Max had a pretty rough week… That antibiotic caused diarrhea and diaper rash, and it’s been no fun for any of us. Every diaper change has been a nightmare. His skin was so raw… As soon as a wipe would gently touch his skin, he’d gulp this big breath of air as though he’d never been in so much pain in his life (and I suppose he hasn’t been in that much pain) and then let it out in this heartbreaking wail… I cried with him on numerous occasions. Ryan picked up some Maximum Strength Desitin because it had the highest percentage of zinc oxide. I don’t know if it helped or if the diaper rash just started easing up on its own, but we went through half of a big container of it in four days because he finally started doing better after he went on it.
On Saturday, December 11, Ryan and I took Max to Ryan’s work party. For the first time ever, the company included everyone in the party, not just the office workers. They did breakfast at Golden Corral.
They drew names for gifts this year--the big winner got an iPad. Ry really wanted it, but sadly, he didn’t get it! Instead, he got two movie tickets and a gift card for dinner at Red Robin. Which is still cool, but not iPad cool, HaHa.
The president of the company announced at the party that Coverstar (the company Ry works for) is going to start paying a bigger part of insurance for its employees next year. He also announced that vacation days are finally here! Employees like Ryan who have been there for at least two years now get three paid vacation days every year. It’s really not much, but it’s better than nothing! The company is also starting an employee of the year program. The winner this year got $500. No, Ryan didn’t win… Though if you ask me, he should have, and if it hadn’t been him, it should have at least been a floor worker… I’m bitter, in case you can’t tell, and I don’t even work there!
Before we left the party, Santa showed up! It was yet another rare day that I’d left my camera home, so we only got a picture with Ryan’s phone.
I wanted a good picture of Max seeing Santa, so we took him to the mall after the party. He LOVED Santa! He just wanted to stare at him and smile! He didn’t really smile for the camera, though…
Ryan sold his Xbox that evening, too. He really loved that thing, but he hasn’t played it for a while. He made a sacrifice for his little family, and we really do appreciate it. We know it was hard for him to do. But, I think he really made someone else happy by selling it… The guy who came to buy it was so excited--he’d gotten the same amount of cash we were selling it for the week before for his 50th birthday and had been looking for an Xbox! He’d been checking KSL every day for a week. He was excited to get so many of Ry’s games with it, too. He was pretty funny--his kid was standing on our porch while he was inside. He named off all the gaming systems the kid had and told him, “This is MINE.” The kid was so jealous--but you could tell that the dad was going to let him play, too!
In the morning on Sunday, December 12, Max started rolling from his back to his belly! He did it three times for us! We went to get him a Pack ‘n’ Play that afternoon because we were paranoid that he’d start rolling off the bed now that he can roll both ways! After we picked one up, we stopped by my dad’s house to visit. Max is pretty funny--he LOVES the walker my dad has and he loves chewing on the plastic chains that you’re supposed to attach toys to! When we got home that night, I wrapped presents. Ry’s brother Cameron stopped by for a little bit that evening, too.
Max laughing at Daddy while Grandpa holds him!
Max in his new Pack ‘n’ Play!
Here are just some pictures I got of Max on Monday, December 13...
On Tuesday, December 14, Max figured out how to push his bum in the air! It’s so fun to watch him learn! I can’t wait for him to start crawling! All these little steps just bring him a little bit closer!
He was being grumpy that day, too… He’s funny when he’s grumpy sometimes, though… His teether plopped on his face because he lost his grip and I started laughing because it was so funny, and he started laughing, too… He stopped smiling by the time I found a camera, of course… HaHa.
On Wednesday, December 15, my grandpa stopped by our house to see how Max was doing. It was nice of him to stop by! Sadly, it was one of my lazy days… It’s always embarrassing to have company drop in when you’re still in your pajamas--and so is the baby… :-/ HaHa.
Anyway, when Ryan got home, he told me that the machine shop workers had given him a little surprise at work that day. They got together with him and told him that they had been talking about it, and they decided that he should have been the employee of the year. They made him cookies as a reward for being their employee of the year! It was so nice of them. I know it really made Ry’s day!
Max tried green beans for the first time ever that night. He liked them! Though you wouldn’t know it from the picture we got…
He has been grabbing his ear lately, so of course he got green beans all over his right ear…
Here are some pictures I got on Thursday, December 16...
I got this one for my friend Noemi--she loves white tigers!
On Friday, December 17, I went out to run some errands. I went to my mom’s house to give Russ a birthday card, but forgot that they were in Arizona. We didn’t really do anything for Russ’ birthday last year, so we wanted to at least give him a card! I wasn’t sure if we had Josh’s big event ON Russ’ birthday or if it was on Sunday, so I dropped it off a day early. Then I went to my dad’s house to drop off a get well soon card for Michelle’s brother, Randy, who is in the hospital with pneumonia… Poor guy. We would visit him, but we’ve decided it’s not a good idea to go to the hospital if we don’t have to--Max probably wouldn’t make it if he picked something up!
After that, I had to stop at Walgreens to pick up pictures. Ryan and I decided to make him a Faces Book! I thought it would be fun for him to have. He can look at the pictures (babies are supposed to like faces) and start learning who his relatives are!
