Welcome Sonora

Max's long awaited cousin has finally arrived! Sonora James Johnston graced us with her arrival on May 31 to her already wonderful, loving, perfect parents Jen and Derek... we are so happy for them and very excited about Max's new playmate.

It's amazing how now, he being almost 7 months old and she being only a few weeks old, they seem worlds apart, however in just a few short years those 6 months will become less and less important. Although Sonora gets to spend her days and nights at home with her dotting parents, when she is ready for "school" she and Max will be attending the same one! Max is really going to have to step it up and play the protective cousin role for her. He will have to keep bullies away from her, share his snacks with her, teach her how to play and read and write (yes, I suppose the teachers will help out in that department as well), essentially act like a big brother.

This is how excited Max was when he heard about her birth....

WELCOME SONORA -- WE LOVE YOU!

Passing on Palm Trees

There is just something about the smell of the beach, warm sun and air surrounding you and beautifully tall palm trees that just makes your body relax instantly. Although I still attest that to be true, the effect was shorter lived for me on my latest trip than it usually is -- I just wanted to be home with my boys. I feel like such a sap. Who wouldn't want a few days away to catch some rays, get away from your desk / computer screen and just go somewhere new? This girl I suppose. Although I had great company and the event was a professional success, I seemed to stare at the clock hoping time would fly by so that I'd find myself at home sooner rather than later.

(I was done with this....)

I think I was overly homesick because just a few days before I left, when I picked up Max from school, I read his report card for the day and realized that they had checked two activity boxes for him that had until now never been touched -- crawling and climbing. What?!?! Max is moving around and I missed it? Ugh, those are the worst days for us working Mom's -- the day you think or realize that you may have missed a first. I drove straight home and plopped my boy on the floor and ordered him to crawl for me. Thirty minutes later he was still playing with the toys he could reach so all and all I felt better about not missing too much and have watched him like a hawk ever since. I am ready to see him make that first crawl :)

But seriously, how could you not miss a face like this? Who needs palm trees when you can play with Max Man! This is where I wanted to be (insert awww or gag here ;) )

(Max trying to eat some snacks -- still prefers the really mushy stuff)