Oh Boy!

I was born the youngest of 4 girls.

A little girl who grew up learning from and admiring her big sisters.

A girl who grew up in a neighborhood was filled with other little girls her age.

A girl who played Barbies, did "Get in Shape Girl" workouts with by besties, and played wedding using the sheer curtains in our living room as a veil.

I'm a girl and I'm best at girl things...so I would be lying if I sat here and told you that I have this whole "boy" thing figured out.  Truthfully, there are times when it scares the crap out of me.  Boys are boundless balls of energy.  They (at least ours) prefer trucks over dolls, growling like lions over pretend weddings, and think its hilarious when one of them farts in the bathtub.  Who knew that stuff started so early??

No, I don't always know what I'm doing.

No, I don't always call a truck by the right name (as Harrison is quick to point out).

Yes, I sometimes (err...most of the time) have to make things up as I go.

But I'm learning.  

And I'm loving.  

And sometimes...just sometimes...I hit the ball out of the park.  

And at the end of the day I have two little boys who love their mama despite it all!

A special thanks to our friend Kitty with Heart Heroes for sharing these special superhero capes with Harrison and Max.  Heart Heroes provides capes to CHD kiddos across the globe, helping them recognize and embrace their true super powers and the bravery that lives within them.  I didn't meet my friends from Heart Heroes until shortly after Charlotte earned her wings, but they have always welcomed our family into the amazing community they have created!  For more information or to request/sponsor a cape, please heartheroes.org

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has officially sprung here at the Ritchie farm.  We've been enjoying warmer temperatures, lots of fresh air and sunsets that are extending deeper and deeper into the evening.  It was a long cold winter and the change of seasons is proving to be just what our souls needed.

We've been blowing (and spilling) bubbles...

Enjoying our juice in the backyard - with a bucket koozie of course...

Visiting Callie and Jinx, our neighborhood equine friends...

Tormenting goats at the zoo...

And so much more!

 In between all of the fun adventures, we (Matt) have been working hard on our spring to do list (which seems to grow exponentially with each acre you add to your property!).  It's most definitely a lot of work to live where we do, but there is also a HUGE sense of accomplishment as we check each item off of our list.  The remnants of last year's landscaping have been cleared away, making room for this year's growth, garden beds have been tilled and composted, and we've even managed to put some early season vegetable seeds in the ground.  You probably won't see us opening up a roadside vegetable stand anytime soon...but I'm hoping to be able to fill our pantry with lots of home grown goodies that we can enjoy year round.

With each passing year I find myself falling more in love with this season. Windows open, birds chirping, hints of new life peeking through land that was sad and brown only a few short weeks ago.  

I mean, really, what's not to love?  

Sesame Street Live

Two (+) short months ago Harrison and I had the opportunity to go see Sesame Street Live with his Aunt Krazy and cute-as-pie cousin Benson.  The tickets were a Christmas gift from their NamNam and PopPop...and came complete with passes to a pre-show meet and greet with a few of of our favorite Sesame Street friends! I was a little nervous about how H would react to the "real life" characters, and while he was somewhat hesitant, both boys did really well!

This guy was ready to move and groove!

 H on the other hand, was ready to get back to his mama!

 These boys absolutely melt my heart!

 Thanks for the front row seats NamNam and PopPop!

 The bright flashing lights were a little overwhelming for this cool guy.  Thankfully I had his shades in my bag.  He wore them for the entire show!

 A little snack during intermission.  Such a little stud.

 After an afternoon FULL of all song and dance, this little guy insisted that he wasn't tired.  It took about 2 minutes in the car for him to prove me wrong!

Here's to more exciting best buddy cousin adventures in our future!

All In The Numbers

One year. Seventeen days. 

It's not a milestone that most parents acknowledge. It's a day just like any other day.  
One more than the last. 
One closer to tomorrow. 

It's just a day. 

It's just a day. 

Just a day.

So why - why, why, WHY can't I shake the weight of those numbers.  One year. Seventeen days.  Why can't I let them go.  Why can't I let them pass without notice - stop my brain from shining a giant spotlight on their significance.

There was a point in time where I remember asking myself how I could possibly go on if something were to happen to her.  Where despite her broken little heart, I had convinced myself that she was invincible.  We knew that each day was a blessing, yet I lived and loved each day as if there was some guarantee of more to come.  

Then came one year, seventeen days.

Tomorrow morning our Max will wake up one day older.  

One year. Eighteen days.  

One day bigger. One day smarter. 

One day stronger.  

One day older than his big sister ever got the chance to be.  

So today we loved a little harder.  We snuggled.  We giggled.  We celebrated first steps.   And as we said our goodnights I held him a little longer...feeling his weight, soaking in his smell.  How could I possibly go on if something were to happen to him?  

