Max's 1st Christmas

We remained jet-setters over the Holidays with a visit to Wyoming and then Minnesota for New Years.  We had a wonderful time in Evanston with the Freeland's.  We learned to play Wii Just Dance with the nieces (rather they kicked our old butts), stayed at the gorgeous Red Canyon Lodge, fished for trout, visited the Flaming Gorge National Park, had our 1st Max free over night in Park City, shopped till we dropped, witnessed Max's 1st belly laughs courteous of Miss Emily's entertainment, fed Max rice cereal and had many more fond memories over our 1st family Christmas.

Max playing it cool for Santa.

Scott flew straight back to Montreal while Max and I continued to play.  We celebrated Christmas part 2 with the Eck's, rang in the New Year at Maggie's, attended Lindsey's baby shower (can't wait to meet little Johnny), bridesmaid dress shopped with Andrea (excited for the big day September 1st), partied down for Alison's birthday, enjoyed many Target runs (Walmart just does not compare), watched Max sit-up alone for the 1st time, and had tons of fabulous lunch and dinner dates.

We are all back in Montreal getting settled into our new apartment at La Cite.  So far we're loving our city and river views from the 30th floor, and being connected to a mall in the below freezing weather.  Scott's new 2012 Cirque du Soleil show finally has a name, Amaluna.  Check out a small sneak peek on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vr7023_JdU  

Max has a 1st nearly everyday now and we look forward to sharing the ride.  Enjoy our Holiday photos below.  We love and miss you all!

Before we left for the Holidays Max turned 5 months old!

Hard at work in his "office"!

Canyon and Max were best buds in WY

Best Christmas gift ever!  Our little angel sleeps 12 hours, travels like a pro, and coo's and hoo's all day.  We love him!    

Max LOVES his cousins! (Max, Emily, Kaytlen and Kortney)  

 Mesmerized by the Flaming Gorge dam

Difficult getting a family picture.  Our little doggy is easily distracted.

Giddy up horsey!

Gorgeous view from cabin at Red Canyon Lodge

Emily the Pro ice fisherwoman!

Kaytlen and I are letting the fish come to us...

Scott prefers a more proactive approach to fishing :)

Not a huge fan of rice cereal

His lips were sealed after the first taste.  Thankfully carrots and apple sauce have gone over much better!

Happy 2012!  New Years bonfire at Maggie's. (me, Jen, Thach (Happy Birthday too), and Maggie)

Sitting up all by himself!

Max fighting Anne for her glass.  Little did he know she would WWE style a baby over wine :)  

 Ladies (+ Max) night out for Alison's birthday dinner

The party animal

Happy birthday Alison!

Little man exploring his roots

6 months old on January 11th, 2012.  Time flies when you're having fun...

G & G Freeland Montreal visit

At only 4 months old Max's life is complete as long as his fingers are free for sucking and someone is willing to carry him around from time to time.   Of course, his little twinkle toes barely touched the ground while Grandma & Grandpa Freeland visited.  He loved every second of it!  We had a wonderful time with G & G walking around the city, shopping, cooking, Starbucks runs, reading books, watching football (I'm working with Max on, "Go Vikings, boo Packers!"  Thankfully for Grandpa Bill it's a slow process), and just chatting it up while relaxing.  

4 months and already hitting the bottle, tipsy little dude.

Max LOVES to read, especially with Grandma Sandy.

Boy power!

What?!  I'm cool and I know it.

Thank you Mary Jane for the fabulous chewy toy.  Nice to give the fingers a rest.

Sweetest baby ever!

Max and I had a wonderful time in Minnesota for his first Turkey Day, but as usual it went by too quickly with not enough time to do and see everyone.  Poor Scott had to stay back and work.  Canada celebrates Thanksgiving or known as "Action de Grace" in Quebec in October and it's not the same big deal as we make it in the States.  However, the show is coming along beautifully and on track (so far) for it's premiere date of April 19th in Montreal.

Happy birthday Grandma Peggy, Grandpa Bill and Sara!

We had a wonderful time celebrating Grandma Peggy's 60th.  Sushi for us and soy for my little dairy free delicate flower.

The party animals!  Max was already passed out in his car seat.

...is that...a baby...in a bar?!  Yes, it is!  Max loved Bingo and Trivia night at Mainstreets.

Maggie teaching Max the ropes around downtown Hopkins

Always such a happy boy!

Winter is here and the snow is near, but Max can't wait to smear his drooly kisses all over his cousins.  T-19 days until Evanston for the Holidays and Kourtney's birthday celebration!

So full!

Just like daddy!

Mini Scott in the making

Feedings can feel a little like pin the bottle on the baby

Grandma Eck Montreal Visit

We had a blast with Grandma E!  We walked all around the city, drove around town (rather jerked start and stop for miles on end cause of the awful construction and crumbling bridges), visited Notre-Dame Basilica, Mont Royal, Cirque headquarters, shopped, ate Grandma's home cooking, tried new restaurants and watched the Cardinals take on the World Series.  Max especially loved Grandma's fabulous bath time massages.  He would smile, coo, stick his tongue out and click when she rubbed his hands and feet.

Dining in style with Grandma E at a French restaurant in the Old Port

Notre-Dame Basillica

The Bank of Montreal

On top of Mont Royal or known as "The Mountain" overlooking the Northern area and St. Lawrence River at the tail end of the Fall foliage.

The big bronze clown shoe outside Cirque headquarters.

Over the Halloween weekend we visited Quinn Farms about 45 minutes outside Montreal.  We saw pigs, chickens, cows, goats and horses.  None of which Max gave a hoot about yet because they didn't flash fancy bright colors or rub his feet, but still amusing to see his countless facial expressions.  We also went on a hayride to their apple orchard and pumpkin patch.  We made a delicious homemade apple pie with the local Cortland, Spartan and Empire apples.  Not as good as Minnesota's famous Honeycrisp in my opinion, but still tasty.  Then we carved pumpkins at Velvet, Mike and Myla's house with friends.  It was a fun farewell week to Fall!

 Don't think the stinky part helped with Max's interest level either.

 Family of skunks on our hayride

 Picking apples for our pie

 Max found a good one and directed Daddy to get more.

Pumpkins were a bit picked over 

Thanks again to Grandma Eck for making the special trip.  Now we look forward to Grandma and Grandpa Freeland coming this week.  Max is a happy, spoiled little boy and he always welcomes more pampering visitors!

 With the bright blue sleeper underneath we called Max the Pumpkin that ate a Smurf

 Ex Koozan - some artists wore a skull outfit during Scott's old show, Kooza.

He is a mover and shaker now!

Max learning of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries divorce - not shocked nor upset, just drooly as usual.