Morning 'tude

The warm morning weather was the perfect time for an outdoor Journey jam session.  Max put on a rousing performance of, "Shot through the heart".  Before 8:00am.

Kira is still pretty stuffed up so she went to the doctor today.  She had a full inspection and luckily it's just a cold, and at just under four weeks old, all we can do is suck out her buggers for her. 

Not quite...

Feeling bad never looked so good

Max has a cold, which is nothing new (and nothing that slowed him down), but unfortunately little Kira has a cold, too.  An unwelcome first.  Max (and his buggers) were hyper as ever today, and of course, while riddled with germs, he wanted to "pet" his baby and share (smoother her with) his white blankey.  Kira handled her cold (and her overzealous brother) like a champ.  Hopefully she will be over this soon; just in time for the next inevitable hand-me-down cold.

Looking good, but feeling yucky.  

An apple a day...Max said, "Dr. Kelley is my favorite boy"

The first of many

Kira went to her first Oakton basketball game this afternoon.  She was on her best, 'sit like a doll in the car seat', behavior the whole time.  Max was fairly well-behaved, considering his constant urge to rush the court, steal the ball, and play.  He managed to keep his feet off the court for 99% of the game, but spent plenty of time screaming across it.  "Daddy, daddy, daddy," he yelled, and after no response, "David, David, I have to talk to you about something!"  What did he need to talk to his daddy about?  "My shirt."  If that isn't grounds for a time-out, what is?

At the end of the game, Max was allowed to play a bit, but when it came time to leave he made no secret about his displeasure.  Thank goodness for the kindness of stangers, especially those who pushed Kira's stroller to the car, so Max's mom had both arms to wrangle his screaming, flailing body to the car.

Basketball begins!  

Two pre-game car naps + a drive-through = a coffee break for mommy

Never too old to be swaddled 

Hi!

Quite the smorgasbord for dinner- meatballs, broccoli, and sushi.

Why sit when you can stand?

Max did not want to sit for long in the double stroller we tested last week.  And while he clearly did not want to sit in his stroller today, one thing was certain, he did not want Kira sitting in it, either.

Max and mommy went on a date to Chipotle tonight.  While mommy sported the stylish combo of cropped gym pants and Uggs (pictured above), Max won the award for best outfit with his jacket/vest duo, which was the result of an unprecedented toddler compromise.  Max wanted to wear his "life jacket", but since it was 30 degrees outside, mommy had to insist on a jacket.  So he went with both.  Win-win.

Max was super excited about his new Ninja Turtle from Ellen.  She came to visit Kira and brought gifts for both kids.  Max is really racking up serious loot thanks to his new little sister.

Best sleeper in the house.  Thank you, Kira.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Brotherly serenade

Max performed for Kira this evening, and she liked it enough to keep her little newborn eyes open through most of the songs.  Kira got her first manicure tonight as well.  Mommy was much more confident than when she first cut Max's nails [as his arms flailed wildly].  If helped that Kira was sleeping the whole time.   

During his musical performance, Max paused, and exclaimed, "That's me!  I used to wear those pjs!".  

My brother is a [loud] close singer.

"H-A-R-R-Y!"

Due date

It is hard to believe that today was Kira's due date.  While babies are rarely born on their actual due date (except the extraordinary Tessa!), we never expected Kira to arrive quite so early.  But her timing, along with everything else about our girl, is just perfect.  

Kira and her two brothers- Max and Pawley

Max was a bit smug about booting his sister from the stroller.  Never mind that mommy had to carry the infant laden car seat and push a 32 pound toddler around.  Who needs body pump?

Three weeks and squeaky clean

Kira rang/washed in her third week with her second bath.  Only two baths in three weeks may not seem like a lot, but technically she had her very first bath in the hospital at 1:00am the morning after she was born, bringing her lifetime average to one bath a week.  Not too bad for such a pristine baby girl.

Kira's spa day

Tummy-ish time

After school happiness 

After an insane night/early morning, Max woke up eager to feed Kira.  His enthusiasm to give Kira a bottle is the sweetest, most wonderful way to start the day.  Conversely, his enthusiasm to be awake at 3:30am is another story.  After several episodes of waking up last night,  we finally thought Max was down for the count at 3:00am.  But 30, short, minutes later, he was wide awake in the hallway talking about asking Santa for a bicycle.  Why was he awake, and who on Earth was talking to, we may never know.

Heart bands and belts

Mommy and Kira watched Max play basketball after school, although he mostly dribbled like a wild man, instead of putting up shots.  The General demanded that mommy and Kira's feet do not touch the court.  Later this evening, he insisted, "I need a belt to go to work".  No surprise that he wore daddy's belt and went to work at the gym (his playroom) where he screamed, "jump, shoot, jump....!"

Homemade headband- mommy hearts Kira...and hearts

Dinner time

Nothing quite like a bottle o'milk paired with salmon and greens.

SuperMax is never cold.  His "life jacket" did not even stay on the whole time we were out in the cold afternoon.  He did, however, keep a real life vest on during swim lessons this morning, and swam by himself for the first time.  "I went back and forth," Max reported.  Mommy and Kira missed it, but daddy swears that Max is everyone's favorite student. 

Look who's telling someone to "shhhhh"!

This morning when Max busted in our room at 6:20am and we asked him to be quiet as to not wake Kira, he said, "No, I want to talk!!!!".  Then he leaned into the bassinet and removed Kira's hat because , according to Max, she did not want it.  He does, however, think that Kira always wants her "paci", but he feels the need to 'test it out' before he gives it to her.  So far Max has gotten more mileage out of the paci than his little sis.  

Chuck-e-Cheese

Max helped celebrate Neil's 3rd birthday at Chuck-e-Cheese.  The boys played lots of games and enjoyed cake and pizza, the cornerstones of any good party.

Max kept putting tokens in the photo booth so he could look at himself in the screen.  Mommy's huge smile is because  Max was so good at the party!  

The calm after the storm...

After a rough afternoon, Max told mommy, "don't talk, laugh"

All dressed up and no where to go

All three crammed in the back seat for a bottle and lollipop

Monkey daddy!

'No nap Max' only naps in the car on the weekends. Mommy and Kira rested in the parking lot while Max caught some z's.

Sleep sacks for everyone!  Max dug his sleep sack out so he could match Kira.

Wake up call

Max is still the first person in our house to wake up.  Even with a newborn.  He was a big help changing Kira's diaper today; when he saw it was green poop he said, "she has a snake in there!".  Turns out everything that is yucky and green is a snake.

Good morning!

Max's microphone is now fully operational (ie: very loud). 

Max touched Kira's face and she swung at him, and got him right back.   The sibling rivalry begins...

Friends and siblings

Sadie is showing Max how to take care of a baby sibling. 

Max and Kira and Sadie and Tessa 

Baby Tessa and itty bitty baby Kira

(Absurdly) Big bow and big yawn for a big cutie 

Max was told that when his sibling was born he or she would bring him a microphone.  Since baby Kira surprised us early, Max's microphone was a little late.  But good things are worth waiting for and he sung his heart and lungs out when he saw his new microphone this afternoon.  The amplifier did not work, and while Max was pretty disappointed at first, he sung so loud that amplification was not necessary.   

Breaking in the playmat 

Max has been working on learning, America the Beautiful, and he was singing it to Kira this morning.