Eleven Months Old

Can this big guy really be eleven months old already?  I feel like every month he changes so much.  Some days I just want to stop time so that he can be my baby just a little bit longer.  But then at the same time, I enjoy watching him grow and discover the world around him.

 

And exploring is exactly what Jack has been up to this last month.  No water dish, no cabinet, no toy, and no tail are safe from this little man on the move.   He drags toys out of their home so that he can play with them - and usually playing involves some form of putting the toy in his mouth.  I will be grateful when this whole everything in the mouth stage is over.  I have fished some pretty gross things out of that cute little mouth!

 

 When he isn't putting gross things into his mouth, Jack can be found crawling all over the house.  Usually on a mission to find one of his brothers.  When he does find a big brother it's just the cutest little thing ever.  He laughs and laughs and the big brothers do too.

His favorite part of the day is bathtime.  He hears that water running and he speed crawls his way over to the tub.  The big brothers think it is pretty cute, in fact they fight over who gets to take a back with Baby Jack.  We have to alternate ngihts so that everyone gets some fun Baby in the tub time.  Jack just eats up all the attention!

Party Day

Wow. I think that is just about all I can say about Max's birthday party yesterday. We hired Steve from The Reptile Experience to come put on a show at our home. 

 

Thanks to a lot of help from Great Aunt Carmelina we were all ready for the party yesterday afternoon.  She has some pretty crazy cake decorating skills. I think the eyes and teeth were the best part!

Brian and Max saw Steve last summer at the library and Brian couldn't wait to hire him for hte party. The way Brian talked him up I had high expectations - and he did not disappoint!  I mean, come on, he pulled a four foot aligator out of a tub in  the middle of my living room!  Then he put the alligator's mouth in his!

 Max loved every minute of it.  He held every animal offered to him and he was just so brave - and grown up.  Have I mentioned yet that six just seems crazy old?!
Even Nonna and Aunt Carm got in on the action and held the alligator.  I just love the looks on their faces!

 

Just the other day Nonna and Max were talking about the blue tounged skink.  Sure enough Steve pulled one of those out too!  I think he was impressed with Max's knowledge of the animal.  Nonna was proud too.

 

The last animal he brought out was an anaconda.  Max held that snake and was just fine, although he did flinch a bit when the snake's head moved up to his hand.

 Afte the show we headed downstairs for cake.  I think the kids were all pretty impressed with Aunt Carm's alligator - at least I know the other mom's were.

It was a fabulous party and it was so fun to watch Max celebrate with his buddies from school.  I still can't believe he is six.  I'll probably be saying that until he turns seven. . .

The Sleepover

Wednesday night the big boys had a sleepover Nonna and Nonno's house.  They had been looking forward to it all week. An hour after I leave I got this picture via text. Apparently my poor little Will locked himself in the bathroom. Unfortunately there is no way to unlock the door from the outside. So they had to call 911. Poor Will was totally panicked but hopefully he won't be too traumatized. Max thought it was pretty great. Especially when the firefighters were considering putting him through the window since they didn't know if any of them would fit. I love that Nonna made sure to get photographic proof of the whole ordeal.

Just a boy . . .

his dog, his lawnmower, and his Nonna.  Does it get any sweeter?

Happy Birthday Max!

How is it possible?  How can my first born be six years old!?!?  For some reason six just seems so old.  Maybe it is because he is closing in on the age that I taught for so many years.  So today has been all about celebrating this amazing little boy.  Daddy took the day off work and we headed to First Watch for breakfast.  Max got to pick our activity for the day and he didn't hesitate when he said the zoo!

Of course the first order of business was to board the train.  This is always the highlight.

Max decided that he wanted to see 'tough' animals today.  We got off the train at red rocks to look for the cheetahs.  Max decided the leopards were close enough.  He and daddy then checked out the map to see where we could re board the train.  Will always wants to be just like his brother, so he had to get his map out too.

 We headed to the station and waited for the next train so that we could go see the other tough animals Max had been talking about - the hippos and rhinos.

Max is always such a kind big brother.  He took Will's hand as we headed through the River's Edge.  They walked hand in hand through the exhibit and it just melted my heart.  After a snack and a restroom stop we were ready to head back home. 

 

Every year on Max's birthday I remember how he joined our family.  The excitement we felt at the miracle of the pregnancy.  The fear we felt when there were some complications along the way.  The pure and overwhelming sense of joy when he entered the world and we realized he was ours to love, raise, and enjoy.  I feel honored that God put Max into our lives.  I'm the luckiest momma alive and not a day goes by that I'm not reminded of that fact. 

We love the park!

I think the park is one of my very favorite places on earth.  It's like a mini little vacation.  The kids get to run and play and I get to relax - at least a little - and not break up any arguments.  It is adorable to watch the boys interact with each other an other kids at the park.  Sometimes as an added bonus Max sees a friend from school. 

Sunday there weren't any kids from school so he just had Will to play with.  They chased each other all over and must have talked through the little device on this wall for several minutes.  Will got a huge kick out of it.  Max thought it was pretty fun too.

 

I can't believe he will be six next week.  I remember when he was tiny and I was always terrified he would fall off the equipment.  Now he climbs everything and I'm a bit more relaxed about it.

 Have I mentioned lately that Will worships the ground his big brother walks on?  In fact as we were getting out of the van the other day Will randomly announced "I love you so much Max!"  It melted my heart - and if he's honest it melted Brian's a bit too.

 This guy is always happy to go along for the ride - especially if it is a ride in the stroller and he gets to go outside.  Just like his brothers he loves the great outdoors.  He is all smiles - well at least when the sun isn't shining in his eyes.  Not that we are complaining.  The weather has been amazing the last few days.  Will announced that "the sun woke up Mommy!" and he was so excited.  Too bad it's supposed to snow tomorrow. . .