Maxton Starts Preschool

Just a quick one about Max starting preschool. I was nervous. He clung, but he didn't cry. I called 15 minutes after we left him and was told he was just fine! When I picked him up he was all smiles. Before bed tonight he asked to go again tomorrow. I guess preschool is a hit!









OMG. I die. He is just so darn cute.

EVERYTHING is Thomas the Train this year. I'm just going with it.

We're SO proud of you, Max! I cannot wait to watch you blossom at Rodef Shalom.

Oh, did I not mention he's at a Jewish preschool? Hmm...

I have no explanation. We'll see how it goes. It's a lovely little school where the religious aspect is very small. The way I see it is that maybe he'll get to learn something new that I couldn't have taught him about Judaism? Whatever, I had limited choices and I liked the program, so I'm going with it. Just like the Thomas stuff.

How did this post become so long? Why you gotta let me ramble on?

The Little One Turns the Big ONE

Bennett turned ONE today.



Ben is always keeping us on our toes. He's so brave and yet, because of that, he often gets himself into situations that he's scared of. He also falls. A lot. I'm not used to that. I'm constantly having to stay on top of him, but I'm getting better at letting him explore a bit more and even let him fall. Nine times out of ten he gets right up and tries whatever it is that just made him fall again. And, THEN, he falls again. What am I going to do with him?!

He's standing more and more on his own. He wants to walk really badly, but he's unwilling to take it slowly. He just tries to go and then falls (see above). I wonder if he won't walk until he's physically able to just run. We'll see, I guess. My days of having a crawler will end sooner than I'd like. He has such a cute, determined little crawl. Head down, charging forward, laughing the whole way.




For B's birthday we went to Build-A-Bear over the weekend so he could get his first stuffed animal just like his big brother did on his first birthday.



He bonded with the horse immediately. He kept kissing it with his sloppy open mouthed kisses that he's known for around here. I beg for those kisses and he willingly obliges. Once he kisses one person he has to make sure everyone else in the room gets one, too. He's so generous with his smooches!







This morning we had a ball pit set up for him and he got to open the balls that go inside tonight.




Just like any red blooded baby he preferred the wrapping.



He spent about 3 minutes in there before he lost it.


Way to go, Mom and Dad. Ball pit was a major fail.


He DOES like to hold just one ball, though.

He got to have his FAVORITE, corn on the cob for dinner.

Then there was cake. Or, rather a cupcake.






He started off slow. Just picking the frosting off one little bite at a time.





Then, he just went for it.





That's more like it, Ben!



Happy Birthday sweet Ben! We'll celebrate TWO more times this weekend so the fun is just beginning. I LOVE being your momma and feel so lucky to have you as mine. Your smile and charm slay me. You are pure sweetness with a pinch of spunk. I wouldn't' have you any other way.

We all love you, Bennett B. Happy birthday.

Big Day Tomorrow

Last year on this day I wrote this post.

Little did I know that in a few short hours the contractions would begin. They would pick up some time later that day and quickly spiral into Ben's birth. It feels so weird looking back, so much has happened this year. I can't believe our baby is turning one tomorrow. I hope he feels celebrated despite the fact that I failed today at finding him a shirt that said, "It's My Birthday!" or, "I'm ONE!" or something equally cheesy.

But, balloons are being blown up as we speak. There's a homemade birthday banner and there will be cupcakes and candles and singing and my family will celebrate our youngest member on his special day the best way we know how. With love and yummy food and fun gifts (we got him a ball pit - I can't wait to see both boys in it tomorrow!).

Tomorrow also happens to be Max's first day of preschool. He did a very small in home type of preschool last year, but this is different. I had to pack him a lunch. He has a classroom. He has TWO teachers. He'll have 14 other classmates. I'm so scared for him. Which is silly, because I'm sure he'll have a blast and be just fine. But, I've spent the past 5 weeks with him and now I have to let go a little bit and trust that the tears at drop off will be soothed by those teachers and that those classmates will soon become friends.

Max and I have had a rough few weeks. I love that little guy. He's learning a lot of tough little lessons and I'm trying to figure out how to parent a almost 3 year old. I feel like I'm failing him miserably about 85% of the time. I'm trying to keep my cool, be loving and still not let him get away with whatever it is that he wants. Like, today? An HOUR long cry fest over the fact that I didn't have Teddy Grahams in the car. The kid has had Teddy Grahams a grand total of... once. Yet, for whatever reason he was obsessed with them today. It wasn't pretty. Even less pretty was my response about 25 minutes in when I hit my breaking point. Let's just say it wasn't effective and now I feel like shit.

And, that's how parenting goes sometimes, I guess. All this to say that I'm going to miss the crap out of him, but I do think that preschool will be good for him. Burn some energy, socialize, take a break from his crazy mommy. All good things, even if the adjustment takes some time.

Think of Max tomorrow, will ya? Send him some happy schooling thoughts. Also, in your thoughts, tell Ben he needs to remember that just because he's one he's still my baby and not to go thinking he's all big and stuff.

Thank you and goodnight!

