Who knew we would make it four years :) We laughed, we cried, sometimes it felt a lot longer than four years. When I was little, I was appalled and disappointed to learn I would have to be with my siblings forever. Guess that Family Home Evening didn't go as planned. I thought we got to trade families or something, or atleast older brothers. But I am glad to say, I wouldn't trade my little family for anything. And as they say, "Four more years!!"
We had our ward Christmas party Saturday night. Last year, we didn't have Max sit, er rather lay like a blob, on Santa's lap. It just didn't seem worth it when he wouldn't know what was going on. This year was a different story. Although Max has no idea who Santa is and doesn't know anything about presents (lucky us), he was quite impressed with the jolly fellow. As I watched the extremely long line of crying children terrified of Santa, I thought of how every child needs a traumatizing Santa picture. When Max's turn finally came, I got all set with the camera. To my dismay, he just stared, open mouthed, at Santa's beard. He was no doubt thinking of ways to rip off his glasses or beard or both. Finally after practically screaming his name to look at me, I snapped this one. Atleast Max is smiling, can't say much for Santa.
I've been informed that it's been a long time since I posted anything. Relax, adoring fans, I'm still kickin'. Here are a few things to catch you up on what's been going on (or around) in the Light world.
1. Vomit.
If you know me well at all you know I can't even stand the thought of the V word. It's a deep psychosomatic fear of mine that I've had since as long as I can remember. Don't know how to explain it, but just the twinge of a stomach ache will send me into sweats/panic attacks and don't even get me started when someone else is sick! Like one time when I had to babysit my nephew and he projectiled all over the living room. I called my mom to clean it up and basically stood there like a statue the rest of the night. I love my nephew, but my fear was greater. I don't know how many times I've heard, "What are you going to do when your kid throws up?" and my answer always was, "Call Joey and tell him to come home and clean it up. Duh." Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have all but conquered my phobia (as far as my child is concerned). Max and I were enjoying a nice episode of the Wiggles after a nice breakfast of cinnamon raisin pancakes (Max's new fav.) when without warning the rugrat spewed chunks everywhere...numerous times!! I sat in shock for a minute and recovered enough to haul him to the tub, my slippers filling with you know what. I managed to clean him, our clothes, the blanket, the carpet and disinfect the bathroom without a mental breakdown (Joey said our house smelled like a swimming pool, bleach is my friend) ...Then I got sick. Two hours after arriving in the mucc for a nice visit with Nana, my turn came. Nine hours later, basically sleeping with my head on the throne, dehydrated and hoarse, I realized I hate being sick. So far Joey has been spared, but if I see any minute sign he may be next, I'm heading for the hills!
2. Craigslist.
I couldn't possibly make this post totally about vomit, I had to end it on a positive note. I love craigslist. I loved Ebay, but all the annoying fees are pulling me away to Craigslist. I sold all the left over napkins (unused, but opened) from Max's birthday for about $5. I really believe the trick to selling stuff online is that it has to be crap- like party napkins. Oh but Craigslist, how it has made our Christmas! Needless to say with a car and a house this year, we are a on a budget for presents. However I discovered Joey has lots and lots of greasy metally thingies in the garage that are very popular on Craigslist. Don't worry, I haven't sold his truck (again hee hee)... yet.
So if you haven't heard already, Max is walking. He hasn't perfected it yet, but he looks even more like a monkey when he walks like an ape. I edited the video, but for some reason it won't rotate here, so just cock your head to one side to watch it.
He really is growing up so fast. We had a first this week- my first call to Poison Control. Ah yes, who doesn't enjoy the taste of liquid bandage on a cool morning? Luckily, Max only licked the applicator brush, but he thought it was quite tasty. The nice man at the poison center told me not to worry unless he started vomitting, which he didn't. We thought he may have sealed up his taste buds for a while, but he actually had a good appetite that day. Needless to say, Joey installed ALL of the child cabinet locks as soon as he got home from work... not that that will deter Max.
We went with the Pyrahs and Grand-Pyrahs out to Lattin Farms this weekend for Max's first encounter with goats. He absolutely loved the goats and attempted to rip their ears off. I was pleasently surprised to see the goats didn't bite his fingers, especially since Max was practically giving them a dental exam. We're thinking about getting a goat, more as a play mate for Max. Here are some pictures from the day:
As you can probably tell we carved pumpkins last Monday. Joey thought it might be too early, but I thought nothing of it. Well, yesterday Joey's pumpkin sank in. Curse you global warming! It's still about 75 outside and now our Jack-o-lanterns look like old men! Max really had fun squishing the guts. That's what it's all about, right? At least our pumpkins will be too mushy to be picked up by hooligan kids and hurled into the street on Halloween night! THAT is what it's all about. 
