Maxisms at 31 months

Where the oooh-ahh mamma?

While eating some strawberries, Max: Touch my tail mamma!


Max's new it word is "bum bum." Max: I love asparagus bum-bum, i want to eat cookies bum-bum, i love mamma's bum bum. Good night bum bum.

me: "what did you dream about last night?" Max: moe-moe (our cat) sitting on the toilet paper.

as we're walking home (about 15 minutes away, me: hey want to get off the stroller and walk? Max: no thanks, ill walk at home

me: can you put that back in the toy box please? Max: no thanks actually

as I'm pretending to sleep so he'll continue to sleep at 7am, he cups my face in his hands and whispers, "have a good sleep mamma."

why?
what's wrong?
please please please mama please?
no way jose.






i haven't done a Max update in ages! He's changing so much every day with a new oh about 3-5 words a day - most i don't know where he picked up from...i think it's about time to capture this little as a 31 (!!) month old.

Weight: approx 30lbs
Height: approx 36.5-37" <-- tall enough for Playland 2014 kiddie rides!

Max loves reading: any books that involve trucks and diggers like THIS and THIS, and as for books with stories we read Nursery Rhymes, The Gruffalo, and The Beginner's Bible often.

Max loves eating: for breakfast we have a fruit smoothie or milk + fruit bowl + raisins + carb bowl (ie. dry cereal, buttered toast with hemp hearts, fruit granola bar). for lunch, we're often out. Our go-to's are Opa Calamari with rice which he devours, OR a grilled cheese/ham/spinach or kale sandwich. Our bring along snacks are fruit (apples, strawberries, grapes. or oranges are a hit), goldfish, snap peas or rice crackers. For dinner, he eats what we're eating, the food is often always a winner if broccoli, rice, or fries are involved. Then for an evening snack it's more and more fruit. He is only allowed to drink whole milk, water, and sometimes juice.

Max's favorite toys: monster trucks, diggers, cars, trucks, cars, and trains in that order, then it's balls and shovels. i carry or find some sort of vehicle(s) in every purse i have.

Max is wearing: size 8 shoes (but probably 8.5 is better, 9 being too big). 2T shirts. 2T pants. size 5 baby dry.

Max watches TV!: i was really into the whole anti-TV idea, but at this age i need to get stuff done and he needs to be distracted. his TV time is almost always in the evening after we've spent the entire day out and about, his favourite shows are Toopy and Binoo, Caillou, Zigby, and My Big Friend.

Max on the iPad: we're still not wholly on the iPad bandwagon because i found it really annoying (after two age attempts) that Max would not play and instead be focused on going on the iPad attending to his games/watching his truck shows. There were times when he couldn't let the thing go on a sunny day and had to have a cry about it, absolutely not acceptable to me. To initiate some boundaries, and because i am a believer in the educational abilities of the iPad, we've initiated 'iPad Sundays' where he has free for all access to the thing while at home. his favourite activities on the iPad are watching Monster Truck videos via YouTube, playing the apps Elmo Loves ABC's and Endless Alphabet. I like to encourage him to play Gus on the Go because it teaches him and I tagalog words.

Potty trained?: not interested in sitting on the toilet at all, in fact uses it as a stool or car storage or hat most of the time. He is aware of when he's voiding and holds his diaper, mamma i go pee pee but not interested in taking his diaper off to try the potty. As for poop, he tells us after the fact and not interested in trying to sit on the potty when we see poop cues. We are enjoying the Potty Book in the mean time.

Bed time: Bath time around 730pm. During the summer, we've been staying up till 9pm with lights officially out at 9:30pm, and we're co sleeping. He's usually asleep around 1015pm and wakes up at 9am. He still uses his soothers as cues to sleep (at night and nap time), and i pop it out when he's fast asleep. He has to hold one and have one in his mouth lol. Sometimes i can get away with not needing to give them to him all night, but they're mainly both back with him by 6am to extend our sleep time. As for nap time, he sleeps around 2pm for 2-3 hours (the latter amount when we sleep at home).

So far Max has been a really good two year old, *knock on wood* though that three will be just as fun.

The Playground

we've been spending all if not most of our waking hours at the playground lately and not only is it one of the best foundations for instilling the importance of an active lifestyle, it's the ultimate energy exhauster with Max just simply needing to sit on the stroller to be conked out for the next 1.5 hours.

setting that aside, does going to the playground give you some level of angst? it was quite chillaxing (in the lightest sense of the term) when Max was a little one because I was always there within an arms reach of him. if your kid was in a position that was beyond my comfort level, i had no qualms about picking Max up and moving him along. Or, sticking an appendage of mine happily in between them two so as they didnt cause any {pontential) harm to my child. Easy! nowadays, the playground experience is not just about the physicality of playing but the social interaction with other kids of various sizes and ages.

Max playing happily with a blue cup, showing it to me, picking up and dumping some sand.
Little girl (+/- a few months from Max's age) comes up from nowhere, RIPS the cup out of Max's hand.
Max looks at me, and backs off  from the little girl.
I intercept the cup, and say "No, he is playing with this."
Little girl's mom comes up from nowhere, but keeping a distance and says, "actually it's hers."
I let go of the cup, give the mom and sneer and distract Max with other fun stuff thanking him for sharing. All this as im cooking on the inside thinking, [expletive] Lady maybe you should teach your kid how to ask for things when the opportunity is there..or correct the little one on how to behave before they become a menace to society. 

