How does a child's mind work?

Yesterday Max told mommy that he needed to poop in the potty. After a few minutes of trying, he decided that it wasn't going to happen.

Bobbie Jo left him, pants-less, to run upstairs to grab a new pull-up. The following is the conversation that took place when she returned with the pull-up (a mere 30 seconds later).

Max (sad voice): "Mommy. I pooped on the floor"
Mommy (disapointed voice): "oh, Max...."
Max (happy voice): "Can I have a car?"

And no, he didn't get a car.

Guess who pooped in the potty?

Max has been doing great peeing in the potty over the last few weeks. We've had a matchbox car "stuck" to the top of the tv for a week, waiting for him to be ready for the poops.

Yesterday, the "Family Van" became unstuck and was welcomed into Max's enormous collection of cars. Since yesterday, we've had three poops; and Max has gotten three new cars. I guess it's less expensive than diapers.

Great work kiddo!

Thanks Unclue Jeff!

Check out the sweet crane that Uncle Jeff built for Max.

This thing's got more levers and options than.... (I can't think of anything with levers)

Looking back, and ahead...

2010 was an INCREDIBLE year. We took our first vacation as a family (to Arizona), I started a new career which turned out to be even better than I had expected, and we watched Max grow so much. Oh, and I got my diploma.

Both of our Moms retired this year, and are enjoying their time off. Matt moved across the country to Seattle.

Max learned his alphabet, and all the sounds of all the letters. He learned to count. He now has complete conversations; he can tell us what is on his mind, and what he wants to do. He loves Toy Story and Cars. He loves his books.He's planning on becoming a fireman when he gets older-but just to help people, he's scared of fires. He'll help mommy when she gets old, and take her to the hospital. He's scared of a handful of things, and has no problem telling us what scares him. He's still brave, and likes to explore. He's getting better at playing on his own.

We've had no luck with potty training, but he's not interested in it anymore. He knows that he needs to be able to "poop and pee in the potty" before he can go to school. We'll get there, I have no doubt. He's still a picky eater. He likes his fruit and veggies, but is still on a diet of mostly waffles, pb&j, and nuggets.

Next year is going to be wild!

In a few weeks Bobbie Jo moves from her Friday and Saturday midnight to noon shift. She'll be working the same days, but now it'll be from 6am-6pm. It'll be nice to have her home at night.

Max will be going to Canterbury Creek preschool in the fall. It's on a farm, and we are sure that Max will love it.

Bobbie Jo and I will be getting a nephew, and a cousin for Max. Uncle Ben and Aunt Angie are expecting. We can't wait to meet him. I'll probably fly out over the summer to visit him.

Maybe Max will even get to be a big brother! Bobbie Jo isn't pregnant now, but who knows what 2011 may bring.....

Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas 2010 from Max and Walmart Santa!

Our Christmas Card

Max with Santa (in his sleigh) at Fredrick Meijer Garden.

Smrt?

On the way home from work today, I was talking to Bobbie Jo and remarking at how smart Max is. As we were having this conversation, Max leaned against the toy chest to watch tv. He fell in and "got stuck".

Happy Halloween!

This was the year. The year that Max was totally jazzed to go trick-or-treating.

We practiced on Saturday:

James: "Max, what do you say when you go up to somebody's door on Halloween?"
Max: "Can I please have some candy?"
James: "That's very nice, but how about 'Trick-or-treat'?"
Max: "Okay Daddy. Trick-or-treat".

He had initially wanted to be the Cat in the Hat, then a train conductor, and at the last minute decided to be a pumpkin, because "pumpkins stand for Halloween". Bobbie Jo scrambled to find the costume, and Max made the cutest pumpkin around.


He took to the whole thing immediately, thanking every person who gave him candy, and then reaching into the bowl to grab a few extra pieces. It was an absolute blast. Seeing his enjoyment of the evening; This is what being a parent is all about.




I tried out some new carving techniques this year, and while they took me MUCH longer than ever before, I was pretty thrilled with the results. How anyone carves a pumpkin without a Dremel tool is beyond me.


Kinda makes me wish I could carve pumpkins more frequently than just for Halloween....