The Garden

One of the best parts about the fact that we'll still own the house on 55th ST is that we get to keep our plot at the community garden. Our renter wants nothing to do with it. If he's hiring people to take care of the pool and lawn there's no way gardening will be on his agenda. :)

We learned a lot last year and hope to have an even better garden this time around. It served its purpose by providing us with endless fresh arugula, spinach, chives and green onion but it just looked so disorganzied and sad. I'm determined not to have the most pathetic looking garden box this year.

Plus we're excited to teach Max about planting and growing. I have a feeling we'll be spending many summer days with this barefoot baby at the garden. He'll be a good water boy.

He's a natural already as seen below directing Dada with the shovel. Foreman Max.



For whatever reason our green onions came back in full force. They were gigantic. We pulled them out because there's something just not normal about green onions the size of a one year old.


We were teaching Max about planting and demonstrated how to do it by planting his feet in the dirt.


He caught on quickly and kept picking buds off the chives and then burying them in the dirt.

The sign of a successful afternoon in the garden...

Easter

Easter really snuck up on me this year despite it being much later in the season than usual. We were really looking forward to the fact that Max could actually hunt for eggs and participate in the festivities this time around. Last year he had no clue what was going on as we colored boiled eggs, visited the bunny and shuffled him around to hunt for plastic eggs.

This year he was very aware of the strangeness of Easter traditions. Which made us realize we have no idea why we have the traditions that we have. I'm going to need to read up before he can ask me real questions. For now, I can only imagine what he's thinking...

"Ok, so what does this bunny have to do with Easter and why is he wearing glasses? This is creepy."

My mom and I took Max to visit the E-Bunny at Crown Center along with cousin Annabelle. He was a little apprehensive about sitting with the bunny by himself so Annabelle and I stepped in for moral support.


"Another question, Mom...what's with these eggs? I'm really going to need you to explain this holiday to me again."

This year we decided to decopage ceramic eggs rather than deal with the dye. Max's quick little hands would've had the cups of colored vinegar all over the floor in no time regardless of how closely he was monitored.


The glue brush went in his mouth more than once. I tried to wipe the glue off his tongue before he could swallow it. Lots of kids have eaten glue, right? And the label says non-toxic. I'll just continue with my momma-mantra that I repeat to myself multiple times a day..."He'll be fine."
(BTW, how many of you are wondering if I ever put pants on my baby?? :)
Easter morning:


"I guess that bunny guy isn't so bad afterall."

"He left my favorite treats inside these eggs! Puffs, goldfish and Nilla Wafers!!"


Easter morning we took Max to church. We had decided ahead of time that we'd leave him at the little preschool for the first time since Easter service is always so incredibly packed. We arrived extra early to make sure he could get settled in only to find out that the preschool was closed that day! Oh well. We love having him with us during Mass even with all the fidgiting. Just looking at him when the choir is singing and during the readings makes it all come together for me. As corny as it may sound he is my personal proof that God exists. Max and all the other little babies sitting in the pews around us has given me a more tangible aspect to faith. Max was especially well behaved during the service and we were so excited that the priest who married us, Father Rotert, was presiding even though he retired over five years ago. He is the kindest man and played a huge part in me deciding to become Catholic. It was so comforting to see him again.

Here's Max chillin' in the pew...

Next we had a marathon of Easter celebrations. So fun and tiring at the same time. Max wasn't the most pleasant kid to be around...especially since he was coming down with a cold. Truthfully, his mood went steadily downhill as the day went on...but I did manage to get one last cute photo before he lost his mind :)

For Max

Dear Max,
The other day I was organizing the endless amount of videos and pictures we have of you on our computer. How is it possible to have so many after just 14 months? I couldn't believe how tiny you look at 2 weeks old when Dada fed you your first bottle. Or at 3 months old playing the little keyboard piano with your feet.

I didn't realize how truly little you were at the time and how much different you would be only a year later. It's amazing. And what is even crazier is no matter what a big boy I see you as now, one day I'll look back on the pictures of you from today and think "How was Max ever that small?!" It makes me want to hold you and kiss you and not let go in an effort to slow time down. You won't allow me to do that though. You're too busy ;)

I've always been hyper-aware of the passing of time and how short lived things in life are - I'm not sure why. Sometimes it weighs heavy on my heart.

I'm very conscious of the fact that each day that passes brings us one day closer to your first day of Kindergarten. One step closer to watching you drive away in your first car. And one step closer to the day you tell us you're in love and getting married.

The thought of all of these milestones coming and going makes me feel the happiest sad a person can feel. So for now I'm just going to focus on the little diaper wedgie you were walking around with earlier today (you were very busy organizing your plates and spoons on the kitchen floor) and committing to memory the sound of you asking for bananas (which you call ba-lalala) over and over again even though I had none left. 

I promise you that I have cherished every moment of being your momma. I haven't taken a single day for granted and never will.

My whole heart,

Momma

Here are a few videos from the archives that I came across...

2 weeks old: trying a bottle


3 months: playing the piano


5 months: real food for the first time and we can't get it in his mouth fast enough :)


10 months: crawling


11 months: learning to walk

Today was a good day.

Sorry I've been slacking on the blog lately. We're in the process of moving finally. We're closing in 3.5 weeks and I don't know how all of these boxes around me are going to get filled. Especially since they've become Max's favorite toys. He flips them on their side and crawls in. Then sets them up and throws toys inside. Then drags and pushes them across the room. Its pretty cute but not helping me get anything done.

Anyway, today we set our "to do" list aside to enjoy the gorgeous day. I figure everything will get done one way or another...right? Please lie to me.

Either way we had a great day and here are a few things that I loved about it:

1. We had a nice little walk across the street and ate lunch with Lolli and GG at Cafe Europa.

2. Max ate dirt and I didn't stop him. I literally watched him lick his hand after sticking his paws in an old flower pot.

3. Spinning. Max discovered what its like to feel dizzy and he loves it. He would spin around and around and around on the front porch and then stagger over to me giggling. Drunk baby.

4. Waiting outside for Dada to get home from work. Max likes to sit in the front yard while we wait and wave to the people walking their dogs or babies. Or wave at the St. Teresa's cross country team or anyone who drives by with their window down. We sit and wait and pick grass. And then when Dad finally pulls in the driveway its like the reunion of a lifetime. They run toward each other like its been ages. I feel so lucky to witness this joyful occasion.

And my sweet husband didn't even ask me what I got done today or why our house looks like I was unpacking rather than packing or why our baby didn't have any pants on.

March Madness

Two weekends ago my parents watched Max overnight - he LOVES staying with them. They always do something fun like take him to the pet store or out for ice cream. This time they went to the toy store and bought Max a little basketball goal since he is a little obsessed with the game ("Ba-Ball" he calls it). March Madness had a whole new meaning in our house this year. Seeing basketball on the television stops Max in his tracks. This child loves sports already.

Here's a little video of him playing in my mom's art studio. She said he'd watch the players on TV for a few seconds and then run over and make a basket. You'll see he's pretty proud of his athletic ability :)