Max looking thoroughly thrilled about the whole experience
Max's first birthday was quite the fete. Don't know if I could count how many people we had at our house! Like always, I got caught up in the details of his cake and got in a little over my head. Joey thought I should make Curious George's eyes red like he was an attack monkey, but I thought better of it.
Max didn't go crazy with his cake like I was expecting, but he is definitely my son. Every time he passes the cake he says, "mmmm" and holds out his hand, dying for another piece. I'm hoping the square foot of cake we have left over from the party will disappear soon... and not into my belly! Here are some pictures from the party. Thanks to everybody for coming, it was a blast!
It's really hard to believe Max will be one is just over a week! He has taken a few steps and I swear he can say, "soft". He's not the most gentle little person, so we've tried to teach him to stroke people's faces softly. Now he just says, "sofff" and then slaps me across the face.
Anywho, I took him to get his pictures taken last night. He was a HUGE crab the entire afternoon, so I figure the pictures would be of his snotty nose and red eyes. The boy is a ham! As soon as she got out her camera he was all smiles and actually sat still! I'm thinking of becoming a stage mom.
Check out the photographer's blog for some of Max's pics.
http://bluelakephotography.typepad.com/blue_lake_photography/2008/10/index.html
So, as Joey cleaned my Escort, I put it up on Craigslist. Within 3 hours it was gone! Joey was sort of melancholy about selling it since we've had that car our whole marriage. I guess it's sort of the ending of an era, the Purple Era.
I think like most kids when August came around, I had already decided what I would be for Halloween. It probably took me longer than most kids to realize I was too old to dress up. However, I now have someone who I get to choose his costume for him! Old Navy was having a sale and Joey knew I had my eye on the monkey costume for Max. Actually, it was a big toss up between the skunk and the monkey. We decided a monkey is more Max's style, plus Joey wants him to wear it on his birthday which is going to be Curious George themed (Yes, I already planned that too, although, I think the costume might be a little too much what with the cake and all). Of course, I had to see if the costume would fit right, you know, in case I had to plan out something else for him to be. I mean, I only have like a month and a half before Hallow's eve! Here are some pictures, I think we made the right decision with the monkey. It was a little hard to tear him away from his favorite Baby Einstein (thanks, Tiff!) to look at the camera.
Doesn't he look like a browner version of Hudson in this one?
Joey couldn't resist hugging him. With all that padding it was like a stuffed animal!
It's been ages since I laid in bed gazing into Donnie's eyes... or was it Jordan's? It was a sad day when I took down my New Kids on the Block poster and realized they had left my life forever. There was a hole in my heart where bib overalls and falsettos used to live. Then I was flipping through the channels yesterday and caught a live performance on "The View." Oh yes, the rumors are true! The New Kids on the Block are back, hangin' tough! I made Joey sit and watch them perform "Step by Step." He just didn't share my enthusiasm. I have to admit, it's just not the same. At least I got some closure.
We (Joey) did a bunch of work on the yard this weekend. Joey ripped out the dead trees and some weird placed bushes in the front yard (much to my mom's dismay). It was pretty funny to watch him pull them out with the truck! He actually broke a bunch of ropes trying to pull out the bushes. We've given up on trying to grow grass from what was left in the yard. The ground is really not level, so we're going to rip it up and seed again. Again, when I say we, I mean Joey. I will most likely be supervising.
I would have taken pictures, but our little ankle biter, who likes to remove items plugged into outlets, has made off with the camera battery charger. I searched the house, but have no idea where he put it. I'm beginning to think he has some sort of squirrel hole where he hides all his treasures. Did I mention he now takes money out of my wallet too? Beware, we're raising a pick-pocket!
Yesterday I was cleaning the kitchen when I realized things had gotten quiet...a little too quiet. Max was babbling to himself in his room happily and I was grateful he was discovering on his own. I didn't want to interrupt this because I don't want to encourage the clinginess he's developed lately. Then I realized he must be into something or else he wouldn't be so content. I turned the corner to find him with both hands in the petroleum jelly jar! (didn't even know we still had it) His feet were covered in the goop so he must have stuck those in there too. I gasped and startled him, which made him fling the slimy stuff. He then looked at me and gave me a nervous laugh and some flimsy gibberish explanation.
