Getting my mean on

This sweet looking boy can be naughty. I know, It's hard to believe. I guess naughty is a harsh word. He's just being a little boy testing his boundaries. In an effort to make sure that he knows certain things are not o.k. to do. I've found that Max doesn't take me serious. My doctor told me that at one you should start giving time outs for 1 minute.

I've been doing this. Max thinks it's funny. When I look at him with a very serious face and a serious tone of voice. He laughs! That's right, he thinks I'm being funny. Or he doesn't listen to me and keeps doing what he's not supposed to be doing. With somethings, he'll do it even more.

It doesn't help that the daddy will laugh because Max being defiant is really quite funny. He has a really funny smirk. I think we're in trouble with this kid. Then if the daddy laughs, I do too. It's hard not to. Max is so funny.

So in an effort to get him to take me more serious. I'm trying to get, as my brother puts it, my mean on.

Let me know what you think.

This is my serious, I mean business look now. The crazed eyes as if to say, "no you didn't." and the tight lip. I can see why Max thinks I look funny! I need a better look.

How about this? Do I look mad enough? Will he take me more serious?

What about this? The cold sidewards stare. With an added finger point.

What about this look? I added a little growl to my lips.

This maybe a new sexy look for me. I'll try this out on Shaun later. ;)

I think I've got a winner. Are you ready for this look? It's really scary. I look at it and I get scared. Beware! It's really scary.

If looks could kill. I think we would all be dead for viewing this photo. I might have to hold this one for when Max grows bigger then me. Then he'll still know that I'm the mom, a.k.a the boss.

Here I am. back to normal. I don't want you to be scared anymore. :)

A couple of things I learned today

The first thing I learned today is; You have to set your child free to do things on their own and they will surprise you. Also, when your hovering over them they will always use you as a crutch when they really don't need to.

I came to this conclusion today while Max and I where at the park. We've been going a lot to a certain park that we love. It's shaded and secluded. Which helps with what Max likes to do. He loves to climb up the stairs and up the slide. Then slide down the slide with a huge smile on his face and he even lets out a few giggles. This has worried me because he could easily fall over the side. There's not a lot of protection from the side of the slide or the side of the stairs. Because of this, I have been helping him here and there or standing next to him as he makes his way up the stairs or slide.

He had a hard time getting all the way up the slide a couple times. He would slip and slide back down, or seeing me there next to the slide, he would reach for me to help him. After he had some practice he was able to go all the way up by himself.

I still would stand next to him because I didn't feel like he was all the way staple and I wanted to be there just in case.

Well, because I was always standing right next to him. He would start to reach for me to help him the rest of the way. Even though I had seen him do it by himself many times. so today, I sat in the chair that I brought and I decided I was going to let him do it all by himself. This was hard to do at first. I was watching him like a hawk and practically sitting on the edge of my chair ready to pounce at any sign of wobbling on Max's part.

To my surprise, He climbed up the stairs and the slide over and over again without any hesitation, very stable and sure of himself. He then would slide down the slide over and over again. All by himself. I still couldn't keep my eyes off him and every muscle in my body was at the ready to jump up and save him if need be. It was so fun to see him climb up to the top and then turn and look at me for admiration as if to say, "look what I did mom!"

Then he would go down the slide on his tummy with his feet first and his knees bent up under him. It was so cute to watch. It was a great accomplishment.

I also learned today that I have an evil side. That's right people. Let me explain. When we go to the park I bring some fun sand toys for Max to play with. Other kids always want to play with them too. Which is fine and I have no problem with them doing so. It's good for Max to learn to share his things.

Today there was just Max and another little boy. This boy wanted to take all of Max's toys and then not let Max play with any of them. He would yell at Max if he tried to play with the toys. His mom would tell him to share and to stop it. Well, the boy kept on doing this. Then he would throw sand at Max. I was very calm and realize kids will be kids.

Then the other mom pulled out a brand new motorcycle for the little boy. While she tried to get it out of the box. The little boy kept grabbing all of Max toys and throwing them around angrily.

The other mom gave him his new toy and he buried it somewhere and then couldn't find it. The mom tried to help him and they couldn't find it. When it was time for them to leave the boy started throwing a fit and started throwing sand everywhere and getting it all over Max and in his eyes, then grabbing Max's toys and throwing them everywhere.

