Adventures with Grandma and Grandpa

Max just got back from spending a couple of nights with his Grandmim and Grandpa Tim in Dayton.  It's funny how time changes things...at first I could not imagine leaving him for even one night.  This time, I suggested another night.  Hopefully that doesn't make me a horrible mother.  I'll tell you what it does make me - and that is sane. 

 

I took a day off work and got my WHOLE HOUSE CLEAN!  A can't even remember the last time that happened...the bathrooms, the kitchen floor, and open shelving, all the vacuuming, new sheets on the bed, counters cleared...you get the idea. I ate dinner with my husband.  We talked about things other than the last time Max pooped and cleaning the humidifier...and we sat down the whole meal.  Mind blowing I tell you. 

 

Now...does that mean I didn't miss him?  Heck no!  I thought about him constantly. But, I knew my parents had the situation under control.  They have all his favorites and necessities ...so it was easy remind myself that he would be just fine....as you can tell from the below pic...

he made himself right at home. 

 

 

Each day my mom would text me several updates...including everything he ate at literally every meal. And, they did art projects!  I'm not even brave enough to try that at home.  But Grandmim, she busted out the stamp pads, glue, and googley eyes!  WOW!

 

 

Her texts would crack me up - reading something like "good morning mom and dad!  I woke up at 6:00 but Grandmim brought me into their bed and I slept until 8:45.  Now I just finished off my pumpkin bread, egg, banana, and glass of orange juice."  And then, my mom would go on to say "Does he think I'm running some kind of cafeteria?!"  haha! 

 

 

It actually makes me really happy that he can have some leisurely mornings.  So many times, I'm rushing him around...getting him dressed, feeding him, and then hurrying out the door...all so I can make it to work on time. No wonder he ate so much there...he had nothing but time and a captive audience for all his breakfast shenanigans (mind if I throw my food on the floor? 

don't mind if I do...this is #classicmax)

 

 

Speaking of shenanigans - Max picked up on how to play the harmonica while at Mim's!

He has been super into mimicking lately....so I simply showed him what to do and he went to town. He's a regular one man band. It's kind of hysterical to see him toddling around while simultaneously puffing out his cheeks filling the harmonica with hot air. It's kind of my new favorite things he does.

 

 

(This picture is pretty much the epitome of his days at his grandparents house.

Toys everywhere, candy basket in hand, and still in jammies at noon that accurately read

"Grandma let's me say up late)

 

The adventures are non stop at the grandparents house too.  Max went to play at an indoor play center at Fairhaven Church (where Grandmim chatted up all the other stay at home moms and found out some other little hot spots around town)....and of course let's not forget dinner at Frisch's (with his great grandparents too!), and he met all his favorite scrapbooking ladies and ended up staying for lunch, tooled around the neighborhood looking at all the trucks, even went to another pumpkin patch!I'm worn out just typing about it!

                                                                                   

(Grandpa is always good for a video or two...and cheese puffs!  And bananas!)

 

As his Mama, obviously I love Max. 

I love reading to him.  I love playing with him.  I love cuddling him. 

I love seeing his little belly bulge out after dinnertime. 

I love watching him run around in just a diaper.

 

But, you know what I love even more?

 

Watching other people love him.

 

When I hear any of Max's grandparents or even his daycare teacher rave about how well he shares....or a new word he says....or how he is starting to put words together... or how much fun he is to be around.  Or even that he was well behaved over lunch. It makes my heart swell with pride.

I'm proud of how he is.  I'm proud of who he is becoming.

 

 

These people...the grandparents...the aunt and uncles...the teachers....they don't have to love Max. 

In fact, it would be easy to judge (after all...not my circus, not my monkeys...right?)

But, I'm beyond grateful they do.

 

You know what else I'm thankful for?

 

I'm thankful for this little dude.  My tiny boss.

He may tell me to "sit down," "put it back" and 

"I want paci" about fifty times a day....

But, his loud, curious, and funny little self are basically adorable.

 

And I'm so glad we have these patient, helpful, and (basically) adorable people to

share him with.

 

xoxo forever!