He's HERE!!!!!

MAXWELL JAMES BECK
Born on February 20, 2009. (Only 6 days late!)
He weighed 9 lbs. 3 oz.
Was 21 3/4" long.
(Phew! What a big boy!)
Has a full head of dark hair.
And is virtually the spitting image of Victor.
We labored for 12 hours, and pushed for about 5 minutes.
Proud Papa Jeff assisted in another PERFECT delivery! He was the first to hold him and placed him on my chest. BEAUTIFUL!
He's beautiful and perfect in every way and we are so happy to finally have him with us.
We are all home, healthy, and happy, and can't wait to introduce the Littlest Beck Boy to all of you.
Until then, though, these first few photos will have to do! Enjoy!

So Much Love,

Jeff, Melissa, Victor, Lily and MAX!

10 Weeks...and I AM counting!

WOW! It seems like it wasn't but a few short weeks ago that I was posting that we are expecting a new one, and now in just a few short weeks that little one will be here.
This pregnancy has been so different from the last one, proving just how little I actually learned from my first go-around!!

Don't get me wrong, I love laying on the couch in the evenings and watching my stomach roll around, and I love seeing Jeff feel the baby move, but this time there seems to be a bit more humor and sterotypical-ness to the whole adventure!

1. I cry EVERY day, at least once a day. No lie. I can't remember the last day I didn't cry. I cry because I'm happy. I cry because Victor learned a new word. I cry because Jeff brought me home a piece of chocolate. I cry because I'm tired, because I'm excited, because I'm sick, because I'm pregnant, because my house is messy, because someone took my parking spot at the supermarket...heck, I sometimes cry because I no longer want the dinner I just made!!! And yes, I'm pretty sure that I'm crazy.

2. The first time around I felt beautiful and empowered to have this full round belly to show off: LOOK AT ME! I AM WOMAN and I CAN PROCREATE!
This time I just feel ROUND. Everywhere you look I am nothing but circles and spheres.
Of course, it doesn't help that my son pulls up my shirt and points and says "Belly." "Yes, Victor, that's Mama's belly" I happily reply (proud that he knows his body parts!) However recently he now promptly pokes my belly again and looks up, all love and sweetness like, and proudly declares "BALL!" Mmm. Hmm. I'm just happy he doesn't know the word "HEIFER" yet, or "Whoa, Mama, your booty looks HUGE".

3. This pregnancy makes me feel much older, too. I found my first gray hairs popping up during this pregnancy. I tried to deny it at first: "Oh, it looks like I've got some makeup on my hair." "Oh, what a fluke!" To finally "Oh, how did that happen?" (At which point I glanced at Victor and Lily and my burgeoning belly and I nod with understanding.) Now I find myself desperately checking my face for (cringe) wrinkles. Ah, se la vie.

I'm SO happy to be expecting another child, though, that my happiness tends to overshadow all of the nonsense. I love being a mom WAY more than I ever imagined. The baby is growing so big, and I can now feel it's different body parts poking and pushing from inside. I love feeling that we're finally closing in on Delivery-Day, and I love the excitement of knowing that in just a few short weeks we will finally get the chance to meet our new baby.

And the debates wage on: Boy/Girl? Red/Brunette/Blonde? Hmmmmmm. Keep tuning in to find out!

And, for your viewing pleasure, a quick glance at said roundness:

Pumpkin Carving

I originally wrote something outlining the events of the Second Annual Pumpkin Carving Party, but something seemed to be missing: Yes, I told you all about how cool the Country Barn Market is, and how awesome all of our friends and family are for coming, and I even mentioned the perfect fall pumpkin-picking weather we managed to score; but something was missing.
I'm hoping that the photography will help make up what is lacking but here are my musings on the day as well:
I am so fortunate to have so many people whom I love and who love me and my family back. It was amazing to spend the day doing something fun and to spend it together.
Looking back on the day, what I remember most are the happy faces and laughter coming from all the people I love so much.
Victor was totally enamored with EVERYTHING. You could see his little head swell with all the visual stimulation surrounding him. He wanted to pick up every pumpkin his plump little arms could manage--much to the joy of all the ladies who saw my strong little man's attempts!! He clapped and squealed when he saw the animals. OH! and he was totally giddy to ride in a hayride and to get up close and personal with a tractor!!






Lily grows so much more independent every minute, but no matter how much she strains to be seen as older, more teenager-like, it's moments like these that you see the glaring truth: she truly is still just a little girl! She ran around with her cousin Owen and the two of them had such a great time! The ran through the pumpkin field trying to find the "perfect pumpkin", all the time exchanging stories about the Great Pumpkin--which I've yet to hear the full story! In fact they had such a good time, that both of them forgot to eat or carve their pumpkins!!



As I sit here now remembering the day, I'm moved by the little moments that my children have effortlessly noticed and unwittingly brought to my attention: How beautiful a fall field can look, how enchanting pumpkins really can be, how much fun riding in the back of tractor-pulled wagon, snuggled up next to someone you love REALLY is, and how even when things don't go perfectly as planned, they can still manage to be quite perfect.

Tailwagger's Trot 2008

Phew! What a busy weekend we had! On top of throwing Lily's Birthday Bash(es), we also attended the Humane League Of Lancaster County's 19th Annual Tailwagger's Trot.



As an organization that lays near and dear to our hearts on several levels, it was such an honor to participate in another year with this fundraising event. It exceeded last year's proceeds, and so many people showed up to participate. Of course I'm sure the beautiful weather didn't hurt!

Jeff and Lori did a gorgeous job with all the signs and design work and it was really impressive to see all of his hard work paying off!



I really loved seeing the actual event after all the effort that Jeff has put into this. I'm so very proud of him and all of his accomplishments. I know he's very glad that the Humane League has entered his creative life and has given him the license to make happen some of the things he's envisioned for them.