One year.  Seventeen days.

Maxwell Thane {12 months}

Be still my heart - I cannot believe that our sweet little boy is already 1 year old.  Gone is the squishy little newborn who used to insist on 3AM dance parties.  Gone is the top-heavy baby who was too distracted to keep himself upright.  Those memories feel so fresh in my mind that its hard for me to believe that Maxo is on the fast track to being a big boy.   But no matter how hard to try to keep him little, he insists on proving to us every day that he's anything but.

Happy 1 year, Mr. Max!  Here's a little bit about you as an official "big boy."

{Stats} You really are a big boy, officially weighing in at 24 pounds.  We're finishing up your size 4 diapers and then moving onto a size 5.  While your legs may be chubby and covered with dimples, they are short just like your brother's.  That means that you can still fit into 9-12 month pants while your shirts are all 12-18 month.

{Busy Body} At 1 year old you are always on the move - sneaking over to the stairs with an ornery sparkle in your eye, walking with the help of toys, furniture and walls, scrambling to grab cars and balls before your brother sees you and tries to interfere, launching yourself across the couch as you let out a contagious giggle.  You recently discovered how fun it is to push barstools all around the house.  You most definitely keep us on our toes, and we are having so much fun watching you develop the confidence to try new things.  Big brother Harry walked at about 13 months, and if I had to guess I would say that you are on a similar schedule.

What's with boys and eating dirt??

{All Ears} Oh sweet Max...had I known how amazing tubes were going to be for you I would have done them months ago.  In the past few weeks we have seen a new side of you emerge.  Don't get me wrong, you've always been a happy little guy, but post-tubes Max has stepped things up a level.  You are full of grins, talking more, dancing, and more independent.  You have the sweetest soul and its impossible for me to look at you without smiling.

{Bye-Bye Bottles} Much to your dismay, the last of your bottles has been put into storage.  You had quite the love affair with those things, and I was convinced that you were going to be drinking out of one until you started kindergarten!  But thanks to your amazing teachers at school and a little tough love, you've transitioned to a sip cup and are doing great.  Mommy and Daddy are pretty thrilled about not having to wash bottles anymore, too!

{Words} Sometimes its hard to get a word in with your chatterbox of a brother always making so much noise, but we've noticed a lot more sound coming from your direction this past month.  Mama, dada, ba (ball), moe (more), ahhh-dah (all done), and bye-bye are some of your favorites.  Bye-bye is always accompanied by a wave and followed by you blowing a kiss.  Melt my heart.  

{Odds and Ends} You give the wettest, slobberiest, open mouth kisses.  You're finally starting to take more of an interest in books and we often catch you sitting quietly flipping through pages and looking at pictures...mostly upside-down.  You are still a great sleeper, snuggling up with your grey blanket and sucking on your 2 middle fingers as you fall asleep each night.  You've even moved to a big boy cot at school and are doing great!  You think that your daddy is pretty awesome, but definitely have a soft spot for your mama.  No complaints here.  You have 4 big chompers - 2 on top and 2 on the bottom - and you love to grind them together.  Eek.   You love your big brother and we've started to catch you mimicking his actions more frequently...its a definite game of monkey see, monkey do.

Maxwell Thane {12 months}

Our lives are so much sweeter with you in it Max.  

Its been an amazing year and we can't wait to see what's in store for the days ahead.  

Fit for a Lumberjack

Today we celebrated Max's first birthday with family and friends.  I'm not one for "traditional" and came up with the hair-brained idea to celebrate with a Lumberjack Brunch.  It was quite the tough and manly event, complete with lots of plaid, flannel and s'mores on sticks!

Who needs birthday cake when you can have a cinnamon roll the size of your head??

 

We were fortunate enough to be able to use the gym at the boys school for the party, and  let me tell you, it was PERFECT!  The kiddos had plenty of balls, cars and tricycles to keep themselves entertained, and I didn't have to worry about cleaning my house!  Thank you Little Red School House for letting us use the space!  

The kiddo who used to hide his face as soon as he saw the camera, has fallen in love with "cheeeeese."  Makes this picture loving mama a whole lot happier!

 I knew that birthday cake would be an instant hit with the birthday boy.  He's got his mama's sweet tooth, and you can tell by the looks of that belly that the boy has an appetite.

"Where's my cake mama?"  Luckily little brother didn't mind sharing.

 It was all fun and games until his foot found the cake.  Done and done.

 And ultimately, my kiddos always end up in a sink.  

A big thanks to everyone who embraced their inner lumberjack with us today.  We had SO much fun and were rewarded with extra long naps this afternoon from both boys!  

I call that a win!