Auntie Em's Wedding

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Dear Max,
This weekend you and I went up to St. George for Auntie Emilie's wedding. You know Auntie Em as our household photographer, however, she is my dear friend from High School and I'm so glad she is still in my life and in yours now too! We drove up early Saturday morning, Daddy had to work, so you, me and Auntie Ang left bright and Early. We spent the day, before the big event, with Grammie. The three of us had a "planning lunch" as we started the early preparations for your first birthday party. I hope it turns out as great as our visions are. You'll have to wait till you turn one to get all the details of the event! After our "planning lunch" we headed over to Auntie Julie's for your 5th, that's right 5th haircut. I'm thinking at this point we might just stop keeping count. Your hair grows so fast and I was thinking with your helmet it might be more comfortable (less sweaty) to have a shorter haircut. So we went back to the mini hawk look. Handsome as usual!

We sit you on a milk crate and then your bumbo chair
Then put the big cape on you...

Just making sure Auntie Julie isn't doing anything
too crazy... just getting the scissors

Look at that helmet hair!
Still so handsome!!

Grampie volunteered to watch you during the wedding dinner which started at 5:00 pm. It was at a reception house called the Bell Tower, and it was gorgeous. Auntie Em looked so beautiful. After the dinner, which Brian (Auntie Em's husband) cooked, that's right, he cooked the entire meal for all of us! He's a chef and wanted to treat us to his amazing cooking, and it was REALLY yummy. Just a few more years and you'll be munching on some better food (I promise). Anyways, after the dinner Auntie Julie, Auntie Ang and I went up to Grampie's to get you for the ceremony and reception. It was in Auntie Em's parents back yard, the setting was beautiful and the weather perfect for an outdoor event. You made a great date, since your daddy couldn't be there. After the ceremony we enjoyed some desserts. When I say WE, I mean WE ALL enjoyed the desserts. Auntie Ang started feeding you some bites of the yummy things, you tried Key Lime Pie, Cheesecake, Chocolate Mouse and a blueberry delight Just as an FYI, your favorite was the Key Lime Pie. It was so funny, cause every time Auntie Ang would give you a bite, you would look over at me as if to say... "Auntie Ang, she's looking...careful" as you would continue to take the bite. It was so funny! Grammie was so sweet to help in the kitchen and would run out to say hi when she could. It was so fun. We are so excited for Auntie Em. Thanks for hanging with me Max, it was fun to share the day with you. Love you!

Emilie and Brian greeting their guests at the dinner

The Bell Tower where Dinner was held

Auntie Ang, Mommy, Auntie Julie

Look at that face!
Auntie Em

Auntie Em's parents backyard
This is where the ceremony and reception was held
It was amazing!

Signing Table

Backyard

Handsome Boy! Waiting for the bride...actually the bishop
he was late so the ceremony was delayed about 15 minutes

Here Comes the Bride!

Saying their "I Do's"

Husband and Wife!
Let the celebration begin!!!

Auntie Ang feeding you desserts...
look at those eyes!

You were so worried I was going to make
her stop feeding you the desserts!

Come On Max... I'm an ok mom
I'm all for enjoying fun desserts!
Just don't throw up on the drive home!!!!

The face of true bliss!

Shift Happens!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Dear Max,
Well, remember me telling you about the doctor appointment we went to before labor day? Here is the whole story. It started back at the end of March early April, when you were about 3 and 1/2 months old. I started noticing that your right ear and cheek seemed bigger than your left. I started asking your daddy and Grammie and others if they were seeing the same thing I was. They all thought I was crazy. They thought I was being obsessive. Well, when we went to the doctor for your check up I asked and he suggested we go see a specialist and find out... so we did. In May we went and they took some measurements and pictures and sure enough your right side is shifted more towards the front, due to a flat spot on your head. The shift made your features look bigger to me on the one side versus the other. In the meantime we found out that you had torticollis and started physical therapy. Torticollis is when one side of your neck is tighter than the other so it was creating a tilt. So if you can keep us with this... we have a tilt and a shift. Now, I will be honest, people never noticed. But the specialist suggested we have a helmet made for you to correct the shift and help the tilt. We thought and thought and thought about it... all summer. Some said, I can't even see it, don't do it. Some said, If it were me, better safe than sorry and that's what we opted for. I decided that if you came to me when you were 16 and said... "Mom, I want to be a male model, but they said that I have a shift and a tilt!" And I would have to think back to this mom moment that I could have fixed your shift and tilt and thought, it's no big deal. So we decided to go for it! Now I will admit one of my favorite features about you Max, is your faux hawk. What will happen to your signature hair?