Max playing with a dump truck merrily. 
little boy +/- a few months from Max, comes up to him and takes the dump truck from Max mid play and scoots off.
I trace this kid to a mom and grandma just standing there doing shit all as their little tike menaces around the playground.
again, [expletive]. teach your kid how to ask for things appropriately! we'd be happy to share 

Little 5 year old girls playing in a tree house
young toddler comes in and tries to play
little girls: "get her out of here! we don't want her here!"
girls can be so cruel

ok rant over even though there are so many more examples. i do feel a bit more forgiving with parents of multiple children because one needs more than 1 set of eyes and arms with 1 kid, let alone more than 1. episodes like this make me want to put Max in some sort of protective bubble where he doesnt have to be exposed to poor behavior that he could learn and take home with us. or maybe take him to a playground that doesnt have too many kids? but really what long term benefit would he get from that right? he needs to learn right from wrong and a playground environment is a pool of scenarios. cant he just play somewhere where people all get along?! how about where 100% of the parents are mindful of their kids' actions? CANT I PROTECT MY BABY FOREVER? boo hoo. all this set aside, the best teacher on how to react is from the parents right? (correct me if im wrong). so although id love to protect Max in a reactive manner and turn up the heat a little, im actively trying to be calm, take the incidents and turning them into a learning opportunity. of course, there are times that i cant help but react emotionally because being a punching bag isn't ok either.

On a positive note, we love the playground despite everything. Max is learning to share toys with other kids in his cute, "want this?" way but not really giving you an option because it literally means Take IT to him. I love that Max is exposed to all sorts of kids from all walks of life. Last week there was this toddler about a year older than Max and they ran together and climbed up a tree stump and even transferred sand together from a bucket into a dump truck! (simple things in life right?). although Max was wondering why this kid was following him and kept looking at me when the older kid was copying what Max was doing, it was so darned cute that i just stood back and let it go on for its entirety. As well, Max has learned to handle some rejection; a few days ago these two little girls were making cake out of some sand tools and when Max heard cake, he tells me, "i love cake mamma!" then i tell him to go up to the little girls and ask for some. so he goes to them, asks, gets rejected but hung around repeatedly asking them, "cake? cake?" LOL! I kept coaching him on how to ask them nicely and even offering an alternative like a donut or a muffin if they didnt want to share their pretend cake. ultimately, they kept saying no but not in a mean way (more like what-the-heck-doesnt-this-baby-understand-No kinda way). Max just giggled on and when they left to play elsewhere he went immediately into the tree house and took the "cake" and we shared it happily under the shade.

excuse me while i melt!

Harmonica Love

we recently came across a couple of Harmonica's and just had to buy them. we've been slowly accumulating some random instruments at home with the intention that Max will one day play them. but y'know instruments are such an individual thing and in my opinion you really need to be called by the instrument to endure such a love affair. commitment, passion, hard work, happiness, connection with the music...it's like a freakin' relationship. 

anyhow, the harmonica has been such invaluable source of entertainment lately. when we first whipped it out of the packaging, he reached for it right away...probably because it was nice and shiny...but he didn't let go of it because he was interested. first and foremost, the instrument is great for toddlers as the skill to produce lovely sounds involves some simple breathing. sure the sounds aren't official songs (but really, the beauty blues harmonica is how cathartic it is, is there really sheet music for it? i don't know), but it took Max all of 5 tries to understand how to play and slide his mouth left to right as he blows (or more precisely, exhale and inhale to create sound).

i love how the harmonica is apartment friendly, pocket friendly, handbag friendly; just take it and go! lately Max has taken it to my parents house, the park, and the mall as his carry around toy. i can totally picture Max keeping this in his back pocket say in high school and whipping it out to woo some friends (or girls) with his mad blues skills! haha! i know a little too ahead of myself, but start them young and so many years to enjoy and practice! 

because we got 2 harmonica's, i've also been on youtube trying to learn how to play myself. um, i've watched 2 youtube video's and barely have advanced passed how to hold the thing! it's not easy, and you have to wrap your mouth/lips a certain way around the holes so you aren't always playing two notes but able to selectively play notes as individuals, as pairs, as groups, and do tricks that involve hand movement and inhaling and exhaling. let me reiterate, it's not as easy as it looks! all fun times nevertheless. 

i totally recommend a harmonica, that is a real harmonica vs. plastic play things you can buy at the local big box store. sounds better, plays easier, and if you think of it from an development investment point of view, wow the talent to be had can be mind blowing. love love love for years to come.

Wow Vancouver, it's Cold Outside!

^^ best friends....^^

hey Vancouver, we're freezing!!

though the weather has been absolutely fabulous (sunny), our hands and faces are freezing when outside. it's kinda hard to play in the playground when that arctic wind just runs down your back sending chills down your spine! we did a stint at Strong Start and guess what? everyone must've felt the same way because there were the most kids i'd ever seen at our usual school (like 20!) and of course the parents brought their little sickies too. At this moment, I'm listening to Max try to nap with a stuffed nose, breathing through his mouth, and more restless than he has been since the beginning of 2014. anyways, what have we been up to lately?

