What my parents probably WISHED they had named me!

Really? They wrote a *bad word* on Max's birth certificate? And they want ME to pay $20 to fix it? Plus notary fees? Plus postage? What a headache! The sweet little old lady who gave it to me and saw the error informed me: "Oh my! Looks like there is a typo. Instead of Dawn as your middle name, they put (*whispering*) D-A-M-N!" I think she may have even blushed.

Back to the beginning...

Monday January 10, 1977

Well Saturday night there was a dance at the Pasco Stake Center for 3 Stake Young Adults. LuAnn and I took Robyn. Before I washed my hair for the dance, I cut it! When I dried and curled it I wished a thousand times I had left it alone. At the dance, I had a really good time. Rob Bready and I danced quite a bit and then my radar zeroed in on Bob Boneck. I remember him from other dances and what a good dancer he is. He asked me to dance and we had a super good time. He’s such a flatterer. He kept winking at me, telling me how good-looking I was and made me promise him “another dance.” After the dance, we went to Pizza Pete and had something to drink. We laughed, told jokes, talked and really had fun. (Me and Bob.)

Sunday, (yesterday) LuAnn and I went to the Young Adult Sunday School. Of course Bob goes there too. He kept flirting with LuAnn but I kept my cool. She didn’t act interested! Rob Bready asked me out for Friday to a “Know your Religion” series. I said I’d go. Also, there’s a fireside at Rob’s tonight so LuAnn and I got special invites from Bob and Rob. LuAnn didn’t go but I did and I’m sure glad I went. Rob lives in our old house on 7^th avenue and they’ve added onto it so he had to show me all around. It looks really good. Anyway, I scanned the living room and yep! Bob was there. I sure do think he’s cute. It was one crack after another and then he said, “Chris, call me Tuesday night and we’ll go out.” I told him I didn’t know his number so he could call me. He told me his number and said, “There, you know it, so call me.” I told him I would go right home after the fireside, call him, give him my number, and then he could call me on Tuesday. He said ok but on the way home, I thought it over. If he wants to take me out Tuesday, he’ll find my number or he’ll come over because he knows where I live. So, I got home and I refrained, even though I wanted to call him so bad I could taste it! Now, he better call me because I really want to go out with him and I know he wants to take me out. I think that maybe he’s afraid I’ll turn him down because at the fireside something was said about my date Friday with Rob and then Dana Jones asked me to be his partner Saturday, doing inventory at the Bon Marche so maybe he thinks I just don’t have time for him, but I’d make time for him!

He’s from Bend, Oregon, a black belt, (3^rd degree) in karate, the only boy at home (Terry’s in South Carolina on his mission), cute as can be, and fun to be with. All the essentials, wouldn’t you say?!

-an excerpt from the journal of Christine Andersen

...and you know the rest!

*I love you and miss you tons Mom!*

Smile! It is the key that fits the lock of everybody's heart.

We've tried out this toy before without much interest, but today it was like he was seeing it for the first time! He was in such a great mood so I busted out the camera, and he surprised me with the sweetest smiles! His smiles are still very rare, but when they DO happen, I can't help but smile right back! Seriously, one smile makes all the hard times completely worth it!

Ok...the video isnt uploading for some reason. If you want to watch it on YouTube, go here.

A Blessed Day

Abby, Shannon, Matthew, Grandpa Robert, Crystal, Max, Craig, Saphara

The Sunday before last (March 14th) was Max's first Sunday at church, and what a Sunday it was! Craig's dad, half sister Shannon, step brother Matthew, and OTHER half sister Saphara came in support of us. Max was blessed by his daddy, along with his Grandpa Robert, and then we had a celebration luncheon at Cassie and Abby's house where Craig made his *famous* chicken wings, and we were able to visit with the Hulls who had just arrived into town the night before. Max couldn't quite take all the excitement, and fell asleep shortly after church, and Craig napped with him at Cassie's house. Then I took Craig's spot on the bed and took my turn napping with him. Later that evening we took a walk on the beach before heading home.

Real men wear pink!

The magic powers of a binky!

Sunday nap!

Thank you so much to everyone who came and supported Max and us. It was a very special event, and wish that EVERYONE could have been there!

Zzzzzzz

Go ahead Max, rub it in.

One Month Old!

Thanks Jen Dorn for sending Max the cute little outfit, the swaddler, and the Soothies! He loves them! In fact, he won't take any other binky. We got a kick out of it too. You can see right inside to his little gums chomping up and down on it! He doesn't do much these days, he's still in the 'boring' phase as Clint would call it...so this is probably the most interesting video we have of him! Enjoy it, and Happy One Month Anniversary Max! I can't believe it's been a full 4 weeks since getting a full night's sleep! Time sure flies when you're deliriously exhausted!

Batman is starved for attention.

The dogs have actually adjusted well to Max being here. I think at first they were all confused as to WHAT I was carrying around with me all the time. They knew it wasn't a dog, but wasn't sure it was a person...now they have figured out that Max is one of us...they even go up and paw at him to let them under his blanket, something they do to us all the time at night. Of course, Max has a blanket with him 24/7, so they always want "under the covers". They don't understand why he doesn't just lift the corner and let them under like we do!