Maxwell's House

Stripes!

2012-02-18T19:28:00.004-06:00

Like me, my mom loves a good project. Only she has the motivation to start them and get them done. I have been talking about painting stripes in Max's bedroom for several months, and so she and my dad brought all of the supplies (I was in charge of the paint), and we made it happen. My dad bought special tape for this kind of project, and it was awesome. No touch-up needed! Voila!

My color inspiration ...

A Flu Valentine

2012-02-18T19:18:00.005-06:00

My parents kicked off Valentine's Day week by bringing a heart-shaped pizza on Saturday. It was June's first taste of pizza, and she wasn't quite sure about it. But Max loved it.

Unfortunately, we all picked up a stomach bug and spent the next few days recovering. Once everyone was feeling better, I let Max have some of the candy he got from friends at school. He chose the Smarties, and then looked at me and said, "Mom, it makes me so happy."

Once again, a silly holiday is a lot more fun with kids.

A New Trick or Two

2012-02-18T19:12:00.002-06:00

June loves a good rocking chair. Lately, she has been climbing in and out of a child-size version in Max's room. But last weekend, I walked into the living room to find her sitting in the big rocker. She had a big smile on her face and was rocking back and forth, so proud of herself. Of course, I think, this is an accident waiting to happen. But then she just climbed right down again. And up. And down. And you see where this is going. Oh, and she walks, too!

Play-Doh and Underpants

2012-01-22T19:13:00.004-06:00

We received a huge box of Play-doh from some friends this year as well as a Cookie Monster Play-doh set, and Max will sit at the kitchen table and play for what seems like hours. This is also a fun activity for June, who likes to take the Play-doh containers out of the tub and try to eat little bits from the floor.

O Christmas Tree

2012-01-22T19:12:00.002-06:00

Pretty Girl

2011-12-28T13:57:00.001-06:00

Christmas Morning

2011-12-28T13:39:00.005-06:00

Christmas is so much more fun with kids. Max was so excited for it this year, and we spent weeks shopping, reading about it and talking about it. He couldn't believe it when we told him it was finally Christmas morning!

Burkle Family Christmas

2011-12-28T13:35:00.003-06:00

Eight adults. Seven children. Makes for a hectic family gathering, but we had a great time.

Holiday Card Fail

2011-12-28T13:29:00.004-06:00

It is so hard to get a good photo of two young children. Here are several attempts before I gave up and sent a holiday greeting card with separate photos! (It is also really hard to keep the blog up-to-date, too. Sorry, folks.)

Tricks and Treats

2011-11-17T13:17:00.004-06:00

Once again, Halloween proved to be much more fun with kids. Max was excited to be a fireman, and June was his little dalmatian. I made Max's outfit out of a gray sweatshirt, orange tape and a bit of felt for the collar. He also had a badge, but it fell off during the school parade. I realize I could have gotten more creative with the under-outfit, but it was a work night. And he didn't care. He had so much fun trick-or-treating with his cousins, and his "candy pick" for the night was a little bag of goldfish crackers, so that worked out well, too.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-23T13:27:00.004-05:00

We've had so much going on recently, and I never had a chance to take the kids to a pumpkin patch. Luckily, a neighboring church creates their own patch for lazy people. So Danza and I gathered the kids and picked out a few pumpkins for our porch. Max and Harrison were excited to pick out their own pumpkins, and then we let them ride their bikes in the empty parking lot. Bet you can't do that at a real pumpkin patch.

A Weekend at Grandma Barnes

2011-10-23T12:57:00.003-05:00

Sometimes, a little R&R is in order, and a weekend at Grandma Barnes Cabin in Brown County recently fit the bill. The cabin was quiet and comfortable, with a rustic charm. We spent the first night playing Yahtzee and drinking red wine in rocking chairs on the screened-in porch. Danza, Matt, Drew and Christa joined us on the second night for a bonfire and games. The weather was perfect, and we are ready to book next year's getaway!

Baby Couture

2011-10-08T14:48:00.002-05:00

Justin has a great aunt June, and her daughter made our little June this dress when she was born. The detail is so beautiful, we've had it hanging in her nursery for months and finally let her try it on.