Then the mom told him they would go get him another toy. What?! after he's been acting like this!? Now, I'm pretty understanding when it comes to kids. Max has his naughty moments. but this kid was being really mean and nasty the whole time he was there.

They left with the mom having to bribe the kid with more toys.

Here's where the story gets good. I decided that I would try to look for the toy motorcycle. I looked with no success. Then as we were about to leave I decided to look one last time. Wall-la! I found it! So you know what I did? I put it in our bag and brought it home! We got that kid in the end! (insert evil witch laugh) I know it was wrong but I found a little pleasure in it. Naughty me! good thing Max is too young to know of my evil doings!

Max is now the new owner of a green and gold motorcycle. It's about 6 inches long and 2 1/2 inches high and can easily get lost in the sand. ;)

motivating me the wrong way

My team at work is in a competition with another team this month. The two supervisors from each team will have to wear something that the other supervisor/team wants them to wear. If their team loses.

My supervisor is really awesome. He's really easy going and always so accommodating with me and my schedule. I'm able to work only 10 hours a week. Whenever I have to switch those 10 hours around to different days then my original day. He always let's me with no problem. I'm really lucky to have a job where I can do that. It's such a wonderful blessing.

My supervisor is also a big, happy, black man with a great personality. The other supervisor said that if our team lost, my supervisor would have to wear a Tu-tu. So my supervisor sent out an e-mail to all of us with the picture below.......

ha ha ha! With this picture he wrote, "Come on team! You don't want to see me in this. I even have a bigger stomach." haha!

I had to then reply to his e-mail with, "I now want our team to lose. Is this bad? because lets face it. This would be great fun for all to see. ;)"

If we do lose and he has to wear a Tu-tu. I really hope it's on a day that I work. If not, I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures taken. This is so motivating me the wrong way. ;) ha ha ha!

I have such a great boss!

phrase of the week

When Shaun was working at Fidelity investments in New Hampshire. He had a Chinese women with a thick accent, who would call about her investments. She was a funny lady. One day she started telling Shaun about the people she worked for and then she said with a feisty attitude and thick Chinese accent, "What do they think I am? Cheap Chinese labor!....I don't think so!!"

Shaun and I have adopted this phrase. Every now and again we'll say it. Like the other day when Shaun asked me to do something for him. I turned to him and in my best Chinese accent I said, "Cheap Chinese labor!......I DON'T THINK SO!"

It makes us laugh every time. :)

Good Friday

What a great day! Why? Because last year I had Max on Good Friday. His birthday is April 10th. Which was on Good Friday last year. I had a great day today pondering and having a flood of emotions about that special day. Thinking about my labor and my beautiful baby boy.

My heart has been swelling with joy all day. I think it's great that I had Max on Good Friday because it was defiantly a GOOD Friday. In fact, I think it should not only be Good Friday, but the BEST Friday.

I will never forget how I pushed for 3 and 1/2 hours and was SO exhausted. But when Max finally came out. I could swear that if I could behold all of gods wonderful creations. I would never see anything as beautiful as my Max. The moment when I finally got to meet him for the first time. PRICELESS! Never to be forgotten. Always to be remembered....forever. I love you Maxwell Thomas Maher.

8 years

On March 2nd, Shaun and I celebrated 8 years of marriage.It was a wonderful day. Our plan was to go out that night to dinner. At about 10:30am Shaun calls me from work and tells me to go to the door because there's something there for me. I head to the door with a smile on my face, thinking that he's sent me flowers. He's never had flowers sent to me before. He's given me flowers but never has had them delivered to me.

I open the door and it's Shaun with flowers and some chocolate covered strawberries! I LOVED IT! What a great surprise! I got a little gitty, I have to admit. And the flowers were gorgeous.
Then he said that he got a babysitter for Max and he's taking me out to lunch and a movie. And It didn't end there. Shaun wrote me the most beautiful letter. He had spent months on it! MONTHS!! How sweet. It was even better because Shaun is more of the every day great husband. He normally has no idea what to do for the special occasions. I guess after 8 years he's learning. As am I. Which is a good thing. I loved that he went ahead and planned everything! And then surprised me.
The letter was cleaver, endearing, and made me cry....that was embarrassing....I don't like to cry. It meant so much to me that he really put a lot of thought and time into it. It was the kind of letter that will be going in my "important file box." You know, the one with all the important papers and things in it, the one that you would grab if there was ever a fire. It's the kind of letter I could and will read over and over again.
He read all the verses 8 in the Book of Mormon and then chose 8 of them and applied them to me with commentary. That was part of the letter. The whole letter was very cleaver, thoughtful, and touched me deeply.
Here is a sneak peak of the letter. Just a peak. I want the rest to be cherished by me only. to be shared between Shaun and I.
1 Nephi 8:8 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow. Shaun's words: "This verse reminds me of you inner purity, goodness, and your beauty. You're naturally good, I saw this when we first met and this characteristic attracted me to you. This verse fits you perfectly."
AND....Shaun's words: "I love how you trust to confide in me all your feelings and thoughts. I know you do not open up to anyone else the way you do to me. This is what marriage is about, It's about being there for each other at all times.

