Minute with Max : Volume 7

Christmas Day

Max was the first one up...patiently waiting for his cousins with Granddaddy.





Charlotte was the first one to wake up. She patiently waited for Lilly to wake by jumping on her bed saying, "WAKE UP LILLY SANTA CAME!!!". Katie didn't have to be persuaded, she got right out of bed. Finally Lilly came out from under the covers to open presents.

All Charlotte wanted this year was a suitcase, a robe, and slippers. Santa was good to her and brought her that and more. But, when she opened things that she didn't ask for she would look confused and say, "But I didn't ask for this."



She had a lot of fun, but was a little overwhelmed by it all and needed to take breaks throughout.



If there was a theme for this Christmas it would be "Dress Up". Lilly and Charlotte had a great time dressing each other up.



Then it was outside to try out the new scooter and helmet.



All of the cousins.



It was a ton of fun. Charlotte was a blast this year. Christmas was everything I expected and much more.

Christmas Eve

After Max's 2 month appointment on the 23rd, we packed up and headed down to Judd's parent's house. We unloaded the car and Charlotte immediately became attached to her cousin's hips. After Charlotte went to bed, Katie and Lilly helped me roll and cut the sugar cookies. Cookie decorating is now a tradition on Christmas Eve with my nieces. I love it.

After finishing a yummy breakfast of pancakes on Christmas Eve, we began decorating the cookies.





All of Judd's family came for a big Christmas dinner in the afternoon. The cousins hung out in the "cousin room" (the office, where they slept each night) waiting for everyone to get there.



Max was passed from arm to arm, but he didn't mind. I had to capture this image when I saw it:



because all I could think about was this image of Charlotte when she was 3 weeks old (Judd's Grandmother is even wearing the same shirt!):


Charlotte was very proud to be included at the big kids table during dinner.



After dinner, we were entertained by various songs and cheers that Charlotte and Katie performed for us. Then it was down to business - present opening time.

Charlotte was pretty tired after a very busy day with no nap and requested her bed time early. After picking out a few cookies to leave for Santa, she drifted off to sweet Christmas dreams.

Two Months

Weight: 12 lbs 9 oz - 75%
Length: 24" - 90%
Head: 15 7/8" - 50%

At two months he is smiling socially a lot. He coos and talks to you. For the past three nights he has even slept from 7:15 PM until 3:30 AM. I feed him, change his diaper, and he goes back to sleep - I'm usually back in bed by 4:30AM. He may or may not wake up again between 5:30 & 6 AM, but then goes down and sleeps until 7:15 AM. I can deal with this, if I'm in bed by 10 PM, I can get a full 5.5 hours a sleep, with another 1 or 2 hours early morning. I can survive, I feel like I can make it with a schedule like this.

He still isn't a fan of the pacifier. He will take it if he is in the mood, but he is rarely in the mood.

I have started to pack up his 3 month clothes - his little legs poke too far out of the end of them.

We are now down at the lake gearing up for Christmas. Cookies are to be baked. People to visit with. Presents to open. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, to you.

Minute with Max : Volume 6

His sister provided the soundtrack.

Son

A few weeks ago, I was sitting on the couch holding Maxwell's little hand. It was wrapped around one of my fingers. I just sat there looking at it, it was so perfect. Then I realized that one day he is going to meet someone and hold her hand. God willing, one day he will meet someone very special and want to marry her. One day, I won't be the #1 girl in his life. This made me feel happy and sad at the same time. I never felt this with Charlotte - it is different with girls. But, for now, I am the #1 girl in this little guy's life. And, I'm soaking up every second of that time.

Christmas Party

Saturday night, Drena and Adam hosted our college friends annual Christmas party. Judd and I started doing this party a while ago, I don't even know how many years ago - and I'm kinda afraid to think about it.

Judd and I decided that we just couldn't host it this year with a toddler and newborn, so Drena and Adam said they would. Judd and I hired one of Charlotte's teachers to babysit, so we could have a night out.

It was great. Their house is awesome and looked beautiful for Christmas. They made a yummy dinner of chicken pot pie. We caught up with friends that I hadn't seen in a while - maybe since before I was pregnant with Max!

I saw an idea for a Christmas Photo Booth on another photographer's blog and thought it would be fun to try.