Pizza Party

2011-10-08T14:37:00.004-05:00

We found a new way to make an old standby -- grilled pizzas! Load up regular pizza dough with your favorite toppings and grill on medium heat for 10 minutes or so. The toughest part is getting the raw dough off the plate -- otherwise, it's an easy treat. And yummy, too! My favorite style? Prosciutto, veggies, goat cheese and add arugula after it's cooked.

Red Riding Hood

2011-10-08T14:32:00.003-05:00

Time to break out the fall wardrobe, including this little number! It's a little tough getting the kids to sit still for a photo, but I managed to land a few good ones (including one of June's new funny face).

Lego Soup

2011-10-08T14:28:00.002-05:00

I'm loving the cooler temperatures, so I'm trying to keep the kids busy outside as much as possible. We lugged this huge box of legos from the basement for the kids to play with, which kept June entertained as well. And when they were done building houses, they made lego soup!

Six Months!

2011-09-02T19:54:00.005-05:00

June has hit the half-year mark, and she's more delightful than ever. When she's excited, her eyes light up and she crinkles her nose and shows off the biggest smile you've ever seen. She's in one of my favorite stages -- sitting up well, but not really mobile yet. She's still a chunk -- tipping the scales at 18 lb., 7 oz. at her most recent check-up, which is in the 90th percentile for weight. She's in the 75th percentile for height.

Chicago Scenes

2011-09-02T19:44:00.005-05:00

There was so much we wanted to do on our trip, but it's hard to fit it all in a short weekend. We strolled Lincoln Square and Andersonville, had a sandwich at Costello's and enjoyed brunch at M Henry with our former neighbors and their gorgeous daughter, Naomi. (Their tomato plants were pretty gorgeous, too.) June was a good travel companion, but we left Max with Grandma and Grandpa for this trip.

Smoked

2011-09-02T19:20:00.006-05:00

We visited some friends in Chicago last weekend, and our friend Andrew smoked a 13 lb. brisket to mark the occasion. He started it at midnight on Friday, and checked on it every 1 - 2 hours in the middle of the night. He had to rig a special cover during an unexpected downpour Saturday morning. And after 18 hours of tending and rigging and waiting, we feasted Saturday evening, and it was worth the wait. Delish! The accompanying BBQ sauce, jalapeño-cheddar grits, cole slaw and beer were pretty amazing, too. I wish I would have taken photos of Andrew and Meredith's house -- it's a row house built in 1898 in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. They have been fixing it up for several years, and it looks awesome.

Sittin' Pretty

2011-08-16T13:30:00.002-05:00

Helping Hands

2011-08-16T13:25:00.001-05:00

This could be a really long story, but we had to rebuild a retaining wall on the side of our house after a utility truck backed into it. The contractor we hired quit midway through the project, and Justin and his dad (and Max, of course) are in the process of finishing it. It is looking really good, and I can't wait to post the "after" photos once it is complete!

Family Time

2011-08-16T13:21:00.003-05:00

Don hosted the Harrison Family Reunion last weekend, and we had such a great time visiting with all of Justin's family. Don had the perfect set-up for games, food and pool time.

Pool Time

2011-08-16T13:16:00.002-05:00

One of the reasons I'm so behind on the blog is because we spend so much time in the pool at Don's house! We are there most weekends and sometimes through the week for a quick dip. The kids -- especially Max -- love being in the water. I highly recommend the Puddle Jumper floatation device for toddlers. Max can "swim" on his own with it, which gives me a little more peace of mind.

Baby Doll

2011-08-16T13:11:00.003-05:00

My grandmother made me a Raggedy Ann doll when I was little, and my mom cleaned her up and made her a new dress when June was born. Now that June is semi-mobile, I often finding her playing with her baby doll in the mornings. So cute.

Daddy's Girl

2011-08-16T13:10:00.002-05:00

Big Boy Bed

2011-08-16T13:09:00.002-05:00

Mirror, Mirror

2011-07-14T19:51:00.003-05:00

Mr. Fix-It Wannabe

2011-07-14T19:47:00.002-05:00

I recently bought Max a little toolset, and, naturally, my mom made him a custom toolbelt to go with it. He loves fixing things, including his lawn mower. Here, he is cleaning out the grass from the bottom of the mower with a screwdriver ... something he may or may not have seen his dad doing the other day.

