Yesterday we had a blast playing at cousins Hannah, Cason, and Cohen's house. Max enjoyed running around with his cousins, throwing balls, riding in the cozy coupe, and climbing the stairs. We had a pizza party and chilled out afterwards. Max was so tired from the days activities he fell asleep on the FLOOR at daycare today. So hilarious! We are blessed to have cousins in town to hang out with and grow up with.
My adorable nephew Cohen who wants so bad to be running around with his brother, sister, and Max. Soon enough Cobo, soon enough....
Hannah giving Cohen some instructions
My beautiful niece Hannah Grace
Max had fun with all the new toys to play with!
Looks like trouble to me....
Driving cars in the kitchen...it's normal in this house
Oh oh
Hi cutie pie!
Snack time for Cobo
Looks like more trouble...
Snack time on the counter with the cousins
Cohen's blowout, peewy
Cason and Uncle Huntz wrestling
Cason and his weapon of choice: BLANKET
So funny
Uncle Huntz knows where Cason is ticklish
Jer and Cohen
Max was pooped out after play day with the cousins
Max has been on the move these last few weeks. He has had fun finding his 'walking legs.' He still toddles, but is pretty much a walker now. He has explored our neighborhood, our church, and the hallways at Grandma and Grandpa's apartment. We explored the Eagle's Nest and Maple Maze indoor playgrounds, which I think we'll be spending some time at this winter.
We are gearing up for the Christmas holiday with kid friendly decorations. Max loved the Christmas hallmark characters that sing to him. Just like last year! Excited to have Grandpa and Grandma Juergens home from Montana for Christmas this year. We'll be heading to Montana in January to visit Big Sky country.
So that's the update for now. Praying for a home buyer to come and fall in love with our house. Nothing has happened in the way of offers, but soon it'll happen. A new house for the New year!
Max has been mighty busy since he turned one. He spent a week at Grandma's and learned how to clap and took his first steps. He now is walking across the room. It has been so fun to watch him grow and learn new things. He is so observant at everything. He'll figure something out by looking at it and they do it. So much fun.
Max was a Tiger for Halloween. He had fun trick or treating at Grandma Bonnie's apartment and at our church for Trunk or Treat. He even let us put the hood up. He also got to sport his costume at his daycare party. All his teachers were so excited to see him in his costume.
One year ago I was just getting home from work after a meeting. Randy Moss had just resigned with the Minnesota Vikings and they were playing Monday Night Football. My parents were 5 hours from returning home to MN from MT for Baby C's birth. Huntz was still working at IGT. The weather was very similar to this year, warm, crisp, sunny. I had my Centering Pregnancy class/check up with Kira, my midwife and she said I was about 2 cm dilated. Not much change from the previous week. Life seemed normal as the day went on, but Max had a different plan. Around 9:30pm, my water broke. I was in bed already because I was supposed to work on Tuesday. I went to the bathroom and confirmed my suspicions and went downstairs to tell Huntz. The next few hours were calm as we showered and headed to the hospital to meet Anna our midwife on call. Now, being a nurse you would've thought I'd have known better, but to go to admitting at 11:00pm *change of shift, but I guess my nursey mind was elsewhere. :) When we got to the hospital and got all checked in, I called my parents and told them where we were. (They had just gotten home around 9). Huntz found the game on TV and we started 'our labor and delivery story'.
Max decided not to join the rest of us until 5:19 the next day, but he was welcomed with open arms. Pat got to deliver him and he was 6lb 14oz. 20.5 inches. He had a big head (can't remember the size), but our midwife said if it had been 1/2cm bigger it would've been qualified to get a diamond out of the deal. Her rules not mine.
This year has been so incredibly wonderful and hard all at the same time. We took our first plane ride with Max when he was 2 1/2 months to Montana for Christmas. We travelled to Iowa for an Amway conference with Max in tow. We travelled to WI several times to see the extended family. Max got to meet his great grandpa George and say good bye to him a few months later.
Some skills I have acquired include breastfeeding and texting, napping while Max naps, diapering one handed, clipping fingernails without clipping the fingertips, photographing Max, and surviving on little sleep.
I wouldn't trade all the hard moments for anything, but the precious moments are so treasured. I already miss the middle of the night cuddle sessions after a feeding thinking about how he'll be as a young man. The firsts he had already accomplished and the many yet to come.
Thank God for digital cameras and flip video cameras. Life has been easy to capture Max with these two things alone.
It really does take a village. There have been so many phone calls to Katie, Kerry, Chrissy, Lisa, Sara, Kristi, Mom, Mom-in-law, Kira, Greta (my amazing lactation consultant, and Dr. Chen. We are so blessed to have so many people love Max and us because without that support it wouldn't have been as fun.
Thanks for sharing this first year of Max's life. There will be many more posts of funny or momentous occasions in the future. Stay tuned....