Starting the process....
The first step in creating your helmet came in the form of them putting a nylon stocking over your head and taking a 3D image of you.

YIKES! You seem ok with this now... but it didn't
take long for you to freak out!


Like I was saying...Commence Freaking Out

This is a huge 3D camera...when your reading this your probably have some really fancy, new way of taking these types of images and will be laughing at the big dinosaur camera we had to use.

Then we went back into the other room and played while they looked through all the pictures trying to see if they had one that would work.

I will say that they have some pretty fun toys!

Then the news came...we didn't get a good one...we need to do it again!

Here we go again...at least Grammie is still smiling!


Oddly enough the 2nd time went a little bit
better...I don't know if you knew what to expect
or was just ready to get the nylon off your head!


Back to the waiting room to see if they
have a picture that will work...


And they did!

Max, this is you in 3D and silver
They have you turned so we are looking at
the top of your head. You can see that shift happens!

Fast forward a week and half later to today...the day we pick the helmet up!

Looking good little man!

I know I'm a strange mom... taking a family picture in the doctor's office.
I just had to document the day!

Now, Max, you will be sporting this classy little thing for about 4 months. Stay turned for some creativeness to hit the helmet. Daddy and I have already got some ideas in mind. Here is the lesson Max, sometimes you have to do things that just aren't that fun, but it's called life. That's when you stick together and you make the best of it. I've had lots of mixed emotions about you wearing a helmet, but in the end it's only for a little while and we certainly know that Shift Happens! Oh and the silver lining to all this is.... You can still sport your faux hawk! Love you Max!

A Scary Night

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Dear Max,
Tonight was a scary night! It really all started on Sunday afternoon up in the mountains. You started to have a bout of diarrhea. It continued all the rest of Sunday, and all day Monday. By Monday night when it still had not stopped we decided that you better stay home with your daddy and try to get feeling better. When your daddy called me Tuesday afternoon and said he needed to go into work and you still were not feeling better, I came on home to assess the situation myself. You looked so sick, I started to worry about dehydration. Your daddy called from work to see how you were doing and when I said you still were not doing better, he suggested I call the nurses help line to get some "professional" advise. When I told them about the situation and they asked a few questions, the nurse said that based on my answers they suggested that we take you to the emergency room within 2 hours! WHAT? At first I was wondering what answer was it that pushed it over the "edge" should I rethink my answers? I called your daddy and he said he would be right home. While I waited for daddy to get home I packed your diaper bag and an extra bag with some extras that I thought might make our evening at the emergency room a little better. Each time you had gone to the bathroom during the past two and 1/2 day's you had messed clear through your clothes so the one thing I was for sure going to bring was lot's of extra clothes! After daddy gave you a blessing we headed to the Summerlain Hospital (thanks to a helpful hint from our friends). We didn't have to wait long before they moved us in the back to a little room. The nurse came first to access and then the doctor. The doctor (Dr. Z) was convinced that you were in fact dehydrated, but the nurse kept arguing with him saying you weren't. So he finally said to her, let's wait till the results come back and I'll show you! Well, on a scale of normal being 28 - 32 you came in at 18. You were dehydrated! The nurse hooked you up to an IV, after trying the first foot and ending on your other foot, you were a complete trooper. You screamed as they put the IV in (both times) but as soon as they got the IV in and wrapped up, I picked you up and snuggled you and you were asleep within minutes. As I sat there holding you, your daddy looked at me and said
"Does this bring back memories?"
It sure did, memories of meeting you in your hospital room for the first time, holding you close and praying for to get better. Your daddy said that the only thing that would have made it more like the first time the three of us hung out in a hospital room, was if the life flight helicopter pad was right outside our window. Max, being parents is a lot of hard work and worry. I have never worried about someone as much we worry about you. I have asked so many times, why we had to wait so long after you were born to be by your side. Why were we not able to be with you, when you needed us? It's hard to think about those day's you were in the hospital all by yourself. Especially seeing how much you needed us tonight. I know that you were protected by guardian angels and the countless nurses and doctors during that time, but I still have moments when I wonder why? As I sat there holding you this evening I questioned if I would have been strong enough for you? Would our hearts survived those 17 days? Even though I wish so bad I could have been there for you, I know that all three of us were being protected and prepared for each other. Your daddy and I are so grateful that now we can be by your side for forever. It took some time to get you feeling better tonight, our adventure began around 8:30 pm and we were glad to be getting home to our own bed by 2:00 am. They took a bunch of other tests to make sure you didn't have anything more serious, and all came back negative. Just a bout of the poops! Hopefully you will be back to "normal" quickly!

