Getting into the Holiday Spirit

Getting into the holiday spirit at the Krimerman home.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim's Birthday well spent....

We took Maksim to Toys 'R" Us to pick out a gift for his second birthday.  After we stopped at Chuck E. Cheese for some fun.  He asked for pizza and whip cream on the way home and that is what he got!  He was a very happy little boy.  Mission accomplished.

Papa took this down from the display.  Maksim road it around the store.  We got some looks that's for sure.

His "big truck" present of choice.

Chuck E. Cheese souvenirs

Love,
First Gen Fam

Merry Birthday to my Maksim

Where has the time gone.  I cannot believe my Maksim is 2 years old today.  He is the best gift I have ever received and I know mom's say this all the time but until you have a child you really do  not know what love really is.  It's something deeper that I have ever felt in my life.  I constantly think (and worry) about him.  His excitement is my excitement and his hurts are my hurts.  As my own mother would say he really is an extension of me.  I love him from the wild hairs on top of his head all the way down to his massive toddler toes.  So much so I feel like my heart could explode.  Happy second birthday to my little man, you are my everything.

What's 2 year old Maksim up to these days:

• He officially started repeating words we say about a couple months ago.  We officially have to start watching what we say.
• He is a master of the iPad.  Did I mention he can Skype people all on his own.  His mastery at it all astonishes all.
• He loves pizza, M&Ms, beans, corn, apples.
• He is started to be a little more consistent with pee-pee in the potty.  M&Ms as a reward works pretty well.  Kaka......well that's a different story.
• He loves his little brother, Lazar, and wants to hold and kiss him often. 
• Mickey Mouse, Thomas the Train, and Sponge Bob are pretty cool dudes. 
• He does not like it when Lazar cries.  He yells out a scream to try to make him stop.  The only thing that helps is my growing headache.
• When he tantrums, they are full blown.  Welcome to the terrible twos.
• He is super affectionate.  He makes a mmmm noise when we give him a good hug or kiss.  He still gives the best hugs and kisses hands down.
• We taught him to say he is two just in time.

Maksim,

Papa and Mama love you so much.  Thanks for being ours.  Happy 2nd birthday!

Love, Mama and Papa Krimerman

Love,

First Gen Fam

Best Custom Gifts......Ever

Personalized custom gifts are the best.  It tells me someone was really thinking of me when I get something like the gifts above.  I have to admit I have at least three of the items in this post and have given them out as gifts too.  I thought this post is perfect especially right before the gift-giving holidays.  They are great for mothers and fathers days gifts, bdays, anniversaries, etc, as well.  Here are some of my favorites:
1- Calendar necklace - choose your date.  The shop has this calendar as cufflinks, bracelets, keychains, etc.
2- Number rings - I love the idea of stacking these to add up a special date on my finger.  Big plus that it's in rose gold.
3- Letter necklace - dainty and adorable.  Wear your initial or layer them up to spell something out.  I have seen less expensive ones on Etsy too.
4- Date print - never forget a birthday again.  Display this print in your home and never forget an anniversary or birthday again.  
5- Cutting board - choose a state or country.  They can add a heart on the city of choice.   I have given this as a gift several times.  Its completely practical and just looks plain cool.
6- Custom leather cuffs - I got this for Stan and I when we first had Maksim.  I had each cuff engraved in roman numerals with Maksim's birth date.  Putting in another order for Lazar's birth date.  Great idea for anniversaries too.

 

  

New fav, triple nameplate necklace.  Confession, I just got this for myself as an early Xmas gift.  I am having it customized with the hubbie's and babie's names.  Can't wait to get it.

Inexpensive name tag to wear on any necklace.  Engrave a date or name.

Next on my wishlist.  These tiny stackable name rings are adorable and I can add them to my existing rings for a unique look.

One thing to keep in mind when you order custom gifts like these they do take time.  If you need them for the holidays or a particular date.....order early!

Love,

First Gen Fam

Getting back to me....a long journey

Having a baby messes with your mind and body. It took me 9 months to gain 35ish pounds but as soon as Lazar came out I want to have my pre-preggo body back. Its pretty vain but I miss my leaner frame and my clothes, sigh.  I am subjected to stretchy clothes at this moment. I am not ready to workout yet because I still have some healing to do. Slowly but surely I'll get back into a workout routine, most likely in a month's time or so. It will definitely have to be once I can get more than 2 hour sleeping sprints in the middle of the night.

