Baby Pools, Baking and Work Buddies

It's Wednesday night (I may or may not be sipping a glass of wine)and I am feeling a bit tired but also quite accomplished. In the last 6 weeks life has definitely changed and my daily schedule is run by a 9lb bundle of joy and trying to sneak in naps when possible but this week for some reason I feel like we really kind of started to create a new flow and get into a new swing of things. Max has decided that she can sleep for more than two hours at a time - yup.. true story... for the last four nights she has slept from about 10PM to about 3AM. The extra two hours is amazing and I really need them now because she has also decided that she wants to be 100% awake at 3AM now and that is when we should start our day...As you can see in Exhibit A and B above.  Her eating has also changed a a little bit - we can go almost 3 and sometimes even 3.5 hours before the little piggly wiggly needs to munch down some nutrients. This is a bit of a nice change because it gives us the chance to do a few more things. So I have to be honest I have decided we need to take full advantage of this. We jam packed this week with lots of cool stuff and just really took advantage of our days (I won't lie I miss my naps but now that I am sitting here trying to remember all the details everything we have done makes it worth it!).

On Tuesday our cousin Nicole made the drive from Templeton to visit us and hang out for the day - but before she even arrived we got up and got out the stroller and took a nice long cruise. We ended up at the bakery and had breakfast with Babci and Dziadzi - this was also Max's first Jewish bakery experience. She liked it. I am sure of it especially when she can eat and pick out tasty treats for herself. When Nicole arrived we didn't just sit around and watch TV we decided to make the best of our day. This involved setting up Maxi's kiddie pool on the deck and filling it with the lobster pot pan - my blond self didn't realize the hose was right in front of us off the deck. It all worked out the because Miss. Max loved hanging in the water... in fact she even took a little snooze.
After a nice refreshing dip - well refreshing for her - Nicole and I were dancing on the deck trying to not let our feet burn up in the sun. We dried her up and started our next adventure for the day - making treats. Right before I had Max I started craving S'Mores. I have no idea why but I did - unfortunately I never satisfied this craving and had been thinking about it ever since - I reached my limit and found a recipe for S'More treats - these are pretty much rice krispy treats with out rice krispies and chocolate chunks added in. I bought the goods and tasked Nicole and Max with helping me make these little delights. Nicole meted marshmallows while Max stirred the cereal and smashed the goods into the pan. I swear Max was a huge help. They came out absolutely delish. I have to be honest I have been eating them for breakfast everyday since. But we didn't stop there. We spent the rest of the afternoon giggling about Nicole's adventurous drive down to Springfield, looking at ideas for her senior pictures and Googling what kinds of awesome breads she could make (and I could eat) at the family reunion that is coming up in a few weeks. Add all of this in with some heart to hearts and it made for one very fun, relaxing and heartfelt day.

Wednesday brought on more fun. We packed up and spent most of the day in CT visiting the girls I work with and surprising Daddy at work. My office was quiet and filled with just the right girls and Bill   - the graphic designer who maybe one of the coolest dudes I have ever met. We sat around, gossiped, discussed life and ate pizza. On our way home we decided we wanted to pop on in to Alstom - the old stomping grounds. I thought we would be in and out but was quite wrong. Everyone wanted to meet the baby and well I don't blame them she is pretty freaking awesome. So we walked around and made the introductions. For me this was fun but the best part was watching David parade around with Max in his arms smiling from ear to ear and prouder than ever. I know I have said it before but I can't stress enough how amazing it is to watch him love this little girl.

Thursday and Friday will bring a whole new slew of adventures. Including a trip to see Baby Lucas and Auntie Nina - who has ever so kindly one through Sophia's clothes so Max and I can "shop".... ummmm SO EXCITED! And Friday is Tim McGraw day... oh yeah... Mommy is headed out to see her favorite cowboy.

Rolling.

I decided this week that we must get out and walk everyday. For multiple reasons - which include but are not limited to the following:

1. Sunshine makes us grow and by us I mean Baby Maxi and myself. I don't necessarily need to grow. I am actually trying to shrink but Maxi is growing like a weed and I am pretty sure we can both use the vitamin D.
2. Back to the shrinking. I know losing baby weight is not a priority but I have found that I can't help but want to be back to my normal pants. I would say normal tops but I am pretty sure that isn't happening as long as I am a food bank for the baby girl.
3. I love being home with Max but a change of scenery is important and I have found it is really easy to get really lazy. I am pretty sure that getting out even when exhausted promotes a little boost of energy.