Wait... Do you think I'm strange cause I had the camera
at the Emergency Room?

I had to document this!

Outfit #2
Eating your identification band

At least it was keeping you entertained!

If only you knew what was coming next...
ignorance is bliss!

Outfit #3
The IV is in

Sad little face

After a snuggle with mommy you were sacked out.
It took 2 hours for the IV to drip so you had a good nap
while we waited.

Labor Day Fun

Monday, September 7, 2009
Dear Max,
We had such a fun Labor Day with our family in St. George. It was a fast week at work since I took Friday off to take you to some doctor appointments, I'll tell you more about that later. Grammie actually came down to Las Vegas on Thursday night to go to the doctors with you and I, since daddy had to work on Friday. So as soon as Daddy got home from work we packed up and hit the road! We had a full truck with all our camping gear, Grammie, you, daddy and I. On the drive up you started this "funny" new trick. When ever we say "Max, say Mommie" you say "Dada" - now we know that you are fully capable of saying Mommie, however, since we all laugh when we ask you to say Mommie and you say Dada, it's become a "funny" trick for you. I'll be honest, it is loosing it's humor for me! Pumpkin, I don't want you to not forget how to say Mommie!

Saturday, September 5, 2009
The entire week leading up to Labor Day, we have been putting you on your little scoot, scoot ATV. Trying to get you excited and geared up for the real deal. You had even started making car noises when you ride your little scoot, scoot ATV. I'm glad we practiced all week....

Practicing while making "Vroom Vroom" noises


Good Form!

All the practice at home paid off! We could hardly wait to get you on the REAL ATV, so as soon as we woke up, yup, still in our p.j.'s we headed out and took a quick spin around Grammie and Grampie's neighborhood.

Your first ride on an ATV


The Family on the ATV

Even watching with Grammie from the side lines is thrilling to you!

We were so excited to get up to the mountains. We left later that morning to meet up with our family friends the Ence's up at their cabin in the Zion Pondorosa Resort, it is on the far side of Zion. We went through Zion National Park on the way there, so you officially went through your first tunnel! Of Course I took a picture! When we got to the cabin your daddy was so excited to go that he just threw us all on the ATV and said, "Let's just go for a quick ride, and we'll come right back!" I said, "Should I grab anything?" "No, we will only be gone 5 or 10 minutes" The famous last words! I will say, you are not a fan of wearing the helmet, but once you were on the ATV you decided it was worth the annoying helmet.

Going through the tunnel in Zion's
Your first tunnel experience!


Yeah, the helmet is a little too big, it's hard to find helmets
for 9 month olds!


Heading off on our "5 - 10 minute ride!"
Yes, that Helmet is you!

So we were off on our quick little ride. Well, our quick little ride turned into a 45 minute ride which up until minute 43 you loved! You would laugh and goo and do your vroom vroom sounds the entire time. That is until we were coming down a hill and your little head got bumped on the ATV. We couldn't have gotten back at a better time! The perfect time to let the boys (minus you) go out on an even longer ride and the ladies (and you) could chat and you took a nap in the woods! Not completely in the woods, but in a pack and play outside. That's kinda in the woods if you ask me!

