11 months

11 months ago Max was born!  11 months.  Crazy.
In a month he will be ONE YEAR! 
Do I really have a toddler?

Max is getting pretty difficult to distract while I take pictures with months labeled on them.  So this time we thought, we will do it while he is eating.  Well, did he fool us.  As soon as the paper came into his sight, the food was history. 

 Max is learning so much each day, and he can understand a lot of things we say to him.
"Elmo, Mom, Dad, Max, Up, Ball, Milk, Mario, Food, Gerald (his stuffed animal), Bath, No, All-Done, Come Here, Bed, Hugs, Diaper (and he will crawl away - FAST!), Books..."

He loves the book "I Love you Through and Through."  It is his favorite!

 He loves REAL FOOD!  None of this food in a jar for Max.  He wants the GOOD STUFF.
He will eat ANYTHING we are eating.  He still loves his bottle, and I was getting stressed out that he isn't getting the hang of a cup, but in the last 11 months if I have learned anything it is that Max likes to do things at his own pace.  A cup will come, but for now we are using a bottle.

 Max has been sleeping a lot lately.  Like newborn sleeping.  He is growing. 

My cute 11 month old Maxwell.  Love him through and though, yesterday, today and tomorrow too!

Mother's Day Photo's and Water!

Mother's Day Photos

COUSIN PLAY DATE!  Water Water Water.

This was Max's first time in summer water.  He loved it.  He loved watching his cousins play. 

 I love this face.  "Mom I am all wet!"

Mother's Day 1983 and Mother's Day 2012

Karen Rust and Tiffany Strong in 1983, Tiffany was 18 months old.  

Tiffany Strong and Maxwell Strong in 2012, Maxwell is 11 months old.

Mother's Day 2012 - My post to mom's.

This is my first Mother's Day.  I have always wanted to be a mother.  I even became a teacher to "mother" other children.  I love being Max's Mom, it brings me an endless amount of joy, and is truly a miracle.  I am Max's Mom, that is my title, and how could I not love the sound of that?

My Mother was beautiful.  She was graceful, athletic, and caring.  She was not only a mother to me, but a nurse and my best friend.  My Mom and I would take long walks down on the Delaware River Trail.  Long walks...hours...
My mom and I could talk!  We would laugh, cry, fight, and work everything on our walks.  I remember the day I asked my Mom about kissing.  I wondered where she had her first kiss,  and she walked me to the tree where she had her first kiss.  (My Mom grew up in the same town as I did, so she literally walked me to the tree)  There in the tree was a heart with her initials and the boy she kissed initials.  My Mom was a romantic.
My Mother is watching over me all the time, I see her in Max, I remember her daily, I listen to her favorite songs.  I keep her close to my heart.  I love her, and can't wait to take walks with her again.  

My Mom.  This is at the Canal that we would take our "walks."

I also have been privileged to have another amazing Woman in my life.  I couldn't have grown up without her.

Fran Caswell, mother, friend, confidant, all around amazing person.  My family moved to 330 Pennington Harbourton Rd when I was entering 1st grade.  Fran and her husband Brad lived next door.  Little did they know they would be in for a life change.  My family quickly became best friends/family to Fran and Brad.  Fran was the cool neighbor.  She gave me my first Coke, and let me drink Fresca.  She also let me play on her computer and watch "Home Improvement" whenever I wanted.  Awesome!  Fran could tease me, and make fun of me which I needed.  Fran has a daughter named Sarah, who I call "Sister."  Sarah and I are two lucky girls to have Fran. 
Fran taught me to have a back bone.  She is where I get my ability to add sarcasm into any situation.  Most importantly Fran can give the BEST hugs.  She was always available for a hug.  She has seem me through a lot in my life, more than I think she was bargaining for when the Rust's moved in.  She is and always will be the first person I call when I need advice, a good cry, or just have exciting news.  Fran is the Mother I know Karen Rust is happy that I have.

 

Fran and Brad

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers! 

First few Steps with Walker

What a week it has been!

 There are only 11 more school days left.  Let the single digit count down begin.  Will sends me pictures of Max on my phone while I am at school.  The picture above was sent to me with the caption "Max watching Elmo Naked" and it made me laugh out loud, so of course I had to show the girls in my class what I was laughing about.  They all say "awwww he is so chubby!"  I love his chubby little naked body, but he is thinning out because of all of this crawling.  We had to take him to the doctors because of another ear infection and he hasn't gained any weight in the last month, but I know he is growing because his 18 month clothes don't fit anymore.  He is an official 2T wearing little man! 

 Max understands that "Mario" means dad and him are going to play the Wii on the couch.  He sits with his controller and Will sits and actually does the playing.  This has become a part of Max's bedtime routine, and I might be creating a monster, but is it really that bad to let this bonding happen.  It makes both Son and Father so happy!

 My 5th graders went on a field trip to the Utah Natural History Museum.  It is an awesome museum and everyone had a fun learning experience.  Max and Will came up to be with me and the students.  We had a group of 5th graders, a stroller, Max, and Will and I.  Max loved all the attention, but was mostly interested in the windows. 

Max loves Nutra-Grain bars, especially the strawberry ones.  Jelly Face Max!

I have more pictures from the museum trip that I will post soon!

VOTE FOR MAX

Hello there everyone!
Thanks for the last vote, because guess what?  MAX IS A FINALIST!

Can you go to this link and vote one more time.
http://photos.parents.com/parents-cover-contest-2012/19/2012/2306?esrc=nwphotofaves_pmcover12

Please send it to your friends and family.
There is a college scholarship prize for the winner and also he will make it onto the cover of Parent magazine!

You can vote everyday if you want!  But just once is fine. 

Thank you for all your love and support with this contest.

Love,
Tiffany and Max