So in order to make this process a little bit more interesting I had to set Max up with a bad ass carriage. I hooked the little one up with her own speaker and a few jazzy playlists, the jams along with the cozy set up she was laying on make for a pretty great ride. I mean if someone wanted to push me around while I just hung out I would not say no. From what I could tell she loved it too, this may actually be strange but I think the bumpier the ride the better. I have never really seen anyone smile while sleeping while being bumped up and down over the pavement. I tried to keep this bumping as gentle as possible but our monster stroller makes this difficult (that and the sidewalks that have definitely seen better days). Hopefully the fact that baby likes the movement and Mommy is motivated to shrink a bit more will help keep up the trend of our walkathons - well that and the fact that I realized we are in complete walking distance to Gus and Paul's - a delish Jewish bakery that still makes their own bagels fresh every morning.

Distraction

I'm writing this post for a serious distraction. The infomercials that I have been watching since 330 are starting to take a serious toll on my mental state and well being. I think they play them over and over to hypnotise you into thinking you actually need some of this stuff. Right now I am currently convinced that I won't be able to survive without a Nutrition-Bullet... Because I eat smoothies everyday. Especially ones full of mixed up green veggies with my fruit for breakfast (Yeah Right)! But maybe if I had one of those I would. I mean the narrator man has me totally convinced that the Nutr-Bullet would be the key to my energy success. And well honestly for someone who now is up at least three to four times a night a little extra energy boost would be nice. Especially because I am going to need lots of energy to use my Total Gym Plus and Rocking Ab Video - both guaranteed to give me a beautiful body in the fastest time possible. It has to be true they had all sorts of before and after pictures and people swearing by it. Plus I discovered of you buy expensive green bags (I can't even remember the name of this product) my fruits and veggies retain more nutrients and last longer. Now if that doesn't sound like a match made in Nutri-Bullet heaven I don't know what does! Before I drink my smoothie and begin my work out I will have to wash off the new air brushed Luminess make up with the all natural exfoliating face cream there is a commercial for every ten minutes. Lastly because I am going to have so much energy from my shakes and adrenaline from my work out videos and confidence from my new make up - I can strut around the house with my new magic vacuum that is light, portable and can reach from floor to ceiling (I have always been tortured with not being able to easily vacuum my ceiling - I mean with all the foot traffic up there you should see the filth- what are these people thinking!) with a plethora of attachments (all light weigh of course). I think it might be time to start doing my late night Max feedings in a dark room... I am pretty sure my wallet will thank me and my brain will too. At least for now typing away on my tiny phone has broken the infomercial spell and now I am only convinced they need to make some sort of keyboard for late night moms that are writing in their blog while feeding their baby...

Choices.

I make a lot of choices everyday. A lot are for myself - do I nap while she is napping or do I squeeze in that work out? Napping almost always wins... Do I eat now and hope she doesn't wake up or do I try and balance this cereal bowl on her Boppy while I'm feeding her? This one revolves around food so I have honestly done both multiple times. Breast milk comes out of the Boppy cover why not cow's milk?! Actually I have to be honest, I  encounter this dilemma almost everyday and it isn't always cereal. I have discovered that couscous and feeding are a tough combo - but it easily cleans out of her hair! Or is it really necessary to get dressed and do my hair today even if the only one who will most likely see me can't  even really see yet (and if I do get dressed can I get to the feeding machines quickly)? I had no idea that choosing clothes that are easily boob accessible would be so hard! But lately most of my choices have been about the little one. Do I change her now or wait until she (inevitably) destroy the next diaper I am going to out on her within seconds? Have I burped her long enough or do I keep trying (how long are you supposed to kindly whack on the poor child's back anyway)? Are you too hot or how about to cold - they say one layer more than Mommy but I can't seem to figure out my temperature either. I am pretty sure my hormones are still on the fritz!!! Or the choice (well this was a we choice with Daddy) to insert a pacifier or not. We had discussed this at length pre-Max and decided that we weren't going that route. Hopefully she would find her thumb and be happy and care free. Well after coaching her thumb to her mouth a number of failed times and realizing that when she was crying after eating only 15 mins after she finished wasn't to eat again but just to hang out- I honestly needed an out (crying is so adorable the first few times she "found" her lungs. But it looses that charm quickly). So I threw out the idea- we put it in - try it once and if she spits it out we move on. Which leads me to me latest decision, how many pacifiers do I try before I find the right one? Why do I ask? Well because she didn't spit that bad boy out! It actually was kind of nice. She was soothing herself and my meal balancing on a Boppy skills no longer need perfection. Seriously though there are hundreds of pacifiers out there. Who knew? After only 5 days of testing the binky/paci/nook (still haven't settled on a name) we already have a serious stockpile. They make them orthodontic, modeled after a boob (I have no idea who's nipples look like that one but I know mine don't!), ones with smart sayings, bpa and latex free and who knows what else. Our counter looks like a binky factory threw up!

