Anberlin and Grand Mere Walk

Saturday night, Grandma Helga came to watch Micah and Matt and I went to see Anberlin at the House of Blues in Chicago! Among many interesting happenings (eating at BK in the hood, Crazy Chicago traffic, pumping in the bathrooms because we didn't know parking would be valet, and then being among some very interesting people), we had an awesome time! There were two bands before Anberlin-Crash Kings and Civil Twilight. We really enjoyed the first, not so much the other one. Matt was happy with Anberlin because not only did they play some of their stuff from their newset album, they played some older goodies too. This was Matt's birthday present from me since it is our favorite band!
Alright, then Sunday afternoon we took a family walk in Grand Mere State Park. Its something we would likie to do every year to see all the fall colors. Here are some pics!

Micah loves being outside

Looking all around

Happy!

His first roll in the leaves

Daddy and Micah

Having a good time

Ok, not from this weekend, but earlier last week Matt put Micah's pants on his head-he looked hilarious!

Fall Pictures

Just had to post some pictures from the last few days! I was able to watch our niece and nephew, in addition to Micah, on Tuesday afternoon. I was a little nervous at first. I mean three kids? I can barely handle my own! Haha. But it went really well, and I'm looking forward to when I can do it again. Other than that, Micah is on the verge of crawling. He is able to get on his hands and knees and rock back and forth. Also, I know we have been saying this for two or three weeks, but really this time-he is about to get his first tooth! Yay! We will let you know for sure :)

Micah's Halloween attire
Ready to crawl! And very proud of himself

Micah and Teague-they can look so similar sometimes! They are definately Maier boys

Matt came home from school and played with the boys for a few minutes before going to mow

Moving around under the coffee table

Micah just started using his own chair at the kitchen table this week, and he loves it

Micah's first pumpkins

Busy Weekend!

Not really running fast, but the blurriness of the pic gives us this coveted illusion
Kelly and I after we finished!

A family pic

Matt and I had the privilige to attend a marriage seminar at our church this past Friday night and Saturday. What an awesome time! Really got us thinking about things we could be doing to show our spouse more love and respect.

Aunt Jess and Uncle Myke requested to take Micah for us during the seminar, so they were able to get some good bonding time in with Mr. M. Thanks guys! It was really appreciated!

Saturday evening we headed to Grand Rapids and staying with friends, Bette and Steve Dickinson. They were gracious enough to let us stay over. Also Bette cooked an awesome dinner-even looking recipies that are good pre-race food! They were very gracious hosts, and we are so grateful. I was able to get a good night sleep before Sunday morning when I ran the Grand Rapids Metro Half Marathon with my friend Kelly Houseal. It was a beautiful day-started off chilly, but with the running you warm up fast. This was my first big race since Micah was born. Three years ago Kelly and I did the Chicago half, and my time was 2 hours 22 minutes. Two years ago I did this same Grand Rapids half in 2 hours 12 minutes. My goal was just to finish sometime in between these two times. I finished in 2 hours 13 min and 31 sec! YAY! As for Kelly, she kicked my butt! She left me about half way through-she was really cooking. She finished in 2 hours 9 min. Good work Kel Kels! I'm so proud!

Also really paying for it today-I feel like I can barely walk. Oh well, a reminder of all the hard work that was put into the race.

Micah is 6 months

Thursday-a rescue outfit from Grammy Tami after Micah had a poopy blowout at her house!
Micah is typing his first paper. Matt is hoping he can help him with his Walden papers!

Okay, so I'm almost a week late on this...but Micah turned six months old this past Sunday the 3rd. I can't describe it, sometimes it feels like time has flown, and in another aspect it seems these past 6 months have gone on forever. I guess I just can't remember life without the little guy :) But anyway, he had his doctor appointment on Tuesday, had his round of shots, and was weighed. He weighed in at 15 lb 12 oz, which is the 25-50th percentile, right where he always has been. He is a healthy boy, just a little bit of a peanut still! Cousin Gabe has already outdone him by weighing 17.3 lb at his 4 month visit this week!

