Dixie College Homecoming Weekend and so much more...

Sunday, October 12, 2009
Dear Max,
We had a fun weekend in St. George. We enjoyed the festivities of the Dixie College Homecoming weekend, meeting your daddy's niece's daughter Lexi and attending the wedding of Hilary and Jacob. Wow! It was a lot to pack into one little weekend. But you know us...we like to multitask and thrive on staying busy. We got to St. George late Friday night, we actually dropped you off at Grammie's and daddy and I went with Auntie Julie, Brian out to Auntie Andrea's parents house for a marshmallow roast. We had a great time laughing and talking until the wee hours of the morning. It was fun to enjoy the beautiful weather outside and the great company. Your daddy and Brian were being super silly and took this picture outside on a bench that Andrea's mom has. I hope we are invited back again?!? It's definitely questionable!

Saturday morning we got up bright and early to attend the Dixie College Homecoming Parade. Grammie was riding in the float, cause she is on the Dixie College Alumi Board and was in charge of several of the activities during the week, including the Alumni Banquet that was held later that evening. This is your 2nd parade, and you loved it! You liked this parade so much - compared to the 4th of July parade. You loved the bands when they would go by and you loved waving at all the people that loved waving at you!

Mommy, Daddy and Cooper
Waiting for the parade to start



Max waiting for the parade to start!



Elder and Sister Holland
They were the Grand Marshall's of the Parade


It's GRAMMIE!

Grammie came and enjoyed the parade with us
after she fulfilled her parade duties!
You were so excited!!!



The LDSSA float gave away
scripture marking pencils
You were pretty excited about it!


Dad was not enjoying it as much as you.
While pencils do fit into daddy's ear's
they are not intended to be in ear's...
words of wisdom for your future!

Daddy had his arms full on the way back
to the car!

After the parade we went down to Aunt Kathy's house to see Lexi, Camri and Kathy. We enjoyed a nice visit and lunch at the Brick Oven. Where daddy decided to feed you a lemon. I want you to remember this Max, when you get older. Which parent was the one to feed you the crazy stuff just to see how you would react... that's right YOUR DADDY!

Stage One of Lemon Tasting:
Ignorance is Bliss

Stage Two of Lemon Tasting:
What the CRAP is this!

Stage Three of Lemon Tasting:
Not too bad!

After lunch we went over to Grandma Trenholm's so she could see how big you are getting and so she could meet Lexi for the first time. We had a fun visit with Grandma. She couldn't believe how big you have gotten! You were not as snugly this time...it makes me sad to think that you are growing out of this stage!! My little snuggle guy is growing up! You still are good for some nice open mouth kisses, which makes up for it all.

Grandma Trenholm meeting
Lexi for the first time!

Grandma Trenholm saying hi to you!
She loves you so much!

Two Beautiful Ladies..
Camri and Lexi

Still good for giving kisses...

Dancing on Grandma's bed...

But no snuggles this time...
maybe next time!

After visiting with Grandma the race began. We ran back to Grammie and Grampie's to get dressed up. We had Jacob and Hilary's wedding reception to attend and the Dixie College Alumni banquet to attend. You have a busy little social schedule. We met up with Auntie Julie and Brian as they had an identical evening planned, so we drove to the wedding and banquet together. Hilary and Jacob's wedding was beautiful. I left he camera in the car... so I didn't get any pictures, but I will tell you that I had I taken the camera with us their would be no need for us to go to a pumpkin patch this fall. Their were pumpkins EVERYWHERE... to be exact, their were 4,000 lbs of pumpkin!! Can you even imagine. It was like the guessing game of how many jelly beans are in the jar, except it was how many pumpkins are in the back yard. We hurried at the reception so we wouldn't be too late for the banquet.

Even after hurrying as fast as we could, we were still 15 minutes late for the banquet. It seemed sort of strange walking into the banquet late, when all 500 people were seated already with a baby, you can imagine the looks we were getting, but you see, they don't know you...the worlds greatest baby! No sooner did we get seated, when Papa Rogers spotted you and took you back to his table, which worked out good, so your daddy, Grammie, Grampie and I could all eat while you enjoyed the entertainment with some of the great great people. By the time we were done eating, their food had arrived and we switched. You enjoyed your own sweet potato puree table side, while we listened to the program. The key note speaker was your cousin Elder Jeff Holland. Elder Hollands Mom and my Grandpa are brother and sister. Your daddy and I had a strategic planned thought out of how we would space your entertainment / food through the evening to keep you happy and quiet. Well, the evening was a little longer than expected and the entertainment / food ran out much quicker than expected. So by the time Elder Holland got up to speak, we were at your mercy. I will say, I don't think I took one breath during his entire talk. I was so worried that at any given moment you would break out into a gleeful laugh or even worse a mad cry. But you were as equally captivated by every word he spoke as the rest of us were. We are so blessed to be from a community like St. George, and even more blessed that our ancestors are the talented individuals that built the community. Elder Holland talked about the fact that it was Dixie College Homecoming Weekend, and what it is like to "come home." I related so much to the words he spoke, I feel it each and every time we drive up the I-15 and as we come into town I see the spire of the St. George temple with the red hills in the back ground. The relief and comfort of being home!

