KatieKeeton.com

My sister-in-law, Laura invited me to do a craft she found on Pinterest with her. The original idea was to put our kiddos’ hand and footprints on the stools. I decided to stencil and paint some animals too. Then I stuck Max’s foot in green paint. He was squirming like crazy. Instead of a footprint we had a green blob. So I painted over and drew a green alligator instead. I also decided against putting his name on the stool because I don’t want to have to paint another one for baby number two. (I’m not pregnant). The whole project took about two months because I would lose interest.

Max posing with his stool in his snazzy outfit from Aunt Lori and Uncle Mark.

Using his stool to get up into his highchair. I just have to make sure to move the stool away after he’s done eating or I’ll find him on top of the island…this may or may not have happened before.

Trying to get Max to smile…

Still not in the mood for a photo shoot. (Sprinkle’s paw is on the left, she’s attempting to go outside)

So Max is 12 months old! Yay! Here is what he’s up to:

Words: says duck, will bark if he hears a dog or we bark, makes car and truck noises when he plays with this cars and trucks

Likes: turning lights switches on and off, poking all the buttons in our cars, giving hugs and kisses, dancing to any kind of music with a beat (he bounces up and down), turning the pages of books, looking at pictures of other babies and animals, taking baths, going “swimming” at the Lindbergh pool (I grew up going to that pool) with Kelly and me, playing in Max safe drawers in the bathroom and kitchen, playing in dirt, climbing into the dryer using his stool and playing in it, feeding himself finger food and trying to use a spoon, typing on keyboards, and going for walks in the frontpack or stroller. When he sees Kelly, me, any of his grandparents or aunts and uncles he’ll make his super excited noise (its this strange breathing in sound) and reach for them with a big grin. Its super cute.

Favorite Foods: Ice cream! I shared my ice cream cone with him once and he demanded that I keep sharing and he bawled when it was all gone, bananas, grapes, raisins, prunes, meatballs, Dave’s Killer bread, yogurt, cottage cheese, basically any cheese, milk and orange juice

Games: He likes to play peek-a-boo. He’ll hold a blanket up to his face and we’ll ask, “Where’s Max?” then he’ll lower the blanket and we’ll say, “There he is!” He really likes that.

Activities: Will stand without holding onto anything, walks behind his cart or holding onto our hands. Will walk holding on to one hand but isn’t as sure about that. Sometimes will bear crawl (walking on hands and feet not knees). He uses his stool to get up in his highchair all by himself when I tell him its time to eat.

Signing: He has started to sign “all done” and “milk” and know what they mean. He will also shake his head when he doesn’t want to eat something.

Behavior: He’ll pause and sometimes actually stop what he’s doing if we say, “no.” We use it only when we really mean it i.e. for eating dirt, rocks, ash from the bbq etc.

Max doesn’t have a “lovey” or favorite toy, stuffed animal or blanket. However when we lay him down for a nap or at night he likes a blanket on him and will reach for it and snuggle it.

Sleep: He’s sleeping well. He goes to bed around 7pm and wakes up around 7am. He takes a morning nap that’s anywhere from an hour to three. Its usually one hour though. He occasionally will take an afternoon nap around 4pm.

Stats: 31 inches long (75% for height) and 21 pounds 8 ounces (50% for weight)

So my original plan was to have a super duper small first birthday party for Max. Then I combined his dedication and birthday party for our families which was great. Then I got to thinking, “Hey – I want a reason to see all of my friends!” Hence a “friends” birthday party. A good time was had by all.

An idea I found on http://pinterest.com/

Thank you Aunt Kelly for making another birthday cake for Max!

Thanks for sharing Max!

Thank you Aunt Kelly for Max’s birthday cake!

Aunt Kelly and Max.

Nom nom nom nom!

Enough already – I’m done!

We combined Max’s first birthday party with his dedication at our old church Snoqualmie Valley Alliance. It was really special to Kelly and me that Max be dedicated by Pastor Marty who married us back in 2008. After Max’s dedication we had a family birthday party at Kelly’s parent’s house.

You may be wondering what a baby dedication is. It is a ceremony similar to baptism. Common to baptism and baby dedications is a focus on the parents’ intention to raise and nurture the child in Christ. Neither dedication nor baptism guarantees salvation for a child; salvation is dependent upon an individual willingly choosing Jesus as his own savior. In a dedication ceremony believing parents, and sometimes entire families, make a commitment before the Lord to submit a child to God’s will and to raise that child according to God’s Word and God’s ways.The responsibilities of Christian parents who dedicate their child are are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God. Parents who make this vow of commitment are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God, and not according to their own ways. Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in God’s Word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God’s ways, and praying earnestly for the child. When Max is old enough he can choose to be baptized if he wants to.

Pastors Monty and Marty.

It was really hot up there!

Max got these super cool sunglasses (UV protections and they strap to his head!) from our family friend, Shari. When combined with the sunhat they are perfect for keeping at least the head and neck of the palest boy in the world protected from the sun (aka Max).

How in the world do they stay on him you ask. Well I put them on and then distract him with something he likes, Sprinkles the cat, cars driving by etc.

Max prefers to feed himself now. For the last few days he has refused to be spoon fed. I don’t blame him. I prefer to feed myself too. Today I gave in and let him feed himself his oatmeal cereal. He really liked squishing it in his hands. It was worth the mess.

Yes, you read that right. Kelly’s parents gave us one for Christmas. Its awesome.

I think Max made the connection between the remote and making the rat move and turn in circles. Its so fun to watch him and the wheels turn in his head!

Here is the rat. Another bonus to it is its eyes light up red when you push the buttons on the remote control.

What a slobbery and snotty cutie!

Today, every once in a while I will realize Max is missing. I have found him in our bedroom where he has gone over to Kelly’s alarm clock. He pushed buttons on it, turned on the music (50s music one of my favs) and started dancing. We will play a game where I turn the music off and he turns it back on.

This pas weekend we went up to Whidbey Island and to the Tulip Festival for my dad’s birthday. The weather was beautiful all weekend – what a blessing! Here are some pictures that the hubs took.

B. A. Max scoping out the tulip scene.

Frolicking in the tulip fields with Grandpa Lynn.

Grandma Darlene, Grandpa Lynn & Max

Apparently Max is part snake and is tasting the air with his tongue.

Grandpa tickles!

Grandma Darlene, Mommy & Max

Peek-a-boo!

Tulip farmer, Max