Here we go!

Max is now walking. WALKING! We were just getting a handle on the crawling situation, but now the game has changed yet again. He's been practicing for awhile now, but I think the fact that he took six whole steps in a row officially puts him in the "walker" stage of babyhood (or, wait...is he a toddler now?!).

It's so adorable to watch the intense concentration on his face when he gives walking a try. He'll stand up and wobble a bit fighting gravity, and then bravely shuffle his little feet forward. This time there was less wobbling and six full, unassisted steps! Oh Max. We're so proud. Your Dad and I looked at each other like we won the lottery. Well, we kinda did... :)

This is the song we've been playing on repeat to get Max pumped up when he practices walking. I have all the words memorized now and Bill is going to lose it if he hears this song even one more time. Gotta love the '80's


Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Click on the link below:

www.MurrayPartyofFour.blogspot.com

XOXO

Merry Max

Max's first Christmas was as special as we had hoped. Last year Billy and I opened presents on Christmas morning by ourselves like we had for the past 8 years. We were snowed in from the blizzard that covered Kansas City on Christmas Eve and I was wearing a Snuggie like a MuMu. We talked about the fact that it was our last Christmas just the two of us and thought how different Christmas morning was going to be the following year. We realized our baby would probably be old enough to open his or her own presents. I envisioned our little one in white and red stripped jammies in front of our tree. We wondered if we'd be buying baby dolls and dresses or toy trucks and footballs. So many things were going to happen between that day and Christmas 2010, but it was only one year away. And here we are one year later. Max wore the stripped jammies I had imagined and we had the most precious Christmas ever...

Max and Grandma Murray at Christmas Eve Mass.


We read Max's favorite Christmas book and left homemade carrot cupcakes for Santa and the reindeer.

Here's what Santa left under the tree.

Max had so much fun opening all his toys (see video below). He got a retro Radio Flyer rocket, a jack-in-the-box, lots of fun wooden toys, a BEARS football and lots more. Here in this photo he seems more interested in Oliver's Christmas present than the ones behind him.

Christmas Day at Grandma and Grandpa Murray's house. Nora and Max play so well together now. She's clearly the boss :)

Later in the day we went to Lolli and BooBo's house. Uncle Adam helped Max open his present from Annabelle.

Lolli enjoying her babies on Christmas.

The most special gift - Lolli and BooBo had this made especially for Max. It's the Murray family crest. We're looking forward to the day when Max can understand how truly meaningful this present is.

We hope you all had a happy Christmas too!

First Snow!

This past weekend technically wasn't Max's first snow. It last snowed on Valentine's Day...the day after he was born. We sat in our cozy hospital room and watched the big flakes fall. I normally can't stand snow after Christmas, but that day was an exception.

Unfortunately, he's still a little too young for his first trip to Suicide Hill. Plus, it has been frigid outside for the past couple days so he hasn't been able to have the full snow experience yet.

Instead of going out to play in the snow we stayed in and read a book about it while wearing our warm hats. Then I went outside and got a little clump of snow and let him play with it on the entryway rug. His reaction to it was so adorable...too bad I forgot to take a pic of that (I can't think of everything!)

I love to experience the newness of something through his eyes. Imagine not knowing what snow is! Seeing that look of wonder on his face over something I think of as so ordinary is priceless. To a baby everything is fascinating and confusing and it makes me appreciate the simple things in the world.

Double-Digits!

Max is the big 1-0! He's learning something new every day now. I can't believe what a little sponge he is. The other afternoon I asked him where the car was just to see what he'd do and he pointed out the front door! Could have been a fluke...so then I asked him where Oliver was and he looked around and pointed to where Oliver was laying on the window seat. I'm not sure when/how he picked up on this?? When we read books he points to everything on each page and then looks up at me waiting for me to tell him what each thing is. I feel like we're really beginning to understand each other. He seems to know a lot of simple phrases and he communicates what he wants by speaking in his own little "language"and he even signs "more" when he wants another bite. Every time I turn around he's doing something that leaves me thinking, "Holy smokes - this kid is amazing."

This weekend we celebrated his 10 month birthday by taking him to Crown Center. We had lunch at Crayola Cafe and saw Santa!

Max's reaction to hearing we were going to see Santa. :)

Having lunch at Crayola Cafe.

He loved the Mac & Cheese.

