Baby Goals

In the beginning of this summer we were at the Parker's house and they asked all the friends there to say a summer goal, or two, or three.
Immediatly I thought...I want to have a healthy little boy this summer.  But now that I have had time to think, I have some more to add.

1.  I want a healthy baby to be born into our family.
2.  I want to feel empowered by this birth.  I was scared and felt very guilty after Max was born, but this time I want to feel good about myself.
3.  I want a shorter less complex labor and delivery.  (54 hours was just crazy long!)
4.  I WILL BREASTFEED.  I only did for a few days with Max, before I gave up, didn't ask for help, and didn't make the effort to try harder.  
**This time I have a lactation consultant coming to the hospital.
**I have done a lot of research about breastfeeding and feel A LOT more prepared.
**No bottles will be offered to the baby until breastfeeding is WELL established.  If this is a month or four months, then so be it.
**I am determined to make this part of my life work.  I am REALLY excited to be the only person to feed my baby.  I am excited to share this bond with him.

If you don't support breastfeeding and have negative thoughts about it, then don't share them with me!  I don't want to hear them!  I am doing what I feel is best for my baby.

5.  I want Max to feel special at the hospital and when we come home from the hospital.  I want to make sure we take time just the FOUR of us at the hospital, and make sure the four of us bond.

These are the most important goals to me.  These are the goals that I think about often.

I am so excited to have Baby Peanut.  I can't wait to meet him.  I can't wait for Max to meet him.  And I can't wait for Will to look into his sons eyes and tell him how much he loves him.

34 weeks + 3 days...almost full term.  Bring it on!!

Best Buds

Max and Will are best buds.  No question about it.  When Will comes home, it is Daddy time.  When Will leaves for work, it is Mommy time, but Mom isn't as cool as Dad. 
So glad Max has a fun loving, kid friendly, silly, and faithful Dad.  He is one lucky kid!!

Less than 45 days

In less than 45 days I will get to meet the little Peanut who has been kicking his way into my heart for the past 9+ months.

The two year old check up

Max was a GRUMP at the doctors today.  Screamed, cried, kicked, and cried some more.  And for the record...NO SHOTS were given!  So who knows what was going on???

Max isn't in the 100% group anymore.

Weight:  31 pounds, 93%
He hasn't gained a pound since he was 10 months old. 

Height:  35.5 inches, 77%
He has grown 4 inches since 18 months, and 8 since his year checkup.

Head Size:  20.5 inches, 99%
This is the FIRST time since being born that he is on the charts for his age.  His head hasn't grown since 18 months.  He still has a HUGE noggin!

This is Max being very mad at us.

Pouting.

Birthday Party for a TWO year old

Max had a fabulous birthday party.  It was low key, our favorite people were there, and everyone had a great time.  My Dad and Brother flew in from NY and NJ to complete the day.  Max got A LOT of cars, which was perfect, because he plays with nothing else. 
We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family close by.  Thank you for making his birthday party a success!

Max had a great birthday and we now have an official TWO year old! 

My Dad and Brother Flew in on Thursday night.  The storms back east delayed their flights a bit, but they finally arrived.  On Friday morning we went to the park.  My brother and Max played on the swings, went down the slides, and had a blast together.  Grandpa Rust and I laughed and smiled watching the two boys play. 

The boys are back in town!

Max got a new Princeton Tiger T-Shirt! 

We went to Communal for dinner on Friday night.  YUM!

Max loved the mashed potatoes.

Dinner was fabulous and we sure cleaned the plates.

 Max woke up with tons of smiles on his Birthday Party day!

We went for a run/walk up Provo Canyon. 

After an afternoon snooze Max and Will were all smiles together.

 LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!

Reminder of LAST year's party. 

Bubbles!!

 

 

We sang "Itsy Bitsy Spider" instead of Happy Birthday.  Max still cries and gets very upset singing Happy Birthday.

 

Amazing Birthday Cake

Opening Birthday Presents was a huge "WOW"!  Max got tons of cars!  

And a soccer ball from Uncle B!  He is VERY loved.

Thank you EVERYONE - near and far for making Max's Birthday so special. 

Max Turns Two on June 18th

Max Turns 2 on Tuesday June 18th.  Two years ago on June 16th I went into labor.  I was in labor for 54 hours.  Will was by my side the whole time, along with Tanei Henry.  After 54 hours, Max was born and my world became a whole lot better.  I can't imagine a day without him.
His smiles.
His laugh.
His blond hair.
His color changing blue/green/hazel eyes.
His LOVE of cars.
His love of books.
His love of milk and apple juice.
His adorable grin.
His love for his Daddy.
His love for his Gerald and Blanket.
His love for being outside.
His love for the words "WOW"  "OH NO"  and "Mmmmmmmm!"
His love of Elmo and Mickey Mouse.
His love of watching himself make faces in the bathroom mirror.
His love of being naked.
His love of the bath, with cars to play with.  (Of course!)
His love for life.

He is going to be the best big brother.  He is going to be the oldest.  He has a lot of responsibilities in the future coming his way, but he can handle it.  He is my little man, and I adore, love, and am in awe of him.  I am blessed to be his Mommy.

Max at 2 days old.

Max at his 1st Birthday Party

Max at his 2nd Birthday Party

Father's Day 2013

Growing up my Dad was the deep voiced, tall, handsome, sports loving man in my life.  As I got older this didn't change much.  As I reached my college years I started to understand my Dad a lot better and realized how hard he worked to make sure our family was always a unit.  He made sure we always stuck up for each other, through anything.  And boy have we seen the good and bad in our family.  Now as a mother and wife, I see my Dad as a Grandfather who loves to smile with Max, laugh at his silly Dad jokes, and still train for a marathon each year.  I love my Dad for all he has taught me, for being a strong male influence in my life, and for being there for my brother and I.

William McLean Strong is the best man for the job of father of my children.  He is kind, supportive, loving, and fun.  He is the one Max runs to and the one he cries for.  He has the magic touch, and is a big kid at heart.  I am so blessed to call him my husband, but my children are even luckier to call him "Daddy!"  Love you William!

Will's Dad, Ralph, entered my life in December of 2007.  I met him in Riverside California while visiting Will.  At this point Will and I had been dating for a month.  I knew I liked Will, but meeting his family and being welcomed with open arms and hugs that first night made me love Will even more.  Will's Dad is kind, gives great advice, has shown me through blessings how the power of the priesthood really works in my life, loves his children, grandchildren and spouses unconditionally, and has always told me how happy he is to have me in their family.  I love being a part of the Strong family, and I am so glad that my children have Grandpa Strong to grow and learn from. 

Happy Father's Day to three GREAT Dads!! Love all three of you very much.

Cute Grace Wilson's Baby shower

Tanei, Ellen and I threw Grace a pretty awesome baby shower.
I hope she had fun, because preparing for it with those two ladies was a blast. 

Baby Boy Wilson is VERY loved! 

Birthday Gift from Godmother Sarah

I wish I could describe the excitement while opening the large package Max received from New Jersey this past week.  Godmother Sarah sent him a rad birthday box! 
These pictures I do so believe capture the moments perfectly!

Godmother Sarah pretty much rocked his world!