BAG (Bed, Anecdotes, and Gifts)

The other day Max said, "dumpy wall" while pointing at the computer.  I couldn't remember any pictures or videos on the computer that related to that description.  Itunes was on the screen so I tried to recall any songs that might sound like "dumpy wall."  Ah ha!  "Humpty Dumpty" sat on a wall.  Max had never shown any particular interest in this nursery rhyme (nor had I) so I gave myself a pat on the back for figuring out what he was saying.

Max received these beautiful pajamas from his Uncle Duane, Aunt Lisa, Sophia, and Stella.  I just want to cuddle him up when he is wearing them!  Oma bought Max these koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary--the mama is kookie and the baby is koko.

Max officially has a big boy bed.  Tim changed the height so he would only fall 18 inches if he rolled out of it.  Max has not fallen out yet.  Here he is helping Daddy put the bed back together.  Good Job (or "oh job" as Max would say)!

Max and Tim go on an evening outing to the grocery store.  Sometimes, like many kids his age, Max will act shy around people he doesn't know when they address him directly.  We'll ask him, "are you being shy?"  This happens frequently in the checkout line at the store.  On this occasion (and he's done this a few times since then), he beat us to the punchline and just said "shy" as he retreated into Daddy. 

The Rest of Oma's Visit

We were sad to say good-bye to Oma last week.  We had  a really good visit, despite all of the sickness passed amongst us.  She said that she will make the long trek here again in October or November so we are eager for her to return then.  Max is at the age this time to know Oma (or Bama) in the pictures on the wall--he points to her picture every day.

Oma and Max worked together to make a chocolate cake for Father's Day

This is the payoff for helping Oma

We spent the Saturday morning before Oma left at the New Farm Market.  Malia and Emmanuel live nearby so we spent some time with them and Malia's parents too.  

After perusing the market, we kicked the soccer ball in the park.

Max's 2nd Birthday

I can't believe Max is already two!  He's becoming such a big boy both in personality and in physical growth.  He is eating a ton these days so I anticipate another growth spurt soon.

We had a little birthday party for him on Monday, which was a national holiday celebrating the Queen's birthday (too).  We only took one picture (shame on us), but we had lots of adults and little ones squeezed into our apartment to sing "Happy Birthday" to Max.

Here's our one picture with the yummy birthday cake that Oma Wonhof made for Max.  It's the same cake she made for Tim's birthdays growing up (and she still makes it almost every time we visit her in Colorado).

Max started opening birthday gifts on the morning of his party so by his actual birthday, two days later, he was a pro.  He knows that "present" means that he gets to rip paper and, hopefully, receives a new train.  In this picture, he said that he got a "t-shirt" but it was actually a pair of really cute jammies from Aunt Lisa and Uncle Duane (thank you!!).

Oma Wonhof made the long trip to Australia for Max's birthday.  Pretty special.  She's been so helpful with watching Max during his naps so I can run errands.  What a treat!  I can actually browse while shopping!  Oma has also read Max lots of stories and helped with baths.  Max has loved all of the extra attention during the day.  We are hoping to convince Oma to stay a bit longer than the 10 days she'd planned.

"I Love You"

I've been giving Max "time outs" in his bedroom for hitting (he usually just hits us).  When I open the door at the end of his "time out," I give him a hug and say, "Mommy loves you, Max, but you don't hit"...yada yada yada.  The last couple of days, any time that I say "I love you" to Max, he replies either "hit" or "don't hit."  Oops.  I guess I should tell him that I love him at other times than during a "time out."

Here's another recurrent dialogue between Max and me from a few weeks back"

Max (pointing at potted plant): dee-doe

Me: Yes, Max, a spider lives there (which is true--it emerges from the rim of the plant every time I water it)

Max: touch

Me: You're right.  We don't touch spiders.

Max: dane-juss

Me: Yes, they can be dangerous.

We had been observing this spider for a couple of weeks.  It's pretty obvious what I had been telling him about spiders.

Australia v. Iraq

We took Max to his first soccer game.  He did really well!  He sat on our laps for the entire first half then Tim took him for a walk at halftime.  He became a little fidgety in the middle of the second half but the stadium was packed so he couldn't go anywhere.  Plus we had a group of rowdy fans behind us that kept him entertained.  Australia won 1-0.

The ticket

The weather was sketchy that day so we wore rain apparel.  Fortunately, we didn't need to use it during the match.  Oh, and Ki-Ki (Max's monkey) attended his first match as well.

Snacks during the game

End of May

Since Max is turning two soon, we've begun to ask him how old he is and prompting him to say "two."  Max, being one-tracked as usual, latches onto the word "old" and always answers "old train."  His first words in the morning are generally "train" and "tracks."  Old MacDonald now has a train.  Sometimes we sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Train."  You get the gist.

Malia came over for dinner and play time.  Max coerced her to read a book.

All bundled and ready for a run

Max loves putting on Daddy's shoes.