March 31 - An Apple a Day

Well, at least my craving for Pink Lady apples during my pregnancy with you now has an explanation....and pickles...and limes....You simply love them! You can work on an apple for a looooooooooong time skin and all. This past weekend you at 2 dill pickle spears completely. Today you ate an entire cucumber whole like an apple. However, I do think apples are your favorite. When you see them in the store you reach out for them, and usually get one as it entertains you and all the people we encounter in the store for our entire shopping trip.

Actually you have been getting apples for months, but since most view whole crunchy apples as not an appropriate baby food, I kept that mostly under wraps and made sure you only ate apples when supervised. You never needed intervention, but it made me feel better although we definitely got some weird looks and questions from nosy old ladies in the grocery store as you munched away. You sure did let me have it that day at the supermarket when I had to take it away so we could drive home. I couldn't have you eating an apple when rear facing and I couldn't make sure you were not choking. I gave you a new one when we got home...

You carry that thing all over the place and sometimes set it down for a while...but you always know where it is.

I often find myself wondering what is so magical about eating an object almost as big as your head...whether it be apples, peaches or plums. Never mind we still have to have a bath after you smear the various whole fruits in various stages of consumption all over yourself, but your bathing frequency is another topic altogether. I am convinced you have a master plan to get as many baths as possible in a single day. The good news with an apple is it is one of the lesser of the messy whole fruits....so apples are all good with your momma!

The water table is always a good place to leave it while you go play for a bit...and I like it that you wash off some of the grime that accumulates from your traveling apple snack.

Boat time!

But you always know where to find it...

When you need a little nibble...

Silly boy...I love you...

March 30 - Wipeout

Well, it had to happen. I am fairly certain it won't be the last time either. ....see the lovely purple line above Mack's eyebrow. That is from his faceplant on the kitchen barstools...and of course we have pictures scheduled today with our photographer...sigh...

March 29 - Maverick's HUGE week!!! So exciting and fun!

This is the face of a boy who has much to be proud of....He has worked hard, and finally in the span of the last 7 days or so...

He has learned to walk...

You can see his progression over the last week in this 3 minute little video I put together to document this milestone. Literally from last weekend to this one...he has come so far...Yes his diaper is half off in the first sequence...I did not notice until after I had stopped filming. But at this point last weekend he was not quite ready to let go of the walker...so this is where we started:::: (the video quality is a bit choppy/pixelated...but it says it is still processing. I may have to figure that out tomorrow....but for now, you can get the idea)

Here he is showing off his new skill to his friends and although the image is a bit blurry, that little proud-of-myself grin just gets me every time.

Celebrating with a Hi-Five!!!

And yesterday we went out and bought him his first pair of walking shoes (not counting the boots we got in January, but he hasn't actually walked in those.)

What an amazing week! What an amazing boy! It has been a very special time.

March 28 - I'm sure they taste better this way

Who knew Cheerios could be used so many ways? I sure didn't. Following is Maverick's Cheerio Recipe #127...he does get points from me for creativity.

Step 1: Take Cheerios from Snack Trap and scatter them about the floor

Step 2 : Take some of the Cheerios and put them in an empty water bottle (be sure to leave others scattered about to be ground into the carpet when they get stepped on) ** Note to self: My next rug will not be Cheerio colored.

Note: It is usually best to have several loaded in the water bottle before moving on to step 3.

Step 3: "Drink" your Cheerios out of the bottle.

Note: Sometimes you have to tip it up really high and shake it a bit to get the Cheerios to come down.

YUM!!!

March 27 - May the Force be with you

My boy fascinated by a bubble wand replica of the Weapon of the Jedi Knight trying to "connect to the force". I'll let you know how that turns out. Meanwhile, I hope you all have a great weekend!

March 26 - Foot Fetish

So lately Mack has had an unusual interest in my feet - more specifically my toes. He loves to take my shoes off , wiggle my toes and lately taken to giving my feet big hugs. Like here...

I am not sure if it is the red polish...or what...but I admit it is a bit odd...LOL

My Kooky Kid...oh how I love him.

March 25 - Maybe I should wait a bit

....before I let the gardener go. I think he can sleep well tonight knowing his job is secure. It will be a while before Maverick is ready to handle the mower.

March 24 - Love on Canvas

My most amazing and talented Uncle Darrell Mack has painted an exquisite masterpiece for my Baby Mack that we will cherish forever. This could not be more perfect for his room, his color scheme and for us as our own little duo in life. I cannot tell you how special this is and how much I LOVE, LOVE LOVE it!!! Giraffes are my favorite!

Of course trying to get Maverick to sit still long enough for a photo was quite the challenge. He is such a squirmy worm these days and has quite a bit on his adgenda at any given moment.

But he liked the painting too! The handyman is coming tomorrow to hang it up for us in a very special place near his crib among other domestic chores that I am not up to doing currently.

It is beautiful and perfect in every way. We love you bunches Uncle Darrell!!! XOXOXO

March 23 - Published!

Mack's first year photo books are back from the photographer. They came out so fantastic that the photographer is using them as demos. They are a real treat and made this a fabulous Monday!

March 22 - Pint-sized Picasso

So today we spent a good part of the afternoon outside enjoying the beautiful spring day. I thought we would give your platter you started last week another go to see if you would get a little more paint on the plate. I gathered everything and tried to make it as appealing as possible...

You humored me for a moment...and pushed some of the paint around the plate...

You tasted it...

Ultimately after much cajoling, we did get some more on the platter, but you have not yet made the connection between the colored stuff and pushing it around the desired paint surface. You find the bottles the paint comes in fascinating however as well as putting paint on anything other than what in the intended target.

I have to take a moment to acknowledge how much in love I am with these little man feet...oh how I love those toes!!!

But the most important part was you were having fun!

Your masterpiece...

Once you were covered in paint, it seemed a logical segue to finally fill our neglected fountains in the backyard. It seems so long ago that you and I sat by this fountain talking about how much fun we were going to have in this backyard. You so loved listening to the fountain when you were a itty bitty newborn. But, I digress...You were quite the helper today holding the hose...and then you figured out what the water stream does when you shake it around and you were hooked. Once the fountains were full I let you go at it...and you moved the water stream all over....

Back and forth...over your head and around the yard....You see where this is heading, right?

You were fascinated...

And studied the water stream very closely and carefully...and how you could manipulate it...I found myself wondering if that would help with potty training...but realized I was a bit ahead of myself...

And then it happened...you cut the arc of the stream a bit too close...

And we were done...