Max is Four

Four years ago you were the 1st. The first of our three kids who've helped us see that we've just begun to realize the breadth of our strength and the depth of our love. On your Birthday it's our hope that we too can give you these gifts to help you though your lifetime. That, and another toy vehicle to add to your existing fleet.

Sometimes it's hard to think back to how your dad and I were before kids. Not because we don't remember it - oh, no. The contrast will forever be etched in our minds between a life with no "real" responsibilities and a life with three very real responsibilities. It's hard to think back because it makes me realize how "green" we were. Young and naive to the vast amount of work that was about to come our way, as well as the staggering love our eyes would be opened to.

But enough about that.

Happy 4th Birthday my Max! You are this amazing little boy. So incredibly affectionate and always over the top emotive. A non-stop talker and creative problem solver. Every day I am amazed at your ingenuity while playing. Although you're incredibly playful and silly, there are other times when you're so focused, taking everything in and developing your point of view about it. You have an opinion on everything and make it known (and this is a good thing...we're just working on the delivery of it sometimes).

You love being the biggest brother of the family and are always checking on Otto and Wren to make sure they're OK. Except when you're not. Which means you might be exercising your "Alpha Dog" tendencies instead.

To the one who started it...

Happy 4th Birthday Max!

Continuing our tradition from last year, I filled your bedroom floor with balloons. It was a bit trickier and riskier this year given that Otto and you share a room, coupled with the horrible sleeping both you boys have been doing recently. It's nearly certain that one or both of you will wake up in the night. Not sure if you'd realize there are balloons on the floor, I went to bed expecting the whole house to have a heart attack at 2am. But I was ok with this...given we're already down on sleep, we might as well reap the benefit of some shrieks of excitement in the morning (or middle of the night). And while the 2am heart attacks didn't happen, you did wake at 4:36am to pee and were so excited you crawled into our bed asking when your birthday party could begin. I gave a firm "When the clock says 6-0-0." But the next hour sounded like a cross country road trip with a lot of "Are we there yets?" Apparently you realized that I was not getting out of bed for a party until 6am because when Otto woke us at 6:30, you were back in your bed sleeping.

You're favorite color is green and you had asked if I'd blow up green balloons for your birthday. I obliged and hung them from crepe paper in the doorways to the kitchen and playroom.

Then we headed to the kitchen for a few presents and some breakfast. We got you the book "If You Give a Dog a Donut" and what other than...donuts with sprinkles for breakfast.

Otto, Wren and I visited you at school for snack, singing "Happy Birthday" and eating some S'mores Goldfish with your class.

Perhaps the birthday surprise I was most excited about was something I thought of myself vs. finding on Pinterest! Given it was a school day, I wanted to surprise you with something at lunch. I blew up a tiny balloon and stuffed it, along with some streamers, a note and a chocolate treat into your Thermos. Your teachers said you and your friends loved this little surprise (so much better than finding scrambled eggs in it for the 3rd day in the row)! Mom - 1, Pinterest - 274 (but who's keeping track;)

After school we all went to pizza at Punch and then home for some (more) cake.

Recognize it? Yep, its one of the cakes from your and Otto's family party a couple weeks ago. Just tossed some chocolate chips on it in the shape of a '4' and lit some candles.

Happy Birthday Max!