We work with what we've got ...

2011-07-14T19:43:00.003-05:00

This is Max's sandbox. It's a giant hand-me-down rubbermaid container filled with sand and toys, and he loves it! We were looking for more stay-at-home outdoor activities, and this fit the bill. We recently moved it to the patio below the deck because I was spending so much time sweeping up the fun, and now it's close to the sprinkler. Some may call us frugal; I like to think we're being green.

Pajama Time

2011-07-14T19:42:00.000-05:00

Max developed a habit of removing his diaper at night, and I had to get creative with his pajamas so we all could get a good night's sleep (and I could spend less time changing bedding). I cut the feet off footed pajamas so he could wear them backwards! I even bought some "new" pairs at Once Upon a Child to customize and add to the rotation.

Green Things

2011-06-11T13:42:00.006-05:00

Now that we're homeowners, I'm trying my hand at all things green, including flowers, lettuce, tomatoes, basil and cilantro. We'll see how things fare by the end of the summer.

Naked House

2011-06-11T13:40:00.000-05:00

One of our most recent home improvements was to pull out the evergreen bushes out front. They were approximately 30 years old and covered up so much of the house. One landscaper suggested waiting until we were ready to plant new shrubs because we would be shocked at how bare our house looked, but we were ready to pull the trigger. We'll plant new shrubs this fall, but we're happy with our naked house for now.

New Toy

2011-06-11T13:39:00.003-05:00

We had to purchase a new jumper for June (well, it's new to us, thanks to Once Upon a Child). How did we survive without one of these for Max? We may have held him a little more often, but that's impossible now that we have two!

Tummy Time

2011-06-11T13:37:00.002-05:00

Junebug

2011-06-11T13:32:00.004-05:00

Our little June is such a great baby. She is full of smiles, just started laughing and rolling over, and she's been sleeping through the night (11 - 12 hours!) since she was 8 weeks old! And she's still a great eater -- everyone we meet comments about her chubby cheeks and legs. I'm trying to savor every moment of the infant stage, but time is flying by.

Colored Water

2011-06-11T13:25:00.003-05:00

Now that it has finally stopped raining, Max and I are finding all kinds of activities to do on the deck. His favorites are watering the flowers, painting and (of course) sitting down for a snack.

Little Park, Big Park

2011-06-05T19:43:00.005-05:00

When we were house-hunting, I really wanted to find a house that was within walking distance to a park. In Chicago, we could walk to several parks, and I loved being able to venture out with Max without having to jump in the car. We found a house just down the street from Sherwood Oaks Park, just off the Jackson Creek Trail. And if we are up for a little bit of a walk (about 10 minutes), we can head out to Olcott Park, which is much bigger (and more toddler-friendly). Here's a peak of one of our almost-daily outings.

Gearing up in the double-stroller (I highly recommend the Maclaren Twin Triumph!) ...

Sherwood Oaks Park

The Trail

Olcott Park

Rollerskates

2011-06-05T19:36:00.003-05:00

Apparently, Max was impressed by our neighbor's rollerskates. A few hours after visiting with them, I found him trying to make his own.

All Aboard the Birthday Train

2011-05-10T20:21:00.006-05:00

We celebrated Max's birthday (and Mother's Day) with a train ride from Noblesville to Tipton for lunch. We thought this would be a special treat for Max, and while he enjoyed seeing all the trains at the station, he was a tad too young to enjoy the 45-minute ride. Still, it was nice to spend time with my parents and my brother's family, but we were all tuckered out for the ride home.

We ended the day with a casual cookout back in Bloomington, where Max enjoyed another birthday treat. (Check out more photos on Uncle Matt's blog!)

All in all, we had a nice time this weekend with family, but I am requesting a Mother's Day do-over.

Cake Face

2011-05-10T20:04:00.004-05:00

That's what Max called Parker when they were devouring Max's birthday cupcakes. After all, birthdays are all about the cake, right? We spent the week leading up to Max's second birthday talking about birthday cake and candles, singing "Happy Birthday," and teaching Max to say "I'm two!" ("Mine two!"), and our work paid off. He especially enjoyed all the sweet treats and "prizes" at his first party at my parents' house in Carmel.

