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!
Yesterday after therapy Max and I hit the dusty trail and went to see an old friend of mine Sarah that now lives in the Tulsa area. Part of the special trip was so we could go to this really cool aquarium. You could touch sting rays, star fish and reef. Also we walked through the tunnel where sharks swam all around us. It was crazy to see them go over you. And for those of you aware of my unrealistic anxiety when driving on the highway... yes, I drove Max and I there and back! With no problems might I add.
This is one of the bull sharks that swam over us while we were in the tunnel... Creepy!
I was a little weirded out by getting to touch a sting ray and in fact we didn't. I don't touch fish or anything like that. At least not willingly, ewww.
That poor little green guy in the front was the victim of Maxwell's hand. This is me pulling his hand away.
Life is definitely busy and we have quite a bit on our plate right now. Max starts school in a few weeks and it is making me a nervous wreck! Also we are going on a big family vacation to South Padre courtesy of my awesome dad. Also the weekend that we get back is Maxwell's little get together for his birthday. Whoa, I keep thinking of more things to do even now!!! Any way back to the reason I'm posting. Max and his little friends all got together. We ventured to a new place (new to us) called Bouncin Craze. Max LOVED it and he had a blast! I had to go inside one of the bounce houses to find Max. So much fun and I cant wait to go back.
The first bounce he went to was really fun. Max didn't actually bounce in it but it had little air cannons that shot a ball into a hoop. However, he just kept putting his face in the air cannon.
This was Maxwell's favorite actual bounce that he climbed on. This is also the bounce that I had to go in and search for Maxwell when he was hiding. I found him literally "hanging" out. And thanks to Ben for being tall enough to get a picture you get to see it too.
This was the coolest see-saw that is also a helicopter. Max and his friend Nicholas were so preoccupied with the wheel and buttons that this is as good as it got!
Lastly right before we left there was a hurricane tunnel and Max and I took a ride! This was a really cute video of Max and I apologize now for the PG-13 rating but seriously it got up to 80mph! I love that he is keeps trying to eat the wind too. Who am I kidding I just love this kid!
Oklahoma has had record breaking heat this summer. Every day temps are over 100 and some days reaching over 110. We are trying to stay inside because it is just to hot out. We did try t venture out to a little pool out in the yard. Spent about 30 minutes outside blowing bubbles and playing with water balloons. It was fun but could only last so long. It's only the beginning of July and I'm pretty sure that the worst is still to come.
By the way, yes, that is soap and shampoo in case any of you are wondering. It's trashy yes, but just think how resourceful it is too! Wash off the sunscreen all in one. Don't judge!
Part of the reason I have been on a blog hiatus is not only because I have been sleep deprived and have not really had free time to do it, but also Max had tubes put in on the 30th of June. We met the doctor on Monday and surgery was scheduled for Thursday. I'm hoping that it will bring an end to the never ending ear infections. Our follow up is at the end of this week and so far so good. Yes it is technically surgery but he was in and out in5-10 minutes. Also unlike last time Max had anesthesia he didn't have a reaction. I looked the other day from all of Maxwell's hospital bracelets that he has gotten since he was born. Including his stay in the NICU Max has been in the hospital 9 times, CRAZY!!!
At the doctor's office Monday.
3 short days later waiting in pre-op. He started getting fussy from waiting and at the time we were in the midst of switching to the big bed. I felt bad for people in recovery because at times Max could be heard whining off and on.
After the nurse that was with him said he did great, of course! He had to drink something before we left which turned out to be simple. He drank 2 cartons of juice and headed out.
I know that I have been gone a while and some of you may be wanting to know how the bed switch went. After 10 sleepless days for everyone involved I broke down and put the crib back together. Max was not sleeping. He was taking forever to go to sleep, walking up about 3 hours early and not napping. Makes for a VERY grumpy Max. The time just was not right and we decided to bring back the crib. After I got the rail back on and put Max in bed it took all of 3 minutes for Max to fall asleep. Jeff had to wake him up the next morning at 10 and then he still took a 3 hour nap that I had to wake him up from. He wasn't getting enough sleep and some people may not agree but this is what is working for us. I'm not sure if he just wasn't ready or maybe has something to do with his special needs but at least we are back to normal and everyone including Jeff and I are in better moods.
