One Year

I feel like a completely different person now than that girl that was sitting in the hospital a year ago- waiting to have a baby, but at the same time all the memories are so fresh that it seems like just yesterday!

Max boy is a whole year old today! I am so grateful for him everyday! I remember that their were  sleepless nights and long days but right now its hard to believe having him in our lives has been anything less that perfect. 

4 days ago he started to walk ( just in time, like always) at first it was 2 steps at the Robertsons then a few down the hall- always where he could catch himself quickly. and now in less than a week he walks all around the house carrying basketballs and balloons to people laughing as he chases you around the corner. It makes me happy that it happened all at once, he isn't my little baby that needs me for everything any more, he walks now, says yes and a few random sounds he intends as words he is my little one year old buddy! I like to just watch him walk around, he is flawless and I am in love :) 

every time i slow down and take just a minute to really watch him i can't help but think there is something so incredibly special about him. He loves everyone, the boy has made me more friendly this year than anything else, he waves to everyone, says hi and tries to make them think they are funny. he offers his food and his beloved binkie to anyone that opens their mouth, he is the calming spirit i needed yet courageous and strong willed. He lets you know he cares by laying his head on your chest or giving those adorable open mouthed kisses. Max isn't afraid of anything, he is so trusting and a quick learner. being his mom this last year is the best job I have ever had and the greatest class I have ever taken. I have learned more, failed more, put in more hours, cried and laughed more in this short year as a mom than anything I have ever done before and I cant express how grateful I am. 

I will forever be grateful for this day when we met such a special special little boy that we get to love and cherish forever. 

here are a few things he is doing- and some favorites!

Loves Watermelon and grapes and has started to love yogurt

loves driving on dads moped if he can get outside he walks right to where the bike should be and squawks at it

squawks- really its how he communicates

says Yes when we get it right and Mama when he wants something

Loves others kids and anyone that will pay attention to him

sleeps 13 hours - waking up once

has 6 teeth that we can see... but he stopped biting when he nurses

still nursing...

 His new Ball Pit/pool

just testing out my new ride!

He wanted this cake so bad from the minute he saw it! ironically.. he didn't eat very much of it..

It was a water melon whipped cream cake- his two favorite thing

More of our most recent trip

 Because we were all together we got some family pictures which we will see soon I'm sure.. but I just couldn't help but snatch this picture of Grant and Tom talking to the ducks, so precious.

 We didn't waste time and the day after Tom got home we headed to Pineview for some jet skiing! Sometimes marshall thinks our family is a little crazy but we really like to go fast :) were all addicted. my Daddy even took our 83 year old grandpa out for a spin- he loved it! But when Daddy took Mom out.. they took a turn a little too fast and in went the both of them mom still in her jeans with her phone in her pocket.. oops! good thing she was up for a free upgrade or we would have really been in deep water.. haha so naturally this happened in the middle of the lake and our little rescue team got them in on the paddle boat :) Also Max went on his first jet ski ride ever! and he has never been happier! he still hates his life vest but he loved the ride!

 We spent the rest of the weekend playing games in the back yard as a family- just relaxing and hearing/sharing mission stories. Max and Grant adored Adams dog Kai- by the end of the week Grant was even saying Kai, sleeping with a stuffed dog and running to the back door to say good morning and good night. Max on the other hand learned to sneak his food to Kai from his high chair so he didn't have to eat as much!

 Watching Max and Grant on this slide was probably my favorite part. Max seemed so grown up and figured out how to climb up the ladder and go down all by him self and he LOVED it! how did he grow up and get so smart and big! I really can't get over it, every day we are so amazed by him!

 We had a little mini birthday party for max with our side of the family.. if you want to see maxs awesome attempt at putting out his candle with his hand you should check out my Instagram or maybe i'll post it later.. but here is the sweet present from Grant to Max! his first ever birthday present!

We were so grateful to Marshalls parents for taking the time to come see us on our quick trip! we loved getting to chat and share an evening with you! Max didn't want them to go so he climbed in their car...

 On sunday Little brother gave a wonderful talk in church, it made me feel so happy we came home to get to hear him speak and see him come full circle. we spent the rest of the day visiting with friends and just felt happy all day! Marshalls oldest brother came up to see us with his family and it made us so happy!- Max and Bryant we hilarious playing together, Bryant is such a sweet boy to entertain max.

 On monday we drove down early in the morning to see the rest of the Hills- Even Aimee who lives in North Carolina! It was such a fast fun filled day I sadly have no pictures! but every minute was a blast- from mother may i to tractor rides and scones. We are so so very grateful to everyone for taking the time to come up and let us see you for just a little bit! Marshall and I feel so lucky to have the 2 most amazing families in the world, our trip could not have been better!

 Max and grant sword fighting.

Return of Superman ( aka my little brother)

At last he is Home! and really he pretty much is superman! 

 Elder Christensen returned home to two new nephews! aren't they cute! we are so grateful we got to be there to see him all together! Origionally we had said we weren't coming, we told them marshall wasn't coming for sure because of school but we had already bought his ticket to suprise them.. it mostly failed.. but such are secrets in a very excited family like ours! I loved getting to see max and grant play all weekend! Max just followed grant around all davit was pretty adorable! They are 5 months apart!

 Elder Christensen served in St. Louis Missouri, thats right just 2.5 hours away from kirksville. but his mission extends to just 15 miles away from us! So naturally we had to see him a few times while we were close! We took max down to meet him a few times and it was pretty fabulous! I loved getting to see my sweet brother fully into being a missionary.
- so remember how i told you we tried to suprise the family by coming, well, they surprised us a bit too. My mom told me his flight was coming in at 5 pm that night. our flight got in at 9:30 AM that morning, so we arrived in sweats, with no makeup to a peppy family yelling "hurry hurry we have to get to the other terminal toms flight landed" at first I thought it was a joke but then they told us they had waited to tell us so we wouldn't walk through the other side of the airport looking for him before he came past the security lines.. so clever! so we raced over and made it just in time to see him come down the stairs.

 My dad was so cute through the whole thing, while he was emotional I guess this picture is a little unfair because he did just get hit in the eye as well, thats why his eye is really red. but he was tearing up too and both his eyes got red and waterery really soon...

 Here he comes!

 I'll let the pictures explain the rest....

It was a great weekend as a family! I'll post those pictures soon. The funny thing is the hardest part was coming back to Missouri knowing that he wasn't so close, that he wasn't out being a cute little missionary on the other side of these corn fields. Missouri feels just a little bit more lonely now. I love you little brother so glad your home!
in the words of elder Christensen  ( in every letter) -Kingdom of God or bust-