Merry Christmas!

We were very lucky that Anthony had 6 days around Christmas off this year (especially since he worked on the holiday the last two years) to celebrate Max's first Christmas as a family! We took the opportunity to spend Christmas with our families in Washington and Erie, PA. Max loved ripping open the paper on his MANY presents, and was mostly a little angel during the days (nights were another story, however!). He got to visit with both grandma's, his grandpa, and many cousins, aunts, and uncles on both sides. He was also introduced to the extended Petruso clan at the annual Italian Holiday Feast hosted by Aunt Joan and Uncle Pete. It was a great trip!

Enjoying a sundae at Sarris Candies!

Love from Grammy Landock

O Christmas Tree!

Hanging with cousin Jack

Ending the night with Grandma Mitchell

15 days until Christmas!

We've been busy preparing for the holidays here in the Petruso household! Cookies are being baked by the dozen, cards are ordered, and the tree is up and decorated with a few gifts underneath. We still have many things yet to do, but its wonderful to get to celebrate Max's first Christmas this year. Grammy Sandy was up this weekend to help Christmas shop, and little man might have gotten the chance to meet Santa! Pics to come, but for now, Christmas card teaser pics!

6 months old

Happy half birthday, Max! It feels like yesterday that you were born. I can't believe we've been loving and taking care of you for half a year already! We've gotten to watch you grow from a little sleepy slug, to the rambunctious, active, loving baby that you are today. We love you, son!

Gobble gobble

We were so thankful that daddy had Thanksgiving off this year so that we could visit with our Erie family for the holiday. Max got to hang out with many of his Petruso/Mitchell aunts, uncles, and cousins over the long weekend. He got a little overwhelmed by all the people holding him, but otherwise seemed to like all the attention and activity (he especially enjoyed rolling around on the floor with his 7 month old cousin Michael!).

 Sleeping was an issue, however, as Max decided that both the swing and pack and play were unacceptable sleep locations very quickly during our visit. Nighttimes were punctuated by high octave scream-fests that were enjoyed by the whole Mitchell family. You guys sure you want us back for Christmas this year? :)

Max and cousin Michael

Thankful for mommy!

Big boy at the Thanksgiving table

The study of Max

A few weeks ago now, Tony and I took Max to the Rochester Baby Lab to participate in a study on audio/visual processing in infants. Max got to wear an awesome little helmet covered with electrodes, and he sat in my lap while watching a movie about fireworks, people's faces, and the words "diaper, baby, bottle, story" over and over again, which he absolutely loved! We felt proud that we did our duty to advance scientific knowledge, while also getting some cute pics of Max. Christmas cards, perhaps? :)

I'm doing my duty for science, Mama!

First foods

Max has entered the world of solid food eating! I was originally against starting out so early with foods for him (he seems so young!), but after hearing from several sources that their babies started sleeping better with some mashed peas or oatbran in their bellies (we're still getting up at least twice a night, usually more), we decided it was time. He did pretty well with oatmeal mixed with breastmilk once he got the hang of the whole spoon thing, which he loves to grab and try to stick completely down his throat when we look away for a second. Awesome.

Peas were a big failure. He made some terrible faces before gagging pathetically, throwing up his whole dinner (about two teaspoons of the mush), and crying like, well, a little baby. Dr. Dad vetoed peas, so we're now on to sweet potatoes for lunch today. Fun fun!

Max's Catholic Baptism

We were very blessed on Saturday, November 3rd, to be able to celebrate Max's baptism with many out of town family members and friends. He was baptism by Deacon Dave at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brighton. He was a very good baby throughout most of the service and party afterwards, and only cried in shock once when the water hit his forehead. I'm so proud of my little holy baby!

Ack! Mama!

Smiling after the water woke him up.

With his Godparents, Mike and Sam Maslanik

Photos by Jessica LK Photography. To see the entire gallery, you can use this link  http://jessicalkphotography.smugmug.com/Other/Maxs-special-day/26388754_DrTCz8#!i=2200790723&k=6BR9K5S

Sweet peapod!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Grabby

Max's new favorite thing to do, now that grabbing his feet and shoving them in his mouth is getting a little passe, is to grab onto the sides of your face and mush his face into yours when he's being held upright. Its pretty hilarious, but also kind of gross (as are probably most baby-related things), as he prefers to shove his open, drooling mouth on your face. It also hurts a little, as he's gotten really good at grabbing the little hairs on the back of my neck while doing this!

Not sure if the pictures really do it justice, but heres an attempt. He was surprised by the camera!

Zoo Boo

Since Halloween is my favorite holiday, I've been searching for events that I can take Max to to have some holiday fun (and possibly to score some trick or treat candy for Mama!). We took him to Zoo Boo this past weekend, a fun event at the Seneca Park Zoo where basically the kids dress up in costumes and get to trick or treat among the animals. Max was not enthused by this adventure, as he slept most of the time, but we had fun looking at the animals and planning Max's costume for next year! Yes, I know that Elmo is pretty commercial, but its also super cute to dress kids up as!

Here are some shots:

The animal Max was most interested in- the Geiko gecko!

Lion enjoying his Halloween treat!

Max drives a car

...or a bouncy swing shaped like a car, that is! We've hung Max's borrowed bouncy car seat from the doorway of the kitchen, so I can (in theory) make dinner and such while he occupies himself by jumping wildly all over the place. However, like the Exersaucer, he currently needs non-stop attention while in the bouncer in order for it to stay interesting. I thought these various baby entertainment devices were supposed to make things easier around here! However, he's so cute in the bouncer that I don't mind that dinner isn't getting made and laundry isn't getting done.

Fall baby!

4 month appointment

There's been so much sickness around here lately, that we actually have not taken any new/exciting pics of Max since apple picking! He's being as cute as usual, but Tony and I have not been in a documenting mood. Sorry! Anyways, we had our 4 month pediatrician check up on Thursday, and I wanted to share Max's stats with everyone:

Weight- 14 lb 9 oz (41%)
Length- 26 1/2 inches (93%)
Head circumference- 44 1/2 cent  (95%!!)

I have no idea where he is getting his long length from, as Anthony and I are both on the short/average side of things. And head size...?!? My sweet big headed baby!

A pic from the day the plague descended on our household!

House of sickness

We've been battling illnesses for the past two weeks and counting here at the Petruso homestead, so not much interesting Max news has been made lately. He had his first pinkeye and ear ache last week, which came with a lovely virus which Anthony and I are both currently fighting off. We did have one day of both beautiful weather and relatively low sickness last week, during which we took the chance to visit an apple orchard for a little fall hike.

Max gets married

...just kidding! Actually Max went to his first wedding ceremony last week, a full Catholic mass celebrating the marriage of our great friends Meghan and Erik. He was a little embarrassed for being underdressed at the church, but played it cool regardless. He got to hang out with his friend Lisa during the reception while Mommy and Daddy got to pretend they were childless again for a few hours.

Our Med/Peds family!