Vegas, Baby!

For Max's second birthday, we decided to go to Las Vegas to visit my parents.  My dad got a promotion with the state and has to move to Carson City (Nevada's capitol) in June.  We wanted to get one last Vegas visit in before my parents make their big move, and figured Max's birthday was a great time to do it.  Our friend Skip once again was able to dog/house sit for us while we were gone, which was incredibly sweet considering Jackson was on 4 different medications to be taken at different times of the day.  Thanks Skip!

This was Max's SEVENTH time flying before he turned two.  He is quite an amazing little traveler.  And Evelyn is turning out to be a champ too.  I'm always a little nervous when flying with little ones, but both kids did great!  Evelyn surprised me by being a great sleeper when we travel.  Max always had a hard time sleeping in new places, but not our gal!  We got in on a Wednesday and spent a wonderful afternoon and evening with my parents.  They haven't seen us since January, so they had 3 months worth of love and attention saved up to shower on  Max and Evelyn.  Matt's parents and sister Julia showed up on Thursday and we began a long weekend of fun, fun, fun!

We started with a trip to the Bellagio casino to check out the beautiful flower displays.  They also had a greenhouse full of butterflies, which Max loved.  Then we went to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner.  It's full of aquariums and is designed to look like a rainforest full of plants and animals.  We had a great dinner and Max had a blast checking everything out.  In spite of being up past her bedtime, Evelyn was a sweetheart and was very cooperative the whole evening.

The next day was filled with playing at the park and a visit to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay!  Max just loves fish and once again had a fantastic time.  We also went to the Statosphere so Matt could go on one of their "rides".  Basically he jumped off the top and fell 106 stories.  Not my idea of a good time, but Matt had soooo much fun.  We all know where Max's fearlessness came from.   On Saturday we had Max's birthday party, which was so much fun for everyone.  My cousin Aaron even came to see the birthday boy.  We had a Yo Gabba Gabba cake (the boy LOVES Yo Gabba Gabba), balloons, bubbles, pizza and presents.  I don't think Max fully knew exactly what was going on, but knew it was all about him and had a great time playing with all of his new toys.  It was a great day for everyone. 

While we all had fun with the kids, it was also a great weekend for Matt and I since we each got some "grown up" time.  Matt played at the Casinos at night and got to play some live poker, which he loves and doesn't get to do in Oregon.  I got a whole afternoon of shopping and girl time with Julia, which was much needed.  It was so nice to get out and just be an adult.  I love, love, love spending time with my kiddos, but need to have a break every once in a while, and this was a great one.  Plus, that night Matt and I got to go on a date!  I had no idea how much I missed that time alone with my husband.  It was a perfect evening.  It worked out well for everyone since the kids had so much fun spending time with all of their grandparents while Matt and I were out.

Our last day there was Max's actual birthday, so we took him to the big park one last time and then took him to watch the water show at the Bellagio on our way to the airport.  As Julia said, our kids are so lucky that pretty much everything we do is to show them a good time and make them happy.  And we are of course happy to do it.  We got home late Monday night with our content and exhausted children.   It was one of our best trips yet.  :)

At the Shark Reef Aquarium

Evelyn hanging out with aunt Julia

Family portrait

Matt just before his Stratosphere jump

Happy birthday Max!

Obviously I just love any opportunity to dress up my girl

My little darlings

New drum!

Fun at the park

Future quarterback?

Max learned a little yoga from Julia

Me looking on nervously before Matt jumped

A Letter to My Little Man

My dearest Maximilian,

You are now officially a two year old!  It's hard to believe that I am now counting your age in years instead of months.  Time certainly does fly when you're having fun!  Just over two years ago, after 39 hours of labor, you reluctantly came into the world.  I knew right away that you prefer to do things your own way, on your own time.  I never believed in love at first sight until I laid my eyes on you.  You were the most perfect, beautiful person I had ever seen.  I knew in an instant that there was nothing I wouldn't do for you.  You became the most important person in the world to me.   A mother's love is something I had heard about and tried to imagine, but had no idea how powerful it really is. 

