Santa Claus Came to Denison

The Mahlberg Christmas at the American Legion building in Denison. Poppo played Santa!! Max was still scared, but Jill's boys loved it, and they didn't know it was Poppo! How cool that they couldn't tell : )

Were you a good girl this year Renie?

Santa and Great-Grandma Renie

G-gma Renie and Santa

Max...
Sheldon...

Evan...

Kolten...

AND JUST FOR KICKS.....

MOMMY AND SANTA

I Didn't Have to Dream of a White Christmas

Me, the month of December:

As most of you know, Iowa got snow in abundance. This changed our Christmas plans little bit : ) We had our regularly scheduled Christmas celebration with Mike's family last Sunday. Matt and Melissa made it back from San Francisco, so it was a really nice gathering of all the family (pics on the memory card not currently in my possession, hopefully time to post soon). We planned to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Mandy's family, but the impending storm threatened to change that. We ended up traveling to Denison on the 23rd and just beat the storm. That meant Mommo and Poppo Mahlberg had 8 extra people 24 hours earlier than expected, but we all survived with very little in the way of conflict. Yes, the kids are all still alive and well : P Christmas Eve was suppose to be a big shin-dig with the Mahlbergs, but for the first time in memory, it was postponed due to weather. We celebrated yesterday. It was a nice get together with a wonderful turnout considering the time and weather. Pics to come later. Mike missed that one, he had to work extra early this morning (3:45 anyone?) so he went home to get some much needed quiet time and rest. I got lucky, and my dad had some PTO coming, so Max and I got to stay and extra 1 1/2 days and not worry about transportation home. Yippee!

Oldest nephew Sheldon got a Nintendo DS for Xmas, and Mike just had to try it out. Max and Shel enjoyed watching him conquer....whatever.

Our Xmas Elf

Shel gave us some stained glass art. What a sweet kid he is!

Max opening one of his most favorite gifts, a Magna Doodle from Mommo and Poppo.

And now naptime is close to being over, so I'm going to have to come back another time. Perhaps I'll get a spare moment to prepare something for you to enjoy later this week before it's time to leave my current internet access (thanks Mom and Dad!).

I hope you all had a safe an happy holiday. I look forward to hearing/reading about it!

Three Words

Grandma's.Are.Great.

Wordless Wednesday

Make My Monday

These guys make life good every day, especially Monday : )

Catching up is Hard to Do

Especially when you still don't have internet. That should be corrected in the next couple weeks. Keep you fingers crossed that the techs don't get too booked up and make it even longer!

Not too much to report. Being at home has been busier than I ever thought it could be, and that's with Max still in daycare part-time! We've used the extra time for some fun stuff, but nothing too exciting. Still needing to get baby girl's bedroom picked out so we can move forward with painting.

Halloween was fun this year. Max was our Lil Stinker. We only took him to Night Eyes, as I figured he doesn't eat the candy yet, and I surely don't need it. He loved all the entertainment at the end of the trail. Blow up Toddler Town and a maze that ended with a corn box. We certainly went home with a tired little boy.

And that's it as I can now recall. I'm sure there's more. I'm sure you'll forgive me for forgetting. And here are some pictures to make up for the lack for the past weeks!

Dad, Max, and Rascal

24 Weeks:

What Chiefs fans think of the Raiders:

Night Eyes 2009:

Clifford and Curious George!

Show Me What You've Got

I'll be back to post some pics, but just wanted to get the word out....

We have a GIRL on the way!

Woot!


P.S. My position was eliminated 10/8, along with many others in my general area. Luckily, I work(ed) for a great company and we will be okay for awhile with some good options in the near future. Right now, I am enjoying the unexpected gift of time at home. Unfortunately, we don't have the internet right now. I hope to rectify that soon. I think I'll need this space for some sanity saving before this ordeal is over!

What Friday's Should Be Made Of

Sleeping in. Who's with me on this?

Well, these two for sure : D

What Friday's should not be made of...

...we're working on this one.

Today I am 21 weeks pregnant. Holla! Officially on the downhill slide and it feels so good! Same struggles as always, but the little one is worth it.

This weekend Max and I are going to spend some quality time with Mommo. I'm looking forward to it : ) Mike's a good cook, and I love to eat out, but nothing beats Mom's cooking (just ask my siblings!). Hopefully, Max will be the same good boy he was last weekend, and so far this week. He has a mass under the skin of his outer eye and we started some intesive antibiotics Wednesday so I'm hoping we have some progress on the lump before we head back. This is offiically the prescription from hell. He has to take 12 ml's twice a day (over two teapsoon's), and he very much does not like it. This is the first medicine we've given him that he hasn't liked, and of course it's the one he has to have the most of. We also have to hold a heat compress on the lump 4 times a day, for at least 20 minutes each time. Any suggestions on getting him this medicine without fighting him? Or on getting him to sit still for the compress? Right now, we shoot for when he's sleeping, but that will make for a long 10 days....

