Gatlinburg

We have been wanting to go to Gatlinburg for a while now and decided to go this weekend. I had a Thirty-One show on Friday night so we went up on Saturday. Some friends of ours were up there so we got a room where they were staying. We got a later start than I wanted so we ended up getting some food on the road on the way up. Max was so excited that he refused to eat until we got to Gatlinburg. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel he scarfed down his chicken nuggets. Kids can be so weird. Who wants to eat cold, over an hour old chicken nuggets? My son, obviously.

I had forgotten that Max has only stayed in an actual hotel room only once maybe twice of his life. We always stay in condos that my parents are a part of. When we walked into our room he said, "Hey, I thought we were staying in the other Gatlinburg!"
Gatlinburg is the place we normally stay in his mind, I guess.
I said, "No baby, we are staying here tonight. This is where Mandy and James are staying, too."
"Oh, where is the living room and the kitchen? This only has a bed room and a bathroom!" he says.

"I know Max, this is a hotel room," I say.

"Oh, well I like the other Gatlingurg with the kitchen and the bathroom."

He is so funny. Well, we were going to eat our usually family tradition of corn dogs and sausage and peppers at Fanny Farckels but after eating Krystals on the way up neither Rex nor I wanted that so we headed out to get something to eat. Max was so upset about not getting his corndog he wouldn't eat anything until about half way through dinner. I promised him he could have a corndog if he wanted it once we got up there and he finally decided that was ok.

We spent the evening on the strip and it was freezing cold. Max never once asked for a corndog the whole time we were in Fanny Farckels playing games. Wesley of course wouldn't ride in his stroller for the majority of the time and so we had to take turns carrying him. He is such a good baby for the most part but his temper and strong will are already coming out. If he doesn't want to do something he will let you know! We had to get our carmel apples from Caramel Corn and Max ate every single bite of his apple on the way back to the car. The boys were exhausted by the time we got back and sacked out pretty quick.

Playing Skee-Ball at Fanny Farckels.

James and Max taking a swing on the chair lift chair.

Going in for the night.

Wesley kept eyeing my carmel apple.

I gave him a taste of the apple.

The next morning we ate breakfast at one of the pancake houses and did some shopping. The guys wanted to hit the Bass Pro Shops on the way home so stopped in there for well over an hour. It is really neat. They have a huge fresh water fish tank and a waterfall in the middle of the store. Even if you aren't an outdoorsy person like myself you should stop in there just to see the store itself. Max played round after round of a target game they have upstairs.

Oh how I love this boy! He is just too precious for words! His little dimples kill me!

Wesley and Abby were talking to each other. She is a month older than Wesley.

This was our first trip with the boys and man was it a lot more work. I love nursing but it can be a nuscance when you are trying to travel. I hadn't had much sleep and my patience was very thin. I was wore out by the time we got in the car. Luckly both boys slept all the way home. We had a great time for our first overnight trip as a family of four. I know there will be many many more to come. I can't wait for the next one. It is so nice to be able to just slip away for a couple of days and get away from home and the every day. I know Max really enjoyed himself and Wesley did really good.

Maxism for the week 11/20/08

I can see 100 acres with my eyes.

Mom, why does it says please enjoy the music while your party is being reached when I try to call Uncle Jake?

What I hear while he is talking to my dad, "So, the bus takes diesel fuel and the van takes gasoline?"

Mom, sweltering means sweating.

I told Max, "If you touch that with your finger one more time you are going to get it." He says, "Well, what about with my thumb?"

This one he said a while ago but still one of my favorites.

Mom, does God walk or does God fly?



FYI- I heard from the doctor today and Wesley's shoulder is just fine. Thanks for the concerns!

The next you go to Parkridge East Hospital Wesley's picture is hanging in the labor and delivery waiting room. It is on the inside wall next to the coke and vending machines.

In case you haven't seen it here is my sweet boy in this gorgeous picture!

check ups and xrays

We took Wesley to the doctor Monday for his 4 month well check. The runny nose and congestion he has had for well over 2 weeks is just a cold, but I was glad it was nothing else. Wesley was 25 3/4 in long, 75% and 13.14 1/2 lbs, 5o%. He still has a little head 16in 25% but he is staying on his growth track.
He had to get 4 shots and he is so pitiful. He actually cries over the shots where Max cried because he was being held down. Poor Max stood out in the hallway during the shots because he couldn't handle brother crying. Earlier during the visit Dr. Spraggins was holding Wesley down to look in his ear, nose, and mouth and he was of course screaming because he didn't like being messed with and I look over and Max is crying. He thought Dr. Spraggins was hurting him. I thought to prepare him that Wesley would probably cry this time because he is older and is communicating more and babies cry because they can't speak. I am glad he is tender hearted and cares about his brother's well being.
We ended up having to get an x-ray of Wesley's shoulder to check the joint. I have noticed he hold his right shoulder at an odd angle a lot and hold his arm straight out quite a bit. She didn't hear or feel anything but we did the x-ray to make sure. I haven't heard back from it yet so I am assuming everything is fine.
We had planned to go to playgroup after the appointment but the x-ray took well over an hour so I took Max to the mall. We ended up running into some friends of ours so we ate lunch together and let the kids play at the mall for a bit.
Hopefully no more doctor again for 2 months. I can't believe how fast 4 months has gone by. He will be as big as Max before I know it!

