Max's birthday started out with some very special birthday pancakes!
Ooh! There's chocolate inside this pancake!!
Britt took all the kids swimming while I was at work
Max specifically requested "Jet's Pizza" for his birthday dinner
She's ready to go
Playing while Maxwell swims
Max's first lesson of Level 6. He's now swimming in the middle of the pool (they only go half way and then swim back but it takes more endurance to swim there and back). When he's done with his turn, he climbs out of the pool and sits on the edge of the pool. The other kids just stand at the edge but he's not even close to being able to touch the bottom of the pool yet.
Time for presents!
Video - Maxwell opening his presents. I enjoy how you really get to see his personality.
Grandma Donna skyped with us while Maxwell opened his presents and then Emmalyn got her chance to talk to her.
His new transformers were a big hit!
Max also got to skype with Aunt Kimi.
Maxwell had a great birthday! I can't believe he's 4.
He has been so excited for his birthday. This morning, Peter, Emmalyn and I went in to get him and we sang happy birthday to him and he was embarrassed to be the center of attention and put his head down shyly while we were singing to him.
He was excited about the balloons I decorated with and the birthday banner. He was really happy this evening when we were opening presents. He's also happy about his "little party" coming up and chose the activity and the cake and wanted a few friends to come.
He's having fun pretending and is now getting into bigger games (ugh) on the ipad
He's thoughtful, considerate, aware
He can read his watch and tell you what time it is
He loves to choose his clothes and most of the time they match. He loves accessories - - necklaces, hats, watches, shoes. He wants to wear athletic clothing most of the time. He wants to be able to put his hair in a pony tail.
He showers by himself more often than not now.
He's an amazing swimmer (his coach brags on him every lesson to the other coaches)
Now that he's four we told him no more pull-ups for nap and nighttime (he hasn't had an issue at for a long time but he wanted them since it was his routine - the 3 P's at nighttime Potty, Pull-ups, and Pajamas)
He's particular about his hair and usually wants it down and not spikey anymore.
He struggles with listening to his parents (or if he hears he doesn't follow what we are asking). Tonight I told him he was a good boy and he said yeah except when he's a bad boy and not listening.
He's afraid of dogs (mainly he's afraid of getting licked)
He has caught onto our focus on getting our "steps" in on our fitbit/apple watch, so he wants to get his steps in and will jump up to get his steps in.
Maxwell likes game shows (jeopardy, wheel of fortune, boom). He loves to watch dancing.
He's particular about using people's full names if he knows them, kimberly amos, aaron nelson, etc.
He's not as shy anymore and will talk to people.
He likes the wii and he's a pro at using the ipad and iphones,
He does a good job of figuring out how to spell words by sounding them out.
He's a great reader but it's frustrating reading with him lately because he mumbles and skips over some nonessential words - -we focus on reading every word and speaking loudly.
He yells at his sister if she gets close to him and he knows she's going to do something to him he doesn't like (take his cereal, touch his toys).
He likes playing with cars and toys with smaller parts that are more intricate.
He is concerned about doing things "right" - - asks if foods have bad sugar in them, won't wear new clothes until I wash them, putting his pull-up on for naps and bedtime even though he didn't need it anymore.
His current drink of choice would be pink lemonade but he really likes water and gets that most of the time.
He loves to give kisses on arms/hands.
Less and less he plays with his nipples for self soothing but still does it and I feel like we are often telling him to stop touching himself.
I call him "baby" and he will remind me that he will always be my baby. Once I explained that I call him baby even though he's not a baby anymore because it's a way to say "I love you" and so now he will tell me that I'm his baby. :)
He has his dr appt tomorrow and has to get 4 shots, I told him he should say "that tickles" when he gets them so he is going to do it - he thinks it's funny.
He has a too big, too toothy "smile" face which isn't genuine. He also does fake laughs and loud fake screams.
Maxwell loves playing with his cousins.
He is great at cleaning up after himself if he spills something or makes a mess.
He knows that the guidelines we use for whether he can watch a movie or show is if the people in the show talk nicely to each other.
He still doesn't like eating carrots, potatoes (other than fries) or ranch dressing,
He is a really fantastic, fun, smart kid!!