After the banquet, Grammie had to stay around to clean up and take care of some things, this gave us an opportunity to go and talk with Elder Holland and Pat. You had yet to meet them, as we were unable to attend the family reunion this summer, we were out of town. Max, I'm not sure if I have shared this with you yet, but I will never forget Mother's Day, 2005. I'm sure I have told you of how much I dreaded Mother's day prior to your arrival. It was always an awkward and emotional day - and the fact that it is always on a Sunday made it that much worse! For some reason being at church always seemed to magnify our lack of a family. That mother's day of 2005, your daddy and I decided to drive up to St. George and spend the day with our own mothers. When we got to town to visit and see family, Elder Holland heard we were in town, he was there to spend this special day with his own mother. He knew of our struggle to start a family and called and asked if he could come over and give your daddy and I a blessing. I will never forget this experience, and I will never forget the blessing which he gave me, of all things said that day, the one that has brought me through was a blessing of peace. I have felt this protection so many times. As soon as Elder Holland saw you he swept you out of your daddy's arms and simply said "Max, we have prayed for a long time for you to arrive." The two of you couldn't take your eye's off each other. Not even for a picture. Max, you are such a special spirit, and I know that Elder Holland felt your spirit that night and I'm so glad that you could feel his warmth and love for you.

Elder Holland So excited to finally
get to meet you!

The two of you couldn't take your
eye's off each other!

Mommie, Daddy, Sister Holland and you!

Grampie Couldn't resist!

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Dear Max,
Lot's to fill you in on...We got an extra surprise on Sunday night after conference. Grampie came down to visit! You are so very lucky to have grandparents that love you so much! Grampie had some doctor appointments so he came down a day early so he could see you. I wish I could say that he came to see me... but it really is all about you now. He enjoyed playing with you and teaching you all about your new toy you scored during your play date yesterday. It is a really cool airplane that you can ride on. Your grampie thinks the world of you, and loves to teach you all sorts of things. Grampie was the first person to teach you to click your mouth, you still to this day bust into laughter every time you click your mouth. And now with 4 top teeth making their appearance soon I hope you still have the ability to do a good mouth click! Your a lucky little boy! I love you Max!!!

It all started at 5:00 am...

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Dear Max,
I have had a really fun day with you today. Our Day started at 5:00 am. Now, that doesn't seem like it would be very much fun, however, you had gone to bed with a bit of a fever and woke up at 5:00 am still feeling really warm. As I'm sure any first time parents do, your daddy and I laid in bed wondering what we should do. We certainly don't want to over react, and we really don't want to under react either... where is the balance! Again, daddy suggest the nurses help line, I will say, I'm starting to make friends with the nurse ladies. I always preface my call with "Hi, I'm a first time mom, and I'm really not sure..." I wonder what excuse I will use when I'm a second time mom and still having the same struggle? After the nurse completed her interrogation, she suggested some Motrin and monitoring. Well, we don't own Motrin, so the two of us headed out to Wal-Mart. You and I were already up, and daddy had to work today, so we left him in bed to get some sleep and the two of us headed out. Now, I must say... the world is different at 5:30 am on a Saturday, and by world I'm mean Wal-Mart. Frankly, it is GLORIOUS! Not a sole around... aisle upon aisle all to ourselves, except for the occasionally pallet for stocking purposes. I decided we should take full advantage of our pajama wearing, no make-up on and hair sticking straight up adventure. Not only did we pick up some Motrin, but some grocery's, Halloween candy, Cinnamon rolls (how could we resist, they were baking them and the whole store was filled with cinnamon goodness). After we left Wal-Mart we headed back home, had some breakfast and then went and snuggled back in bed with daddy. Who would have thought that I would ever be "napping" at 7:00 am. We had a nice two hour nap, and then we re-started our day. First, mommy did some cleaning and laundry and you were a great "help" to this cause, we even decorated for Halloween. It was great to be getting this accomplished, as it was a big afternoon. We had planned for your FIRST "official" play date!

The time was set for 1:00 pm. I really did try to get you to take a little nap before the festivities began... but wouldn't you know it at 12:45 pm you decided to fall asleep. I couldn't believe it... the "host" missed the first hour of the play date! We had mommies two friends from work, Roma and Sarah come over with their babies. Sarah brought Olivia, who just celebrated her first birthday and Roma brought Vinnie, who was born on the same day as you! We played and ate lunch and then you woke up! We all decided to go up to your room to welcome you to your play date. You did look a bit confused when we all showed up in your room. We went down stairs and you and I taught Vinnie and Olivia the monkey song. And your favorite part is definitely their favorite part. You just love "snapping that monkey out of the tree." It was so fun to watch the three of your interact. In some ways you did play together and in other ways you could really care less that anyone else was around. Our play dates left around 3:30 and we were pooped! We picked up the toy's and laid down on the couch for my second and your third nap of the day. What a perfect day for a nap, the back door open, a cool breeze coming through and snuggling with my little man. I have to say, sometimes we get so busy, that I just feel like we are running here and running there, and out of town for this or that, and it might seem strange, but I most feel like a "mommy" when I'm here at home taking care of you. I'm grateful that we have such an active life and I know that this is why I cherish a day like today, where I can just be home with you and be a mom. I love you Max - even at 5:00 am!

Olivia, Max and Vinnie



Olivia



Vinnie



Max and Olivia



The Gang Hanging out



Vinnie's loving the ATV

I Can't Believe We Have Fridge Art!

Thursday, October 1, 2009
Dear Max,
I love it! I love - love - love having your art work displayed on the fridge!! I smile every time I walk into the kitchen and I just giggle that at 10 and 1/2 months you have created such wonderful masterpieces! Ms. Jaime is so fun and always makes sure you participate during arts and crafts. It fills my heart to see our fridge like this. We love you Max!

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!