How it drips...

Uploaded the flip video tonight and I had some good ones I had taken last weekend and the one before. Max already seems to have progressed so much since then, but these are still fun to watch. Impressive talents include recognizing Daddy and Bobo, standing and playing his "piano" (which he absolutely loves), and eating Watermelon from his fruit net - the first time he has like this toy, and he sure got at it!

As you'll see, he gave the watermelon his full "360" seal of approval...(football in the background of course...back when the JETS were still in the running, sigh).

On the Move!

Suddenly, we realize why everyone was telling us to 'enjoy the time' Max was just sitting and playing. Now he is MOBILE. Crawling, standing, exploring, trying to walk, squatting, and of course, falling...

Our little 'wounded soldier' seems to bump his head on everything (OK, he had been head-butting the door...a bit like Justin in Parenthood, my favorite movie). But its amazing how even when you're standing right next to him, holding his hand, he can fall awkwardly. Currently, he has a bump on his forehead and a little red mark under his eye - could be a bug bite from finally being outside again now that its warm.

Some pics of little guy on the move, including standing at his 'music table' - the little Maestro loves that thing, he'll go at it for whole....minutes.

Better late than never?

And the award for slowest blogger goes to.....BECKY MANUEL! "I'd like to thank everyone who made this possible - most importantly, the Max Man who does NOT like when I'm not paying attention to him (and due to six months of lost sleep, i now pass out at 9pm), and also Mr. Lincoln who jumps up onto the computer and licks the keyboard if I try to type on it, but mostly I have my lazy-impatient self to thank, as whenever I upload lots of photos, I get too annoyed waiting for them to 'buffer' to finish the task..."

Anyways, a selection of Max's first Xmas and our time in CT. From crawling around the Randel and Manuel houses to eating all kinds of foods cooked by G-ma to pulling up on the coffee table to a full standing position to baking cookies at the Hendees to seeing the WGs to freeeeeeeezing his butt off in the snow to meeting the cousins including baby Zoe and Maya to being loved by THREE dogs (linc, Luca, and the newest - baby Teddy), to spending time with his many aunts and uncle, and of course his first Xmas with santa and sleepovers with Grammy, he had a wonderful time! Even if it did take us 48 hours to finally get there :) We love you all and can't wait for next year!

J-E-T-S

JETS JETS JETS!

Max was so excited about yesterday's Jets game, he MADE us watch it on TV :) Next week, its the chargers....sorry Chach, here we come!

Luca the Dog

I am working to post a selection of holiday photos, but in the meantime I had to share the below video. Max was pretty spoiled to get love from TWO dogs all week, and he especially liked meeting his cousin, Luca. I think its safe to say the dogs also quite loved Max, more specifiically his sloppy eating habits.

I had to put this video on YOU TUBE to get it on the blog Eli, but don't worry - it's private.

I mean, if people can get one million hits for playing with a cat, this one is pretty cool....If you want to send the link to friends, its http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV23uun5uEc

Feeding....

Yes, I'm aware that I'm the absolute worst about blogging, and I have no excuses left (except the full-time job and nine-month old) but if anyone is still listening, Max and I appreciate it. I am working through all the holiday photos to upload a bunch, but in the meantime, I have to discuss the feeding process that has been driving me somewhat crazy.

First of all, the products...having a baby is kind of like having a new roommate who doesn't pay rent, takes up a ton of space, racks up the bills, and refuses to clean up after themselves. Exhibit A - check out our dishwasher last night. And no, those pastel colored bowls aren't Charlie's.

Secondly, and most importantly, the cooking/reading/studying/deciding, etc. and all that goes into making sure your child is healthy, developing, well-fed, full of vitamins but not pesticides and hormones, gets enough iron so he isn't anemic, learns how to strengthen his jaw and chew properly, picks up his own foods, you are not harming the environment or wasting money or looking like an idiot is EXHAUSTING. I've now read three books on baby food, each with their own point of view (eat meat vs. don't eat meat, be very careful vs. be very free and let them enjoy, babies need a myriad of vitamins and foods vs. babies only need breast milk, baby should avoid all salts and spices vs. baby should try everything we eat, make sure everything is smaller than a cheerio vs. let them "gnaw", each meal should have a mixture of vitamins A, K, C and E, (no joke) etc. etc. etc. I won't go into the details anymore but its downright overwhelming - not to mention I have a deathly fear of him choking and therefore hold my breath which eat bite he takes.

Bottom line - I request to all the authors out there - if you are writing a book about baby food and eating, DO NOT pretend you are care-free, casual, and that it's all so easy. Accept that if you are invested enough to write a whole book about feeding your baby, you are pretty into it and you spend a lot of time and effort on the topic....HMPH.

Anyways, I guess this new roommate is all worth it, especially since he has taken to reading SKINNY ON books :)