Sunday, December 19, 2010

Birdie!

A slightly belated welcome to the world - Helen Indira Randel, aka Birdie...
We can't wait to meet you!!!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Brrrr....not really

This week we got our first "cold front". It's been 40's and 50's. The news teams are warning people to "bring their pets inside." Maria thinks its the coldest weather in the world, tells me it might be too cold to go outside. Apparently, Nicaragua doesn't really go below 70.

Below is Max in his "Florida winter wear" nice and bundled. You can see how seriously his Dad takes winter - check out his shoes.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving this year was beautiful and wonderful and nice...It felt like Max's first Thanksgiving, really, since he couldn't eat the food last year and what is Thanksgiving about other than food? As can be seen from the pics, this year's goal was - get Max so full that he gets tired and cuddles on someone. He has such a good time with "Bebe" "E" and Grandma and Jimbo. His walks with Jimbo and food and playing with Grandma were his faves, of course.

We missed all of the family up north - but are continuing our campaign to get everyone to come down to Florida for Turkey Day!!!



Sunday, November 7, 2010

Some Cute Videos

Been getting yelled at for a lack of videos, so here are a few of Max's favorite activities. Playing with (and yelling at) Bobo, and doing work...

He loves having a job to do (remind you of anyone?). In this case, dragging around the garbage can and putting things inside. He couldn't understand why that large, heavy, piece from his stroller wouldn't fit in (but that didn't stop him from trying)! Oh and locking himself in his room (good thing we figured out how to unlock from the other side).





Monday, October 25, 2010

Pumpkins

We got our first Halloween pumpkin yesterday and had lots of fun carving and scraping it out. Max enjoyed picking out seeds and feeding them to Lincoln and throwing pumpkin "guts" all over the balcony. Then he got bored and decided to jump on my back....Charlie did an excellent job carving out the face.


Thursday, October 14, 2010

Pony!

Max has just realized how fun it is to climb onto Charlie and jump up and down like he's riding a horse. We started our day with some pony rides the other morning...then he got tired out. Bobo was in on the action of course...

A talking update - he is saying a few new words...he really just decides what he does or doesn't want to say. Lately, he is into every animal saying "roar" like a tiger (with a hand gesture of course). He mostly sticks to the staples - Car, Ball, Adya (airplane/garbage truck/motorcycle), more, down, nana (banana), and lots of Mama/Dada/Bobo. I do wish he had a larger vocabulary, but I think he mainly just hates doing anything I ask him to do, so...



Monday, September 27, 2010

Taco Night!

Max had his first Tacos the other night during Manuel Family Taco Night (Phoebe's favorite). Very exciting. Recently he wants to eat "real food" like we do - sandwiches, pizza, tacos, etc. The Broccoli and Spinach routine isn't quite cutting it anymore. A year and a half of voluntary healthy eating, another 16 or so of forcing him to get veggies down....awesome :)

As you can see, he loved the tacos and he and I had a nice post-dinner conversation! He has some new words just in the past few weeks (Car, Elmo, Ball, "Maaaa" (Max)), and as you can see, enjoys conversing in his own language. He really seems to be saying something, I just wish I knew what it was. Turn up the volume, his voice is quiet (just like his Mom's, haha).




Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Wedding Fun

Zack and Sarah's wedding was beautiful and amazing! I think between Facebook and Kodak, everyone will see enough pics. But, for anyone who missed the below - Max had a good time rolling his body around on a ball during the Clambake. Gave us a good laugh...

By the way, I wasn't pushing him off to be mean, it was making him laugh hysterically - listen close...


Thursday, September 2, 2010

Smooth Criminal

The other day we spent the entire morning on Lincoln Rd. It was super hot, but we had a great time (Bobo especially). We almost had lunch at the same place as we had breakfast, but thought that would be a bit embarrassing.
Anyways, Max got so sweaty, that when we came back his hair looked like this. Charlie pointed out that he looked like Nick Nolte's Mug Shot, and I had to agree...see below.



Thursday, August 26, 2010

Visitors Part Two

Second round of visitors, and boy did Charlie and I take advantage. Mom gets in, we flee to the Keys :) Had an amazing trip (Charlie caught his first Tarpin...and I missed the photo op, grrrr). It was so nice to have a few days of relaxation, thank you thank you thank you to Mom (or "MumMum" as we think Max says).
Then Jimbo rolled in and Mom says she was forgotten (welcome to my world). While he does light up in a way I've never seen for his Jimbo, I have to note that every time I called Mom to check in, I heard the two of them giggling up a storm like two peas in a pod!! So, I think he has special places for both....and he apparently never misbehaves with mom (only me). Maybe because she fed him 24-7! He is still mad that I won't give him a morning bagel :)

I'm mad I didn't take more pics but got a few cute ones...

Linguine Lunch at Bal Harbor...nothing but the best for Max of course!


A couple of Max and his Jimbo....


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Visitors Part One

We've been lucky enough to have some wonderful visits from our families....first up, Julie and Sherri came and we had tons of fun swimming, going to Jungle Island (Max got scratched by a baby Kangaroo... we kept imagining having to take him to the Dr. to say "um, he got scratched by a Kangaroo, is that OK??"), and eating lots and lots of course.

Max really connected with Sherri this trip. He decided she needed special attention and would quietly approach, stare at her, then whisper. Sherri, in return, continued to rub his head (part of me is expecting a Genie to suddenly pop out) and talk back to him...so cute.


The offending Kangaroo - luckily, Max got right back into it petting and feeding him!

High-five with aunt Sherri...

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Little Don Draper

Talking on the phone...yelling at the "staff" in the background, stomping his feet. This Mad Man is work, work, work....and cow sounds.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Checking the Markets





Fetch

Max and Linc (bobo) have really started playing together, which is wonderful for Mom and Dad. Now they've started playing fetch - Max yells at Linc to give him the ball, throws the ball for Linc, Linc brings it back....rinse and repeat. pretty funny.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Messages From Maria

Maria often sends me text messages during the day. This one really made me laugh. I got the below picture from Maria with the following line, "Hello, I'm Mexican Gringo"..

It's so sweet when she sends those, makes me feel close to him even when I'm not with him! And gives me a good laugh.

Another wonderful visit home...

We had such an amazing time in CT a couple of weeks ago...We went up for Billy's wedding (congrats Bill and Leslie!) and got lucky enough to see the extended Randel clan for Peter's graduation (congrats Peter)! Of course, visits with all family and friends ensued - Max got to spend some wonderful quality time with Grandma and Grandpa, which I cherished.

He had the run of the house, played with Chickens, made Jimbo/Grandpa carry him around everywhere, had his first day in "Miss Julie's" day care (made friends with Colin), spent special time with Uncle Zack, and of course ATE ATE ATE (no thanks to Mom who fed him 24-7). What a wonderful trip, and we couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous, picturesque, "Spring in New England" week...
















Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Talky Talk...

Lots of photos to upload from CT but for now wanted to share this funny video. No, this isn't a Chinese midget, its Max - having a simple conversation with his father. In a unknown language...

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Our proudest moment....

Our son...laughing at his own fart....Charlie, shocked by the sheer genius of it.