Maxwell Double Trouble
Their 1st matching outfits from our friend, Heather!
Mr. Studious

Picnic in the park

Mommy and Daddy took Griffin out for some special 1 on 1 time...we went to the train

Getting ready for our train ride

Mr. Studious 2

I was getting lunch together and found G in here! Thankfully Max was under there!

Pure orneriness

Proud Momma and her boys!

Stuck!

Leaving for the hospital the 1st time!

40 weeks baked

1st visitors...Grandma and Grandpa Moore...Maxwell was less than an hour old

Precious lil' feet

Our family of 4

Brotherly love

Nate and Liz

Peanut

Aunt Mandy

Lots of Anderson boys!

The Wenger Tribe

Love taps begin!

G petting Grady

Nikki and Max

Hanging out on the 4th of July

Great Grandma and Griffin

John holding Maxwell

Here's an email I sent out a few days ago...I hope to post again by next week with new updates!

Please welcome our newest family member, Maxwell Nathan Anderson! Maxwell (Max) was born on Wednesday, June 30th at 11:26pm. He weighed in at 7.6 pounds and was 19 1/2 inches long. When he was first born, he looked exactly like his big brother, Griffin. However, though he still resembles Griff, he also has his own look. Some pictures he looks like a spitting image of his daddy...others he looks like Griffin...and others he looks like Max!

Labor was long...contractions started on Monday on and off...Tuesday rolled around and by dinner they were in full swing. We headed to the hospital around 11:15pm on Tuesday night and my contractions were monitored at 2-4 minutes apart, however I was only dilated 2cm, so after 2 hours of monitoring and no changes, they sent me home. Yes...I thought security was going to have to escort me out of there, but I did cooperate and left quietly. Wednesday was a day from you know where as I had contractions all that night and all day long. I called the doctor as I had not slept for almost 40 hours. We headed to the doctor to see where things were at and she said I was at 4cm and I could go right over to the hospital. We hadn't seen G all day so we ran over to the sitter so Momma could have one last hug and kiss in between contractions! Then checked back into the hospital. First thing I said was I was not leaving this time! I was having a baby! :) I got an epidural shortly afterward, however it was not working the way everyone is all dreamy about. I started feeling contractions on my left side and then it spread. So, I kept getting more and more medicine and wouldn't you know...by 10:30pm it finally had kicked in, but it was time to push. Since I couldn't feel anything, I couldn't push the right way, so I had to wait it out for awhile. I was at fully dilated and his head was literally right there...after about an hour, I was finally able to push. I only pushed for about 10 minutes and little Maxwell was brought into this world. He was beautiful and it was love at first sight for sure! I couldn't help but cry when I first saw him. What a blessing...a beautiful, perfect blessing that God has given to us.

I have to admit...I was worried about how I could love another little being as much as I love Griffin. It comes so naturally and Max, is of course, as much loved as his big brother.

Maxwell has blessed us with his sleeping the last 4 nights. The last 2 he has slept for 7 consecutive hours and only woke one time to eat and then went back to sleep. The 2 nights before he only woke twice. I don't want to jinx it, but did want to say how blessed this Momma and Daddy have been the last 4 nights!

Griffin...he isn't too sure yet. When he first came to the hospital, he wouldn't even look at me or let me hold him. He is starting to warm back up to me now which I'm thankful for because I've missed that boy! It's interesting as Griffin has been a Momma's boy...he doesn't seem to mind too much when I have Maxwell, but if Daddy has Maxwell, Griffin is NOT happy! He is very jealous and Daddy then has to hold both of his boys! Within the 1st half hour of us being home from the hospital, the big brother hit the little brother in the face...it was a nice smack. However...he redeemed himself shortly afterward as Max was screaming and Griffin took his own pacifier out of his mouth to share (okay, shove) in Maxwell's mouth. :) It's definitely been an adventure, but we're loving it! I can't imagine life without both of these precious boys!

So, Max is now 1 week and 1 day old and Griffin turned 15 months today! Mommy and Daddy may have aged a few years over the last week, but we're doing well for the most part. Nate is still home full days and next week he will transition to half days. After that, this Momma will be on double duty.

So, that's our update in short...Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Stay in touch!

Love,
The Anderson Family of 4! :)
Nate, Joy, Griffin, and Maxwell

Well, we're just patiently awaiting Baby Boy #2's debut! Ok...some of us are patiently waiting and some of us are very impatiently waiting! :) We're 39 weeks along today and as ready as ever! Good ole Ohio weather is challenging this Momma! Thank you heat and humidity! We have our weekly appointment tomorrow with the midwife and we're hoping to hear of some more progress.

Griffin is still as active as ever! He's been enjoying a lot of swim time. He has developed quite the personality and keeps us on our toes for sure! I thought last night I was going to have to call in some reinforcements. Nate was stuck working late and this Momma was about run into her grave by a 14 month old! I would just get comfy on the floor playing with Griffin and then off he went. I can't jump up like I used to! but he's as fun as ever!

