No NuNus in 2009!!!

2008 was a great year, but we are all looking forward to what 2009 will bring. Here in our little corner of the world we have achieved quite a bit over the last 12 months. Here's a brief look back at some of our accomplishments:
1. Jeff got a new, better job that he loves AND it did not require us to move again!
2. Max grew up way too much-moving into a big boy bed and room, learning to pedal a trike, becoming a big brother, and today giving up his beloved pacifiers. Good job buddy!!
3. Zach decided to join our little family even with all our craziness. Welcome aboard little bear.
4. I created life AGAIN. What more can I do really?!? I told Jeff today that I threw up almost every day of 2008, lost over 40lbs and came out of it with one of the most handsome little fellows ever. It's still too soon to ask if we are going to do all that again.
5. We actually followed through with our goal of daily family scripture study and family prayer. That one I had my doubts about, but am excited that we have made it part of our routine and plan to continue.

All in all 08 was a great year. I hesitate to list any goals for 2009 because it will frustrate me if I can't follow through with all of them. They are in my heart and I will try my best and this time next year I will let you know how we did.

Happy New Ears Everyone!!

Family Tradition

When Max was about a month old, Jeff dressed him up in a big man suit and tried to play photo studio. Max didn't care for this too much as you can see. I thought Jeff might have learned his lesson....


but then again, maybe not. Zach didn't like it much either. I suppose it is now a tradition. Kind of like getting your picture made with Santa every year, but not exactly the same.

Were we really this good?

This year I really wondered if Santa kept a list of who was naughty and who was nice because I've been here watching and I don't think any of us truly got what we deserved this year for Christmas...THANK GOODNESS!!!!

Here is Max on Christmas morning checking out his loot.

Yes, most of this was for him.

Here is part of Max's new Curious George collection.

Most of the thanks to this goes to his Aunt Jenny.

He already has most of the storybooks memorized now.

Here are the boys and all of there loot. Again I ask, were they really this good?

Max's Paw Paw, a fellow southpaw, found him a left-handed baseball glove.

Now Paw Paw just needs to teach him how to catch with it.

This is the carnage that remained after Christmas morning was over.

365 more days till we do it again!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This is NOT the photo we used for our Christmas card, but it is the best one to show our boys' personalities--notice Max picking his nose and Zachary looking annoyed at everything, particularly his brother. We are just finishing up our Christmas cards and they should be mailed out sometime next week.
Yes I am aware that it is Christmas Eve, but since nobody else wanted to move Christmas to February like I suggested months ago, this what you get. I have already informed my family that all of their presents will be late but they are coming. Jeff and I decided to finish our Christmas shopping during the after-Christmas sales, and most of our decorations didn't even make it out of the box this year. But I have forgiven myself for this and am almost sure thamy kids won't remember or care that there were no lights on the house and no snowman display on the bookshelf. We did get a tree and put out the nativity, so I figure our bases are covered.
With that all said I will bid you farewell for now with words from the great Max O "Happy Christmas (not Merry b/c he is Joseph the Wise Man not Mary) Feliz Naughty Dog and Happy New Ears!"

Branch Christmas Party

So last weekend was our Church Christmas Party. Because people here either hate me or think I am SuperWoman, I was put in charge of it. Yes, me with a toddler and a newborn. Grand idea I thought. Well I learned to delegate quite a bit and it turned out okay. I'm just glad that it is over.
One of the elements of the Party was a Christmas Program put on by the Primary. I delegated as best as I could and ended up only having to write the script, do the scenery and the costumes. I must not do this delegating thing right. Anyway, b/c I can't sew even a button, all the costumes were from pillowcases and construction paper.
The program was a musical presentation of the nativity. I have never seen a rendition of the Christmas story when the donkey steals all the Wise Men gifts and runs out with baby Jesus, but yes that is what happened in my little play. Max was the donkey!
It was embarrassing, hilarious, and quite memorable. I was watching from the sidelines so I couldn't get any pictures, but some of my friends did. When I get some pics I will certainly post them.
I refuse to be in charge again next year!

Why is it ALWAYS spaghetti?

So Max told me that he was sick this afternoon. If you know Max, you know that he ALWAYS says he's sick if he's mad, in trouble, about to be punished, or being asked to do something he doesn't want to do. So like the good mother that I am, I ignored him. I told him that if he ate all of his dinner, he could go to the store with me. I'll bet you know where this is going.
So he actually sat down and ate his dinner (something he NEVER does without a production these days). I was grateful and didn't ask questions. When he was finished, we all loaded up in the car and headed the the 80% clearence sale at Mervyns.
Max was unusually cooperative and this began to peak my suspicions. Maybe he really wasn't feeling well. He had just gotten over a cold and could possible be having a minor relapse. Well my suspicions were confirmed in the checkout line when my sweet little boy began projectile vomitting all over the place. Fortunately he only hit the cart and the floor and none of the innocent bystanders.
Is it wrong of me to be glad that it happened in the store and not at home in his bed? All I had to do was buy him a new outfit, change his clothes, and apologize to the poor guy who gets paid minimum wage to clean the floors. I had no sheets to wash, no carpet to clean, and Max was so shocked he didn't even cry. I thought about being embarrassed, but I'll never see any of those people again and besides he's a kid and this sort of thing happens.
So I'm going to bed tonight a little worried about what this all means for the next several days and how bad it may get, but I'm also wondering, why does this only happen when we have spaghetti?