5 Weeks In

We've been living in CO for five weeks now. It seems like it's been much longer as we've quickly gotten to know our new town. There's so much I love about where we live, so let me start there.

Our house. I'll do a house tour soon. This space has proven to be so perfect for us. We (FINALLY) have a huge play space for the boys and they each have their own room. Our kitchen is dreamy and I love cooking AND cleaning it (shocking, I know!). We have a fireplace that I can turn on with a switch (which means I can operate it) and a separate dining and living area. All for less significantly less than we would pay in San Jose. Like, A TON less.  I'm loving decorating and making this awesome space our own. Here's a little sneak peak:











I can't wait to show you more! Soon, soon...

I also ADORE our town. Well, our neighborhood I guess they're called here. We live in the city of Denver, but the neighborhood of Stapleton. It's a new development that is flooded with families and small children. There are 3 elementary schools alone in our somewhat small community because there are SO many children here. We're walking distance to a huge park where I go and participate in Stroller Strides (a mommy workout) and Max will be joining soccer that practices at that park in a few weeks. We can also walk out our front door and access several walking trails. We have a town center with restaurants and a huge lawn area where they have weekly farmer's markets, movies on Friday nights, pony rides, and monthly antique fairs. I haven't a clue what the winters are like in this neighborhood, but I cannot wait to find out!


Max enjoying the Farmer's Market


Max playing in the water fountains at the Town Center


Ben and me hanging by the fountain


Town center pony ride


Out for an evening walk



Also, we're about 20 minutes (surface streets) to downtown Denver and Ritchie works right in LoDo (lower downtown) which is about as charming as it comes. It's the perfect location for date nights and even eating out with the kids. There's a darling bookstore right down the street from Ritchie's building. I'm just in LOVE with LoDo, and all of downtown is pretty great.




Behind those two goofballs (just kidding!) is Larimer street. A quaint hot spot in LoDo. It's one of my favorites.

Something else I love about Denver so far is the FOOD. Oh yeah. Now, I LOVED food in my old hometown also so I was a bit worried about leaving all the deliciousness behind and having to find new favorites. But, Denver delivers.


Behold, the Denver Biscuit Bus. Yes, bus. It drives around to Farmer's Markets (and who knows where else) delivering AMAZING biscuits topped with so much yumminess it's almost too much to handle. This one? The Dahlia. It's a biscuit, sausage, egg, apple butter and it's smothered in MAPLE SYRUP. I mean, really. There are no words.


On a somewhat healthier note, we get milk delivered to our door every Thursday morning. It's delicious AND convenient. AND we have a milkman whom we've actually met. Interesting, huh?


Plus, the delivery box that resides on our front porch is ADORABLE.


We can also get pie delivered weekly. We don't, but we CAN. That's pretty exciting in our world.

'
And, it took several attempts, but we finally found some GOOD pizza! Hurray!

The great news is that most good (and bad for you) food is a bit of a hassle to get to or you have to drive a ways, so we eat at home more often and our waistlines (and bank accounts) are pretty happy about that.

So, with all these great things I should balance out with a few things I'm not appreciate of.

1. The altitude. I feel like each leg weighs about 200 pounds when I try to run. That could be because, you know, I NEVER used to run and now I'm attempting it. Or it could be the altitude.


Also, for about a week the altitude did this to my face. Chapped, dry and SO sore. Plus, it was uber attractive. Ritchie couldn't keep his hands off of me.

I miss our play date group and having some momma time with the girls that I've raised my sons with thus far. I miss Max's preschool and all his little buddies from there. Max starts a new preschool next week, but I know it won't be the same. I'm nervous. It's not Miss Tanya and I'm scared that he'll feel overwhelmed. Sometimes change is hard and I feel guilty about making Max face some of the hard changes.

Also, I miss my family. A lot. Both sets of parents will be visiting next week and I'm really excited, but I'm dreading them leaving already. That's hard stuff.

We have an exciting week ahead and I'm going to focus on that. Ben turns ONE on Tuesday. My mom arrives on Thursday and my Dad on Sunday. Good things ahead this week. I'll have lots to tell you about.


To end, just a cute picture of the boys sharing pudding.

Bennett's First Year Book

Finally ordered it and it will be here the day after he turns the big ONE!

Ben's First Year | Make Your Own Book

July Photo Favorites

July was insane. Ritchie got a job offer, we visited Colorado and then packed and moved all within 4 weeks. I don't have many pictures. I'm sort of kicking myself for not documenting our move better, but in all honesty I'm not sure I had the capacity to do that. I was almost constantly doing something. My goal in August is to properly document our new life here in CO so at least I have that!

Here are just a few from July:


Our trip to CO. Max just wanted to push the stroller the entire time.


Max sure is excited here. I have no clue why.


Ben in my sunglasses is my favorite.


Besides Max's charming smile, it sort of looks like he's being farted on by that random dude. Great composition, Jamie!


He loves to be wrapped in towels.


Why do I only have tons of Max? Probably because Ben is forever crawling away.

Happy August 1st!