3 Year Pictures

My fabulous and talented friend Christie took Maxwell's 3 year pictures yesterday. We went out to my dads house and took some pictures with his classic Ford and other goodies I found around his shop. She got some great shots , but of course I'm bias.

And so it begins.

School started yesterday on Friday and it was a bittersweet moment. Max and I have been preparing for this switch for a long time and I cant believe we made it here. Maxwell is starting school early so it seems like time is flying by even faster than it should. We met his teacher Mrs Hopkins on Wednesday during enrollment and he played while we talked to her. Then Friday we got up a little to early not knowing how long we would need. Fed Max breakfast and got him dressed to go in his new 1st day of school clothes, then we waited watching TV until it was time to go. We thought we gave ourselves plenty of time but clearly made a rookie mistake and didn't realize how crazy drop off would be or that every other parent was walking there child to class. We made it just in the nick of time. Who knew that parent drop off would be so crazy. Cars parked on the main street, parking behind other cars in spaces, in fire lanes and straight up turn on their hazard lights and stopping at the entrance. I thought Jeff was about to go postal on someone! Then came the moment I had been anticipating... leaving Max at school. We walked in he went straight to the toys and to explore. We took him to his own little cubby with his name and put away his little backpack. I told the teacher I was going to sneak away so he wouldn't get upset thinking he would cry for me and miss me.... uh no. Not even a little. Not that I wanted him to freak but a tear or two would have made me feel a little better. Once we were at the car and on the way I tried to get Jeff to turn around so I could check on him. He was clearly having an easier time with this change and just laughed at me. After drop off Jeff and I went and ate breakfast. It was nice spending time together and not worrying about cutting up someones food and even getting to eat my food hot. Who knew it tasted better that way! Jeff and I picked up the movie Rio for Max to celebrate his first day too. Two and a half hours later it was time to pick up my sweet boy. We waited in the line my camera ready. Then I saw my big boy holding the aides hand toddling with his backpack on and I almost lost it! I got out of the car walking to him forgetting I wanted to take a picture of him. He was smiling ear to ear and saw Jeff and I and began to giggle. I think it is safe to say the first day went great. I will say that I;m not used to not getting feed back about each day. This is going to be a major adjustment since I have been at every therapy session and mother's day out would tell us all about his day at pick up. I guess I have to trust that he is doing ok and working hard. Just wish I knew for sure. Next week will be big because he has school everyday which is new and a new schedule. Wish us luck!

Killing time before we leave for school.

I snuck a picture of him through the door. It's hard to see but he is in the back near his teacher Mrs Hopkins.

This is when I almost lost it. This is after I hurried back to the car for the camera as I shook myself out of my teary eyed fog. He didn't wear his backpack in because it was so full of supplies when we went to school so this was the first I saw the whole picture of him looking so studious. He looked so grown up walking out holding the aides hand with that big backpack. I'm getting teary remembering it again...

Here is to a fantastic beginning to the school year!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

We officially have another birthday on the books. Max has come down from his sugar high and is now resting peacefully in his bed. If someone would have asked me 3 years ago where I thought Max would be or where our family is now my answer would be so different. But I like where we are and we are getting in our groove. I guess that goes to show that you cant screw with what is meant to be. Today being Maxwell's actual birthday was a pretty low key affair. Jeff took Max to breakfast for a bagel at our favorite bagel shop, Old School Bagel Cafe. Then when I got home from work we had Max open his presents before Jeff left for work. After a nice nap for Max and I and a trip to Walmart to pick out a cake we headed to Mercy to have dinner and cake with Jeff and Nanny. Cake was tasty and like I said before, another birthday is on the books. Tomorrow is a crazy busy day. We take Maxwell for enrollment, then he has a dentist appointment and end the day with a play date, whew! Hope we make it out alive!!!

Jeff and I got Maxwell some fun stuff that Max really seems to like. He got a monster truck that moves and jumps, a Buzz Lightyear dart gun and his very own kids digital camera.

Also today was a big day because we switched Max to a booster seat. I know I like it but well see how it goes.

Here we are at Jeff's work after we ate Johnny's, yum! And no surprise here Max picked a monkey cake. He is very in to monkeys and acting like a monkey.

Mmm cake, nom nom nom!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was Maxwell's 3rd birthday party. I rented a party room at McDonald's and I have to admit that for a 3 year old party it wasn't bad. In the beginning when all the kids were playing there were some really big kids that were probably 10 or older. They were being bullies and apparently choosing McDonald's play place to practice their parkour skills. Luckily after cake the kids went back to play and the bullies were leaving. Max even managed to climb up the slide and graciously Mrs Jennifer had to go up after him. It was a good day with good friends. I managed to get a few shots in between everything and before my camera died (oops).

This video came in a little late but thanks to Aunt Brittany for thinking ahead. This is one of the first times I have every seen Max get shy, to cute!

I had planned more decorations but when I got there I thought about how I didn't want to have to clean it up on top of everything else.

 The cake turned out pretty good.

 I did hang the Cars banner that I made for the party. We had an extra Cars book so I took pages from the book to make the letters. I think it turned out pretty great if I do say so myself!

 Play time!

 Maxwell trying to be coy.

 Thanks to everyone that could make it!

 The kids all wanted to help Max open so we started letting each child that brought the gift help open it. It seemed to work pretty good.

