Well Visit Office ONLY!

Dear Pediatricians Around the World,

Why is it that everytime I leave your office with my healthy son for his routine well visit, he gets sick like no other for the next three weeks? 

Case. in. Point.
18 month well visit (december 5, 2011)....healthy kiddo.

• Weekend following: Urgent care for virus (1.5 hour wait).
• Week following: Doctor for virus and double ear infection
• Weekend visit to ugent care (3 hour wait) due to unsitely rash that appeared.  VIRUS, they say.
• Week following that: Doctor visit for unimaginable rash taking over entire body and swollen limbs (turns out it's an allergic reaction). 
• Same day: trip to hospital for tests.
• Week following that: Doctor visit for check up from rash.  Back on meds for new virus and double ear infections.
• TWO weeks follow that: Back at doctor for ear infection that is still there AND pink eye. 

Perhaps we could move the well visit office to a separate office space (and not just a "separate waiting room" that has no door so it's really just one big room).  I mean I've paid enough to fully fund that new office space by now.

And, done.

Love,

Melissa

2012: Things to Look Forward to!

A new year, a new set of things to look forward to!  Every year when the clock strikes midnight.....it is always so exciting because it means there is so much opportunity just waiting for you!  I'm so excited to see what God has in store for our family in 2012.  Some of those things include:

#1.  The birth of our second child!  Due on June 25th, we anxiously await to see if this blessing is a boy or girl!  Two kiddos.....wow!  As a part of this journey, I look forward to see Max as a big brother!

#2.  Max's SECOND birthday.  He didn't really get what was going on for his first, so I'm excited to see his reaction for year 2. 

#3.  Swimming at the pool this summer.  Max will be able to run around and swim a little more independantly....I am hoping to get him some swim lessons too! 

#4. Church.  We LOVE our church....and it has provided us with the opportunity to meet so many amazing people.  I am so anxious to see what God has in store for Watermarke Church in 2012!

#5. Our couples small group. Jake and I have been blessed with an amazing community group through our church.  In getting to know these amazing couples, I have grown to love them all!  I also realized the joy and the pain that each family faces.  God has so many opportunities to shine through these people this year.  Prayers are beginning to be answered....so exciting!

#6. Jake and I will be celebrating our FIFTH wedding anniversary!  5 years and going strong.....so blessed to be with this man. 

So, as you can see....lots to look forward to.  But it's not just some of the big things listed....it is also just the everyday that I look forward to like Max discovering new things, trips to the park, visits from grandparents, etc. 

WE. ARE. BLESSED.

Max is EIGHTEEN Months Old!

A year and a half!!!!!  Wow, and he is getting bigger every day.  It is amazing the difference a month (or a few months for that matter) can make.  Max has lost much of his "baby" look and is a little boy these days! He is on the go all the time, and is so much fun!

Max's stats:

• Weighs 24 lbs - was 30th percentile for weight, 35th for height and 50th for his head!
• Talking, talking, talking.....says lots of words now including mama, daddy, nana, poppy, paw paw, Bear Bear, Drew Drew, Kelsey, teacher, ball, car, truck, dog, hippo, rhino, cat, buck, home, house, nite nite, and more!
• Loves being a "helper" at school.
• Best buddy: Drew Drew
• Loves balls - baseball, football, soccer balls, bowling balls, etc.
• Love cars and trucks!
• Cries when we leave him.
• Loves to paint at school.
• Sleeps 8 - 6 or 7 at night.
• Takes one nap (12 - 2 p.m.)
• Eats well - loves salad, lima beans, green beans, pizza!, cheese, snack foods, turkey, chicken nuggets, corn, fruit cups, bananas, breakfast bars, oatmeal, etc.
• Drinks milk and water.
• Loves to say "NOOOOO".
• Frequents time out every day (not everyday really)....but he has started hitting a little (mostly himself strangely), sometimes biting, etc.  Gotta love that!
• Overall, listens very well!
• Helps to clean up if you ask him to help.
• When we pull into the neighborhood he starts screaming "home, home, home" which sounds more like "hum, hum, hum".  Too cute!
• Very playful - and a daredevil at a young age :-)
• Has crazy funny facial expressions!
• Still loves to dance!

He is so much fun!  Looking forward to everyday because he is learning so fast.  We love you, Max!

"I did it, mama"

Max leans back like this when he says "whoaaaa"



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My kissing monster. He wants to kiss you all the time!



The Legacy We Leave Behind...

