Our Christmas letter

   

We have had a year full of joy, happiness, and blessings. We hope that you our family and friends have been blessed as well. 

Our biggest joy is the addition of two feet to our family through the miracle of adoption.  Our son, Max Elliott Larson was born October 13, 2010 weighing in at 8lbs 10 oz and 22inches long and joined our family on Oct 17.  Although we had to cancel our family trip to Disneyland because of him, we just adore him (he was born the day we would have been meeting Mickey).  He is a happy baby as long as we keep his belly full.  I do worry he is going to eat us out of house and home.  At two months he is weighing in at 12lb 14oz and is 24 ½ inches long.  His smile brightens our life and fills our heart with love.  His huge chocolate brown eyes with long eyelashes just draw you in and melt your heart.  We are so thankful to his beautiful and amazing birthmom Chelly for our greatest gift this year.

Maggie is embracing her roll of big sister with gusto.  She loves her little brother and he loves her.  Whenever Max is upset Maggie will go to him and comfort him saying, “it’s ok little brother, sister’s here.”  Sooo sweet!  Maggie doesn’t like the whole changing the diaper thing or the fact that she has to be patient and wait for us when he is eating, but she loves to hold him and can’t wait for him to be big enough to play with her.  Other than being a big sister Maggie has had a big year turning 4.  She loves going to preschool and reading her books.  For her birthday she got a big girl bike and wants to be out riding it all the time, even in the cold.  We had a great time this year having her birthmom Kelsey there to celebrate with us. 

As for Mike and I, well same old same old, and just plain getting old.   Mike is still the good looking, awesome dad, working from home for HP.  I’m still working at the hospital with the new moms and babies (though enjoying staying at home for a few months).  This year I did find some time to be an adoption advocate.  I started a new program called loving arms at the hospital to help educate staff on open adoption. It is my hope to give birth families and adoptive families a better hospital stays.  Maggie and I even got to be cover girls and appear on the cover of the hospital health magazine to introduce the new program.  Being Parents of two small children doesn’t leave much time for anything else but we love spending the evenings together when the kids are a sleep and the house is quiet. 

Fox the dog is getting older.  He barks a little louder, sleeps a lot more, and has a harder time getting around.  When it snows though you would think he was still a puppy!  He is tolerating Max’s cries so much better than when we brought Maggie home and has yet to make plans to run away.  Fox loves having his own row in the new car due to the extra car seat. 

Well that is it in a nut shell from the Larson household.  We are so grateful and thankful for your love and support in our lives.   We truly know that our loving Heavenly Father has a hand in our lives and blesses us every day.  We hope your life has been filled with joy and happiness. 

All our love,
Mike, Mary Anne, Maggie, Max, & Fox Larson