After lunch we went to see Santa and the line was ridiculously long. People at the front of the line had been waiting nearly 2 hours. So Dada got in line for us and Max and I went window shopping.

By the time we were done examining each and every store front, Dad was at the front of the line. I was so excited to see what Max's reaction to Santa would be. I have to admit, a little part of me hoped he'd freak out so I could get one of those hilarious pictures you see of kids losing it on Santa's lap. Sick, I know. But he was his normal laid back self. He really didn't have much of a reaction at all. Just starred up at him for awhile and then barely cracked a smile for the camera. A little anticlimactic :) Oh well. I guess I'm lucky to have such an easy going dude.

Baby Bumps

So I'm constantly perusing the internet to make sure that I'm not missing out on the next essential baby thing that Max NEEDS to have. Not that I can afford to buy everything that I come across. I just like to be aware of what's out there. Recently, I stumbled upon this:

What the h?

I kind of want to buy this thing just to take a picture of Max wearing it and then threaten him with the photo during his teen years. I do, however, understand why some people would purchase it. Now that Max is a crazy man and pulls up on everything he gets multiple bumps to the noggin daily. I guess I can see how this helmet would come in handy. But isn't that how they learn? From getting bumps and bruises? I'd be worried that if my kid didn't figure out that bumping his head hurts NOW that I'd have an even crazier daredevil on my hands in a few years. Just thinking ahead.

So, yes my sweet Max, Momma let's you get "owies" sometimes. You'll thank me later, though. And I hope you thank me BIG for not making you wearing an embarrassing helmet around the house.

However, one contraption I do use to control the wildebeast is the Exersaucer. Check him out in the video below...happily confined to one spot and getting ready to watch his favorite Nick Jr. show, "Yo Gabba Gabba". I only let him watch it on occassion and he gets SO excited when it starts. I have to say the show is oddly entertaining. Aunt Erin and I may have watched it by ourselves one late night after a few glasses of wine;)

"Love, love, here we are"

I saw this quote on a necklace while doing a little Cyber Monday shopping online today and I have mentally tucked it away in my mind's treasure chest. My eyes were immediately drawn to the words. Finally a quote that expresses how it feels to be living each day with my husband and sweet baby boy (well, maybe not each and every second of everyday, but for the most part :).

As someone who has spent a lot of time looking forward and focusing on the future her whole life it’s nice to finally feel “here”. Like the present is the “there” I had been trying to reach. The place I had been waiting my whole life to get to has arrived and I’m living it. I keep repeating the quote in my head as I snuggle here on the couch with Billy, Max and Oliver in front of our happy tree and warm fire. “Love, love, here we are.” Yes. Yes, we definitely are.


My loves lounging on the couch.

Holiday Magic

And so it has begun...the holidays! Billy and I are nearly bubbling over with excitement to share Christmastime with Max. I think a tiny spark has been rekindled within us this season. Although, Billy has always lovingly been called "Clark Griswold" this time of the year for a reason...sooo maybe its just me that has a renewed sense of the holiday spirit. At any rate, we already have our two Christmas trees up. Two. And they both are real. I've never seen Bill more giddy than when we took Max to cut down the "inside tree" this weekend. The other tree is displayed on the front porch and we got that one up the day before Tgiving in preparation for Billy's annual lighting ceremony (see "Clark Griswold" comment above).

First, a couple shots of the Thanksgiving festivities...

Our little turkey only outweighed our actual Thanksgiving turkey by 2 lbs.

The man ate cranberries, salmon, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and green bean casserole!

A very proud Lolli and BooBo - first Thanksgiving with their grandkiddos.

I made Max his "First Christmas" ornament at the Meyers' Thanksgiving. I think I'll try to hand-make an ornament for him each year.

On the hunt for the perfect tree. It was a gorgeous day.

Back in the car. Tuckered out from all the fresh air.

Checking out his ornament.

The tree.

He loved the train.

Max's stocking hung in between ours...the perfect symbol of our growing family.

She's here!

Annabelle Grace is here! She was born on November 19th weighing in at 8lbs 2 oz. Everyone is doing great. Adam and Jennifer are naturals at this parenting thing. It's so wonderful to see them with their little girl. Those first few days at home with a new baby are amazing, beautiful, a little overwhelming, sometimes sleepless and so full of love. I know they're enjoying every moment.