How the images are laid out in the book…
And here are all the people in the book!
After Walgreens, we stopped at the bank, and then I ran to Wal-Mart. I was just buying some yarn and I was holding Max--my arms were a bit more full than I’d expected… This nice lady ahead of us just thought Max was so cute. She let us go ahead of her! She had a cute little girl who was 16 months in an Elmo beanie. She got talking to me about her pregnancies and acted shocked that I’d had a baby only five months ago and that I looked like I’d never even been pregnant… HaHa, I don’t know how true that is, but it’s always nice to be complimented! She also acted like it was a really big deal that I was out an about after having a C-section… I still have a scar and it feel pricks and tugs sometimes, but it’s definitely not a huge deal to be running errands… After Wal-Mart, we went to Kohl’s. I wanted to pick a gift for Ryan from Max for his birthday. The girl who rang us up was in love with Max! He was so smiley with strangers that day… She gave us 20% off our purchase--I don’t think we’d have gotten it if Max hadn’t been such a flirt!
Ryan went to Pro Digital Photos to pick up my Christmas gift. He noticed a little boutique next door called Little Cheeks Children’s Boutique and stopped in to see what they had. He brought home a really cute thermal shirt for Max (that sadly fell apart when I washed it, so we have to take it back) and some cute little shoes that actually fit him!
While he was there, he showed the girl who runs the place a picture of Max in his sock monkey hat. The girl told him she’d sell the hats for me if I was interested, so after the holidays are over, I may make some to take in to her. She also told him that she’d work with me doing photography if I wanted to rent a place by her, but I don’t think I will… I’m too nervous about getting a loan right now, especially for a place on Main Street, Pleasant Grove… I’ve seen way too many places go in and out of business there…
Russ’ Birthday!
On Saturday, December 18, I tried to style little Max’s hair for the first time ever… Mommy’s hairspray didn’t work real well and neither did Daddy’s hair wax. Later that night, I picked up some hair glue (thanks for the help, Brooke--that stuff works really well!) and it worked much better! I gave him a little Mohawk!
Ryan’s brother, Josh, stopped by our house that evening on his way home from BYU-Idaho. I picked up some pizza for us and he hung out with us for a while. Since we didn’t see him on his birthday, we also had him open his birthday present!
HaHa, Max looks HUGE!
Josh opening his gift!
Uncle Josh and Max!
Trying to get a picture of Max's Mohawk!
I finally got him to smile and he blinked!
I love this picture... Devious little Max!
He loves to stand, but he needs lots of help!
Alfalfa!
Max being fascinated with his cute new shoes!
Daddy and Max!
HaHa, he looks so funny here!
Mommy and Max!
After Josh left, we packed up little Max and headed to my mom’s house to see Grandpa Mann for his birthday. We haven’t seen the Manns in a while, so it was nice to catch up with them!
Grandpa and Max!
There are four candles on the left... It's supposed to be a 43!
Blowing out the candles!
Russ and his sweater!
Quin and Mom!
Amanda and Travis!
ROME, ITALY!!
That is right! My brother-in-law finally opened his mission call for the LDS Church on Sunday, December 19, and is heading to Rome! He is due to report on March 16, 2011. We are going to miss him for the next couple of years, but we are really excited and really happy for him!
Josh and his friends!
Opening the envelope...
He was so excited he stopped reading and could not contain a smile!!
Telling everyone he is going to Rome, Italy!!
We hung out at Ryan’s sister’s house for a while after Josh had opened his call. It was fun to watch Max hang out with his cousins. We put him on his tummy and told Nixon and Jaden to show him how to crawl. Max got so excited and got closer than ever to getting up onto his hands and knees! My nephews crack me up… I had to change Max’s diaper and they wanted to watch. I asked them if they were going to help their mom change diapers when their new little brother arrives. Nixon said yes, but that he wouldn’t put on the diaper cream. He doesn’t seem to like the idea of touching a baby’s butt!
Here are some pictures we got…
Jaden!
Nixon and Jaden being sandwiched by Grandpa!
Max sleeping on Aunt Melissa!
Nixon doing a back flip!
Jaden doing a back flip!
And Josh being goofy in the background... HaHa!
It has been snowing like crazy lately! Here are some pictures I took of the snow in our backyard yesterday!
Yesterday was kind of a crappy day… I’ve been ruthlessly attacked for over 24 hours now by one of my aunts. Sadly, I feel I can no longer call her family. My mom and I stayed up until after 3:30 this morning hammering out some of our own issues, and I think we’re on okay terms right now, but this aunt… I think she’s out of my life forever. To anyone in the Green family who reads this blog, know that I love you and that I do still consider you family, despite the differences there may be between us. I’ve thrown my hat into the ring to help plan the Green Family Christmas Party next year, but will happily let someone else take over if they’d prefer I wasn’t in charge.
Oh, I almost forgot… Ryan brought home flowers for me last week! I felt like the worst mother ever all week as my baby cried through those awful diaper changes… So Ry bought me flowers to tell me that he loves me.
Anyhow, that’s the past couple weeks… I hope everyone enjoyed the post and I hope you all have a great Christmas!
