Max is 18 months old! (May 17, 2013)

Max turned 18 months old last weekend.  There's no question that our boy is no longer a baby.  He runs, jumps, climbs, tumbles, and is always on the move.  He's constantly trying to talk someone into letting him "outside" so he can look for rocks, dig in the dirt, pull weeds (read:  grass and flowers that don't need pulling), jump in puddles, stomp in mud, run in the sprinkler, and get soaked by the water hose.  He also adores "driving" our cars, which involves him sitting in the driver's seat while turning the steering wheel and pushing various buttons, and we are regularly bombarded by requests to "drive?  drive?" while he motions as if he's turning an imaginary steering wheel.

Max is full of smiles and makes us laugh all the time.  And he's noisy (much more noisy than Scarlett was at this age), generating a steady stream of screeches, usually inspired by either hunger or sibling squabbles.  One of his new bad habits is that he throws anything and everything -- rocks in the yard or pillows in Scarlett's room (not so bad), full cups of milk in the kitchen or a remote control at Scarlett's head (bad).  If we scold him by sternly saying "NO, Max," he'll look at you seriously for a moment but then breaks out that irresistible smile, so you can't stay mad.  He's also getting pickier about eating.  Sometimes he inexplicably turns his nose up at toddler staples like grilled cheese or hot dogs.  Other times he acts like he hasn't eaten in days and eats adult-sized helpings (lasagna is his current favorite).

Max and Scarlett for the most part get along great.  Scarlett loves to mother him, holding his hand in parking lots, telling him not to worry when he cries, and teaching him and explaining things ("Max, when you're big like me ...[insert wise Scarlett advice]" is a regular thing we hear form her these days; so sweet).  She tells him she loves him every day and continues to give him lots of her trademarked hugs/strangle holds.

Max had his 18 month appointment with Dr. Curry yesterday and his stats are as follows:  height 34 inches (91%), weight 28 lbs 5 oz (90%), and head 100% (didn't note the actual measurement, but we'll just call it BIG).

Here's a list of words he's saying these days (although I'm sure I'm leaving some out):  hot, brrrrrrr, up, down, please, more, Mama/Mommy, Daddy, Nana (for Winnie), BB, outside, yeah, no, back (for backyard), bath, book, cookie, this, that, t.v., ball, juice, uh-oh, off, light, pee pee, poo poo, baby, waffle, drive, gate, giraffe, packet (what his pureed snacks come in), puppy, banana, cracker, shoe, hi, bye, truck, bird, mmmmmm (when he sees food), rock, grass, bird, owl, trash, milk

Now here are some photos I took on his 18-month birthday!

Sweet.

Silly.

Serious.

Riding the Batmobile.  (Note the "vroom-vroom" face.)

On the move.

Pointing out an airplane overhead.

Happy 18 month birthday, Max, we love you!

Fishing Trio

Rockport fish beware!  Chris, Max, and Scarlett have been practicing.

(Photo taken at the Cox's Fourth of July in May party (because it's too hot in July).)

Little Tiger

As I've explained previously, Papa Tig's name comes from his nickname "Tig", which in turn comes from being called the "Little Tiger" back before he was even born. I figured I should capture some photos of Papa Tig and Max in his tiger pajamas.  Max, however, wasn't really feeling it.  At least Scarlett and Papa Tig were being cooperative.

Splash!

It rained last week, and before I knew it, the kids were stomping and jumping in puddles in their clean clothes and good shoes.  But since they were already wet, we just rolled with it splashed in it.  

Casting a really serious spell with her princess wand.

You know the good times are rolling when Max takes his pants off.

Sweet face.

Peekaboo.

Pointing to an airplane flying overhead.  (Max loves all things that fly and points them out to everyone so we can admire them as well ... airplanes, helicopters, birds, balloons, you name it.  He even spotted a blimp the other day, which according to Max is pretty much the coolest thing to ever fly in the history of things that fly.)

Posing.

Running.