We have yet to settle on a total success story but we have narrowed it down. I think we are in the final stretches of the big Pacifier auditions but until I find one that re-inserts itself  when it falls out, I'm not sure we have a true winner yet. And yes- I realize this is probably an incredibly easy choice in the long run of things. Especially because I am going to be making choices for her for the rest of my life - or until she begs me to stop (which I won't).

Father's Day.

Yesterday was Father's Day. I have always thought that this is a pretty important day because I just love my Dads. They are fantastic - I honestly might be one of the luckiest girls alive because I have two absolutely incredible men in my life that I have grown up with.
They both have their quirks and are amazing in their own special ways but they also have a few things in common. They have both loved me unconditionally (and I am pretty sure at times that was probably not the easiest thing to do), they have supported me and pushed me to be an honest, loving, caring and hard working person, they have given me advice (solicited and not!), dried tears, kissed boo boos (even in my later years- I have never been the most graceful girl), threatened boyfriends and just always watched out for me to make sure that I am the best I can be. This year not only did I get to celebrate them but I was able to share them with my daughter. I know one day she will  celebrate her Grandpa and Pepere because I know that they are going to do everything they have done for me and also let her eat as much ice cream as she wants before dinner and stay up past her bedtime... But one of the coolest things about this Father's Day was celebrating the newest Dad in our family - Max's Daddy. I have to be honest - never in a million years did I imagine that I would be as lucky as I am to have such an amazing man taking care of my daughter (ok I know she is technically our daughter but you know what I mean). Watching the bond grow between the two of them is an adventure everyday and one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I have melted at that sight of good desserts, a great pair of shoes and some gorgeous jewelry but it doesn't even compare to the amount of melting that happens when he picks up little Max when he gets home from work or when he says goodbye to her in the morning. It is a pretty cool thing to see happen everyday.

Aside from being head over heels for her, he has done everything (and then some) that a new mom could dream of to make life a little bit easier. This whole mom thing has taken some getting used to - the all night feedings, changing diapers every ten minutes,figuring out which cry is which - all while trying to keep a bit of yourself at the same time. But having someone take over every chance he can is amazing, I am almost forced to take a nap when he gets home, I think I have made dinner maybe twice in the last 5 weeks, the diaper changes are under his control and well he just does everything he can to make sure that we are both as happy as possible. I am well aware of the fact that many children aren't fortunate enough to have such a strong father figure in their life as they grow up, I am also aware that many woman never experience the benefits of having a supportive and confident partner helping them shape someone else's life. That is why this Father's day everything seemed just a little different, a bit more special, a bit more memorable and a bit harder - harder because I don't know if it is possible to really show my Dad's how important they are to me and how much more I realize this now or if it is possible to make Max's Dad understand that he is just truly a natural at this dad thing and how much we both appreciate it.

On behalf of every man

Looking out for every girl

You are the God and the weight of her world...

