a letter to Max, on his 1st birthday

Happy 1st Birthday, little man!  

I can't believe that we are here now, that we've arrived at this day so quickly!  Your Daddy and I have heard over and over and over again that this would happen.  In fact, on one of our very first walks with you, just a week or so after you were born, we met a man walking his dog.  He stopped us so he could peek at you under your blankets in the stroller and told us what an amazing gift you were.  He warned us that raising you would go way too fast, and we've heard that said so many times we couldn't possibly forget.  On this day, we remember how excited we were in the days before you were born, and how afterwards, how quickly and miraculously our thoughts and days changed:  how we instantly and immensely loved you and how we couldn't even dream of life without you in it.  

I can't believe what a little man you have grown to be already!  I'm sure I'll be saying that many times over until you're no longer a little man, but a real man.   Max, you have the widest four-toothed smile and you quickly and easily share it with others.  You are always engaging people around you by giving them that grin or saying "hey" in that little voice of yours, if they aren't looking your way.  When you see something you like, you stick your legs straight out in front of you, point your toes, wave your arms, gesture wildly, and say "oooh, oooooh."  You are such a sweet and affectionate little boy.  You want to bring every one of your stuffed animals (Ducky, Scout, Bunny and Bear) with you when you leave your room each morning and after your naps.  You offer them hugs and then throw them on the floor, only to pick them up and do it again.  You also seek Daddy and me out to give us hugs and we still can't believe how lucky we are to be at the receiving end of those perfect little embraces.  You are learning how to use your voice and put words together right now.  You've got "mama" and "dada" and "nana" down pat.  You like "off" when you are pulling apart your building blocks or taking off Daddy's slippers and "up" when you're crawling up the stairs.  You understand "kiss" and oblige with a wet, open-mouthed peck on the cheek, but just laugh at us when we say "no, sir" to your game of throwing food and utensils off your high chair tray.   You've started using an insistency with your voice, which comes out sounding like a baby version of Don Vito Corleone, from The Godfather.  I'm hoping I can get it on video before it's gone and at the same time praying it doesn't last too long.  Your favorite toys involve music, and stacking blocks, and still include those trusty pairs of socks, which you quickly pull off your feet as soon as they are applied and carry around everywhere.

You are such a great combination of Daddy and me that it is sometimes hard for us to know which parts came from whom.  We like to say you are Daddy from the nose up and Mommy from the nose down, but that's not completely right either.  You're just ours, that's for sure.  We share the brown eyes and long lashes, and you and Daddy have the same little ears.  You've got his hair line and my narrow upper lip.  You are a social being, like your father, and just as persistent.  You have curiosity and are detail-oriented like me.  I love watching you learn things about the world because I get to see and learn them again through your eyes.  It makes everything seem shinier and brighter.  You are independent and fearless, especially when it comes to climbing stairs, or crawling around on raised surfaces like our bed, where you would without a second thought go off head-first.  It's the same with water - you let us float you on your back, you crawl right into the crashing waves on the beach, and swim around in the lake with your flotation ring, chasing after balls or splashing with your uncles.  It's refreshing, yet a little frightening, to see you just go for it.  I know you get this from Daddy!  Watching you play and share a secret laugh with him makes me love him even more than I thought was possible, just because I've seen him be your dad.   It floods me with emotion when I consider that you are a product of our love for each other, and made up of all the best parts of us.  I wonder if it will ever stop overwhelming me... I think probably not.  

My sweet boy, we love you so much!  I don't feel like I can completely capture with words everything that you are or how much we love you, but perhaps you will read this one day and feel the love and joy you bring to us.  You are the answer to our prayers.  You are so bright and so sweet.  You have changed us in ways we could never have understood until you were born.  You are our first son.  We are so proud of you, and we feel so incredibly blessed to be your parents.  

