Brothers

The love between these brothers is the most favorite thing in my day. They light up at the sight of each other and search for each other when one is out of sight. They're little companions.

And then the big one pushes the smaller one. And I sigh, tell myself we're all just getting a little stronger. 

Snow day

Snow!! Snow doesn't happen as often as we would like around here. My boys may never experience a white Christmas. But once a year, they will get an inch or two of snow and we will dress up and play around. Snow is magical. It brings nostalgia and play that I can't imagine life without. So when snow came and church was cancelled, you betcha, we played. 

Play, play all day

"It's a happy talent to know how to play."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Play and discover, discover and play.  That is Max's motto every day.  Sometimes I joke that this cute kid never stops.  Because really, he doesn't.  But I love his excitement for learning and his fearlessness to try new things. Most of the time that fearlessness scares me to death, especially when it involves climbing to the top of, well, anything. 

Climbing and jumping are topping the charts of his favorite things to do, though. Jumping off couches, curbs, ottomans, boxes, chairs, again - anything - has proven to provide hours of entertainment. And, while I hold my breath every time he takes a leap I don't wish for him to be any different.  I expect I will hold my breath for a lot of the leaps he takes in life; I only hope he never looses that fearless spirit.  

RoooaaaRRR!!

This little babe is a master at animal sounds.  His favorite is the Lion.  "ROOAAARR!!!," he says with his loudest growly voice.  Unless of course he is in a room full of people and feeling a little shy, then he will say "roooaar" in his quite growly voice. 

Coincidentally the bear, tiger are also two of his favorites with the same "ROAR".

He also tells us that the cow says "mmmm", the sheep says "baa", the horse says "hahaha" and that cat says "ma".

For the alligator he makes a snapping sound with his hands, for the elephant he shows us his trunk by putting his arm to his nose and he tickles his tummy to show us the monkey.

We are working on the frog's "ribit", the turkey's "gobble gobble" and a fishy kissy face.  

The dog is one of my very favorites.  When we ask Max what the dog says he points to Oliver and gives us a look like, "Uh, that's the dog, why don't you ask him?"  

Well played my little one.

On the trail

Blogging, day two.  I can do this. :)

I have so much.  So, so much that I need to document and add to my little space on the internet.  Baby steps.  That's how I am going to take this one on.  

A photo and a random bit of information at a time.

Before the weather turned to solid rain (and before I was so exhausted by growing a human that I could bear the thought of leaving the house in the early morning). Max, Oliver and I would go running twice a week.  Putting a baby in the stroller and enjoying nature is one of my very favorite things to do.  Max is such an observer that he is entertained by the passing birds, planes and other dogs that we see along the trail.  Which means for a few moments I get to be distracted by those same things and allow my mind to wander.  I don't think we give enough credit to a wandering mind.  I come up with my best ideas when I am not really thinking about anything.

Our times on the trail were divine.  It almost makes me want to brave the rain and take them out right now (almost).  At the end of our run, Max had a spot at the end of the trail where he could get and run 100 meters back to the car.  He knew the spot.  As soon as we hit it he was wiggling and trying to unbuckle himself (luckily that isn't really a skill he has mastered).  He took his new freedom seriously, the moment I would set him on the ground he would run as fast as he could exploring everything in sight.  This boy is a mover, an explorer and he does everything at one-hundred percent speed.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  

He keeps me on my toes, and always laughing.

Mr. Max - 18 months

Mr. Max - 15 months

1st party

We threw Max a little shin-dig for his first birthday.  I went back and forth about whether to throw my one year old, who is as happy ripping my drawers apart as he is playing at a play gym, a full out birthday party. Ultimately, we decided a little celebration was necessary and that we would keep it simple and small. We invited family and a few family friends to a little park in Canby to play, eat and have a low-key celebration with us.  Then we prayed for sun.

My friend Wendy made Max some gorgeous peanut butter-chocolate flavored cupcakes.  You know, his favorite flavor. ;)

Max got spoiled with lots of toys, books and treats.  He has LOVED playing with all his new toys. It's like Christmas at our house.  Thank you everyone!

On his actual birthday and for his birthday photo shoot he got chocolate cake.  At his party he got lemon cake... let's just say that he LOVED the chocolate and picked at the lemon - though I don't think he would refuse sweets of any kind.  This boy is just like his mama and daddy!

Our prayers for sun were only answered in short spells.  Long enough to set up, clean up and get a little play time in.  Most of the time we stood under the covered pavilion (thank goodness for that!) and watched the rain come down like crazy.  Thank you PNW!

When the sun poked his head out the kids had a blast playing on the playground.

Thank you to everyone who was able to celebrate with us and to everyone who has sent their well wishes for Max.  We are truly blessed.

One year photos!

Turing a year old is a big deal which means many, many photos need to be taken.  We honestly cannot get enough of this handsome fella.  Happy one year buddy!  (Big thanks to Ben and Syl for taking these photos for me.)