14 Weeks

 

This was two days before I turned 14 weeks. No, I'm not kidding. 

These babies aren't messing around.

Brothers at Christmas

Christmas Parade

Our town has an annual Christmas parade, and on our fourth Christmas in Mississippi I finally got to go! Our church had a spot in the parade, so Max got to ride on the float and Ben got in on the fun too. It was so much fun walking down the main street and town square waving to everyone, and Max had an absolute blast. He thought he was pretty big stuff riding the float with the "big" kids.

Getting ready to ride!

 

 Hanging out in his stroller watching the action...

 Mike. The man with all the candy.

Clearly I put a lot of thought into my appearance for the evening...but it was a blast!

 

Santa Time

These pictures crack me up! We went to see Santa last weekend, and I count it a success. Ben didn't really know what was happening, and I think he was just wondering why this guy wasn't giving him a bottle. Max talked the whole way there about sitting on Santa's lap and giving him a hug. And telling him "Ho Ho Ho" of course. When he actually saw him, he got really nervous and shy. I think he was thinking about shedding a tear or two, but he held it together. And as soon as he was off his lap he told him "Merry Christmas" and couldn't stop talking about him the rest of the day! 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a whirlwind trip to Texas. We drove all day Wednesday, spent Thursday and Friday with family, and then drove back Saturday to be here in time for church. Although it was a short trip, we fit in a lot of fun, food, and family. I even did a little Black Friday shopping with my mom and sister...although I didn't make it past 11:00 Thursday night this year!

On Friday night, the whole family (my family and Mike's family...minus Ben) went to see the Rockettes Christmas show. I was a little worried about taking Max, but he loved it. He barely moved a muscle the whole time. With all the fun we had I still managed to take only one picture:

 

It's a long trip...but it's worth it!

Ben at Six Months

 

Ben, on November 11, you turned six months old! Half a year...I can hardly believe it. And I can hardly believe that you'll be seven months old tomorrow...ha!

You have been such a blessing to our family, and you have just fit right in since the moment you were born. You are such a happy, easy-going baby...especially when you are being held. Have I ever mentioned how much you love being held? Well, just in case. You love being held. A lot.

Here are a few things that you have been up to in your sixth month:

-At your sixth month visit you weighed 17 lbs 7 oz, and you were 26 3/4 inches long.

-You got your first tooth right before you turned six months and your second right after. 

-You like to sit in your Bumbo. You are a fan of sitting up and seeing what's going on.

-You have learned how to make a giant mess in your bathtub. You love to kick and splash out all the water.

-You are a fan of the solid foods. I haven't found one you don't like.

-You sleep about 11 hours a night. Sometimes less. Never more.

-You take 3-4 naps a day depending on what's going on and how long they are.

-You are not a fan of the rolling over. You haven't done it once this entire month. We think you are just way too relaxed and chill to care about moving around.

-You think Max is hilarious.  And your daddy.

 

Ben's Baby Dedication

At the beginning of November, we had Ben's baby dedication at our church. I have to say it went much better than Max's. Of course, all that means is that he didn't scream at the top of his lungs the whole time! 

It was a great time to stand before our church and pray for Ben and the other babies and commit to teaching them and growing them up in the Lord. Papa got to come for the weekend, too, so that was fun!

Halloween

We spent Halloween at our church's trunk or treat. Max was so overwhelmed the entire night by all the craziness and costumes, but he sure knew just how to put all that candy in his bag! I get such a kick out of family costumes, so we went with a "farm" theme this year. Cutest little cow and farm dog I've ever seen!

 

Maxisms

There is never a dull moment around our house with the Maxster. He constantly keeps me on my toes, and he truly just cracks me up. Back around his second birthday in September, we started noticing his speech and ability to communicate with us really picking up. At first just the very fact that he was talking cracked me up. Now, a few months later, it's what he says that I find so funny everyday!

I try to write them down, but I know I have missed some over the course of the past few months. Here are a few from when he first started talking more. I just want to have them written down somewhere so I can remember.

-When you ask Max what his name is, he says "two." (My sister did that too!)

-A horse says "yee haw"

-Glasses and Sunglasses are "eyes" 

-He wants to do everything "too." I do it too, I eat it too, I swing too.

-He got a swing set for his birthday and he would climb up to the top of the slide and say, "'mon mommy, all aboard....choo choo!"

-His favorite expressions are "oh nuts!" "that's so cute" and "awesome."

-When he sees the UPS truck he says, "oh box!"

-Around Halloween he started saying things are "spooky."

-One night I sneezed while his back was to me. He turned around and said, "Hey! Scared me!"

-He can get a little bossy. When he wants to do something he says, "Max's turn. Ben swing now."

And just a few more from the past couple weeks:

Max: Mommy, want chocolate milk. 

Me: We don't have any buddy.

Max: Oh. Go get it.

Me: Well we have to get Ben dressed and then we're gonna go to daddy's office. 

Max: That works.

Max: I want chocolate milk.

Me: We don't have any.

Max: Oh. Too bad.

Then, one Sunday afternoon at lunch he was throwing a fit so we let him out of his highchair and ignored him. A few minutes later...

Max: (Switching off the tears immediately) I'm better now.

Me: Are you ready to eat?

Max: Yes (a few minutes later). Max was mad. Now I'm happy!

Me: Well good.