I think Drena was the most into it. I would hear the camera going off, look around, and realize she was the only one that was missing from the party.





Thanks for hosting guys!!

Pink Pig

I woke up this morning, checked my email, and saw what I didn't want to see. Charlotte's school was closed today. I guess the officials in the Dekalb county school district saw a tiny patch of ice somewhere. So, she missed her class Christmas party. She was pretty bummed. She wailed, "But there are JUICE BOXES at my party!!!" Can you tell that the child doesn't get juice boxes much? Her mean Mom buys juice in bottles and makes her drink out of sippy cups - the horror. Anyway....

So, rather than be stuck in the house AGAIN, as we had most of the week, I poured myself a second cup of coffee and decided I would get the energy up to take Max and Charlotte to ride the Pink Pig at Macy's and see Santa. I would maybe even throw in a Lenox Mall Food Court Lunch.

I got them dressed in Christmas attire. So, I had to try to get a picture of them. They are just so darn cute after all.



But, that quickly turned to this:



So, it was time to hit the road.

We got to the Pink Pig, parked on level 3, Pig is on level 4. So, rather than take the stroller, I figured I'd just put Max in the carrier and carry him. We buy our tickets only to find out that in order for Max to ride the Pig, he has to be in a car seat. After I said a bunch of explatives (under my breath, of course) we marched back down to the car, get Max into the carseat, put it in the stroller, walk the entire length of the parking deck to the elevator, then walk back the entire length of the deck to the Pink Pig tent. Let me tell you, this experience really isn't worth all of that. I barely fit in the little tiny pink pig seat with the car seat next to me. So, Char had to ride by herself in the seat behind me. She had fun, though - and that's all that matters.



We then headed over to meet the big guy. And, yes, this is Charlotte's 3rd picture with Santa - but I just had to have one of the both of them. I had to cut off an arm to pay for it, but I got my picture.



After being in and out of the carseat 4 or 5 times, Max lost it. So, we headed to the car. As promised, Charlotte got her chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-a, we just ate them at home instead of the Mall Food Court.

It was a really fun morning, but exhausting at the same time. That's more and more what I'm finding is the lesson learned about two kiddos - exhuasting and the best thing ever all at the same time.

Minute with Max : Volume 5

I swear he doesn't sneeze constantly, it just seems that he always does when the video camera is out. Please don't tell me he's allergic to the camera?! He does have a slight cold this week, though. :(

Bah Humbug - Almost

After going to two different branches of the United States Post Office this morning with Max in tow - only to find one person at the counter at each one, and standing in line for almost 45 minutes, I was NOT in the Christmas spirit this morning. Not only was there only one person working, and a line 20 people long (at 9AM!), but that person had a terrible attitude. My Christmas cards almost weren't sent and a couple of people almost didn't get their gifts.

But, then I get to Charlotte's school to pick her up and I am brought right back to the spirit of the season. All of my Grinch-like feelings leave me. I was greeted with one of the funniest pictures I've seen in a long time. Her school brings in a Santa and lets the kids take a turn with him. Parents can send in a check to purchase a picture. I almost didn't do it. I was almost too cheap. I'm so glad I did.

I witnessed a miracle

Saturday, Max would only take a nap if someone was holding him. We had a birthday party to go to in the morning and I got a second case of mastitis on Saturday night. So, I wasn't able to get much done.

Sunday, Judd came upstairs while I was getting ready to take Charlotte to church. He was carrying a bunch of stuff in his arms. Very exasperated, he said, "This place is a mess. There is stuff EVERYWHERE. It is driving me nuts."

Now, if you know Judd at all, or saw his room in college, you would know that stuff all over the house never bothered him before. I don't post about any disputes we have, but if I did, the topic of "stuff everywhere" would be what I posted about most. In fact, I think at the beginning of our marriage, when we were learning to live together day and night, it was what we disputed most.

He had this whole theory that he would explain to me. The theory of "sloth level". His "sloth level" was at a tolerance a lot higher than mine. He could just handle it better - in fact he said he didn't even notice it. So that made it OK to leave stuff everywhere. I never really believed this, because I know his mother and have seen her house - I know he didn't grow up with stuff everywhere.

