to be dry and stretched out.

Rob gives Max his first swing ride.

Silliness.

Evie swinging up a storm.

I try and teach Evie how to use the camera. This is take #5. Takes #1-4 were mostly crotch-shots.

Max rides in style with his anchor-tat and tam-o-shanter.

We decided to stroll the walking mall in Charlottesville before heading back home. We enjoyed ice cream at "Chaps." (I mean, how could I pass up a place called "Chaps"?) Funny enough, we ran into Greg and Dany at the walking mall.... ai-yi-ii.

On the way home, "Mommy? I wanted to go apple-picking..."

The Pumpkin Patch

As part of my insane desire to do EVERYTHING "fall" themed before Halloween strikes (not to be outdone by my craziness at Christmastime), we attended The Pumpkin Patch again this year. We visited with the Landis' this year.
I actually *almost* cancelled and moved this planned outing since we also plan to go pick apples tomorrow at Carter Mountain... but hey, why not completely exhaust ourselves in one weekend I say.

Max's first hayride. Evie's an old pro.


Evie and Charlie on the hay ride.


We put Brian to work with bringing the kids out to the field.


Evie selects a pumpkin (note: her first one had a very drippy hole on the bottom - this one was much nicer. Cheese!)


Rob selects his pumpkins. Brian approves.


Token family portrait in the field.


Ah, nice work everyone.