So ignoring the fun things we did before Christmas (Luau!!!) and during Christmas, plus Nate's birthday and our 6th anniversary, (and about a million OTHER things) I am proud to bring you the update on my sweet little boy's 1st birthday!  

I am still having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that he is one.  For those of you (if there are any) that don't see him on a semi frequent basis, here are some thing that my little guy has managed to do in his first year:

-Walking (Actually Running since he started walking at 8 months 1 week)

-Talking: He has about a dozen "words" (meaning his own sometimes hard to understand version of these words) - Mama, Dada, Hi, Bye Bye, Uh-oh, Kisses, Shelly, Amen, Thank You, Ouch, You're Silly, and some others. He does however understand almost everything you say (and reacts accordingly!)

-Play Hide and Go seek (he will hide under a blanket the pop up and laugh!!)

-Love to read Books - will grab one then back up until he is sitting in your laugh to read to him

-LOVES Music, and knows how to work any toy that makes music

-Gives kisses, high five, and wave bye bye on command

-Thinks it is a sign of affection to headbutt (thank you daddy)

-Loves to dance

-Love Balls, the bigger the better.  He likes to pick up Daddy's Basketball and try to dribble it

-Thinks it is really funny to pull Finn's tail.  He sneaks up behind her so he can get away with it before she runs off

-Knocks down block towers like a champ, and makes sure EVERY SINGLE BLOCK has been knocked over before he walks away

-Likes to pull his block wagon around behind him

-Enjoys playing with Daddy's model car driving it all around the carpet (yes, he actually keeps it on the ground so the wheels roll and everything because that is how Daddy does it).

-Folds his arms when you tell him it is time for pray (but is not quite as successful at KEEPING them folded).

-Loves watching basketball, both in person and on TV.  He just sits transfixed watching the ball move back and forth on the court.

-Is the easiest baby ever to put to bed and is starting to sleep 11 hours straight at night in his own bed (HOORAY)

-Is a very well traveled little baby.  He has been to the following (not including airports): Wilmington NC, Virginia Beach, Outer Banks, Washington DC, Cleveland, Chicago, Niles MI, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Portland, and Seattle

-Is a total terror.  He is throwing temper tantrums already and producing great crocodile tears (he KNOWS what he is doing).  He flings himself on the ground and kicks and screams when he doesn't get his way.

For his birthday we did a fun family party, including all of his cousins via Skype.  We had pizza, played memory, and did cake and presents.  He was not very interested in his cake until we gave him a spoon, then he had lots of fun digging around in it.

I am so grateful to have the very energetic little guy in my life.  He challenges me every day, and I couldn't ask for a better little boy!  I love his sweet and happy spirit and the joy he brings to our family!  Happy Birthday Max!

Thankful Day 30

So today is my last post for my month of thanks to be complete, and it simply would not be complete without giving thanks for my wonderful and amazing friends.  I have some of the most amazing friends in the world, ones who no matter how close or far away from me they are physically, are always right there beside me to get me through.  They make me laugh, give me ideas, listen to me vent, and set wonderful examples for me to follow and I am truly grateful that I have been blessed with such wonderful friends!

Thankful Day 29

Today I am thankful for a dishwasher.  As many of you know, dishes are the bane of my existence and I avoid them as much as humanly possible.  I will come up with almost any excuse to get out of them, so today as I started doing some dishes I was grateful for my dishwasher to do some of the work!

Thankful Day 28

Today I am thankful for cookies.  They just make life better.  Enough said!

Thankful Day 27

Today I am thankful for a healthy body.  While I'm still working to get mine where I would like it to be, I am blessed to be healthy.  I have no long term conditions, no issues, and plenty of energy and strength and I'm greatful for it! 

Thankful Day 26

Today I am thankful for our nanny, Kristin.  She is so awesome with Max.  She helps him learn and play.  She also does a great job keeping the house clean and tidy despite Max's best efforts.  It is so wonderful to know that while Nate and I are at work he is happy and safe at home with her.  She truly is AMAZING  and I am VERY VERY VERY thankful for her!

Thankful Day 25

Today I am thankful for my extended family.  We have had lots of time to spend with our family over the past few years (a trip to Disney World, Christmas, Blessings, Thanksgiving, etc.) and it has been wonderful.  It is so much fun to have built in friends and people who love you unconditionally.  Here are some pictures of our various family adventures over the past year or two:

  
 

Thankful Day 24

Today I am thankful for XM Satellite Radio so I could listen to the Ohio State vs Michigan game and hear the Buckeyes have a perfect season while we were driving home from Michigan! Go Buckeyes!!

Thankful Day 23

Today I am thankful for music.  Max was dancing and singing today with me while watching the Disney Very Merry Sing-a-long and it was so adorable.  I have always loved music, from playing to singing to listening.  I am so glad that Max is showing the same thing.  Even when he was just a few weeks old he would calm down almost instantly when he heard music playing.  Music also has the amazing power to bring the spirit and I am grateful for it's power and influence in my life!

Thankful Day 22

Today I am thankful for Finn (my dog).  Yeah, I know it makes me sound like I am 5 years old but I don't care.  She is crazy at times, but she is a really good dog.  She is definitely my dog.  She gets super excited when I get home and follows me around.  She loves going for walks/runs with me.  She plays fetch and tug of war with me.  She is still learning to like Max, but enjoying him more now that she can play with her a little.  I am grateful for her unconditional love and companionship!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful Day 21

Today I am thankful for my calling.  I have the opportunity to work with the Young Women (specifically the Laurels - girls 16-18 years old) and I LOVE spending time with them.  I get to have wonderful gospel discussions with them on Sundays, plus talk about life and movies and boys and music and everything any other time.  They are such wonderful girls with strong and growing testimonies that set such a wonderful example to me!  I love them and they are truly awesome!

