Max is here! Delivery and first week

Finally the day had arrived for me to deliver Max.  I had an induction scheduled for September 27th and arrived to Flowers Hospital the day before to get ready for the big event.  Bright and early on the 27th the nurses and doctor started the induction.  Within two hours Max was here.  He came so quick that there was no time for an epidural or the doctor to make it.  Max was ready to be out!

He was born a healthy 8 lbs 3 oz 20 inches long at 7:39 a.m.  He has dark blue eyes and lots of brown hair.

We spent another 48 hours in the hospital and were released to go home.  It was so nice to be home!  So far Max does alot of sleeping, eating and filling up diapers.  At his first doc appointment he weighed 7lbs 10 oz which is which in the acceptable weight loss for breast fed newborns.  The doc was happy with his progress.

 The newest addition to our family

Maximus Anthony 

 Big Sister Ava holds Max for the first time

 Opening her big sister bag filled with fun things to do while visiting Max in the hospital along with a big sis bracelet and shirt.

 Max's first visitors Cousin Megan and Ben.  Megan came down to help take care of Ava while we were in the hospital.  Ava had a blast playing and having a sleep over with Ben.

 I love these two!

Such a good daddy!

 The hospital provided a nice steak dinner for two while we were there

 My friend Melissa visited us bringing the worlds largest pizza.  She barely fit it through the door. It was so yummy and a nice change from the hospital food.

 My friend Haley painted me this beautiful cross for Max.  We hung it on our door at the hospital.  

 Showing Max his room.  I think he likes it :)

 Relaxing on the couch

 After his first bath.  He did not like it at all!

 Ava is such a good big sis.  She fed him his bottle before his first doc appointment.

 Testing out the stroller for the first time on a short walk around the neighborhood.

Max's Room

The nursery is now complete to welcome home Max.  It has been ready to welcome Max for several weeks but I still had a few projects in the works to decorate the walls and Mark finally hung the last piece last night.  I am so happy with how it turned out and can't wait to have baby Max here!  Just one more week and we will have a sweet baby boy to bring home!!!!

 One weekend when we were staying with our friends Steve and Ginger for one of Mark's races, Ginger helped me figure out what I wanted to do for Max's nursery.  She found this really cute lamp idea on Pinterest that I was able to make myself.

I started with a inexpensive lamp from Target, helicopter buttons, brown ribbon, hot glue and a can of red spray paint and ended up with a cute lamp that matches the room perfectly.

 Since Mark is a helicopter pilot I went with that as the theme of the room.  Ginger and I saw on Etsy where you could buy a wall decal of a plane with the saying "Oh the places you will go"  and I fell in love.  I asked my friend Kathlyn if she could paint something for me for above the crib similar to the decal but with a helicopter instead of an airplane.  She took on the challenge and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!  

 With the purchase of an extra crib sheet I covered 3 canvases with the star sheet and painted out his name for above the changing table.

For the mobile I embroidered helicopters onto brown felt and attached them to Ava's old mobile (minus the little bunny's that once hung on the ribbons for her room).

We are all ready for Max to arrive!

Field Trips and Booster Seats

Yesterday Ava's class had their first field trip to a petting zoo.  The night before a terrible thunderstorm rolled through keeping us up all night and me being a week from having this baby I was thinking we might not go.  However, when I saw the devastated look on Ava's face and when she said her day was ruined, I sucked it up and made the trip.  The kids had alot of fun petting and holding the animals.  They even got to watch a cow being milked!!!  Ava was so sweet afterwards and thanked me for taking her which made all of the waddling around I had to do worth it.  I just love this girl!!!

On a different note...Ava has moved up to a booster seat and she is so proud!  She just loves how she can get in and out by herself and mommy does too.  It will be so handy now that the baby will be here soon!!  Only problem is that she looks like a big girl when I look back at her in her new seat.  Can't they stay small forever?!?!

 Here she is riding in it the first day.  

She insisted on bringing a drink and a snack to put in the cup holders :)

Shower for Max

Back in June my friends threw me an awesome shower for baby Max.  They had the room decked out in ties and mustaches which set the tone for a little baby boy on the way.  I received so many wonderful gifts and enjoyed spending the afternoon with some of my favorite ladies.  Thanks to my friends and family Max is all set for when he arrives in a few weeks!

Cute little onesies and Ties to decorate the gift table

 The cute and yummy tie cake

 The daughter and mommy pregnancy pictures that Erin took for me.

She had a few printed as a surprise and decorated the shower with them.

 I love the little mustaches!

 Ties around the vases

 The food table was so cute!

Opening gifts

me with my wonderful friends and hostesses of the shower

All of us crazy ladies with our mustaches on

Baby Mason wore the mustache the best!

37 Weeks...baby Max is almost here!

I am 37 weeks and have been busy preparing for Max's arrival.  My due date is October 3rd but I feel he will be here early.  He is so low and my belly is huge.  It is starting to be very uncomfortable but I am managing.  I have gained exactly what I did with Ava but I am all belly this time around but for months people have thought I'm getting ready to pop.  Not too much longer now and I will.

Last night Ava had many questions for Mark and I.  She first asked "how will baby Max get out of your belly?". I have to admit I was not prepared for that one.  I simply said I just push him out to which she asked if it will hurt.   I assured her that the doctors and nurses would be giving me medicine to take the pain away and she seemed satisfied with that.  Whew!  

This week we are wrapping up the finishing touches on the nursery (I will have a separate post with pics of this), making sure bags are packed and plans are in order.  I have several sweet friends who have volunteered to watch Ava while we are at the hospital going through delivery so plans are in place.  We are so excited for his arrival!

29 weeks at Max's 4D ultra sound

On July 18th when I was 29 weeks along, we got to see Max for the first time in our 4D ultra sound.  They were the best pictures I had seen and just can't stop looking at them.  Max was so cooperative and you could clearly see how much him and Ava will look alike.  It's so amazing how much better the picture quality of the ultra sounds are so much better than they were 4 years ago with Ava.  What an amazing experience!

Also after 3 test of fasting and the awful drink, I found out I do not have Gestational diabetes like I had with Ava.  It has been nice to not have to be on that struck diet.  I continue to have to see my endocrinologist each month to ensure my thyroid levels are good. So far they are staying stable since March.

 Foot

 Sweet face.  He looks so much like Ava here.

 Opening eyes

 Check out those lips!

Yawn!  

Ava's first day of Pre-K

Ava has been going to Mom's day out a few times a week since she was 2 1/2.  It has been really good for her social skills and gives me a chance to work on my business and have some me time.  This year she is going to the same school but started the  Pre-K program.  She goes every day for half the day and will be learning many things to prepare her for Kindergarten.  We just love her teachers so far and have been amazed at what she has learned already.  It's hard to believe she will be a kindergartener next year!