If You're Happy and You Know It!

Max is a great student. In a mere three days, he learned how to clap his hands. [I am telling you, this little man is brilliant!]

I taught him to clap when we sing, "If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands." [so please excuse my voice in the video below]. Now, he claps all the time. In the car while driving. Eating in his high chair. Laying on his changing table. Clap, clap, clap! What a show-off!

Here is a video so you can share in the fun!

 

Stay tuned. Next, we are going to work on a bye-bye wave!

Max and the Big Truck

Sam and I decided to do one special gift for Max this year [and I am sure this will be the tradition for years to come]. We selected a CAT dump truck. Don't all little boys need their first truck? This one has it all. 

Max can tip the bed up and use it to pull himself to a standing position. He can sit on it and go for a ride. It even has buttons on the steering wheel that makes authentic truck sounds.  

Max LOVED the gift. Check out the video and catch a glimpse of Max using his truck for the first time! 

Max's First Christmas

Today was an exciting day because it was Max's first Christmas and our first Christmas with a baby!!  Of course Max was spoiled rotten by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, etc.......

Max gets pumped up to open his stocking!!

Max and Eli take in the sights and sounds of their first Christmas together

Grandma and Papa got Max a personalized travel bag so he can explore the world with us :)

Max gets a bongo so he can be like Mommy.  He proceeds to bang on it for 30 minutes....

Carrying on with the musical theme Max gets a set of maracas

All in all it was an awesome 2 days of Christmas bliss.  Max, thanks for the smiles and wonderful memories.

Zoo Wildlights

We walked in a winter wonderland of Zoo Lights tonight! Max was bundled up like a little polar bear and spent most of the evening mesmerized by the lights and Christmas music.

This has always been one of my favorite holiday activities and it was that much sweeter with Max in tow this year. Lots of colorful, twinkling lights. A carousel ride. Hot chocolate. And Max's cousins [Ron & Kristen joined us with their wonderful gaggle of 4] vying for his attention all night [seriously, the girls just can't get enough of him, it's so cute]! 

All in all, it was a perfect family night out!

Max Can't Get Enough Cheerios

At the request of some of Max's fans, I give you CHEERIOS.

Notice the concentration.

Notice the intensity.

Notice the excitement.

Seriously, the boy just can't get enough. He loves CHEERIOS!

Graduation Day

From this:

[first time in car seat]

To this: 

[too big for his car seat at 7 months!]

To this:

[lovin' his new upgraded ride!]

Max Can You Say Ball?

Max is working on his first words. His vast vocabulary includes:

Dadadadadadadadadada

Translation: Dadadadadadadada

It rolls right off his tongue. And is technically his very first word! 

Bah Bah. Bah Bah. Bah Bah.

Translation: Bottle 

That's right. Max will take the bottle out of his mouth, look at it closely and then say, "Bah Bah. Bah Bah." Attaboy Max!

Bawl

Translation: Ball

Check out Max saying ball on the video clip!

[As a footnote, if you watch this video more than once listen closely. 

Max lets out a burp after his first "ball." Hilarious!]

This Tickles Me

Max and I had a surprise visitor today. My Aunt Beth! 

Let me give you a bit of background on my Aunt before I go much further. Beth has always been the fun Aunt. She has this contagious laugh, great sense of humor, and, when it comes to her nieces and nephews, she has the philosophy of  "kids will be kids." [I will have to check with her daughter and son to see if she has the same philosophy at home.] And my personal experience with Beth? She is understanding. A great listener. Always honest. And quick to forgive. 

The reason for her visit today was so that she could give Max a Christmas present. Before we ripped through the wrapping paper, Beth explained that she purchased this gift two years ago.It was The. Hot. Item. of the year [and still is I might add]. Two years ago, I mentioned I wanted one [not for me of course, but for my first baby!] So, she has been storing it on a shelf in her basement ever since. It is what I would call a Faith Gift. She, in faith, purchased the gift, believing that someday she would have a little person to give it to! 

And what was this surprise gift? None other than Tickle Me Elmo. He moves, he shakes, he laughs when you tickle him. And Max was in Elmo heaven this afternoon. 

