2nd week of January

When I was at Brittany's for lunch, I went to check on Max and this is what I found - one sock off...  Wonder how he did that!

I had to go to Toronto, Canada for a work trip for 2 nights.  I was NOT looking forward to leaving my boys, especially after getting to enjoy so much time with them during the holidays.  Peter drove Max to Brittany's so I got into the backseat to say goodbye.  I didn't want to get back out.  I was also sad because I had made the decision that my trip to Canada would mark the end of nursing (remember, I was only nursing in the morning at this point and not pumping throughout the day).   So the morning of the 8th was the last time I nursed Max.  I had wanted to make it to 18 months, was only 11 days short.

And then Max started throwing a fit which made it easier to get out of the car.  :)

Brittany was nice enough to send me pics during the day so that I could see what he was up to.  Look at this mess he made!

He found the book with the stickers in them.

He hurt himself somehow.  Poor kid.

At home he had fun playing with daddy.  He is enjoying his new tunnel.

Eating his snacks in the tunnel

It's always interesting to see things that are different compared to home.  Look at this weird vegetable I found - creepy.

I was tempted quite frequently to buy stuff for Max.  That's going to be a bad thing if I start going on a lot of trips.  I will be bringing home a bunch of crap.  :)  I almost bought him one of these dolls but was able to resist the temptation.

I brought home snacks for Peter like Smarties (similar to M&Ms), these chocolate candies and some Ketchup flavored Lays chips.  I really wanted to bring home some Old Dutch Salt N Vinegar potato chips because I LOVE THEM.   (I remember getting them with my family when I was around 10 and we drove up to Vancouver.)  Alas, I passed them up when I saw them and then didn't find them again.

In case you are wondering...Ketchup potato chips?  yeah, not so great.

Max now says both our names - Peter (sounds like Pee-uh) and Kallie (sounds like either kowee or towee).  He still says Mom/Mommy/Momma and Dad/Daddy but commonly when he wants something he will use our first names.  Cracks me up.

We went to 5 guys for dinner over the weekend.  We let Max try dipping his fries into ketchup for the first time.  Of course, he loved it and was really good at it.  He really wants to be independent.  For example, he wanted to hold his own drink instead of us holding is.  He also asked to wear a hat today.

He's still fighting taking naps unless I lay down with him (which means I end up taking a nap too).  He has to have his blankie in order to sleep.  Thanks Aunt Aja for making this gorgeous blanket for Max!

He was walking around holding a stud finder to his ear like a phone.

He loves wearing his hats.

This isn't a baby anymore - he's a little boy!!

Max and his blankie first thing in the morning.  When he wakes up, he stands up and calls for Peter and I.  When we get close to getting him, he drops down and picks up his blanket so it comes out of the crib with him.

Playing with the shape sorter I got him in Canada.

Sneaky kid knows where the snacks are.  If we aren't good about keeping the pantry closed, we find things like this.

An update about Maxwell:

1. He likes bean burritos
2. He loves watching the Baby Einstein farm video
3. He loves whoers and finally will let me put his head in the water to rinse off the shampoo without getting upset most of the time
4. He is a DADDY'S BOY!
5. When I got back from Canada, he only wanted his daddy.  He only wanted daddy to hold him, feed him, change his diaper, read to him, etc.  It made me sad.  :(
6. BUT...When I took him to Kindermusic, he wouldn't leave my side.  So that made me feel better.
7. He loves his number book and wants to read it over and over and over (which, gets old quick for me because there are no words...just the numbers 1- 10).  He says Number (sound like nummer) when he wants to read it.
8. He has figured out that his toys can go down the slide.
9. I still have to keep toys or something else in his hands during diaper changes because otherwise, he's reaching down there which is NOT good.  Poop should only be on bumms.
10. He likes to play with anything that has a zipper.
11. Hayden has started calling him Maxwell which is just so sweet.

Weightlifters

Love the week of Thanksgiving - - it's a short work week! Some people are already on vacation so it's quieter than normal.  It's so nice!

Max woke up happy and back to his normal self but with some scabbing above his lip.

