The following two paragraphs of this week's entry will include our usual schedule. Skip them if you're not interested. They are tedious...but I know people like grandparents enjoy knowing a bit of the routine.

Max and I did our regular activities this week. Monday we got together with Esther and Janosch for swimming. Tuesday was Mom's group at our local park. Wednesday we went to Toddler's books and rhymes at the local library. Thursday was something new: we went to Tiny Tots in a nearby suburb. I think it is a bit like gymboree in that there is a great indoor play area and time to play and sing together too. Friday we went to Baby books and rhymes at the library (I think that is the last time we will go to that--he mostly wandered around the library plus next week he starts swimming on Friday mornings). Most evenings just before dinner, we go to the park. Some afternoons we go swimming. Tim leaves for work around 8am and returns 6:30-7pm. Max rises at 6:30ish and goes to bed around 8pm so Tim and Max have some time together before and after work. That's the extent of our weekday routine.

Saturday I play soccer while Tim and Max have some time alone together. Sunday is usually a family day, but this week, Tim is helping Eman plant some trees. After his nap, Max and I will take the citycat to New Farm Park where he can play. Malia and Eman live nearby so we will bbq at their place sometime this afternoon.

Max decided to become a pro walker this week. He doesn't crawl at all anymore. It's so fun to see him toddling around with his arms in the air for balance. Tim posted a video of Max on his facebook site: in the video, Max is wearing a kiddie towel with a hood (see photos) while he carries a book to me. The first time I saw him wearing that towel, I thougth he looked like a Jawa from the original Star Wars movie, especially when he was walking. Pretty funny.

Max is also trying to imitate some of the sounds that we make (and some words). I think he prefers the sounds like uh-oh, ei ei o, and panting ("dogs pant when they are warm") because vowels are easier. It's great to hear him trying to say things after I say them.

Things he loves this week: taking laundry off the drying rack and putting it into the wash basket, splashing in any water he can find, playing peekaboo, running with Dad. Things he dislikes: diaper changes, that he is not allowed to touch the computer.