Our Baby is 2

It is true, our Max turned two years old last weekend. I think it is always a little tough for a parent to see their kids grow up, but I am claiming this one as extra tough since Max is our baby. We are leaving behind mile stones such as bottles and binkies (well almost) and moving towards things like potty training and big boy beds. It is the end of an era for Dan and I, but the beginning of so many fun adventures with our big boys.
What can I say about Max? We love his hair, we love his laugh and we love his spirit. Really, we love the whole little package. If you know Max well, you will know that though he isn't a boy of many words yet, he is a boy who knows how to get his point across. During our family camping trip a couple of weeks ago, Max said his first word (other than the all important Mama :) He said "KEYS!" That is a word that suits our guy very well and didn't come as too big of a surprise. Other words Max uses.....WoooooooW!....Oooowww!....Vroom Vroom and the new and very lovable "Peeeeeze" otherwise known as please. In true little boy style, Max has his "HI YAH!!!" verbiage down perfectly and he uses that to play fight with brother and it also came in handy when he was hitting the pinata at his birthday party. Max is a big user of the sounds "Uh Huh" and "Uh Uh" as that is how he confirms what he wants and doesn't want. It is too cute to hear him say those sounds because he uses very different tones depending on if it is something he is excited about or something he doesn't want to do. Finally, I have to mention "YAH!" This word isn't used for yes, as in agreement, it is used as in YES! I am so excited. For example I will say, "Max it is time for breakfast" and he will will say "YAH!!!"

Speaking of breakfast, it is Max's favorite meal of the day. He loves cereal and will easily eat two bowls each morning and then he is more than happy to help Mama eat mine as well. Max adores his big brother and will pretty much mimic anything Chase does. They are just hitting a stage where Max wants to play with anything Chase touches. It seems to have started a lot of upheaval between the two brothers, but they both seem pretty quick to forgive and go on their way. Max is very lucky to have such a big hearted older brother who tends to let Max have his way a lot of the time, but, that is not always the case and when pinching and hitting arise, I tell the boys they need to apologize to each other and to my delight they always stop and hug and comfort each other (see the last picture in this post). I know that won't always be the case, but lets hope it starts the foundation for lots of brotherly love and respect as they grow up.

Max has a love of music. He will come and get me and drag me down the hall and into Chase's room, he puts the Cars CD into the player and we wait with anticipation for the first rocking song to come on. We both start by nodding our heads while smiling at each other and then we really go for it. Max watches me for every move and we shake our fists above our heads, throw bunches in the air, twirl around, clap our hands and snap our fingers, which is only the more cute because Max just rubs his little fingers together like they are snapping up a storm. He also likes to play our piano, strum brothers guitar and drum on pretty much anything.

Max has a special place in his heart for his Daddy. Dan can't sit down for more than a few minutes without Max racing over to "pummel" with him. They wrestle and laugh and roll around and giggle and all this always ends up with Max taking Daddy for a ride around the house. There are also a lot of "HI YAHs!!" thrown in there for good measure.

We have been so blessed to have one of the sweetest, cutest, funniest
little boys in the whole wide world! We love you to the moon Max James!