First and foremost, the kid is obsessed with Michael Jackson and we have to play the #1's CD every single day. i guess the nightly performers had a lasting impact on the little Max because he's now wanting us to not only listen to the fast songs (The Way You Make Me Feel, Thriller, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough etc) we have to dance with him too. No we can't dance in the kitchen as we're trying to cook dinner, we have to dance in the living room and drop all other activities a multi-tasking parent is trying to do to satisfy the need for a little party. I have to admit it's fun, and we don't have to do it for very long as long as it's done! In essence, the kid really snaps me out of my go-go-go mentality and asks for time to chill out. whatever makes you happy kid! As for Thriller, he associated Vincent Price's voice to a "monster" and we can't dance during that time.  Max needs to stand still, point to the radio and say, "scary" "Max scared" and when the speaking voice is all done, he has to laugh like Vincent Price laugh's and life carries on. So cute, so innocent. Did i tell you Max know's how to moonwalk- or rather walks backwards and calls it the moonwalk? how about spins around like MJ does? oh and how about says "OWWW" just like Michael Jackson? hehe

Max has also mastered the fake cry-whine....if even this is what you call it, but it's to get something he wants. not sure where he got it from but I'm thinking from dad when he's pretending to do or be who-knows-what. Max partially closes his eyes like he's crying and over exaggerates his lip and mouth movements (a little pursed lip too) like he's talking with a frown. his talking voice is like someone hurt him or he's about to fake a cry. seriously so hard to describe, but it's kinda cute and the requests are innocent. mamma dance :o( mamma cookie :o( mamma smoothie :o( thank goodness he hasn't learned to apply it yet to toy stores or anything that requires purchasing (y'know like those nightmare kids you see on TV or in real life on the brink of meltdown). Max is easily distractible and i think the fact that i let him run loose in a toy store and leave with nothing all the time has helped the situation. 

and the cutest of all recent changes, Max is a tender caring concerned little man. if he sees another kid, he asks for his toy and asks me if he should share (sometimes yes but sometimes some kids are ruthless and just rip the toy out of Max's hand before Max gives it to them...grrr), but Max is just so good that he'll wait for it and if not patiently then ill take the toy back. 

If Max is hurt, he wants a hug and to always "put ice" on it lol

not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but i planted the "hold my hand or mamma might fall" idea in his head one day out of a point of desperation and now he reaches for my hand to prevent me from falling (not that I'm a klutz).

the surefire way to get him in bed for night sleep? tell him that mamma is cold, and he'll come to bed right away and hug me and stay the night (otherwise he'll keep running back and forth to the living room and bedroom because he has unfinished play business).

what can i say, the kid loves me!

^^ ....and lately each others' personal heaters ^^

Happy 2nd Birthday!

and so he is 2!!

we spent Max's birthday with our immediate family eating some fantastic filipino cuisine. nothing huge, no theme, just food and family and lots of love for the little one. this last year was a whirlwind for all of us as we literally watched Max transform from a walking baby into a little boy that i could no longer carry on a carrier, who expresses his likes and dislikes, and best of all a loving human being that makes us see that all the trials and tribulations of new parenthood is and was worth it.

at 2, Max wakes up running into the living room to play with his cars and hug moe-moe the cat. he usually drops to his knees and nuzzles his head into moe and then cries, 'moe moe hungry!' his first ever chore is to bring the cat's wet and dry food to their designated spots. he may not do it right away on command but boy does he get upset if you do it for him! 

at 2, he's not a huge eater but he'll make room for foods he likes. breakfast usually consists of cheerios or raisin bran…the more raisins the better on both items. a lunch favourite is often grilled cheese and kale sandwich, a full apple, and the smoothie of the day at home. for dinner, as long as there is either rice or fries or a toasty piece of bread, he'll eat the meal. then, more and more fruit before bed. sometimes when he doesn't get enough fruit he'll even throw a tantrum…the little health nut!

at 2, he's shy around certain strangers and very friendly to others, even to the point of touching them at first meeting. he puts a few fingers in his mouth when unsure and eyes start to water when he is really uncomfortable, to which he needs one of us to carry him to ensure his safety and security. if he 's playing with a toy and he sees others without, he looks up to us and states 'share' whether as an inquiry or an offer to the other child. he jumps at the site of my mom, and finally has warmed up genuinely to my dad (the only person with facial hair he approves of!). he loves his mama and papa, always with big smiles attached just saying our names. if either of us were upset, he would literally drop everything he was doing without being asked and offer a kiss and a hug…'mama happy!' he would exclaim.

at 2,  he is obsessed with construction vehicles, namely a 'backhoe,' toy cars that have doors that open, truck toys with sounds, and trains. he loves stacking boxes and knocking them down. he loves balls of all shapes and sizes and has a strong throw reaching distances beyond what i expected. his athletic abilities surprise me for someone of his age, and his interest in dancing really makes me excited for what awaits us in the future!

at 2, Max understands tagalog and english often even expressing himself in taga-lish…but too bad for my husband who is only english speaking! he knows how to count to three…but three must be his fave number as everything is three afterwards! if you sound out big multi-syllable words with him, he's excellent at repeating it back with remarkable enunciation…but only to mama, otherwise he's shy when asked to perform on command. 

at 2, he sleeps best when mama or papa is beside him until he falls asleep. he doesn't like sleeping alone   or in hot weather. pacifiers are necessary to get in sleep mode but not always to keep him asleep for the night as i pop them out to measure depth of slumber. 2 hour naps are best, 10 hours at night is the trend. water is often necessary at bedside as thirst wakes him up when the temps are high.

he is 26 lbs, size 2T clothing, 7.5-8 in shoes, and approximately 34.25" tall.

and he is 2!!