There was face-painting and music, and some really fantastic vendors. Some of the specialty dog food items were hard to recognize as dog food and not some gourmet people food! Victor was definitely confused and kept bugging for a peanut butter dog biscuit. (Poor Baby! What do his parents feed him?!)




(yeah! no kidding, those cupcakes are for your DOG!)

Overall it was a great time, and all of us were honored to do something helpful for this amazing non-profit group! The kids had a great time seeing all the beautiful and well loved dogs. There was even some dogs for adoption--and trust me, we ALL wanted to bring them home!





So if you're in the market for a great pet, hit up the Humane League! You'll never regret it!




(that's us enjoying the music!)

Much Love!

Yeah, we know, we're crazy.

So it dawned on me this weekend that we (Jeff and myself) must actually be missing a few necessary brain cells. While some of you are sitting there reading this saying "Duh! You're going to have 2 kids under two, along with a 7 year old--we already knew you weren't the sharpest crayon in the box!," surprisingly enough this was actually news to us.
(sigh)
Tomorrow Lily turns 7 years old. While this alone is enough to send us into shock and despair, we decided that this would be a good age to allow her to have some girlfriends over for a "Girls Rock" party. She invited several girls and 3 were able to show up. We thought it would be tame with 4 young ladies (I say "ladies" VERY loosely!): BOY we couldn't have been more mistaken!!! It was 4 hours of non-stop squealing, screaming, jumping, singing, dressing up, makeup, and enough noise to make my hardcore husband and myself wanna run for the hills.
Okay, in all seriousness it was actually an AWESOME party! Lily had a blast and the girls were hilarious! They did play dress up and makeup, and they ate sundaes and pizza. Then they each posed for their rock star photo shoot--which ended up being the highlight of the day.
So, while I won't be signing up to host another party in the next, er, 6 months, this one was fun.
We also had a small dinner for Lily on Friday evening which ended up being a blast, too! Grandma and Grandpa Beck came, and the Fantastic Geist family joined us as well. Thanks Guys! You all ROCK!

xoxo







Lily's 'Celebrate' Birthday Photos

So Long, Summer! It's been fun!

Wow! Can you believe that summer is OVER?!!!? I know I can't! It seems to me that we were just waking up in shock that the warm weather had finally arrived.
But, WOW!, what a season it has been! From finding out we're pregnant, to a lot of firsts, we've had an amazing time! (Except for the morning sickness!)
Although I'm usually sad that summer is ending, I have to admit that I am so excited about all the events that will be occurring before next summer starts!!! Before I'm 100% ready to move forward into fall, though,I must bid adieu to summer! And what better way than to review some of my favorite moments of the summer? So here it is, a 2008 summer pictorial review:
p.s. I'd LOVE to see YOU'RE favorite moments of the season!!!

Without a doubt, one of the highlights this year was going to the Delaware Beaches with Victor for a weekend. Granted, we had a rough time with the sleeping schedule, but the experience of seeing Vic at the beach for the first time was totally worth it! His little brain practically exploded when he saw all the sand and water--not to mention the birds and the kids!!!!! We had some of the best pizza we've ever eaten at Lewes Pizza, and Victor fell in love with one of the gorgeous, young, Italian waitresses! He flirted like CRAZY with her the entire time we were there.
We ended the trip with a stop at an icecream shop where we all enjoyed a delicious icecream cone!
Overall it was a fantastic weekend and one I am incredibly grateful to have experienced this summer!



Another HIGH highlight was watching Lily during her first real riding lesson. She really has a knack for it. Both kids really love the horses and are always so receptive to going to the barn to see the horses. Luckily Grandma LOVES taking them to see them. Unfortunately, Lily got a big bonk on the head when Cinder decided to play a little rough, but she took it like a pro and got on the wonderful little pony Rags, anyway. Victor also got his turn and was thrilled as could be with being on a horse!






(Ouch!)

We also took the kids to Lake Tobias. Both of them were pretty impressed with the animals coming right up to the bus. Lily really loved feeding the animals, but Victor was more interested in eating the snacks we had himself!





One of our favorites EVERY year is playing in the pool! We spend as much time at Jeff's parents and BOTH kids are little water babies and can't wait to get in! Lily has gotten so much braver as the years go by, and Victor acted like a fish in water! And of course we've spent TONS of time in the kiddie pools at our own home!



From sparklers to pools, to catching lightning bugs to playing in the summer rain, and of course our favorite summer-time treat--Rita's Italian Ice--our summer has been fun, and tiring, but absolutely wonderful. We're really looking forward to all the fun that fall brings and can't wait to see what lays in store for us!!!








Ahhh. So there it is...So long, Summer. Until next year!

Hurry Up February!!!!

Yikes! It's been a while since I've posted and SO much has been happening. (Of course perhaps that is the exact reason I've not posted!!!)
Last month we went in and had our 20 week ultrasound and got to see our newest addition with the 3D imaging. It was AMAZING!! Neither Jeff nor myself could get over how perfect the baby looked and how well you could see him/her.
SORRY FOLKS!! We didn't find out the gender! Although I admit it, I did try to convince Jeff to find out when we were in the room! It's just so exciting and I can't believe we have to wait 4 months to find out what we're having!!
Besides that we've been gathering up our baby gear, and trying to find the stuff that we'll need for the new one. My baby bump is getting quite large and noticeable...especially these last few weeks! I feel like I went from looking like I ate a few too many hamburgers this summer to definitely looking VERY pregnant!!!
It is such an exciting time and we are SO excited to share this with all of you!!! Enjoy the photos!

xoxo,
Jeff, Melissa, Victor, Lily, AND Baby Beck