16 Months Old and so much to be THANKFUL for!

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm reflecting on all we are thankful for. It's overwhelming to realize how blessed we truly are and I could never thank God enough for all he has given us. We have a healthy, beautiful, sweet, and smart 16 month old boy that I am so in love with. Although the last 2 years have not been easy or typical, we are so incredibly thankful and proud of the story that God has written for Max and we feel so privileged to be his parents.

Max is 16 months old and learning new things everyday. This month has been a little difficult because Max has started "acting out" in some ways and also trying to assert himself. He's not a passive baby; he usually know what he wants and will let you know it. He has started screaming when he wants our attention or something in particular. He also throws his milk and food off his tray at meal times. If he doesn't get what he wants, he throws a temper tantrum. The most bothersome of his "issues" is that he's started hitting. He will hit us, another baby, or anyone else if he doesn't like what they're doing. This flies all over me. It's embarrassing when you're at a play date and your kid hits another kid in the face because they both want the same toy. I know he's not intentionally being mean and instead just trying to assert himself, but that reaction has to go. 

Tyler and I have no idea how to discipline a child, but we are doing the best we can. I mean, who really knows what they're doing, right? Isn't this whole parenthood thing trial and error for the most part? Anyway, Tyler and I are trying to get on the same page with discipline and be consistent with it even though our natural tendencies are very different. I know kids need discipline and consistency, but it's kind of harder than you think it would be, especially when you're tired and don't feel like dealing with an issue. We've talked a lot about how we want to discipline Max and we're starting to find our own way even though we are mostly just guessing what works. All that being said, Max is a great kid, and is so sweet most of the time. This just seems to be a new stage we are entering.

Max loves his bottle at night time. It's the one time of the day that he totally relaxes, is quiet and just snuggles.

Max loves his rocking chair. Mom gave it to us and it was mine when I was a little girl.

Tyler was in a head on collision last week that totaled both cars involved. Amazingly, and by the grace of God, both, Tyler, and the other driver walked away from the crash. After it happened, he called me and all I could hear is him saying, "I've been in an accident and my nose is bleeding and my car is totaled." This is all while I hear the ambulance siren in the background. When I approached the scene, I was astonished at how bad both cars were damaged and that both drivers were ok. The second thing I saw was Max's car seat in the back of Tyler's smushed car. It made me sick to think that Max could have been in the car and that Tyler could have been severely injured or even killed. But, like I said, Tyler was completely fine other than a few bumps and bruises.

We had a doctor's appointment a few weeks ago and it couldn't have gone better!! Max was very cooperative; usually he fusses the whole time we are there and it's difficult to get all the test results they need. My new magic weapon is a a Dumdum sucker. I gave him a sucker and he was happy as could be the whole time we were there. I know that's probably not a good habit to get into, but we will try to save them for special occasions. 

He now weighs 25 pounds and Dr. Radbill said his heart and pacemaker are doing great! So great, in fact, that we can resume pacemaker checks from home and don't need to come back into the office at Vandy for a year!! He also lowered Max's pacemaker rate to 100 beats a minute, instead of 120 that he's been at for over a year. This will also help save battery life. Dr. Radbill also did not hear the PDA (small hole) that he's heard before and said there's a chance it could have closed on its own. This would be great because otherwise it would have to be fixed with a procedure at some point. All this news also means that we can anticipate not having another surgery for at least another year. Woohoo!!

Getting his vitals taken at Vandy. He didn't make a peep!

I gave Max a DumDum sucker while he was getting his EKG and he was fully cooperative for the first appointment ever! He couldn't have been any better. No crying, no squirming, no tantrums. Amazing what a little sugar can do!

What a good baby! Can you imagine how tempting that would be for a little boy to pull all those wires? He just left them along and didn't even mind too much when we pulled off all those stickers.

Trying to escape while waiting for Dr. Radbill

"I'm such a good boy and I know it. Boy, was that a good sucker!" 

You can see his pacemaker right below the sticker if you look closely.

Zonked out on the way home from the doctor

Riding on the John Deere tractor with Pal

He loves to drive the tractor!

Our new friends, Paul and Beth, came over to visit a few weeks ago. It was lovely to meet them and to introduce them to Max.