Max's favorite "prize" was his new big boy (and big league!) baseball hat.

Baby Legs

2011-05-10T20:03:00.002-05:00

First (Real) Photos

2011-05-02T12:54:00.005-05:00

June had her first professional photo shoot in early April by our friend and photographer Zach Dobson Photography. Here are some favorites ...

Two Months!

2011-04-29T12:12:00.004-05:00

June turned two months this week! She got an A+ at her two-month check-up, tipping the scales at 13 lbs., 13 oz., which is greater than 97th percentile for weight. She recently discovered her hands, and they are always in her mouth -- particularly her thumb, which may be the reason for her sleeping through the night (two nights in a row!). She is a very laid-back baby with a beautiful smile, and we're having so much fun getting to know her.

Best Buddies

2011-04-29T12:08:00.002-05:00

That might be an overstatement, but Max is having more fun with June now that she can smile at him. He likes to bring her toys and touch her cheeks, and he is always asking to "Hold Jume" (that's not a typo).

New Boots, Old Boots

2011-04-29T12:00:00.003-05:00

Max may have a boot fetish. He just can't get enough of them.

Round and Round

2011-04-12T20:03:00.002-05:00

Max also learned how to sing "Ring Around the Rosie," which he now calls "Round and Round." It only took a few takes to learn the ropes.

Tuckered Out

2011-04-12T20:02:00.000-05:00

We All Scream for Ice Cream

2011-04-12T19:55:00.004-05:00

Max devoured his first ice cream cone at my mom's house this weekend. By "devoured," I mean "savor every bit until you are covered in stickiness and the cone disintegrates into your hand" -- which took about 20 minutes.

A Day at the Farm

2011-04-12T19:33:00.003-05:00

We kicked off our weekend in Carmel at Andy's house, where Max got to play with toy tractors and ... real chickens. My brother and sister-in-law have a bunch of chickens at their house in the 'burbs so they can enjoy fresh eggs. The chickens are all different, and it was so cool to see them running around the yard.

Cozy Toes

2011-03-24T12:51:00.003-05:00

The only good thing about this cold weather is the chance to show off some new shoes. A friend recently knitted these Ugg-like slippers for June.

Say "Cheeks!"

2011-03-24T12:49:00.002-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-19T13:07:00.003-05:00

Feast

2011-03-19T13:01:00.002-05:00

Bubbe was here this week to help out with the kids, and we all had a great time. The weather was beautiful, and we made a couple of trips to the park. One of my favorite outings was a trip to Feast, a newish bakery cafe in town, where we sat outside for coffee and pastries. The kids were so good. Max liked watching the cars go by, and June just liked the fresh air. Danza and Henry were able to join us, too!

Clean Baby

2011-03-12T20:12:00.005-06:00

Bubbe (Justin's mom) is here this week, and she helped me give June her first bath. We used the Puj, a foam liner that fits in the sink. June liked it.

All clean! June was awake for about 10 minutes after her bath and then slept all day!

Laundry Day

2011-03-12T20:10:00.002-06:00

Someone's been paying close attention ...

2011-03-12T20:09:00.002-06:00

Play Date!

2011-03-12T20:03:00.005-06:00

June enjoyed her first play date this week when my friend Amie and her daughters Audrey and Vivi visited from Indy. By "enjoyed," I mean "slept through," but that's just how she rolls these days.

Little Sister

2011-02-28T19:14:00.002-06:00

First Days at Home

2011-02-28T19:12:00.003-06:00

Meet June

2011-02-28T19:05:00.004-06:00

June Frances was born at 4:28 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, tipping the scale at 8 lbs., 11 oz., and 19.5 inches. We had a wonderful labor and delivery experience, and she has been a delightful baby since we brought her home.

Max is very excited to be a big brother, and he has been very helpful around the house. (Of course, my mom has been even more helpful, so we are feeling pretty lucky these days.)

Oh -- and June was born on her Grandma Diane's 60th birthday, which was really special. Happy Birthday, Bubbe!

