Firsts at last!

Two of Max's loves: Sports and Bikes.  You can imagine his excitement in getting to do both for the first time in one day!

We frequently visit Wash Park, which is a mecca for fitness enthusiasts, and Max will shout and wave each and every time a bike (or "dub dub" in Max's language) rolls by.  Last Sunday, we finally took the surrey bike for a few spins around Washington Park.  The surrey bike is that clown-looking bike-mobile that seats 2 or more riders, has a canopy overhead and those "watch out I'm coming" flags that wave in the wind.  So this time, Max got to ride in the front basket of the surrey bike with a bird's eye view for our family's first bike ride.  He was probably just as excited to wear the "bike hat" - though you wouldn't know it from the pictures.

Ready, set, go!

Hands up!  "Wheeee!"

Look Ma!  No hands!

Why does this picture make me want to sing circus music?

Play time at the playground

Later that afternoon, we met some friends at Coors Field for the Rockies/Pirates game.  We had fantastic seats, but it was a bit overwhelming for Max, who seemed to prefer to socialize with the other fans and the aisle ushers.  We knew ahead of time that it was more likely a "first" for us to enjoy than for him, but fun nonetheless.  And the Rockies swept the Pirates, which was pretty great. 

No. 1!  My 1st Rockies Game!

Breckenridge

Finally!  We made it to the mountains!  We've been dreaming of a weekend trip since before we moved from Boston, but it took us all summer to get there.  Thankfully, we did it when we did.   I didn't anticipate that the altitude would have had such an effect on me and I'm not sure I could have tolerated the trip at a later date.  David and I both wondered at times if we might be having the baby at Summit County Hospital.  Thankfully, that didn't happen, and we enjoyed a really awesome weekend with some truly great weather.

Max and David throw rocks into the river.

Max and I enjoy a swim in the pool.

We stayed at the Grand Lodge on Peak 7.  Our room and patio had a fantastic view of the slopes and the saline pool.  Being in the mountains made me really glad that we'll be staying in Colorado for 4 more months.  I'm hoping we can take a weekend with Max and the new baby and enjoy the Fall up there as well. 

Max loved his first gondola ride!

The mountain was hopping with all kinds of summer activity!  Here's a shot of us on the chair lift on Peak 8.

Being at this spot on the mountain brought back fond memories of our early years as a couple when I was learning to snowboard.  I remember enjoying the snow and the crisp air, but being really pleased after last chair when I could enjoy a Bloody Mary or a beer apres ski!

I think Max thoroughly enjoyed his first weekend in the mountains.  We cannot wait to share many more trips with him and his younger sibling! 

Seattle trip - July 2013

David, Max, and I flew to Seattle to visit with David's parents last month.  David's brother Steve, with wife Julie, and kids, Jack (5 1/2) and Abby (2 1/2), met us there from Texas.   We were super excited to see them, enjoy the beautiful Northwest Summer weather, and the amazing views of the Sound. 

We stayed in a family friend's home while visiting.  The water was only a hundred yards away from our patio and the first thing we could see when we woke up in the morning.  Absolutely stunning. 

We enjoyed the beach one day, a night out without kids (Thanks, Mom and Dad!!), and the Point Defiance zoo while there.  Here are some pictures from the zoo.  Can you see Mt Rainier between Jack and Julie's heads?

Steve, Jack, Julie, Abby, Grammy, and Opa

Max blessing us with water from the stream at the beach exhibit

Jack and Max having fun watering Grammy's plants

A very soaked trio of garden gnomes

We all took a tour of Grammy and Opa's garden and walked through plans for their new deck.  Jack helped Grammy and Opa plant a new garden decoration before turning the hose on Max for some classic summer fun.  Max LOVED it.  David was an innocent by-stander, but good sport!  Way to go, Uncle David!

The Unfinished Nest

I woke up at 4am today in a panic. 
I realized that if I went into labor today, I'd have nothing ready for this baby.  We still don't have a room or bassinet set up, and no sheets, blankets or clothes washed.  I thought of myself calling our friends to see if they could come grab Max before we went to the hospital and not having anything ready for him to take either...no bag packed...what about moving his car seat?...what would he think when he woke up in someone else's house?...
My eyes searched the ceiling for answers and as soon as our human alarm clock named Max woke up at 6:23am, I bombarded poor David with my questions.  

