Is it possible for a 3 month old to be teething?
and Does anyone else feel guilt for doing anything other that playing with their super adorable baby? I do! So I just do see how anyone else ever gets anything done!
November was a great month! I just cant Handle seeing it end without recording some wonderful moments! Even if it means writing at 4:00am- the only time I seem to be wide awake and little Maxwell is Not!
We ( max and I) started out the month is the most beautiful place- San Diego, with my Dearest friend Mari! Her sweet husband and mine arranged for us to get together to just be girls. It was exactly what my life had been needing! Warm air and one of the sweetest friend I have ever known. I just have to say what an inspiring friend that girl is everyday I know her I want to be a better person. She makes being a mom seem like the most worthwhile fun and stylish part of life. She is beautiful, Happy, Positive, Stress-free and a true friend- she is literally one of the greatest blessings in my life.
We spent a week in sunny California - watching Mickey Mouse club house, googling over our perfect baby boys, eating good food, walking the beaches, shopping in malls the size of kirksville and just chatting. Thank you for the wonderful week!
I came home after missing Marshall so terribly it hurt- being away from him so long really made me re-think him doing the military... but it was so fun to be back with him and just around the corner was Thanksgiving break! I spent the week cramming monthly tasks in and trying to let my very missed husband study for finals.. but it didn't really work! When the week ended- marsh had still done well on his finals and I could not have been more proud! Even tho we had a early morning 7hour drive we stayed up that night with our good friends way too late- which isn't a surprise for us, it always happens- It felt so good to be able to relax with Marshall and our friends here.
At the start of the break we drove the 7 hours to Minneapolis Minnesota where Marshalls darling sister Andrea and her family live. Max slept the whole way- minus our lunch break half way through! Did I mention i have the perfect baby! sometimes he makes me want 10 more :) There in Minnesota we met up with Marshalls parents and Tiffany his sister that lives in Des Moines came up as well. We had a house full of fun people and hilarious kids! We went to the Zoo, played endless card games ran around the house with the music up way too loud too get our group exercise in and played sardines like we were 12 again! I loved it! Mostly we could have done anything, I was just happy to be with Marshall and family. Dont worry we topped the trip off at my new favorite place in the midwest.. The Mall of America!
On Wed we drove back to K-ville where we greeted my amazing Brother and sister-in-law who drove all the way up from Georgia for the second time this year! I LOVE THEM! we got to see their sweet little babe all grown up and crawling all over the place now! We stayed up with them and our dear friends the Robertsons playing settlers all night- don't worry I lost terribly both times! but I beat them all when we played nerts while holding my baby! I guess speed is my thing and not strategy ( or logic for that matter) That night around 1:00am my adorable parents arrived with Joy and Adam for thanksgiving! It felt so good to have them back in town again and let them all meet Max for the first time! The next day was thanksgiving - which of course started out with a Turkey bowl- we went to the HS so everyone could play on the turf there was a mini tournament that looked pretty awesome! and it was pretty freezing!
Back at our house for thanksgiving dinner! I loved hosting our first thanksgiving! All my favorite foods ever and I didn't even over eat.. if thats possible! Ernie and Chauntelle joined our family for dinner bringing amazing treats! They are so fun we could hang out with them all the time! Grandma and Grandpa Chris flew in for California and they always make everything a party! Dinner is fun but my favorite moment will always be sitting in the living room going around the room and talking about what we are thankful for and everyone gets choked up but they don't want to show it, and really the room just has this feeling, gratitude really makes a person happier. I felt so thankful to be with family on thanksgiving this year.
After thanksgiving it was a constant party on Saturday everything that had been in Minnesota came down and on Sunday morning we blessed our sweet little Maxwell. Marshall gave him his Name and blessing at church surrounded by the most amazing men. I felt so grateful for our little boy, so grateful for the sweet spirit I have always known him to have. But that day I felt the most grateful for the power of the priesthood in my life. For my husband who is always worthy to act with the priesthood because he is living his life so that he is always prepared. For my Father who raised me with a knowledge and love for the priesthood always being the leader our family needed. For father-in-law brothers and friends that are constant examples and righteous men. And for my little boy who was dressed in all white - looking the part of my little angel, I felt grateful that he will grow to hold the priesthood and be a powerful leader to the rest of our family.
I had an overwhelming realization when we blessed Max. There we were blessing our first child, I was so grateful to have him. He is all mine! However, even though blessing him seems to make him an official part of our family, it only made me realize how much he doesn't really belong to me, but he belongs to our Heavenly Father, and its my job, or my blessing to help him learn to be who he is supposed to be. I am so grateful to get to do that.
We are so Thankful for so many loved ones that came to be with us this last week. We miss you all already. It was a perfect vacation. Now Marshall is back and school busier than ever, and it almost seems like it was all a dream. In school we were living for the weekends but here it seems I am living for the Holidays! Here is to a great month! Hopefully I can write again before December is gone too. for now I am going to try and get some sleep.
