Maximiliano Abishai | 3 1/2 - 3 2/3

{Maxi | 3 years 8 months and 2 day old}

Maximiliano decided that at 3 1/2 he would stop being a baby. All of a sudden he decided that it was time to stop breast feeding, after nursing once during the night.

 I can't say I was bummed about it, I was wishing for this day to come for months. Although I fully enjoyed nurturing and connecting with my baby trough nursing, I just needed my space badly after three and a half years. That being said, I can look back at those days of nursing Maximiliano straight into a peaceful state of sleep, holding him in my arms and looking at him and thinking how beautiful the gift of motherhood is. Sometimes I catch myself thinking back on those days and missing them very much.

A couple weeks after he stopped breastfeeding he just woke up one morning and decided he would go to the restroom on his own and from then on there was no looking back. No accidents, no wetting the bed at night. We never pushed him to use the restroom, we only suggested and encouraged but he decided when the time was right and we had no problem with it.

These are some of the things he is doing and saying, along with some of his favorite things. These are some of the things I want to be able to look back on, moments I don't want to ever forget.

Things he says and does (I could write a book quoting him):

"I want a little hug." "I want a big hug."
This boy of mine is a big fan of hugs, he is forever asking for hugs. Little ones and big ones and group hugs and just hugs, hugs, hugs. I couldn't be happier of course since hugging him is my favorite!

"May I have water?" "May I watch something?" "Will you help me?"
Seriously? I don't even speak as correct as he does haha. He just melts my heart when I hear him ask so kindly and politely, makes it impossible to say no at times,

"Mama, you make my heart."

After he ate his lunch, he walks up to me and says: "I loved the food mama, thank you for make it!" and gives me a hug and kiss. Like how did I get so lucky?

While I'm putting on lipsticks: "I like your make up mama."

When I raised my voice: "Mama you made me mad, make me happy again!"
Another time I raised my voice: "love me again!"
These two literally broke my heart.

Also his thing to say is "Relax down!". He just combined relax and calm down and it's the funniest thing.

When Damian asked him to help him pick up his cars: "I'm dizzy (busy)."

Me: "Maxi what are you doing?"
Maxi: "Eating gummy bears."
Me: "Why?"
Maxi: "Cause I'm a man."

Also his wise message to start off the year: "Just be patient... (walks away, sits on the couch) that is the magic trick."

Last week I took him to the doctors for a mild rash on his back and everything turned out fine, doctor said it would go away in 2-6 weeks on it's own but he recommended the flu shot after I mentioned a cough that just won't go away. I explained to the dr. that I would rather come back on another day because I had already promised him that he wouldn't get a shot that day, to which he responded by telling Maximiliano that it wasn't my fault and it was so he wouldn't get sick. He also told Maxi that, and I quote "with that smile! you're gonna go a long waaay!" The Dr didn't give a crap about my request and sent the assistant with the shot anyway, you should have seen the look Maxi gave me, it broke my heart. His teary eyes said it all, "buttt mom you said I wouldn't get a shot." He kept on asking the nurse assistant "but whyyy?". Being a mom is a though job. He was still such a brave little guy about the whole thing and the highlight of my day was when right before he went to bed he said: "mama, thank you for taking me to the doctor." He is just the best, Always so thankful. On the weekend after taking him to the park he says; "papa, thank you for taking me to the park."

Some of his favorite thing:

On some days it's quesadillas, on other days it's chicken and rice, but these two meals are his absolute favorite. Although, that boy loves all food, the other night I roasted some broccoli and he would not stop asking for more "boccoli". Recently he started asking for oozy eggs (eggs over easy) for breakfast. I love that he named them oozy eggs. His favorite food when we go out to eat: pho and pizza and the other day out of the blue he says "mama, I have a good idea, let's go to jack in the box, they have french fries and chicken nuggets and I'm hungry, let's walk there."

Playskool avenger figures (he's missing silver surfer and he asks for him all the time, "for my birthday, pleeeease?" apparently he's discontinued or something and runs from 60 and up on amazon) and marvel playskool potato heads.

Playing with toys mentioned above, walking, exploring, collecting snails (he gets very attached), "making science" (I usually let him play with vinegar and baking soda while I do house chores), watching youtube toy videos (my son is not the exception) and dressing up in his super hero costumes to "fight the bad guys".

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Maximiliano, never change. It's hard to get my thoughts all straightened out and type out every single great thing about you. Just know that you have brought so much happiness to everyone around you. You are my little ray of sunshine, I love you more than all the stars.

LINKS

{cotton candy clouds}

Current favorites:

- Tonight's plan include a movie and this 2 ingredient playdough with my bb.
- Want to make these pb+j fudge brownies. also read the intro to the recipe: hilarious!

- How to grow a lemon tree in a pot.
- This is so on point haha.
- Travel goals: Spain
- Currently listening to this song, it speaks to my soul.

Vegan Banana Spinach Muffins

These muffins were pretty dang delicious and you could definitely not taste any spinach in them, perfect for the little people in your life. Maximiliano helped me make these, he mashed the bananas, mixed the dry and wet ingredients and stuck his finger in the batter about a thousand times. Love how adaptable the recipe is, you can try different oils, milks and add nuts or chocolate chips.


Recipe from Moonologie

Ingredients:

- 2 cups of flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup brown sugar (more or less, to taste)
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 2 large and ripe bananas (the riper the better), mashed
- 2 large handfuls of spinach
- 1/2 cup of your milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray/ line/ grease your muffin tin.

