Lately...

Here's a little bit of what we've been up to lately...

Max went to church for the first time a week ago yesterday. He did pretty well, but he grunts a lot and makes a lot of weird noises so I'm sure he was disturbing those around him! All of the Young Women that I work with were pretty excited to see him!

Here's what his outfit really looks like since you couldn't really see it in the last picture!

Max got to meet his new cousin, William (Will) Adam Dayton, born April 18th to my sister, Christy. They have five girls and so they were pretty excited to finally get a boy in the family. I'm sure Will and Max will be good friends!

Last week was my first week being home alone with all 3 boys. I made it 2 days before Jon felt so bad for me that he took Wednesday off! So we took Max on his first trip to Disneyland. He only got to ride Pirates and the merry-go-round, but he did really well the rest of the time. Jake and Nate loved getting out of the house and doing something fun for a change!

Here's our new Sit 'n Stand stroller that we just got. It is so awesome- Max's carseat snaps in the front and the boys ride in the back. It's meant for only 2 kids, but all 3 of ours fit just fine! Thanks, Robyn, for doing all of the research and for letting us copy you- we love it!

Two sleeping cousins in their carseats- wouldn't it be nice if they were always this content? Max has become somewhat of a fussy baby during the last week or so. He spits up a ton and has a lot of gas- poor little guy. I go in for his 4 week check-up this week so I am going to ask the doctor if there is anything we can do to help him. A screaming baby sure adds a lot of stress to the home.

It has been so hot here lately so on Saturday we blew up the water ball and let the kids play with it in the backyard for a few hours. They loved it and it kept them occupied for a while- a win, win situation if you ask me!

Jon is pretty much finished with the backyard. After we had the path done, Jon layed new grass and new bark around the palm trees. He is working on a sand box in the back left corner.

Overall, things are pretty crazy around here, but I wouldn't want it any other way!!!

Max, Swimming, The Santa Ana Zoo and Grandma Lorelei

So I am realizing that it is hard to get a good picture of a newborn. This has been confirmed by most people that have seen him in person- they have all said that he is much cuter in person leading me to believe that the pictures I have posted on here must not be very cute! I guess you will all just have to make a trip out here to see him and see what he really looks like!!!

Last week Jake and Nathan went swimming with their cousins out at my mom's house. They swam for hours and are both doing really well with kicking and paddling with their arms, though they aren't quite ready to do it without their life jackets on yet. Maybe next Summer!

Tuesday Jon had the day off so we took the kids to the Santa Ana Zoo. For those of you that have been there, you can understand why 2 hours there is more than enough time! There were hardly any animals, except for a few monkeys and birds, but the boys still thought it was pretty fun. I just wasn't up to walking around the San Diego Zoo yet, but I think we will have to take the boys there sometime soon and let them see what a 'real' zoo is like!

There were a lot of statues of animals that Jake and Nate were pretty excited about!

They had this little train that went around the zoo. Jake and Nathan were really excited to ride it with Grandma Lorelei!

Max and I had on coordinating colors today so we had to take a picture! I had my 2 week post-partum appointment today and everything seems to be healing up nicely. I brought Max with me and everyone at the office was really excited to see him. I guess when you have appointments twice a week for the last 10 weeks of your pregnancy you really develop friendships with these people! I also took Max to Jon's office today to show him off and they all thought he was pretty cute!

Jon's mom, Grandma Lorelei, has been here all week helping with Jake and Nathan. Let's just say that they are going to be really sad when she leaves tomorrow because she is a lot more fun than me! The boys have loved the constant attention- she is a great grandma and has been very helpful this week. We are all going to miss her when she leaves.

My mom, Grandma Juli, helped all last week and while I was in the hospital the weekend before which was so nice. I'm worried that come Monday morning when Jon goes to work and all of my help is gone, it is going to be a rude awakening for me. I don't know how I am going to handle all of these boys, but I guess my help can't last forever! My sister, Christy, is having her baby tomorrow so my mom will be on duty to watch her 5 girls!

This is our attempt at getting a family picture of the five of us! It pretty much sums up our life right now!!!

Loving this baby

I've never really considered the newborn phase my favorite since all the baby really does is eat, sleep and poop! However I have now changed my mind- maybe it's having Jake and Nathan who I love to death, but their endless energy and attitudes just make me appreciate how innocent and precious little Max is. Jon thinks I am ruining him because I pretty much never put him down, but I can't help it, he is just so cute and I have my mom helping me all week so why not take advantage of this time I have to just sit and hold him? I really love this kid and the sweet spirit he has already brought into our home.

Coming home from the hospital- this is a good shot of his dimples!

Jon and the boys made this sign for Max and I when we got home from the hospital. They also had cards sitting out that they made for me- what sweet boys!

Max in his coming home from the hospital outfit!

On our way to Grandma's house on Sunday to meet all of his cousins.

Max loved his first sponge bath- he was intrigued by the mirror and of course he peed all over himself!

My four boys!!!

While the cat's away, the mouse will surely play :)

Sorry Sarah. You shouldn't have given me your password.

Max Robert Draper

9 lbs. 5 oz. 20 in. 7:33 am

Since Sarah is still at the hospital and internet-less, this is my first, and possibly last post, but we shall see. (this is Jon, btw). After a 5 am arrival at the hospital, a healthy Max was born without complications. The hospital is great and the Doctors and Nurses are even better.

Jake and Nathan arrived this afternoon for their first look at Max. We have been telling them for months that they need to be "very, very soft and nice." Nathan was catching on and for the last coulpe of weeks would quiz Jake by asking, "Jakey, what do we do with baby Max?" Jake would respond by saying, "Be nice to baby Max." Afterwich Nathan would respond with, "That's right Jake, only hugs and kisses for Max"



As you can see, they did great and were very excited to see him. Jake was extremely happy to see his mom. After a quick hug and kiss for Max, he spent a long time laying next to his mom on the bed.



Nathan, on the other hand, only wanted to hold the baby. He was sooo good. He was so gentle. He loved kissing him. Unfortunately his kisses resembled licking a lollipop more than brotherly type of kiss. He would seriouly slobber all over him because he loved him so much. Nice!



Well, I guess the pictures can do the talking.

I think I wrote too much. Oh well. Jon