SO Thankful

Each year I find more & more to be thankful for.  This Thanksgiving week was wonderful.  Wed night we had Barrett's parents & grandmother over for dinner.  Thursday we went to San Antonio to celebrate with Barrett's parents, grandma, Mitchell, Stephanie, & her mom & brother, as well as great-great Aunt Karen.  Friday we drove to the lake & had more celebrations with my parents, Mandy, Ryan, Laura & Aunt Brenda.  The week was filled with family & of course a ton of food.  

Things I'm thankful for this year:  my wonderfully amazing extended family, the best husband in the world, the most adorable & smart little boy, my mom's healing, Barrett's new job that led us to this fantastic town, our beautiful new house, making new friends & keeping the old (one is silver & the other gold), & one more (but I'll keep that a surprise). 

Max with Uncle Mitchell eating animal crackers

 

Max having a blast being pushed down the "race track" at the lakehouse

 

 

WILD TURKEYS in our backyard!!!

More Happy Birthday Pics!

As promised, I just got my mom's pics from the party.  Here are a few more birthday shots...

Max in his new ball pit

Max & Kayden taking the firetruck out for a spin...

 

Max enjoying some cake...

 

Max checking out his new firetruck...

 

THE most AMAZING year!

AMAZING is not enough to describe how much we have enjoyed this past year.  Barrett & I hand-down agree that having Max was the best thing that ever happened to us.  

It's been extremely emotional this week as I've prepared myself for the fact that Max is turning one.  As I was trying to organize his closet this week I came across all of his old clothes.  I held up one of his newborn sized outfits & started crying.  & when Barrett came home & I held up the outfit again, the tears started flowing- again.  Everyone says to enjoy it because it passes so quickly- I now understand.  It makes me even more appreciative of the fact that I get to enjoy each & every day with Max. 

Today was an absolutely fun celebration of my son's birthday.  Having all of our family & friends around us really made the emotional crazyness just pass as we had fun.  We had so many friends & family come (some even round tripped it from Houston!).  Max got a boatload of goodies!  It was fun watching him play with his friends Kayden, Milani, & MJ. 

Here are some pics from this celebration of my son's first year of life.  I'm sure we'll have better ones to post once my mom sends me hers!

 

 

ZOOOOOO

Max & I met up with some friends at the San Antonio Zoo on Wednesday.  Max has been to the Houston Zoo a couple of times, but we both experienced our first trip to the San Antonio Zoo together.  I was very much impressed- much nicer & cleaner than the one in Houston & I felt the animals had much more natural habitats.  I also felt like we were able to see better & that the animals were closer.  

The last couple of times Max was not very interested, but this time he had an absolute blast.  It helps he was older & also that he was with his little friends.  His friends Madi & Briggs went with us & they are all within a few weeks or months apart.  They all really enjoyed the toddler play area.  They had a "water bed" that kids under 2 could play on.  Here's a picture of Max with Briggs & Madi on the bed:

 

Max & Madi were not having as much fun in the wagon in this picture.  Max was having a fantastic day, but any time his little girlfriend cried it would make him cry...  It was so cute I had to take a picture!

Here are the boys checking out the prairie dogs...

 

 

Max & I can't wait to go back to the zoo- we got a year membership!  Our MOPS group has a trip planned in 3 weeks- will be fun!

He WALKS!

I went to pick Max up from Sunday School this morning & he WALKED to me!  He let go of his teacher's hand & toddled the 3 steps it took for him to get to me.  It was the sweetest thing in the whole world.  He had no idea what he was doing & therefore doesn't remember that he can do it, but that is all not the point- HE WALKED! 

Max is 11 months & 3 weeks old...

Busy Week

This has been a busy week at our house.  Every Monday is my regular mom bookclub meeting, while Max is at Mothers Day Out.  Tuesday we met up with some friends at the park.  Wed night I had a ladies night with the women in the neighborhood- Daddy watched & played with Max.  Thursday I had my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting & then after a bunch of us went to a wine bar to continue the fun.  Barrett has been wonderful enjoying some quality time with Max 2 nights this week!  This morning (Fri) we had a huge playdate with the moms & kiddos in the neighborhood.  Later this evening Max is going to Parents Night Out at the local Methodist church (the church all of my MOPS stuff is through)- which means date night to Wurstfest!  We're obviously enjoying New Braunfels life & can't wait for the holiday season.  This town has a ton of stuff to do to get ready for the holidays.  More to come about that later...  Meanwhile enjoy a picture of Max & his girlfriend Madi at the park!

YAY for friends with cameras

 So...  We forgot our camera at home on Halloween for the neighborhood party (we were running late & frantically trying to put the finishing touches on our chicken tortilla soup for the potluck).  Yay for new friends who bring their cameras.   Our new friend Yen sent pictures of us from the event. 

Max's 1st Halloween

Max had a wonderful 1st Halloween.  We started the day with a special treat- Max was given pieces of a cinnamon roll with orange icing!  We had a special outing at the park & dad came too!  Then that evening we went to the neighborhood Halloween party.  It was so much fun.  There were probably over 80 people (including all the kids) in attendance.  We were able to meet a ton of people we haven't met before & all the kiddos had a blast.  We skipped the trick or treat hayride this year, Max is just too little still.  All in all it was a wonderful day.   Here are some pics of Max in his I love my Mummy pjs  & not happy in his lion costume...