What's New?

Celebrating Easter at Coronado Island

 

Celebrating Mika's Birthday at Il Fornaio Restaurant

 

Maksim started Soccer practice with cousin Milana

Its been a little busy in our household as of late.  Going to try to catch up on a lot of stuff in this post.

So What's New?  In no particular order:

• Huge!  Maksim is 99.5% potty trained.  3 weeks going now.  I am thankful I will never have to buy him diapers ever again.
• Back to working out.  I tried my first Pilates Reformer Class and I swear it was made for me.
• I busted Stan's car.  Not good but we got it back from the shop and it looks better than new.
• Stan is the best.  We have 4th row tickets to Depeche Mode in September.  
• Lazar is 5 months old now and so close to sitting up on his own.  Going to try him on solids in a couple weeks.
• Mika, my aunt, is in San Diego for a visit!  Yeah!  She is providing us with so much kid help I feel like I am on vacation.
• Maksim finished his first session of swim lessons at the YMCA.  Being the youngest and fearless he was put in time out a ton.  He is our time out swimming champion.
• His vocabulary has increased 10-fold in the last month.  New words, songs, and sentences.
• Just booked a kid-free all inclusive vacation with Stan to Jamaica!
• Maksim got a big boy bed.  I mean its big!  Queen size and high!
• Easter Egg Hunts are the best.  We had to do about 30-40 egg hunts at home for a super excited toddler.
• Green beans and broccoli are becoming Maksim's fav foods.  I call them "green fries" and "trees."
• Argan oil for the face is my new friend.
• Stan got us tickets to see Adam Ant too! 
• We had an episode of hand, foot, mouth in our home a few weeks ago.  Both Maksim and Lazar got it.  Gross and so glad its done with it.  
• Still house hunting.  So frustrating.  There has to be a perfect house out there for us?!
• Working on call for the first time since I had Lazar.  The middle of the night calls are not appreciated by Lazar.  
• Maksim started Soccer Shots with cousin Milana.
• We officially have a teething 5 month old.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim in his version of Supermarket Sweep

We went to the new Trader Joe's in Mission Valley the other night.  The mini cart was available thus Maksim's shopping adventure begins.  We were lucky enough to record it because this little trip to the store made us do a laugh-cry.  He is serious about getting all his groceries quickly (very Supermarket Sweep) though he does have time to stop and test out a sample.  He zig-zagged throughout the store, paid for his groceries, and was rewarded with a lollipop at the end.  He is our super shopper.  Enjoy the video!

Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim Update: 2.3 Years Old

Since we started Maksim in preschool in January we are already seeing the effects.  He is learning so quickly.  New words come out of his mouth everyday.  Some I still struggle to understand, but it's really cute.

Update:

• Officially in a big boy bed.  The cribs rail is down.  He frequents our bed a lot more now, hehe.
• Learned how to do a somersault
• Started putting sentences together
• Sharks are awesome......period
• Loves, loves, loves swimming 
• Counting up to 12.  After 12 it's a jumble of numbers
• He's got ABCD and WXYZ down, the middle of the alphabet also a jumble
• I tell him I love him before bed and he says it back to me....its the best feeling ever

Love,
First Gen Fam

Rub a Dub Dub, Maksim in the Tub

I recently posted some bath time pics of Lazar so its Maksim's turn.  This kid loves water whether in a pool, bath, sink, etc.  He even loves washing his hands.  We give him nightly baths.  The tub is filled with the essentials, bubbles, boats, sharks, and an occasional octopus.  He now even holds his breathe under water.  Full face submersion!  He is Mama's little show off.  Getting ready to sign him up for some more swim lessons.  He loves "swimmy" (as he says) it so I am going with it.  Plus if it tires him out some....its not entirely a bad thing.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim Started Preschool

Maksim officially started preschool January 7th.  I think it's great for him in terms of structure, education and the whole social aspect of it.  He really has never had separation anxiety but when Papa drops him off in the morning he is not a happy camper.  The teacher tells us he is sad for a couple minutes after Stan leaves and then gets over it.  Still my heart breaks to hear that he is sad even for one minute.  I know it will take some time getting used to for the both of us.  The preschool gives us daily report cards on how he behaved, what and how much he ate, the lesson plan, and his potty progress.  It is the one thing I really appreciate and look forward to.  I picked him up from preschool last week and when he saw me his face lit up with so much happiness that my heart dropped.  Maybe Mama has some separation anxiety?

Love,
First Gen Fam

Something magical about Xmas lights....

We visit Garrison Street in Point Loma every year to look at the amazing block of houses lit up with thousands of twinkling lights.  The pictures cannot do it justice, its just magical and sets the whole holiday mood.  "Santa, penguin, lights, snowman" were some of the words out of Maksim's mouth last night.  I had no idea he knew some of them; he never ceases to surprise me.  Now every time we get in the car Maksim demands "light."

Happy Holidays everyone!

Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim: Master Candle Blower

Maksim is a master candle blower as you can see from both videos below.  The first video is of his actually birthday and the second is at his party.  We really didn't even practice with him.  He just got it on his own.  He never fails to surprise me.




Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim and his Birthday Celebration

We got to celebrate Maksim's birthday recently with family at Kidding Around (indoor playground).  I'll let the pictures tell the story.

 

Teta Jelena hooked up the cake and made the fabulous cupcakes.

Lazar was a good boy and slept in the arms of Baba Irina for most of the party.  Yeah!

Movember over?  I don't think so.

Facial hair party!

Love,
First Gen Fam