Recap

I'm eternally behind on my blog, but that is okay. I'm just going to embrace it and randomly catch up from the last FOUR months. Pathetic.

This little tidbit is too hilarious not to recap. It's from December. From the week that Brad was home every day! I tried to pack a bunch of family time and fun things into that week. Some of it was a big hit, some a big miss. This was both.

Mallory went roller skating for the first time (and her first school friend party...that never got blogged about) back in November. After I saw how much she loved it, I knew I wanted to take her and Morgan back. We left Max with Ted and Sherry (aka "Temple Grandparents") and took the girls on an afternoon surprise skating date!

I gave them clues to where we were going. The first was a new pair of socks!


The second was "somewhere Morgan has never been before". Mallory guessed it immediately (she is smart, but the socks probably gave it away too!). There were some very excited squeals from the backseat on the way to the skating rink. Brad and I were excited too...to see each other fall!!

So, we pull up to the skating rink and there isn't a car in the parking lot. I (thought I) had double checked the hours since they were odd times. Apparently not. It was closed. I was so mad at myself...and the squeals turned into tears from the biggest girl. Seriously. She was devastated. So, we opted for an ice cream date instead and promised to go skating another day. We barely convinced them...until we got to Maggie Moo's of course.

Attempt #2 came two days later. We dropped Max off again with a sweet friend. I triple checked the hours before we left the house and rewashed their new socks. We had excited and happy girls that were ready to skate!

Morgan was completely adorable on her skates! She didn't stay far from the wall or our hands/arms/legs/floor. Mallory was a pro. She got out there and just about took off!

We were all having a great time! We even participated in the "4 corners" game!

Mallory brought back lots of memories for me! I lived at skating rinks in late elementary school. As in, my parents would drop me and a friend off for HOURS by ourselves, skating and flirting with boys:)

Here we are, still having a good time, doing the chicken dance.

Taking a little break since Morgan started saying her feet hurt. Brad and I were pretty impressed she lasted this long. I think it had been an hour!

And then it happened. We were all together and the girls were stopping at the wall. I scooted back to snap a quick picture and Morgan totally bit it. Like, both feet straight out in front of her and smack on her bottom. She. was. done. With a capital D. I steered her off the skating rink screaming bloody murder. No one was laughing, until I saw this picture later....

I'm not sure she'll ever skate again! She was quite traumatized. In fact, Brad and I took turns with Mallory the last 30 minutes because little sister wouldn't do anything but this:

If you ask Morgan, she'll say she had fun (and then say she doesn't want to go back). And I guess that is all I care about! I wanted a fun afternoon with our biggest kids and that is what we got...along with a lot, I mean, a few laughs!

Max, 8 months

So, since this is Max's virtual baby book, I'm going to post about him turning 8 months old. Nevermind that it happened, oh, almost a month ago. Maybe I'll be on time with the 9 month birthday?

Max, you are at such a fun stage! It seems like this month you really started having fun with us. We still don't get cackles or belly laughs from you yet, but you think we're all pretty hilarrious...or weird. You love playing in your exersaucer, sitting by your sisters playing or someone holding you.

You LOVE your bath! You are a splasher and kicker. It's so fun to watch you get excited when we turn on the water. You look like a different kid when your hair is wet! And the tongue has come out this month. And, oh my word. You look exactly like your biggest sister in this picture! There are moments when I feel like I'm looking right at baby Mallory. So weird!

Max, you are one happy kid. I love your personality. I have a feeling you'll be a mix of Mallory and Morgan. You've definitely got that serious stare and concentration Mallory had. But, you are very cuddly and like to smile/laugh like Morgan. You continue to go with the flow and have a good time wherever that might put you.

You added two bottom teeth this month! Woo hoo! We started getting in a routine for baby food at dinnertime. You were content with that (you still make a face with the first bite, but usually have no problem cleaning your plate) until I gave you a cracker at lunch one day. Since then, you feel like anytime we're eating, we're supposed to share with little ole' you...and you'll usually scream until we do! I'm still nursing you 5 times a day. I'm making plans on that changing soon since you finally took a bottle. It's more my fault, but as soon as I changed the type of bottle we were trying, you took it! Even with formula in it! I was beginning to think I could never leave you!

Sleep is so overrated, and still hit or miss with you. We're hoping to go a longer stretch of being healthy and maybe that will help. Crossing our fingers...

You don't seem close to being mobile anytime soon. That is fine with me and our Christmas tree! We'll put you on your tummy and you'll push yourself up off the floor, but not quite on all fours yet. I've noticed you sliding yourself back when you do that, but nothing much more.

Highlights from the month:

*Traveling to Burk for Thanksgiving. You got to see lots and lots of family. You were a trooper and went with the flow!

*Going to the Nutcracker! This was supposed to be an all girls event, but you tagged along. We hardly noticed you were there (sorry!) since you took a nap in Aunt Jenn's arms.

*Ear infection #4. That's right buddy. Two more and we get to talk about tubes.

We love you Mr. Maxers! It is so fun watching you learn and grow!