Nine Pounds Lighter

2011-02-28T19:02:00.003-06:00

Before

After

New Breakfast Option

2011-02-28T18:57:00.002-06:00

We introduced Max to cold cereal for breakfast, and he is a big fan. He usually eats three bowls of Cheerios. The bowls are small, but still ... three bowls?

Prepping for June

2011-02-07T19:02:00.004-06:00

Here's a sneak peak of the nursery. I still want to get a rug and some wall-hangings, but it's baby-ready! June's room will also serve as a guest room, so we had to find fabric that matched the day bed. (Oh and my mom made the bed skirt and curtains. She's the best.)

And almost all of the clothes are hand-me-downs. I'm so lucky to have such generous friends and family -- and they have great taste, too.

More Elmo

2011-02-07T19:00:00.003-06:00

I couldn't resist posting this pic, despite my attire. Max kept resting his hand on my belly. He's going to be such a sweet big brother.

Brown County Getaway

2011-01-24T18:49:00.004-06:00

My parents rented a cabin in Brown County for my mom's birthday, and they invited Max and I to spend the day with them. We had lunch and played at the cabin, and I caught up on several magazines during Max's nap. They stayed at the Eagle's Nest Vacation Lodge, which is amazing -- but way too big for two people! (My mom stays there every year with her girlfriends and wanted my dad to see it.) We'll have to tag along again next year.

Melmo

2011-01-19T19:39:00.003-06:00

Thank God for Elmo. Max has just started becoming interested in TV, and he prefers Elmo, or "Melmo" as he calls him. This buys me bursts of "me time" throughout the day in 15-minute increments, which I'm going to need when the baby gets here. (Speaking of babies, Max likes to watch TV and read books with his new baby dolls he got for Christmas. Too cute.)

Harrison Family Christmas

2011-01-07T13:29:00.005-06:00

We celebrated Christmas with Justin's family on New Year's Eve. Lauren, Jeff and Leo were able to make it, so we had five grandkids there this year (all under the age of 2.5!!). It was actually a weekend-long celebration, with a ping pong tournament and shuffleboard games at Don's, breakfast at our house and lots of lounging/snacking at Danza's. I only took a few photos, but will be sure to steal some from other family blogs soon. We also had a weigh-in for the boys, and, while they were all within a couple of pounds of each other, Max took home the medal. (He's the middle grandchild right now -- both in age and in the picture.)

Felt Food

2011-01-07T13:23:00.003-06:00

Two of my nephews received play kitchens for Christmas, so I made them some play food out of felt to go with them. Working with felt is super easy, and I had hoped to make more items, but ran out of time. (I copied the pasta from my cousin Julie, made up a pattern for the sliced bread and used a pattern from Etsy for everything else.)

Love the Radio Flyers!

2011-01-07T13:20:00.002-06:00

Max loved finding a new tricycle under the tree, but he was also quick to notice an antique scooter we found for Grandpa Don. We kept telling him it was for Grandpa, so when he stopped by later that day, Max was excited to show him the ropes.

Christmas Morning

2011-01-07T13:07:00.000-06:00

Christmas was so fun this year. From shopping to decorating to reading Christmas stories, it was so fun to see how Max took it all in. Then there was Christmas morning. We all had breakfast before taking him to the tree, and he was so excited to see all the presents. Of course, he checked out the tricycle first, and then we took our time opening each new toy.

Even Baby June got a gift. Justin picked out this little number all by himself and snuck it under the tree. (Yup -- we're sharing the name. June Frances. We were afraid we would slip in front of our families, so we spilled the beans.)

A Very Burkle Christmas

2011-01-07T13:06:00.005-06:00

We celebrated Christmas with my side of the family on Christmas Eve. My mom made a wonderful dinner, and all of the adults actually managed to sit at the same table and enjoy it! With six grandkids, it can get a little hectic, and I didn't get very good pictures of our gift exchange. Note to self: get all of the kids together for at least one photo each year.

My mom made this beautiful quilt for the baby. I love it!!

