2 Years Old

Dear Maxim,

You are two years old. Holy cow, when did that happen? When did you go from being a little baby to a little boy? And a little boy you are!

You love to roar like a dinosaur. You love to watch bugs and try so hard to pick up ants with your little fingers. You still prefer to eat with said fingers rather than using a spoon or fork, but you are getting better at it. Keeping true to yourself, you are still a really good eater. There isn’t much you turn your nose up at, but cooked peppers and zucchini. You love all fruits and could eat your weight in “nanas” if we let you.

Walking and running come easy you now. You still aren’t much into climbing things, but are starting to explore a bit more. You are attempting to jump too, which is the cutest thing ever. You can now go up the stairs on the play structure at the park all by yourself. And your favourite thing to do at the park is to sit up in the little house and “make muffins.”

You language skills blow daddy and mommy away. It isn’t very often that we don’t understand what you are saying. You have been speaking in full sentences for a few months now and to hear “Can I have a cracker please Mommy?” is normal in our household. You talk to your toys and animals in your own little language and even laugh at your own jokes. Your favourite things to play with at the moment are your race track from your cousin Mitch (whom you adore) and Play-Doh. You still like to read books and now are starting to sing songs. Singing “Down By The Bay” with Mommy makes her smile and laugh. It’s one of her favourite things to do with you.

You love to be outside. We have planted a runner bean together and you run to it every day to see if “bean grow?” You always want to go walking up and down the street to visit certain houses. Karl’s across the street to smell the flowers; Allison and Daryl’s to visit Milo and if you’re lucky go inside and play the piano; and Jenn and Jim’s to play with your two buds Xander and Mason. You often cry when we have to go home, and we end up carrying you under our arms.

Speaking of crying, you are a crier. And a whiner. Some days mommy and daddy have a hard time listening to it. You aren’t the best at listening to mommy and daddy when we are trying to talk to you, especially if you are playing with your “boys” or watching TV. You even push us out of the way sometimes when we interrupt you. These are the times you end up with time outs, which you don’t like one bit. We have witnessed a couple of full fledge, fling on the floor tantrums. Those are tough on mommy and daddy but we are trying to figure it all out.

Would we want it any other way? Never. Daddy and Mommy are constantly amazed by you and can’t wait to see what new and fun things you discover.

I love you my jellybean.

Mommy

From Baby to Boy

Happy belated Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. I hope you had a few moments to yourself, and was smothered with love and appreciation for how truly wonderful you are.

I was woken up (after a lovely sleep in) by Max carrying the card that he made at daycare. And he actually gave it to me! He usually says that his crafts are "mine!" but this time he gave it over freely. And I loved it.

Saturday was more my day then Sunday. A morning hike with two of my closest friends turned into lunch which turned into shopping and me getting home at dinner time! Love Marty for going with the flow and being OK with me going AWOL.

Sunday was family day. Morning at the park with the dog (it was bloody cold!). Then we went to the mall for lunch. Max loved the mall. It's not somewhere we go frequently, especially with Max. I would never be able to get any shopping done. But he enjoyed himself so much, walking on the patterns of the floor tiles, checking out the gigantic flower and plant pots, the water fountain, and the escalators! They were his favorite, bar none.

There was an ulterior motive to the mall trip. We decided that Max was due for a hair cut; his very first hair cut. And for his first cut we figured we would do something special. Yes, we were sucked in. There is this place called Melonheads at the mall. It's a hair salon for kids. You can sit in a race car, Thomas the tank, horse, etc. TVs with cartoons on, sparkly gels, coloured mooses. You get the picture. Max wanted the rocket ship. The hair dressers are really nice and good at what they do: trying to cut hair on a moving target. Max wasn't phased by the cutting, he just didn't want to sit still. So she brought him a toy, and that lasted for a few minutes and then the sucker. Now that worked! And he got his hair cut. He has gone from being my little baby to my little boy, just like that. In 10 minutes.

I have to admit that I teared up. My heart hurt. He is growing up.

So with no further adue, here's the new do.

Before

After

A few people have said that he looks a lot like Marty. I see my dad. It's actually uncanny how much I see my dad.