Overload of cuteness...

Max was in another wedding this weekend and it was just an overload of cuteness...he even got to walk the couple's cute dog down the aisle- check it out:)

Of course his mean old mom made him pose for some photos - I just couldn't help it!

I had to capture some of Max with his Papa GG - I think the pictures speak for themselves as far as how much these two love each other:)

And one more that shows the 3 generations of men:)

WonderLab

We have made a summer to-do list (an idea I borrowed from some other blogs I read) and we got to check off one last week - "visit the WonderLab!" Max & I traveled to Bloomington with Jessica & baby Dailee to meet up with Lauren, who took us to Mama Bear's to eat and then to the WonderLab to play:) We had a yummy lunch, a funny diaper-changing incident with Dailee in downtown Bloomington, and then spent the afternoon exploring the WonderLab. Just one of our many adventures during the Summer of 2011:

Constant reminders...

There are times when I have little patience with my sweet little boy. I get grumpy and tired...tired of telling Max to pick up his toys, tired of stepping on Legos or walking past his messy room. But this week as I walked around the house, I looked at those scattered toys with a different perspective - I started thinking of them as sweet reminders of his childhood. A childhood that is moving wayyyyyy too fast for this mama.

Reminders of giggles and laughs over silly games...

Reminders of pretend play with lots of imagination...

Reminders of dreams unseen and a future wide open...

It helps me remember that one day soon the world will be his to explore without me, and I will no longer see those constant reminders of a little boy who makes my heart sing. I will miss those scattered toys, his messy room, and picking up after him. And I'm going to spend the rest of the summer cherishing these constant reminders of Max's childhood.

Last weekend I was so excited to inherit a new sister:) - Gabe's brother Caleb married his sweetie, Mallory Wagler. We had such a fun weekend with family and friends - I had my camera with me all weekend and snapped lots of photos. We even got one family picture taken...which is really rare lately - I think I've only been in a couple pictures since I got pregnant. With this pregnancy I've been so insecure - sorta hiding as much as I can. It's truly crazy how different my two pregnancies have been...and how my 30 year old body has handled this baby compared to how I carried Max at age 24. I began to show much sooner, my belly button popped out the minute I found out I was pregnant, my back has spasms often, I'm sore and so much more tired.

Max was the ring bearer and he had a blast all weekend - even getting to ride in a Hummer limo to the reception. He completely wore his tux out at the reception by playing football, running around like a wild-man, and even jumping in puddles at the end of the night (most of this I didn't even know about until much later)! Typical boy stuff - I just love that little man!

Max also had his last baseball game on Monday evening - and even though he was disappointed to lose in the 1st game of the tourney, he has learned so much this year and made some great friends along the way!

It has been a great start to our summer, and I'm excited to see how the rest of it unfolds!

Divorce

(Max 2008)

Some say I took the easy way out...

this is anything but easy.

Gil and I seperated when Max was only 2 years old.

Now he's 5 - and last night he broke down.

It was a normal night...we read a book, said our prayers, and laid down to fall asleep. And I started to hear Max whimper. It started out so softly that I thought I was only imagining it. But it quickly turned into full-blown sobbing.

I asked him what was wrong -

and my heart broke when he cried "I miss my Daddy!"

It caught me off guard because it's been so long since he has done this.

99% of the time Max is the most well-adjusted, happy, carefree little boy.

But I am often reminded that the choices that his father and I made are STILL affecting our sweet little boy every single day of his life.

Even if I don't see the effects all the time.

Even if I still feel this was the right choice for all of us.

Even if it still hurts.

No one should ever say divorce is the easy way out.

It's HARD and it's BRUTAL...and it's our reality.

Our hearts are still healing and probably always will be.

Preschool Graduate

My little man is now a Preschool graduate! Holy moly - where did the time go? He makes me a super-proud mama and I just don't know where I would be right now without that little boy. There have been times in his little life that he was all I had and I was all he knew. This bond will never be broken...if I'm sure of anything in my life that is the truth I hold on to. He looked super sweet in his red cap & gown...and acted incredibly grown up as he led the pledge of alligence and sang songs on stage with his classmates. Here is a short clip of the program:

Max has some really close friends from his class...and this is him with his buddy, Aiden.


There is no doubt in my mind that Max is ready to kindergarten in August...the amount of progress he has made in the last few months of Preschool is really amazing! At the program they recited their ABC's, counted by 5's and 10's, said the days of the week and months of the year, and even memorized a few nursery rhymes.

When we got home, Max had a graduation present waiting for him - and he was so very excited about it!!! A NEW BIKE - without training wheels:) Of course we had to try it out right away!

Baseball season

Max's baseball season is in full swing - we usually have 2 -3 games each week and I somehow got roped into keeping the book! It's been busy, but an easy-going type of busy which I love. Most of my evenings as a child were spent at the ball park in Odon, and getting back into that routine has been relaxing. Here are a few photos of my little man playing ball:

My "little" cousin Jessica had a sweet baby girl last week, her name is Dailee Jo Echavarria. We love her so much already and I just think she is the most precious little thing! We visited her in the hospital, but Max didn't get to meet her until yesterday, when we took them supper. He was so very excited and couldn't wait to hold her - I think he was practicing for his baby sister who is due in just 3 short months! I think baby Swartzentruber and Dailee Jo will be the best of friends and I can't wait to watch them grow up together!

Yesterday morning my cousin Chas's little man had his first communion, so we went to church with them and helped the family celebrate afterwards with lunch & cake:) He is such a big boy and growing up too fast...what a sweetheart! We just found out that Chas is expecting - so this already large family will be growing even larger!! We are very excited!

Later this week Max has his Odon Christian Church Preschool graduation - so be sure to check back later in the week for lots of pictures in his cap and gown:)