Hot Town Summer in the City

Man has it been SO hot!!! But it hasn't slowed us down - it has however kept Max's mom from taking him to get a hair trim. It's just too hot to do anything more than what is ABSOLUTELY necessary. Monday of this week we learned Max is going to have a baby sister in January. He has some definite opinions about her name btwn the choices we've given him. It's pretty cute. We think we've picked a name but Max, of course, likes the 2nd option.

Max returns to MDO on the Tuesday after Labor Day. We are BOTH ready for a regular routine again. However, it means preparing him for the routine of a classroom again. This summer has really been great but we've gotten into some bad habits - mainly with bed times. Max is SO sweet after his bath and I LOVE cuddling with him. It's so wonderful that I let him fall asleep with me at times. On the nights he does go to his own bed, he's been waking around 3 or 4 and will run and climb into our bed - and we haven't been correcting him. (I'm just too tired!!). Despite our sliding on bedtime, Max has ALWAYS been a WONDERFUL napper. It's basically always been as simple as saying, "Let's go take a nap." He will promptly walk with me to his bed and go to sleep. It's great!! Well, this week has been AWFUL!!!! Starting Monday, when it is nap time he SCREAMS and is just really inconsolable. I end up having to just shut the door and leave him in his room. Within about 5 minutes he stops crying and goes to sleep - but it is just a HUGE (terrible) production. Bedtime isn't much better. We've reverted back to rocking - but, hey, whatever works with the least amount of trauma to Max (who am I kidding - to his parents!!) ;) It's made me SO nervous for how he will behave for nap time when returning to school. So this Saturday, he stayed with Sugah. I was so worried for them all, but of course, he behaved for Sugah. It makes me feel a little better about school. Surely he will do as well as he did last year for his school nap time - peer pressure for toddlers is GREAT. Say a prayer he keeps it up for us!!

In addition to getting back into a sleep routine, we've been talking about potty training more and more every day. He cannot move up to his next class (next year) unless he is potty trained (and I would LOVE to only have one in diapers, but I'm not holding my breath)!

While Max may not be ready to potty train, he is sure George is ready!

He even helped George wash his hands

Sleep habits and potty training aren't the only things we have been doing to prepare for school. In addition to Max's new sleep "issues" he has developed quite the attitude. This week also began LOTS of defiance - unfortunately, for Max (and his parents), it has resulted in lots of punishments and redirection. His MDO requested that we introduce Max to "Obey the Rules/teachers" and "Use Your Words." We haven't had a problem implementing them into our daily lives - use your words isn't really a new concept but obey the rules is new this summer. I'm sure it is shocking to hear, but we have LOTS of opportunities to remind Max to obey the rules. It's really cute when he repeats it.

But we've been having LOTS of fun mixed in with ALL of our learning. Max LOVES music. There is a certain Sugarland song that he LOVES. He always screams, "Clap, Momma, Clap!" And he claps and sings along. It's SOOOO cute.

Here's Max singing and clapping along with Sugarland

Max has really been such an easy baby (that combined with my never-ending sickness with this pregnancy makes me VERY nervous about our little girl). He was VERY laid back and just did things at his own speed. He was never in much of a rush to crawl, walk, etc. It seemed he only met his next developmental goal when it became necessary for him to be able to do something. Well, now he doesn't do ANYTHING at half-speed. It's ALWAYS full speed ahead. Little boys who do EVERYTHING at full speed, also fall at full speed. The poor guy gets bruises on his legs all the time. It just hurts my feelings so much when I see a new bruise. He's quite the daredevil too. He loves jumping and free-falling. It's crazy. Max's full speed ahead landed us in the er after he hit his head on the corner of a dresser drawer. It really wasn't to bad - it's only a half-inch long, but we wanted to be safe rather than sorry.

Here he is with is warrior bandage - the nurse used a wrap b/c she thought his curls were so precious she didn't want bandaid tape pulling on them

Max's minor boo-boos certainly don't slow him down. He just keeps going! Here are some pictures hanging out with his dad on the lake at our house.

Just look at that face - you'd think he didn't like riding in the canoe

See he does like it!

We went to Pine Bluff one day this month to visit the train station. WHEW - it was HOT!!!!!

Here is the train Max preferred! (it moved!)

Because it was SO hot at the train museum, we headed over to the Huckabee Nature Center to seek refuge in the A/C. We had SO much fun!!! We will definitely head back to enjoy the outside fun once the weather cools off a bit - so it may be November before we go back!

Max and Hunter "riding" the crop duster

Today is Kelly's birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY!!! Kelly is such a WONDERFUL dad (and husband) and we love him SO much!! Of course, that means it's also Shawn's birthday!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAWN!!! Kelly and Shawn share their special day with the precious little Augusta Grace! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AG!! We spent our afternoon celebrating the birthdays at Playtime Pizza for AG's birthday party. She looked SOOOO sweet in her birthday outfit. It was a pink tu-tu with a pick shirt with a 2. Here are some party pics.

