Max is Two!!

Two years ago today our little Maxie-Maxo was born (Mackie-Macko). We feel so extraordinary blessed to have him in our lives. Every day is an amazing adventure and every night Charlie and I say "we couldn't possibly love him more." (Remind me to look back on this when he is 14 and ordering me not to speak to him).

We've had an awesome weekend of birthday fun including a wonderful trip to the park/farm with the Geronemus family (our last year to skip the official b-day party), many calls from friends and family, loads of gifts from across the country, a morning sing-along with balloons and a big package from Grammy, breakfast with the Manheims, a fun dinner ("Taco Time"), Skyping with the west-coast fam and grandma and Jimbo, and of course, birthday cake (he ate the frosting).

Some pics below (lots) and a video of the famous Pony ride (as always my voice is annoyingly loud, but you can hear him say "Pony" at the end). I have many more pics that I'll send soon.

p.s. Uncle Davesy I'm not sure if you read this but if you do, we're thinking of you....xo

Singing Happy Bday - with Grandma and Jimbo on the computer. Modern technology amazing.

Birthday morning extravaganza! (Charlie channeled Julie with full Bday decorations!)

Big Pimpin'

We want to wish Grammy a happy happy bday!! Can't wait to see you soon.

Recently, we had a wonderful afternoon with the Cohen family (minus one).

We played at the park, had a big lunch, and Max had 3 lovely ladies fawn all over him. What a lucky guy - the girls couldn't have been sweeter to little "Mackie" and Max ATE IT UP. By the end of lunch, he was bouncing back and forth like a pinball between the three girls, giving hugs and kisses. Hysterical. Playing, running, eating, hugs, kisses (even Max kissing the girls!), and three ladies fighting over him - a pretty successful afternoon for a 2 year old.

Uncle E Bday!!!

I've been having technical difficulties. Wrote this whole blog after Eli's bday and uploaded the videos but they didn't work, should be Ok now. Eli don't get mad that I posted these, you guys are too cute together... Anyways, some shots of Eli and Max having fun! Max and his Uncle E are the cutest cliche. The "fun uncle" comes to town and they get rough and rowdy (and Max tries to act tough). He knows its "boy time" when Uncle E comes in the door!
The no-shirt, one-shoe, pants falling down look really tops it off.

Videos and Valentine's

Uploaded a bunch of videos off the flip, below is the first batch. We finally got him to sit still while pointing out the Manuel family - he usually likes to walk around with the picture. He is really getting these names down, and we often here him "talking on the phone" with Grammy, Tita, or Mandy (which he kind of says "Mindy" I think he has been talking to Sherri).

Then, he got his Valentine's gift from Grammy which provided much fun (he loved the box of course) but actually loved the gifts inside too! The doggy was his favorite - no surprise there (with a needed break for battery installation)...

You can see the daily frustration that occurs when I can't understand what he is saying, I love how he yells at me "No, Mama!" as if to say "get it together lady, I'm talking to you"...

Coming soon on "Max Manuel's blog"...Playing with Uncle E on his bday.

Mr. Helper

A cute story...this morning, I got into the shower and said out loud, "shoot I forgot my shower cap" (OK, maybe I said sh**...need to work on that). Five seconds later, a little arm pokes into the shower with my shower cap in hand. It was so cute. Max had heard me, knew where it was and pulled it off my hook, then brought it to me without saying a word.

We just signed him up for school in the fall and Charlie and I can hardly believe it. How can this little baby be going to school?!? We went with the Montessori, and feel really good about it. I think he'll love it, and the philosophy really seems to fit with the kind of kid he is - loves to do work and tasks and be independent. We can just seem him now - off to school with the Jets backpack Grammy got him. sighhh.

Here is a picture from yesterday. It was cool out, so I let him wear his "big boots". He looks like such a big guy. And loves this hat lately...

Whole Lotta Love...and talking

A couple videos of Max doing his new favorite things - staring at pictures and naming the people in them. It's always either this pic from Ireland or the big wedding photo. And one video of him saying his favorite new phrase (with help from Mom). Trying to get a video of him with the wedding photo, but he won't do it when I want. Loves the Manuel-fam photo - lots of ReeRee!

He is talking and repeating everything now, those of us who speak "Max" know what he is saying such as "yewow kaki" (yellow taxi), "gahbah up" (the garbage is being lifted into the truck), "Popo cap weeo weeo" (Police Cop, followed by the siren noise), "moin" (more), "agua memma" (watermelon, which Maria finds hysterical, since they don't say watermelon in Spanish) and "buss seepeen" (his Buzz Lightyear car is "sleeping", i.e. he has been told to take a break from it) and "ono" (orange). Classics like Bobo Down, GO, NO, red car, eat, pasta, nana, whoaa, etc. have now been perfected while new ones such as "come on", "big puppy" "oh man" and "get down" came out perfect from the start. Numbers are being incorporated often, mostly in groups of two "two cackers", "two boats" "two beeky" (wants two blankets at all times), though today he did notice "thee momos" (three motorcycles). And referring to himself in the third person has him all excited "Macki pooter" (Max use the computer), "Mackie down" (mom stop kissing me and let me down), "Mackie do" (self explanatory).
It's a whole lot of fun....

Big Boots

So, mom the genius bought Max snow boots for when we were in CT. He loved them so much, he has insisted on wearing them here...in 70 degree weather. We've been trying to hide them or even show him a "smaller" boot that's somewhat more appropriate, but we're met with a complete meltdown crying for "BIG BOOTS".

So, now he is the weird kid who wears boots in warm weather. Awesome. Oh, and he's a "pusher" he keeps bringing me my boots and saying "Mama Boots". He wants everyone to wear them.

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