Weekend Getaway to Memphis

Tyler had some business meetings come up in Memphis at the last minute, so Max and I tagged along and took the opportunity to visit family. We had such a great weekend!! We did all kinds of fun things and wish we could visit more often. We got to visit with Hannah since she is home for a little bit during the summer. Max adores Hannah. He also loves going to Dede and Pop's house and letting them spoil him. 

Riding Clifford around Dede and Pop's house

Max and Dede had fun playing outside in the dark. He loves that little bike!

Is this cute or what? The boy loves his horse, that's for sure!

Getting acquainted with Lola. He was a little scared of her when he first saw her...

...and just that quick he gave her a hug and they were instantly best friends!

Dede took us to a splash park and we had a blast! What a fun morning splashing around in the water, watching the kids, and looking at the ducks! Thanks Dede!

Dede and Max playing in the water

Time for a snack. What could be better than a Pop Ice on a hot morning? Max and Daddy love to share these.

A sweet kiss for Dede for bringing us to such a fun place!

Max is such a people watcher, like his daddy. He spent more time watching the other kids play than he did playing himself.

He thought the ducks were so awesome

Chipping some balls with Daddy on Pop's chipping green.

Riding "Big Country" with Daddy. He absolutely loves riding and driving this thing around the property. This is usually Pop and Max's thing to do together, but Daddy wanted to take a ride.

On Friday, we went to the Memphis Zoo, which is amazing by the way. Max absolutely loved feeding the giraffes. He got so excited every time it took the lettuce from his hand. Who knew giraffes were so friendly and sweet?

Pop loves the zoo and comes often with the grandchildren. He is so sweet! 

We were so fortunate to see the pandas. They are on loan from China and they are Tyler's favorite animal he saw at the zoo. He sat there just eating bamboo and chillin' out.

Max had a snack and panda had a snack

He sure loves his daddy!

A little sleepy after a long morning of seeing lots of animals and having lots of fun

Sharing ice cream with Daddy

His second favorite thing to do at the zoo (first is feeding the giraffes) is visiting the petting zoo. He loved the sheep and kept trying to talk to them and pet them.

He also loves horses; I thought he was going to climb through the fence.

Of course the lions are always impressive

What a Wonderful Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers. This day is one of my favorite holidays for so many reasons. What would this world be like without good mothers? As a was reflecting on what it means to be a mother, I was overwhelmed by so many feelings and I realized that I've never been more blessed. I feel so proud to be Max's mother and I can only hope that I enrich his life half as much as he does mine. I feel so honored to be a mother, and I must say, I feel like it's my greatest accomplishment in life, so far. Motherhood can bring out the best and worst in you and there is so much to learn about being a mom. I'm sure you never stop learning! The love you have for a child is so powerful that it almost cannot be explained and it comforts me that I'm sure my own mother feels that same way about me.

My own mother is incredibly special to me and we are best friends. I cherish our relationship so much and she undoubtedly has been an amazing role model for me to become a mother to Max. I also have other women in my life that I feel have "mothered" me and strongly influenced me in a positive way and I am very thankful for their guidance.

Here are some photos from Mother's Day weekend...

Mimi, Amy and Max

What a sweet face!

A sweet Mother's Day kiss from my baby

Stopping to "smell the roses." 

Let me outta here!

Max and his Mimi

 

One of Max's favorite things to do is to visit the horse down the street. He loves to feed him carrots and apples.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Easter was so much fun this year and we had such a fun time celebrating with friends and family. Max absolutely loved the Easter Bunny at the Cool Springs Mall. He talked to him, played peek-a-boo, and had a blast sitting on his lap talking to him. I literally had to tell him his turn was over...

...and then there was the Easter Bunny at Old Natchez Country Club. He didn't like him near as much. This photo is very similar to the one we got with Santa a few months ago...sheer terror.  I had no idea he was so picky about his bunnies.

He was a little less terrified of him when he sat on my lap instead of the bunny's. 

On Saturday, we met several of our friends at Old Natchez Country Club for brunch,visiting the Easter Bunny and an egg hunt. Pal and Uncle Eric joined us, and it was so much fun. 

 Our Easter family photo

Just running around the golf course after brunch. He loves to run and play outdoors and explore.

I love this photo of Tyler watching Max run around the golf course. Hopefully Max will enjoy playing golf one day with his dad and they can play the course together. 

Tyler helping Max hunt Easter Eggs indoors at Old Natchez Country Club. The weather was cold and misty, so the Easter Bunny delivered eggs indoors for the kids.

I wonder if he is looking for the Easter Bunny in our garden? That would be a good place to look!

On Sunday morning we went to church as a family and then went to the Bailey's house for brunch. 

Walker giving Max a "Happy Easter and good morning" hug when we arrived at their house for brunch.

Allison and I made Easter cookies to share. They were delicious!

Allison and I made a delicious brunch for all of us to share. 

 Nice spread!

Allison made Max and Walker cinnamon roll bunnies for breakfast. What a cute idea!

Best buddies hanging out and drinking out of their new Easter Bunny sippee cups

After brunch, we did an indoor egg hunt since it was too cold and rainy outside and the boys loved it! Max wanted to shake and open every egg he picked up, and then eat the candy inside. Walker's technique was different. He wanted to gather as many eggs as he could as fast as he could.

You're looking a little worn out after the egg hunt, buddy. Was it hard work?

Then they played with toys until it was time to go home and take a nap. 

Max's Easter Basket
The Easter Bunny also brought him an indoor basketball game which he loves.

Aunt Brooke came to see us Easter night and spent time loving on Max. What a wonderful Easter we had with friends and family and we made so many sweet memories!

17, 18, and 19 Months Old

These last few months have been fun, but Max hasn't really learned a lot of new skills or words. He has just been content hanging out and playing. He probably knows about 15-20 words very well. He weighed 23 pounds at his 18 month appointment and I can tell he has had a growth spurt over the last few months. He hasn't gained much weight, but he has definitely gotten taller. He has also become such a "ham" and loves for everyone to think he is funny. He gets his silly sense of humor from his daddy.

Max and Walker are best friends and play together several times a week. 

They are like two peas in a pod.

He loves bath time, and I literally have to peel him off the bathtub floor when it's time to get out.

After church on a Sunday morning

Max loves his puzzles...

...and cooking in his kitchen

We visited the horse that lives down the street from Mimi and Pal. Uncle E fed him carrots and Max pet him. He was such a friendly horse and loved the attention. Max loved petting him, but was a little intimidated of his size.

Silly goose! He's always trying to make us laugh.

Trying on Mommy's boots

Max absolutely adores Uncle Eric and loves when he comes to visit and play

He loves reading books and snuggling with Daddy

We did another pacemaker check from home and everything looks great.