Max Vs.

There is a new cartoon out on DVD called "Hulk Vs." In the movie, Hulk takes on all sorts of foes in full on battle. Although Max is only 3 weeks old, I figured it's about time for his first rumble. I personlly think Max wins every one of these fights.

FIGHT 1: THE BATTLE OF WHO IS MORE ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



A model posing with a TAPOUT beanie who was probably paid thousand of dollars for this shot.

VS.

Max, a poor baby who didn't even realize I was putting a mixed martial arts TAPOUT hat on his little head.

FIGHT 2: THE BATTLE OF BRAWN AND MUSCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The immortal Hulk Hogan striking a pose and "runing wild on you!" Those prayers, vitamins, and steroids really paid off.

VS.

The immortal Max, a baby so tough he even flexes while sound asleep.

FIGHT 3: THE BATTLE OF THE BETTER POSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUPERMAN, the man of steel striking a mighty pose as he flies through the air.

VS.

SUPER MAX, a newborn who thinks sleeping in this position is comfortable. I promise I didn't adjust his arms for this photo. He did that on his own.

FIGHT 4: THE BATTLE IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a Jawa, a little hooded creature who is often startled by screeching droids.

VS.

Max, a hooded baby who was startled because of the screeching singing taking place on "American Idol." True story.

FIGHT 5: THE BATTLE OF THE BETTER SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leroy the rock gorilla, a savage animal known to grin while passing gas.

VS.

Max, a savage animal known to grin while passing gas. The little stinker.

SPIKEY or LONG that is the question

OK, here is the deal. Aimei and I have been having big debates over my hair. My hair is at the point where I have to decide to go with the current short and spiky look, or the longer look. I have included a handfull of random pictures below showing the two hair styles. I am going to go with a majority vote on this one. The style gets the most votes in the comment section, will be the winner.

SPIKEY SPIKEY

LONGER

LONGER

And LONGER with some Scooby Doo art I painted a while back. Maybe I should grow my hair out like Shaggy's. Nah!

More pictures of Max!

I never wanted to become one of "those guys" who just blogs about the kids. I always felt like the parents should have lives too and definitely deserve some blog exposure. I was, however, completely mistaken. There is no life outside of a newborn baby. Even when I'm at work I think about little Max the whole day. I hear that after you have a couple kids you don't worry so much. A buddy of mine was telling me that after their third baby there were times when he and his wife would say, "where is the baby? I seriously haven't seen him all day. What was his name again?" We would like more children but I hope it never gets to that point. If it does, I hear newborn babies can survive quite well on their own and in the wild. Ideally some wolves or monkeys will come along and raise them. JK

Here is me holding Max. I cropped the picture because I was afraid of showing my ripped bicep. I didn't want anyone to get distracted.

I was trying to force Max to smile but instead it looks like I am torturing the poor boy and really enjoying it. So sad.

We have to put Max in the sun for thirty minutes every day. Aimei and her mom wanted to make sure his eyes were protected. I'm not sure how well it worked but man, he sure looked cool.

Aimei's dad Danny came and visited us from Taiwan. When he came in the door he didn't seem too interested in anything but the baby. After you have a baby no one cares about you anymore. Everyone just wants to see the baby. We've really enjoyed having Aimei's family visit.

Aimei's brother Peter flew in from New York to visit Max. The first time he was holding him he decided it would be fun to mess with his hair. Max says, "I pity the fool who messes with my hair." We already have an audition lined up for Max to play BA Barracus in the new A-team remake. All we need is a bunch of costume jewelry.

Max likes to sleep with his fist placed just beneath his head. Aimei thinks it makes him look like a great thinker. I think it makes him look like an evil genius.

Grandma Chiu and baby Max decided they were tired and they both fell asleep. Aimei of course took advantage of their sleep and secretly took pictures of them. It could have been worse. I remember as a kid sticking my cousin Jared's finger in his nose when he was asleep and then having my cousin Jason take pictures. The crazy thing is those pictures ended up in the family photo album. His parents thought it was hillarious. Poor sleepy Jared.

When Max opens his eyes they are so dark. It almost looks like he is judging you. Don't you judge me Max! I pity the fool who judges.

Pictures of little Max

I know everyone was sick of looking at the picture of me holding Max so I thought I would post some solo shots of the little guy. Here is his side profile.

