Max is One!

Max turned one last weekend and for his big first birthday he got....his first ever fever, ear infection, and case of the ever-lasting fever/rash one-two punch of Roseola :(

Though the news resulted in a canceled bday "playdate" (good thing I decided not to do a party), he still managed to have fun with his parents and grandparents. While he wasn't his usual all-happy self (he didn't even want to eat much), he definitely enjoyed playing with the cake, pushing Lincoln out of the way and feeding him frosting, checking out the contents of the fridge with Jimbo, getting a hot new-wardrobe from Grandma and cruising in his new car from Grammy! We even got a pre-birthday visit from Eli!

And the packages from aunt Tina and aunt Phoebs were great - check out Max hugging his "huggy"...he already loves it (and Lincoln does too...oy).

He ended the day exhausted on Dad, in nothing but his diaper.

Rico...

I forgot that I had taken a picture of Max when we were in the car on our "mis-adventure" as Mom puts it. It was so hot, I opened his shirt like Rico Suave. I just think its a cool picture...

Old Man

A Happy (belated on the blog) birthday to my Charlie...almost seventeen years together and you somehow still put up with me. Max is one lucky guy to have you for a Dad.

Grandma....

Wh0000ooopsy daisy, let too long go by again...I always have great thoughts and ideas for the blog, but something seems to get in the way...he is little, he is pale, he walks around like he owns the place these days, he a munchety-munchkin, and he has decided he loves the computer.

Anyways, I've been so looking forward to documenting the week Maxie and I had with grandma...it was one of those weeks where my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing so much (side note for future records: Mom and I should not be allowed in moving vehicles together. On our shopping trip to Target, we came out from two hours in the store only to ask each other for the car keys...when realizing neither of us had them, we spotted them INSIDE the ignition in the open car. Cut to two hours later after lunch with Papa and mom and I run out of gas in the MIDDLE of I-95...we called Triple A, Road Rangers, 911, and anyone else who would listen "we're in the left lane with no gas and a baby in the car - helllllp". I, of course, decided to nurse him, and the reality of our situation - a topless woman in an 80-degree car with baby, no gas, trucks whizzing by, and 'wise' grandma telling us everything would be ok, provided quite a healthy dose of giggles).

Mom and I had so much fun watching and laughing at Max over the week, and since it coincided with my birthday, I sure had a lot of fun being spoiled. Really, the week can be summed up in one word - FOOOOOOD (hence why every single picture surrounds eating)! The Randels (and Biernbaums) have never shied away from a meal, and Max is following in those footsteps.

As all good Jewish grandmothers do, mom made sure he ate more than his stomach could handle at every meal (and made sure I relaxed a bit about letting him eat...cheese, bread, popovers...even chicken!). It was a decadent week....and one I won't forget. We always say its hard to be far away from each other, but the extended periods of time together are so special - there is so much to see in one straight week of his life, so much growth and he becomes so familiar with the people around him. Max just loves his grandma, she makes him laugh in a different way than anyone else, and he seems to like that she just doesn't take any of this too seriously (unlike his mom). He LOVED the attention and excitement and certainly the food...In fact, for days afterwards he looked at me like, "Hey mom, thanks for the appetizer, but where is my entree?". Love you Mom!