Christmas Time at the Blaues

We had so much fun decorating for Christmas this year!  Barrett insisted on a live tree in our new home & since we still had our old artificial tree we decided to put up both...  & we had 3 other 4 ft trees for fun.  I'm posting some pics of our Christmasy house.  I wish I had a picture of the lights outside though.  Barrett put up lights all along the house & around over 20 trees (yes we do have a ton of trees in our front yard).  So here is what we did- enjoy!

The BIG Live Tree

 

Wine Cabinet & Fireplace & Cubbies

  

Artificial Tree & Front Hall benches w trees

  

Snow Village & Study doors

  

Spurs Tree

 

Save the Date

We officially saw Baby Bear II's heartbeat yesterday!  I had a second appointment to have another ultrasound & we were able to see the heartbeat.  Barrett was so excited he already scheduled the c-section!  So...  SAVE THE DATE- Baby Bear II will be born on July 28th! 

The beginning of the Time Out

Max is officially getting Time Outs...  I know he is still too young to understand, but I think it is a good time to start.  & then by the time he can understand time outs the punishment will have already been well established (total wishful thinking on my part).   So here goes time out trial...  

What a difference a year makes!

Looking at pictures of Max from Christmas last year makes me a little sad seeing how tiny my baby was & thinking about how he really is no longer a baby, but a full-fledged toddler!  Last year Max slept the majority of the day, had to nurse every 3 hours, & I didn't sleep at all during the night.  Now Max is a big boy, fully weaned (& loving his moo milk), running around everywhere, climbing into cabinets, drawers & anything he can get his little fingers into.  I hung a picture of Max from Christmas last year in our house & will probably put it up every year just to remind myself what a wonderful Christmas present we had in 2008.  Here are some pictures of Max from last year & some recent shots. 

Max is.... Going to be a Big Brother!!!

Barrett made it official by giving me an ultrasound today in his office...  Max is going to be a BIG brother!  Barrett & I found out the Wed before Thanksgiving that I was pregnant & of course couldn't wait to tell our family over Thanksgiving.  I had purchased a special t-shirt for Max a couple of months ago (wishful thinking) & was so excited we could finally let him wear it.  

Wed night we had already invited Barrett's parents & grandmother over for dinner.  Max had on his special t-shirt, but no one even noticed it.  We finally had to tell them 1.5 hours after they had been here to take a look!  Then they finally realized what the shirt said- yay!

Thurs- Thanksgiving day- we went over to Barrett's family's house & had Max wear the shirt for Mitchell & Stephanie to find out.

Friday- Max was wearing the shirt when we showed up at the lakehouse for Thanksgiving there.  It took my mom only about 2 1/2 minutes to read it & scream with joy.  I think all the other family members were confused as to why she was yelling "oh my gosh are you pregnant?!"  

So we had much to celebrate this Thanksgiving, & now with it being official here is the official announcement.  In late July Max will be a big brother!!!

Santa Take 2

Max has already had 2 Santa visits.  When we met friends up at the weihnachtsmarkt christmas market in New Braunfels I saw that they had a Santa there.  Max wasn't dressed "cute enough" in my opinion so after shopping, leaving to have lunch, & then coming back, and an outfit change we went to meet up with Santa (oh & all of this was in & out of the car several times in the rain).  Finally we went & saw the best Santa I've ever seen- very authentic looking, sitting in a real sleigh, with a very vintage town looking backdrop.  Something that looked very traditional in our German town & at a German themed market.  Well Max was not a fan of Santa- screamed the entire time & no good pictures came from that event.

So this weekend when Barrett & I passed a Santa where you could take your own pictures (meaning you don't have to pay & much more relaxed environment) we decided to give it a shot.  I asked my mom & dad to please go with us the next day to take Max to visit Santa.  Max was very nervous even when I sat on Santa's lap with him, but we got some cute shots of the 2 of us (Barrett refused to participate in the pictures).  When I tried to hand Max over, he did not like that idea.  So here are the pictures of the Santa Take 2...

 

  

PS- There will NOT be a Santa Take 3 this year...

SO Thankful

Each year I find more & more to be thankful for.  This Thanksgiving week was wonderful.  Wed night we had Barrett's parents & grandmother over for dinner.  Thursday we went to San Antonio to celebrate with Barrett's parents, grandma, Mitchell, Stephanie, & her mom & brother, as well as great-great Aunt Karen.  Friday we drove to the lake & had more celebrations with my parents, Mandy, Ryan, Laura & Aunt Brenda.  The week was filled with family & of course a ton of food.  

Things I'm thankful for this year:  my wonderfully amazing extended family, the best husband in the world, the most adorable & smart little boy, my mom's healing, Barrett's new job that led us to this fantastic town, our beautiful new house, making new friends & keeping the old (one is silver & the other gold), & one more (but I'll keep that a surprise). 

Max with Uncle Mitchell eating animal crackers

 

Max having a blast being pushed down the "race track" at the lakehouse

 

 

WILD TURKEYS in our backyard!!!

More Happy Birthday Pics!

As promised, I just got my mom's pics from the party.  Here are a few more birthday shots...

Max in his new ball pit

Max & Kayden taking the firetruck out for a spin...

 

Max enjoying some cake...