52 Realizations of 2013

You may remember my 2012 Realizations, now a year older and wiser here are my "A-HA" moments of 2013 (not in any particular order)

1. everyone will speak to your kid in english. if you want your kid to know your own native tongue then it's up to you to reinforce it daily, ideally without the use of TV
2. it's really nice to have a life outside of home even if it's just going to work - i can speak to adults!
3. carry lots of snacks in your purse, always have fruit in the bag
4. if all else fails, fried rice with peas, carrots, and eggs is a great dinner that meets food group recommendations
5. add at least an extra 45 minutes to your trip if you need to go out, kids are distracted easy or want to stop drop and roll in the middle of the sidewalk for fun
6. sometimes you just have to go to bed at 9pm because the kid is taking forever to go to bed and startles awake at the cracking of your joints (co sleeper rant)
7. (food) rules are broken at grandma's house
8. best place to cut finger nails and hair is in the tub, Max just sits still with no problem
9. balls, measurement cups, random cups are great bath toys…no need for anything fancy or specialized
10. sometimes there's just no reason for that tantrum …or the reason is so minuscule that it doesn't even register to the adult what the problem was …but it can be a huge deal to the kid
11. having facial hair is your ticket to being snubbed by Max. For my dad, it took about 20 months for Max to accept him
12. sometimes you just have to shower with a crying kid going hysterical behind the curtain, but in short matter of time (maybe 7 showers?) they'll understand you're coming back…but they'll still be right there waiting for you and wanting you to be done ASAP
13. there is nothing better than waking up to a kid lying beside you saying HI and smiling and giggling
14. brushing teeth is a nightly BATTLE but it must be done and it's worth it
15. shirts and cotton pants that no longer fit are the new pajama's at night until they really no longer fit
16. patience is the key to parenting a toddler. PATIENCE
17. i admire kids who are well dressed, I'm just satisfied that Max is dressed to begin with…it's a daily battle, the kid thinks it's enough to be in just diapers
18. i need to take Max swimming during the winter months
19. poo stains take forever to come out in the wash, it's ruined so many clothes
20. white shirts don't fit a toddler's lifestyle…let alone white pants
21. Max despises jeans because they hinder his range of motion when playing and climbing things
22. Max despises button up shirts for no apparent reason
23. after having a kid, menstrual bleeding is near paralyzing in the first 48 hours (so heavy)
24. these are probably the last few weeks of baby wearing Max…it hurts afterwards, wow! shopping isn't worth it
25. you don't have to come out of a toy store with something bought, give them time to play and get bored
26. stairs and escalators are two ways that delay the completion of errands quickly…why do they have to go up and down multiple times?
27. after a crying tantrum, it's beneficial to give them a hug and say you're there for them and love them. it's really strengthened our bond and i hope it opens up the doors for Max to be emotionally honest with me
28. it doesn't hurt to let your kids choose what they want to wear…seriously, who cares as long as they're appropriately dressed for the weather
29. ask for kisses and hugs all the time. hold hands as you walk
30. get them out of the stroller and let them walk. yes, they're slow.
31. talk to them at their level, get down and make eye contact instead of always towering over them…sometimes it really gets the point across faster or a resolution is achieved quicker
32. there are times when having memories is more important than having money
33. there are times when learning experiences are more important than having money
34. craigslist is still our friend…to add to the club, we've also joined kid swaps and buy and sells on Facebook
35. there's really no break for mom's. at work you work, on your days off you're 'working' by taking care of the kids
36. having kids is a great way to keep off the junk food, if they see you eating it they want it too. so unless you want your kids on junk food, don't have it in the house or at least don't eat it when they're around
37. Max likes to sleep in cold rooms, he wakes up cranky and crying if he was hot or sweating (even if he was having a peaceful sleep during)
38. i need to learn to drive in 2014
39. having a beach tent is VITAL to a great summer day. great place for them to nap and take a break, otherwise you either baby wear and sweat, risk a cranky over stimulated toddler, or go home in the middle of the day for your kid to nap and lie down, uncool
40. watch the f-bombs, toddler's pick up the bad words so fast!
41. meet up with your friends at least every 2 months sans children
42. meet up with your maternity leave buddies at least every couple of months to not only socialize the kids but see how much everyone has grown….it's hard to see their growth when they're your kid, easier looking at other's
43. online shopping is your new go-to
44. i have so much stuff from Max's infancy that it's really not apartment friendly in quantity, remember your child not only grows up fast, they get tired of things quick, they don't need all that STUFF
45. ban the iPad, turn off the TV. turning the radio on works or just dumping the toy bag in the middle of the living room works wonders for distraction when i need to cook
46. tell them what's going on, give them verbal instructions, talk talk talk to them …these kids understand even if they can't reply verbally all the time…damn they're sharp!
47. take photos, but don't let that take away from your experience. live life! on the flip side, get a good camera!
48. i still don't know if i want to get a data plan for my upcoming cell phone term expiration date. do i really need to be connected and subsequently distracted?
49. i feel really strange doing extra curricular things without Max …i always feel the need to rush to get back to him even though he's ok. he's my velcro child
50. this blog has been really awesome at helping me remember so much of our life together…I'm glad I'm keeping up with it even though it takes up my scant amount of free evening time
51. im not ready for a second child, even though in theory it would be better to get it done now
52. you need your husband, kid needs dad. totally different relationship than mama and Max

Maxiroo is 23 Months!!