I saw a story of a young  man, Ben Breedlove, who passed away on Christmas day this year.  Prior to his passing, he left a video behind of his "story" as he battled a severe and dangerous heart condition since birth.  His story shares his struggles to be "normal" given his limitations, how he cheated death 3 times and what he experienced each of those times. 

It is nothing short of an amazing story.  I am certain that when the Lord created this young man that he mapped out his experiences knowing that he would be courageous enough to share his story with the world.  I don't know how anyone can watch/read stories like this and not believe in a heavenly Father....a Savior....a Prince of Peace. 

Please watch...

Part 1 (4 minutes):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmlTHfVaU9o

Part 2 (3 minutes):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4LSEXsvRAI&feature=related

I know that he has led people to beginning a relationship with Jesus....what a powerful legacy to leave behind.

So, what is your legacy? 

Reasons Why I LOVE December!

It's my favorite month.......for sure!

• It's Jesus' birth month!  I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday.
• Everyone seems to have extra cheer in their voice!
• I know I will definitely get to see family....because of the holidays.
• I LOVE Christmas trees.....and Christmas lights.....and Christmas smells.....and Christmas calendars....and Christmas music.....and Christmas shopping.....and Christmas stories.
• It's my birthday month :-).
• It is a great time to reflect on all the blessings from this past year and get amped for a wonderful year to come.
• In addition to people just seeming happier....everyone is so eager to give!  What a great environment.
• I love using the fireplace.

There are endless reasons why I love this season.....and I'm very thankful that it is December 1st already!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Max is SEVENTEEN months old!

Seventeen months.....or 17?  LOL.  He is a little man for sure.  I was talking to my mom today as I dropped Max off at school.  He walked in right beside me, just like a big boy.  It dawned on me that I don't have to carry him into school anymore. I don't have to feed him anymore (unless it is something like soup or things that require a spoon sometimes). I don't have to help him up the stairs.  He is just getting so big.

But, one thing is for sure.....he definitely still needs my love <3. 

So, Max is now 17 months old!  And he is a hoot.  He is a talkin', dancin', gigglin' machine. 

About Max:

• Words: baseball, teacher, mama, dada, nana, doggie, water, ready, go, eat, ball, bear, cup, more, uhoh, thank you (so cute), hello, cracker, and more....
• Favorite things to do: read, play outside, go down slides, play with cars, play with sports balls, run around, color, play hide and seek.
• Sleep: bedtime between 7:30 - 8 p.m. Usually wakes around 6:30 or 6:45, but we've had a string of disrupted nights due to teething lately.
• Naps once a day 12 - 2 or 2:30.
• Eats: Anything, but loves beans, yogurt, bananas, breakfast bars, oatmeal, turkey, ham, cheese, pizza, chicken, salad, grapes, carrots, corn, oranges, crackers, etc.  And we found out on Halloween that he LOVES candy ;-).
• Best buddy: Drew Drew
• Learning sign language...can sign children, doctor, pumpkin, orange, more, please, eat, drink, firetruck, toys, cat, banana, etc. Very cute!
• Still loves to DANCE!

He is such a joy. Sweet as can be but stubborn as can be too. He is pretty polite, but watch out he's got one mean stank face (see below).  He gives the best hugs and the cutest kisses....we love you, Max!

Touchdown!

Max's 'stank face'

His favorite toy...heylo???

Max's second Halloween!

TRICK OR TREAT!

Well, not to brag or anything, but Max was the CUTEST monkey I had ever seen. LOL. He totally played the part too!  He mastered the monkey noise and truly had a blast trick or treating. 

Highlights of the day:

• Max's monkey noise on cue.
• Max would go to a house to get candy, sit down right there and try to eat it.  He thought as soon as you got the candy, you ate it. DUH. 
• He loves candy!  We typically never let him eat stuff like that, so this was a very special occassion.
• Max would take a peice of candy out of his bucket and walk over to the driveway, sit down, eat it, stand up, and then come back to his bucket for another peice.  This happened for a solid 10 minutes. 
• Max was in an excellent mood all evening. 

Max was SO HYPER after eating the candy....need proof?

He wouldn't let go of the twizzler

Trick or Treat time!

Off to our first house!

Having fun!

Taking a break to eat what was JUST put into his bucket.

And, his second stop....the Kit Kat.

Just love those eyes...

Daddy is having more fun than Max!

Out with Mommy now!

Having so much fun eating candy on the driveway.

hmmmmm :-)

Max on the lookout for more trick or treaters. Daddy eating the candy...

Pooped from all the fun....