New Feats

Max has officially learned to swim/dog paddle.  The other day, he went into the pool without his backpack and we found that he could swim without it.  He was not as impressed with the incident as we were.  I can't always convince him to practice swimming without his backpack but it's nice to know that he can do it.  Yay Max!

Also, Max is officially potty trained (kind of) in that he doesn't wear diapers anymore.  Not even at night!  He still has lots of accidents, especially when I allow him to run around naked.  I think he's less prone to accidents when he is wearing clothing b/c he doesn't like the feeling of pee on his clothing.  I'm so happy to be done washing diapers!  Yay me!

President=Present in Max's world

During the inauguration coverage this morning on TV, I said to Max, "This is your new president!"

Max, as any two-year-old, does not know what a president is.  He figures it sounds close enough to one of his favorite words: present!!!!  So he pops his new baya (pacifier) out of his mouth, holds it up proudly and exclaims with wide eyes, "New present!"

I'm not sure who was more excited: me about our new president or Max about his new baya. Actually, Max's elation was definitely more apparent.  Sorry Obama.  I've never been overly expressive.

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Morse

I can never remember the order in which I need to upload photos so that they end up in chronological order when reading the blog.  Since I can upload as many as five at a time, I only realize after I've uploaded ten whether or not I've chosen the right order.  Therefore, the first ten photos in this entry should be switched with the second ten if you care, dear reader, about chronology.  If you just enjoy seeing the pictures, then read on!

Christmas Eve on Bribie Island

(we go to the "surf side" of the island)

Grandpa created this game for Max.  Max goes to the ocean, fills his bucket with water, walks back to Mommy and Daddy, then pours the water on us.  As you can see, he really likes the game.

A view of the game inclusive of the innocent victims 

and the mean grandpa

Grandpa suggested that we get our picture taken by the beach report sign because it says "Merry Christmas" amongst all of the other information.  Cute idea but a little hard to read.

Helping Max body board

Setting out cookies and milk for Santa (while watching Rudolph)

Opening presents Christmas morning

Helping grandpa (and everyone else) open presents

Watching Mommy make sticky buns Christmas morning

Grandpa's new authentic Aussie bush hat (the corks keep the flies away)

Happy with grandpa's playdough train

Grandma and Grandpa started the tradition of night swimming.  The pools look especially inviting because the pool lights turn the water a bright blue.  While swimming, we also watch for flying foxes (large fruit bats) that fly towards the river at this time of night.  The downside is that, for me and Tim, the pool temperature is not very inviting once the sun sets.

I'm certain there is a picture of Tim as a two-year-old that is identical to this shot (Tim says Max looks like Jim here).

After a bit of preparatory coaching by Mom to avoid tears on Santa's lap, Max climbed on Santa's knee and promptly said, "I want presents" before Santa had a chance to say anything.  A case of over-coaching?

Swimming at Streets Beach in Brisbane's South Bank Parklands

Taking a cuddle/cracker break

Max loves sharing salads in our big metal bowl.  Grandma and Grandpa warmed to the idea quickly since they are big salad eaters.  Plus, Grandma chops more ingredients for their salads so Max was exposed to a healthier salad than our standard chicken caesar.  Max still thinks salad MUST have chicken in it.

Riding the Christmas train before seeing Santa

Santa came to Tiny Tots.  I told Max about it two weeks ahead of time (for some crazy reason that I don't recall) so there was a lot of talk about Santa and a present and Tiny Tots before the big day arrived.  As soon as Santa came into the room, Max was beside himself.  He stood in front of Santa the whole time waiting for his present.  Because we were one of the first people to arrive, his present was at the bottom of Santa's bag and the poor kid had to wait for 45-50 other kids.  So 45-50 times, a name was called, a parent coaxed a child to approach Santa, Santa coaxed the child to take the present, and a photographer tried to get a picture of the child with Santa.  Did I say that happened 45-50 times?  Do you realize how long that sequence of events is when repeated 45-50 times?  I thought Max would have a meltdown before his name was finally called.  I was wrong.  The poor kid waited patiently, within 10 feet of Santa, until his name was called.  Unfortunately, Max wasn't overly excited about the book Santa gave him (at least at the time)--I found it abandoned within a minute of Max opening it.