We've managed not to mess Max up too much, as far as we can tell, over the last 365 days. At least not in any way that has surfaced yet. We'll keep our fingers crossed as we go on from this day (366) forward.
Sunday started earlier than any Sunday conceivably should. First on the agenda was a trip up to Durand. Annie's stepfather Jon delivered a fantastically mesmerizing sermon and did us a great personal service in performing Max's baptism. Dick, Annie's father, performed a beautiful trombone solo during the service to make Max's day uniquely his own. We hope these wonderful guys really understand how much we appreciate what they contributed and how much it means to us.
Nanny proclaimed a few weeks ago Max would be walking by his birthday. The last week has seen strolls of about 7 to 10 steps at a time, and wouldn't you know it, with a jam-packed house full of people and presents, Max managed to make his rounds looking like pro. Stopping, starting, wobbly turning around with toys in both hands, Max made Nanny into the latest, local Nostradamus. He's a clutch player that Maxwell...
As you can see from the pictures below, Max completely went to town on his first birthday cake. It was his first taste of chocolate and he passed the final test proving he definitely has Bloxom genes. The only thing to stop him from finishing his own little cake was the unobtainable energy needed to keep his eyes open and to keep from nodding off face-first into his pile of cake. We finally threw in towel when he started wiping frosting into his little eyeballs. A quick, reguvinating bath and some new clothes later he was back at it, checking the heap of new toys in the middle of the living room.
We have great families. Thank you sooo much for all you do. And for all the ones out of town and state, we miss you too. (And help me remind Max in a few years just how hard his mother worked to pull off a great party...)
