All the way from Michigan, when Great Aunt Marian and Great Uncle Bob came to visit.
Although he looks happy here, we all knew the shame he still suffered under from his Red Wings last defeat by the Pens.
They came bearing gifts - madeleine's for the Madeline.
And stayed for some delicious homemade Mimi sandwiches and Ullucci corn chowder for lunch.
Who arrived through hurricanes in NJ to see his 2nd grandson.
Just in time to head to Burbank's free outdoor concert.
While Maddie was a little tired, she did fight it, by tapping her hand to the band's beat.
Max gave in to his sleepiness, and spent the concert and warm summer night tucked into his sling.
When Aarin and ELF came by to meet him.
Steve also came along for a second meeting, and brought a homemade pork roast, salad and some twice-baked potatoes.
Maddie played her favorite role of scavenger, mooching off of ELF's dinner, something she does everytime they dine together.
Hmmm - there seems to be something wrong with my old car seat.
Yes - he does fit much better than I. How's that for a compare and contrast?
Please note Maddie's semi-controlled hair as she rests in a size appropriate car seat. After being brought to Supercuts for her first haircut or more accurately, mullet trim, Maddie refused their services through screams. Yesterday, Sam followed her around the backyard with a comb and scissors, snipping whenever the opportunity arose.
Then it was onto Poquito Mas with the Ullucci/Michael clan. The one year olds kept each other entertained, and Max slept the entire time. All adults were able to eat their lunch, making it a great success.
Auntie Kerri spent some sofa time with Max.
While Smooth Andre entertained his sister, and sported a casualty of his newly learned skill of walking across his forehead.
Auntie MelB and Adam sent flowers all the way from the East Coast.
And the evening wrapped up with a visit from the Chadwicks. Liza Mae getting a turn in.
Followed by Arthur, who also got the additional gift of a little take-home surprise, when Max blessed him with some urp-up.
Of visitors, while his sister romped in her pool.
It was a great day to chill on the lawn.
With Jess and Alex.
Both good cuddlers.
And then a visitor all the way from Rhode Island - Smooth Andre! and his folks. Maddie may have appreciated this friend a little more than her brother. He was a great splasher, which is always a blast in the pool.
Of visitors. Auntie Jamie came to meet him.
Jeremy came along as well.
Later, Eric and Kathleen stopped in to say a first hello.
After all, who could resist this beautiful boy.
Early this morning, on the front lawn.
Then it was time for Maddie's mid-morning bottle, which she took next to her little brother, while watching Spongebob and patting his foot.
Sam slowly recovered from the scars of a second natural childbirth.
But first cuddle time with Mimi, who is now an experienced grandmother and doula after assisting with the birth of Maddie, Aiden and now Max.
Beautiful flowers lightened up the house from Auntie Jamie and Smooth Andre.
Then Max got to meet Drew, experienced dad of ELF.
And Steve, experienced father of Lilly and Elizabeth, who also brought over much appreciated food for this sleepy family to munch on.
Maddie spent some time in the backyard with Dad in her new pool.
Max remained inside (the house, not Jess), sleeping and growing.
At 11:30pm, Jess is awoken by the Scrapper announcing that he will be arriving tonight. And what better time to get a last minute pix of him still on the inside, than when you're in labor?
Sam begins timing the contractions, which are immediately coming every 2 minutes and are less fun than they look.
At 1:30am, the midwives arrive at the house. At 1:44am, Max is born.
By 4am, the house is quiet again, and Mimi, Sam, Jess and Max try to get a couple hours of sleep in before Maddie wakes up to find that her entire life has changed. Amazingly, she slept through the entire birth, which included some ice being broken with a hammer.
After letting her parents sleep in until 7:45am (her typical wake-up time being 6:30am), Maddie met Max for the first time. She came into our room, and Sam pointed him out. She wanted to get closer, patted his head, and called him "Kitty," which we take as the highest form of flattery, what with the kitty being her favorite play thing in the entire house. (For those of you wondering, the actual kitty is much less impressed by Max, and has taken to coming in only for meals).
Late afternoon, Max was introduced to some of the neighbors as word spread through the block that he had arrived.
In an effort to get out of the house before the stifling heat, Mimi, Mom and Maddie headed out to brunch in Pasadena. It was her first time having the aforementioned dish. And how did it go over?
Awesome!
But first, Mimi made a peanut butter, chocolate cake. Aunt Tara made herself a chocolate cake the morning that she went into labor with Aiden...
Then it was over to Brian's to wait for the birthday girl to arrive.
We entertained ourselves with food and drink.
Conversation about hatch plug-ins.
And bacon.
The tension was thick in the air - would she be surprised? Would Jess' water break when she jumped up, yelling surprise?
Alison was very surprised and happy.
The party then moved from the very hot inside to the less hot backyard.
Where Maddie was taught the skill of hiding Starburst candy in various areas of your clothing by the team of Holly, Jess, Alex and Erin. Later, approximately 15 candies were found during a wardrobe change into pjs.
