My sweet baby boy turned one on Saturday, May 9th. It hit me harder than usual this time, realizing my baby is now a toddler and going to need me less and less. But this sweet boy has added so much joy to our family this past year that it is hard to be sad for long! I love watching the girls with him and how they still want to kiss him goodnight before every nap and rush to hug him every morning. They watch over him like little mothers and are happy to push him around the driveway in his little car buggy. He smiles whenever he sees them, laughs at their goofy antics, and tries to get in on whatever they are doing, whether it is a dance party, tackling dad, or running outside. I will forever cherish every moment from his first year and look forward to making many more memories with him.

On the morning of Maximus' birthday, all the girls rushed to squeeze him and wish him a Happy Birthday as soon as he got up. He had no idea what was going on, but they were all excited about his big day. Then Madeline looked at him from across the breakfast table and said, "He looks the same as he did when he was 11 months! He doesn't look any older!" as if he was going to have a magical growth spurt while he was sleeping :)
Later that day, Rose said, "Max isn't doing anything fun on his birthday. We get to do something fun, but he doesn't." Birthdays are a huge deal to Rose. She plans out every second of hers months in advance, so she was very concerned that we weren't doing enough to celebrate little Max.
Since everyone was getting together the next day for Mother's Day, we decided to celebrate Max's birthday on Sunday instead (he doesn't know the difference, right?!). So after mass, we had lunch with Paul's parents and a mini-birthday celebration there. He got his first taste of sugar cookie!
And like his sisters, the icing was definitely his favorite part!
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| Big sisters surrounded Maximus like hawks during the present opening |
That night we headed to my parents' for dinner and did the traditional one-year old destroying of the birthday cake for dessert. And Max did not disappoint!
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| The cake, pre-destruction |
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| I love this picture because you can see some of the many people there celebrating Maximus. He is one loved little boy! |
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| Going to town |
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| Now it's time to squish it all with my hands. |
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| Anthony getting into the party theme with his perfect black icing 'stache |
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| Since Max didn't smash his face in the cake, Jack thought Madeline should! |
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| Daddy helping Maximus open his presents |
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| Some of the party goers getting their 'stache on! |
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| Mustaches make you do crazy things! |
Happy Birthday to our little man! You are such a gift to us!!!