Thanks Aunt Beth for the awesome gift. What a treasure!

So Grateful

So sweet little Max has been a bit under the weather the last few days. He has a touch of some nasty stomach virus that has been going around. It has been a challenge keeping food and bottles down. He either spits it up or it comes out the other end. Gross, I know.

Anyway, as I was taking care of the sick little man today, I started thinking about all the things I am grateful for.

So here goes:

1. I am SO GRATEFUL that I have a sweet baby boy...and that my new worries are taking care of him and getting him back to healthy.  

Ahhhhhhh...do I even need to list anything else?

Not really, but I will:

2. I am SO GRATEFUL he is happy all the time. Not even kidding. The poor little guy obviously doesn't feel good and he still has a big smile on his face!

3. I am SO GRATEFUL he is a good sleeper. The past few nights he has slept like a champ and he is taking great power naps during the day. 

4. I am SO GRATEFUL for cuddle moments. He has been sucking his thumb a bit harder the last few days and cuddling with me a bit tighter. He even fell asleep in my arms several times. 

So priceless.

5. I am SO GRATEFUL I get to stay home. That Max is my full-time mommy job. I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing right now.

So Grateful I am! 

Starbucks Sizes

Meet Tall, Grande and Venti. 

Max with his buddies today: 

Tall - Phillip [3 weeks old]

Grande - cousin Shayden [8 weeks old]

Venti - Max [7 months old]

WOW! It is amazing how quickly time flies and how fast these little guys can grow!

Christmas Tag

So I have officially been tagged.  Which means, in the blogging world, someone tags me to do something [answer a list of questions, post a picture from my photo album, etc.] and then it is my blogging duty to tag someone else. Thanks Bex for the tag!

Here goes:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Definitely wrapping paper. With bows. Wired bows so you can make em' pretty!

2. Real tree or artificial?

Real in this house! In fact, we tramp through the Christmas Tree Farm to pick out the perfect one and cut it down ourselves.

3. When do you put up the tree?

The Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year we avoided the malls on Black Friday and got a tree instead!

4. When do you take down the tree?

After New Year's. Worst job ever. Taking down the tree, the decorations, the lights. So sad. So very sad.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Love me some eggnog. 

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

My first bike! It was purple with a big banana seat. I remember riding it through the house on Christmas day because their was snow on the ground outside.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

Hmmmm....prob Sam's mom. She is an amazing gift-giver, so I always want to find her the most perfect gift!

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Myself?!  Oops, that answer probably doesn't count. So, I guess I would have to say Sam. Or even Max. Seriously, it's not like the little guy will ask for the receipt and return our gifts this year!!!!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Yep. Several.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Who emails Christmas cards???

11. Worst Christmas gift ever received:

Sorry I can't think of one. And if I could, I wouldn't out the person on the Internet.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation. "Can't see the line, can you Russ? Uh, Russ??"

13. When do you start Christmas shopping?

Early December. And if I am really brave, I will venture out Thanksgiving weekend.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Definitely. And it was more like I was in a pinch and needed a gift...quickly...ok, no more details.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas:

My mom's sweet roll. Best Christmas tradition EVER. We had it for breakfast and it is like a cinnamon roll on crack.  Mmmmmmm...

16. Lights on the tree?

Of course. Lots of twinkling white lights!

17. Favorite Christmas song:

Carol of the Bells. Only cause it makes me laugh. Sam tries to do a sing-along with this song and puts in all the wrong words, on purpose!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?

I have never traveled...but wouldn't necessarily be opposed to trying Christmas on a beautiful Caribbean beach!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Yes.

20. Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Ideally, one on Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas morning. My favorite to rip open? The Stocking!

21. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

The freezing, biting cold weather. I love big beautiful snowflakes. But, hate the "cold to the bones" kind of feeling.

22. What do you want for Christmas this year?

A blog makeover!

So a Merry Christmas to all. And I officially tag my sis-in-law Rebecca!

Or anyone else that reads this blog post. Have at it! 