The Ence's currently live in Georgia, so it was such a treat to be able to see them and for you to be meeting them for the first time. Grammie and Daryl grew up together and have remained friends all these years. Our families all vacationed together and some of our most favorite memories are with the Ence and Wasden families. Since they currently live in Georgia and don't get up to their property often, they actually turn off their water. Well, they were having a bit of a challenge getting their water turned back on, so that meant, NO BATHROOMS! Grammie and I waited as long as we could, and then it was getting kind of desperate. Luckily your daddy and Grampie had come back, so I asked your daddy to unhook the trailer from the truck so Grammie and I could drive down to the club house at the resort and use their bathroom. They were all laughing at me that I don't dare drive the truck with a trailer and how silly that was! So your daddy and Grampie headed out to the truck and Grammie and I waited a bit then we left you with the Ence's and got into the truck and I started driving. We were in a bit of a hurry as the "situation" had gotten even more desperate. So I took off like a house of fire, baryling down the dirt roads to the club house. I swung into the parking lot and saw an open spot between an SUV and a car... perfect! It was even close to the door! I flung the car door opened, barely put the car in park before I jumped out to run in and "relieve" myself, when suddenly I stopped dead in my tracks! I looked at Grammie "DID I BRING THIS?!?!?" Yup! It was the trailer! And I was in a parking spot with the trailer hanging out in a lovely L shape blocking the SUV in their spot. Before I could even think - I jumped back into the truck. Concentrate Danell - Concentrate Danell - Concentrate on not having an "accident"! Grammie is standing on the opposite side of the truck laughing hestariclly as she holds her own belly trying to not have an "accident" either. That's when I saw out of my rear view mirror the owner of the SUV come out of the club house. I looked over to their vehicle as I sat in the driver seat... NO! "Has she been there the entire time?" Yup, the wife was sitting in the SUV the entire time, saw the whole thing and is laughing hestarically herself. This is not good - I somehow have to get this truck and trailer backed out of the parking lot, while concentrating on not having and "accident" while I have the audience of the wife who saw the whole thing and the husband who is so confused as to how this happend, and did I mention.... I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A TRUCK CONNECTED TO A TRAILER BEFORE! I'm really unclear on how I got the truck out, I remember hearing something like turn the way you want to or maybe it was the way you don't want to... regardless I seemed to make enough headway to get the truck and trailer out and found a BIG open field to turn around in, but still I have to find somewhere to park, cause don't forget the whole reason we were on this adventure in the first place! Perfect! The handicap spot is right in front against the curb! I'll take it. Now, I'm not condoning breaking the law, or using a handicap spot when your not handicap, but trust me by the way I was walking into the club house doing the "potty dance" I'm sure everyone around didn't suspect a thing! All in all the adventure on the mountain was great! We enjoyed dutch oven potatoes, chicken and cobbler, great friends, some insane laugh's and of course more family bonding moments!

At the top of the mountain! Grammie and Grampie

Amazing View from the top!

The Page and Ence Family

Max and Daryl

The next day, we spent on a different mountain. Iron mountain. This is our favorite place in southern Utah. Grampie and Grammie own some land on Iron mountain, and we often go there to ATV, target shoot and enjoy the outdoors, with no one else around. Because it is private property we get to have the entire mountain to ourselves. After we rode the ATV's again for awhile you experienced another first... Target shooting. You were a watcher, but I'm sure your daddy will have you trying it soon enough. You were not too sure about the loud noise - it kind of had you worried!

Getting back from riding the ATV
Grampie setting up the "target range"

Daddy helping...




The first shot is fired...

You were not so sure about it!

But decided that it was going to be ok!


It was Grampie's turn


You were not bothered at all by that point


The View from on top of Iron Mountain


I think we have an ATV addict! Great news... You fit right in!

The best part about a day on the mountain getting all dirty is coming back home and "washing" off in the pool! Daddy taught you how to blow into the noodles and make the water come out the other end. You thought that was pretty cool, along with splashing Grammie and eating your bottle while in the pool hanging in your "car"

Daddy teaching you all the tricks!


Splashing Grammie


Grammie getting you back!


It's a tough life!

On Monday we spent the day with Grandma Trenholm. She read you books and could not get over how big you are getting. She loves you so much and enjoys your visits.

Reading books with Grandma


Max you love your Grandma so much!


And you love her kisses


And more kisses


And more kisses

You kept asking for more and more kisses from Grandma and she was happy to give them!



Daddy, Grandma and Cooper


With your Aunt Kathy