Twirling.  (Can you believe how long her hair has gotten?  Time to cut it again soon.)

BIG Things Happen In Dallas

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau recently launched a new campaign with the slogan "BIG things happen in Dallas."  (I suppose this is also a play on the "Big D" moniker.)  There are more than two dozen over-sized "B" and "G" signs at various venues throughout Dallas, and people are encouraged to snap photos of themselves as the "I" in between.  I think it's a really fun idea.

One of the displays is set up downtown in Pioneer Plaza, which contains a life-size replica of a cattle drive cast in bronze.  The statues weave their way down a hill and across s stream, and include three cowboys on horseback.  I've lived in Dallas for over twelve years and have never checked it out, and I was really impressed.  It's definitely worth a visit.  

Notorious B-I-G.

Max dots the "I."  Hey Scarlett, what up G?  (Ok, no more lame rap references for this post.  Promise.)

Scarlett's turn.

"Why hello there, Longhorn."

Scarlett reaches waaaay up to touch the cowboy's stirrup.  (Note the get-up she's got on:  Snow White top paired with a red tutu over her clothes.)

Jumping from rock to rock over the stream with Daddy.

Max and Papa Tig taking in the sights.  (That bush behind Max's head cracks me up ... looks like Bam Bam's ponytail.)

Scarlett takes the bull by the horns.

Max and Papa Tig working hard to pick out just the right rocks to throw in the water.

Checking out the cattle drive below.

The Princess Cowgirl rides a Longhorn.

Really-Really-Big Big Girl Bed

Scarlett got a big girl bed last week!  We had previously taken the side of her crib off to convert it into a toddler bed, but it was time to move on from her sort-of-big big girl bed to a "really-really-big big girl bed," as Scarlett explained.  The bed frame is on back-order, but I decided to go ahead and get the mattress ordered and throw it on the floor college-style so she can get used to it (plus, if she rolls out, it's only a few inches off the floor for now).

Reading one last book in the sort-of-big big girl bed for old times' sake.

Papa Tig and his helpers taking apart the crib.

Crib gone!

Some hugs for Max.  (Note:  Now that the new bed occupies this space, Max is no longer receiving warm hugs from Scarlett.  In fact, she doesn't want him anywhere near her new bed.  Doesn't even want him looking in its general direction.  Not surprisingly, Max wants to jump on it, mess with the pillows, and fall back on it dramatically like a Nestea plunge commercial, all to Scarlett's great consternation.)

Watching the delivery guys unloading the bed from their truck.

Happy big girl in her really-really-big big girl bed!

We're still settling on pillows and whatnot, and will be adding a bed frame/headboard/footboard hopefully in the next six weeks or so, so I'll update again when it's officially all done and set up.  

Thankfully, the Easter Bunny gives out rain checks.

Scarlett was in the hospital over Easter this year.  I sent the Easter Bunny an e-mail (ebunny@gmail.com in case you're wondering) to let him know, and he graciously agreed to skip our house on Easter Sunday and swing by later after Scarlett came home.

Checking out their loot.

The Easter Bunny left carrots (which BB later added to a delicious stew).

Hunting for eggs.  (Note Winnie waiting patiently.)

Wait, there's candy inside these eggs?!?  Score!  (Max has a major sweet tooth and would have eaten an entire bag of Hershey kisses in one setting if we'd let him.)

Checking out a cascarone (aka confetti egg).

Confetti hair.

The whole gang (well, minus the photographer).

Winnie's patience pays off as she helps herself to an overlooked egg.  (Don't worry, it didn't have chocolate in it.  Oddly, it was a confetti-filled cascarone.  She broke it open and licked the shell, presumably for delicious egg residue.)

Scarlett thought the silly string the Easter Bunny brought was awesome.  Max disagreed.

Max was also not a fan of the bunny ears.   Or of Scarlett's stiff-arm efforts to keep him from riding her bicycle.  Poor Max.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  At least there was lots and lots of chocolate.