So fathers be good to your daughters

Daughters will love like you do

Girls become lovers who turn into mothers

so mothers be good to your daughters too

One Month

I can't not believe that it has already been a month since my little baby girl was born. It feels like it has gone by so quickly and at the same time it feels like she has always been here. In the last month so much has changed and I have already learned so much but I know that these new things are going to just keep on coming. I honestly had no idea that it was possible to love one little person so much and unconditionally. Every day I find myself just sitting and staring at her perfect little face. I know every mom and probably every dad says that they Echols is the most perfect but Maxwell really is. There is not one single little thing I'd change. Ok maybe her eating schedule between the hours of 10PM and 6AM but hopefully that will come with time. As much as I wish I could freeze time to be able to keep her at this perfect little baby size, I really can't help but look forward to all of the months to come. Watching her grow and learn everyday is one of the most exciting and amazing things I have ever done.

Meeting the Family

Saturday we spent the day in a little place I like to call Caisse-Ville. Ok so we were actually in Baldwinville but since pretty much the whole family lives there so Caisse-Ville seems fitting. It was Meet the Baby Day! Max had yet to meet Grammy, cousin Makenna and well most of the Caisse's for that matter. Max and I popped into the car and made the cruise- she slept I sang, pretty typical for one of our road trips. The whole fam dam was at Gram's when we got there and Auntie Betty had set up a nice lunch spread (yay, food)! We were able to see everyone and just relax something that we don't all get together to do often enough. Being all together (minus just a couple) made me realize how much I want Max to grow up knowing all of her cousins and Aunts and uncles. It made me stop and think about how all of us kiddos used to spend our summers together - swimming at Papa and Gram's in our purple fruit bathing suits with the insertable floats, buying penny candy at Flis's Market, helping Papa in the garden and playing the ever famous Whalom Park and Cops and Robbers. All memories that brought an instant smile to my face and really just gave that warm all over happy feeling. Nothing much can replace honest to goodness memories like those and it is a feeling I hope Miss Max will one day have when thinking about the time she spent with Makenna, Bryce and everyone else in Caisse-Ville. But one of the coolest things of the day was to see the different generations together and to watch the proud smiles come across the faces of everyone when they passed the babies around and listened to then speak baby talk to each other. Just check out the love on Gram's face as she cuddles with her two newest Great Grandbabies.

I am not sure it gets much better than this. Well that was until we put the two Papa's together - I think they are just a little bit in love with their new little girls. Then to finish up our day we went to Leomister to visit cousin Courtney and Michael while they waited for their little one to enter the world. We originally thought we would be meeting the new baby that afternoon...Courtney had been in the hospital since Thursday after her water broke without much progress so I thought maybe Max could give Connor a pep talk and motivate him to come hang out. I'm not quite sure she convinced him though considering it is Sunday afternoon and we still don't have any word on the new cousin... I guess Max needs to work on her motivational speaking! 

Blow outs and Besties

I learned a pretty good lesson today ... Always bring at LEAST one extra outfit. After today's three in a row blow out I should probably actually bring two! I should probably also invest in some stock of Huggies or Pampers. I knew that babies use a lot of diapers and I realized that going to the bathroom is one of the only things a baby does besides eat and sleep but seriously. Sometimes the amount of changing I do is unreal. There are times we don't even make it off of the changing table before we need another fresh one. But today Maxie out did herself. Three serious ones in a row - including one that went up to her armpits. If you think I'm kidding I'll show you the evidence - the outfit she had on maybe ruined! 

She may look sweet and innocent here but little did I know that this was actually a warning... A very serious warning about things to come... On a less messy note we spent the afternoon with two lovely ladies. One of my best friends and one of Max's future best friends. They maybe two years apart but I have a feeling they will spend a lot of time together in the future. Ava was so excited to see the baby and just wanted to help with everything which was absolutely adorable. Everything including her major blow out (oh yeah that didn't happen at home that would have been easy). It really was awesome to see them together and I am excited for Max to grow up with her and Sophia and learn lots from the experience they had already had. 