The sad part of this story was I was more concerned that he had gotten the grease into the new carpet rather than him ingesting it. Luckily his face didn't seem glossy so I don't think he ate any... Although, his lips were very luscious and shiny the rest of the day and his hands and feet were super soft.
P.S. Searching for images of "petroleum jelly" is NOT a good idea and produces many unwanted images!!
I've been thinking lately about what I would do for Max's first birthday. I thought of doing "Where the Wild Things Are" (how I'm decorating his room), but what I found online was either too complicated or discontinued...
Then I remembered that Max does occasionally watch Curious George, and he does resemble the precocious little monkey. So there you have it. Since watching "Ace of Cakes" and "Food Challenge" I decided that decorating cakes is, well, a piece of cake.
I went to PBSkids.org and there is a coloring page (most likely meant for 5 year olds) where you can go step by step to draw Curious George. My monkey looked NOTHING like the example. I decided I had better make a stencil if I want people to think the cake is appetizing. I used cocoa powder to dust my homemade stencil and successfully dumped the can onto the cake creating brown smudges everywhere. It still tasted alright, and I have to say my crumb coating was spectacular.
Since I have realized baking sweets with no purpose leads to excess weight on me, I gave this trial run cake to our friend, Jamin. 
I learned some important lessons through making my trial run:
1. In the world of food coloring, red and green do not make brown- they make a nasty gray color.
2. The Smiths in Dayton does not carry food coloring!
3. I should not make too much chocolate frosting because I eat all the extra and get sick.
I could be doing many constructive things- touching up the house paint, doing the dishes, folding clothes... UNPACK. But no, I took a quiz to see which Disney princess I was. I think it's funny I got the only Disney movie I owned until I met Joey (funny, he has more Disney movies than me... ). It sort of reminds me of those quizzes you take in all those girl magazines in middle school (ok, ok high school) in Seventeen and such where you know you want to manipulate your answers to make sure you acheive, "Prom Night Princess" instead of "Prom Night Pooper" status. All in all, I was pleased with the results. Hey, I was just happy I didn't get Cruella.
You Are Mulan!
Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.
So I haven't been blogging lately- mainly because we were in limbo most of the month waiting for our house to close. We are still unpacking and finishing up painting and other lose ends. As soon as we get all the boxes unpacked, I'll take some finished pictures of the house. In the meantime, here are some things we have been up to this summer.
People have been asking us what the deal is with our house- when are we moving, when does it close, blah blah blah. Buying this house has to be one of the most stressful things we have done. For the past week we have been on a rollercoaster of thinking we can start working only to find out someone in the process has made yet another mistake. We think we have all the kinks worked out now and hopefully we will be signing tomorrow afternoon or Thursday. Our closing date is also Thursday, but we have the week after that to finish the carpet and paint. We have to be out of our apartment by the 13th, so we're in a bit of a time crunch. It has been SO nice to see how many people are willing to help us and we wish we weren't being such flakes about telling people when they can help. Thanks in advance to everyone who has volunteered to help us and hopefully we can take you up on your offer as soon as possible!
So, this is a little old (a week or so), but Max has learned to crawl... well sort of. He does this sort of gimpy one-legged crawl. But it certainly doesn't slow him down! I remember looking around the apartment when I was going through my nesting phase feeling pretty confident we wouldn't need to do much child proofing. Max has proven me wrong. I never realized he could find the tiniest crumbs on the floor to eat. He quickly shoves them in his mouth as I run over to fish hook them out. He loves to pull books off the shelves, open and close cabinets (sometimes hitting himself in the head with them), and trying to dump out the bathroom garbage cans. He also loves outlets. Not just poking the outlets themselves, but he tries to pull off the entire plate. He must want to work with electricity like his daddy. Here is a video of his new favorite hobby. Atleast it keeps him busy while I do the dishes. Guess you'll think twice before accepting something from us in a tupperware container!
Finally we heard back about the house we put an offer on forever ago. Our offer was accepted, no thanks to our less than helpful realtor. I am still cautious about the whole thing just because I have heard horror stories about other people having something happen right before the closing date (which is July 3rd). Here is a link to the property's website. The photographs do not do the amount of filth in the house justice, but you get the idea. We are excited to actually be moving forward with a house! Did I mention there is a hot tub? Heck yes! I think it makes us seem super sophisticated.
http://cbbestsellers.com/SLW/80005805
Before...