Here he is wearing a hat, gloves, and socks. I don't know if those items kept him warm given that he was naked in almost every other way. Poor guy.

This picture is my favorite. If I were to pose in this same picture it would undoubtedly be banned from the blogging community.

This was immediately after he was born. He cried for a good thirty minutes which made us all happy. It's sad that hearing a baby cry made everyone rejoice. One man's pain is another man's joy I suppose.

Holy Crap We Had a Baby!!!

We are so happy to announce that on January 8th at about 10:20 PM Aimei gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. He was just under 6 lbs and had long hands and feet. He was born with a full head of hair and his grandpa Phillips was jealous.

Aimei is doing great and was walking around faster than any of the hospital staff had ever seen. She even helped me load some of the bags in the car when we were leaving the hospital. Crazy girl. She just went to Walmart to buy some things and I wouldn't be surprised if when she got home, she went for a run on the treadmill.

We are both so happy and everytime I look at him I just can't beleive how blessed we are. I have never immediately felt so much love for anything. He makes funny facial expressions and he passes a lot of gas, but that just adds to his cuteness.

After Aimei became pregnant we debated a lot over names. We finally settled on Maxwell Daniel Phillips. I love the name Max because when I was about 10 years old I saw the movie "Hiding Out." In the film, the main character has to go undercover as a high school student to hide from the mob. The main character has to make up a name and when he sees a can of coffee he says, "my name is Maxwell House, I mean, Maxwell Houser." I loved the show and the name. His middle name comes from Aimei's dad. We joked that we were going to call him Elvis since he was born on Elvis' birthday. Long live the king.

Christmas Outtakes

No new news….still here…still big and fat…the doctor says it could be anytime…I’m not sure what that means…I don’t seem to have any symptoms of labor…heck, I don’t even have the “false labor” signs…so, I thought I would post some Christmas outtake photos and some that just didn’t make the earlier cut…


Jim, Carli, Eric and Adam (this picture is a nod to Geoff as a child and Adam’s pose is an ode to Hanky from last Christmas).


I couldn’t resist putting this one in…zoom in on Jim’s face…it makes me to LAUGH!!!!


Hanky cuddling in his Yoda blanket…I don’t care how much of a Scrooge someone is…that face will melt your heart!!!

Another funny Hanky pose…he asked me to take a picture of him and then he struck a pose!


Here; Jim, Eric, my mom and I are walking to see the buffalo.

Me and Eric

The buffalo…I named him Mark…after Mark Ruffalo...

I just thought this picture was funny with Carli and Jenna propped on her knee

Here is a recent picture of me...I look good, huh?!? Just kidding…we took my mom to go see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and they had this poster you could stick your face into…Welcome to Crystal Lake!!

Party Like it’s 1999!

Can you believe that 1999 was a decade ago? I remember listening to (the artist formerly known as) Prince and thinking that 1999 would never come…I imagined 2009 the way the Doc predicted it to be like in Back to the Future…hover boards…space suits…sky traffic…no door knobs…jackets that inflated/deflated to fit you perfectly…nostalgic 80’s cafes…how disappointing 2009 would be to Marty McFly!

We celebrated the New Year in Evanston this year. We went to the Depot and saw the muy fabuloso fireworks! Mark Media was the announcer and “dropped the ball” ( insert air quotes) on the count down (ha! My play on words kill me!). Apparently he didn’t coordinate too well with the ball dropping people and there was no countdown, they just dropped it!

Carli, Julie and Jim enjoying the festivities…I cut myself out…no one needs to see that picture!!! It’s for your own good, really!

Eric, Carli and I got a little bored after everyone went to bed… when bored…stupid things happen…anyone who has ever lived in a college dormitory understands this principle…or, been on a mission (I’m inferring from the myriad of idiotic stories that I’ve heard from return missionaries!). So, Eric and Carli ran the traditional Phillips Family run around the house barefooted.

Here is Eric before…

Here is Carli during…I ran around to the side of the house to take a picture of them running and all I could hear was Carli screaming at Eric, “I hate you, Eric…you made me do this!” (Which, by the way, he TOTALLY did!!)

Here is Eric during…you’ve got to love the Carharts…classic!

While it must have been painful, in the end…there were only smiles to be seen….
After their feet were soaking in the bath tub!!! How many people their age can say they recently took a bath with their sibling?!?


Just because I always like flashbacks...here were are last year in Evanston...