 

Farmers Markets and Baby Bjorns

Yesterday we had a little adventure to Forest Park to visit the Farmers Market. This was after we had a tasty little breakfast at Coughlins (my absolute FAVORITE breakfast joint- that I was thrilled to share with Max. She may need some time before she can enjoy the yummy treats there but no reason to not start her loving it early!) and a trip to Big Y. So needless to say it was quite a busy day and I was in bed quite early. Anyway - it was beautiful out and on Tuesdays in Forest Park local farms, bakers and restaurant set up shop and sell all sorts of lovely goodies. There are all organic veggies (I am pretty sure these are the freshest around) fresh baked breads, cookies, jams, yogurts and milk that even comes in a glass bottle just like in the 50's - that is when milk was delivered in glass bottles right?!

 The market was awesome and we left with lots of veggies for the week and a loaf of delish bread. But the transportation around this place was a first for me. First off as we were leaving I realized I had to get out stroller in my trunk which also meant I had to figure out how to fold it up. The folding up ended up being relatively easy the getting it in the trunk part was a whole new story. Insert choice words here - thankfully Max isn't at the repeating stage yet! After a few tries I made it happen and we made it to the park - I then realized I had to get the stroller back out and set up. Slightly intimidating knowing I was about to put my 3week old in a device I had no experience with. I am happy to report that it all worked out and Max was snug as a bug in that thing!

 

Now the stroller was great and a huge pain all at the same time. It is a bit big some manuvering around fruit and veggie carts and lots of people took some skill. On the other hand having the basket on the bottom made the buying part much easier! So after a few minutes of trying  To weave in and out of people and stands I took a look around to see just how other moms were making it happen. That's when I realized I was going to have to tackle the Baby Bjorn carrier that had been sitting at home in an intimidating pile of straps and clips. We had opened this thing and tried to make it work on more than one occasion and even with two of us working on it still couldn't manage to get the baby in and clipped and all the straps in the right place. But today I was determined to make it happen - especially if I was going to wander around the Farmers Market again or do just about anything that required hands - like eating breakfast when Max just wants to be held. So after a few attempts and a few cries and some trial and error Max and I made it happen.

Let me tell you what after plopping the babe in there and wandering around I realized this might be one of the best inventions ever. I was able to vacuum, fold laundry and eat breakfast all while my sweetness cuddled in and cozied up. I am pretty sure we will be using this contraption outside of the house now. 

Big Weekend - Woohoo!

Had a busy and exciting couple of days filled with all sorts of first times. Everyday has at least one first that takes place but the last 24 hours have been chock full of them. Friday morning Daddy left for TX to celebrate his niece's graduation leaving Mommy and Max on their own for the night. So I decided we would head on up to NH to spend some QT with the grandparents. Considering the fact it was over 90 degrees the pool didn't seem so bad either... That was the beginning of all sorts of new adventures. The first one being Mommy trying to pack for two girls for the night. Who knew babies require so much stuff? You would think a little person who can't even move or eat on their own would pack light but after half a case of diapers, wipes, a few outfits (not because I couldn't make up my mind but because the little one has a serious habit of leaking...), butt creams, swim supplies and blankets we had quite the overnight bag! But the trip was a success but I'm pretty sure any baby sleeps in the car. Once we arrived we continued on trying new things- including trying out the pool with Mémère. After taking an hour to dress her and protect her brand new skin - we tried a quick dip. I have to be honest though... the temperature was not quite up to Miss. Max's standards and she wasn't the biggest fan.

So we made up for it by washing her in a nice, warm, bubbly bath in the pool house sink. This sink has seen shots, blenders, a watermelon filled with vodka, many dirty dishes from bbq's but I am pretty sure it has never seen a baby bottom until now. 

The only way to finish up a nice day at the pool is chicken wings and beer at one of the local summer NH hangouts - Joe Peanut's. Max's first trip to the bar! That may sound weird because she is a bit young but I have been craving homemade blue cheese from Joe Peanuts for the last ten months and a three week old isn't really ready to stay home and watch themselves... yet! 

We finished up a great night and a successful sleep over with a tasty breakfast with more grandparents at Stuart and John's Sugarhouse- a NH staple! She didn't get to actually try a pancake yet- the whole no teeth thing makes chewing hard. But we had a great morning just sitting and chatting and cuddling. 

And the icing in the cake to finish a great weekend. Well at least a Friday and Saturday was meeting our new buddy Lucas Ieraci! Only three weeks younger than Miss max. These two will hopefully grow up loving and teasing each other the way only friends who are like family can.