Thankful Day 20

Today I am thankful for my Parents!  We have lived close to them for almost five years and it has been great!  I love having them be a part of Max's life all the time.  It is nice to be able to just go shopping or out to lunch with my mom.  Nice to be able to play games or make cherry tarts with my dad.  Nice to have them close when we need help, or just to hang out with!  They really are awesome people and I am grateful they are my parents!

Thankful Day 19

Yep - you had to know this one was coming.  Today I am thankful for Diet Dr. Pepper.  Cami and I joke all of the time that it is the "sweet nectar of life" and sometimes I worry that I'm not joking... but seriously - it is awesome and often the best part of my day!  Good think I can buy it in bulk at Costco...

Thankful Day 18

Today I am thankful for comfortable beds.  They make life much easier and happier because you sleep well!  I know this one is kind of silly, but it is the kind of thing that if I didn't have it, I'd really miss it (like last night in our hotel where we basically slept on a rock).  So yep, today I'm glad for comfy beds!

Thankful Day 17

Yesterday was big, today is simple. I am thankful for Donatos Pizza (I'll be having it for lunch).  I'm thankful there is now one located only 2 hours from my house!  The edge to edge toppings, the thin and crispy crust, the delicious flavors (one of the only places I like MULTIPLE specialty pizzas) all make it one of the most delicious things ever! Hooray for Donatos!

Thankful Day 16

So today we are half way through the month!  Hooray!  I figured that in order to celebrate, I would do one of my big thankful's - perhaps the thing I am most thankful for in this world.  Yep, you guessed it, it's Nathan.

He is truly a wonderful person!  He is an AMAZING father.  He will do the fun stuff (like playing and snuggling) but he also helps with all of the hard stuff (getting up in the middle of the night, changing dirty diapers, etc.) without me having to prompt him.

He cooks for me, helps me clean the house, helps with the chores outside.  He watches girl TV shows with me and remembers to record the ones I like.  He remembers my favorites and the things I don't like (perhaps even better than I do).  He spoils me with all kinds of things (like shopping and vacations) but also by letting me spend lots of time with my sisters.  He brings me flowers for no reason other than he knows how much I like them.

He is patient with me when I'm being moody or cranky or just plain irrational.  He always forgive me for being ridiculous.  He understands that sometimes I just have to vent and he listens quietly.  He supports my decisions and helps me stay strong when I'm tempted not to be.

He studied hard and is now working hard to provide for our family. He focuses the gospel and makes decisions by consulting with Heavenly Father in Prayer.  He takes me to the Temple often.  He encourages me to study and pray and continue to strengthen my testimony.  He is my very best friend and the love of my life.  So today I am thankful for my amazing, handsome, and wonderful husband!!

{The picture at the top is the first picture ever taken of the two of us - we weren't even dating yet.  It is still to this day one of my favorites.  The second is Nate and Max on the plane during our round robin trip to visit great grandmas this summer}

Thankful Day 15

Today I am thankful for my home.  Nate and I have been blessed to rent a wonderful home for the past 4+ years and it has been so good to us!  While I might gripe and complain about the creaky hallway, the ugly counter tops, or the drafty doors, the reality is that this has been a wonderful, warm and inviting place for us to live.  We have had many happy and warm memories in this house and I am so grateful for that! 

I'm grateful that in this house I'm able to have a study where I can retreat and read a book with no noise bothering me.  I'm thankful I could paint the nursery walls bright green to match the monkey theme I wanted.  I'm thankful I could create a garden in the back yard where I could learn to grow my own food and herbs.  I'm thankful to have 2!!! bathrooms so that I selfishly don't have to share mine with company.  So yes, today I am grateful to have been blessed with such a comfortable place to live!

Thankful Day 14

Today I am thankful for games.  I had LOVE playing games with my family and friends. (this includes word games, board games, video games, etc).  I am thankful for the fun they allow us to have together, even if we are in different states!  They challenge me and entertain me and the like.  So that is what I'm thankful for today!

Thankful Day 13

Today is another simple one.  Today I am thankful for my Smartphone.  I use it all day everyday.  It is has simplified my life.  It give me directions, keeps me up to date with my family, provides me with access to my accounts and money, lets me play games wherever I am when I am bored, and most importantly allows me to catch all the cute things Max does on a regular basis on camera (stills or videos).  Thank you Apple for making me such a great tool! 

Thankful Day 12

Today I am thankful for my job (ironic I know since I had today off).  I am thankful to work for a company that values a work life balance and makes it so easy to be a working mom.  I have always enjoyed working for Capital One, but I truly started to appreciate just how great of a company they were when I was so sick during my pregnancy.  Rather than give me a hard time, they supported me.  They let me work from home and were understanding through the whole thing.  And now that Max has come along, I recognize just how supportive they are of working moms.  I am very proud to say that Max has never had formula (If you knew my thoughts on nursing vs formula BEFORE I had Max, you will better understand this, if not, ask me next time we talk).  I am 100% certain that if they didn't provide me with the Mother's rooms and support I needed, that would not be the case.  On top of all of this, I actually ENJOY what I do.  I like the challenges I come across at work and the satisfaction that comes with solving them.  So today I am grateful not only that I have a job, but one that works so well for me!