One month already

Zachary has survived his first month as a member of our crazy little branch of the Orwin clan. He seems to be doing pretty well. Max already gave him his first cold, which has been oh so fun to deal with. He's charmed the heck out of all who have met him and stolen the hearts of his grandparents for sure. He's not much of a crier unless he thinks he should be eating and then he doesn't let up until he gets his way. Getting bigger appears to be his favorite thing to do. He started out in the world about 7 1/2 lbs and is now close to 11. Max better watch out b/c Zach will be the bigger brother all too soon I think. Good thing he seems to have a pretty laid back and easy going temperment. All in all he is a delight to have around and a great addition to the family.

December Highlights as promised

Here are a few things that have happened in our little corner of the world the past few weeks. Enjoy!

Lots of Grandma, Paw Paw, and Nana love!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Building a tiny snowman during the 1st snow of the season.

Making a Gingerbread house with Nana (mostly eating the candy)!


A visit to the zoo. Geaux Tigers!

There are plenty of cute stories and adventures to go along with all of these pictures, but unfortunately I haven't had a chance to write them all down. Sometimes its more fun to live life than to write about it though. And I'm sure that I have a forever's worth of adventure ahead for me and my family.

Playing Catch up

With the craziness of the last month I have a ton of pictures that I wanted to post but didn't. So here is November at a glance.

We splashed in some puddles.

We ate some turkey and pie.

We had the cars detailed.

We kissed a donkey or two.

And we visited a ranch.

Look for December Highlights coming soon!!

Been a while

I know it's been a little while since I've posted. My internet portion of my laptop seems to have crashed, so I have to take turns with my husband on his. If you know Jeff, that means I don't get too many turns!! Anyway, we are still here and still surviving. I have tons of things to blog about and tons of pictures to post, but I'm not very good at catching up on things like that so we'll see what happens. In addition to my laptop woes, my kids are both sick. Well now they are both getting better, but it's been a long week or so. So anyway, I hope I can steal a minute here or there to share our world with you, but no real promises until my computer gets fixed.

Zachary's Blessing

This past Sunday was Zachary's blessing at church. I was very excited that my dad was able to be there and participate. He wasn't able to be there when Max was blessed and I've always felt bad about that. So I was extra excited that he was there for Zach. Jeff did a wonderful job and I am very glad that he was able to do this for our baby. I know that Zach is headed for greatness in this life and I really hope that Jeff and I can give him everything he needs to fulfill his potential. We love you Zach!

***My only regret is that we didn't take more time to get more pictures. This is the best we could do.

I told you so

Zach is an easy going, very relaxed baby. He doesn't demand much (only food ALL the time) and is usually pretty happy. He is however the hardest baby when it comes to changing his diaper. I worked at a daycare center for five years and have changed thousands of diapers and I consider myself pretty much an expert. And over the past two years, Max has never been a problem either. I'm organized, efficient, and very fast. Then the good Lord sent me Zachary.
I was complaining to my mom about how difficult he was to get changed and she was just laughing at me. She told me that he couldn't possible be that hard and I just needed to get a little better at it. I told her okay, take your turn!
She very confidently accepted the challenge and took Zach into his room to change him. I followed right behind her to watch b/c I knew what she was in for.
WARNING: BODY PARTS AND FUNCTIONS TO FOLLOW!!!

So she took off his diaper (and was rather cocky about it) and he immediately began pooping all over the changing table. I began laughing and she let out an "Oh my" and grabbed a wipe to clean it up. As she did this he let a fountain of pee loose all over her and the wall. By this point I was crying for laughing so hard. I went to get her a rag to clean up and when I came back she still had not gotten his diaper on and he was sending up another stream of pee into the air. I missed most of what happened after that because I was rolling on the floor laughing so hard. She however did not find any of it funny and she might have been a little embarrassed, much like she will be when she reads this post!
At the end of it, I think it took a towel, half a box of wipes, three diapers and a change of clothes for both grandma and baby to get the job done. All I can say is "I told you so!!"

The BIG Adjustment

Everyone has been interested to see how Max handles the adjustments that come with getting a baby brother. Well, I have been privilege to have a front row seat to the experience. I would say that all things considered he's handling things fairly well. However, the green-eyed jealousy monster is certainly showing up from time to time. Here are a few examples:
The last night that my parents were in town my mom was sitting at the couch holding Zach and Max decided she needed to put Zach down and read him a story. My mom said he could sit next to her and she'd read the book. He told her, "No, it's Daddy's turn to hold Baby Zach and you read me a story." When she said no he fell into a puddle of tears until she gave in (Grandma's give in A LOT!).
He has decided that when Mommy is feeding Zach, that is the time to pitch a fit and demand that Mommy stop what she's doing and fulfill his request. That is always the time that he needs a drink or a snack or a tissue. In fact he threw a fit to beat all fits when I refused to put Zach down to take off Max's shoes. I told him Zach deserves to eat in peace and I'm determined to try and make that possible.
The other day I told Max we were going to the park to play with some of his friends. He got very excited and asked if Mommy could come. I said, "Of course Mommy will come and we are going to bring Zach too." He looked at me very matter-of-factly and said, "Then I don't want to go. You should leave him here." It took me quite a bit of convincing to get him excited about bring Zach to the park. He finally said if he could bring Curious George, I could bring Zach. What a deal.
So from all of this and many more examples, I figure that Max is dealing with things about how I expected. He does have plenty of sweet moments where he wants to hold Zach or share his toys or sing him a song. He really is a sweet boy and is a great big brother. He's just having to adjust to some things, as we all are. But I'm sure that before long they will be inseparable and I won't remember what it was like with just one.