In medium bowl, combine the first three ingredients, set aside. In large bowl whisk the sugar and oil until smooth, add mashed bananas and mix. Blend your spinach, milk and vanilla together until the spinach turns into liquid. Add the spinach milk to the banana mix and stir until well combined. Lastly, slowly add your flour mixture and stir just until combined, do not over mix.

Bake for about 20 minutes. Test with toothpick, if it comes out clean they are done. Cool down before eating, although we all enjoyed a nice warm one!

7/52

"a photo of my child, once a week, every week in 2015."

Maximiliano: You have such an imagination and you are such a boy! I love hearing the stories you tell us. Here we were taking a walk in Sea Port and as always you love to explore all the little nooks along the way. You told us this (convention center) was your planet and that you made it yourself. You said this is where you worked and that there were lots of creatures inside. When I asked what kind of creatures, you started naming animals and some of the ones I can remember were "a little tiny dinosaur", "a little lizard" anddd an elephant! It was hard to get you out of your planet to continue exploring the rest of the port but we convinced you by reminding you there was a pond with ducks further down. As we walked away you told your dad and I that when you grew older you would invite us to have rice and chicken at your planet. After a long walk we were hungry and ready to pick up some food and head home but you saw your planet and did not want to leave, of course being the 3 1/2 year old toddler that you are you threw a little fit. You were really sad, saying: "but my planet is going to miss me." We promised we would go back and have a picnic there and that cheered you up a bit.

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I know this 52 project is supposed to be a photo project but I love that sometimes one photo inspires me to write a whole paragraph of memories that are related. 

Valentine's Day

On Valentine's day I woke up early in the morning to use the restroom and found a surprise on the dining table. A coconut iced latte, a big chocolate covered strawberry, and a wrapped, heart shaped box. I already knew the box contained chocolate but on top of the box was a little silver heart shaped locket with engraved flower detail and inside a picture of Maximiliano. I started tearing up at this, I've been very sentimental lately and I wasn't expecting this surprise at all. 

We all hung out in bed for a while, being lazy. We finally decided to get ready and head out to grab some banh mi and spring rolls for Maxi and then to the park for a nice picnic. The weather was absolute bliss, We ate our food, hung out soaking in the sun, Damian and Maxi kicked around the soccer ball. Before leaving, Damian gave Maxi his surprise. He was the happiest with his new transformer dog and played with it for ever until he said he was ready to go home (so he could reunite servo with the rest of his transformers).

Later that night I cooked pasta and chicken for dinner and enjoyed it with some nice red wine. The day was as lovely as I could have imagined it.

6/52

"a photo of my child, once a week, every week in 2015."

Maximiliano: You are always asking for hugs! Or "huggy huggy". "Little hugs" "big hugs". Hugs are your favorite and I love that they are, because they are my favorite too, especially coming from you.

XOXO

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Links

My  Valentine's wishlist. What can I say I'm a simple kind of girl.
Spun sugar candle / Ranunculus flowers/ Latte

Favorite internet Valentine's stuff:

- This would make an amazing Valentine's Dinner. Add some shrimp/ chicken and voila! 

- Dying over these shoes that are on super sale. Perfect for a Valentine's/ Galentine's date.

- This Valentine's day in a box is such a great idea. 

- A coffee lover valentine. Yes please.

- Some thing for the kids (I'm dying to make these for myself). Frosted animal sugar cookies.
- Dreamy way to spend Valentine's.

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Happy weekend! Our plans this weekend: Tonight: target run for essentials + last minute valentine treats. Redbox + snacks and mayyybe some wine! Saturday: Friends Valentine's dinner/playdate. Sunday: Hopefully a relaxed picnic?

XOXO

5/52

"a photo of my child, once a week, every week in 2015."

Maximiliano: I snapped this photo of you, last Sunday. Ever since you were a day old, this sleeping pose fascinated me. You look like a thoughtful little sleeping angel. I love you.

{here you are same pose, only a day old}

Valentine's Picnic

Valentine's day is this weekend and I want nothing more than to lay on the grass, eat banh mi (vietnamese sandwiches), strawberries and sweets. And of course spend it with my little bebe'.

I've been daydreaming about spring/ summer picnics lately, pinning away inspo. The weather has been crazy warm here in california and I kinda' really love it.

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no sew heart bunting diy from here.
heart shaped sugar cookies recipe from here.
blanket from here.

LINKS

Been hoarding some links, my bookmarks are getting out of control so here are my current favorites:

- How to roast a chicken. Roasted two chickens today, using this recipe. Highly recommended, was always too scared to roast a whole chicken but this recipe made it look so simple that I went ahead and tried it out. The chicken comes out so juicy, even the breast! Also, truss the chicken!

- Almond joy overnight oats. Sometimes I just want to wake up and have breakfast ready. It doesn't get better than coconut + chocolate.

- Healthy peanut butter fudge. Need to make these this weekend for when my sweet tooth kicks in. I Made healthy Reese's once and they were as good as the not so healthy ones you get at the grocery store. They kept great in the freezer and were great to satisfy the sugar cravings.

- Homemade mayo in two minutes. Made my own mayo while I was on whole30 last summer and it really is so simple! This video shows you exactly how to, in less than two minutes.

- Madewell's spring collection is so dreamy. 

- This birthday party is the cutest and looks like so much fun!

January In Pictures

 

4/52

"a photo of my child, once a week, every week in 2015."

Maximiliano: You are so excited for Easter. You love surprise eggs/ chocolate eggs. Last Easter you had a blast on our egg hunt so when you saw these eggs that I was storing under the bed, you asked if you could please take them out. Here you grouped them all by color and posed with them for a picture.