Two More Pics

Yoga with Daddy

Max often joins Tim during his yoga routines.  They also make regular morning trips to the weight room (Max: "way roo") where he mimics weight lifting.  Tim says that the ritual is, upon arrival in the weight room, they open the windows.  Next, Tim takes down the weights from the treadmill for Max.  Amongst other things like playing with the balancing ball and having Daddy lift him up to watch the cars going by, Max lifts the treadmill weights over his head while counting his reps ("two, three, two, three").

Washing Dishes

Max didn't really like the suds so he didn't do much washing.  Lots of pouring, stacking, and moving utensils in and out of the water.  

We have a child safety gate that blocks the kitchen from the rest of the apartment.  Unfortunately, Max has decided that he doesn't like to be stuck on the opposite side of the gate from Mommy, but he has not quite reached the age that he can help with much of the cooking.  I included him in making applesauce yesterday (he put the cut apples into a pot and he only took bites out of three slices) but that's all at this point.

Dinner with the other Max

We had Stef, Catherine, and Max over for dinner last weekend (we had yummy blackened salmon).  Max & Maxwell are just beginning to play together.  They chased each other around the apartment (it looked more like random running and laughing--neither knew who was chasing nor who was being chased).

Much to Catherine's chagrin, Max loved telling the story of how a bird pooped on Catherine's head.  Max's version goes something like this: says "Mommy" as he points to his head then makes a farting noise with his mouth.  I crack up every time he does it.  Sorry Catherine.  I know that it only encourages him.

Max & Maxwell playing with the "vintage" (read "old") garage

Max showing off his somersaulting skills

Camping at Fingal, NSW

Lisa and Dan invited us on a camping trip with some of their friends.  Fingal is an arm of land that is bordered by the Tweed River on the west side and the Pacific Ocean on the east side.  The actual holiday park wasn't much but the beach was gorgeous with an island just offshore.  We were located just north of a headland where I watched dolphins surf the waves and fisherman cast their lines despite the constant waves and sea spray washing over them (it looked a little precarious).

Max enjoying another boy's dump truck 

This occasion was the second time Max has taken great interest in another child's dump truck.  I bought him one today.  Very naughty--that is exactly why the house fills with excess toys!

Pip and Max playing at the campsite

Wouldn't you know that the toddlers decide that the best place to play during a camping trip is in the car?!  Max played in the car for at least two hours during the twenty-four that we were at the campground.  Since we don't usually have a car, I indulged him.

Tim and I realized that camping does not equate with relaxation when you bring along a toddler (although it may be Max in particular).  Pip generally seemed to stay near the group's campsites.  Max did not sit still unless we strapped him (in protest) into his stroller (for a meal) or until he collapsed at the end of the day (he slept from 7pm until 5:45am the next morning, despite the rain and the partying lads at neighboring campsites).  He spent much of his other time pushing his bus around the campground or playing in the car (in retrospect, I realize that it served as a playpen). We took him to the beach twice--he is such a fan of playing in the smaller waves.  We all came home exhausted...but I'm definitely keen to go again.

One difference between camping as I know it and camping in this part of Australia is the need for shade apparatuses.  Everyone has either shady extensions to their tents or reflective tarps rigged to create shade.  Also, many tents have reflective rain flies for sun protection too.  Queensland supposedly has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.  It has certainly brought skin protection to my attention.  Let's just say that we don't wear skimpy swimsuits in our family.

A little story

Once per week after his nap, Max watches a DVD while I cut his nails.  Last week, after I had clipped six of his nails, he decided that he didn't want anymore cut.  Rather than struggle, I thought I would wait until later in the day. Not long thereafter Max lost interest in the DVD so I turned it off.  He played with his toys for a bit then he asked to watch the Thomas the Tank Engine DVD again (he points at the TV and says, "toot toot").  I told him that he may watch Thomas if Mommy could cut his nails again.  He declined that proposition (a high pitched "no no" with a Max-esque shake of the head (more of a side to side motion without turning his head or using his neck)).  A few minutes later, while sitting on the sofa, he pointed at the TV again saying, "toot toot."  I laid out my proposition again.  He declined again.  He thought for a moment, then he said, "please" (which sounded like "peeeeeeeas").  I crumbled.  He had never used "please" to get what he wanted before, despite my consistent prompting.  Unfortunately for him and despite his adamant protest, I proceeded to clip his nails during the DVD.