Bursting at the Seams with LOVE!

Lucky for me, Libby made it to Texas and transitioned in just as our friends were heading back home. I feel like I'm still recharging my batteries after last week and the kids seem to be running on fumes as well, so it's pretty fantastic she will be here for three weeks. She is keeping our spirits high as we head into August. This has been an amazing summer. We have been so very spoiled. 

Oh, I think I also forgot to mention on the blog that Taylor & Jordan decided they couldn't live without the Texas heat and now they are here to stay. So basically Lyla & Max have been in seventh heaven. Once again....best summer everrrr! 

Lyla insisted I take some"self time" by going Target one afternoon, leaving her and Aunt Taylor alone. I didn't want to break Lyla's heart, so I agreed to go shopping by myself. It was a pretty tough decision obviously. Hahaha. Is it sad this was Lyla's idea? How does she know me so well? Ha! For the record: I didn't go to Target. Target is easy with kids. They have juice and popcorn. I went somewhere that doesn't offer that convenient distraction. And maybe I went to Starbucks too. Anyway , this is the picture I received shortly after I left the house. 

My aunt has been such an influential person in my life and it makes my heart happy to see Lyla build a similar bond with her own aunts. It's back to that "it takes a village..." concept. Life is good. 

The Brady Bunch

This week I'm recovering from last week when we took chaos to a whole new level with our friends visiting from Idaho. Our house consisted of four adults and six children, one being an infant and he's super mellow so I'm not even sure if he even counts in the contribution to the madness. The idea that it takes a village to raise a child is so accurate and so much more beneficial too, in my opinion. We had a blast spending time with them. I don't think those kids have played so hard in their lives. 

We are so grateful for Luis and Jennie and their decision to take the long ass drive to Texas all the way from Idaho. I'm not sure I would survive that with two children, let alone four. They are true champions for making it all the way here and back without any blood shed. I would have happily kept them hostage in my home for...ever, but we had to say goodbye after only one short week. It was much too quiet the moment they left. 

 

A Short Story

I was tending to a bee sting that occurred on my leg moments before I heard a loud crash coming from the living room area. I hurried around the corner to find the changing table pulled over on top of Max. His face was sandwiched between the table and the tile floor. His arm looked bent into an impossible position. I rushed to move the table off of him and get a closer look at his condition. His shrieking cry told me something was definitely wrong since Max is not one to react to physical pain unless it's serious. 

I was relieved to find his injuries were not as bad as I initially thought. He was able to move all limbs and was comforted by hugs and kisses. Then I saw the puncture on his lower lip and that's when I panicked. It was the type of wound that you can see several layers of skin flapping to the side as blood gushes through it. It was so deep that I thought it punctured all the way through to the other side. I applied pressure to the gash while I made calls to several emergency contacts for advice --- all of which did not answer!!! I paced in a few circles when finally I decided that even if I was on the fence about taking him to urgent care, I should just go with my instinct. I would hate to regret something like not taking him. 

Olivia called me as I was loading the kids in the car and gave me some reassurance in my decision, followed by a call from my mother in law. Then Kirk returned my call while in route to the doctor. He was alarmed and left work to meet us immediately. I had calmed down by the time we reached the office and I turned around to see how Max was doing. He was content, holding a towel up to his lip. The cut still looked disgustingly deep, but the bleeding had already subsided on its own. I determined that it had not actually punctured through to the inside, as I originally thought. I considered at this point that perhaps I was overreacting. I took him in anyway and it turns out urgent care office does not treat face wounds. 

The doctor was nice enough to speak with us in the waiting area and give her recommendation just by taking a quick glance at Max. She was insistent that I need to take him to the ER for 2-3 stitches. However, the conspiracy theorist part of my brain told me she was pulling the "doctor-car-salesman technique" on me. My theory is doctors are all in on some cult, prioritizing a dollar over the well being of their patients!!! Greed runs the world!!! Ha. I'm serious though. It's the same scare tactic they use when selling the flu shot and I find it incredibly annoying. I didn't think stitches were necessary anymore, but the word "infection" was lingering in my mind, along with the thought of the wound being in a significant drool zone. 

Anyway, I met Kirk out in the parking lot and relayed the message from the doctor. He checked out Max's face for himself and we both agreed that it was something we could treat at home. We picked up some liquid band-aid along with some ninja turtle band-aids, for the cool effect of course. Max was over it and overall seemed unaffected by the hole in his face. We bandaged him up. And that's the end of this really silly story. 