So, the list is made and it's lengthy.  I hope Max feels like cooperating with my plan.  Through the monitor, I can see that he is making laps around his crib instead of napping, so I'm not that confident.  If only I had the energy to do these things after his bedtime.  Perhaps I should add a shot of espresso to my evening routine and power through the week in this fashion.  I love the feeling of crossing items off of a list.  It might be worth it to push through and sleep later.  I still have 2 weeks before I'm full term - plenty of time to sleep, right?

Order newborn diapers.
Measure the room. 
Unpack the bassinett.
Launder the blankets, onesies, burp cloths, and a homecoming outfit.
Re-cover the glider.
Make a list for the hospital bag.  Pack it.
Pack a bag for Max.
Sew the curtains.
Sew the pack n play sheets.
And...
And...
And.

Here's a link to the pattern I'm using for our bassinet sheets:  http://prudentbaby.com/2010/02/baby-kid/diy-fitted-sheet-for-pack-n-play-2/
And the cute fabrics I picked up for baby's bassinet:  http://www.fabricworm.com/jadeforbiorf40.html  and http://www.fabricworm.com/jadeforbiorf27.html

Next project:  A runner for our 2nd-Hand Glider.  I'll add pictures once these projects are done!

Fabric Friday Giveaway for the cute elephant print:  http://prudentbaby.com/2013/07/giveaways-2/fabric-friday-109/

Smoothie 'stache

Max and David enjoying a smoothie for breakfast the other day:

Cheers!

Family Time at Green Lake 2013

We've been home almost a week from one of my most anticipated trips all year.  I can't believe it has come and gone already!  Like my childhood memories of tubing behind the boat, Green Lake Vacation 2013 started off slow, yielded lots of new adventures, and then whipped by in record time minus the sore fingers or water up the nose, thankfully.

This year, our family rented a cottage closer to our original summer homestead.  We love the northwest side of the lake - we understand the wave patterns, we can enjoy the sunrises and sunsets, the water level is perfect for jumping and diving off the dock, and the morning walks have the familiar waves from neighbors.
Despite the sense of belonging, we've come to realize that vacation on Green Lake changes yearly now that little ones are in tow.  Our walks are timed between breakfast and nap, boat rides are at a much slower pace not only for the tikes, but also for the pregnant bellies on board, and it's a bit more difficult to enjoy late-night campfires or impromptu wake-boarding sessions.  Not to mention, fireworks by boat are out of the picture for at least another year.  That being said, we truly enjoyed having so many extra hands to help play with, feed, and hug Max.  He loved playing with his cousin, Canaan, and all of his aunties and uncles.  Max wasn't as excited to jump into the water this year.  I'm not sure if that was because it was a bit colder than last summer or if he had gained a healthy dose of fear.  We did find a great spot for the kiddos in Norwegian Bay.  We were able to walk there from the house and jump from the boardwalk right into mid-calf-high water that was warm and sandy.  Once Max realized the water was so shallow, his smile barely left his face.

I sorely miss the ability to run and jump off the dock, go wake boarding, and take boat rides that porpoise across the waves.  Next summer, after our newest little one is born, I'll be ready for another vacation at the Lake and can hopefully take part in some of the more adventurous activities.  Until then, I will continue to re-live our memories of sun bouncing off the water, cool dips in the lake between activities, and glorious dock-side sunsets of Green Lake 2013.

Max is getting his 1st haircut!

Behr Family on the dock

Miss Hallie getting the hang of the paddleboard

Biagio showing off

Max watching Uncle Biagio snorkeling

Max and Daddy on the paddleboard

Max helping Mommy in the garden

Tick Tock Tick Tock

I'm sitting here trying to decide how to compose this post and realizing we've been in Denver for almost a full month already.  What?!  Where did the time go?  If this is any indication of time moving forward, we had better get ready!  Baby Behr is due in less than 9 weeks.  And if I had to guess, he or she will definitely arrive before our due date, unlike big brother Max, who made us wait and wait and wait.

I'm 31 weeks today.  Baby is moving constantly, it seems, and my Braxton Hicks contractions have really picked up.  I don't recall having many of these last time around, or at least not until I was closer to my due date.  Max is also requesting to be picked up more often, which is common from what I hear, and I'm trying to balance our dwindling one-on-one time with taking it easy on my body.   I'm learning I need to do that though based on how I'm feeling lately.  I'm not good at resting when Max is resting, but I'm trying to remind myself that these downtime opportunities are extremely limited.  