There's a sneak peak for you. Except, Shaun also found things in history that happened on March 2nd, and put it in the letter. I thought I would share them with you. Dr. Seuss was born, 1904. The city of Boston was attacked in 1777. (The same city that Shaun and I got married. :) Grave robbers stole Charlie Chaplin's body in 1978. Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in one game in 1962.
AND, The best thing, Shaun and Ammie were married for time and all eternity in the Boston, Massachusetts temple.
Thank you Shaun for making me feel so special. :) As for the rest of you, I hope I didn't make you all want to throw-up or feel uncomfortable reading something so personal to me as the letter. Because for me it was more than just a sappy letter or post. It was real and it came from the heart with real intent and thought. Personalized just for me. That's why it meant so much to me. It wasen't just I love you, It was WHY I love you. :)

phrase of the week

The Mom-in-ater. This is when you decide to be really silly with your child. Running and jumping on the bed. Tickling your child who is on the bed and saying, "watch out for the Mom-in-ater!" Then steam rolling him (not squishing him completely. ;) Then enjoying the ever so loved giggles.
I've been turning into the Mom-in-ater quite a bit lately. It's super fun to chase Max saying, "Look out for the Mom-in-ater." It turns out that Max gets quite a kick out of the Mom-in-ater. Resulting in lots of giggles from Max AND me....aka.....Mom-in-ater. :)

Crafty

I've been saving my baby formula cans. I've been wanting to decorate them and make some cute things with them. I had my craft girls over today and I finally decorated some of the cans.

before

Something for Valentines Day.

This I did with paper, stickers, and mod podge.

I went and got some cute fabric to make these cans for Max's room. I mod podged the fabric on and then put ribbon around the top and bottom.

Then I added some embellishments

I'm not sure I'm loving the embellishments.

I think they fit perfectly in Max's room.
I'm not sure what they will be storing yet. They just look cute.

Then I made one for Shaun to take to work. I mod podged fabric on to it. Then I put some clear photo holders on it. And put in some cute pictures of Shaun and Max.

I have a lot of fun making these. Their is so much you can do and make with them. I have more cans to decorate. It's fun being crafty.

Dress for success

They say you're supposed to dress for the job you want. Well, I went to Target the other day to buy some new dresses. I picked some that I liked and headed for the dressing room.

When I put the dresses on. They ended up being too short or not to my liking. So, I went back out to find some that were longer. I wanted to be able to sit in them and cross my legs. Without, Showing everyone all my goods.

I headed back to the dressing room. I found a dress I liked. (the dress in the picture to the left)

I also squeezed on another cute dress. Only to discover that it was so tight in the breast area. Which is weird because it's not like I have big breast. I was horrified to find that I could not get the dress off! I started to panic and thought they were going to have to cut me out of this dress. I struggled in the dressing room for about 10 frantic minutes. I finally got the death trap off! I mean, It wasn't like I was trying to squeeze into a smaller size. It was my regular size. I think it was mis-labeled. It felt like a size zero in the chest area. I'm just glad I got the stupid thing off me!

I have been guilty of seeing some pants and looking at them thinking that they looked really big and I should have no trouble fitting into them. Only to get into the dressing room to find that I can't even get them up past my thighs! That's the worst!

Anyways, I ended up only buying one dress. (the dress in the picture) I wore it to church and I felt really good in it. It's nice to have something new to wear. When I got home and went to hang it back up in my closet. I saw the label on the dress. MATERNITY! I guess I wasn't paying attention in the store. I was just glad to find something that was long enough. apparently, Only pregnant women need to wear long dresses. I still like the dress and it now explains why I was asking Shaun if he thought the dress was a little too puffy in the belly area! HAHA!