Over the last couple of years,  I have delighted in everything you do.  Watching you discover the world makes me feel like I am discovering it for the first time again too.  You have made the transition from happy little baby to happy little boy who brings joy to everyone you encounter, whether it is your adoring family or complete strangers on an airplane.  You are an amazingly intelligent, creative, adventurous little man who lights up a room with your smile.  Your infectious laugh makes it impossible to be in a bad mood.  And you have already become the most incredible big brother.  You and Evelyn are so lucky to have each other.  I know she will always be your best friend, and you will be hers.  It makes my heart swell whenever you give her one of your bear hugs.  You have already done so much to make me so proud.

Here is my promise to you.  I will always be your biggest fan, your shoulder to lean on, and a source of unconditional love and support.  I will devote my life to keeping you safe and happy.  Whatever you do with your life, whoever you become, I will be there for you. 

Happy birthday Max.  Thank you for making me laugh every day.  You and your sister have made the last two years the most wonderful of my life.  I love you more than you'll ever know. 

Love,
Mom

PS- Here is a very small sampling of some of my favorite photos of you over the years.

Just a day old.  Really checking me out for the first time.

Such big, blue eyes!

Only three weeks old and full of attitude

Sweet, gummy smile

Your first hike!  You and your daddy are so handsome!

First Halloween.  Cutest little lion in the world.

Stylish little dude

Summer at Flathead Lake

You LOVE the beach!

Playing outside after a very rare snow storm in Portland

Look who's two!

The Good, the Bad, and the Jiggly

As per usual I am way behind in my blogging.  The last few weeks have been incredibly busy!  We has a lot of firsts at the end of March- Max's first swim lessons, his first speech therapy sessions, and my first time in a swim suit since having 2 kids in 18 months (shudder!).   I was so excited to get Max in the pool.  I figured he would love it since he just loves water all around.  Bath time is a blast and he loved being in the pool at our time-share last summer.  I figured swim lessons would be a breeze.  I was wrong. The first day he clung to me for dear life and cried the whole time.  Fortunately the other parents were very kind and understanding.  I was so shocked at his reaction to being in the water and worried about how the rest of the lessons would go.   I thought he would have so much fun and was kind of crushed to see him so miserable.

The same day we also had Max's first speech therapy session.  That went very well.  We both really liked his therapist and she seems really optimistic about his speech.  After only one session, he was making new sounds and after the second session he was saying a couple of new words!  In the last couple of weeks he has added 'hi' and 'no' to his vocabulary.  And boy, does he love saying no.  And I love hearing it.  For now anyway.  Ha! Ha!

A couple of days later, we went for the second swim lesson.  Much to my amazement, he did great!  The difference between the two lessons was like night and day.  Not only did he not scream or cry, he actually seemed to be having fun!  And that is how they have been ever since.  It's been such a blast that I don't even worry about what I look like in my swim suit.  When my kids are happy, I'm happy.  Even in skin tight lycra.

Not much new has been going on with Evelyn.  She's still our serious but happy little darling.  She is working on sitting up by herself and gets stronger and stronger every day.  We got the jumperoo out of storage and she really seems to like it.  Her legs are so strong I wouldn't be surprised if she walks before she crawls.  Her teeth still have yet to pop out, but I expect them any day now.  She grabs just about everything within reach and puts it in her mouth.  Her sweet smile and laugh just melt my heart.  It is just so much fun watching her little personality emerge.  She is definitely more serious than her big brother.  She stared at everything and everyone so intently, you can almost see the wheels in her head turning as she takes it all in.  I wonder if the kids will stay like this.  Max is such an outgoing little ham and Evelyn is quiet, observant and sweet.

Well I'm going to pause there.  I'll update soon with detail about Max's BIG party in Vegas.  My little man is 2!

My little cheese ball.  He wanted all of Evelyn's flowers in his hair.

I just love this face!

Max loved helping his daddy get the garden ready.

My happy girl in her jumperoo!

Serious face