16 Months

1 year ago this was Max:

And here is my big boy today.

I can't believe how much can change in just a years time.

Max is doing well. He is starting to be a little sponge. He is absorbing and learning new things every day. He isn't quite talking yet. He says a few words, but he has learned the sign's for "more" "what?" "all done" "eat" "baby" "milk" and he smacks his mouth when he wants a drink. He will give us kisses when we ask for one. He barks whenever he sees a picture of a dog. He finds the strangest things hilarious and giggles about it for 5-10 minutes. He tries to figure out how things work. He loves my iPhone. AND He loves being outside and going for walks.

He is a lot of work, but so much fun!

Fathers

This is my Dad

He's a pretty important man in my life.

Here's some of the things that make him so great!

1. He would never let us call him Daddy. It was always DAD

\2. He is an avid hiker and has always stayed active.

3. He eats peanut butter nearly every day. Probably where I got my peanut butter eating habit.

4. He takes really good care of his cars. His 1994 Toyota truck is still going strong, and is still in really good condition.

5. He is more of the "Strong, Silent" type, but he has a way of getting a lot of respect. He can keep most anyone "in-line". Even the scouts (teenage boys).

6. He doesn't have any son's. But he loves his girls and wouldn't prefer it any other way.

7. He has taught my sisters and I to be self sufficient and independent. Yet I know I could go to him if I every had any issue/problem or needed some financial assistance.

8. He helped all my sisters and I get a college degree. Something that has such significant value that I become more and more aware each and every day.

9. He is always so caring and concerned whenever we struggle. And emotional, physical, or spiritual battle my sisters or I have to face, I know he loves and supports me and would take it away if he could.

10. I have a deep love and respect for him. He taught me what a man should be like. How to find a man to take good care of me and love and support and respect me. And now that I have my own son, how to raise a man to be.

Thanks Dad,

Happy Fathers Day and

I love you!

Of course I need to mention my Husband.

He is such a loving and compassionate Father. He has the opportunity that not many fathers have of being a part of the day in and day out care of a busy baby and very active toddler. I mean... he spends all day with him while I'm at work. From the moment he wakes up, the diaper changes, the feedings, the entertaining, the clothes changes, the outside walks, the baths, to the moment he falls asleep... he is there. He really understands the work that is put in for a parent that stays at home to raise children.

Watching them together truly lights up my world. They have such a special relationship. They both have infectious laughs, so when one is laughing, usually the other is too. Chris figures out ways to do things that I never think of, and they are usually the better way to do it :). He is very affectionate. He gives lots of kisses to Max (and Me). He gets so concerned when Max is sick or injured. He is a great man. He cares deeply for his son and is a fantastic Dad.

Happy Fathers Day dear!

Happy Graduation/30th Birthday/29th Birthday/5 Year Anniversary!

For our Graduation/30th Birthday/29th Birthday/5 Year Anniversary Celebration and last hurrah before Chris gets a job in the field he just graduated in and no longer works for Skywest...

We decided to go to Puerto Vallarta.

A vacation without Max.

Just the two of us.

I had a lot of anxiety about leaving Max for the first time. He has only ever slept in his crib. Would he be able to sleep at my mom's? Would he wake up multiple times at night for my poor mom? He would miss us. And I would miss him even more.

But we needed this.

So we set out. Flying standby is not my favorite, but we made it. It was a 3 hour flight which isn't too bad. When we got there, we were bombarded with people trying to sell us vacation packages in a run down airport where most everyone speaks only Spanish, we don't know what we are doing or where we are going, and everything is in Peso's. (How much am I spending? Did they even give me the right change?)

I felt extremely overwhelmed and stressed. I tried to put on a brave face, but I felt I was nearing a panic attack. I have never had one before, but I felt like I was about to lose it and have a screaming/crying fit.

Somehow I held it together until we arrived at the resort. When we finally got to our room I felt more settled and began to relax. Probably because our room looked like this:

And our view wasn't half bad either:

We got to spend some quality couple time together. This vacation was supposed to be just that... a vacation. To relax, to rejuvenate, to push the reset button. The resort was all inclusive so food, entertainment, and everything was included. We didn't venture out of the resort, and frankly I didn't have a big desire too.

The food was interesting. I am pretty picky, but I tried some things. I guess I am way to used to American Mexican food, because everything tasted just a little different. And I couldn't figure out if I really like it or not. I ate a lot of Caesar Salads and the virgin Pina Colada's were very tasty!

I'm glad Chris and I got to spend some quality time together being a couple, not parents, or a nurse, or a ramp agent. Just us alone together.

And if your wondering how Max did. He did just fine. I guess kids really are adaptable.