Tuesday, March 31, 2009

New Tricks!

At eleven months old [yes, it's official. He turned eleven months yesterday. Hard to believe, isn't it?] Max can climb the stairs. 

He has been working on it quite diligently lately. He communicates it is "stair time" when he crawls over to the gate. Pulls himself up. Tugs at it. Or his newest trick, actually moves it out of the way. And then it's time to practice. Up, Up, Up! That is all he wants to do. And then when he gets to the top, he turns around, and gives you this winner of a smile...as if to say, "Stairs? No problem!"


Sunday, March 29, 2009

Dancing Man

Max has moves. Every time he hears music [in the house, at a restaurant, even at the mall!], he starts moving to the beat. It usually starts out slow. Maybe a nod of his head. Or a shake of his shoulder. But, after he finds his rhythm, he goes for it!

It does not matter how many times I see him get his groove on, it makes me laugh. Here are just a few snippets caught on camera.

Dancing to the tune of Just Dance by Lady GaGa:


Dancing to the theme song of Barney & Friends:


Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Swim Time!

Max started swim lessons today! For the next eight weeks, Max and his cousin Eli, are going to be learning the freestyle and backstroke. Since Max and Eli are both such overachievers, I have a feeling they will quickly learn these two basic strokes and move on to more important swim techniques, like the butterfly. I certainly don't want to be that mom and aunt, but I can pretty much guarantee they will have the butterfly mastered by the end of the session.  

Ok, seriously, I am sure you are wondering what we actually do in a swim class at this age. First off, it's a Parent & Me class, which means mommy gets to participate in pool time. Second, mommy gets to sing a lot of nursery rhyme sing-songy songs. Next, while holding Max in a football hold mommy says to "reach reach" his little hands forward [a simple doggy paddle motion] and then lays him on his back and says "kick kick" as he learns to kick his little feet. To wrap things up, Max got dunked [lovingly by his mommy] underwater to the tune of "The Noble Duke of York." And that is all in the first class, people! 

If we keep our kids in swim lessons for the long haul, Max and Eli could be the next Michael Phelps [minus the whole drug bust photos and debacle, of course!].

Here's some shots of the boys doing their swim thing today:

Locker room before the big class

Swim and strategy talk

Before swim class
Loving the water? Not so sure.

After swim class
Having a blast together!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Florida Vacation

Ok all,

Sorry for the long blog hiatus.  Max and I have been soaking up the sunshine in Florida! That's right, we took a 4 day vacation together to visit my grandparents. We had a wonderful time! 

I have to admit, I am not sure what I enjoyed more. Watching Max swim in the pool everyday and have his first-ever beach experience. Or, watching my grandmother interact with her precious great-grandson. She showed him off to everyone, including strangers at the beach and restaurants. She was in an ongoing state of bliss and could barely stand to part with us after the 4 days.

One of our best memories was at the beach. Let me explain by giving you a picture-by-picture explanation:

Max meets Sand.

Max likes Sand.

Max eats Sand.

Mmmmmm...Yummy Sand.

Here are just a few more of my favorite snapshots from our trip:

Hey guys, 
will you put The Beach in the nav system for me?

Max did not dig the pool while in his life jacket.

Ahhh...much better.
Free at last!

Max and his proud great-grandmothers.
[Did I mention my red-haired Nana drove more than two hours to see her Max? 
Now, that is love!]

Max, you are a great little companion! You better believe we have more Mama and Max trips in our future. 

Sunday, March 15, 2009

What A Little Ham

Sorry if I am cheating here and not actually writing this blog entry myself. 

But, my sis-in-law, Rebecca, featured Max on her blog today and I don't want you to miss it! [I realize some of you frequent both blogs so I apologize for the double duty!]

Click here and enjoy the fun!

P.S. While on Rebecca's blog, you can see all the ADORABLE pics of my newphew, Shayden.
What. A. Cutie.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Book Worm

Have I told you how much Mister Max loves to read? Check it out!


The boy Loves. To. Read. Books. Forget the toys, the balls, the musical instruments. Max will crawl at rapid speed past all of his toys to get to his big basket of books. He will joyfully yank the basket off the shelf and begin to read. He has spent up to 30 minutes at a time reading books by himself [I have timed it!]. He looks at pictures and reads out loud in baby talk: "lalalalalalalala" or "bababababababababa" or "dadadadadadadadada." 

He will also sit on my lap for a great length of time while I read books to him. In fact, he kind of grunts and bobs his head when the book is over as if to say, "Another one please!!"

Now, I am no expert at ten month olds, however this seems quite unusual to me. I mean, I can barely get him to lay still long enough to change his diaper. BUT, he will sit still and read books? I love it!

And I love that he is a little reader. Keep it up, Max!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Meet Max's Newest Cousin!

Meet Claire Emmanuel
[Luke and Bethany's baby girl!]


Born 5 weeks early, this little peanut is in perfect health!
4 lbs 6 oz
17 in long
Thank you Jesus for this little miracle!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Would You Like to Buy a Cookie?

Ahhhhhhh...Girl Scout Cookie season is finally upon us. 

I don't know about you, but Sam and I are hopelessly addicted to these tiny little cookies. We did our annual Girl Scout Cookie Happy Dance when the doorbell rang and we realized it was our much-anticipated order of Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Samoas.

We decided that Max's first cookie should definitely be a Girl Scout Cookie. So we picked our favorite - the Thin Mint - and handed it over with our full permission to eat the entire cookie. 

What is this deliciousness they just handed me? 

I'm going back for more. Don't even try to stop me!

This is the best thing EVER!

I just can't get enough! 

All done! 

Max has officially been initiated into the Girl Scout Cookie world. And LOVES em'! But, what's not to love? They are the most delicious little cookies EVER!