Maxwell is ONE

My baby is one!The first year is tough but filled with so much love and joy.

Brother bath time

Trying to get a picture on his birthday.......

I love this little boy so much.  He honestly brings so much joy to our family. I have people comment all the time how they have never seen him cry, For the record he does cry but usually only when he is tired or hungry. He is such a happy baby. After getting tubes in his ears at 11 months he started sleeping through the night, thank you God! He talks (mama , dada, baba, etc) and can stand on his own. No walking, yet. He doesn't seem to have much desire to walk but loves clapping for himself every time he stands up:) He is constantly on the move! My dad and step mom recently spent a few days with us and both commented (several times) how they have never seen a baby into as much as he is, if he is awake he is moving and destroying everything possible. Or like John Thomas says "Maxi likes to destroy the world"

Maxwell is a big boy. At his one year appointment he weighed 25.15lbs 95% and 31 1/2inches 78% He can wear some 18month old clothes but mostly 24month old and has a couple 2t outfits

We had a little party at home for him

new toy

John Thomas knew Maxwell wanted to go to "chip restaurant" for his birthday so we went 

Brothers on the move

 happy Maxi

It was such a long journey filled with lots of tears and prayers to get this boy here. I am so thankful that God gave us Maxwell and I pray that Tommy and I raise him (and John Thomas) to have a heart for Christ and impact others. So so thankful. I love you, Maxwell David!!!

March Madness

We had another exciting basketball season at Dayton. I wasn't able to make it to many games with the boys, maxwell normally goes to bed around 6:30 and during the season he still was not sleeping through the night so I tried to stay as close to a schedule with him as I could. I missed going to the games more than I thought I would. I really enjoy watching my husband coach. He puts in so many hours at work it's fun to see him in action. I am always so proud of him. Plus John Thomas is at an age now where the games are fun to him too and he gets excited when he sees his daddy on the court. We played the first round here in dayton, it was a late game so I was able to put Maxwell to sleep before going to the game. We won! and advanced to Columbus. In Columbus we won the first game and lost to Oklahoma in the second round. It was great being a part of the excitement March brings. It's always bitter sweet when season is over. You would love to be playing in a few more rounds but it is SO nice having my husband around more. He worked 7 days a week from October to the end of season. Nights and weekends with daddy home are so much easier. with that being said he is already on the road recruiting this weekend but he was still home before the boys went to bed this week so I will take it;)
The final four was in indianapolis which is only about 2 hours from us so the boys and I went over for a couple days and had a great time. John Thomas had a blast with one of his buddies and Maxwell was a champ with the lack of schedule/nap time!

Practice for the first round of the tournament 

 This picture made the paper and UD website

Daddy and John Thomas

Tommy was able to fly in for the tournament 

Eating the traditional good luck cookies!

Driving to Indianapolis I turned around and saw these two holding hands, so sweet!

At the ESPN 3point and dunk contest  

These two had the BEST time together!! So glad we were all able to be at the final four together!

View from our room in Indianapolis 

Brothers

John Thomas' favorite part - 

eating at a restaurant where you could make your own pizza and ice cream sundae 

Fan fare fun

Cheers to another basketball season.........on to recruiting season;)

Nine months!

In some ways I can not believe Maxwell is already 9months old and at the same time I can't believe he is only 9 months old! John Thomas was made to be a big brother and Maxwell lights up every time he sees him. I love watching them together.
 He started sleeping through the night at 8 months. Yay!!! He goes to bed by 7pm and wakes up around 430/5 eats and goes back to sleep to around 7. Other big milestones - he is crawling on his knees (unless he is in a hurry he drops down to army crawl) he is pulling up on the furniture, he has seven teeth and loves to clap and wave. It is amazing how much I have forgotten little stuff since John Thomas. the first time Maxwell waved his little hand was facing him, just like John Thomas did when he learned to wave. I love getting to re live all these first.
Maxwell would much rather feed himself than be fed. Most of his meals he feeds himself - his favorite foods are blueberries, black beans, puffs and toast. I stopped nursing at nine months just like I did with John Thomas. And Maxwell got his first cold the next week. I have such mom guilt about it. Hopefully it will be our only one since we are coming out of winter and will be getting more fresh air.
At Maxwell's 9 month appointment he was in the 90% in both height and weight. he weighs 22.8lbs and 28.5inches

Our first run

Granna sent presents from disney

Brother bath time

Snow ice cream

9month check up

Love these sweet boys! 

Four

My sweet first born turned four in January. He is such a caring, kind, funny boy. I am so blessed he is mine. I do believe he posses many qualities of both Tommy and myself but so many that are just him. I am amazed at everything he learns and retains! Everyday when I pick him up from school he can tell me what he learned.  He loves school, playing with friends, playing chase, hide and seek (basically anything that requires running) and card games. He's not as much into arts and crafts or coloring. He is a great big brother. He has so much patience with Maxwell. One day Maxwell kept crying and crying, I told Maxwell you have to stop crying and John Thomas said Mommy he's just a baby he can't help it. So sweet. Thank you, God for these sweet blessing in my life.

Some pictures from his birthday......