Max's First Birthday

We had Max's first birthday party at my parents' house in Lone Oak. He had plenty of guests and we were happy they were all there.

Max's train cake that I made. Impressive, even though my fondant isn't totally smooth.

Happy Birthday to Max!!

Cheesing for the camera

The cake tastes great!

One of the very few decent pictures I have of both of my children. We were at school on Max's actual birthday and Lanette got them both to look and smile!

12 Months Old

Max is a year old! We are all a little better off than we were a year ago. Micah and I both love our kids very much, we are just definitely not baby people and prefer it when our kids are a little older. Just turning one is the perfect age for me. Max is so fun right now. He's learning new things all the time. He mimics things we say and things we do. He can make an elephant noise, roar, clap, sing songs, eat A LOT, and he can officially walk. Really really well. And with walking he has become much more independent. He wants to go wherever he wants to and if he doesn't get his way, he throws himself on the ground and cries. He eats and drinks all the time and sleeps well as long as he is in his own bed. He doesn't like to be in the car too long and he doesn't watch tv! I guess that's a good thing. At this age (and still) Ava was glued to the tv whenever it was on. Max could care less. He is a big time mama's boy. He loves for me to hold him and always gives me a huge hug when I get him out of bed in the morning. We go to the doctor later this week, so I will update all his stats then!

11 Months Old

Max is 11 months old! I took a picture of him eating in his high chair, because right now that is his favorite thing to do...eat! He shovels food in by the handful. His favorites are Italian foods, Mexican foods, and vegetables. And blueberries. He's drinking 4 8 ounce bottles a day, but they are half formula and half milk. He's becoming a pro at the sippy cup, and I think he will be done with bottles soon. He crawls everywhere, and will walk everywhere as long as he has something to hold on to. He has taken a few steps by himself, but that's as much as he wants to do right now. He repeats tons of sounds, including spitting sounds. He will make an elephant sound, growl, and loves to mimic the noises that the kids in his class make. He can clap and shake his head no and pout when he's told no. He sleeps all night, and when he does wake up at night, he waits for me to come into his room then throws himself down in his crib and goes right back to sleep. I think he just wants to make sure we are still there. He is taking one nap a day, usually about 2 hours. I'm hoping this gets a little longer. He loves to play with Ava, he especially likes to pull her hair and steal her blanket. He's a funny kid and loves to laugh!

More Snow

Just a few pics from the snow. Ava loved it, Max did not.









Click here to see Ava playing in the snow!

Sickness and Snow

It all started January 2. We went to Arby's to eat with some friends, and Ava wouldn't eat. Not even french fries. That should've told me something was wrong, but I just thought she wasn't hungry. Then she kept saying she needed to spit. After several trips to the bathroom, she finally "spit". All over Arby's, the trash can, the floor, the bathroom...everywhere. The people at Arby's were really nice about it, and I was grateful. The rest of the night was spent in my bedroom and bathroom, with Ava "spitting" quite frequently. She began to recover the next morning and regally ate her breakfast in bed.


After her tummy troubles, Ava decided to run fever and develop pharyngitis (or a really bad sore throat). She was better by that Friday, which was good because Micah and I were going to the Cotton Bowl. On the way down, I didn't feel so great. We ate some food and I was better, but by half time we all were feeling a little down. It was pretty cool to get to go to the game, though, and we were on the world's largest HD screen twice. That was awesome.

We made it home just fine, but the next day, the stomach bug hit me. And Max. It was rough. Especially on Micah, who had to take care of everyon. Luckily it snowed that Sunday and Monday, and Micah got to stay home from school one more day to take care of us. We felt good enough to get out in the snow and play some.




Tuesday morning, getting ready for us all to go to school, Ava starts telling me she needs to spit. And she did. All morning long. Another day at home with another stomach bug. Sitting on the well covered couch with her "spit bucket" beside her, we managed to keep the house fairly clean.

That night, the stomach bug hit Micah, too. None of us were spared this go round. By Friday, I thought we were all recovered. We went to the library and HEB. We got home and Max took a really long nap. When he woke up, his fever was 103. We went to the doctor and Max was promptly diagnosed with the flu. He tested positive for type A flu.

Max ran fever and felt bad all weekend, but was better on Monday and Tuesday, then got worse. We went back to the doctor and he was diagnosed with a secondary infection from the flu of bronchitis. More medicine. I had the doc check Ava out, too. She had been coughing some and had a low grade fever. He decided she just had a cold, but the next day she had a 102 fever and did not feel good at all. Luckily, she was better the next day.


Max, on the other hand, still felt bad. I made him some pancakes, though, and that seemed to help.


Ava was very restless and tired of being "stuck in the house" as she would say. We played alot, painted some, and watched more tv than is good for any 2 year old.



It is now January 24 and Max had his first fever free/medicine free day in 10 days. Hopefully we are all recovering and done with sickness for the time being!

Christmas 2010

Christmas this year was awesome, but I must say that I did a horrible job taking pictures. We had Christmas at home Christmas Eve, then went to Paris to have Christmas with the Frys and Zants. After that, we went to Lone Oak for Christmas with my family, then back home to Corsicana, where the McDonalds met us to visit for a few days. It was a great Christmas and we enjoyed seeing everyone!


Ava and Max are ready for Santa


Getting cookies for Santa and his reindeer


Santa came and brought at tricycle for Ava and a tractor flashlight for Max


Maybe the trike was for Max, too!


Santa brought me some running gear


Ava got a Cat In The Hat shirt


Max was an expert unwrapper


Ava loved her tricycle, too.


At Grandma and Grandad's, Max loved the purple ball


More presents!


Playing with Jeff


Ava's new house



Auntie Am and Max



More toys and fun!!

10 Months Old

Max is 10 months old! He's getting to be a big boy. He wears 12-18 month old clothes and size 5 diapers. He takes five 7 ounce bottles a day, eats three meals (sometimes...he's not big on eating food still), and takes one to two naps a day. He can wave and say "bye-bye", "Da-da" and "Ma-ma". He will give you a high five and can shake his head no when he's done eating food or when he doesn't want to do something. And he understands the word "no". If you tell him no, he stops what he's doing and puts on the biggest pouty face. On the other hand, if you point a camera in his direction, he instantly smiles. He's a very happy and laid back little boy. He loves to play and plays very well by himself. He goes into Ava's room and pulls all the drawers out of her toy shelves and plays with all her stuff. He loves the bathroom, especially the toilet. He loves to play the little piano and open and close all the doors on the play kitchen. Max loves to be held and cuddled and likes to sleep in bed with his Mama when she lets him. Max is pulling up on everything and walking around while holding onto stuff. He's not quite found his balance yet so I don't think walking will be happening any time soon. He's very clumsy and falls down and bumps his head all the time. He'll either wind up being tough, or not very intelligent. Max LOVES to be outside. Ava has learned to open the back door and any chance she gets she will open and and the two of them will escape to the back porch. Max loves to bug Ava, pull her hair, and jump on her. He's a sweet little boy and we're glad he's here!