So, after I picked my jaw up off of the floor, I just laughed and laughed. I think I laughed for 20 minutes straight as he picked up the stuff around our house. The whole time he did it he would say things like, "Huh, I guess the floor is the new place to keep our pictures that we can't hang on the wall." or "Is this where shoes belong, on the stairs?" Oh, it was really funny.

So, I got my Christmas miracle a couple of weeks early. After 8.5 years, I finally got his "sloth level" to a point closer to mine. I think I may have actually heard angels sing.

I do have to add, if there was a Decatur chapter of "Husband of the Weekend", he would have won this weekend. He made dinner both Saturday and Sunday, cleaned, helped me when I didn't feel well on Saturday night, and kept Max for me Saturday and Sunday morning so I could take Charlotte places. He is wonderful and I just love the guy - Christmas miracle or not.

First Haircut

Yes, Charlotte is almost 3 and has not had a hair cut yet. Well, that changed yesterday. With the change in weather and the VERY dry air, her hair has been a bit unloved looking. It isn't the cute messy curls anymore - it has been straight, frizzy, crazy hair - often resembling a mullet.

We went to a cute kids hair cut shop yesterday afternoon. Charlotte was so good. She sat there patiently while Miss Lisa cut her hair. Miss Lisa cut off quite a bit, but that's what it needed to get it all even so it could start growing out the same length.

It doesn't really matter, I think you could shave her head and she would still be the most adorable little girl I've ever seen.

Claiming our Evenings

We have seen some changes in Maxwell over the past week.

He hadn't been taking a pacifier. It was driving Judd and me nuts! If you tried to put one in his mouth, he would look so disgusted and spit it out - then scream as if to say, "WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING? MILK DOESN'T COME OUT OF THAT - I'M NOT STUPID!" Last week I bought one more kind of paci, we'd give it one more shot. He took it! He only takes it for a few minutes at a time, but it calms him down when he does. Praise the Lord.

Now that he is taking his paci, evenings have been a little calmer around here. Judd and I have actually eaten dinner without a baby in our arms this week. Sure, there is no lingering over the gourmet meal I cooked, but we are able to hold a conversation without shouting to each other over the screaming.

We instituted a bedtime routine for Maxwell. We give him a bath with his sister, dress him, then feed him, swaddle him, and rock him. I had given up on the swaddle with him. He fought it so hard that I just felt bad. After our nights last week of Max's party hour, I decided I'd give it another whirl. He fought it pretty hard the first night, but now he only fights it for a minute or two and conks right out. It seems to calm him down almost immediately. I think they get somewhat trained to know that swaddle means sleep.

We had been putting him down around 8:30, but last night I pushed it up and he went to sleep at 7:45!!! Charlotte went to bed at 8. Judd and I actually had an evening together! We leisurely ate ice cream and watched Modern Family and The Middle. How luxurious!

After his 7:45 bedtime, I wasn't sure how the night would go - but he slept until his usual 2 AM feeding. He went back down around 2:40 and woke up again at 4:20. That wasn't so fun, but he did sleep until 7:30 AM.

So, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We are getting there. Honestly, even if it just stays like this, I think we just might make it.

Minute with Max : Volume 4

Deck the halls

Well, we got our act in gear this past week and decorated for Christmas. We started gradually last Wednesday by putting up the advent calendar. I always LOVED having an advent calendar as a kid. It was so fun counting down the days until Christmas. I decided to make one for Charlotte this year. I had some Christmas paper laying around from various product shoots and had a mini envelope template. So, I made 25 little envelopes, printed some stickers, and filled them with a scripture and a treat. Charlotte loves to open them. However, she gets pretty bummed when she gets one that has stickers instead of candy.



A couple of weeks ago, before Thanksgiving, I posted on Facebook that I had already used the "Santa is watching you" line. I think my Aunt Sue read this and felt for me - so she sent me her "Elf on the Shelf". Her family has used this since my cousins were little - so he has seen a lot of naughty and nice acts, I'm sure. Charlotte named him "Jacksie". He has been moving around each day to a new spot. This past weekend he played with her trains.



I thought he would have more of an effect on her behavior - however when I said the other day that "Jacksie is watching, you better listen to Mommy", she replied with, "But he's not real." Geez. And here I thought I would have an easy December with a magic elf watching her every move.