Three Word Thursday

Week.Twenty.Belly.

In other Pho-tastic viewing:

Wordless Wednesday

P.S. Belly shots tomorrow.

Three Word Thursday

My.Girls.Rock.
(including those not pictured!)

Holiday weeks are always long, aren't they? This week has been no exception. As I was loading Max into the car this morning, my thought was, is Friday over yet? No, Thursday is only beginning. SIGH.

I started the prescribed synthetic progeterone shot regime this week. The home nurse was very nice and very talented. However, she cannot change the size of the needle. Nor can she change the fact that the shot has a castor oil base, which requires a slow injection. Two days later, I have a lovely bruise and my hip still hurts when I move. One down, 19 to go.

Cute Max moment of the week: Last night we were all cuddled on the floor when he decided it was time to dance. So, up he went and the grooving started. But he was dancing alone, and that just wasn't acceptable. So, he starts pulling on my hands and grunting with his effort : ) Baby boy wanted to dance with Mama. If it were possible to love him more...

Wordless Wednesday

Little Kids + Runny Noses =

Boogie Wipes. Seriously the best.product.ever. for kids with runny noses. And let us not forget the adults. C'mon. You know your nose gets sore too when you have a runny nose! As we enter cold season I think we all need to go and stock up on these. I know they're already on my shopping list.

I picked up a pack last weekend since Max had developed a cold on Friday. Let's just say I don't have to chase him to wipe his nose anymore, and that makes for a very happy Mama.

Give Him a Star (Updated)

Update: Well, the good run has ended. As of Friday he was slapping (not hard, I was assured) the other boys.

When I picked Max up from Daycare on Tuesday, she told me that he was her best little one that day. I don't think that was one we had heard before! (This is my version of marking it on the calender ; )
In addition, he was a good boy Wednesday and Thursday. My little lover. Is he on a streak or what?! Hopefully he keeps it up for the weekend. Mommo and Poppo here we come!

P.S. I hope to get some pics up this weekend while the 'rents occupy the little one's time.

P.P.S. We'll be starting belly shots soon. #2 has started to make his/her presence known : ) Today I am officially 15 weeks along. Hopefully we hear back from the drug company soon as to whether or not insurance will cover progesterone shots for the next 20 weeks. Not that I'm excited about weekly shots in the hiney, but I'll do whatever they tell me to in order to cook this bun a little longer than Max was able to.

Peace Out.

Oh Muffins

I wanted blueberry muffins this morning. And since Max was up before 6:00 I decided I could have them. Of course that meant making them : P (The only flaw in my plan.) But make them I did; my craving was strong enough to overcome my laziness.

Have I mentioned Max loves blueberry muffins? He does. I sat him down with a warm muffin and was able to get my lunch packed and his toys picked up before he was done. Then it was time to head out the door.

I Declare: I love blueberry muffins, and what they did for my morning today.

Who Are You?

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• * If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure


• * I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this


• * Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit


• * Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally


• * Ask me questions to help me get clear


• * Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery


• * Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings


• * I like a good discussion but not a confrontation


• * Let me know you like what I've done or said


• * Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

• * being nonjudgmental and accepting


• * caring for and being concerned about others


• * being able to relax and have a good time


• * knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around


• * my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator


• * my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now


• * being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

• * being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive


• * being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline


• * being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally


• * being confused about what I really want


• * caring too much about what others will think of me


• * not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

• * feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant


• * tune out a lot, especially when others argue


• * are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

• * are supportive, kind, and warm


• * are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Makeover

Hope you enjoy the new look! A big thanks to April of April Showers Blog Designs.

I lovingly title this post "Catching Up and Making Up"

Here are the pictures I have failed to post for you the last month or so. Maybe two? My apologies. Prepare yourself for a feast (in no specific order):

Happy Birthday Grandpa! (Max just completed a run through the sprinker)

Oh, the things boys will eat. Chalk, check. Bubbles, check.

Mmm. He joins the ranks of those of us who know the goodness of Sushi and Seaweed Salad. Complete with use of chopsticks! Well, a chopstick.

Max had his first official playdate. Hudson was a great host, even sharing his cheerios!

(Sorry Pat, I didn't end up with a single picture of Hudson's face!)


Playing in the rain for the first time. Yes, there have been repeats!

Climbing a tree with Grandpa. Do we have a headstart on Daddy?

Besides trees, we also like to climb cribs. Eat your heart out Batman!

Mommy was too nervous to let him do it all by himself ☺

And introducing....

The New and Improved......Haircut!

Max got his second official haircut yesterday. Now his 'do matches the other 'tude he sports every minute of his life ; )