We have moved Griffin to his new room. We thought it may be a rough transition, but his first night in there, we didn't hear a peep out of him! Naptimes have been more of a challenge though. I think this Momma has fallen asleep for naps quicker than the lil' guy. Oops!

That's really all for now! Lots of pictures to share and hopefully some baby news to share very soon! Anyway, let that be your prayer, as it is mine! :)

Oh...and You'll see in some pictures below that we may have a beaver living with us...

Sleepy boy shut out the world! At the pool with Dara, the bestest babysitter ever!
Playing at Miss Dara's
This is an older picture, but my sister just sent it and it cracks me up! He is one tough 'G'
By the looks, we may just house a beaver

The damage a beaver can do

And some more damage on the other crib (the beautiful one Nate's dad made for Griffin)

Beaver?! Nope...the damage is from this lil' guy! Look closely at his mouth...it's not a 5 o'clock shadow...just leftovers from his tasty brand NEW crib!

What, Mom?!

The culprit caught in action!!!

The culprit and his damage...after only 1 night in his new crib in his new room!

The culprit in his old room and handmade crib by Grandpa (this room and crib will be for the new baby)

Father's Day...we literally just rolled out of bed and headed to the park before it got too hot.

Daddy and Griffin watching the ducks. Notice Griffin's shirt says, "My dad rocks!"

John and Griffin=buddies

Momma and her sweet lil' G

Oh to be so carefree! and yes, he had a seat in the driveway on the pavement, in case you didn't notice!

Love it!

Cousin, Caden taking Griffin for a ride

Anderson, Caden, and Griffin (oh and Bailey and Tymali, too!)

Garner, Griffin, and Aunt Kara

1st corn on the cob experience

G helped Daddy shuck the corn and he started gnawing on it before Momma could cook it!

Yum!

1st bike ride in the wagon!

Scared?! Maybe just a little...

They're off!

37 weeks baked

Hi family and friends! I thought I better update as the clock is ticking before baby boy #2 arrives! We will be at 37 weeks this Wednesday! We still have lots to get ready at our house before he makes his grand entrance! I'll treat anyone to dinner for lending their helping hands! ;) I'm finding little energy and motivation to get things done at this point. Nate and I were just talking last night how we're excited to meet boy #2. So curious what his little personality will be like and if he will look like his big brother. We're also curious (ok...SCARED) of how Griffin will be. He has been so laid back and a happy guy, but the last 2 weeks he's been a bit different (he wants Momma told hold him a lot which is very hard for me to do at this point in the pregnancy, he has shown a lot of frustration, and has been a bit aggressive). Not sure if more teeth are coming in, perhaps he senses change coming, or he's just frustrated he's not able to use his words yet, or all the above! We got our first call from the sitter last week because he bit his little girl buddy. We're told this is just a phase...so we're holding onto that! :) His cuteness sure does save him! and that sweet smile and belly laugh!

Griffin turns 14 months old tomorrow. We (Griffin and I) were looking at pictures of him when he was a baby (to me, he still is my baby) and when I was pregnant with him. He LOVES when you show him pictures and point and say who the pictures are of. We have all of his cousins pictures out (all 10 of them) and go through them often! Anyway, some days it feels like yesterday when he was born...other days I can't figure out what we did without him!

He is definitely all boy. He has no fear and has become quite the climber. He has been doing this high pitched screech and gives quite the mean look (remember though how cute his smile is?!). He points at everything. He is Momma's boy, but no one makes him laugh like his Daddy! If Grandpa Moore (my dad) is around, no one else or nothing else matters! He can't get enough of the outdoors or playing in the water (the hose his is favorite). He's not Griffin without a bruise or bump...ok...bruiseS and bumpS! He adores his babysitter, Dara and often smiles when we pull into her driveway. He's a tough guy, but loves his pacifier and blankie (I call him lil' Linus from Charlie Brown). I could go on and on, but I'll conclude with our sweet Griffin is priceless and adored by his Momma and Daddy!

That's all for now! Enjoy the new pictures and hopefully we'll have an update soon announcing the birth of our 2nd boy!

Much love!

The Anderson Family

Griffin at my co-worker, Nikki's desk...he looks like a pro! G and his buddies, Cuyler and Hunter...and why does my boy look the orneriest?! ;)
After a play date with Grandma Anderson

It's a bit blurry, but Griffin was riding Reggie (our friends, Nate and Elizabeth's dog) and Reggie was such a good sport!

Our sitter sent this picture to us of Griffin...he washed his hair with ice cream! Gearing up for another lil' boy in the Anderson home

Poor Griff was sick for 6 days with a fever of 103...this was one day at lunch...he couldn't keep his eyes open. :*(

He LOVES the water!

Another picture from our sitter...Griff got some chocolate pudding!

34 weeks baked Griffin's 1st trip to the zoo and he's more interested in watching the people than the animals. :)

Momma and her boy

My 2 favorite boys, aren't they handsome?!

35 weeks baked

Griffin and his buddies, Hunter and Cuyler

All the little sharks at snacktime! So funny!