Max's first experience with cereal

From Max's first experience with cereal

Max experienced rice cereal for the first time being fed by Daddy on Sunday, September 6 with guests Ali and Uncle Valdis watching. I recorded it for posterity (RE: Max's grandparents and great grandparents). I'll try to post that later. Despite showing all the signs of being ready to eat, he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. I tried again tonight, but he just gave me a dirty look as if to say, "What is this yucky stuff, Mommy?" His formula tastes awful and he seems to choke that down just fine--in fact, he's holding his own bottle now! When Lou put the spoon of cereal into Max's mouth at first he was excited, maybe because I was videoing it, Ali was taking photos, and Valdis was looking on--so, all eyes were on Max, the way he likes it! He soon gave us all the dirty face--"what is this you're feeding me???" So, after trying again tonight with a failure to consume, bananas are next...

Lou earns his PhD!!!

Philly Summer 2009

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Max and I drove to Yardley, Pa. (near Philly) for a visit with Aunt Myra and Uncle Milko.  It was so fun to hang out and chat like a slumber party!  Lou took the train down to Baltimore to defend his dissertation on Tuesday (also his birthday).  He rocked it!!!  We met him at Aunt Carol and Uncle Michael's after coming back triumphant!  Max was very excited to see his daddy (as was I).  On Monday, Max and I visited my former school, Imani and he made his debut!  Of course he was a hit---how could be not be?  :)

Last night was awful.  My poor baby has a cold.  We confidently put him in his pack 'n play at 8 and he cried a bit.  I guess he wasn't ready to hit the hay!  I rescued him and gave him a bottle.  He then went to sleep with his thumb in his mouth.  About 10 when Lou and I were going to bed, Max woke up.  He's slept through the night for the past 5 weeks and I've been spoiled!!!  Poor Maxy couldn't breathe.  He kept trying to suck his thumb and breathe through his nose.  It was a miserable night for all of us!  Carol and I went out to get a bulb to aspirate him, saline nasal spray, and Vicks Vaporub.  Max woke up every hour and a half and both of us felt awful today (and max!)

Lou drove back while Max slept most of the way.  We're having him sleep in his swing tonight, since it's upright.  He just started crying from the congestion...Here's to hoping his first cold is SHORT!

Chattanooga visit

Chattanooga #1

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chattanooga #2

Max and I had a great visit with a ton of family and friends in Chattanooga. More pictures and details later.

More Brigantine

Myra's family visits at the beach

Beach Thurs. and Fri.

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Brigantine 2009- click each to view all

Brigantine July 2009

Sunday shore

Max's first trip to the beach

From Last Import

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Of course our little monkey didn't like the Long Island Sounds one bit!  He liked the sand and watching the water, but not getting in it!  I'm sure his aversion to water is going to change, but it's just funny that Lou and I both grew up swimming and with boats in our families and now our child hates water!  Lou took him for a little dip, which lasted about 2 seconds, then he started screaming hysterically!!!  Poor baby.  He was doused up in UV protection from his hat to his 60spf on his toes!  

My Mom and Issi come in on Tuesday.  I'm so excited for them to see how much Max has changed in the last two months!  He's grabbing, laughing, and sticks out his bottom lip when he's unhappy!  He's turning into quite the character.

My stepmother, Lynn, is going through chemo for breast cancer, which totally stinks!  I keep thinking it's like the first trimester of pregnancy when I was so tired and nauseated, except I kept my hair (it's coming out now!)  Lou's mom also has breast cancer, but is going to have a lumpectomy first sometime in August, then radiation.

My grandfather, Lou's dad, Papa is still on a vent and has been moved to a facility.  

Things are looking up here though...I have another part-time job for the fall running small groups for second grade literacy at a neighborhood school.  With this and staying at New Haven Reads, I can still hang out with Max one afternoon a week and not be so stressed about teaching.  I'm still deciding on childcare for Max.  I found a place and really like it, but she won't hold the spot until September, when I need it.  So, we'll see.  I found another place, but the drawback there is that she has a cat (even though it stays in the basement!)...

4th of July

Fourth of July and Visit with Mia

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The Stein family went to Tanya and Rick's for the Fourth of July!  Max went in the pool for the first time and unlike his cousin, Madison, he HATED IT!  He was HYSTERICAL and lasted about 3 minutes until I gave him back to Lou.  

On Friday, July 3, Max and I went to visit Mia and Lena in Armonk.  We had a blast hanging out.  Lena was adorable in the backseat with Baby Max!  He was crying and Lena said, "It's ok Baby Max.  I love you..."  Then she offered him her lovey- Turtle!  What a doll!  We visited Leigh and her family, including new baby, Matthew.  Max looked like a GIANT compared to him!  He was a little peanut!