With all my love,

Momma

Max's 1st Christmas

Christmas kind of crept up on me this year.  I guess that's because last year, I vividly remember waiting and waiting....and waiting for Christmas and for our little one to arrive.   After Christmas, we waited some more!  This year, we had such a busy December and with the warm weather in Hawaii, it was a little confusing as to what time of year it actually was.
After a wonderful week with David's parents in Seattle, we flew to visit my family in Wisconsin.  We knew when we landed in Milwaukee that we'd be in for a beautiful white Christmas!  I love making the drive from the end of our county road into the driveway.  I was telling Max that he will actually be able to sing, "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go..." I'm sure we'll get lots of fun out of that one in the years to come!  Anyway, it's absolutely gorgeous every time.  It almost feels like you've entered a magical world when time seems to slow down and snow and ice cover the trees.  

Max enjoyed Christmas more than I expected he would.  I thought at this age, he might still be fairly indifferent, but he loved the tissue paper and tearing the wrapping paper, and putting bows on his cousin's head!  I know he loved the toys too!  Good thing we brought an extra suitcase for the trip to Raleigh.

Our little Christmas elf

Max with Nana, resting after all that work!


Max was really interested in all that white stuff.  We got about 16 inches of snow in just over 24 hours.  It wasn't heavy, but it just kept coming!  Unfortunately, Max didn't get the chance to play in it, due to the cold.  With the snow and low temperatures, we stayed indoors most of the time, but he found lots to do and plenty of entertainment with his cousin, uncles and auntie.  

Packer game half time show

Such a blessing to be able to spend time with friends and family the entire month of December!  It was truly the best gift, sharing time with everyone.   It makes me a little sad that we don't live a short car ride away so we can visit more often.   I think I miss my family more now than I ever have, but it certainly makes our visits that much sweeter.   Love you all!

Seattle and Cannon Beach 2012

We flew from Kauai right to Seattle for a visit with David's parents.  It was Max's first trip to the Northwest and we were excited for him to have a full week with his Grammy and Opa!  While there, we celebrated a belated birthday for Grammy with a lunch out at Shenanigan's.  We visited with some of David's friends, who happened to be home for the holidays.  We also got a little creative with paints!  This was a hands-on, home-made gift for Grammy. 

Opa and Max

Grammy and Max paint a picture

A serious artist

As per tradition, we also traveled to Cannon Beach, Oregon, which is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from David's hometown.  This is a Behr favorite for the holidays and has definitely become one of my favorites as well.  Haystack Rock and the shoreline of the Pacific Northwest are absolutely gorgeous, whether it's mid-December or September.  I've seen it both ways and no matter what the season or the weather, I'm in awe.   

On the beach with Haystack behind us

David with his Dad, Max's Opa

Check out the size of Haystack compared to the lone figure left.

Max in Daddy's boots

Thank you, Grammy and Opa, for sharing such a fun week with us!  It's always busy, no matter how many of us are visiting, so we appreciate your hospitality and your patience.  Max really enjoyed learning from you both and has a few new tricks to remember his visit.  We love you!

Aloha from Hawaii!

Max and I made it back to the U.S. from Canada on November 26th and after driving our belongings to Raleigh first, David flew in on November 30th.  With a very quick turn-around, trading our winter clothes for some lighter threads, we hopped a plane to the islands of Hawaii.  We were fortunate to be able to spend a week with David's sister, Laura, in Kapalua, Maui.  While there, we learned that vacation with baby is a bit different than vacation before baby.  You don't really get a vacation from your every day.  It's the same routine, just different scenery.  A two-naps-per-day schedule cuts the beach time into very small increments.  And beach time with Max involves pulling handfuls of sand out of his mouth and chasing him away from the waves pounding the beach. There was no sunbathing on this beach vacation!  Lest it sound like I'm complaining here, please let me say that this was an absolutely wonderful place to be and I loved sharing it with our little one.  But I would be dishonest if I said I didn't also miss the mindless beach days of ol'.  Relaxing occurred after his 7pm bedtime!

