Sun-BEAM!

There is a song we used to sing in church as little kids. It's called Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam. Max was very tired one night (that means he was cranky). I started singing this song to him while I was getting his pj's on and he started cracking up. He was laughing so hard he bent in half. I came out and tried to get it on video. I am pretty quiet in the video because I happen to be tone deaf and am aware of this, but I'm including both videos because I think Max is laughing harder in mine. And you can see my belly beginning to grow :)

Erin singing to Max:

Chris singing to Max:

Max is the funniest kid when it comes to laughing. He LOVES to giggle and laugh. He's had a belly laugh since he was 2 or 3 months old. Just laughing at him will still make him laugh. Every few days we find a different word that he laughs at, like "Beam", and it will be funny for a few days and then he doesn't laugh at it anymore.

Kisses

Max learned how to give kisses before we went to North Carolina and it's finally documented. Here are some pictures of the open mouth kiss he gives.


He thinks kisses are pretty funny.
Below was just a cute picture of Max that I finally got off our other camera. He was probably nine months old or so but he hasn't changed much. I got this video yesterday (April 24) while Chris was gone.

Max is 11 months old

Max turned 11 months yesterday and he was such a grouch that I didn't dare break out the camera. He's not feeling well but it seems like today may be better and that's great news for both of us. These pictures are obviously from a much happier time.
I love Max wrapped up in a towel. This baby towel was made by a very talented sister-in-law and it is so warm after a bath.

Lately Max has played with his bottle while drinking it which usually ends with his face covered in milk. You may have to enlarge the pictures to get a good look at all the spots all over his face.

Chris' sister came down with her kids for another gymnastics meet. We went to the meet, went to Pioneer Park (with the little slot canyon) and swimming at their hotel. I was afraid Max's bald head would get burned in the sun but he didn't love the hat. He thinks hats on other men are hilarious though and just stares and laughs. A guy behind us on the plane had a hat on and Max was fascinated.

Max just loves being outside so he was pretty happy.
Above is one of my all-time favorite pictures of Max and Chris.

Max went "swimming" for the first time too. We didn't actually get in. We didn't have any of the gear for it and it was 6:00pm in March so it as getting a little too cool for swimming for the adults. Max had fun splashing his feet though. He LOVES his baths so I'm sure he'll love it when he can actually get in the water and swim.

Oh Boy (or Girl)

It's official. I guess it has been since we found out 6 weeks ago but today we saw the heartbeat at the doctor's office and I am definitely 10 weeks pregnant. Due date: October 27 (My mom's birthday!). Max and SHE will be just under 18 months apart. Can you tell I'm hoping for a girl? I won't mind another boy though. Max is too cute to not want another one like him.

North Carolina

I got to go to North Carolina from March 18-24. I used Sky Miles and I'm not sure I will EVER fly on Delta again. It's a long story but they make you check in at Vegas airport at least 45 minutes ahead of time and that is fine if you know that. However, I got there 43 minutes ahead of my flight and they wouldn't let me on. I would have checked in online but I had an infant and had to check baggage so I had to stand in line anyway and didn't worry about it. I got on a flight 3 hours later which was delayed because a different type of plane had arrived than they had expected and the seat assignments were all messed up. Max actually did pretty good considering it turned into a 15 hour day and he's usually only awake 8-9 hours in a day.
I stayed at my parent's house along with my brother, his wife, and their new baby. My brother lives down the street and a sister lives 40 minutes away so there were lots of cousins to play with. We hung out and played with the kids and to be honest, I slept A LOT. The plane ride wore me out but I'll get into that later. My mom was so nice to take Max for me and I realized how much Chris helps me out here at home. Even though it's only for a few hours at night and on the weekend, it makes a big difference from doing it by yourself all the time.
My mom took these cute pictures of Max. He was such a smiley kid while we were there - always talking to himself and laughing. He screamed some too but what kid doesn't?
The cousins that were around that day. Bryce's new baby is so cute. Only three weeks old. I can't believe my brother is a dad!
Max got to swing for the first time at a park. He loved it, as you can see.

He wrinkles his nose sometimes when he smiles and his dad and I think it's adorable.

My brother-in-law (you can see him in the background) and I had a little competition on the monkey bars. He couldn't touch the ground after swinging his feet over his head but he kept trying.
I even made it back over one time. I'm getting pretty weak though. I should probably start some strength training or maybe even work out once in awhile.
My sister-in-law sat Max down on this pole and he started licking it like it was a sucker. You'll probably think this is absolutely disgusting and just can't believe I would let my child do it but seven adults (me, my mom, dad, brother, sister, and both their spouses) were all laughing too hard. He didn't get any diseases and he was happy so oh well.
We had a lot of fun and I'm glad I got to see my brother's little baby. I don't know when I'll make it back out there again. The flight home was a little delayed and the flight from Atlanta to Vegas took 4 1/2 hours but we made it. Max had gotten a cold and cough from the flight to NC and was still stuffy on the way back. I was so glad to be back and I think Max was too. He was flapping his arms like crazy when he saw Chris. He touched his face and then reached over and touched mine like he wanted to make sure we were both there. He was pretty excited to see the dogs too. I just like having my own bed and him in his own bed. He does well away from home but I think anybody who travels likes to come home too.

St. George in the Winter

We've had quite a few visitors lately, and loved them all. It's great that we're in a place that is 60-70 degrees when it's still cold in other parts of the state because it draws people to us instead of us having to travel all the time. I'm going to do a condensed post of the fun we've had lately.

Chris' sisters Erin & Emily came down and we got to babysit their kids one night. Erin's two kids, Emily's one, and our Max made only four kids in total and it was fine - even with three of them being under 2. However, we will not be offering to do that again as both of the sisters are pregnant and that is way too many kids under three for us!

The kids enjoyed playing in the dog kennel (their parents were there for this part by the way).
We tried to get a picture of all three kids (Max was already asleep) but no luck.
Kaleb and Teo had fun getting thrown on the giant pillow.
Then my sister and her husband came to visit from Salt Lake. We went to the slot canyon (the little park in town), horseback riding, to Zion's and played the Wii they brought. It was a lot fun to have more than just an hour to hang out and visit. Max was a pretty good trooper through the whole thing and thinks Greg is absolutely hilarious.
Then my aunt, uncle, and cousin came from Orem for a soccer tournament. We went to the games, the slot canyon, rode horses, and they went to Zion. I haven't been really keen on going up the slot canyon since the last time I did it (over two years ago) so I'm really glad Chris is willing to take people up and get the holes in his shirts.
Chris also finally got someone to be interested in his fly-tying and showed my cousin how to tie one. I think Chris would like it if I would tie flies for him but it hasn't happened yet.
Max was just happy to be outside and my aunt was nice enough to hold him. He gets heavy pretty quick now.
Josh had some AMAZING saves during his game and it was fun to watch. Chris used to play soccer and he really enjoyed watching. He's played a couple of times with some friends but usually comes home pretty sore. That's what a desk job does to you I guess.
It's still nicer weather down here than up north (it's almost 70 here and snowing there today) so anybody that's interested is still welcome to come visit before the heat sets in and we start coming up there for some relief.

This Is the Thanks I Get

Max cries whenever his dad walks out the door. Traitor. I'm the one who spends all day with him.