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how I'll be able to manage Max's schedule with a newborn's schedule.   Kind of scary.  I guess you just do it.  I still have a pile of books I want to read, audiobooks to listen to, and in general, things to do before that time though.  Why oh why am I such a procrastinator when it feels so good to get things done?  Maybe I just get the wrong things done.  This always brings me back to the decision to do the dishes, laundry, and prep meals while Max is sleeping instead of resting myself.  And around and around we go.  Where is the priority?

Well, David just handed me a bowl of cookies and cream ice cream and announced it was time to catch up on The Bachelorette.  Sounds like a winning idea.  Guess I'll leave the parenting books on the shelf again tonight and rest my body on the couch, fill my brain with nonsense, and enjoy my Blue Bell ice cream.  Isn't that what you'd do?

Take Me Home!

We're baaaa-aack!  Back in Denver, home sweet home!

Max and I flew from Boston Logan to Denver International, Tuesday, June 10th.  We took a late flight and landed 8:35pm Mountain Time.  Max fared extremely well considering he was stuck with my pregnant belly and ever-shrinking lap for 4.5 hours, 2.5 of which was past his bedtime.  Our good friends, The Sarmientos, picked us up at the airport and graciously hosted us until David arrived a few days later, hauling our belongings.  

Max and Valentino had a blast learning to play together.  Kudos to Valentino for sharing all of his cool toys with Max for days on end.  Max couldn't have been more thrilled to explore new toys, play with Gemma the cat, and get outside in a real backyard (after all that apartment/townhouse living)!  

On Saturday, June 15th, we caravanned from Broomfield to our new temporary home in Denver.  We moved into a cute little 3/2 bungalow on the Northwest corner of Washington Park.  The neighborhood is very popular because of its proximity to Wash Park and we were lucky to find it.  The homes here are older and have lots of character.  We have really nice neighbors and are settling in very well.  Our backyard is perfect for hosting barbecues and getting outdoors during the day with Max.  We also have plenty of room for visitors (ahem).

For Father's Day, we invited the Sarmientos and Dan and Brodi over for an afternoon of play and a barbecue.  The weather was beautiful!  David was super excited to be able to grill again.  It's been a whole year since we've had access to a grill.  He cooked filets and chicken and is already requesting I set aside a weekly meal on the grill for him to cook.  Works for me!  Max and I surprised David with a legacy book and Stand Up Paddle Board lessons.  Happy Father's Day!  

This past Saturday, our street hosted a neighborhood yard sale.  We scored big on some clothes for Max, a few new age-appropriate toys, some necessities for the new baby, and a brand new bread-maker!  I will add a few pictures of our home and activities over the last weekend.

David left this morning for Niagara Falls, Canadian side.  He is giving a key-note address on Tuesday and then returning later that night.  We have another week before we all leave for Green Lake, WI for our annual family vacation.  Can't wait to enjoy the water, watch Max and Canaan play together, and have my family within arm's reach.   

May in Boston

Hello again.
I can be such a procrastinator.  It's actually quite embarrassing at this point - my last post was well over a month ago.  I've actually written THIS post 3 times, but had to keep changing it because it's no longer in the present.  It's not like we haven't had some really fun things to talk about either.  And yes, I'm already feeling guilty that Baby Behr isn't getting as much attention as Max did...at least on paper (or blog).
Our Baby is certainly making him/herself known rather regularly though.  I'm quite positive that this child is more active than Max was at this stage.  It is exhausting.  I feel as though my abs are getting beaten by a meat tenderizer from the inside out.  It's Ab Ripper X times 20.  According to my OB, the placenta is posterior, which puts baby closest to my abdominal wall and accounts for why baby feels more active.  I've also heard that a posterior placenta makes having back labor much less likely, so yay for that!

As much as I wanted to recount everything that has happened since our last blog post, it's just not realistic if I want to keep moving forward.  So, that being said, let's bullet-point:

• Mother's Day
  Over Mother's Day weekend, we enjoyed a very relaxed and quiet weekend inside.  I think this was just what we needed to prep for the weeks ahead.  David and Max treated me to a homemade breakfast and some very thoughtful gifts.  I even had some time to enjoy a mid-pregnancy spa treat with a facial and massage.  I love my guys!  
  
