Max is 3!

18th of August 2012

Max is 3 now

A few months ago I was at the astrologer. He explained to me that my boy is already at or is going to a difficult stage... and indeed he was. It started in march/april and it still lasts.

The most annoying thing about this all, are the other people´s reactions. Max was a very, very calm baby and was relaxed and quiet up to his change in spring. Now I hear things like "Ohhh... Max can be wild as well!?" (with a gloatingly smile).

Oh, yes... he is wild! He is a boy... he is a child! But in comparison with many, many other children he is still quiet and balanced. There´s no beating or scratching, no spitting or biting. He is just running around wildly and screaming his joy out... or sometimes shouting out his frustration. He is midst despite phase and is overwhelmed by it himself. There are lots of situations I feel really sorry for him and his despair because he is so sad and crying for seeming no reason.

There are so many progresses Max made the last months and so it´s easy to understand that his brain and body have lots to do to follow. He learned how to talk... everything and pronouncing nearly every word perfectly, he needs no more diapers, he is sleeping, eating, playing and acting like a real toddler.

When he gets up in the morning he is coming to our bed... very silently... not to wake his little sister up. This is one of his thoughtful characteristics I so love about him. Then he is whispering "Lina still sleeping!" his eyes squinting, his lips curled, his look serious and nodding. This is the most adorable facial expression he has. I often tried to catch it on video but I did not manage yet... still trying!
When he is coming to our bed very early... so about 7 to 8 in the morning... he is watching videos on ipad or iphone while mama and papa are sleeping a bit longer... sometimes he falls asleep too!  He is such a good boy, hooray!

Fortunately there are no interruptions during the night. He goes to bed at about 8. Sometimes we have struggles to get him stay in bed. He comes out of the room very, very often... but for some days now, daddy found out how bedtime works quite well. Max and papa are doing evening care, reading and jumping on our bed for a while and having cuddles. Then the tired boy is tired enough to sleep at once and not coming back out again.

Naps belong to the past. We tried for a few weeks now to bring him to bed but he totally refuses. "Max not tired!" Now we just try to keep him calm with reading, sometimes he is allowed to watch tv... but most of the time somebody has one-on-one time with Max then. This is of course his favorite and I think so very important!

My big boy is still a bad eater. He is not choosy but eating tiny amounts only. Unhappily, sweets are the most beloved foods. He is demanding for them on and on... but very often asking for fruits, too!

He changed so much within a few months... I cannot believe. He had a growth spurt, his language is adorable, his hilarity unique! Fortunately I write down the things Max says. This will be the hit one day!

Now he is at the age the firsts step into the background and the lasts begin... I cannot tell you how often I´m teary about this. From his first moment on (even while growing inside me) I started to document really everything about him. I´m sure there are not many days in his life where no picture was taken or no word about him was written down.

Of course, the most attention got the sweet, adorable, unique, passing and irretrievably firsts. Starting with his first cry, first breastfed, first bath, first smile, first food, first sit, first step, first word... an endless list.

But did I give enough attention to the lasts? No... no... no... I didn´t! And this makes me so sad. The difficult thing about it is, that you don´t always know that something took place the very, very last time.

I don´t know the exact day he stopped needing me to fall asleep. I don´t know the day he needed a diaper for the last time. I don´t know the day he could not help but cry to make me understand he needed something. I don´t know the day he went for walks only in a pram. I don´t know the day he cuddled to me in the wrap he loved so so much. I don´t know the day when he was wearing extra loved clothes for the last time... when he was clapping his hand for the last time to tell mummy "please"... the last time he was crying because mama or papa were leaving the room... the last time I had to carry him up or downstairs...

Oh my heart be still! I could shed some tears about this all. But... but... my babyboy turned into such a perfect, funny, good-hearted, lovingly boy which makes it a bit easier to live with the fact that my baby is gone. I will never get this teeny tiny best-smelling ball of love back! Awww... if I could have just one more day with my newborn again!

Definitely... I have to cuddle him and hold him firmly, smell his hair and skin and look deep into his wonderful loving eyes when he gets up from his nap.... yes, yes, yes... today he is having a nap again! I´m sure he knew mama had to write this kind of loveletter for his third! birthday! 

So... at last... I´m going to give you a list about your pecularities... check it out...

Likes

• Oh my... you love Lina and I´m so thankful for this!
• cars, tractors, trains... still
• watching movies (favorites: Polar Express, Cars)
• Adele
• every kind of consumer electronics
• you prefer drinking water, but you like sweet drinks too, now
• telling us loudly when you have to pee and poo
• drilling into your belly button
• being outside and being joined for talking, explaining and giggling
• tools
• bathtime
• bedtime with daddy 
• making hilarious faces and smiling like a horse when asked to look at the camera
• sweets... unfortunately
• visitors
• our cat
• drawing, cutting, stamping... with mama´s scrapbooking stuff
• being en route, strolling around and exploring new areas... especially the mall
• going to the hairdresser´s... of course because of the lollipop you get afterwards
• falling asleep in the car
• educating Lina

Dislikes

• being pushed or limited by your little sister
• being told to do anything or... just imagine... not to do
• the word "no"
• Lina taking your toys... worst case... steeling out of your hands
• naptime
• scarfs tightly wrapped around your neck
• waiting
• doing something for you, you wanted to do... oh oh... you turn into a warrior instantly
• switching off the tv without prior warning
• Lina disturbing you while being on the toilet
• any kind of mash
• noise 
• being told to close your eyes for getting the shampoo out of your hair 
• holding still

My precious son, you are the gift of my life... I cannot tell you enough how much you mean to me... how much you brighten up my days... how much sense you give to me... how much delight is coming along with you!


Max, I love you