4 months already

Where does the time go? Wesley turned 4 months on Tuesday and I totally forgot to blog about it! I can't believe 4 months have gone by already. He is really turning over now. Just tonight he turned over 10 times while I was trying to cook dinner. He is still a drool machine, slobber will just pour out of his mouth but no more of the tooth has cut through. His hair is growing back in but I think he may be a red head. In the sun like it glows bright red. Wesley has the sweetest smile with a little dimple on one side of his cheek. Of course, when I brake out the camera or video he stops completely so I can never catch it. He is such a wonderful baby. We went on a church trip yesterday and everyone kept going on and on about how good he was and asking if he ever cried. Yes, he just woke up and I am listening to it as we speak while quickly typing this. I loving having another baby, it has been so enjoyable this time. I am not as worried and uptight and I haven't had all the issues with nursing like I did with Max. I am loving this stage and don't want him to grow too fast. I can't believe I can start cereal this month if I want. It doesn't seem like it is time. I am not ready! He really is a wonderful baby and I am so blessed to be his mommy! I took at few pictures of Wednesday of the boys in their matching pjs. Didn't get any great pics but a couple of funny ones.





Last night was the debut for the pictures in the hospital and we went to see our now famous son's picture. If you ever go to Parkridge East Hospital visit the labor and delivery wing and see Wesley. His picture is hanging on the wall next to the coke and vending machines in the waiting area. The hospital is looking really nice from the remodel. All of the pictures are really good. I am glad we were lucky enough to be a part of it.

This face cracks me up! Those big eyes and his nostrils flared!

Maxism for the week

I have started to journal Max's sayings over the past couple of weeks. With the new baby I have forgoten several cute and smart things Max had said over the last few months. I started to write things down as soon as he says them so I don't forget. I am going to start posting weekly some of them. Here are several from the last week.

What is that smell? Is it smoke? Horrible!

S-T-O-P, Daddy does that sign spell stop?

I was talking to my mom and the phone, I asked her what we were having for lunch the next day. She said turkey and dressing, I said, "Yum, Yum!" Max said, "Are we having sloppy joe's?"

He was wanting cranberry sauce to eat with left over and we didn't have any, "Why can't you make the berry sauce? Do you not have the ingredients?"

I lost my balance that time, didn't I? How did I loose my balance?

Did God make my brain to recognize the TV when my eyes are looking at the TV?

Daddy, Daddy!! This is important!! The dog nappers got Scobby Doo!

His glorious splendour

Driving home from my mom's today was absolutely gorgeous. I love fall, it is my favorite time of the year. Today was just one of those perfect fall days. The trees are magnificent. During the drive I just kept thinking about this wonderful world the Lord made and how majestic it can be. Even in the questionable times, God is still on the throne and he showed it to me today through his beauty. I wish I would have had my camera with me but I probably would have never made it home. A fellow blogger of mine got some great ones today though, thanks for posting them Alicia. Oh how often I take for granted his grace and blessings in my life but I love how a simple ordinary drive I make once a week can become a reminder for me to thank him for his grace and blessings. If you haven't taken a drive this week, I encourage you to do so. While you are out take time to think about our awesome God and this glorious splendor He has given us for our enjoyment. How great is our God!

Not so picture perfect

We had pictures made for our directory at church last month. Max has always been so good when getting his picture made I never thought anything about it. He was horrible! He wouldn't stand up, he wouldn't smile, he wouldn't look at the camera, so on and so on. We finally had to threaten to punish him if he wouldn't start cooperating. Of course, directory photos are not known for their grateness anyway but this was our first family photo since having Wesley. It is not easy to take a picture of a 2 month old and have their face showing while you are holding them either. Max said he didn't like having his picture made at church and just didn't want to do it. The joy of 4 year olds! This is a picture of the picture but it is not much better in person but I thought it was too funny not to share. Rex's skin color looks so dark and the rest of us so pale and the baby with his little fist in the air. It was the best out of them and not too bad but still funny! We had pictures made on the farm this weekend and they did turn out really good. Max and the baby were great and she did a really good job. I can't wait to get them back!

Come out with your guns blazing

Max loves guns. He has since he was just a little thing. The other night at home he was playing cops and I guess he thought he needed to put as many guns in his pockets as he could. He was making up put our hands up and taking us to jail. I finally snapped a few picuters even though he wasn't happy about it. It was too funny not to capture!
Max being cheezy!

Who knew you could stick 2 shot guns, a pistol, and a lazer gun in only 2 pockets?!

Halloween fun

Here is the last of our Halloween fun. We had Trunk or Treat and a fall festival at our church on Wednesday night. Max was in a strange mood and didn't want to play much or have his picture taken hence the very few photos I have. He didn't want to trunk or treat at first. He sat in the back of my mom's van and gave out candy for the most part. I carried Wesley around and trunk or treated with him. Finally, Max decided to go around and on the way home he kept talking about what a good time he had trick or treating with Nana's. He enjoyed giving away the candy more than getting it.

My little scarcrow with an upturned hat so he could see!

My friend Mandy and her baby Abby. She is a month older than Wesley

Wesley in his pumpkin costume.


Sarah Palin even made a visit!

On Halloween night we went to Rex's cousin's mother in law's house to trick or treat. Thankfully it wasn't too cold, it was freezing Wednesday night. We went to about 15 houses and Max was finished. He had enough and was ready to go back. When we got back he finished giving out candy and again enjoyed that more than trick or treating itself. We had a really enjoyable evening with our family. I am so glad my boys will have cousins their age to grow up with. It will be so much fun!

Max is ready to go trick or treating.

Wesley and Neely. Neely is our cousin's baby that will be 1 in January.

Wesley and Neely

Max was done with having his picture made! My silly SpongeBob and sweet little scarecrow! Wesley's costume is just too cute. It was my favorite!

Max and Neely

There is nothing like stoller trick or treating!

Going door to door.

Wesley in his cute halloween outfit!