13 Months Old!

Max is 13 months old today! This past month brought with it mastery of walking and 1 new tooth (that makes 4 total now!). Max loves playing outside and also enjoys going to Miles' school to pick him up everyday. He starts grinning and leaning down as I enter the access code and he takes off once we're inside. Many of the preschool children swarm him and he is excited to receive their attention. As I've said in previous recent posts, he is quite the social imitator, talking on the phone, sweeping, etc. He likes reciprocal play and he likes to pass a toy whistle back and forth for us to blow in turns. Miles has gotten his wish of someone to play chase with him. Max is usually game to chase back and forth with Miles, to hide in the closet, or play ball. They definitely squabble at times over possessions. Max also gets a lot of bumps and bruises still falling easily, especially when trying to run. And he has a new pair of shoes he's getting used to. He grew out of his Robeez and they were cutting into his feet, so I got him a comfortable pair of Pedipeds that are like mocassins. He needed size 18-24 months and they are almost looking too small already.



Max really communicates a lot with his eyes, gestures, and of course, sounds. He seems to have a great awareness of what is going on and he is able to manipulate many things. He has gotten tall enough to reach the light switch and he likes turning the light off. He is starting to identify parts of the body, like nose, ears, mouth. He has begun to enjoy reading, but he is particular about what books. Some of his current favorites are Brown Bear, Hungry Caterpillar, What makes a rainbow, Where is baby's bellybutton, and a classic Seuss he received from Uncle Jeff, My many colored days. He gives "kisses" to the big owl eyes. Max had a transitory fear of the bath which has passed and he's again taking a bath without a fuss.

We sure are having fun with Max and of course, Miles, too! I had mentioned a couple funny Miles' stories to my parents and they encouraged me to write them down. They both had to do with Miles first concessions to females. The first was over the summer with his friend Mirabel. He was enjoying dessert, which he really savors. Mirabel had already finished, and said, Come on Miles - let's go play! Miles wolfed his dessert down as fast as he could to follow Mira's wishes. The second time was at New Year's with his cousin, Riley. Miles has 2 beloved blankets, "big blanket" and "school blanket." They were laying on an air mattress watching a movie and Riley asked for one of the blankets. Miles eyes shifted around as he considered it and he reluctantly said, Well OK, you can have school blanket (the less valued of the two). This was a big concession for Miles! Already subverting his needs to females at the young age of 4. But really, Miles seems to have a healthy sense of assertiveness and self-respect and generally manages himself in social situations well when he is focused and not overly emotional. He has a great group of friends at school and seems to get on well with others. One note of praise from a teacher said that Miles went out of his way to help a friend one day - he put down his lunch and went across the room to move a chair for his friend who wanted help - she said this was an example of the random acts of kindness Miles does for his friends. She said this balances out Miles' emotional-side, because his temper still flares when things don't go his way!