Close Call

We had some pretty strong winds during a storm on Tuesday night. I heard the hail, heavy rains and wind, but didn't anticipate this when I woke up in the morning.

Luckily it didn't do too much damage to our house. Just clipped the corner of our patio. This tree provides great shade to cool both our patio and master bedroom during the summer, so it will be too bad if it dies. The section that broke off is probably about 1/3 the size of the whole tree and really had no business growing where it did because it made the tree very lopsided on the side that the trunk already leaned toward. So I think the tree is actually going to look better now, if it survives.

Update on Max...he is going down better at night now. He no longer cries for his pacifier and doesn't cry for hours on end. So the new bedtime routine seems to be working pretty well. During this time I started putting him to bed since Tina is supposed to limit picking him up as much as possible with her condition. Here is the routine:

1. Chase Max around his bedroom trying to get his clothes off
2. Take a bath, blow dry hair, comb hair and brush teeth
3. Mommy helps get his creams and 2 sets of pj's own (his room is cold and he never lets us put a blanket on him)
4. Give mommy a hug and kiss and pick out a book or two (even though it's always the same two...an Elmo one of course)
5. Read the book in the rocker chair with daddy. Read it again.
6. I ask him if he is ready to get in bed. "mmm...no" is always the response.
7. Get in the crib, say a prayer, sing a song, and do whatever else is required to get him calmed down (pat or rub his back usually works) for a few minutes
8. Then I walk out and tell him that daddy will be right downstairs. Then it's a crapshoot on whether he will cry for the next 15 minutes or not. Sometimes I can yell up to him from downstairs that "it's okay, daddy's right here" and it works. Othertimes I have to make a few trips back upstairs for the next hour or so.

He also has sooo much energy it is ridiculous. Apparently we can't wrestle, climb, and run enough in the evening. Every time I sit down or lay on the floor (because I am tired) he comes over and demands "up, uhpah, uhpaah" as he tries with all his might to move me. I usually give in. He's just so darn cute!

The kid still loves to eat. "Moe" is still his favorite word and we hear it non-stop at dinner time. Sorry no Max pics though this time.

Peace out!