Laundry with Max

Laundry is just one of those tasks that is never-ending. You just can't check it off the list and be done with it. It seems there is always a load I could be washing, drying, folding or putting away. For instance, right now, I have clean clothes folded in my room ready to be put on hangers and in drawers. I have two loads of clean clothes folded and sitting on top of the dryer. And, I am sure, if I went and checked our laundry baskets I would have enough to start yet another load. Whew, I am tired just thinking about all this laundry. And we are only a family of 3 right now! [Geesh, wouldn't it be nice if a laundry fairy visited our houses? Poof...and you have clean clothes.]

Well, with Max, laundry is all about timing and multi-tasking. I switch and fold laundry while he is napping, or in his exersaucer, or playing on the floor. And on that rare day [ok, not so rare lately] he wants me to carry him around everywhere, he comes to the laundry room with me.  

It used to be a breeze. I could lay him down and he wouldn't [or should I say couldn't] move. He was forced to watch me put laundry in the washer/dryer and fold. Just like so:

Then, he figured out how to roll so I had to stop laying him on top of the dryer [for fear he would roll right off] and the floor didn't seem like a good idea either [for fear he would slam his head on the ceramic tile]. So, the Bumbo seat seemed liked the perfect solution. That is until he figured out how to get out of the Bumbo.  

[in this particular photo he launched himself out of the Bumbo seat about 30 seconds after I snapped this picture]

Ok, Mister Max. What next? 

Today I spent hours doing laundry [ok, it felt like hours] so I needed to come up with a new idea of how to entertain Max in the laundry room. 

In the past week he has mastered sitting up by himself. But, on occasion, still has a sideways [kind of in slow-motion] tumble. So I don't think he is ready to sit on the ceramic tile yet.

So, I came up with a brilliant plan. Sit him in the big laundry basket. He seemed happy with the idea, so I started working away. I was facing the dryer, folding clothes. Max was behind me playing in the basket. Then, I heard him moving and grunting. I turned around to see what the commotion was about. 

He PULLED HIMSELF TO A STANDING POSITION [more than once I might add!!] in the laundry basket. This is no joke. Is this supposed to happen at only 7 months? He used his strong lil' biceps and wedged his feet into the corner of the basket and was literally standing up [and the basket was teetering forward!!].  Oh my. I couldn't steady the laundry basket and take a photo at the same time, so I got his expression soon after he plopped back down on his bottom. He looks pretty pleased with himself doesn't he?

So, the next phase is crawling [which I reckon will be soon]. Then, I can at least shut the laundry door and let him crawl around on the floor. I won't have to worry about any tumbles or falls.  

Am I really saying out loud that I want him to start crawling? Oh my. I think I am. Then, I am really going be on the go, chasing the man around, making sure all areas are baby-proofed...

Oh. My.

Pumpkin Pie

Sam is serious about his pumpkin pie. In fact, he loves pumpkin pie. In years past, I have attempted to make him one of these much-adored pies, however I just can't seem to get it right. Either the crust comes out burnt or the middle is runny. So I gave up making [and ruining] pumpkin pies.

But, this year, Sam proved he actually can navigate his way around the kitchen. This hankering for a pumpkin pie has turned into somewhat of a cooking-obsession for him. When I do a grocery run he specifically asks for crust, pumpkin and evaporated milk. All the other ingredients are household staples [he let me know], so as long as I keep our pantry stocked with these three ingredients, he can get his bake on.

And since Sam has been making at least a pie a week, Max has joined the cooking club.

And this is how you crack an egg...

And pour it ever-so-slowly...

Fresh out of the oven.

It is quite a masterpiece, isn't it? 

Enjoy Boys!

And Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Gotcha Day!

Max with mommy & daddy

in the courtroom on Gotcha Day!

Dear Maximus, 

Today, November 24, 2008, is a very special day for our family. It is your adoption finalization!

Do you know?

We prayed for you before we knew you. We dreamed of you before we held you. We prepared for you before we were "expecting" you. And we loved you before we met you. 

And the moment we laid eyes on you?

We melted forever. You, sweet Maximus, were chosen for us. And we were chosen for you.

We are so proud to be your parents. Everyday you teach us something new. You make us smile bigger, laugh harder, dream higher and love deeper. Our lives are forever changed because of you!

Today we celebrate our forever family.

We love you!

Daddy & Mommy

Elf Greeting!

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