Fall already

What a strange week with really hot weather turning into fall overnight. Busy week-I started my first women's Bible Study Fellowship Monday night, which I think I will really like. Unfortunately I've found I'm already behind on the daily work! Matt has been working at school and with the lawn business, throw in his Bible study, board meetings, youth group, and bathroom remodeling, and you can see we don't see him much during the week! Luckily this weekend we have had lots of time with Daddy, so it has been nice.

Friday night was Micah's first football game-St. Joe vs BH. He did pretty well, besides the fact he needed a nap so he was cranky for awhile. After he took a little nap he seemed to really enjoy being outside and watching the game. Plus the ladies behind us seemed to really be tickled by him.

Friday before the game I spent a few hours with my food processor making some homeade baby food to freeze. I made carrots, squash, apples, and pears.

Today he tried his first real food (besides rice cereal). I actually didn't use the foods I just made. We had bought a few jars of baby food at Wal-Mart the other day, so we put the jars in front of him and let him choose which one he wanted to try first. He chose squash, which was actually one of the first foods I ate as a baby, too. He seemed to really enjoy it!

Matt is working on painting the bathroom today (yay!) so the remodel is morving forward. He is also getting some good football watching in between coats :)

Micah and his squash
After his first football game

The Maier sweatshirt-Matt wore it when he was little!

The first batch of homemade baby food-carrots

Playing in his saucer

"Reading" a book to himself. I have another picture soon after this that he was crying-he figured out he can't read yet

Church Camping Weekend

Melissa, Teague, and Bow


Cute Cousin Finley

All smiles Saturday evening

Dale with Micah

Matt carrying Mr. M in the front pack

Our first camping trip with Micah was interesting! I remembered almost everything we would need-Something I forgot that was kind of important was a hat for Micah. Luckily cousin Finley let Micah borrow a cute pink polka dotted hat :) Matt did run back home Saturday morning for firewood, so he was able to get him a "manly" warm hat.

Weather wasn't the best. Friday night was nice but very cold. I didn't sleep well. I kept checking on Micah making sure he wasn't too cold (always the worry wart). He did well, slept from 10pm to 5am (at home he does about 9 or 10pm to 7am). Saturday morning started with a bang, literally. About 7am or so there was some thunder and lightening, followed by a good rainshower. It stopped for awhile, then another storm came through around noon. Micah was able to nap through the afternoon one for awhile, so at least we didn't end up with a cranky baby on top of the wet, nasty weather. Micah joined daddy at another campsite that night to watch the MSU vs. ND game (which he was already sleeping, but at least we were able to stay at the fire instead of go to bed with him). Sleeping Saturday night did not go as well-he was up at one in the morning and had to sleep the rest of the night with mom and dad in bed.

Sunday morning we were able to be all packed up and ready to roll out before the church service started. Pastor Alex brought a great message, which Micah slept through....sorry Alex!

All in all, glad we did it. But if it were to be more than a weekend, I don't think I could handle it!

September is the crazy times...

We have made it to September with a healthy 5 month old baby. Micah is getting bigger and bigger. He has finally started to outgrow his collection of 0 to 3 month clothes. He's getting really good at rolling over and I expect him to be pushing himself around sooner than later.


I have gone back to school. So far my students have been pretty good. I have a positive outlook on the school year. Along with school, I continue to help Drew with King Chop work after school till dark on some nights, and work on my masters course work when I can find the time. Celebrated my 28th birthay on the 15th. My first one as a daddy... that was pretty special. I even got a present from my son before I left for school. Never mind you that it was brown and wrapped in a diaper. My students made my day when they assured me that the definition of "old" is being over 80 years. I guess I have a ways to go still.

My sister got married on the 4th. She and Alex start their new life together, and we are excited that they are around and that in a way, we will get to be a part of it.

This weekend we are heading to Van Buren State Park in South Haven for the annual church camping trip. It will be Micah's first time in a tent. Should be rather interesting. Needless to say, mom is a bit more worried about the whole event than dad is. She should know that Micah is a Maier, and the Maiers just belong outdoors. We will do our best to post some info / pics from the trip. Until then, enjoy the early fall weather we are getting a sneak peek of.

wide eyed

Sink baths were the result of the latest home improvement project - a bathroom remodel.

I think he felt right at home.

Back to school means even Bufous gets busy when assisting me in paper grading.