Sleepy Babies

Being two months old is pretty much fantastic. By now, Max is a pretty decent sleeper at night and cat naps all day. He eats quicker and stays fuller longer. His head is getting stronger, but he still is a big snuggler. With my other babies, I was always anxious for the next stage--I couldn't wait for them to sit up, or crawl, or eat solids. How quickly this sweet newborn phase passes without even realizing until it's gone forever! I'm trying my best to enjoy every day with my tiniest little love.

Max at 2 months
Weight: 12 lbs 5.5 oz, 70% (weighed 9.2 at birth)
Height: 23 1/4", 55%
Head: 15.6" 45%


Leo at 2 months
Weight: 13 lbs. 8 oz (weighed 8.7 at birth)
Height: 22 3/4"
Head: 15 1/4"


Emily at 2 months
Weight: 4 lbs. 11 oz (weighed 2 lbs at birth)

Our Pumpkins in the Patch

October finally brought some tollerable temperatures in south TX, meaning we wouldn't be scorching hot as long as we made it inside by lunchtime. One of our favorite traditions is a daytrip out to our local apple orchard/pumpkin patch. The drive is beautiful into the hill country and you can even see a couple (ok maybe like 2) trees with fall foliage. The pumpkin patch includes everything from painting pumpkins, hayrides, puppet shows, and insanely good apple ice cream.
Good ol' Dad. Takin' one for the team.

I think we learned more about apples than pumpkins that day. Makes me want an apple tree in our backyard! See the orchard in the background?

Why are my kids the ones who are always fearless--or clueless-- and trying to get in the petting zoo pen? Last year Leo's hand was almost eaten by a cow. This year, it was a pot belly pig.

We never take pictures in front of these cheesy backgrounds. This just happens to be the only picture I can think of with me and all my babies.

Good times:)

Halloween Madness

After 2 parties, a carnival, a halloween parade, and trick or treating, we're all in a sugar coma!
I'm not positive, but I think this may be the very first Danze male to take up ballet.

Paging Dr. Danze! Move over Aunt Lauren...you've got some competition!

These buckets are empty...let's get the show on the road Daddy!

Superman to the rescue!

Monster Max

Dare I say we've adjusted?

Now that it's been 2 months with a new baby in the house, I think it's safe to say that we've found our new "normal" routine. We're all still trying to kick croup, colds, blah blah blah...such is life! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be cooking and doing the chores for our little family again. Letting go of control was harder than I would have ever thought, but it gave me a lot of time to appreciate how wonderful and helpful Eli and the kids are. Emily has always been eager to help out with cleaning and cooking, but recently she's taken on a whole new realm of responsibility. She has unbelievable patience for Max's fussiness. Especially at times when I need to put him down for a minute, I return to see Emily holding his paccy in place and singing him songs. Leo still is fighting for our attention, and prefers to assert himself through bouncing as close as possible to Max without actually being *on* him. Max's temperment is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum...not as needy and sensitive as Emily, but not as easy going as Leo. I just love to see how they interact without my direction.

Entertaining little Max during tummy time.


Mommy in the making.

Brahma Parade

Each year we look forward to the high school parade down our street, and in years past we've camped out with family and friends in our front lawn. This year, the hubby was out of town. Since we've upped the ante with another child, I decided to make life easy and just run outside when we could hear the band. Emily and Leo were so excited that they could barely eat their dinner, and their necks were craned towards the front window nearly the whole day.

Finally as the band was getting close, we found a spot and Emily began to yell "Hook em Horns!"--her Daddy would be proud. The whole longhorn vs. brahama discussion was for some reason not convincing to her.


This happened to be the day they were locked in the car, and Emily was convinced that the very same fire truck that rescued her would be leading the parade that evening, hence the look of dispair in her face.

I wish I had better pictures, but once candy was thrown in their direction, it was all over!