A peek into a day in the life of Max

Max is such an active little boy. He LOVES books and the most random toys. He got a Fisher Price Little People airport set for Christmas, which he LOVES!! The set has a little yellow umbrella (it's a little bigger than Max's hand) that goes to a table for one of the little people. Well, that umbrella is one of Max's FAVORITE toys. He carries it with him just about every where and holds it close to his chest - just like a child does with a favorite blanket. Some days he'll hold it over his head and say it is raining - pretty funny. The airport also has some flags that are good back-up toys for Max to carry when he can't immediately find the umbrella. He does a great job using his imagination to play with his toys and is such a happy little boy.

Here is my happy guy!!

Max wakes up around 7:30 on most days. Kelly will get him up and put him in bed with me where he usually enjoys his morning cup of milk. (This has actually been our routine since Max was about 7 months old). I LOVE mornings with Max. He is such a cuddle-bug! We usually go to Stroller Strides and play with friends after class. He LOVES other kids. However, he is still pretty rough and playing rough doesn't really go over well because Max is such a big guy. He is SO tall and is taller than most of the kids his age. He weighs 32 lbs and is really wearing mostly 3t clothing. He will put other little kids in a BEAR hug which usually causes them to fall to the ground. I don't think he is intentionally being mean, I just don't think he understands how to be gentle. There are times where he does purposefully push other kids down but then plops on them to give hugs. Again, it does not appear as though he is being mean-spirited or a bully. Too bad for Max that we haven't met a kid who likes playing this way. =) However, I can't same the same for when he is with Augusta Grace. He adores her but I think he understands that she is his younger cousin. Apparently, little boys are programed to pick on the younger girls in their families. My boy cousins did it to me and now Max does it to Augusta Grace. He ALWAYS pushes Augusta Grace down and then jumps right on her - pinning her to the ground (Poor AG). It is almost like he wants to wrestle. I have to CONSTANTLY remind him to be gentle.

When Max isn't playing with his friends, he is usually home playing with some of the aforementioned random toys. He also LOVES tv (which makes me cringe). His favorite shows are Dora, Spongebob and Sesame Street. He sings and dances to ALL the music. It is absolutely adorable. He also LOVES boxes, but let's be honest, what kid doesn't?

Playing with a box

Since the day he was born, Max has had a good appetite. However, he is going through that rite of passage that most toddlers go through. He just isn't really interested in eating very big meals on most days. I don't worry about it too much because he is such a healthy guy (see above about weighing 32 lbs and wearing 3ts before he is even 2)!! Besides, he is not shy about telling anyone when he wants some "num num" or a drink.

Here he is - NOT eating

Max LOVES laying on the nap mat his Sugah got him that is in the above picture. He doesn't usually nap there but it is where he wants to watch Dora. We recently went to one nap a day. We have been SO lucky that Max does not fight us on naps or bed times. He goes down for his nap around noon and will sleep till about 3:00. (It is a great opportunity for me to get some good, uninterrupted work done during the day). Max still enjoys "playing" with Rocky, unfortunately Rocky still views it as torture. (Well unless Max is eating and then Rocky isn't far from his side.)

Max's favorite time of the day is when Kelly gets home. I know I've said it before but Kelly really is Max's best friend. They play chase and hide-n-go-seek. If Max isn't discovered fast enough while he is hiding, he'll call out, "Where are you?" It is SO sweet how he says it. His vocabulary continues to grow. I also love when he says, "pease, pease" or "help." It's precious, I tell ya!!

After Max eats dinner, he takes a bath and winds down from his day. Max typically ends his day just like he begins each day. We snuggling in my bed as takes his cup of night time milk. He is just so loving and it really is a special time. Afterwards, he usually goes to his to bed. (Some nights he is SO sweet I just keep him in bed with me!) He still really likes his bed (despite climbing out of it twice now). In fact, if I try to rock him, he reaches for his bed while saying, "night, night." It is really bittersweet for me. I am happy that he is independent and will go to sleep alone but it reminds me how fast he is growing up!

More Sweet Smiles!!

I'm on a roll, so stay tuned for more!!