Baby

We're starting to get a little sick of the "baby" thing.

Max thinks that lots of things are babies. Actual babies of course, small animals, and flowers to name a few. You have absolutely NO IDEA how many flowers and plants there are until your child points at every single one, and says "baby?" (there's an inflection at the end that seems to indicate a question).

On the upside, he is learning some new words ("light" and "teeth"), and he's frequently mimicking words that we say to him. In the last few days he's made a singular attempt at:

• umbrella
• spiderman (which made dad very happy)
• belly button

I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of them right now. I can tell you, it's getting more fun by the week.

Bellybutton

A few days ago, Max discovered his bellybutton.

We try to give him his "naked time" (diaper only) for 30 minutes or so every night before he goes to bed. He usually runs amok and tends to be even goofier when he isn't confined in his clothes. He started to bend forward, resting his head on the ground, twisting himself around in lots of uncomfortable looking positions. We figured he was just being strange (not uncommon). We realized he was trying to see his bellybutton.

Yesterday I asked him "where his belly button was". He looked down and started to tug at his shirt, a onesie, which he couldn't get off. He became quite frustrated. I think he believes that when he has a shirt on, he has no bellybutton.

17 months old, and never noticed it before. It's amazing all that he observes, and learns, and some of the things that he hasn't.

The Park

It's only a few blocks away, so we'll often walk up to Breton Downs Elementary School (my alma matter) so that Max can play on the playground. He has a blast running wild and eating woodchips. Here are a few pictures from today.

Disney Max

Thanks for doing this Steve!
I've always thought this picture looked like it needed this treatment.

Absolute Joy

Happy 4th of July!

It was a wonderful 4th of July. Max is finally old enough that we were able to enjoy it with him. Next year maybe he'll ride in the parade, but this year he was content to just watch it, and run around.

We met up with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Pat for the parade in the morning. Paul was really excited about seeing the new EGR firetruck, and hopefully catching some candy. It was a bit cool in the morning, and looked like it could rain at any second. Max had half of his "Fourth of July outfit" on (Thanks Aunt Corinne!) and loved sitting on my shoulders watching all of the ruckus around him.

The Firetruck

After Max's nap we hopped in the car and drove out to see Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Steve. It was a beautiful day out at Morrison Lake (though the mosquitoes were a bit thick). Dinner was great, ladder golf was a blast, and even though the Tigers lost- it was a great day! Max loved his chocolate chip cookies, cheeze curls, chocolate milk, and whatever else Grandma Sharon fed him when we weren't looking.

Max was intrigued at first by the fireworks. He really liked the ones across the lake, he kept pointing to them and calling them 'babies', but I guess we should have expected that. Once we started shooting them off from 100 feet from him he decided that he no longer had any interest in the fireworks, and we took him inside. Being as it was 90 minutes past his bedtime, I can't say that I blame him.

We got him home by 11pm, and he quickly went to sleep. He slept until 9:45 this morning, and while I'm sure it'll make a mess of his nap schedule, it sure was nice sleeping in.

Hope your Fourth was as fun as ours. We'll post again soon.

Photo Update

Max with his first "restaurant balloon" (from Red Robin)

Everytime I see this picture I want to add little animated "Disney Bluebirds" into it.

Max likes to sit in his activity table. Grandma Sharon bought him a chair, he still likes the table better.

Max wandering the garage during our annual bbq.

Max in his pool. He likes it, though only for a few minutes at a time.

At the playground

I cut him down one of Grandma's brooms so that it's his size. He absolutely loves it.

Max at the play area in the "Dirt Mall". It's a great place because it's always empty, air-conditioned, and carpeted throughout.

We took him swimming at the Mitchell's pool a few weeks ago. He absolutely hated every minute of it.

He may hate the pool, but I totally dig his awesome trunks!