Happy Birthday Mav!

 Happy Birthday Mav! I can't believe it was one year ago that you came into the world.  I was getting so frustrated waiting for you to be born but you were totally worth the {long} wait.  You were such a beautiful baby and you are turning into the sweetest little boy.

Even though I was really tired after your birth I would still stay up sometimes and just stare at you while you slept... such a perfect & handsome little guy.

I've heard fathers and daughters have a special bond but now I know mothers and sons have something really special too ♥

You have always been pretty easy going and have gone with our family wherever our adventures have taken us: road trips, moving homes twice, multiple camping trips, the park, the boardwalk, bike rides, and the beach.  I sometimes forget important things on our outings but you don't seem to mind that we improvise.... I often end up putting Adelaide's hat on you, letting you drink out of Adelaide's sippy cups and walking around with you on my hip when I forget your stroller.

You are just a baby in this picture and obviously didn't know any better... but no giving the bird in pictures now that you are one!

You and your big sis Adelaide have so much fun together and I love watching the two of you. At first I was constantly trying to protect you from her since she would push you down, steal your toys or give you really tight hugs.  But now you can usually handle yourself.  You two are always giggling together and playing games that no one else can understand.  I have a feeling you two will be good friends.

Now that Adelaide knows how to take pictures on my phone camera I find cute candid shots like this of you.

You are always trying to climb on things-- up the slides at the park, up stairs, onto our couch, and on and off our bed.  You somehow always wiggle your way out of safety belts and end up {momentarily} standing in your high chair and sometimes even in shopping carts.

You are so strong! Rick childproofed this cabinet but after a few shakes you broke the entire cabinet off its hinges! It is near impossible to change your diaper, you wiggle around and I can't hold you down.

You love to walk around and often head in the opposite direction that we are trying to go.  You learned to walk during your tenth month which I wasn't quite prepared for! You prefer to walk around without shoes and take them off every chance you get.  Lucky for me you haven't quite mastered taking off your socks yet.

You love going to the park and running around, sitting on the teeter totter with your sister and going on the swings. 

You LOVE blackberries! We pick them during the summer and you grunt like a little monkey until we feed you one, then after you finish it you grunt some more until you get another. And on and on it goes.   You can eat a whole basket full all by yourself when I let you.  You are a pretty good eater in general and eat most foods but you especially love fruits and butternut squash.  And you love apples... you eat the entire thing, even the core if I let you.

Sometimes when you are worn out you just lay on the floor and put your head down.  Only for a couple of seconds though, and then you pop back up and continue playing.

I have a feeling you will be a surfer like your daddy because you love water! I was worried you weren't going to because you went through a phase where you cried in the bath or shower, but you quickly moved on.  You splash around and don't seem to mind if the water is even a little cold.  You also lean down and try to drink any water you are around whether it is in an open dishwasher door, a pond or the bath.  You also love toilets (but you've never drinken that water) and if we aren't vigilant about keeping the door shut you get in their quick, lift the lid and start splashing your hands around.  It is pretty gross but also funny how much you love it.  It is so much easier to wash your face than it was to wash Adelaide's; she would always resist it but you embrace it and try to drink the rinsing water.  

We loved going to concerts in the park every Friday night during the summer. You would bounce up and down to the music and smile at everyone around. 

You have the blondest hair I've ever seen! Everywhere I go it seems like people stop us to comment on your blondness and tell us about their nephew or husband or son that also had really blonde hair.  

You loved your chocolate birthday cupcake.  You've never had anything like that before and you thought it was pretty great.  

Happy Birthday Maverick! I feel so blessed to be your mom and look forward to all the adventures ahead!