16 months old - my first job

Is 16 months too young to be a soda jerk? Is it too young to command the power of levitation (check out those maraccas!)

This month Max walked some more, ran, started really climbing and added "nononononono" to his vocabulary. He has also started using "mama" as a substitue for "I want something, now!"

He went to Branson, Missouri and Copperas Cove and Austin, TX (all separate trips) and astounded his many extended relatives with his charm and charisma! In Texas, Max ate much guac. and queso (claro que si!) but no margaritas or Shiner Bock (gotta save something for the 2nd birthday.)
In Copperas Cove Max enjoyed many great things: the joy of herding chickens on a motorized chair with only a water hose, the joy of climbing a very high water slide then going down (with help), the joy of swinging on the porch in the shade.
In Branson Max demanded to be introduced to the culinary delights of swine and fowl. We sated his curiosity but did not go overboard, thank heavens. My great fear is that once he tastes bacon he'll never eat anything else again, ever. OK, except maybe cheese, potatoes and bread. When that day comes we'll have sure proof of which parent he truly takes after.

15 months today

an abbreviated review of the summer...by no means comprehensive

does anybody remember summer?

no fear!
(I should take a picture of him looking over his shoulder while peeing on a chevy logo)

14 mo. old loves him some smoothie

14 months old!
walking and drinking at the same time!!! staying upright!

The numerous things that are all beginning right now:

climbing: onto rolling things, off the bed, onto step stool to "brush" teeth, up into high chair, up stairs, down stairs (with help), up the crazy net ladder at the playground (with help - don't tell max)

mouth tricks: while trying to blow bubbles discovered whistling, now makes little "o" shape with the mouth and breaths in and out til funny noise then cracks up, blowing bubbles (while alternately trying to eat somethin off of bubble wand), blowing when I say the food is hot (not every time)

water tricks and feats of strength: tries to swim on his own by pushing forcible at mama in the neighborhood pool, puts his face in the water and often spits a little spout of water out when he comes up (just like a fish! someone said at the pool) dunks mama at the pool (soo strong), topples mama over at home when we are sitting on the floor by giving a little shove on my shoulders then I fall over and say "oh so strong!"

mind powers!: (smaats) um sometimes says something that sounds just like a real word, (i.e. thanks!, umbrella, water) then never says it again - he knows what he did, you think he needs to prove somethin!?, makes jokes like hiding his food on the other side of the bowl then throwing his hands up in the HUH? gesture then recovers the item with flourish and "DA!" as in ta-da!, vigorously nodding "no" when I nod "yes" then cracking up, running in silly baby steps and looking behind like a blonde in a horror movie while we chase him and say "i'm gonna get you" then he waits with his back to you til you catch him and ....cracks up!, likes to play his piano (a musical genius!)

there's more but I think you've got a snapshot here...

R U ready 2 RAWK?

naked baby alert

max made a new friend stream-side at a Catskills retreat during a marvelous wilderness love bash (congratulations Maya & Adam!)

thirteen months

Max is thirteen months old today...I am officially entering the realm of those parents who totally confuse the rest of the non-child rearing world with the month count. He's a year old plus some. We newbie parents just obsess over every little bit of aging, progress, distance form the beginning, I guess. Does my saying "he's thirteen months old" remind me that I had 7 months of spotty sleep or six months of "sleeping" through the night? I think maybe for me its the desire to sing happy birthday with great frequency.

He has been looking at the picture of his dad on the fridge during mealtimes and saying "Da Da" Sometimes just pointing and smiling or (like today) pointing and cocking the head quizzically with a "Da Da?" like...Where the hell is that joker and when is he coming home? I quickly distract him with the picture of the BABY (himself of course) which always makes him laugh. "Nana" is still serving as banana when inflected with a note of desperation and all other beloved fruits when repeated in a rocking incantorial fashion. I think "maalm" is trying to integrate itself into the vocabulary. He used it for mango but also for the morning smoothie so maybe its just another kind of yummy. There is an occasional Ma MA but all other words are pretty much variations on "Ba." Which works well because most of the things he really enjoys start with Ba. Ball BALL BALLLL (he says without the "LL" while pounding his fist on the giant ball and bouncing up and down. Balloons also inspire a pretty lively "BA BAAAA." However, the most wonderful use of his favorite sylable is the peekaboo game. He basically stands in the general vicinity of something he could hide behind then bend his knees, pops up and says "BA" which I take to be Boo. Then I act really startled and he laughs his pants off. Often leaning on a nearby object for support while he cracks up.

BAAAAA just like my old uncle Cooksie.


ps i just made a blog for work just a little placeholder until we get real pro-specional (as Fluff might say)...bye

Number one!

watermelon, max, mommie's crazy orange shoes, our friend jackson, jim's legs, our bridge....
a wonderful day

la mapa

saturday 6/17 11am-2ish...we will be at the park celebrating max's 1st birthday we'll have watermelon and such
look for us by the playground or over in empire fulton ferry state park at the pcinic tables. There will be balloons

hope you can come!

birthday man

so max's first birthday is coming up soooooooooooo soon
flag day motha scrathers!
and we will celebrate by convening with snacks for all and something like a cake at the park under the manahttan bridge
in brooklyn (dumbo to be exact)
on the water
by bubby's
a block or three from the water taxi stand
not far from the f train and also not too far from the a train
we want you to come
we are planning to start at 11 or so on saturday the 17th of june
three short days into his life as a one year old

there is a playground with a tall ship in it
check us out running around and falling down on the little hill behind that