Summertime in Los Angeles…

How is it September already? One thing I’m learning about Los Angeles is it gets suuuper warm the end of August/early September, so during the afternoon hours we’ve been trying to sneak away from the apartment to cool down. Last year at this time I was just about 14 weeks pregnant, and now I have an almost 6-month old — it’s magical to compare where we are now to where we were last year :)

So, we’ve traveled a bit this summer. Maxwell and I went on our first airplane right together to Colorado the end of July and he was so, so good! Oh my goodness, all of my mommy dreams came true ;) I asked for airplane travel advice from all of you and boy, did you guys deliver! I loved it :) My favorite tips were having a fun toy in the seat pocket, along with a burp cloth. I also made sure a blanket, my nursing cover, and fresh diapers were at the very top of my diaper bag. Ummm, and guess what? I totally changed a diaper on my lap since the airplane bathroom didn’t have a changing table. snort. Our trip to Colorado was so great and I’m so thankful my mom met us there. Oh, and Jessica? You are a lovely bride!

A couple of weeks later my older brother Matt surprised me by flying to Los Angeles for the week. Of course EVERYONE knew Matt was coming… except me :) Ironically that day I blogged about having a hard day. Little did I know that at midnight I’d open our front door, because Zack’s “hands were full”, and there would be my brother with a HUGE grin on his face!

S U R P R I S E!

Zack totally had me fooled by saying he had to go back into work because there was a problem with a show delivery. About an hour later he returns with my big bro — it was seriously the best surprise :D

This was Matt’s first time visiting us since we moved here a year ago, plus his first time meeting Maxwell… it meant so much that he planned this trip. We had a busy week doing, ya know, all sorts of fun things — walking the Santa Monica Promenade, having pizza for lunch, visiting Venice Beach, eating hot dogs and ice-cream on the boardwalk, and going to a baseball game downtown LA. Matt really bonded with Maxwell, which is quite possibly my favorite “thing”.

And while I’m being honest, we drank a lot of coffee as there were many late nights spent catching up. Matt wanted to go to a record surplus store so we also did that, and Zack + Matt went to a real barber shop for a cut.

My brother has two boys and my nephews are so dear to me. Collin was born 8 years ago, he and I spent a lot of time together when he was a newborn. I see so much of Collin in my Maxwell, I love it :) My youngest nephew, Jack, was born the spring we were married, 5 years ago. Those boys have so much love in their hearts, plus spunk and creativity and passion for learning. Seeing my brother with my son is a true treat… Matt’s a great Uncle, which is no surprise :)

The day Matt flew back to Michigan, our family also flew to Michigan for our annual summer visit. We all took red eyes and flew back to the Midwest while the rest of the country was sleeping. We were in our home state for 9 days while we visited with our families + friends. How’s this for a busy trip home: 4 airplanes, 3 cities, 6 parties, 2 new family photos, and 9 days of pure, spirited fun. More photos from our trip to Michigan, coming soon!

When we came home from Michigan our apartment was just as we left it: messy and full of memories from our visit with my brother. And I may have had tears in my eyes as I picked up and swept away the sand that was sprinkled on the floor. The week Matt was here was intense — it was filled with so much hugging and laughter and coffee and memory making.

Moments like that are forever etched onto our hearts.

+ + +

Maxwell will be 6 months old on Thursday — awwwww! His two bunny teeth on the bottom are seriously so cute, but sharp! Seriously, why do they need to be so sharp? Max’s hair is getting curlier and blonder and thicker, and I love looking at his little boy hairline, it’s precious. And those blue eyes — they’re like giant blueberries. He’s loving our afternoon stroller walks with Bauer and no longer sits in his carseat, which is just crazy! And have I mentioned he randomly says, “ma ma ma”? If he hasn’t already melted my heart…

Last week I promised myself some brand new changes would take place within my day-to-day so I’m very excited to start implementing them. I have never heard God speak to me… but I did last week, and it was amazing to have more clarity.

Anyhooo, Summer has been very good to us, and I’m sure these final weeks of the season will be just as great :)

Wishing the same for your family, too! xo