Max is EIGHTEEN Months Old!

A year and a half!!!!!  Wow, and he is getting bigger every day.  It is amazing the difference a month (or a few months for that matter) can make.  Max has lost much of his "baby" look and is a little boy these days! He is on the go all the time, and is so much fun!

Max's stats:

• Weighs 24 lbs - was 30th percentile for weight, 35th for height and 50th for his head!
• Talking, talking, talking.....says lots of words now including mama, daddy, nana, poppy, paw paw, Bear Bear, Drew Drew, Kelsey, teacher, ball, car, truck, dog, hippo, rhino, cat, buck, home, house, nite nite, and more!
• Loves being a "helper" at school.
• Best buddy: Drew Drew
• Loves balls - baseball, football, soccer balls, bowling balls, etc.
• Love cars and trucks!
• Cries when we leave him.
• Loves to paint at school.
• Sleeps 8 - 6 or 7 at night.
• Takes one nap (12 - 2 p.m.)
• Eats well - loves salad, lima beans, green beans, pizza!, cheese, snack foods, turkey, chicken nuggets, corn, fruit cups, bananas, breakfast bars, oatmeal, etc.
• Drinks milk and water.
• Loves to say "NOOOOO".
• Frequents time out every day (not everyday really)....but he has started hitting a little (mostly himself strangely), sometimes biting, etc.  Gotta love that!
• Overall, listens very well!
• Helps to clean up if you ask him to help.
• When we pull into the neighborhood he starts screaming "home, home, home" which sounds more like "hum, hum, hum".  Too cute!
• Very playful - and a daredevil at a young age :-)
• Has crazy funny facial expressions!
• Still loves to dance!

He is so much fun!  Looking forward to everyday because he is learning so fast.  We love you, Max!

"I did it, mama"

Max leans back like this when he says "whoaaaa"



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My kissing monster. He wants to kiss you all the time!



The Legacy We Leave Behind...

I saw a story of a young  man, Ben Breedlove, who passed away on Christmas day this year.  Prior to his passing, he left a video behind of his "story" as he battled a severe and dangerous heart condition since birth.  His story shares his struggles to be "normal" given his limitations, how he cheated death 3 times and what he experienced each of those times. 

It is nothing short of an amazing story.  I am certain that when the Lord created this young man that he mapped out his experiences knowing that he would be courageous enough to share his story with the world.  I don't know how anyone can watch/read stories like this and not believe in a heavenly Father....a Savior....a Prince of Peace. 

Please watch...

Part 1 (4 minutes):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmlTHfVaU9o

Part 2 (3 minutes):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4LSEXsvRAI&feature=related

I know that he has led people to beginning a relationship with Jesus....what a powerful legacy to leave behind.

So, what is your legacy? 

Reasons Why I LOVE December!

It's my favorite month.......for sure!

• It's Jesus' birth month!  I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday.
• Everyone seems to have extra cheer in their voice!
• I know I will definitely get to see family....because of the holidays.
• I LOVE Christmas trees.....and Christmas lights.....and Christmas smells.....and Christmas calendars....and Christmas music.....and Christmas shopping.....and Christmas stories.
• It's my birthday month :-).
• It is a great time to reflect on all the blessings from this past year and get amped for a wonderful year to come.
• In addition to people just seeming happier....everyone is so eager to give!  What a great environment.
• I love using the fireplace.

There are endless reasons why I love this season.....and I'm very thankful that it is December 1st already!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Max is SEVENTEEN months old!

Seventeen months.....or 17?  LOL.  He is a little man for sure.  I was talking to my mom today as I dropped Max off at school.  He walked in right beside me, just like a big boy.  It dawned on me that I don't have to carry him into school anymore. I don't have to feed him anymore (unless it is something like soup or things that require a spoon sometimes). I don't have to help him up the stairs.  He is just getting so big.

But, one thing is for sure.....he definitely still needs my love <3. 