Max had absolutely no fear of the water, whether we were on the beach watching the waves crash or floating in the water.  This was great, but also a little frightening since he crawls at lightening speed and could have easily gotten ahead of me with a quick turn of the head.  I was happy he wasn't on two feet yet.  We found a fantastic beach in Lahaina for babies.  It was completely protected by reef so the water quietly lapped up on the shore and we could let him crawl around in the water without worry.

Besides the beach, Laura and I also found time to do some running.  The golf resort had a trail that wound along the rocky shoreline and through the resort property.  On one of our runs, the landscaping crew was trimming coconuts from the trees.  They popped one open for us to drink.  I've always wanted to try fresh coconut water.  It was TONS better than the stuff you buy in the cartons.  Laura snagged a few more and tossed them under the stroller, and I was pushing about 55 pounds of coconuts (Max included) up the hill to home!  Great workout, refreshing reward!

David got this shot from further up the trail.

4 coconuts in the basket, 1 in the seat. 

The second half of our trip was spent with our friends, the Sarmientos, in Kauai.  We vacationed together a few years ago and enjoyed ourselves so much that this trip had been planned for 2 years.  Since the Sarmientos' little guy is only 10 weeks older than Max, they were pretty much on the same page.  It was funny to watch them interact and good for us to observe what's to come for Max. 

The condo we rented sat atop black lava rocks so that our lanai peered out over the ocean.  The waves crashed up on the rocks all day and night.  At night, everything seemed to get louder.  The owner even supplied ear plugs in the bedrooms to make it easier for light sleepers.  I was able to spot the whales every day right from the lanai.  Unfortunately, my less keen-sighted companions were suspicious of my eagle eyes.  Good thing I have a camera with a pretty good zoom for evidence.

The crashing waves from the lanai

Our view from the lanai

Sunset

David making fun of my whale watching capabilities

Breakfast, lunch and dinner from the lanai

Not a bad spot to have your breakfast

Found a swing on the beach

Max and Valentino take turns

A few days into our trip, we took a helicopter tour of the island.  The tour company was the only one that offered a doors-off experience,  for unobstructed, breathtaking views the entire time!  It was one of the most amazing sensations.  Flying in a helicopter makes you feel like you are floating, soaring, like a bird.  Our pilot compared it to flying on a magic carpet.  We flew into canyons, rolled between cliffs and past waterfalls and we were able to see things that can only be viewed by air, since eighty percent of Kauai is uninhabited and very difficult to reach by foot or by car.  Stunning! 

The Napali Coast

We enjoyed some very laid back days in Kauai.  It was a great island for family time.  We felt so blessed that we could share another vacation with our dear friends.  After a week in frigid Wisconsin, I'm ready to plan our next trip to the islands!

Shaka!

Blog Catch up

Toronto Skyline from East Riverdale Park

Let's play a game of blog catch up!  I took one long month of vacation from Behr Trax.  With all of our moving and travel, I can place the blame on lack of internet in some places and lack of time in others.  But really, I had absolutely no problem turning off the computer and keeping it off while we were roaming around.  However, since we had such a great time visiting with friends and family, I do need to update the blog with our adventures and Max's milestones!

Let's start with Toronto:  November 22-26, 2012

We celebrated American Thanksgiving just a few days before we moved.  David and I wanted to enjoy some of our favorite traditions, even though we couldn't be home.  So, we thought it would be more enjoyable if we invited our friends in Toronto to join us for the feast.  It was a tiny bit chaotic since we were in the middle of a move, but as I told our neighbor, I actually felt no pressure to host for our guests because they had already celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving.  So, this was just a bonus turkey day for them!  We watched American football, stuffed ourselves, and enjoyed some great conversation.  
Invited were our friends, Audrey, Beau, and Chloe, who would watch Max while David and I enjoyed a night out.  Also, our upper flat neighbors, Bridget and Amelia, joined us for the evening.  
Thank you all for taking a regular Thursday evening and making it special for us!  We really loved our stay in Toronto and your hospitality and friendship made it all the more enjoyable.