Visit with Santa

2010-12-22T13:34:00.003-06:00

Max did not enjoy his first trip to see Santa. He happily watched as Harrison talked to Santa, but then cried and clung to me when it was his turn. This was the best I could do for a photo -- Harrison and Max (and Henry) playing in the mall with Santa in the background. Merry Christmas!

Pajama Party

2010-12-22T13:30:00.005-06:00

Max and Harrison had their first real sleepover last week. Grandpa Don babysat at our house, and it was easier to just have Harrison spend the night. They got a good report from Grandpa, Harrison slept in the guest room with no issues, and Max was so excited to have extra company at breakfast.

Baby Belly

2010-12-16T13:58:00.003-06:00

I've been bad about documenting this pregnancy -- mostly because I wear sweatpants every day, I think. But I recently got dressed in real clothes for a holiday party and decided to pose for a belly shot -- just 11 weeks to go!

Snow Day

2010-12-04T20:35:00.007-06:00

We had so much fun playing in the snow today. Max was too young to enjoy it last year, but he was so excited to go outside today. At first, he just stood and watched Justin shovel the driveway for awhile. But then we headed to Grandpa's and broke out the sled, and he could not stop laughing. We can't wait to go out again tomorrow.

Hiding

2010-12-04T20:31:00.002-06:00

Max is really into hiding lately. He likes to hide with his dad, and they always hide in the same spots. Then they trade spots. So fun.

House Projects!

2010-11-08T20:01:00.004-06:00

We have been in our new house for two weeks, and we have a couple of projects crossed off the list. We decided lime green was not a good fit for the master bath, and this was my first painting project ever!

Before

After

We also had to do something about our closet. There was so much wasted space with a single rod and shelf, so I designed a Rubbermaid closet, and Justin and his dad installed it this weekend. It's not a fancy walk-in affair, but it is a vast improvement!

Before

After

Playing with Play-Doh

2010-11-08T19:57:00.004-06:00

Max and I are trying to spend more time hanging out at home. Usually, we are out and about visiting parks and running errands, but that will be harder when it gets colder -- and when baby #2 arrives! Playing with Play-Doh is one of his favorite new past-times. He will sit at his table for a good 20 - 30 minutes at a time, although I have to watch carefully because he will also try to taste it from time to time.

Where the Wild Things Are

2010-11-08T19:52:00.003-06:00

For Halloween, Max dressed up as "Max" from "Where the Wild Things Are." The costume was inspired by the gold crown, which he landed at Harrison's 2nd birthday party in September. The rest of the outfit just fell into place, and the only item I had to purchase was a tail. Cousins Harrison and Parker celebrated at our house, and the boys had fun getting into character and trick-or-treating together.

Happy Cousins

2010-11-08T19:51:00.000-06:00

Taking Care of Business

2010-11-08T19:48:00.003-06:00

One of our first orders of business was to get the leaves under control. We have some really mature trees in our yard, and Justin has already cleaned the gutters twice. Luckily, the "fall" is slowing down. And he had a good helper.

Home Sweet Home

2010-11-08T19:44:00.005-06:00

We are officially homeowners. We are settling into our new house -- a 1968 ranch over walkout basement. It is in a really great older neighborhood -- just down the street from a park with playground and walking trails. So far, we are really happy, but we have a lot of work to do to make it our own! Stay tuned for updates on our house projects!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-07T18:52:00.009-05:00

What's fall without a pumpkin patch? And hayride? And hot apple cider out of John Deere mugs? Thanks to my uncle Tim and aunt Donna for hosting such a fun morning for the kids -- and the kids in all of us! Max mostly loved being so close to a tractor and carrying around his "ball" (i.e., pumpkin).

Rookies

2010-10-07T18:46:00.003-05:00

Maxwell's cousin, Harrison, loves baseball. Since Max wants to do whatever Harrison is doing, sometimes he likes it, too. And sometimes he prefers to watch from the sidelines.

Labor Day Fun

2010-09-09T19:56:00.002-05:00

An LA Vacay

2010-09-09T12:57:00.004-05:00

Justin and I just got back from a whirlwind trip to LA. We wanted to get away before Baby #2 arrives. I had never been to LA before, and we wanted to get some beach time in as well as visit some friends and family who live in the area.