 

Max checking out his new firetruck...

 

THE most AMAZING year!

AMAZING is not enough to describe how much we have enjoyed this past year.  Barrett & I hand-down agree that having Max was the best thing that ever happened to us.  

It's been extremely emotional this week as I've prepared myself for the fact that Max is turning one.  As I was trying to organize his closet this week I came across all of his old clothes.  I held up one of his newborn sized outfits & started crying.  & when Barrett came home & I held up the outfit again, the tears started flowing- again.  Everyone says to enjoy it because it passes so quickly- I now understand.  It makes me even more appreciative of the fact that I get to enjoy each & every day with Max. 

Today was an absolutely fun celebration of my son's birthday.  Having all of our family & friends around us really made the emotional crazyness just pass as we had fun.  We had so many friends & family come (some even round tripped it from Houston!).  Max got a boatload of goodies!  It was fun watching him play with his friends Kayden, Milani, & MJ. 

Here are some pics from this celebration of my son's first year of life.  I'm sure we'll have better ones to post once my mom sends me hers!

 

 

ZOOOOOO

Max & I met up with some friends at the San Antonio Zoo on Wednesday.  Max has been to the Houston Zoo a couple of times, but we both experienced our first trip to the San Antonio Zoo together.  I was very much impressed- much nicer & cleaner than the one in Houston & I felt the animals had much more natural habitats.  I also felt like we were able to see better & that the animals were closer.  

The last couple of times Max was not very interested, but this time he had an absolute blast.  It helps he was older & also that he was with his little friends.  His friends Madi & Briggs went with us & they are all within a few weeks or months apart.  They all really enjoyed the toddler play area.  They had a "water bed" that kids under 2 could play on.  Here's a picture of Max with Briggs & Madi on the bed:

 

Max & Madi were not having as much fun in the wagon in this picture.  Max was having a fantastic day, but any time his little girlfriend cried it would make him cry...  It was so cute I had to take a picture!

Here are the boys checking out the prairie dogs...

 

 

Max & I can't wait to go back to the zoo- we got a year membership!  Our MOPS group has a trip planned in 3 weeks- will be fun!

He WALKS!

I went to pick Max up from Sunday School this morning & he WALKED to me!  He let go of his teacher's hand & toddled the 3 steps it took for him to get to me.  It was the sweetest thing in the whole world.  He had no idea what he was doing & therefore doesn't remember that he can do it, but that is all not the point- HE WALKED! 

Max is 11 months & 3 weeks old...

Busy Week

This has been a busy week at our house.  Every Monday is my regular mom bookclub meeting, while Max is at Mothers Day Out.  Tuesday we met up with some friends at the park.  Wed night I had a ladies night with the women in the neighborhood- Daddy watched & played with Max.  Thursday I had my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting & then after a bunch of us went to a wine bar to continue the fun.  Barrett has been wonderful enjoying some quality time with Max 2 nights this week!  This morning (Fri) we had a huge playdate with the moms & kiddos in the neighborhood.  Later this evening Max is going to Parents Night Out at the local Methodist church (the church all of my MOPS stuff is through)- which means date night to Wurstfest!  We're obviously enjoying New Braunfels life & can't wait for the holiday season.  This town has a ton of stuff to do to get ready for the holidays.  More to come about that later...  Meanwhile enjoy a picture of Max & his girlfriend Madi at the park!

YAY for friends with cameras

 So...  We forgot our camera at home on Halloween for the neighborhood party (we were running late & frantically trying to put the finishing touches on our chicken tortilla soup for the potluck).  Yay for new friends who bring their cameras.   Our new friend Yen sent pictures of us from the event. 

Max's 1st Halloween

Max had a wonderful 1st Halloween.  We started the day with a special treat- Max was given pieces of a cinnamon roll with orange icing!  We had a special outing at the park & dad came too!  Then that evening we went to the neighborhood Halloween party.  It was so much fun.  There were probably over 80 people (including all the kids) in attendance.  We were able to meet a ton of people we haven't met before & all the kiddos had a blast.  We skipped the trick or treat hayride this year, Max is just too little still.  All in all it was a wonderful day.   Here are some pics of Max in his I love my Mummy pjs  & not happy in his lion costume...

Max's New Ride

Max got an early birthday present tonight from his Grammy & Grandpa- a new tractor.  Of course Max loves all John Deere toys he can get his hands on, but he especially loved his new tractor that comes with a cubby farm with animals that make sounds.  He's already had a blast pushing the tractor around, along with riding on it while being pushed.  Here are some pictures of him opening his new ride!

 

Pumpkin Patch

We're really enjoying the fall season.  Max, Barrett, & I are trying to enjoy as many outdoor activities as we can.  Yesterday we went to Gruene Market Days, which was hosting the Texas Clay Festival.  Then we took Max to the pumpkin patch at the Methodist Church where our MOPS group is hosted (it's also where I attend book club).  Max was so cute playing with all the pumpkins- he really enjoyed rolling the little ones down the hill.  We came home with a whole trunk full of pumpkins. 

 

 

 

 

Max's Halloween Party

Max hosted his first party- a Halloween party!  He invited all of his friends from our playgroup.  It was so much fun & we really enjoyed ourself.  Here are some pictures from the night...