My Left Foot

I know I've been bad - so much to write so little time! I have much to share about Max's first vacation and more, but I had this post ready so I didn't want to forget it...more to come tomorrow I promise.

Grammy kept saying it would happen any moment and she was right - Max has found his feet and he LOVES them!












p.s. After posting this, I just saw cousin Thea's blog - she likes his feet even more!!

You're so vein...

This video isn't very exciting, but I noticed when watching that it highlights one of Max's major Randel elements - the protruding blue forehead vein. Jimbo and Eli proudly sport theirs, Zack I'm not sure if you've got one kicking or not...

The "blue vein" likes to come out in full force when one is mad or trying very hard, as Max is here -he has been talking up a storm and trying to roll over, but after a long day of playing. he just didn't have it in him.

Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Max has finally taken the step into the 'big boy' world of sleep (KNOCK ON WOOD). All week, he has done eight hour shifts either from 8-4 or 9-5, and last night I even stretched him out 8-5:30. WOOhooooo. This is such a big step. Somehow I feel more tired though, not quite sure how that's possible - maybe because I often don't fall asleep after the 4/5 wake-up call (well, I bring him into bed where he proceeds to kick and punch me while he sleeps).

Next week we're off to vacation where Max will be sleeping in a crib all week which means when we return its the big SWITCH from our room in the bassinet to the crib (yes, I still use the bassinet....but he LIKES it and its easier for me at 4 a.m.).

He is taking better naps too - goes in his crib, swing, bassinet, etc. Thanks to Maria for making that happen - I think its the key to his night time sleep.

A picture of little sleeping beauty below...

Maria also took some pretty adorable photos of Max and Luca recently.

I like it when you call me Big Poppa...

We had a lovely dinner with Papa and Florence over the weekend at Gary Woo in Boca. Charlie, Eli and I were VERY excited to have good Chinese food since it absolutely SUCKS in Miami (although, I was disappointed to learn they don't have Moo-Xoo. Apparently, "Gary doesn't do Moo-Xoo - we are the only Chinese restaurant without Moo-Xoo because Gary doesn't like to play by the rules, he has to be different"...um OK Gary Woo and obvious angry waiter about Gary's culinary choices).

Max just loved his "Big Papa", he was intensely staring at him the whole time Papa talked to him and tickled his feet. I meanwhile spent much of the time in the bathroom with Max, as he pooped through two outfits (of course the adorable overalls I'd picked for his big family dinner stayed on for two minutes), and we had to squeeze his little changing pad onto the side of the bathroom sink (sorry fellow ladies room patrons of Gary Woo). Max thought it was hysterical, though, and kept kicking his feet so I'd have to quickly catch his head from hitting the wall...Awesome new game he invented!

What a difference a year makes...

Max, "You may not know this but I'm a prettttty big deal around here."

Max had another big visit last week and is just the 'beau of the ball' these days. Also, thanks to Julie and Tom, Charlie and I got our first night away! We went to Casa Morada in Islamorada (quickly becoming one of our favorite places in the world). It was fun and restful and amazing and a great time to reflect. Almost one year ago exactly, we went to the same hotel because the doctor thought the pregnancy "might not be viable" and I didn't want to sit at home waiting for something bad to happen...It was probably the worst night of my life - everyone around us was partying and drinking and vacationing while I felt horribly sick (because I was in fact still pregnant) and was crying non-stop... I DIDN'T EVEN WANT PIZZA (that's how Charlie knew things were really bad).

Cut to one year later and we are so amazingly lucky to have a healthy, happy, FUN baby boy. He was so well-behaved while we were gone, and they had such a great time with him. Of course I missed him (and he was basically all we talked about....except for my THREE hour nap in the middle of the day), but still it was nice to get away. Thanks to Grammy for tiring him out - he slept through the night two after playing with her! Not surprising at all...

While living in Florida makes me sad because Max isn't around most of the extended family and friends, its so wonderful to have visits where we spend QUALITY time with whoever comes. I think Max gets to know everyone BETTER this way because he plays with them, hears their voice for days in a row, and they see all his various tricks/habits/moods, etc. Its not just a dinner here or there where he'd sleep most of the time anyways. Tat's my "living far away" story and I'm sticking to it :)

Most importantly, Max had his first visit to Monty's...Mom and Dad spent a lot of time here when we first moved to Florida (back when we were semi-cool), and max seems to love the atmosphere already (just what I need). We knew he was a party boy from his refusal to sleep if anything whatsoever exciting is going on around him, but his smiles and laughter in the midst of tourists, a reggae bar and tons of beer has me just a bit concerned, although that last picture looks a lot like me at a bar...