Mother-Son Cub Scout Camp Out

Tonight was the annual Mother-Son Cub Scout camp out. This year's camp out contained a lot of the same activities from last year (skits, camp fires, sledding), but the Moms really stepped up their game this year adding a minute-to-win-it competition as well as slime and armpit fudge. I discovered a hidden talent winning not only the group minute-to-win-it challenges, but I also was crowned grand minute-to-win-it champion of the whole camp! People were amazed by my speed, especially while stacking cups. It was a fun night for all of the first through fifth graders, and I can't wait for next year's camp to see what the Moms have in store for us!

Ryan and Lily - 9 Year Check-Up

I know this post is entitled Ryan's and Lily's 9 year check-up, but we weren't too keen on Mom snapping a photo of us in our hospital gowns so instead Max and Harley are going to grace this post. Maxwell had a big day with bath time and trying sweet potatoes, and Harley is always exhausted when Mom is home all day because it disrupts his naps. Like the title says though, we finally got around to having our 9 year check-up with Dr. Hagerman. All looks good and we left with a clean bill of health. I came in at 4' 3" tall and 63.5 pounds. Lily came in at 4' 2" tall and 61.75 pounds. Now it all makes sense as to why our clothes aren't fitting us anymore. I grew 2.25 inches and gained 8.25 pounds, and Lily grew 2.25 inches and gained 10.75 pounds. Apparently all of our extracurricular activities paired with the yummy food we eat is doing our bodies well! I believe Dr. Hagerman referred to us as lean, mean, fighting machines, and he couldn't be further from the truth!

Dinner Date

We decided to go out to dinner at the country club tonight so Maxwell got all dressed up for the occasion. He was the perfect date sleeping through the whole meal.

No Bib, Don't Care

Max is catching on quickly to the whole eating thing. We have yet to find a food he doesn't like and this includes avocado, bananas, squash, peas, and apples. Mom made a bunch of food last night too so we still have more of everything waiting in the wings with a few new additions as well. Tonight's meal included peas and apples and as you can see Max loved every bite!

Bring it On!

2016 was a year of so many adventures, with this little man being the highlight of the year, but we can't wait to see what adventures await us in 2017! Bring it on!

New Year's Eve

Uncle Dav, Auntie Judy, and Emilio joined us for an impromptu New Years celebration this year where we indulged in steak, king crab legs, and Chinese food. We all needed a little nap prior to the clock striking midnight, but we can proudly say that everyone's eyes were open for the ball drop (although some closed just a few seconds after). Happy New Year!

Feed Me!

Maxwell was given the green light to start solids, and he jumped mouth first into a soft, squishy avocado. No repulsive faces were made, and although his tongue wasn't quite sure what to do, he managed to get most of it into his belly. We'll consider his first go round a success...now onto bananas!

Maxwell - Four Months

Maxwell celebrated his four month birthday by going to the doctor for his well baby check. Everything checked out "well" as Max is meeting all of his milestones. He came in at 14 pounds 8 ounces (28%) and 24.5 inches (20%). Petite is how Dr. Hagerman described him, but still growing as expected. His head is still huge coming in at over the 97th percentile, but we are assuming it must just mean he is a bonafide genius. Due to him being right on track he was given the go ahead to start solids, and unlike way back when we were his age, he gets to skip the rice cereal and go right to fruits and veggies. If only we could have been so lucky! As for what is new in Max's world...he is now trying to stand using us for balance and he thinks his reflection is one of the coolest things ever and smiles every time he catches a glimpse of his handsome self. He is still talking to us and adding more and more sounds as he tells us about his day, and as if on cue, he often responds with appropriate intonation and sounds when we ask him questions. I swear he understands everything we're saying to him sometimes!?!?! On a less positive note, he did catch his first cold this month, but it was minor and really didn't affect him much. He definitely makes each day in our house that much better with his contagious smile and little giggles, and we're sure it will just keep getting better and better!

Christmas

We were the last ones to arrive at Grandma's to celebrate Christmas and her birthday. Adding another kid to the mix and the fact that Dad only has one functional arm delayed us a bit, but we made it and arrived with bells and whistles on! Max made himself right at home and enjoyed being passed from person to person all night long! He only missed out on a few things due to sheer exhaustion, but once awake he was ready and raring to go again! We're now old pros at this Christmas thing and stayed busy with our cousins playing Slapzi and hide n' seek. Even Harley enjoyed himself although he was attached to Mom for most of the evening due to his love of eating everything in sight. It was a great way to end our Christmas celebrations and we can't believe it is another 364 days until we get to do it all over again! Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve

We had a quiet Christmas Eve this year going to church and then coming home to get ready for Max's first Christmas. We were so excited to wear our matching jammies and get Max ready for the big night that we forgot to put out Santa's cookies and milk. Good thing Mom and Dad remembered because he finished all of it so he must have been hungry!

Christmas Cookies

We were able to make our Christmas cookies in the nick of time so Santa had something to snack on when he stopped by our house tonight. Our favorites this year included our bucking broncos and our ninjas! We of course made time to taste test a few and hopefully Santa thinks they are as good as we thought they were!

I See Maxwell

Maxwell has been checking himself out in the mirror for a few weeks now, but I think he is just starting to appreciate how cute he is!!!

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

It is as if Maxwell has been celebrating St. Nicholas Day for years...he knew just what to do jumping right into our pile of things and giving Mom the cutest smile. Our favorites this year include our matching Christmas pajamas which we can't wait to wear in only 18 days!

First Snow

Being that Max was born in Wisconsin, he gets to experience snow at a much younger age...3 months and 5 days old to be exact!