 My "getting back to me plan":

• Skin:  My skin took a toll this pregnancy.  Its blotchy and uneven which my doctor tells me is totally normal and due to the hormones.  I am now back to using my retinol cream (can't use retinols while pregnant), "Green Cream" and am already seeing my discolorations fade.  My skin is a big peeling mess as a result but I know in a weeks time it will acclamate and be fine. On my way to having my skin back!
• Weight:  I know, I know, I just had a baby but I can't help to long getting back into my skinny jeans (I just bought a scale today too).  I know the weight will come off naturally but the muscle tone doesn't come back overnight.  Once my healing is complete (4-6 weeks) I will be picking up weights again and joining a cycling class to get my ass into shape.  For now I am wearing a girdle and though it sounds like something an old lady would where it does wonders for pulling all the jingly things in along with helping ease my lower back pain.  I swear it quickens the whole tummy flattening.
• Diet:  Well not a "lose" weight diet because I am breastfeeding so I need the extra calories.  I can make "better" choices in what I eat.  Maybe a Snickers at 3am is not the best option.  I am stocking up on veggies and fruit from here on.  Well a Snickers here and there doesnt hurt right?

Now that I have written it out I have to follow my plan.  Hoping in a few months time I'll have glowing skin and a body I'm close to happy with.   It's going to be a long journey.......triple sigh.

Love,

First Gen Fam

Hospital Photos

Love,
First Gen Fam

Lazar: Birth Story

After my doctor's appointment last Monday (Nov. 5th) I headed to my mom's to celebrate her birthday along with my sister Jelena by going to the mall for some shopping and lunch.  I arrived at my mom's and told her I had some back pain but didn't think anything of it since I was 39 weeks pregnant and the extra weight just does that.  I took some tylenol and to the mall we went.  I sometimes caught myself pausing while shopping to deal with a dull back pain that would come and go.  I still thought, nah.  We had ourselves some lunch and then did some more shopping.  At this point I was getting a little uncomfortable.  I left early to get some rest at home.

As the night progressed there was no doubt what was happening.  I was so tired and all I wanted to do was a take a nap.  Well, that did not happen.  When I had Maksim my water broke first and we headed straight to the hospital.  By the time the contractions came on I was already hooked up to some fentanyl to take the edge off the contraction pains.  So, the labor I had with Maksim was completely different and so much easier.  We called my mom to come to our house to stay with Maksim.  We left for the hospital at midnight because at that point I didn't care if the contractions were not close enough apart I just knew I could not take the pain anymore.  No position, breathing technique, massage, etc helped. All I knew is it hurt and it was excruciating.  Once admitted to triage they said I came in at a good time and I was ready to go to the labor room since I was 5-6 cm dilated already. What felt like a lifetime I finally got my fentanyl and boy did it make me feel better. The contractions really hurt but the fentanyl did take the edge off and made me feel dizzy/high.  The epideral came not to long after that and then I thought yes! I get to take a nap like I did with Maksim.  30 minutes in and pop! by water broke (or burst I should say) on its own. Then I was ready to go but was told to hold the baby in until the on call doctor came.  I mean really?  Hold it?  Finally she came and was in there for all about what felt like 10 minutes.  The birth was messy from Stan and my sister's account who were both there to support me.  Jelena even got a little dizzy and felt faint.  She held her breathe too long when they would instruct me to push.  She totally did it subconsciously. I pushed for no more than 10 minutes. The birth was a bloody and fluidy mess from Stan and Jelena's accounts or at least compared to the birth I had with Maksim.  

Lazar Krimerman came into the world at 3:21am on November 6th, 2012 weighing in at 8.1 lb and 21 inches long.   He was able to latch on and eat right away.  He seemed to love the sponge bath the nurse gave him.  This time around I am way more sore which wasn't totally unexpected.  I guess it didn't help that I tore.  All the pain and fatigue was worth it when I look at little Lazar.  Now that I had him I feel like our family is complete.  That desire to have a "girl" is gone.   I am pretty sure we are good with two kids.  After this first week I realized I am way more calm but that probably comes with experience.  Calm or not it's crazy hard with so little sleep.  A toddler and a new baby are hard to manage. Luckily we have lots of family help and Maksim isn't too jealous.   Maksim has done a few things to get more attention like trying to put on the baby's hat, going into his crib, and even taking the pacifier to his mouth.  It's really cute because he likes to show people "his" baby and he wants to constantly kiss him too.  It melts my heart.  

How did we come up with the name Lazar?  We have been asked this lots.  We wanted something slavic once again.  I asked family members to give us suggestions and my mom helped on this one.  The name is abbreviated form of Lazarus and its both Russian and Serbian though not all that common these days.  What really hooked us is that it is also goes back to the Hebrew name El'azar which means "God has helped."  Russian, Serbian, and Hebrew.....we had a winner!  Plus we thought it sounded pretty cool.  He has big expectations with a name like that.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Mom's Birthday Weekend Photos

Having a baby just the other day delayed these pictures from this past weekend when we celebrated our Mother's birthday. 

Love,
First Gen Fam