Trick or Treat

Max's first Trick or Treat

as an OSU Football Player

Getting geared up for the big night

What is this 'candy' they speak of?

Have you heard of it?

It's delicious. Oh so delicious.

I must. Have. More.

Little Things

I know. This picture probably doesn't mean much at first glance. But, as I walked through our Mud Room today, I was overwhelmed at the sight of little shoes. And these little shoes were in my house and belonged to my son. Completely. Utterly. Overwhelmed.

My every day life now consists of...

Folding little clothes fresh out of the dryer.

Filling little sippy cups with milk, juice and water.

Cleaning up little toys and books and puzzle pieces.

Calling little friends over for play dates.

Giving little hugs, kisses and hand pounds.

Taming little golden curls that can be quite unruly.

Scrubbing little toes clean in the bathtub.

Whispering in little ears, "I Love You."

And of course, lining little shoes up by the door.

It's the little things that help remind you of the big things, you know? Where you have been. Where you are going. And the journey that makes up the in between.

Amazing how a pair of little shoes could be so inspiring.

Pumpkin Patch

We enjoyed a warm, fall day at the pumpkin patch with friends and family. Max was quite at home on the farm. He dragged his favorite pumpkin around for ages, played and played in the cornbox with his cousins, and even had his first homemade powdered sugar doughnut. All in all, I think it was a success!

Eighteen Month Update

Max had his eighteen month well visit [about 10 days early].

I've got two words for you: Growing. Boy.

He weighed 26 lbs 12 oz - 55th percentile.

He measured 34 inches long - 93rd percentile.

At eighteen months, Max has 25+ words [doctor shared that 5-10 is typical at this age]:

Daddy, Mommy, Abby, nose, sock, shoe, eat, bite, hot, cheese, uh-oh, dog, duck, blue, up, out, car, happy, more please, help me, shoot [as in a basketball, and he puts the hand motion with it], moojoo [that's his word for movie], baa baa [his beloved blankie], yes, and no. And it seems like he is saying a new one everyday...

Animal sounds he knows:

Lion = roar, Duck = quack, quack, Cow = moooooo, Horse = neigh

He also laughs and laughs when I snort like a pig, but he is yet to do it himself. Hmmmm....

Body parts he knows and points at when you say the word:

nose, ears, eyes, tongue [which is hilarious because he sticks his tongue out and wiggles it back and forth], toes and belly button.

We are so blessed to have a happy, healthy, bright and FUN little guy.

Craft Time

Max officially worked on his first art project this weekend: painting a pumpkin. What a beaut! Really, I think he has quite a gift. I, on the other hand, do not have a gift when it comes to arts and crafts.

Therefore, I will be leaning on my sis-in-law, Amy, [who is quite brilliant at ideas for crafts], to teach him all her arts and crafts ways. She was the brains behind the pumpkin project at our nephew, Vance's, second birthday party this weekend.

Thanks Amy, and Happy Birthday Vance!

**please note the paint is non-toxic as it is obvious that Max tried to eat it. :-)

For the Love of Hockey

I just can't get enough of this YouTube video and had to share. With all the hockey talk around our house, I wonder if this will be Max in a few years...

And for those of you that have time....

This video became so popular on YouTube that it caught Ellen's eye.

Sweet and Delicious

Max and I just returned from Minneapolis, Minnesota. We were visiting some of our best friends - Shawn, Joy and kids, Judah [age 3] and Luciana [age 1].

One of my highlights [there were many!] was Max experiencing his first Jamba Juice. I am a lover of the Jamba. We currently do not have this delicious smoothie chain in our city so whenever I am in a location that has a Jamba I seize the day!

Needless to say, Max officially loves his Jamba as much as his mommy does. This particular Jamba Juice is attached to a Whole Foods [I know does it get any better?] so as we strolled through the market Max held his Jamba high in the air and jabbered to anyone that would listen. He was obviously excited to share the good news of his Jamba drink.

You make me so proud, little man.