So, Max is now 17 months old!  And he is a hoot.  He is a talkin', dancin', gigglin' machine. 

About Max:

• Words: baseball, teacher, mama, dada, nana, doggie, water, ready, go, eat, ball, bear, cup, more, uhoh, thank you (so cute), hello, cracker, and more....
• Favorite things to do: read, play outside, go down slides, play with cars, play with sports balls, run around, color, play hide and seek.
• Sleep: bedtime between 7:30 - 8 p.m. Usually wakes around 6:30 or 6:45, but we've had a string of disrupted nights due to teething lately.
• Naps once a day 12 - 2 or 2:30.
• Eats: Anything, but loves beans, yogurt, bananas, breakfast bars, oatmeal, turkey, ham, cheese, pizza, chicken, salad, grapes, carrots, corn, oranges, crackers, etc.  And we found out on Halloween that he LOVES candy ;-).
• Best buddy: Drew Drew
• Learning sign language...can sign children, doctor, pumpkin, orange, more, please, eat, drink, firetruck, toys, cat, banana, etc. Very cute!
• Still loves to DANCE!

He is such a joy. Sweet as can be but stubborn as can be too. He is pretty polite, but watch out he's got one mean stank face (see below).  He gives the best hugs and the cutest kisses....we love you, Max!

Touchdown!

Max's 'stank face'

His favorite toy...heylo???

Max's second Halloween!

TRICK OR TREAT!

Well, not to brag or anything, but Max was the CUTEST monkey I had ever seen. LOL. He totally played the part too!  He mastered the monkey noise and truly had a blast trick or treating. 

Highlights of the day:

• Max's monkey noise on cue.
• Max would go to a house to get candy, sit down right there and try to eat it.  He thought as soon as you got the candy, you ate it. DUH. 
• He loves candy!  We typically never let him eat stuff like that, so this was a very special occassion.
• Max would take a peice of candy out of his bucket and walk over to the driveway, sit down, eat it, stand up, and then come back to his bucket for another peice.  This happened for a solid 10 minutes. 
• Max was in an excellent mood all evening. 

Max was SO HYPER after eating the candy....need proof?

He wouldn't let go of the twizzler

Trick or Treat time!

Off to our first house!

Having fun!

Taking a break to eat what was JUST put into his bucket.

And, his second stop....the Kit Kat.

Just love those eyes...

Daddy is having more fun than Max!

Out with Mommy now!

Having so much fun eating candy on the driveway.

hmmmmm :-)

Max on the lookout for more trick or treaters. Daddy eating the candy...

Pooped from all the fun....

Pumpkin Patch Visit

The Neal family hit the Pumpkin Patch again this year!  It was great because Max was a little older and able to walk around, find his perfect pumpkin (try to pick it up), see the animals in the petting zoo and take a hayride! 

I love weekends like this.....so much fun, so little inside time, and so many memories!

To the pumpkin patch!

This one....this is the one I want

I think I can lift this uppppppp.

Family fun!

Max was calling them over

Whoaaaaa



Trying to touch the calf!



Staying close to Daddy...those animals were scary!

The Finished Pumpkin Family!

School Halloween Party!

Max's school had a Halloween Party and he had a blast!  They invited parents to come and watch the kiddos in the costume parade and then go back into the classroom for some tasty treats.  It was awesome to see Max in his school environment, surrounded by his little buddies. 

Since it was a special day, they got to eat brownies, cupcakes, and other fun snacks.  Needless to say....Max's new nickname is the cupcake thief! He, of course, had to sit next to his best bud, Drew Drew....and tried to eat his cupcake...

Ready for the Parade!

Even the Babies were rolled out in the parade!

Max was the last in the parade because he kept stopping to talk

All the kiddos around the lunch table...love this!

Max shoved the ENTIRE mini cupcake in his mouth, ONE BITE!

HAPPY BABY!

And, my sweet son, eyeballling Drew's cupcake!