July 4th, 2013

The summer heat is here!  Brittany took the boys to a splash park and had a picnic one day while I was at work.  Looks like fun, to me!

Doing his animal puzzle

Video - Max has been introduced to Chapstick.  He LOVES it and wants it with him all the time.  He is constantly putting it in his pocket, taking it out, putting it on, putting it back in his pocket...and repeat

This creepy spider was in our backyard.  His web was pretty cool.  Apparently he's a "good" spider (is there such a thing?).  Hayden liked to look at him.  This is one of the many reasons, I have pay for pest control.  While this is cool, I don't like it in my backyard.  I hope Max isn't really into bugs and creepy, crawly things!

At least for now, he wasn't interested in the spider and preferred to sit here and play on the phone rather than check out the spider.

On the 4th of July we went to a BBQ at our next door neighbors house and swam a little in the pool.  I made three new dishes, and was please with how it turned out.  From left to right - Chile-Spiced Fruit Salad w/ Queso Fresco, Grilled Cucumber Spears, and Marinated Green Bean and Potato Salad

Kimberly flew into town for a few days.  Her kids were with their dad so we got to enjoy some time just with her.  It was really fun to have her there for the 4th of July.  We continued the tradition and went to the FC Dallas soccer game followed by the fireworks.

The whole group.  Don't know why Kimberly looks grumpy..she wasn't...

My sweet boys.  How cool is it that I have a child big enough to walk and hold his dad's hand?  I am still amazed at that.

Family Picture

Britt and Kimber

The Nelson girls!

We tried to get a picture of us all in our sunglasses but Max wouldn't cooperate (we got some free, really cool (NOT) sunglasses from FC Dallas...they may have been dorky but it was nice to have them!).

Joe, Landen, and Hayden got to go onto the field before the game.  We were looking for them in the crowd of other people that got to go on the field and never saw them.  When they made it back to their seats we learned that they were the first to go out there and we had been looking at the wrong side of the stadium.  :(

Mr. Cool

Dad helping Max hold his hand over his heart

The game!!! (They lost)

The view was better from up here

He was nervous at first at the soccer game, especially since they did some fireworks at the opening right after the national anthem.  But, he calmed down and ended up clapping and having fun.

We brought Max's headphones since we figured he'd freak out at the fireworks.  So when it came time for the fireworks we plugged the headphones into Peter's phone so he could listen to music instead of all the booms.  He started out on his own seat...

...but quickly moved to Momma's lap.  He was GRIPPING my hands the entire time.  I could tell he was nervous but he didn't freak out.  (Thanks for the photo bomb, Kimberly)

Video - Max watching the fireworks.  (He LOVES watching himself in this video...for months he would get Peter's phone and would ask to watch it by saying "fireworks?" He'd watch it over and over and over.  He completely connects soccer games and fireworks.

All about Max at the beginning of July (little older than 22 months)

• As previously stated, he liked to sing ABCs
• He loves doing puzzles - lately he likes doing his ABC puzzle and a color puzzle with fish on it
• We have put him on timeout (naughty spot style) and he does great by sitting until we come to get him off without moving 
• He still is hitting more than I want
• He only wants Peter to put him to bed at night, not me  :(
• He understands the bedtime routine and sometimes when it's time to do the sleep sack (followed by laying him down), he will manipulate his poor parents by asking for more cuddles, which we are powerless to deny.  
• His dance skills are getting more involved and he's branches out into new "moves"
• He has a great memory
• He loves to count
• He sometimes gets his colors right but mostly everything still "yellow"
• When he wakes up his first words are "Hey, dadddddyyyy" or "Hey, Mooooommmmm".  He is getting up at 6:30 am lately.
• He is awesome at going down for his afternoon naps now - what a relief!  We have even woken him up from sleeping in the car and brought him in to the house and laid him back down WITH him going back to sleep a few times!
• When we go to the pool he's doing a great job swimming in his little float
• He is not quite as drooly
• He is not as shy, he will now say hi and goodbye to people
• However, in Kindermusik and Swimming Lessons, he still doesn't deal well with new/sub teachers and tends to just not really participate that day but instead stays quiet and clings to me.
• In the morning he downs his milk REALLY fast and then walks around holding his cup and his snack cup of cereal
• Maxwell is really affectionate lately and giving lots of kisses, noses kisses, and cheek kisses