Oh Max,

You are my little trouble maker, my little climber, my little active one year old!

What you love:  sweets!  luckily for you mama has learned how to trick you into eating a few healthy things.  I have been making a banana muffin made with only healthy ingredients: bananas, homemade almond butter, eggs, and cinnamon...and you LOVE them.  You love fruit snacks, cereal bars, sausage, and juice :)  You love bath time and we even have our own little song: bath time, bath time, it's time to take a bath   HEY!  You love going to Mrs. Pam's in the morning...which makes me feel so good and relieved.  You love doing anything and everything outside...I think you would sleep out there if I would let you.  You love climbing in the window seat and staring outside when the buses go by, when the squirrels are in the trees, and pretty much anytime you can't be outside.  You love to pull all of daddy's shoes out and try to put them on and walk in them.  You love going to Grammy's and Granddaddy's and playing outside while Jack drives you and Jude around in the gator.  You love pulling out all the pots and pans and hiding in the cabinets.  You love helping me cook. You just love to play.

Things you say: You can say anything these days.  I love when we ask you something and you say "I don't know."  but in your own cute little Max way...you'll throw your arms up in the air because you really don't know.  You call Grammy   MeMe.....and no matter how much we practice, you are determined that is her name.  Every morning when we leave, you ask where's daddy...and every morning I tell you he is going to work.  When you hear Tagg make a noise, you say, "Taaa, Taaa" and go running in his direction.  Most times you give him a kiss, but sometimes you step on him...we're working on it.  You are in a "no" phase.  Hopefully that won't last too long.  I love to hear you talk!  You are also in a "What's that?" phase.

Every afternoon Aunt Christy picks you up, and when I come to get you...you don't want to leave!  You cry, kick, and scream because you want to stay and play.  You are a wonderful fit thrower....and even slam your body down to the ground...it's a little funny, but I'm hoping this phase passes soon :)

I sometimes can't believe how smart you are!  You want to know what everything is and currently have a fascination with the smoke detector.  Daddy makes it beep for you sometimes and every time you see it, you say beep, beep. 

You are getting so big, and I'm enjoying every second!

Love,
Mama

To my mischievous little Max man,

Today you turned 20 months old!  I cannot believe it has been 20 months since I looked at your cute face for the very first time.  How things change in 20 months!  You are a mover and a shaker...always on the go, keeping me running everywhere. 

We have discovered just how STUBBORN you are.  We spent over 40 minutes disciplining you two nights ago because you have decided to throw things when you throw a fit.  This time it was a bowl---right across the kitchen.  Time out, then having you pick up the bowl and put it back...yes, this took over 40 minutes as you cried, said no, gripped the bowl but wouldn't put it back, received a few spankings...but in the end the bowl went back in the drawer.  I was exhausted after that episode, and I realized why so many parents are not consistent....it's hard!  But definitely worth it!

You have realized your love for choc choc ( your name for chocolate), and I am realizing just how much you are like me.  You surely do look like your daddy, but you have your momma's sweet tooth and stubborn attitude!

We have been cooking together, and you could probably make homemade almond butter all by yourself.  You love to hold down the blender button until the almonds are completely smooth and you love to watch the mixer spin and help me put away what we've made.

Each day on the way to Ms. Pam's house, you point to the sky-then to the moon (it's dark in the mornings) and ask, "What's that?"  Then we sing twinkle twinkle little star...your favorite.  Then you ask for bacon...you know I always have turkey bacon in the mornings and we sing and crunch on our bacon all the way to her house.  You definitely make my very early mornings brighter!

You talk baby talk to Tagg and you try to make him laugh.  He watches everything you do!!  What an influence you already have over him.  You are already a wonderful big brother, bringing Tagg his bottle, passy, and blanket when you think he needs them.  You wake up each morning asking, "Where's Tagg?" And you kiss him on the head before he leaves to go to Aunt Bonnie's.

I love you!

Momma