First Birthday Celebration

Mark and I have been musing lately on how different our children would be if they were an only child, or the oldest child. The other night, Max had a marathon nap and so he was up for our date. We were having an at-home date, where we feed the kids early, put them in pjs, and let them watch a movie upstairs until it's time for them to go to bed. Meanwhile, we get take-out or do something easy and have the downstairs to ourselves. This week, Max woke up from the nap just as we were ready to eat. So he joined us and he was eating up all the attention from having both parents to himself. As #4, he is used to having a tag-team of parenting or even being lugged out of the crib by an older sibling standing on the rocking horse. It was really fun to have him tag along and have us all to himself.

Max is a happy baby, happy and content most of the time. (Being sick definitely put a damper on that for several weeks, however.) He has recently developed a little bit of separation anxiety and actually cries when I leave, kind of a compliment to me and annoying to the person he's left with. The other 3 have not done this, so I'm kind of embarrassed when someone asks to hold him and he's not going to have it. Max is our little puppy dog, carries things in his mouth and loves to lick you when he's feeling affectionate. He has been getting into the recycling cupboard lately and has a good time exploring the cupboards in general. I love to see him under the sink at work, like he's fixing it up or something. We sure could use a handyman in this house, although Mark and I both try our durndest.

These pictures are from his birthday party, starting with giving gifts in the morning and ending with the cake at night. Unfortunately, he was really sick on his birthday night, so he was so unhappy he hardly touched the cake.

Cups? For my birthday? This is the best you could do?


Now a ball, that's what I'm talkin about....


Yay! Bring on the french toast!

After church- on the new truck and pushing all the buttons.

What am I supposed to do with this dessert on fire? Touch it?