Swimming Lessons

WooHoo! It's that time of year when the neighborhood pools are starting to open. Way back in April, we had a few 90 degree days, our neighbors opened their pool and Max and Michael went for a swim. Michael took Max's floating seat over for him to sit in and Max crawled out. He also tried to back himself into the pool and climb down the ladder. So, we thought it might be a good time to get him into swimming lessons. It's more of a water acclimation class than an actual "safety" lesson, but he really enjoys it. Actually, I'm not sure who has more fun, Max or Daddy!

ROAD TRIP!!!!

Maxwell,
Grandma and myself (Auntie) did something no one, including ourselves, thought we would ever do....DRIVE TO MARYLAND! In case you don't know, Maryland is very very far away from Chicago. Like 24 episodes of Handy Manny or the Mickey Mouse Club or those other crazy guys that dress up as movers or something. It is a LONG way away. We decided to drive in order to bring a bunch of stuff to you and your mommy and then Auntie went to work in Delaware while she was there. While Auntie and Mommy were at work, Grandma took care of you! During the day she got sick and decided to lay down and watch you play. To entertain you, she rolled your new play car with automatic wheels, which Pop sent you, over her head...and once she did the wheels started spinning and the car got stuck in her hair! After a trip to the neighbors, laying on their front porch while they hit the car wheels with a hammer, she finally got free....you ran around and played like nothing happened!

We were amazed at how much like a big boy you looked and it had only been a few weeks since our last visit! We visited you around the same time last year and you were just a baby, check out the old post.

You're a TV eyeballs...in this picture you are watching 'What Not To Wear'

After a few short days, we were back in the car driving all the way home to Chi-town...I'm pretty sure you were all set to go with us and we wish you could too!

Love,
Auntie

Suprise!

Max,
On the Friday before my Birthday, you and your mommy flew to Chicago and REALLY surprised me for my Birthday (which number shall not be named). You came to my office and hid in a conference room and when I went in, there you were staring back up at me! WOW! I was so surprised and happy to see you that I cried!

While Mommy, Uncle John, and I went to my big kid Birthday party in Chicago, you went home with Grandma and Grandpa. Your very first sleep over!!! You had a great time! Grandma and Grandpa let you stay up way to late and hang out with them. I'm not sure who had a better time you or them!

On Saturday, we all went to Tyson's Tenders, a Train themed restaurant where the train actually brings out your meal. You thought it was SO cool! You had a hard time taking it all in!




You acted like such a big kid! After lunch you and I rode the train together, you really liked it (auntie did too).



You are looking more and more like a KID and not a baby. You learned tons of new words just in the last month and I think my favorite is when you walk around and say...'tickle, tickle, tickle'.
You also insisted on playing rock band with the big kids, so we started you out on a starter kit.

You were really proud of yourself for hanging in there with the big guys!

The Easter Bunny visited Grandmas early...you gave your horse loves.

You tested out a peep too! You weren't really a big fan.

Later on in the weekend, you thought you were good enough for the really drum kit.

All that drumming really had you tuckered out.

Auntie had a GREAT Birthday weekend. Thank you so much for flying out to see me. You are the best kid ever.

Love,
Auntie

Sketty!

Every kid needs a few sketty pictures in their album don't they? He thoroughly enjoyed his sketty, can you tell? If he wasn't playing with it in the space between his teeth, he was slurpping it into his mouth. It's sp funny to see him slurp things into his mouth. Makes us laugh every time.

Needless to say. He went straight to the bathtub with a good scrub down from momma.

We are getting a few words out of him; not much beyond the obvious momma and dadda...dadda ALL the time. He does say Poppa, tickle, car (with a Boston accent- we don't know either), truck (cuck), book (really more just buh), cup (cuh), hot, hi, bye bye.

FLORIDA!

It looks like your Mom wanted me to post about our recent trip!! Last month we all decided to escape the cold and meet up in Cape Coral, FL where we rented a house and played all week!
Your mom said you were a really good kid on the plane, which always makes everyone happy! You were really sleep by the time we picked you up at the airport, but we did not care, we all took turns squeezing you up!