Wow my little Maxiroo is 2 years old next month! What the!? Well before i get way too ahead of myself, at this point in time the little one is only 23 months old. Normally i would say, yet again, that this has been my favourite stage, but y'know what? NO it hasn't been. I found this month to be extra extra EXTRA challenging with this guy and i found myself losing my patience one too many times. this is the tip of the iceberg right? the older they get the smarter they are, the more self aware and expressive they become, and by and large i need to just realize that this kid is now his own walking talking entity who knows what he wants and I need to respect that (and so does everyone else). 

the most annoying thing EVER this month has been whining and the nonsensical tantrums. normally, i don't mind the whining when there is a communication barrier and he's trying to get a point across, but it really drives me bonkers when he's whining about something, then i try to do something in hopes to figure out what he's talking about…then he gets frustrated, it escalates to crying….then throwing of something…then i raise my voice…and then more tears…and then snap! like a light switch, whatever caused his whining suddenly no longer mattered and Max is his jolly old self as if nothing ever happened.  for example…

Max was eating some cheerios with raisins when i took the bag away and put it on the table in front of him. He did not like that at all so he started to point at the bag and cry. I give the bag back to him, he says "NO, put there" …pointing at the table. So i take the bag, but before i can put it back on the table he starts crying again and pointing at the raisin bag. So i take it again, open it up, show him the raisins. he says again, "NO NO, don't want that." (this happens about 3 more times). By this time my patience is shot, i take the bag and put it on the table and tell him these are the raisins that he was just eating and why is he asking for them if he doesn't want them. like, Kid, i don't know what you want. So, it escalates and now he's trying to stand up on the high chair arching his back, frustrated by the high chair tray so i take the tray and bib off …MISTAKE! that escalated the whole issue to major crying. 

This goes on for about 15-20 minutes or so…eventually, i figure out that what he wanted was the entire bag of raisins to be poured on his high chair tray. Not just a little amount, the entire frickin' bag that he didn't even eat much of…he just wanted it all poured in front of him. He was all happy and content once i did this. Ok…yeah…I definitely clogged some arteries trying to figure that out! More or less the same type of i don't know what the hell you want moments this month. i offer him the words, but he's just so wrapped up in pointing and crying that it's not expressed….GRRrrrrr…

On a positive note, the kid is just so smart! and I'm not just saying that because he's my kid…but really, from someone who was never really exposed to kids before my kid was born…this kid is pretty sharp, they're watching EVERYTHING and putting pieces together, and analyzing, and REMEMBERING! 

Any new word i say, Max repeats it whether in tagalog or english. his longest sentence right now I think is, "no, don't want it." which is much more tolerable than just an outright 'NO!' We're currently learning our colours, but i think he just likes to say the world "Blue" so everything is blue right now. He's understanding the concept of "same," "two," "share," "sleepy time," "up/down," and so much more that i can't remember.

We experienced our first ever major illness of his life (knock on wood) where he had a case of gastroenteritis from either eating at our local organic big box store or just being on transit and touching things. the first night he had projectile vomiting of his dinner, and then every half an hour for 5 hours or so he would be vomiting either clear or yellow liquid. That was the roughest night ever for us as he would sleep for a few, then wake up and vomit followed by a brief "I'm scared" cry, then go back to sleep for a few minutes to have it all reoccur. He would tell me, "Max choke!" and i would be changing his sheets and pyjamas trying to comfort him…the kid couldn't lie supine for very long without vomitting. terrible terrible night..did I say that already? Anyhow, it was one of those nights where i truly truly cherished co-sleeping with him as i was there to comfort and help him right away. The next few days we were dealing with once a day bouts of MASSIVE liquid stool or multiple movements throughout the day but small in amount or multiple-movements-large-amounts. Yep, basically everything. His appetite has been ok throughout the entire trajectory, but today it's definitely not as good as it was before the illness. In summary, it really takes a certain person to do paediatric nursing…KIDS SHOULD NOT BE SICK. 

As for the regular Max 101's:

• about 26lbs +/- 0.5lbs. Tops are 18-24 months, and bottoms are 18-24 months sometimes 2T but his waist (more of 18-24) is small compared to the length of his legs (more 2T)
• size 7-7.5 shoes in Nike's …am i the only one who thinks that size 8 is a HUGE leap from 7? i don't know whether to buy him size 7's or 8's for the Spring…would his feet grow that fast?
• he's got all of his teeth except for the 2nd set of 4 molars
• i think he'll be right handed
• he loves balls and cars and kitchen utensils and construction vehicles
• he loves steering wheels and can't sit in the driver's seat forever pressing all the buttons
• 1 nap a day 1.5-2 hours, sometimes 3 hours
• night sleep is usually from 2130-0730. As for any of his sleeps, but particularly the night sleep, we took apart his crib about 2.5 weeks ago so he just sleeps in a twin bed now. our routine is sleeping beside him until he falls asleep, then sneaking out to do whatever we need to do, then instead of waiting for him to cry and summon for us to return…whenever we go to bed, we just go straight for his room and sleep beside him. 
• those dreaded pacifiers are still in our lives! but only for sleep and they're popped out by him or by us once he's in deep sleep. he does wake up in the middle of the night and asks for them again, and sometimes i pop them out again but other times i just want to sleep and forget about them
• favourite food: apples, grapes, rice, and goldfish
• thanks to my husband, he's been exposed to the TV much more than id like. so he knows Mike the Knight and Dora, and Caillou …he asks for them every now and then, and definitely recognizes the characters if he saw them in a store

that's my 23 month old!

