Yes. As the title to this blog shows... birth is the gift that keeps on giving. I went for a run a few weeks ago and peed myself... I didn't know I had to go, it was just like my urethra opened up like a water slide. The midwife told me that it may be a one time thing and maybe running on the road because of the high impact did it. So, I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill. It felt great! I ran for 25 minutes then did some weights... it felt like I was back! When I got home I discovered that I had peed myself, soaked the overnight pad I had put on just in case (the ones that stretch from your belly button to your lower back). The stain on my pants was huge with a dry spot in the middle shaped like the pad. I am now in physical therapy... if anything else happens I may just need plain therapy. I go through thinking it is funny and not a big deal to being angry about everything that has happened (pregnancy to this). But, (prepare to roll your eyes and gag) one look at Maxine makes it all fade into the background... even the hemorrhoids (Was that too much?).
Maxine has been smiling so much. She is, most of the time, such a happy baby. Many of the following pictures re of her crying and yelling and I think we have taken those photos because they are so cute. But, in general, she is full of smiles. She crinkles her nose up and her eyes curve up into the shape of a rainbows. I can't wait to hear her laugh. She is so close... A week and a half ago she noticed her right hand for the first time. I was changing her diaper and she was totally quiet. I looked up and she was just staring at her fist like it just showed up right then! This past Wednesday she finally noticed the left hand and her expression read, "There is ANOTHER one?!"
Maxine went to her 2 month appt three days ago and got her shots (ow). She was weighed and measured and her head size and weight are in the 90th percentile (Martha and Ryan, you can now compare things to the size of Maxine's head, too... she takes after her momma). Her height is the 60th percentile. I asked the doctor if her weight being in the 90th percentile meant she is fat and he said, "There is no such thing as a fat baby." So diplomatic.
She has been doing a lot of tummy time (she sort of hates it). Her neck is getting so strong and I don't know what I will do whens she rolls over for the first time. Because she is starting to notice things more her grandma Gerry got her a mobile for her bed. We can now lay her down, totally awake, and she will just stare, smile and coo at the little fuzzy birds above her bed. So neat.
As you know, Ben is Mr. Mom. I have tried working from home as much as I can and when I do I get glimpses of Ben's and Maxine's day together... here is what I have observed.
So, Maxine had her first Halloween and she was going to be a little leopard. As you can see her costume was too small... probably because of that 90th percentile thing. Maxine also had her first Thanksgiving and it was hosted at her Grandma and Grandpa Wallace's home. It was so yummy. We have been visiting the cabin in the White Mountains regularly. The photo in the right upper corner is us there after we finally moved furniture into it. It is so cozy. And the bottom picture is of Uncle Nick and Maxine. He has such a way with children.
Grandpa Jim is so much fun. He plays with Maxine while she is on her Ikea mat playing and doing tummy time. He also loves to hold Maxine...
Maxine went to her first Day of the Dead parade the first weekend of November. Tucson really knows how to do it. I love the costumes, masks and floats. We went with Kelly, Patrick, Evie, Uncle Nick, Grandpa Jim and Grandma Chris. Next year maybe we will dress Maxine up and walk in the procession.