Max sitting with his Aunt Shannon to have close view of the presents! AG was a professional present opener!!

Max and AG trying out the new table and chairs from Sugah - they are intended for dolls but Max and AG thought they were great a place to eat their cake and ice cream!

PLAYTIME!!!

Riding the go-carts with Dad. He REALLY enjoyed this and would smile as they drove by me. (For some reason my pictures didn't turn out)

All in all we've had a GREAT August! We can't wait for September and RAZORBACK football!!! WOO PIG SOOIIEE!! Till next time - hugs and love!!

Mr. Personality

We have been having so much fun lately. Being Max's mom just gets better EVERY day!! He is just FULL of personality. I love his imagination. It is really SO vivid. The other day he was at my office playing on my phone. He would pick it up and have a WHOLE conversation with Dora and Boots. I was cracking up!

Lately he is SO obsessed with whales, dolphins, sharks, bears and dinosaurs. Max scratched his foot falling on some brick steps. When Kelly asked Max what happened, Max replied that a big dinosaur got him.

Kelly took my camera on one of his canoeing excursions with Max. I haven't seen it since. I'm certain when it shows up I'll have lots of captured moments to blog! Don't worry, I have a few from my phone to share!!

I have no words!

You can never be too safe blowing bubbles!

Max and Kelly getting ready to fish!!

He put his glasses on and said, "Momma, I cool!"
Here, I walked into his room and caught him reading to his pal, George.

Once he saw I was taking his picture, he grabbed George and said, "CHEESE!!" Not his best smile but it is still super sweet!!

As much fun as Max has been lately, he has really been keeping us on our toes. In addition to his growing imagination, Max is becoming more independent. He is constantly telling me, while pointing his finger "No, momma, I do it." Occasionally, he'll hold his hand up and say "Stop Momma, I do it - I do it." He definitely has his own ideas about things and gets really upset if he isn't allowed to do things on his own. It is very difficult to allow him to exerting his independence but curtail the sass (do you call it sass with boys?).

Well, we find out in a week if the new baby is a boy or girl and can't wait.

Hope you all have a great week. Love and Hugs!

Excuses, Excuses!

and boy do we have plenty for the neglect of our blog. We'll just let the pictures do the talking.

So we moved into our new house at the end of April. We LOVE the house and the neighborhood. Before it got so hot, Max and Kelly would walk down to the lake every weekend to fish and play in the water. Max LOVED it. He LOVES water!!

Here he is splashing around on the bank

We've also had visitors to the new house. One day Chris and Christine came for a visit. They taught Max how to turn his wagon into a roller coaster of sorts! They would pull the wagon up the driveway and then ride it down. My little dare-devil REALLY enjoyed it!! I think the big kids had fun too!

Look at that face!! PURE enjoyment!

After we moved, Max, Rocky and I joined Betsy and Emma for Paws on the Pavement. Max loved being able to walk Emma. He is such a big boy!!

Max is just growing, growing, growing.. He LOVES his bike helmet.

Max has also had some friends visit! Hunter came and spent a little time with us right after we moved in while his mom was out. Max really enjoys hanging out with Hunter. In our stroller strides class, he always requests that I park his stroller next to Hunter's stroller.

Here they are enjoying some Dora

They danced a little!

They had to have gloves on their hands while dancing - I guess they were channeling their inner Michael Jackson

In addition to having friends visit us at home, Max has done some visiting of his own. He had a great time at Nathan's birthday party.

He had a WONDERFUL time at the play date at Little Kent's. It was FANTASTIC. I only wish I took more pictures!!

My dad also came for a visit. Whenever he comes to town, he and Max are in CONSTANT motion. Here they are having a great time with a BOX!

My dad pushing Max around in the box

Seriously, who needs toys when there is a Box around!!

They also had fun on the stairs!

On Father's Day weekend all of Ted and Linda's kids, daughters-in-law, and grand kids headed to Sherrill! It was SO much fun visiting with everyone. I LOVE getting to hang out with everyone. We celebrated father's day and Papaw's and Linda's birthdays.

The sprinkler was such a hit with Max.

Here he is reading with Aunt Shannon, A-gace (what Max calls AG), and Samantha

(Max LOVES his Aunt Shannon and Augusta Grace. Our house is pretty close to their new house, so we get to spend lots of time with them. Max just ADORES them!! It is so sweet!)

Max had lots of fun playing with Memaw!

Of course, it wouldn't be a McNulty get together without a WHOMM!

There was also LOTS of dancing. Unfortunately, none of my pictures turned out. After our trip to Sherrill, my mom, Allen and Zach came for a visit. I was SICK the entire time. BOO!!!! Max went back to Florida with them. I joined him just a few days after he left. We all went for my sister's wedding. Max had the BEST time in Florida. He went swimming at the beach and my mom's pool EVERY DAY!!!! He REALLY LOVES water!!! We took him to Sea World too. He really enjoyed the whales and polar bears. My sister took him to see sharks at the local surf shop. He is STILL obsessed with the sharks!!

