Max has been 17 months old for a couple of weeks by now I guess, but at any rate, he's learning so fast we are constantly surprised by what he's picked up on. They are such sponges at this age, and I'd say the second child is even more so, because they learn SO much from the older sibling!
This month Max mastered a LOT of animal sounds. He added the oink, moo, quack, meow and elephant trumpet to his repertoire and never misses a chance to use them! He loves finding animals in books or on tv or in real life and pointing and making their sound. He also loves to pretend to be a frog and ribbit:
He also fell in love with puzzles this month and is getting pretty good at the big ones with the knob handles. He can't always get them in just right but he puts them in the right place at least. He really likes the one that makes the animal sounds when you get the piece in correctly.
He still isn't using a lot of words but he will shake his head yes or no. Mostly no. He's sure of what he wants and will make sure you are too! He's starting to point to objects in books if you ask "where is the frog?" He seems to get a little better at that game every night which is fun to watch. He reads the same books over and over and over and never seems to tire of them.
We had to turn his carseat around because his poor little legs were so squished. They recommend keeping them rearfacing until 2 but I think our cars aren't really made for that, or our carseats, because his knees were about in his mouth. Like most things, Max didn't seem to care much one way or the other. He's still pretty laid back, as long as you know what he needs.
He became attached to his gloworm this month and wouldn't go to sleep without it. He'd snuggle up to it when he rolled over in bed and carry it around with him sometimes.
We also heard a really sweet story from his teacher...One day, a new little girl joined the class who was used to taking 2 naps. They only get to take one nap in the Chickadee room, so mid-morning she was really tired and went over to the quiet corner and curled up. Max went right over and patted her on the back. Then apparently, after going back to playing, another little girl went over to the quiet corner to lay down as well and Max's teacher said he looked at her (the teacher), let out a big sign and went over and patted the other little girl's back as well! :) He's not as into snuggles as Jack was (or still is) but he does run in the door after school, straight to me for a hug. It's so sweet! As soon as he gets the hug though, he's ready for dinner. He wastes no time running from me to the dinner table!
He's still eating really well and isnt all that picky. He loves fruit, especially pineapple and raspberries and eats his weight in yogurt, just like Jack. He likes chicken nuggets and fish sticks and sandwiches and pesto pasta too. Veggies aren't quite as good - he'll eat peas and corn but that's about the extent of it, for me at least.
He absolutely loves playing with Jack and I love watching them when they don't know I am! They love to chase one another and throw balls back and forth. Jack is so very good with him and Max just giggles and grins. Max also plays a lot differently than Jack did at this age. He watches every move Jack makes. He will get out all the animals and pretend play with them, just like Jack does!
Max loves life! He's almost always smiling and just enjoying whatever is going on. He keeps us giggling and smiling too, which is one of the greatest gifts we could ever ask for! Keep it up Max, keep it up! Love you sweet pea!
Tomorrow would have been my grandmother's 96th birthday. I miss her a lot. I wish so much that she knew Kenny and Jack and Max. I know she would have loved them to pieces and she would have loved seeing me happy. This past weekend, Kenny's grandmother, Norma Dale, passed away. I knew when we visited with them over Christmas that she didn't look good and worried that we might not see her again. Oddly, she died of the same awful Alzheimer's induced issues that Grandma did, and we were in Blacksburg when the call came in, just like we were with my Grandma.
She wasn't my grandmother and I hadn't known her long, but I loved her and I'll miss her a lot. She welcomed me with open arms from the very first time I met her and even in the past few years, as she started to lose her memory, she always seemed to be glad to see us, even if she wasn't exactly sure who we were. She loved Jack and Max too and always remarked about their red hair and how she wished she had it. She loved holding them and watching them, no matter what they were doing. I'm sad the boys probably won't remember her but really glad that she got the chance to know them. I know they brought her some joy and watching her excitement and the love in her eyes when she saw them, brought me a lot of joy as well.
We spent the last few days with the family mourning her loss. There were so may great pictures and stories told. She lived a long and full life. She graduated from high school and had a great career, which was certainly not the norm for women in her generation. She also raised 3 great kids and was a wonderful wife. We can all hope to be so fortunate. Two stories stick in my mind and I hope I won't forget them. The first was the story of how Grandpa met Grandma. He was driving through town and spotted her and a friend walking down the street. He stopped the car and spoke to her and knew he was smitten. He didn't talk to her too long that day but apparently, as the story goes, as she walked away, she told her friend "that's the man I'm going to marry." And marry him, she did. They were married 67 years! I can't imagine life without Kenny but I sure have no idea what 67 years looks or feels like. What an amazing gift they found in each other. At the funeral home on Monday evening, I remarked that the picture of Grandma they'd chosen for the altar was really pretty. Grandpa told me it had been taken when she was in high school and that the kids had wanted to use that one for her obituary but he didn't want to. He said "she was still the most beautiful lady, even at the very end, we didn't need an old picture." It brought a tear to my eye then, and has again now. I'm so sad for him. I know his heart is broken and there's nothing that can make it better. I'm so very thankful to have known her and their love for one another and to have gotten to call her Grandma. That's a very special term in my book. I know my Grandma would have approved though and I bet that my Grandma greeted her with a great big hug and that they have become good friends. I love and miss you both...