Here is a picture that Jeff sent me when Max fell asleep at the table during lunch. So tired but still would not nap when Jeff tried to lay him down, ugh!
Some of you may remember the torture of us moving the crib across the room about a year ago and the sleepless night that followed. That night was nothing compared to last night. Max spent his first official night in a big boy toddler bed last night. He was very excited after I took the crib railing off. Climbed in and pretended to sleep. Then came actual bed time... OMG! I expected to have to put him in bed over and over, however, I did not expect the crying and hysterics that came with it. After an hour and a half of crying and testing boundaries Max finally fell asleep. I'm not going to lie the first few times I giggled when he came down the hall or when he would open and immediately close the door if he saw Jeff or I. But that got really old really fast. This morning while putting on my make-up I hear Max crying and crawling down the hall. I laid him back down and left for work. Apparently Jeff wakes up 30 minutes later to Max standing by the bed poking him in the leg. I got an email at lunch from Jeff saying Max only got up once before he fell asleep. Wait tough not even 30 minutes later he is up. It is going to be a long couple of weeks!!!
Max thinking, "This bed thing is pretty cool Mom."
Night Night I love you -Max
Wait, you aren't staying with me!- Max (the crying begins)
And finally sleep!
This is a really bad video but it is more about what you hear. I cracked the door trying to get video but Max likes his room dark and the black out shade made it to dark inside his room.
We attempted to go to a movie over my days off on Friday. Papa Mike invited us so we decided to try it out. Max went to a movie when he was 9 months old and slept through the entire thing! This was the first time for us to go to a movie that he knew what was actually going on. He did pretty well too, especially not having had a nap. We got there about 20 minutes early and Max made it an hour which was 2/3 of the way through the movie. I guess we will have to rent it when it comes out to see how it ends.
Looks so serious but once it started he was pretty excited, ooo's and ahh's abound!
Apparently Papa Mike is feeling under appreciated because he wanted to know why he doesn't get mentioned very often. Hello Papa Mike! We do hang out with my dad quite a bit so there you go. This was taken while he was gripping!
It has been a busy week. At work, at home, with family you know what I mean. My niece Emma came to town a week ago from Texas and is still here this week but now she is in a camp. Then we had father's day and make up fathers day for Jeff. Jeff couldn't make fathers day dinner since it was at Red Lobster so on Saturday I took him to his absolute FAVORITE restaurant Don Serapios all the way in El Reno! Yes, because apparently he deserves it. Also on father's day Sunday we went to the park for Great Granny Lawana's birthday! I was hot (over 100 degrees) and the afternoon heat so we didn't stay to long but we had some fun at the park at ate homemade ice cream, which was a first for Max. Here we are at the park!!!
Nanny, me, Granny Lawana, Max and Jeff
Peek-a-boo!
Nanny went down the slide with Max cause it was so hot, Turns out bad idea... she burned her biscuits!!!
Please forgive the "Blair Witch" camera effects but I liked the video to much not to add it.
I am a lucky girl. I found a partner, friend and a man to be the father of my children early in life. Of course we didn't know in the beginning. Jeff and I have been together for a long time. So long in fact I don't know what it is like to be without him. It's crazy to think that the 16 year old boy with pink hair and a tattoo that caught my eye would one day be the fantastic father that he is today. I'm not sure that he really knew either. Jeff was afraid of becoming a daddy, probably like most. Jeff is an only child that had never been around babies before so that on top of being a new daddy was SCARY! When Max was born early everyone was telling me how fantastic Jeff was with him, and how proud he seemed to be taking people back to the NICU two at a time to meet our little boy. Jeff is a man of very few words, unless it's about sports, so his actions really speak to a person. Jeff's actions have shown so many people how much he absolutely loves his son and Max knows it too which is what really matters. I love that Maxwell will never have to question if his daddy really cares because it is so obvious everyday. Jeff is the yin to my yang and the peanut butter to my jelly. That is why Max has the best of both worlds and is so very lucky to have his daddy. I hope that Max grows up to be just like his daddy. Minus the fact that Jeff cant seem to get his clothes to make it in the hamper just next to it but hopefully Maxwell can master this someday.
I actually took these pictures on mothers day but they were so cute I saved them for this.
