Two Months Ago

Gosh, how time flies.

This picture was taken at 0600, December 6th, ten hours later Max was born.

Of course, before heading to the hospital, I had to clean the floor! Kath came over and looked after Olivia the whole day.

Last Sunday, the children and I were invited over to our friend's house for brunch. (My husband was in Kosovo). Malte and Sabine had made a wonderful breakfast. I felt like I was coming into a five start hotel were you can chose everything to eat and drink, and to be able to sit down for hours just to eat.

Malte entertained Olivia, and she was so happy, laughing and wrapping him around her finger(s). They looked at the sea, and when we left, Olivia said "Bye bye water."

Max is such a super wonderful boy. He slept the whole time. This ment so much to me (and Olivia). I don't remember the last time I could sit down, relax and eat, at the same time have an adult conversation.

I am so thankful to my (our) friends.

This is grande Amore!

A Birthday to the Max

Todd's birthday is 6 December. I'd planned it for a long time to celebrate it as much as possible, given my "condition". We'd had a surprise gathering of some friends and co-workers on Friday, November 30th, since Todd would be involved in an exercise on "his" day, and then the exercise would run until the due date for Maximillian.

Well, you know the parable: "If you don't think God has a sense of humor, tell Him your plans." Apparently, God had different plans than ours for Maximillian's birth. Instead of waiting until the 13th, he decided he wanted to celebrate his dad's birthday his own way.

At 4:02 pm Central European time, Maximillian came into the world, weighing 6 lbs, 10.2 oz and "standing" 20 1/2 inches (3010 grams/52 cm).

He's a perfect little man, and we adore him.

And, as everyone who we talk to says, "So, he shares his birthday with his dad? How cool is that?!"

Abuse! Abuse I say!

I now know what it feels like to be kicked to death from the inside!

With just 3 months until the blessed day this little demon is removed from my body, I guess I'm in the "home stretch" of the pregnancy. The days and nights are cooling off a little bit, so my burden is a little less uncomfortable in that regard. Still, he seems to think I'm a spherical trampoline!

No position seems to be good for him. Or else, they all are, depending on how he looks at it.

Olivia didn't do me like this!

I remember my time pregnant with her as a nice, warm, gentle feeling. Sure, there must have been pain and discomfort, but I sure don't remember it like this! No, this little Max is sure to be a kickboxer!

This weekend, we set up his nursery a little bit further. Todd hung some things on the wall, put the crib together, and bought some throw-rugs. It is a little more real that he will soon be joining us.

I just hope I live to see it!