Max was very interested in meeting his new cousin. When we visited her at the hospital he kept reaching out to try and touch her and he was so concerned when she cried. I think he's going to like being the big boy cousin.

Here we are at the hospital waiting for the big announcement. GG read Max a story to keep him occupied.


And here's a pic of the little sack o' flour with a pretty head :)

So many fun times to look forward to...

9 Months

Max has now been outside my belly for as long as he was in. It's kind of hard for me to wrap my mind around that fact. WHERE IS THE PAUSE BUTTON ON THIS CHILD?! Or at least slow-mo. My sister, Jennifer, is about to have her first baby any day now. I keep telling her, and all other pregnant momma's I come across, "enjoy every moment...it goes by so fast."

For instance, Max used to fall asleep laying on my chest with his tiny head resting on my heart. Now he uses me as his personal jungle gym whenever I try to get him to lay quietly with me. However, the other day Max gave me the gift of going back in time. He crawled up on my chest and laid his little head down. In a few minutes he had dozed off the way he did when he was an itty bitty baby. I know it was just because he was a bit under the weather and totally exhausted, but his reason for doing it didn't matter. In that moment I listened to my own advice - enjoy it. it goes by so fast. - I closed my eyes and did just that. Happy 9 months my little baby. I won't take a single second for granted.

Billy grabbed the camera to document this sweetness, but as soon as he did the stinker popped his eyes open.

And just like that...the moment had passed...

Max Stats:

23 lbs (85th percentile)

29 inches (80th percentile)

Recent Max-isms:

- Throws his arms up when you say "Touch Down!"

- Says "Quack Quack" when you show him a duck (sometimes ;)

- Pulls up on ev-er-y-thing and walks around furniture

- Hasn't learned how to sit from the standing position so he goes down in the middle splits to get back down on the floor

- Loves to clap his hands

- He thinks the word "no" is funny, but he actually listens and will stop doing whatever it was he was doing when I say it. (I wonder how long that will last)

- Waves and says ba-ba (bye-bye), but only when it's HIS idea

- His favorite toys are footballs, soccer balls and baseballs. Anything that rolls makes him flap his arms and kick his legs like crazy!

Feeling a little sad

When I logged on to my blog account I was going to write about something happy, but I've had a change of heart. I was just reading a story online about a little boy who lost his battle with cancer. It shook me to the core and I can't focus on writing about anything else. Why do things like this have to happen to the smallest and most innocent beings? It just doesn't make sense. I have asked God more times than I can count to please let Max grow to be a very old man, to let his heart experience the same kind of love I feel for him and maybe, if possible, let Billy and I be around long enough to see that happen.

My heart aches for that little boy's parents who won't get to watch their son grow up. I have to think that there is a reason for things like this. I'm not sure what those reasons could be, but sometimes the only thing that keeps me from feeling so incredibly small is putting my faith in something big. So I said a prayer today for that little boy and his family. I know there are many families that go through this kind of heartbreak. Too many. Some people even within our own families have suffered losses that are unimaginable. I just wanted to write about this to express how incredibly thankful I feel for each day that I get with the people I love.

And now that I've written the most depressing blog post ever I will try to redeem myself with a hopelessly cute picture of Max to cheer you up. I'm so grateful for this little man in my life.

Max wearing Billy's baby hoodie

Max Makes Our World Go 'Round

We took Max to ride the carousel this weekend. I couldn't decide if I wanted to let Billy take him so I could watch Max's face as he went round and round or if I wanted to be the one to ride with him. So we took turns. Bill took him first so I could snap a few shots and then we got back in line so I could ride with him. Poor guy probably got motion sickness just because I didn't want to miss out on either perspective of this experience with him. Actually, he warmed up to the whole thing the second time around. He squealed and kicked his legs everytime we passed Billy watching from behind the fence.

Rock Chalk Baby Jayhawk

Dedicating this post to our dear friends, Sam and Julia, who are currently living abroad in Dubai. They are the biggest KU fans I know and we are missing them very much here in KC.

I know they would have enjoyed joining us on this beautiful fall day in Lawrence. So, Jukie, I hope you're reading this and it brings a little bit of home to the middle east for you.


Max on Mass

Lunch at Tellers

B.M.O.C.

Outside the William Allen White School of Journalism - where Momma spent the majority of her time in college (aside from bars and KKG)

Yum. Crunchy leaves.

Max enjoyed his campus tour. 18 more years buddy...