The Change Up

As you all can see I changed the blog header in honor of Maxwell's birthday coming up. I also changed the name of our blog back to "Meet the Browns" from "A Brown Bag Special." Jeff thought the cheese factor was to high and to tell you the truth I was sick of hearing him whine about it. Also here is a picture of Max I took today that I just couldn't help but post. Max found my gel relaxation mask and was obsessed with wearing it. Really Jeff and I may need the relaxation mask more than Max does. Jeff went into work late after we spent an hour looking for Jeff's car keys that also have all of his work keys on the ring. Strange enough "Steve" is also missing, coincidence I think not! Jeff and I looked EVERYWHERE! In the dog food bin, the trash, every cabinet and in the toilet with no sign of either. Hopefully they show up soon. Jeff needs his keys but luckily we have an extra "Steve". Wish us luck on the search.

Until next time.

Today Max and I had to say a very sad "until next time" to two women who have become like family to us. You have heard me talk several times about Jamie and Amy, Max's therapists. Amy did Max's initial evaluation when he started Sooner Start and Jamie has been Max's physical therapist since the beginning, with only a short hiatus when she had her little girl. They have become good friends that have helped me understand the journey that my family is on. I don't think that I will really notice until they are not here next Friday. I am amazed how much Max has grown with their help. When Max started Sooner Start about 2 years ago, he was barely able to sit up and having just turned a year old when this all began wasn't even making simple sounds. Now he is using sign language, toddling and saying some words. Look at us now, starting school in a week and moving on to the next chapter. Thank you ladies for coming into my home and opening your hearts to my sweet little boy. He is one of many children that you help everyday, but you made us feel like we were all that mattered every week. And not only did you help with therapy but you helped me grow. You listened to my fears and at times unrealistic concerns. You made me feel safe asking for help and feeling scared or uncertain about Maxwell's future. So, as many people say this is not goodbye this is until next time.

Jamie, Maxwell & Amy

South Padre 2011

The Browns first family vacation is officially on the record books! My dad had this great idea that he wanted to take all of my siblings and our kids on a vacation. Sadly, last minute my nephew Eric wasn't able to make it because he got a new job through his school and now that he is 20, he has to think about bigger things. We all went to South Padre Texas and most of us had never been before. We were in a condo right on the beach and it was great. The mornings were spent on the beach, the afternoons napping and lounging and most nights were spent on the beach then afterwards laughing around the kitchen table. It was really great being all together like that. Some of you already know that I am a late in life surprise to my parents and, therefore, there is a pretty big age gap between me and my siblings. Jennifer is first and she is 12 years older than me, next is Jeff, who is 10 years older, then the first surprise (birth control baby) Jake who is only 15 months older than me and I was the last surprise (vasectomy baby)! Needless to say we had not all lived in the same house for quite some time and it was an adjustment to some of us. In true Richardson fashion there was a certain amount of drama that had to be met. On the first day, when my brother Jeff was pulling into the condo, he got rear ended by an 18 year old girl in a Benz. After that, we kept getting calls from people saying that there were crazy fires here at home. My dad's house had some damage but nothing too bad, especially since three of his neighbors across the street lost their entire houses. Then came the sting rays. On the first day my brother Jake and my brother in law Brian both got stung by a sting ray while body surfing on the sand bar. Lastly, it wouldn't be a trip if Max didn't get hurt. We were in a 3 story condo and knowing this Jeff and I brought baby gates. Unfortunately, when going upstairs someone didn't put the baby gate back and I found Max climbing the stairs. I was across the room and he lost his balance and fell down about four steps. I felt horrible because I was just watching him fall as I was running toward him. He fell right on his face and screaming ensued and then came the cuddling. Of course there were great memories made and a great first vacation for Jeff, Max and I. Now for pictures so you can have a visual. Ignore the goose egg on Maxwell's forehead at one point. It's not really obvious but it's there.

The drive was around 12 hours and Max did really well. There was a long stretch of 60 miles with nothing and we let Max get out of his seat for about 5 minutes. I know what your thinking but he is fine and made the end of a very long ride a little better.

 Headed to the beach the night we got to Padre. This is Jeff and Maxwell's preferred mode of transportation.

At South Padre Island Brewing Company

 The next night at The Big Donkey for dinner.

We took a dolphin cruise that was well... eh. Max was a grump because he was tired and there were just no dolphin to be seen. But not for lack of trying. This is Gorgi and he was on the look out for us.

 This is as close as we got and one of only two sets of dolphin we saw. We were on the second wave because we had to split up and apparently the dolphin where spry and ready to go with the other boats, dang it!

 Max wasn't feeling the photo op.

 Uncle Jake offered to take a grumpy Max and he fell asleep in about 60 seconds.

These are all pictures from the only day I took my camera to the beach. It was our first morning out and we learned less is more on subsequent trips.

Shave and a hair cut, 2 bits!

Maxwell is the only child I know that turns 3 in two weeks that has never had a hair cut. Well not completely true, we know girls who have not had a cut and of course Kate Hudson and Celine Dion had their boys looking like homeless children for a while. But Max has never had a cut and didn't even need one now except that he had a rats nest on the back of his head from sleeping and some of the hair on top was getting so long that it would hang past his hair line at times. He looks basically the same and I wish it wasn't so short on top and I wish I would have told her no when she asked if I wanted the razor around his ears. But what's done is done and I have to admit that he does look older. And at this point I better get used to it since at this rate it might take another 3 years to grow back! Also he did really great. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture of him smiling because there was a kid in there that was screaming his head off and Max was completely enthralled by it. But it is one thing marked off my to do list before we leave for vacation and Max's starts school.

This is before the hair cut. We went to a place that is just for kids called Snip Its, they have suckers, prizes and a tv at each station so they don't get bored.

And we're off!

No turning back now!

The finished product!

At the end you put in your hair in the machine and get a prize! He looks pretty Handsome!