Max is 2 and a Half!

Happy Half Birthday my lovely guy

Max´activities in daily life at the age of 30 months

I can not belive that it´s two and a half years ago when my little teeny tiny son was handed to my chest... warm and fragrant. Since then my heart is bursting with love, joy and pride for my darling!

At present Max isn´t very cooperative when having his photos taken... so I´m happy about these lovely shots

Now every single day is great, fantastic, full of love, exhausting, wonderful, full of care and worries... you only understand what this means when you are a mother or a father yourself.

These milestone updates are becoming more and more difficult to write because his developments are proceeding so incredibly fast that mama and papa remain astonished most of the time.

Lina 

Max and little Miss L. are so lovingly together. My girl is already very interested in the way Max is playing, moving, talking or giggling. She is totally in love with him... adores her brother! I think she feels the love he has for her... Max is kissing her head when walking by, stroking her body and taking care.

But sometimes he is also a bit frustrated when Lina takes his stuff away, destroying things he built up or when she is just scrabbling around.

Nevertheless the relationship between the siblings is extraordinary! Oh... how I wished for this!

Communication

Max´ language ability has improved so much. He is able to repeat every word we say, pronouncing so clearly that we often are totally amazed. Disyllabic words are no problem any more. He is putting two words together now and so it´s easy to follow little stories he is telling us. Sometimes just too funny! 

He turned into a cheeky little boy. Some things he is combining are hilarious. So I started a little notebook collecting his statements. When I read through it I always have to laugh out loud!

Being able to comprehend what he wants and what he wants to say is the biggest milestone I think. Sure... as a mother I always guessed best what he wanted but nevertheless he couldn´t tell if he was tired, hungry, thirsty, if he was hurt... you only could guess what he needed. Now Max is poining out exactly what´s going on in his clever head!

In addition he is able to assign the appropriate colours to the items, he is able to name all animals we have in german and english... by the way... we have about thirty...and he is able to count to ten. Furthermore Max says "please" and "thank you", "hello" and "goodbye"... in most cases without being prompted.

We are trying to let him grow up bilingual and so improving his english is one of the important thing about his language. I´m trying to tell him all words both in g/e. Repeating them is fun for him. Sometimes he refuses and I don´t further force him. However... I´m happy about his willingness to learn!

Moving

Max is so full of power and in high spirits that it´s sometimes really exhausting. The change came quickly because he used to be a calm and relaxed boy. He is not wild or raging but in comparison to otherwise there´s a difference to recognize.

Max loves to jump on the sofa, to run through the house and just to jump up and down. The result of these activities are some injuries as well. But then he is only demanding for some hugs and kisses and is telling us "bit better".

Sweet boy is going for walks nearly every day and because of this he is in a very good condition. He is never sitting in the pram...  just walking without whining.

Being outside is important for Max. He enjoys both going for walks and just strolling through the garden and playing there. This is a big relief because he is able to stay outside on his own for a while and coming in if he wants to. Good boy is able to put on his shoes and hat alone!

Eating

My darling is no big eater at all. He is not delicate but just not hungry enough or doesn´t have time to sit still and eat.

But sure there are some things he likes most. Schnitzel made by opi, soups and pasta. Fortunately he likes fruits and vegetables too. That Max is totally crazy for sweets, gelati and nibbles is not necessary to mention.

Darling doesn´t like to eat alone. This is funny because normally he wants to do everything on his own. "Alone!!!" he is telling hundreds of times a day! So I think my sweetheart just doesn´t want to get dirty fingers or just is too convenient. Nevertheless... someday he will do it!?

Sleeping

Happily my boy is sleeping through the night without interruption for several months now. Before, he woke up one to two times just asking for some comfort or some water. Since we moved him to the other room in february he has his own bedside and is taking the water himself... sometimes still in need for the hug!

Unfortunately we are on a nap strike at present. He gets up at about half past seven in the morning and without the rest on midday the late afternoon turns out rather difficult... and in the evening he is most difficult to handle. So we have to get him to bed early and the problem is... he is getting up early again! That´s it! Waiting for the next change.

Washing

Taking the daily bath is no problem at all and never has been. Since I got pregnant with our little girl papa took over the evening care to support me... and I didn´t really take it back. But Max is enjoying the time together with his dad... they are talking and giggling, hugging and kissing then... and I love love love to see this!

My son is a very cleanly child... can´t stand dirt at all. Dirty face or fingers are unpleasant for him. Then he comes to me begging to wipe his hands or mouth. Too funny!

Potty

We are doing potty training for some time now but results are far. Most of the time he refuses to use it and we are not exerting pressure.

Anyhow a change took place. He wants to get his diapers changed... feels the full nappy uncomfortable and... embarrassing!

Playing

The mode of playing changed completely. To descibe it extensively needs lots of words and so I decided to write an extra post "Playing with a toddler".

There are some other characteristics and preferences as well. Because of this I´m repeating the "likes and dislikes list" I started in january. I think it´s the most easy way not to forget important things about my toddler... and I can add items in case of oblivion.

Likes:

Steyr tractor and John Deere, Lightning McQueen, music and dancing, lawn mowing, dangerous tools... the other ones are uninteresting, nails, screws, pudding, bath foam, cars in general and assigning the brands, sweets, slippers, walks, ladybugs, blackbirds, watering the flowers, play doh, his crocs, the iPad, breakfast with cheese, honey, his omi and opi, browsing through his photo album

Dislikes:

naps, sitting while eating, posing, cold water, big dogs, dirt, wet nappy, potty, being distracted, mama refusing whatever, being told to do... whatever, being taken away toys by other children

So I did it! Thinking about and writing down these changes happening every single moment is hard work... feeling the pressure not to forget important facts. I always feel the pressure to document everything in my children´s life... but I´m sure... I will never forget the important and impressive things... 

My son, my sunshine, my heart... you are so wonderful... difficult to assign right words to someone so perfect like you are!

All my love, 

Mama