During...
After...
Many kids don't have their first hair cut until they are like two, but it was either cut Max's hair or start braiding it. So we decided to do it at Nana's house. I thought he would go balistic at the sound of the clippers, but he actually liked it. He didn't cry at all! The only difficult thing was that he wanted to look at the clippers so I had to hold his head in pretty much a headlock while Joey attempted to fade it. Max's head looks so much skinnier! Joey missed a few spots, but I couldn't believe how much hair we cut off! Next time we will have to donate it to Locks of Love.
Yesterday I noticed a little rough thing in Max's mouth. Finally a tooth has broken through! Funny thing is though, he is more happy now than he has ever been. We'll see how this continues. Also he can sit up on his own... well almost. He occasionally tips over, usually before I have a chance to catch his head before it makes a thick thud sound on the carpet. Hey, at least I don't let him hit his head on concrete, right? It's good for him, it'll toughen him up!
This is what happens when I let Max "cry it out." It never fails, I'm either exhausted or in the middle of something and he refuses to sleep. So I think to myself, "Just let him cry himself back to sleep." I usually give up and find him soaked through his diaper, tangled in blankets (usually over his mouth, very safe) or in crazy uncomfortable positions like this one, yesterday. He did finally fall asleep this way, but I felt so bad because his nose was completely smashed against the bumper and he was making snorty sounds trying to breathe. I think I'm a shoe in for "Mother of the Year."
I can't believe Max is 6 months old already. Dang it, I was supposed to get my washboard stomach back by now... oh wait, I never had one. We can't believe how much he has grown! We feel so blessed to have in our family. We found out today at his check up that he is still a beanpole. He is in the 10th percentile for weight and 90th for height. His head is actually average size. Thank goodness for those Light genes! :) All in all he is a healthy boy, but I think I'm going to start him on protein shakes to bulk him up.
So scratch the last post. After thinking about it, we were definitely biting off more than we could chew with those houses. We went out again and looked at some more, some scarier than others. Note to self, at least watch a how-to video before attempting doing a tiled tub.
We put in an offer yesterday on a nice house pretty close to our apartment (but far enough away from the scary people). It's a single story 3 bed 2 bath. It's a cute house with a lot of potential. If it doesn't work out... guess we can always get a trailer and live in Dayton State Park.
We looked for houses on Saturday. I have heard people say that after a while all the houses begin to look the same. I thought that was what was happening, but in fact they were almost all the same floor plan. We narrowed our choices down to two. They are the same exact house, but one was built in 2005 and one is almost done being built. There are pros and cons to each, but atleast now I know what my future house will look like...hopefully :) I have a hard time at night sleeping (besides being up with Max) thinking of all the things I could do with the space. Curse you, HGTV!
So it's 7:15pm and finally Max is asleep. I know 7:15 sounds early, but the kid has been screaming since he woke up at 4:00. I don't know what is going on with him, but he better pop out a tooth or something so that I can feel like this agony is worth it. I would say that it is peaceful now that he is unconcious, but I also have the basset hound next door to listen to as well as my fabulous white trash neighbors with their "Rock Band" game. Ah, but there is a glimmer of hope! We got approved for a house loan (much higher number than first thought) so we can move out of white-trash-ville! We are looking for a house on Saturday, YAY! I can't believe we are finally going to own a house.
P.S. Does anyone have a suggestion for Mad Max? He's not constipated, running a fever, or allergic to new food (no rash and I haven't given him anything new in a week)
We also took family pictures on Saturday. I found this girl in the other ward here in Dayton. She took us to the golf course in Genoa to photograph us with the waterfall in the background... too bad it was drained due to repairs. She still took some great pictures of us and is going to take more of Max later since he got pretty fed up with the camera that day. I recommend her to anyone, she was great to work with. You can see our pictures as well as her other work at this blog: bluelakephotography.typepad.com
We should have spent the greater part of Saturday cleaning house, but it was such a nice day! I thought we were just going for a walk, but Joey needed to get some extra energy out. He claimed Max wanted to play... I think the pictures prove otherwise.
So I thought since Myspace just doesn't hold much interest for me anymore, I would move on. Like always, I am one of the last people to jump on the band wagon. Better late than never. Well, I hope all of our adoring fans will now feel satisfied to see up to the minute updates on America's favorite family, the Lights. Looks like I have found yet another way of procrastinating house work. Enjoy!