Smiling with My Sister and Caleb

Max hates the paparazzi too
The Happy Couple (and Zach) on their wedding day

Sara and Mike with all the kids (which is EXTREMELY fitting considering how ALL children adore Sara)

Dancing with the Bride

Max had the BEST time dancing at the reception. He did lots of break dancing. ;) We had so much fun in Florida and can't wait to go back.

In addition to all of our travels, we've had some great news for our family. Max is going to be a big brother the first of January 2011. We found at the day after Mother's Day. Unfortunately, this pregnancy has been a little tougher than the one with Max. I've been very sick and dizzy. Hopefully, things will get better - keep us in your prayers please.

Well, have a GREAT week. Hugs and Love from us!!

Poor Blog

We haven't forgotten about the blog. We've just been SO very busy. We put our house on the market and had a contract in under 48 hours!! SO AMAZING!!! We found a new home! So we've been REALLY busy with all that goes along with selling a house and buying a new one. Please keep us in your prayers that things continue to go smoothly and everything falls into place!

My camera is being CRAZY so I haven't been able to upload the pictures on it or even really take pictures for that matter. But the house stuff has had me SO preoccupied that I haven't remembered to take care of the camera issues - it's on my list!!

Max is just growing like a weed. He is wearing 4t rompers/shortalls!!! His speech gets better every day. He is becoming quite the little counter. We went to a wedding at the end of March and my dad and Kelley came from Memphis and kept him for the first time overnight. They went to park to swing and run around and had pizza for dinner. I guess it goes without saying Max had a GREAT time!!



Easter was wonderful! We had a great weekend in Sherrill. We certainly missed my family and Dylan's baby shower but had a VERY blessed and relaxing weekend.



Our great friends Ashlee (Holobaugh) and Darren Myers welcomed their first baby since my last post. They had a precious baby girl - Caroline Foster Myers. We can't wait to meet her and love her so much already. Because I don't have any of my baby - here is a picture of Ashlee's sweet angel from the blog of her photographer.





Could she be any cuter?!


Keep us in your prayers and we'll be back in business soon. Love and Hugs!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday!!

This weekend we celebrated Max's 2nd Birthday!?! WHAT?? I just cannot believe he will be 2 on Wednesday. It just doesn't seem right!! We had the best time with friends and family and are so grateful to them all!! (We are also so thankful for the beautiful weather we had on Saturday so the kids were able to play outside!)

This year we did an airplane theme. Max loves airplanes just about more than anything (well maybe not Curious George)!! Max's mom may take a theme TOO far, but it is SO much fun!!

Here is his invitation - isn't it the cutest little boarding pass!

The front of the house had balloons and his birthday banner. We lined the stairs with yellow cones - too cute! Here was the welcome sign on the front door.

Here was the "Baggage Claim" where all the goody bags were located!!

Obviously, this picture was taken after the party. But the goody bags were my favorite!! They were suitcases. We filled them with little pilot ducks, airline wings (thanks to Becky!!), crayons in the shape of planes, plane cookies, a plane kazoo, and, of course, a bag of pretzels! I just thought they were SOOOO cute!!!

Here are a couple of the pilot ducks!

These were the decorations hanging throughout the house - planes and clouds!

We covered all the card tables with white paper and drew clouds and planes on the paper. We put some of the airplane crayons on the tables and let the kids color.

The Crayons - SO cute!!
McNulty International!!!

Getting Ready for Cake!!!!

Here is Pilot Max sitting in his "plane" (His plane high chair was my favorite decoration!)

Isn't his party hat so cute with the airplane on it!?!I couldn't believe how well Max did with everyone singing Happy Birthday. He acted a little shy but he didn't cry. He even blew out his candles!!

He LOVES cake!! LOVE THE PLANE CHAIR!!! Mmm!

The kids playing outside!!
HOW cute is this picture!!!
Blowing bubbles!
How sweet?!
We were so overwhelmed with all the wonderful gifts Max received. Thanks EVERYONE SO very much!! Here he is playing with all his new toys! And here Max, after the party, sneaking some bites of cake - guess he really liked the cake!!

Here is a fun video of Max sneaking cake! Remember to go directly to the blog to view the video.

http://kellytabithamcnultyfamily.blogspot.com/

I hope you all enjoyed your peek into our party. Kelly is absolutely the best husband and dad! He totally indulges me and helps out SO much!! We had a great time and TOTALLY could not have done it without all the help of Sugah, my dad and Kelley - and of course our special friend Amy who makes things shine!!

We had a fantastic weekend and can't wait to celebrate Max's birthday on Wednesday and then again in West Memphis with my family on Sunday after church. Have a great week!!! Hugs and love!!