Max is Upset Because….

Not sure what's going on at the 21-almost-22 month stage but here are some reasons why little Maxiboy is throwing a tantrum lately…

• I want to change his diaper first thing in the morning because he's had a poop
• I walked out of the bedroom faster than him first thing in the morning
• I gave him Raisin Bran instead of cheerios for breakfast
• I took away his pacifiers before breakfast was ready (has to be taken away just seconds prior, not a moment earlier!)
• I want him to wear jeans
• I want him to wear any sort of pants because he refused the jeans
• I put a sweater on him before he was ready to accept it
• I'm putting a shirt on him (vs. being naked)
• not enough time spent at the toy area of store
• I peeled the banana and gave him a piece of it (he wants to hold the banana with the peel and eat it like the rest of us)
• We've hid the iPad indefinitely and he wants to see Elmo or Truck vids on youtube
• I want him to wear socks before putting his shoes on
• I changed the orientation of his shoes so they're on the right foot
• I started cleaning up his scattered books before he was ready for them to be cleaned
• we didn't let him sit in the driver's seat and play with the steering wheel
• it's time to brush his teeth (this guy puts up a fight nightly)
• we only read for 30 minutes intstead of the 1 hour before bed ritual (sorry If i was at work, kid!)
• it's bath time
• it's bed time
• he saw the door to his room closed with the lights off when he just ran to get something in the living room (usually before bath time)
• he doesn't want to get out of the bath
• he just woke up from a GOOD nap (this happens on and off)
• grandma and grandpa have to go home without him
• he can't pick up the truck in the book he's reading (because it's a picture of a truck!)

Just a day in the life with a toddler!.

One really has to choose their battles these days. And, what was once a 15 minute process of getting dressed, heading out, and catching the bus as a singleton…is now a 45+ minute process with a near 2 year old just to pack gear, get dressed, and walk to the bus stop.

Oh boy!

Max at 21 Months!

the last few weeks or so (or is it months? heck it's November and I'm still wondering where September went!), ive been thoroughly impressed at Max's skyrocketing vocabulary. It's like I just need to say something once and he's already repeating it- whether it's in english or tagalog. His new ability has exponentially made life easier as he's able to tell us what he's feeling, what he wants, and what he's thinking. though one word-command like statements, Kid..mamma get's your drift! As part of his bedtime countdown, Max is allowed to jump on his crib mattress (im not really sure if im draining energy or getting him worked up, but he looks forward to his 30 minutes every night!), Max just last night says to me, "jump jump!" so i scoop him up and into the crib, he bounces and drops his weight on his bum and goes "bounce!" and then he falls back and knocks his head, and cries "owie...(as he touches his head) kiss kiss!" Yes!  his tagalog skills are quite remarkable, im wishing i had some sort of handy dictionary in my bag so I can translate the world around us faster (this is the downside of not having a smart phone! argh). Ah well, whatever he points at and says in English, i respond with the tagalog version to the best of my ability. What's the best way to incorporate and expose him to tagalog without having to watch TV or movies? and if you dont have many friends who speak it enough (or even at all) around your children? hmmm...

Max has discovered the word NO in the last month or so. A little annoying but hey, he's telling me how he feels and what he wants so I need to respect the bugger. Currently, he's at the state where he's not abusing the word and says NO to every single thing. Sometimes, all it takes is a little convincing (or bribing), or waiting it out, or some stern commands (whether through tone or a visual stand) and he knows that his No isn't the final say around here. Of course, there are other times when I cant wait and I just need to do what needs to be done and let a few tears shed. Around here, NO is used a lot when I need to change his diaper. Not sure why! But lately i've discovered that throwing him over my shoulders, or bouncing/skipping as we walk to his room, or stopping to check out and name the people in the photos down the hallway that leads into his room, changes his demeanor and by the time we hit the change table he's all giggles. Who will say no to a clean diaper!?

Speaking of diapers, Max has been telling me he's pooped after the fact every now and then. sometimes, he tells me he's pooped even though he hasn't and was probably passing flatus.  And there are other times when he's saying to me, "poop poop" and i check, only to find nothing there (but somewhat soon after there is poop- so probably telling me he has to go).  When is a good time to start potty training? I think Max is beginning to understand the concept, but I really don't want him to poo all over our house or toys (i find it weird saying this, but pee is ok) this isnt inevitable right? Ive got a potty around here that he uses and drags all around the house, if we're in the washroom and we ask him to sit, he doesnt really sit on it for very long and sometimes I find a toy here and there in the toilet part. hmm, perhaps he's NOT ready right now. Is there a stigma when it comes to kids in diapers around age 2.5-3years old?