This tops the charts as Max's most "serious" injury. Although he ended up not requiring stitches, I think I'm still slightly traumatized from the event. I guess I'll consider it a warm up to all the future heart attacks, as I imagine it won't be the last time this fearless boy does something like this. I blame the blood for my overreaction. Oh, and in all this commotion I totally forgot about my bee sting, so that's a plus!

Stagnant Water & Civilizing Caveman

There hasn't been anything blog worthy over the past week or so, but I promise some exciting material is on its way with our upcoming adventures over the next several weeks. July has consisted of a lot of swimming, enjoying summer, and spending time with family and friends. We haven't been making it to the park to play as often, it's fifteen minutes at best before we are all melting. I think I only mention this because I miss our park time and it makes me feel like we are lacking in the active play department, but swimming is good too. Anything to burn off some energy and get these kiddos begging for their beds when night falls. Just kidding. That never happens. The sun does do its job at wearing them out though. Thanks for that, sun. 

Max has decided to be an exceptionally early riser lately. I'm exaggerating. It's actually only been about a half hour earlier than normal, but 30 minutes seems like a long time when I'm in the midst of my slumber. What happened to all of us waking at the same time? I've tried to let my ears do the work while my eyes rest a little longer, but that always turns into a parenting fail. That's when bad things happen --- like when Max approached my side of the bed with an entire can of hair paste in his hair. That was lovely. My ears really let me down on that one. 

I didn't even know Max escaped this morning when he approached my side of the bed holding an unopened ice cold popsicle. I was at least coherent enough to tell him no, but he quickly returned with a frozen yogurt stick instead. I giggled at his cleverness and agreed to let him open that one. I've learned it's best to peel my eyelids off my eyeballs when Max refuses to stay in bed. We snuggled on the couch while big sister slept in a little longer. I wish she could convince Max to operate on that same schedule. Oh well. This life really isn't that rough. 

Max is at his most pleasant self first thing in the morning anyway, so I'm trying to enjoy that time we have together. He's really been giving me a run for my money the rest of the day. He is incredibly naughty. I keep wondering/hoping if he has peeked his naughty point yet, but he continues to astonish me with his mischievous ways. I honestly feel like I'm speaking to a bag of bricks when I ask him to do something. He no longer responds to me and laughs at any glimpse of authority. He literally laughs at everything. He throws food at the dinner table --- laughing. He goes wild in the playroom, throwing toys everywhere. It finally comes to a halt after he tries to pick up the couch and fails. ---- all while laughing. He pulls Lyla's hair --- more laughing. He sneaks out of his bedroom long after bedtime has concluded ---- oh man, this is hysterical. He even laughs in timeout. Nothing phases him. It makes it difficult to discipline because both me and Kirk are constantly covering our faces or hiding behind walls to cover our own laughter. Trying to speak to him with a straight face is nearly impossible. 

There is a dash of anger mixed in with Maxwell's amusement in being disobedient. If he is angry he will fold his arms really tight and pout his lip out. And if he is super pissed he pulls out the high pitched scream. It's all so hilarious to me. Oh, except the screaming. That's been known to blow a fuse. Anyway, it's all very silly because I remember feeling so much more emotional during Lyla's stage of two-berty. I would replay every breakdown and feel like I was failing her. It's sorta funny to think about it now, especially since she has mostly grown out of that irrational behavior. It could be because she is the first child and I dwell on everything when it first happens or perhaps it's just the female energy that creates a more tension. And the fact that she never laughed about being naughty, she took the dramatic route and sobbed about everything. 

On the bright side, Lyla has been enjoying little brother's naughty streak. Max will be doing his thing and this phrase never fails to come from her mouth, "I'm being good, right mom?" We also had to have a little talk about her not being allowed to put Max in timeout. I admire her for taking action, but she is such a dork. I keep thinking about how much I would enjoy a little Max break --- but now that I think of it, Lyla would probably enjoy that just as much. I think I will be arranging some girl time soon. 

They are two very different human beings and I love them both so very dearly. Enjoy the photos!

Hello July!

June is over and July is here. That happened rather quickly. There is so much in store for July --- lots of visitors, including some unexpected surprises. I'm bursting at the seams with excitement!!!! The next month is going to be awesome. Life is so good. 

Oh, I also came to the realization that Max is going through a terrible two phase, it's just much different [aka less dramatic] than Lyla's version. He does things like dump bags of chips on the floor while laughing, go bite for bite on a corn dog with Krew, pee on the carpet, and lock himself in his own bedroom. Yep. That was just one day full of adventure. He is a wild child. 

Here are some photos from the past month. June was good to us, July will be even better. 

Yes. I continue to buy play-dough even though I despise it. I'm a fool.