Happy! (Still crossing his feet all the time)

He really loves climbing into things.

REALLY loves it - even a basket full of toys won't deter him.

I am sure you may look at this picture and all you will see is the outlet that hasn't been childproofed right behind Max.  Don't judge.  Max has little interest in outlets.  Every once in awhile he'll pay attention to one that has something plugged into it (usually it's when something NEW is plugged in that isn't usually plugged in there).  But as far as empty plugs?  Not interesting for him.  I'm glad because there are 60 outlets in our house that would require plugs.  We counted before we moved in.  I decided that if they were something that he was drawn to, I'd make the investment in all those covers.  However, if he didn't care about them (which he doesn't) then I wasn't going to spend the money.  Maybe someday I'll buy them but for now, they'll remain unchildproofed.

Britt and her boys came over and Peter showed Hayden how to do some weight lifting with a side table.

Getting it up

STRONG!

Lesson from uncle Peter - make it look like you are working hard.

Doing it with one hand! (It's super light)

Fussy Max (with his wound) and happy Hayden

Maxwell waving

Max climbed into the chair himself and quite proud of himself.  Isn't it great when it's the day before Thanksgiving and you can put your son in short sleeves and shorts?! :)  LOVE that benefit of Texas! 

FALL at the Arboretum

On November 17 we went to the Dallas Arboretum to take some fun fall pictures.  We went a couple times last year, one of which was quite an adventure.  I LOVE the Arboretum.

Rosy cheeked Max doing what he loves to do in the morning - play with the iPad.

We finally made it to the Arboretum later that afternoon.

Nope, not going to hang out here until you get the perfect picture, Mom.

Wiggly kid.

Max wanted to take control of pushing the stroller.

Chasing the birds.  He thought this was pretty fun!s

Snack break!  Luckily I had some baby food in the diaper bag, I didn't plan on him being hungry for more a small snack of raisins. 

Playing in the hay.

There were amazing Chihuly glass sculptures throughout the garden.  I had been wanting to come see them all year.  Each piece was so beautiful and unique!  This was called the Dallas Star.

Video - Max had on his squeaky shoes (which got quite a few laughs from people around us throughout the day) which made walking around even more fun.

Finally!  Some big smiles!

Escaping!  He really didn't want to hang out for pictures at all.

Enjoying walking around on his own.

He was so happy.  He was having a great time. 

Then, a split second after I took this picture, he face planted...HARD... right on the ground.  If you look at his feet in this picture you can see how his right foot is getting caught on his left foot, which leads to the face plant.  It's hard for me to look at this picture because you see the pure joy in his face but the tragic moment is already starting to occur.  I also feel guilt because if I hadn't been trying to snap a picture maybe I would have been able to catch him in time.

So he face planted and started screaming.  When I picked him up his mouth was bleeding.  I tried to comfort him but he didn't want me.  He wanted his dad (ouch - that hurt my feelings a little). So Peter comforted him and I tried to clean up the blood and determine where it was coming from.  I was so worried that when I looked in his mouth that I would find that he had knocked a tooth out.

He eventually stopped crying.  We got him and the ground cleaned up.  He didn't lose a tooth but he was scraped up and already had a fat lip.   And, the fun was over.

After cleaning everything up, we were out of wipes which is a scary place to be in my book.  Max was unhappy and not going to sit happily in the stroller anymore (and I certainly wasn't going to let him walk around).  Peter was done.  So, it was time to leave. 

We didn't have the perfect family picture that I wanted to get for our Christmas cards.  I didn't get to see even half of the Chihuly exhibits.  GRRRRRRR!!!!

Phew, a little smile from Max.  It helped ease my worries about Max.

I begged Peter to let us get 1 family picture.  Here it is with my sad baby.

A quick shot of one of the exhibits as we were passing by to the exit.

Scraped up face and fat lip.  Worst injury yet (knock on wood).  Given how hard this was on me, I am in BIG TROUBLE if Maxwell is one of those boys that gets hurt frequently.

Recovering back at home...enjoying his milk while sitting IN his racetrack.  Silly boy.