A Bug's Life

A new love bug has joined the world! Welcome Abigail Elizabeth born to proud parents Katie and Jason on February 12. We are so happy you are here!

From love bugs to a less desirable type - the stomach bug. Last week, this bug found his way into our home leaving many victims in his wake. A list of the casualties (in order of appearance):

Wednesday/Friday Duck Class 

Teachers 

Tuesday/Thursday Duck Class 

 Max

 Grammy

  Grandpa

 Mommy 

Ms. Patty (the babysitter)

A separate index case triggered the illness of Darin, Max's second cousins and  great grandparents. 

The horrors caused by this bug are impossible to underestimate. Rarely have so many been so sick for so long. Only now are the victims showing signs of returning to normalcy. Max is still only eating a maximum of 2 meals a day.

The only person who escaped unscathed? Daddy 

Number Rock

Max By the Numbers 

Pounds: 20

Inches: 31

Teeth: 11

Haircuts: 2

Naps: 2

Smiles: Innumerable

On His Own at 15

Dear Max,

At 15 months, you are independent, determined, and a miniature adult. You love to imitate Mommy and Daddy and seem to understand everything. We can't get away with anything now because you are too smart for us!

Your favorite bathtime game is "Together-Apart" in which we snap the sea creatures together and then take them apart (it's very complex). Not only do you try to do it in the tub, but also with the seat belt on your stroller and car, toys, and food. You are fascinated by how things fit together and will search incessantly for an object if it disappears - even flattening yourself on the floor to look under furniture and pulling up the edge of the rug to peer underneath. What truly amazes us is that you know the sequence of events. For example, after washing your hair in the tub, you pull on the drain plug because you know it is time to get out. You take your diaper to the trash can to throw it away. You bring your shoes to us when you are getting dressed and reach for your coat before going to the back door. When you see the cats by the food dish, you go to their food bag and try to get it out for them (thus endearing you to Bean since the way to his heart is through his stomach).

 

We have been incredibly fortunate to have over a week and a half of truly beautiful weather. The temperature soared into the 70s and you could not have been happier. We played outside for hours and you discovered how fun the park is now that you can walk. Each day, I had to drag you back to the house and you would wake up the following morning begging to go outside. Sometimes we took 3 walks in the same day! It makes me so excited for spring and summer, although it has certainly been a difficult transition back to winter for all of us. 

Max, you love to wrap up in things, but recently you've started putting them around your neck. I know you want a bowtie like Daddy, but it does scare us a bit. You wrap ties, ribbon, a stuffed snake, and blankets around yourself, which means we always have to keep an eye on you. Max, you had your first serious injury this month. While playing peekaboo with the bathroom door, you slipped and hit the metal trashcan causing a horrible bruise on your cheek. Mommy has never felt worse, although bumps and bruises seem to be an everyday occurrence. Cars and trucks (real and toy) have become your current obsession and you will race to the window to watch them go by. 

Amazingly, our love for you continues to grow. It can still bring a tear to my eye when you crawl into my lap to read a book, get a kiss, or have a quick snuggle. We thank the Lord everyday for the precious gift of you!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

My Funny Valentine

We enjoyed lots of Valentine fun...

From Baking Heart Shaped Goodies...

To Bouncing Balloons...

And Boisterous Boys!

Heart of Mine

Hearts and Hugs

From our Love Bug!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mr. Clean

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"Taste of Her Own Medicine" by Baby Max

Mommy and Daddy simply do not understand the difficulty of being a baby. The constant pressure, unreachable expectations, and struggle for attention. This is not even taking into account the physical demands placed upon my little body...walk, run, grow, stretch...and on and on. Plus, the dreaded teeth. Do you understand how painful it is to have bits on bone trying to break through the delicate skin of your mouth at all times? The pain is constant and only through brute willpower am I able to endure. Mommy tries to pacify me with that goopy gel - do you honestly think that causes any relief when four new teeth arrive at once? However, Mommy has had a taste of her own medicine recently. The evil doctor extracted her own pearly whites causing much swelling, tenderness, pain, and the muttering of words which I know she does not want me to repeat. I tried to comfort her, but inwardly I scoffed at her weakness. These wisdom teeth were of no use to her anyway, for they certainly did not make her wise! Perhaps, she will have more sympathy in the future.....it's hard to be a baby, after all.

Rock Band

Since I am not usually a fan of concerts, it is surprising that I have been to almost 3 of them in the past 6 months. A round up: 

The Eagles

They may be geriatric (they referred to the concert as their "Assisted Living Tour", but the men can still sing. However, closeups on the jumbotron were unnecessary. This group attracted everyone from a 9 year old girl to a 90 year old white haired lady.  Background: The Eagles are one of the few bands that I've always wanted to see in concert. A few years ago, I was very excited to discover they were touring and stood in line ( a first!) to buy tickets for myself, Jason, and Stephanie. However, when the concert date arrived, I could not locate the tickets. I turned the house upside down, but never found them. My wonderful husband purchased our recent tickets as a Christmas gift since I missed out last time. Stand-out Fan: A tie between the skinny guy doing the head and shoulder groove and shaking his butt in the face of the unlucky man seated next to him and the lady in the sequined florescent shirt doing a lap dance for her husband during "Lying Eyes". Best Part: Old people like to sit down during concerts!

New Kids on The Block

My sister was the biggest NKOTB fan back in the day, so tickets to their reunion tour were a natural birthday gift for her. We drove to Atlanta even though they later booked a Charlotte show and now are coming to Greenville in the spring. The place was completely packed with 30-something aged women and approximately 6 men. Background: NKOTB at the Furman football stadium was my very first concert. Donnie was my favorite heartthrob! Stand-out Fan: The women in homemade tshirts with the current tour date and their favorite New Kids songs. Best Part: The close up of Donnie shaking his derriere like he is still a teen idol instead of an aging has-been.

K.S.M

Who is K.S.M? Good question. I have no idea, which begs the question of how did I end up at their concert. The auditorium was full of pre-adolescent girls and their mothers. Stephanie and I were obviously out of place without a young Hannah Montana accompanying us. Background: Because my sister and I are gymnastic junkies, Jason surprised us with tickets to the Tour of Champions following the Olympics. Little did we know that we would be subjected to the vocal stylings of this wanna-be band. They took up the majority of the show with little time left over for actual gymnastics. Stand-out Fan: What fans? They were horrible! Best Part: I forced Stephanie to agree to go with Max to concerts as he gets older because I cannot handle the noise.

Note to readers: I would have posted this story earlier, but I was waiting for my slack sister to send me pictures. As you can see, I am still waiting.