Max's First...

Ice Cream Cone!

And he loved every last little lick.

Max Shows Off His Personality!

Max loves playing in our kitchen pantry. He loves to take everything off the shelves and re-organize it for me all over the floor. He loves to find snacks [usually ones he isn't supposed to have!] and help himself to whatever quantity he can shove in his little mouth before I take it away. He loves to get out all the plastic forks and spoons and put each one in his mouth [for those of you wondering, yes, I toss all the ones Max feels the need to lick!].

I think you get where I am going with this...Max is no longer allowed to play in the pantry.  ;)

So this was Max's response to me closing the pantry door:

And then, once he had his "personality" under control...

He marched right back to the pantry door and I caught him on film doing this:

Uh. Oh. Looks like we are in trouble.

A Haircut for Maximus

Max finally [at 14 months and 10 days old] got his first haircut. Well, to be honest with you, it was a trim. Those cute, blonde curls aren't going anywhere!

Now, friends have warned me about "The First Haircut." It seems every mom procrastinates when it comes to cutting off those first locks of hair. And I proved to be no exception. Sam has been bugging me for weeks [or has it been months?!] to give Max his first haircut. I kept saying I wasn't ready. Now, Max was probably ready [so what if his bangs kept getting in his face and impairing his vision...]. But, not me. I was not ready. I still don't think I was ready when we walked into the salon. [confession: I might have been experiencing a bit of a panic attack]. 

But, his first little haircut was a success. And he still has beautiful, blonde, curly hair to prove it.

Getting ready for the snippity snip.

What a good boy sitting so still!

And the lolly was the ticket.

He was concentrating on all its goodness and 

forgot all about Carrie cutting his hair!

All done.

Looking good, my little man!

And for your viewing pleasure...

so you too can be part of the first haircut experience!

Extreme Sports

Max loves going to grandma's house. He enters toy heaven the moment he walks through her front door. 

She has an Elmo Workbench. [That plays a "catchy" little tune every time he touches a tool. In other words...the Elmo Workbench will remain at grandma's house.]

She has a swing set and sandbox in her backyard. 

And...[saving the best for last]

She has a Kawasaki 4-Wheeler that is just his size.

If Max could only talk, he would say, "Someone pinch me. I think I have gone to toy heaven."

So, who would have thought Max would be doing a 1-year-old's version of Extreme Sports in his grandma's backyard?  See for yourself!  He is quite the daredevil.

Another Cousin For Max

Lincoln Jude

6 lbs 9 oz

19 in long

A perfect, healthy and beautiful little boy!

Congrats Ron & Kristen

And big sibs Maddie, Abby, Lauren and Gabe!

Summertime, And the Living is Easy

Can I just share with you that I do not want this summer to end?! We are having a blast. Max is a little boy that absolutely loves the outdoors. He loves to play in the yard. He loves to take long walks in the stroller. He loves to go to the park. And he loves to go to the pool. 

And for the sake of repeating myself: The. Boy. Loves. The. Pool. 

Loves it. Loves it. Loves it.

We have become very good at the art of pool hopping this summer. We are spending anywhere from 3-4 days a week at the pool. We have friends/family with pools in their backyards. We have friends/family with memberships at local pools. And, we even have a pool in our neighborhood. In other words, we are at no shortage for finding a pool, friends and family to enjoy the summer weather.

I want to be sure to thank all the people that have made our summer swimming possible. So a warm thank you to friends and family for allowing us to swim, splash and have fun in your pools! You are all great poolside companions. And we are looking forward to finishing out the summer strong with you!

Here's a couple video clips of Max with his cousins at the pool. 

Please note:

Maddie is playing and jumping in the pool with Max. Not sure who other random girl pool goer is...

And if you listen closely, cousin Lauren, is asking about lunch plans, and then squeals with delight when she finds out that yes, indeed, she is eating at the pool!

Other notes:

Max is playing with 4 of his cousins.

Listen closely. Maddie gets very protective and sternly asks her sister Abby to stop splashing around Max.  :)

Fancy Footwear

This week I had three other moms mention to me they thought Max's shoes were getting a bit small. I'll admit, the thought did cross my mind a few weeks ago, but I just figured it was the way his foot scooted forward in the shoes while walking. 

But, when one mom...two moms...THREE moms made a comment about his shoes, I decided maybe it was time for a new pair of summer kicks.  

What to do? Shoes seem to be a bit more important now that he is walking...

Of course! I called my trusted SIL, Kristen, for a bit of advice. She mentioned going to Stride Rite and getting his feet fitted for a shoe size.  

What? Why have I never thought of that. [seriously, why have I never thought of THAT??!!]

Sheer brilliance! So off we went!

Now, I have been squeezing Max's little feet into a size 4 shoe for the past couple of months. And I have been pretty confident that is the correct size [read: I just bought a new, size 4, pair of shoes two weeks ago.].  

Well, apparently, I was a bit off on his shoe size. The sales person measured Max's foot at a 5.5 wide.

Pardon?

A 5.5 wide? That might explain all the hard work in squeezing his little [or should I say wide?] feet into some of his shoes.  

Poor guy. 

 

Crocs Kick the Bucket

You be the judge.

Are they a bit too small?

New and Improved

Summer Sandals.

Max thanks all you mom's who had the heart to tell me his shoes were a bit small! He has got to be way more comfortable now!