Relocated

Apparently this will be a bi-annually updated blog as I have not posted in almost 9 months. But, seriously, I am going to try better (I say again). Life has changed a lot in 9 months. We have moved to Winston-Salem, NC. And, I am working on a much more part time basis. Although I have my ups (lots of time with the kids!) and downs (feeling as though I am not contributing enough to the household bottom-line) the overall verdict is that this was a very good move for our family. In fact, I would say the moments in which I feel maybe, possibly, perhaps, this change in our lifestyle may not have been the absolute positively best choice as I seem to SUCK at the whole mom-full-time thing are fleeting and normally occur directly after a day where everything seems to go wrong. More specifically, the feeling occurred only once. On Wednesday. Wednesday was bad... Max wakes up cranky ONLY wanting sausage for breakfast which, of course we don't have. After intense negotiations, I finally convince him to try hard boiled eggs and pumpkin pancakes for breakfast. Of course, this is more labor intensive and so I don't have time to clean up everything before we leave. And, we rush out the door at 8:00 with a sink full of dishes and it is not until I get in the car and am down the street that I realize that Max forgot his snack bag and Alex has no shoes on. Then, Alex begins to fall asleep in the car on the way to pre-school, which is BAD BAD BAD because I have to take him in with me to drop off Max and I really need him to hold on for just 15 minutes so that we can do that. In order to keep him awake, I play the radio, which makes Max angry because he wants to listen to his Magic Treehouse Book. So, he remarks that I never do anything he wants to do, and I feel guilty for the rest of the ride to school. After finishing the drop off, I realize I forgot the letters I was supposed to mail, but then it is too late because Alex already fell asleep, and I have to try to transfer him (unsuccessfully of course) into his bed. Then, on the way BACK to pick up Max I stop by WF to get milk and apples, and Alex apparently hands my keys off to some 7 year old boy who pockets them and takes them home. Alex and I continue to frantically look for the keys in WF for the next TWO hours until Arran finally has to bike up to give us his keys so we can go pick up poor Max late from pre-school (and remember, he only had pretzels and a granola bar for a snack since we forgot his snackbag which was full of grapes, milk, applesauce, nuts, and broccoli... And there is more, but I am done for now...)

Onto brighter things... MY BOYS! Here are updates on the fantastic men in my life:
Arran: He loves his job it seems. Lots more meetings (read: more social interaction) but he seems to really be thriving. I am so happy.
Max: Max is really just a mini-Arran in so many ways. At his 4 year check up he was 42 inches and 35lbs. He is a skinny thing, but has visible abs (yes, I am a bit jealous). This past summer in NZ, he was not afraid to go into winter waters and climb dangerous rocks. He can walk for miles without complaint and now often accompanies us on Harley's walks. He has started soccer since moving to NC, and grandma taught him how to swim halfway across the pool in one afternoon this past June. He is fearless and athletic. Socially, he is coming out of his shell a bit more. He used to use the "I am shy" as a cover allowing him to avoid talking to people he did not know well. Now, he is becoming a bit more outgoing. He will talk to people in grocery stores or on the street during our walks. He is very observant and very curious. He loves math and reading. Oh! Yes! Reading! He has been reading simple books for a bit now and it is fantastic! He loves to read to Alex, and Alex loves the attention. Recent Maxisms that have cracked me up:
- The other day he asked me why I shave my legs, and I told him because hair grows on them, and I don't want to have hairy legs. He told me that he would let me in on a secret and whispered that "dad has hair around his private parts." I replied "oh really?" and he continued, "Yes, and he said that when I get older I will get hair in all sorts of weird places too!"
0 Max: Mom, did you know we have bugs on our tounge.
Me: Really? No.
Max: Yes, they help us taste things
Me: Oh! You mean buds. Yes, we have taste buds. It is buds with a "D" not bugs with a "G"
Max: Are you sure? It would really be much cooler if they were bugs. I think Ms. Chrys said bugs.
- Arran and I allow Max to ask any questions he wants at dinner time. He has asked about clouds, rain, superheros, Arran's dad, etc. One day we were doing this and Arran got up to go and get some water. While he was gone, Max thought of a question he wanted to ask. He began, then, looked at me and stopped. I encouraged him to go one. He said, "no offense mom, but I just don't think you can handle it. I will wait for dad to get back." The question was about Ironman. So, in hindsight, I probably could not have handled it.

Alex: Alex is my happy, adorable, flirty baby. At his 12 month appointment he was 32.75 inches and 25 lbs. His feet are size 7.5 extra extra wide. He has curly blondish hair and still has dimples on his elbows. He began walking at 9 months, and has not stopped since. Now he runs everywhere. His favorite game is to chase Max. He recently has started mimicking things we do. Especially Arran's workouts. He LOVES to work out. People think I stage pictures of him with the weights, but I don't. If he is left out of a workout he will scream like a banchee at the porch door until someone lets him into the "gym". He is starting to speak more. His most used words are: "mama, dada, ball, Brobro (Brother), Keys, Shoes, Up, Down, Out, more, please (comes out peas)" He also signs a fair amount. Mainly, he signs more + please constantly during dinner so that Arran will give him sips of his water from his kleen kanteen jug. Alex loves rice, steak, chicken, broccoli, and peas. He has a cow's milk intolerance, but does okay with goat milk and coconut milk.

Alex and Max are completely different but both own my heart. I am amazed and so grateful that I get to spend each day with these boys. I really do have a charmed life.

Been a while

It has been a while. Watching Alex grow up I have realized I don't have the steel trap memory I thought I did. I would have sworn I had engrained Max's early years into my brain. And, truthfully some I have. But, others are a litttle fuzzy. When did he sit up again? Did he smile as much as Alex does? Anyhow, both are at such amazing ages that I want to record a few things every week, so I really cannot forget. I know I will enjoy re-living these moments through my memories.

At 6 months Alex is 21 lbs and 29 inches. He is a tank, but his growth is slowing. At just under 2 months he was 16lbs, which was double his birthweight. He is just adorable in every way. A very happy, smiling baby. His funniest trick is to scream when he is really excited. It is hilarious. He has been doing it since he was a couple of weeks old. He has a silly grin on his face and just screetches. Arran and Max love it and mimick him, which only makes him scream louder. He also is rolling everywhere. he can wiggle out of his bouncy seat if not strapped in and rolls across the floor. He scoots a bit too, but not true crawling yet. He tries to stand, and then will let go of your hands as if he could actually hold his body weight. Clearly, the boy wants to move!

Max, oh Max. He is such a character. So strong willed. He makes me cry tears of joy, amazement, and frustration on an almost weekly (if not daily basis). He is so full of life and such a joy to be around (most times). He is so incredibly stubborn and so incredibly bright. He is sweet and caring. He says the funniest things. The other day he was trying to describe to Tracy (his sitter/best friend) how to correctly fly batman. When she just did not seem to get it, he sighed and declared "Obviously you are not getting it. So, let me give you a visual." Such a cutie that one.