Gettin' the hang of it!

Well this week started off a little rocky...by the end of Monday, I really wasn't sure if I was going to make it. Max is just such a wound up little boy that I was having a lot of trouble trying to contain and direct his hyperactivity. I am used to just coming home from work in the evenings and helping him burn off some energy with some rough play, dancing, jumping, etc. But I can't do that all day long with him and take care of Lila, Tina, chores, etc. So needless to say there have been many timeouts this week, but less each day as the week has gone on. I think Max and I both needed to figure out the way it's going to be when I am running things around here and now that I have conformed to mommy's way of running things, everything seems to be much smoother. (So I guess in essence Tina is still wearing the pants and directing things).

Overall, this week has really been a blast for me. I wasn't sure if I could make it after Monday, but I've had so much quality time to talk with Tina during naps and all the meals that we eat together. So that's been nice. And I feel like I have bonded with Lila in ways that I haven't before. I seem to be able to calm her down now much more easily than in the past, but a lot of it is just good timing though too. She is starting to really smile, laugh and giggle a lot in the past couple weeks (Max still makes her laugh the most when he does his crazy jumping/spinning/kicking dances). She is using her hands and arms to play with toys and books really well and she just started sitting up on the floor this week too! Also she has been great when running errands with Max. Usually Max is just my errand buddy cause Lila just didn't like being away from Tina, but she has gone on all the trips with me and has fun with the boys.

And for Max this week. I don't know...I guess my mom and aunts always told me that I would hopefully have a boy someday and that I'd "get payback" for the way I was as a child. I think it has happened. I can't even explain it. Tina and I just look at each other and shake our heads in amazement of things he does and says. He seriously is crazy with energy, imagination, and orneriness. It really frustrates me though, because as bad as I want to correct certain behavior or as mad as I am about something he did, he can 50% of the time find a way to make me laugh before I can get his full attention to straighten him out. ARRGH!

Tina seems to be able to get around a bit better and do a few more things each day. Her pain also seems to be decreasing some too. Feeding Lila is still one of the bigger challenges, but we are hopeful that, although still far from recovered, that she will be able to have the strength and energy to handle things on her own by next Tuesday. Grandma Nancy is coming over on Monday to help out so that I can head back to work.

Ok, I haven't posted for months, so sorry for the novel, but like I said, lately I haven't been able to do anything but try to wear Max out after work. And after I put him to bed at nights, I am just too tired to post anything. So I had left it up to Tina and she was doing good.

Peace out! Michael

Some pics from the week.

Monday evening...do I look tired?

"Hmmm. These look tastier than breast milk!"
Lila is sitting up!!
They genuinely do seem to love each other!
Really...how is she our kid with those rolls?