Have kids decided whether they're left or right handed at this age? Im seeing a lot of activities of daily living that lead me to believe that Max will be a righty vs. a lefty (like me!) He draws with his right hand, he climbs up the stairs with his right foot first, he strums the guitar with his right hand, he uses his right hand when using his eating utensils....hmm, yeah perhaps there's no denying it.

And there's some unchanged facts like:
- still waking up a few hours after bedtime and we move in
- those dreaded pacifiers!
- eating well
- feet size 7-7.5, weight approx 24.5lbs

This is definitely my favorite stage in Max's life so far. although they say that kids don't remember anything before the age of 4, Max is so impressionable and thus i'm making a conscious effort to watch what i do, say, and eat (I can't even eat chips in front of him).  I love how he knows what he loves like trucks, backhoe's, wheels (steering wheels!), certain people, cheerios in the morning, grapes, and stairs! it's just so mind blowing to see this little helpless human that once fit so perfectly in my arm develop into this boy who's thinking and making decisions, beginning to take shape and life. I love this little man of mine! it makes me wonder how I can love another kid (no, im not pregnant) as much as I do him ...but this is another rant for another day.

End of My Breastfeeding Journey

On July 15th Max officially took his last breastfeed. Our journey has ended and i'm not really sure what to make of it!

^^ i only have 1 breastfeeding picture, one tangible evidence (besides a healthy child) that breastfeeding occurred! This obviously isn't it as i'd like to keep it private, but here he's nuzzled against my bosom, close enough! ;op ^^

I have to say that i was much more prepared this time around than when it happened at this time. i dont even feel all too sad about it, more like acceptance and that we entered a new era in our relationship. As the end drew near, his minutes on the breast were less than 4 minutes (if even that) and there were even times when i felt like i was forcing him to breastfeed. it really stopped feeling like a beautiful moment when your kid is angry that you're shoving something in his face! Read some of our breastfeeding moments here, here, and here.

it's kind of strange that it happened during my vacation when i actually had consistency in his routine vs. my work schedule where he would go without for 48 hours.  ah, it was time. Im glad that he decided vs. my deciding it was time to stop. honestly, my goal was to do it for as long as he wanted it, but i saw the stop age in years (2? 3? 4?) instead of in months time. one thing that surprised me was that my body adjusted without incident. Even now, 10 days after our journey ended, and with a return-to-work schedule that i thought would trigger a return of wanting to feed, my body is just as normal as ever. No breastROCKS, no leaking, no pain, some tingling that occured once, but really- back to pre-baby breasts (though i do have a hard time remembering what those were like) and normal bras. thanks Max for weaning me off slowly:  physically..mentally...and emotionally! 

our bed time replacement has been filled with tantrums. 18 months - an early start to the 'terrible two's' i suppose. My theory is that he is just advanced and therefore will be a brilliant child hehe. But aside from the lack of love of bed time routine, we've had more time to just quietly cuddle and do our rocking/slow dancing to woo to sleep. If i can no longer snuggle him in a breastfeeding position, the alternative is now me holding him, his chin/cheek to my shoulder and just slow dancing on the spot. can you picture it? despite us sweating secondary to the heat, it's pretty sweet, tender, and quiet- the perfect recipe for bedtime. though i do miss those sounds of gulping, the feeling of slow suckles, and heck even the choking from my high flow supply, both of us now have new normals and more opportunities to show each other our love. 

 January 19, 2012 - July 15, 2013 xoxo

MAXI is 18 months old!

I had an eye opening experience to Max's growth rate the other day when i asked my friend how old her baby was, 6 month's! We're starting solids, she exclaimed. In my head I was seriously like wasn't your baby just born a couple months ago? Much to my surprise, the little girl- born the same month as Max but in 2013, was truly 6 months and Max in turn is 18 months old! 

I dont know about you, but this realization truly opened my eyes to the changes that have literally taken place before my eyes since i last checked in (or is it checked out of the every day familiarities) and objectively looked at my child that is not only growing mentally, intellectually, emotionally, but also physically. Today, I saw Max standing beside the diaper genie and he's half a head taller than that thing- last time I paid attention to this, he was the same height as the genie! To boot, Max wanted to jump in his crib so i put him down and the rail is chest height to him...again, last time i paid attention, the rail was chin height! Please stop growing so fast! ;o)

Q + A with Maxwell at 18 months old:

What is your hair and eye colour? light brown hair and hazel eyes

What size of clothing do you wear? at the lower end of 18-24 month sizing in pants and shirts (maybe even 16 months to be more specific). In shoe size 6.5-7. I think I am about 31" tall and 24lbs. #4 Pampers Baby Dry (the #4 Cruisers are too big)

What foods do you like to eat? grapes, mandarin oranges, watermelon, raspberries. water and milk. Goldfish, mum mum's, toast, rice. asparagus. french fries. mac and cheese. (these are the foods mamma doesn't have to hide in the food)

What books do you like to read right now? this, this, and this

What are your favorite toys? any ball and my Step2 Car. i love my pacifiers (much to the disapproval of my parents!)

How many teeth do you have? 12! still missing 4 canines and 4 back molars

Do you still breastfeed? stopped breastfeeding on July 15 (this was a sad day for mamma- he literally pushed me away and shook his head no. prior to this though he was nibbling at bedtime routine for about 2-3 minutes at most)

How many words can you say? mamma has no idea how many words i can say because it's a 'healthy amount.' i can imitate most words adults say, i can understand english and tagalog words and commands. i usually talk a lot unless im asked to talk in front of people i dont know then im shy!