  
• Fun with Playmates
  The apartment complex that we are staying at organizes several activities throughout the month.  We moved into our place just in time to participate in a Mommy Meet-up.  Max and I met a few moms and their kids to share playdates with.  Max now plays regularly with Charlie (14 mos) and is practicing his big brother skills with Baby Charles (5 mos).
  
  
• Wildwood Weekend
  The week after Mother's Day, we drove to New York on Thursday night hoping that Max might sleep in the car.  It was our first attempt at driving at night with a toddler.  And...we need more practice.  Max slept for maybe one hour of the 4 hour trip, and it was fitful.  He's never been a great carseat sleeper, but we thought that bedtime might make that easier.  We also wrongly assumed that his new convertible carseat would be more comfortable for him, but apparently we had the wrong seat angle and every time he would nod off, the poor little guy's head would fall and he'd wake himself up.  Anyway, we made it to Aunt Diane's by midnight and were all in bed by 1am.  
  Max enjoyed a full day of visiting with Aunt Diane on Friday, playing in the back yard and feeding the fish at the fish pond.  On Saturday, we joined Aunt Diane and family at Wildwood State Park, a beautiful spot on the water, for a picnic lunch, fun on the beach, and barbecued dinner.  It was really fun to be a part of the tradition of a day at Wildwood.  This spot was where David's mother and her family would spend time during their childhood, camping and swimming and making lots of memories. We had a great time catching up with David's family, watching Max pick stones on the beach, and celebrating Aunt Diane's birthday, Wildwood-style!
• Congratulations, Kristine!!
  Dominic's girlfriend, Kristine, graduated from Marquette University's Direct Entry Program, earning her Masters Degree in Nursing.  She's a primary care nurse practitioner and on her way to being board certified!  I'm so excited for her and can't wait to hear what's next!  Yahoo!  Way to go, Kristine!

• Visit from Nana - My Mom was here the last week in May and we celebrated her birthday and Memorial Day weekend together.   Max and Nana picked up right where they left off and had a blast reading books, playing games, and singing nursery rhymes.  While Mom was here, the weather was pretty dreary, keeping us indoors a lot of the time.  On Thursday night, we enjoyed dinner in the North End.  On Sunday, we drove to Newport, RI to tour the amazing mansions there.  WOW!  That's all I can say.  On Monday, we had our first glimpse of sunshine, and spent the day downtown.  We took a Duck Tour of the city and sat at the wharf before taking her back to the airport.  

• Uncle Dominic and Kristine flew out to see us in Boston the first weekend in June.  Unlike the weekend prior, it was HOT HOT HOT!  We took the Freedom Trail through Boston, drove to the Cape for a beach day, and strolled through Boston Common and Newbury Street.  I think Dom and Kristine got their fill of seafood.  With all that sun, Dom actually left looking like a "lobsta!"
• Max took part in a music class while we were living in Boston.   Although he didn't always enjoy the dancing portion of class, he loved to play and share instruments with his classmates.  I think the socialization was great for both of us.  We'll be looking for another class to enjoy this summer.  

Relief at last!

Return, my soul, to your rest.  Psalms 116:7

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to sleep so peacefully last night, knowing that our current city of Boston is now no longer in lock-down and seized with terror.  The 2nd suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings has been caught!  Last week was tremendously scary and it seemed to be an excruciatingly long wait for capture once the suspects were identified.  Though we fortunately live outside the zone where the manhunt took place, I'm not sure anyone really felt completely safe knowing that those men were on the loose.

David and I are thanking God for our safety and for hindering our plans to attend the Boston Marathon.    We believe things happen for a reason.  Though at the time we were frustrated that Max decided not to nap that morning, we are now quite happy that he didn't, for it hampered our plan to go to the finish line to watch the marathoners come in.  We literally turned around and returned home to put Max back to bed. Good thing he's not a stroller sleeper or we might have persisted.  Later that day, we tried to resume our plans, only to be turned away at the T Station when the Green Line had been shut down, immediately following the blast.  It was there that we had learned of the tragedy and were stunned.  So, although we were never close to the site, it was still a little too close for comfort, and it shook us both to the core knowing we and our babies could have been right there.

Although we are just visitors passing through this city, we are so proud of Boston and its people for their bravery and diligence.  It really seemed like everyone was working together as a team.  We celebrate with Bostonians today and praise God for peace.