We stayed at Maison 140, a historic Parisian-themed boutique hotel in Beverly Hills. Despite a postage-stamp sized room (including the smallest shower I've ever seen), it was adorable and within walking distance to Rodeo Drive shopping and lots of cute little restaurants.

Our trip was at the end of August, so we weren't able to partake in any 9.02.10 festivities.

We didn't take very many photos, and none of both of us together, but here is Justin in front of a mural on Abbot Kinney in Venice.

We got to spend a little time with Justin's sister Lauren and our nephew, Leo, who might be the cutest (and most easygoing) baby ever.

Working at the Carwash

2010-08-20T13:57:00.003-05:00

Cool Treat

2010-08-20T13:54:00.003-05:00

We also introduced Max to the Popsicle recently. He has a hard time finding the right end and taking his time savoring it, and I think it gets a little too cold for comfort.

Max vs. Sloppy Joe

2010-08-20T13:49:00.003-05:00

It's no secret that Max loves to eat. But I recently served him a mini sloppy joe, and he devoured it. We did some prep work by stripping him to his diaper before dinner and lining the floor with a splat mat. I think we've discovered his new favorite meal.

We ♥ Science

2010-07-22T18:48:00.004-05:00

We joined the WonderLab, a science museum for children, and so far, it has been a great investment. We have been visiting the museum on a weekly basis to explore the playscape, water tables and bubble room.And these are our friends, Robyn and Ari, who are also members. We have so much fun!

First Haircut

2010-07-22T14:39:00.004-05:00

Before ...
And after ...

Little Red Wagon

2010-07-22T09:43:00.003-05:00

Max loves his little red wagon--a birthday present from his Bubbe. We like to go get the mail or just stroll up and down (and up and down and up and down) our driveway.

Picnic at the Park

2010-07-22T09:36:00.003-05:00

We picnicked at the park with Danza, Matt and Harrison a couple of weeks ago (I've been really bad about blogging this summer). It was so much fun! I was afraid Max would not eat well on the ground and get cranky because it was so late in the day, but the boys did great, and we hung out for a few hours playing at the park, tossing some balls and just enjoying the beautiful weather together.

Summertime

2010-06-24T08:53:00.003-05:00

We are enjoying spending time with family in our "summer home." Here is Max hanging out with Grandpa Don along with cousins, Harrison and Parker. So far, there's been lots of swimming, swinging and meals on the back deck.

Back Home Again ...

2010-06-24T08:49:00.003-05:00

Max got his first taste of Indiana corn while visiting my parents, and he also helped out with Mee Maw's garden.

We Moved!

2010-06-24T08:46:00.002-05:00

I am really behind on the blog, but we moved from Chicago to Bloomington, Ind., in early June! It has been a whirlwind coordinating all of the various legs of the move (Justin's dad also moved from Denver to Bloomington, and we are staying with him for the summer). But we are finally getting settled, and Max is enjoying his new digs.

Sight-Seeing in Chicago

2010-06-24T08:40:00.003-05:00

We tried to make the most of our last week in Chicago, including a visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo and Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. Justin really wanted to visit the Lily Pool, and I was not very excited about it. But it was beautiful, and we wish we would have discovered it sooner. The pond has a path around it, and there are tons of serene spots with visitors just passing the time enjoying nature and wildlife.

Video Challenge

2010-05-26T09:45:00.004-05:00

Challenge: Try to watch this video without laughing -- or at least smiling a little. Who knew a folded up cereal box could be so funny?

It's Gettin' Hot Out Here

2010-05-26T09:39:00.005-05:00

It was pretty warm on Sunday, so Max and I got a big bowl of water and some toys and headed outside to play. We had a lot of fun, and got lots of smiles from people strolling the sidewalks. Max loves the water, but has not been in a pool yet, so this should be an exciting summer!

Take Max to Work Day

2010-05-21T09:38:00.004-05:00

For a couple more days, I am the communications director for One Hope United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families. One of our child development centers, the Edgewater Early Learning Center, recently unveiled a new classroom, and Alderman Mary Ann Smith attended the ribbon-cutting. The Center is located in our neighborhood, so I stopped by to take some photos and Max got to tag along.