I now just say, I'm trying to dress for the job I want........to be pregnant again! I've got to have another little angel! Some how some way! Max is the greatest joy for Shaun and I. He must have a little brother or sister. I'm now dressed for success!! I'm dressing for the job I want. :)

Because the stork has forgotten where we live. Although, I like to say that it's the Easter bunny that brings babies. Because, Max was born on good Friday before Easter weekend. :) We were in the hospital for Easter.

Phrase of the week

Sometimes, After Shaun has exhausted all his efforts to feed Max, Or to get him to go to sleep. I've rescued him and Max will guzzle down the food right away, Or I'm able to get him to sleep easily.
So, The other day after an attempt by Shaun to feed Max a bottle before he went to bed. With no success. I took Max and he begun drinking the milk right away. With no problems.
"What are you? The Max whisperer." Said Shaun. I burst out laughing. The Max whisperer! Not the horse whisperer, Not the dog whisperer, But..........The Max whisperer!
Shaun is an amazing daddy. But, I guess sometimes you just need the Max whisperer. :)

All though, As of late, Even the Max whisperer is having trouble! Now what are we going to do? ;)

The phrase of the week..................The Max whisperer.

Family Photos

On New Year's Day. I decided that we MUST go out and take some family photos. As soon as Max woke up from his afternoon nap. We headed out to take the pictures. My brother in law Thom let us borrow his really nice camera lens. I'm so happy we did this! I think the pictures turned out really nice.
I love how we were able to capture Max's little personality. :)

New Year's Eve

This is where Shaun and I spent New Year's Eve. On the couch.

In our pajamas

OK...

OK...

Not in sexy, silk, and overly cheesy matching pajamas

But.....

Maybe in head to toe matching leopard print?

NO...

NO...

NO...

We went for the more traditional. I had on my comfy striped flannel pajamas and Shaun had a T-shirt with his flannel pajama bottoms. They did not match. ;)

We watched a movie and ate popcorn.

I turned to Shaun and said, "When did we become so lame?" The last couple years we have been going over to our neighbors party. I just couldn't justify keeping Max up or waking him up to go over to the party at 10:30pm. So......we snuggled up on a comfy couch in our comfy pajamas, with popcorn, and watched a movie. While Max was sound asleep in his bed.

I then decided that being "lame" wasn't so bad. ;)

I told Shaun that when Max gets older. We had to party and make it super fun for him and for us. Until then? We might just continue to be...........lame. ;) HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's to many more "lame" and "partying" Years together. :) :) :)

Feeling like a moron

I had to go to the store. Wally world in fact. I just needed to pick-up a few things. Which really ended up being a lot of things. So with my cart full, I headed to the check-out line. All the lines where really long. I know this is a shock for Wally world. ;) Even so, The lines were extra long.
I wasen't in a hurry so I took my place in one of the lines and waited.
Then one of the checkers came to me and said, "I can help you over here." Wonderful! I follow her to her register. When I get there I see the sign above the register. Express lane, 20 items or less. Uh-Oh, I don't belong in this line. I tell her that I defiantly have more then 20 items. She tells me that's just fine. She's helping to get the lines through.
This sounds great. Until people start getting in line behind me. People who actually have 20 items or less. It was so embarrassing. Here I am trying to load all of my things on the little counter, No conveyor belt in the express lane. I had to wait for her to ring up some of my items and bag them. Then I could put more things up to be scanned through. I felt like such an idiot! The people behind me were probably thinking the same thing to themselves.
It's a good thing that Max was with me. He was smiling at all the people behind us, being really friendly, and making them smile.
Otherwise, There could have been a riot! It was a relief to roll away with my cart full of goods. I didn't want anyone else looking at me like I was moron being in the express lane with a full cart.

Zoo lights

Shaun, Max, and I went to see the zoo lights at the Phoenix zoo. Shaun was really disappointed. He thought the animals were going to be out. The only real animals we saw were a camel, zebra, and an otter. We did see a whole bunch of animals lit up through out the park. It was cute. If Max was older. He would really have enjoyed seeing all the animals lit up. It was a fun night out.
Here's some pictures of some of the animals. The pictures aren't the best. Enjoy!

Monkeys in the trees

One of the REAL animals. They were giving camel rides.

I had to put Max in his Zaney Zebra sweat shirt for the occasion. I'm weird like that. I also made his knitted hat. I really enjoy making them for him.

Max was more into dad's hat then the lights.

I love Christmas time.