What time do you sleep and wake up? bed time routine starts at 830pm, down in bed at 9pm. wakes up in the middle of night - mom or dad co sleeps - and we wake up sometime between 730-9am. I nap usually around 2-4pm, and cosleep during this time. if we're out, i need to be woo'd to sleep on the carrier.

What do you do for fun? during the summer, we go to the swimming pool at least 4x a week. we also go to the playground every single day (seriously)!  i love the swings, not a fan of the slide, i like playing with sand if there's a water fountain attached to the pit, and i go up and down large flights of stairs at least 10 times a day!

Biggest change according to mom? within a span of 1-3 days, Max all of a sudden is not loving bath and bedtime routine. Prior to last week, we'd have a 10 minute bath, get in our bed time clothes, sing lullabies, get rid of pacifier easily, hug/dance/rock and in bed within 30 minutes. Now, with the mention of bath time he is instantly crying, he goes into the tub crying and out within 1-2 minutes. Not so happy getting dressed for bed, refusing the breast, not wanting to be cradled like he used to be during lullabies, death grip on the soother and needs it to be literally ripped out of his hands, and hug/dance/rock for at least 10 minutes. hmmm...not sure why the change. No, he's not teething :op

Precious!

^^ Max and I being silly with the frog effects! ^^

all in all, im feeling pretty sentimental about all this as Max will soon be turning 2. when people ask how old your kid is, you're not like - or at least im not going to be like he's 29 months! He's 2! and then 3! Then 4! Then school..and then the little boy becomes a little man! maybe it's time for another one? hahaha! looking forward to what's in store for us next!

First Love

A few days ago, I attended the Vancouver Mom GLAM event and as part of our parting gifts, we received an amazing bag full of swag. Personally, I appreciated everything inside but as for my little Maxiboy, he was hit with love-at-first site when he saw a little Racoon stuffed animal inside (a gift from TELUS). Seriously, this kid doesnt give a care in the world for stuffed animals but this raccoon and him made some sort of connection and since then, it has become his little love!

^^ the first day or so when he first met his little friend. This is seriously how he was holding him for about 10 minutes or so. hey that's pretty long in toddler time! ^^

^^ by this time we named him 'COO COO,' original hey? Max has radar for him, points to him, and says 'COO COO'! Currently, it lives inside the crib ^^

^^ going for the kiss! ^^

^^ success! ^^

^^ i just about died when i saw this picture in my memory card! ^^

Ah, the tenderness of an innocent child! Makes me melt. This little animal couldn't have come at a better time as im slowly trying to prep Max for a flight to Australia this winter. Perfect thing to remind him of home, especially when we're trying to sleep (aussie time)  and our body is telling us to be awake (canada time).  Furthermore, as Max is experiencing a lot a little bit of separation anxiety at bedtime, COO COO is with him at night. If i could only go in there to see if he's hugging that thing while he sleeps! But alas, im not foolish enough to stir up the room of a sleeping beast xoxoxo

p.s. im on the hunt for 1-2 more of these in case it get's lost and the world ends :op 

5 days of Indoor Time

i may sound like a broken record, but i honestly have to beef...whenever it's my day's off, it's always raining! This week was a lot of indoor time because my husband was away and took the car, Strong Start had a professional day, and it was cold. lets just say; we bonded, im tired, im looking forward to work today. Of course on this fine weekend, the weather is nice and my husband and Max are off doing their thing basking in the glory of what is now June (i know, i can't believe it either). What do you do on rainy days?

Max is obssessed at a stage where he loves trucks, motorcycles, just large vehicles. We are close to a busy street so there are always big rigs, cement trucks, and whatever type of construction related vehicles passing by. It's pretty cute when he's always pointing and doing his "ahhh ahhh ahh!!" whenever a big vehicle passes by. naturally, it's not that cute when the rumble of the engines (and stupid air brakes) just perk him right up when I'm trying to woo him to sleep. is it me or whenever sleep is near the noisiest rig just happens to pass by?!? i picked up a touch and feel book that had trucks in it...he gets a daily fix, multiple times a day, over and over again (phew). this is his fav book right now: for the big rig lover.

 ^^ hey look, i can throw the ball at you! ^^

^^ first juice experience! ^^

we had a few milestone moments this week. or rather i just had plenty of hey he can do this? type of moments. now he's tossing things over his head and on the ground for fun, the many balls that have accumulated in our apartment all these months are getting their fair share of bounce time and he's got a pretty good arm! sometimes when he's really trying to go for a long shot, he ends up dropping it behind his head and it land behind him instead of going forwards! so Cute! Secondly, i gave Max his first juice experience this week as mamma needed to cook food and baby needed to be distracted! he honestly sat in the corner and drank his apple juice without too much of a spill. I just love the way his little hands are gripping the box and his expression oozing, hmmm..this is different but this is yummy!

^^ sweeping the balcony, yes! ^^

^^ oh and i also taught him how to clean up after himself. trust me, he loves doing this! ^^

^^ by the end of the week, he was missing daddy. 

i think this was his way of asking me where he was at! ^^

it was a long week. even though i love hearing Max's babbles (see video) and ways of expressing himself, i do enjoy adult conversations more so than not! 

hope you had a great week!