Saturday we headed up to Thompson's Tree Farm to pick out our tree. Santa was there with Mrs. Claus. In scatter-brained Mommy fashion, I forgot my camera. However, it's good to know people in high places - like the folks that own the joint - so Natalie snapped a shot for me. Thanks Natalie!!



We hiked up the hill to pick out our tree. As we hiked Max screamed louder and louder with each step. Even though I had already fed little piggy before we left, he was hungry again. I told Judd that I was just gonna run back to the car to feed him. He shot me a look that said, "No you're not, we are picking out this tree now". I understood, it was kinda cold and Charlotte was getting a little hard to manage. So, in pioneer woman fashion, I nursed Max standing up in the middle of a Christmas tree farm. I just would kinda hide behind a tree whenever people would come up the path. Then, the hay ride tractor drove by filled with people. Judd said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, on your left the lactation exhibit". Very funny.



With our little helpers it took us all afternoon to get the tree decorated, but we did it. Mission accomplished.

Now, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Party Animal

My Dear Max,

You are 6 weeks old today. I can hardly believe it. I have been waiting and waiting for this milestone as it is when we saw big changes in your sister. (I'm going to try really hard not to compare you constantly to your sister - I realize you are your own person. But, I think that's just part of being the youngest.)

You are upstairs asleep as I type this, thankfully. For the past two nights you have stomped on every nerve in your parent's bodies. You scream your head off from 8PM until 10PM when you finally drift off to sleep. Then, you wake up at 2AM to eat. But, after you eat, you decide that it's time to party. I keep the room dark, don't talk to you, and try to rock you back to sleep. You don't like this, you don't understand why I don't want to party with you. So, you decide to spit up all over yourself. Then, I have to change you and change me. This really pisses you off. You start to scream at me. You got excited last night when your daddy joined the party, but then you realized he meant business and screamed at him for an hour too. You don't stop screaming until I feed you again. Last night it lasted 2 hours.

So, 6 weeks is supposed to be the peak of fussiness. We hope you are reading the same books we are and follow these directions. Please. Should I put a copy for you in your crib? Maybe you can read that chapter tonight instead of screaming?

You have started to smile, though. I believe you even recognize when I am holding you versus other people holding you. Those are special moments. Your smile is adorable, especially when your whole face smiles and I see a little dimple in your cheek.

We love you so very much, and no amount of crying can change that. But, we would still like it if you decided to sleep a little bit more at night. I'm ready for a few more hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Love ya,
Mama

Namesake

Judd and I had a hard time deciding on Maxwell Judson Davis.

From the time Judd and I decided to think about starting a family, we always referred to the future child as "JJ" for Judd Junior. When we found out Charlotte was a girl, we stopped calling her "JJ". But, when we found out I was pregnant with Max, we resumed calling the future child "JJ". Then, we saw he was indeed a "JJ", we kept that name around. He was going to be Judson Dowling Davis, JR or "JJ".

The closer the due date approached, I just wasn't sure about the name. There was only one Judd in my life, and I just couldn't wrap my brain around having another. Wasn't it going to be confusing with two Judds in the house? I just had a feeling that it wasn't his name.

So, we talked about other possibilities. We like family names, so we knew it would be a family name. Charlotte's name is a version of my father's name, so we looked to Judd's side of the family this time. His father goes by "Al", but his first name is actually Maxwell. It is his grandfather's name as well. Two men that anyone could be proud to name their child after - men that set great examples for how to be a father.

So, on the way to the hospital, we set it in stone, Maxwell Judson Davis "Max".

Here is Little Max with Medium Max & Large Max as they were dubbed at Thanksgiving. He is also here with his daddy - all namesakes accounted for - as well as 4 generations of Davis men.

Minute with Max : Volume 3

Big Boy

We had Max's 1 month appointment yesterday even though he's almost 6 weeks.

Weight: 11 lbs 5 oz 75-90%
Length: 22 3/8" 75%
Head: 15 3/8" 50%

I was shocked by his weight. Charlotte was 10 lbs at her 1 month check up.

He's a big boy. Just check out the rolls on these thighs:



If that isn't enough proof, look at these chins:



I kinda hate it when people say this, but, couldn't you just eat him up?