We brought our Nintendo Wii, which by the time you are old enough to read and appreciate this blog, will be so old school. Grandma bought you some Maraca's just like the big kids! You played with Grandpa!

It was a little cold for the pool, but Grandma and Grandpa had a big bathtub in their room. So Auntie (that's me) got in and played in the bubble bath with you. Just before this, while grandma was putting your swimming diaper on, you pooped all over the floor...twice!!

One of the cooler days we all went letterboxing.. You've been on several letterboxing adventures already!

We spent one say on Sanibel Island. You did not care at all that it was cool out side and the water was fridged! You just wanted to jump in the waves! You had so much fun!




You love Grandpa!!! Or as you like to call him, and uncle cashew dadadadadada.

You liked the sand a lot more then you liked it when you went to the Ocean City last year!

It got a little warmer on Friday so grandpa let you play in the hot tub! You LOVE the water. You kicked and kicked and kicked!

You also are obsessed with little bottles. Auntie thinks you are so strange some times!!


By Friday night, you were so sleepy. You sat in Grandma and Grandpa's bed and watched TV with your Bink!

All the kids in front of our house!! We will miss it and I will MISS you!

We had so much fun playing with you and watching you!!! You are getting so big. You love going outside, playing with the boys, and are always busy playing with something! You have the funniest giggle, that cracks us all up. You're basically our favorite kid ever and we can't wait to see you again REALLY soon!

Love you lots!

AAAAunt-T

15 Month Well Visit

15 months? Can you believe it? The above picture is from our recent vacation to Florida. I thought Auntie would have a big post for you on that, but I guess not. Anywho...

Here's the status on our big boy! 32 1/2 inches (75-90 percentile) and 24.8 lbs (50- 75 percentile) . He sure is heavy and although he's walking...ok, running quite well on his own, he really loves to look up at you with that sad face and just be carried. I always find this kind of funny with little kids. I think it's because they like to be up at our level.

Sorry for the quick post, but I gotta jet...at least it's something!

Comparison

Here's a picture of Max from this time last year; he was 6 1/2 weeks old. This picture was taken January 17th, so it's almost to the day!

SNOW DAY!!!

Wow! Sometimes Mommy gets lucky and gets an extra day off (Thanks Martin Luther!) and something really fun happens... SNOW! Yesterday we had our first real snow if the season, it seems like those always happen on Daddy's Birthday.

Well, Daddy had to work so Max and Mommy got to go out and play in the snow. Max loved it. He just wanted to eat the snow. Then he decided he would walk up the driveway. He fell, on his face. Baby face and snow do not mix so we had to go back in. We did get out for a few minutes later in the day which he really enjoyed. Max LOVES the snow!

Max's first snow angel!

Merry Christmas!

Diegel Doggie, we were so happy to have you fly out to Chicago for Christmas. You spent the whole week at grandma and grandpa's house with mommy and daddy and Auntie Em and Uncle Ape. You got to see just about everyone in the family, aunts and uncles, grandma's, grandpa's! They were all excited to see how big you were. You showed everyone all your tricks...'oh no' and blowing kisses, even your melt downs :)

Auntie and Uncle Cashew bought you Elmo Live...Auntie was so excited to get it for you, you were not so impressed and were scared of Elmo's story.

After a few days, you warmed up and really liked honking Elmo's nose.

Grandpa got you a matching car, he was more excited then you were!

We took you to see Santa and Auntie had so much fun riding the Christmas train with you!

You were not very impressed by Santa, we did everything to get you to smile...this was about all you gave us...
You did pause for a moment for Auntie to get your picture in your Santa outfit...ho ho ho!
We already miss you so much! It is not fair you live so far away. We are counting down the days until we get to see you in Florida! Yippeeeee!!
I LOVE YOU! KISS KISS
Auntie