partay partay!

our little chunk turned ONE a week ago today. it is amazing how quickly the year has gone by. when max was born, it seems that everyone would say, "they grow up way too fast" and we would smile and think to ourselves, maybe for you...but not our child!

but now, here i am, being the mom that says, "he is growing wayyy too fast!!"

it is really crazy to me to think back to life before max was born. what did we do with all of our time?!? but i also can't imagine our lives going any other way.

max has given our lives so much more meaning, and he really brings a special light into our home. i don't know what i would do if i couldn't see his ultra-cheesy smile every day and see him attempting to walk {yes, he is on the verge of walking. he takes multiple steps at a time until he realizes that he isn't holding onto anything.}

for his birthday, we traveled up north to celebrate with both sides of the family. our first stop: layton. we were able to attend sam + penny's wedding {which was absolutely beautiful!} and then had parties galore with danny's fam. he got spoiled rotten by all of his aunts + uncles + grandparents and thanks to his cousin julia, learned how to successfully unwrap his gifts. we waited a little too long to give him cake, so he was quite grumpy, but he did manage to stick his foot in the cake which was probably equally as fun!

{he wasn't sure what to think when he saw the green crocodile staring out at him from the bag...it was pretty funny! but now he loves it...thanks fini + tim!}

{the birthday boy + girl! kristina's birthday is just a few days before max's}

sunday {on his actual birthday} we spent the day with my family where he got just as spoiled. we made the famous dino cake and ate way too much good food.

we are so blessed to have such wonderful family members who love max with all of their hearts. we love you guys! and so does max.

one year older, and wiser too...

happy birthday, to YOU!

last tuesday i took max to his one year check-up. he passed with flying colors!

length: 29.5 inches--41.94 percentile

weight: 18.21 pounds--2.03 percentile

head circumference: 18.3 inches--54.17 percentile

so...he may or may not still be in the second percentile but the doc isn't too concerned. since his head and body are growing, he is pretty sure it's all just genetics.

some of max's favorite things include:

.walking while holding onto our finger.

.playing with the bike pump.

.taking the magnets on and off the fridge.

.being extreeemly clingy to his parents.

.peeking out the front window so he can see the neighbors dogs, charlie + ralphie.

.being the pickiest eater on the planet.

{any ideas on what to feed our teeny tiny boy???}

.flipping through his favorite books, including 'bear snores on' and 'goodnight moon'.

.club crackers.

.playing peek-a-boo and clapping.

.pulling every single tupperware out of the drawer and flinging it on the kitchen floor.

we love you maxwell! thanks for being such a wonderful son, and making this past year the best we've ever known. love you! xoxo.

{below are pictures of the past year in review. it is crazy how much he has grown!!}

{meeting our sweet baby boy for the very first time.}

{just a few days old!}

{around one month}

{baby's first halloween}

{thanksgiving 2009}

{merry christmas!}

{jan 2010...he's grown into his eyes a little more since then...:)}

{feb 2010. he found his toes!}

{march 2010, looking good in his new sunday attire!}

{april 2010. lovin that stroller bar! so nice and cushioned!}

{may 2010}

{june 2010 at aaron + missy's wedding}

{july 2010. george family reunion}

{august 2010 thanksgiving point}

{september 2010. birthday month in his birthday suit!}

boot scootin' boogie

i realize that the last few posts have been very small-town/cowboy centered.

that's what has happened to us...and we've only been here three weeks, ya'll.

danny struck gold when he found these little boots for one dollar at a yard sale. and max quickly fell right in love. they are a tiny bit too big, but it won't be long before they fit him perfectly.

p.s. max is cruising around with that little pooh bear walker. i'll post a normal video soon!

yeee-haw

who knew that living in a small town could be so awesome?!?

last friday was homecoming and they went allllll out with the celebrations. after school, they had a parade complete with ghetto floats + tons of candy. {they even threw out otter pops!!} i've missed getting candy at parades, but apparently here it isn't a danger threat! we met up with the other seminary families and enjoyed all five minutes of it...it was great.

then, that night we attended the big football game. woo to the hoo. we had a good time...and our cute little football team even won!

{i probably shouldn't call them cute, because during half-time i kind of got ran into by one...}

max loved all the attention from the little girls sitting next to us, and he even seemed pretty interested in the game! we left before it was over {the game was still going on at 9:30!!} but it was still a fun night out on the town.

{half of the fans went out on the field to welcome the team back for the second half. i had never seen anything like it so i had to snap some pics...that's when i got plowed into by some dude...not cool.}

p.s. do you guys know that maxamillion turns ONE in four days??!?!?!

i'm feeling old!

dinnertime

to say that i have two very easily entertained boys would be an understatement.

this is what went on at dinner tonight:

my best friends wedding

miss. jenny rebekah pate got married this past friday to her sweetheart kyle.

oh. my. goodness.

it was an incredible day.

jenny and i met when we were reebok-wearing, jump-rope sporting, novel-writing second graders. i had just moved to provo from tempe, arizona and jenny and i instantly became bff's. {after a little bit of hatred from other girls...} and basically from the second we met, we were inseparable throughout all of elementary school. that continued on into middle school, and high school. and looking back, i realize how rare it is that two girls stay friends for such a looooong amount of time. {seeing how during the growing up years there are so many fights that girls can get into...} we went our separate ways after graduating from THS but a few summers later we found ourselves in a huge adventure together down in lake powell. we were roomies and it was probably one of the craziest, funnest, {i know thats not really a word...} most laid back times either of us have ever had. we met some very interesting people from all over the globe and got amazing at our wakeboarding skills. hah! but it was definitely a summer that neither of us will ever forget. i didn't mean for this to turn into a history book but to say it simply:

she is my "kindred spirit" and i love her so much.

anyways! her wedding was absolutely wonderful and i am so glad that i was able to make the trek back up to provo for her wedding. the ceremony was beautiful, the bride + groom looked completely stunning, the food was great, and i had some much needed catch up time with my other bff, b.da.bomb!

i didn't get many pictures taken with my camera, because when brittany is around, she is the queen at snapping them! but here are a few from the temple...and a few more i stole from britt :)

{me, the beautiful bride and b.da.bomb + jenny and her seven siblings!}

{the temple was gorgeous!! + jenny was ADORABLE during the luncheon!}

{enjoying the festivities...and all of the delicious food + the bride and groom leaving in their surprise LIMO!!}

jenny + kyle: we are so excited for you guys! congrats on the big day...and invite us over whenever you feel the need! xoxo.

mr. cheese ball

first of all, THANK YOU for the encouraging words over the last week.

we are now officially over the flu and life couldn't be better here in our home.

{ok...a few things could be better. like, our boxes could magically empty themselves and put their contents away...but that just isn't going to happen i'm afraid.}

max hasn't thrown up since saturday night so it's been almost a week. hallelujah.

and since then, he has discovered that he can make the cheesiest smile. ever.

it is pretty much the funniest thing {even though i'm afraid that he has forgotten how to smile normally...}

see for youself:

{don't you love how we never take any pictures outside of his high chair?? that is pretty much the only place we can get him to sit still for longer than two seconds!}

it's hard to get mad at that little face.

{even when he decides that he no longer likes his crib and will ONLY sleep in our bed for his naps. or when we are trying to wean him from nursing...and he will screaaaaam until he gets what he wants. even then, it's hard to be mad. but, i am open to suggestions!}