Max Update

Sometimes I look at Max and I think, "Wow! You're such a big boy!" He speaks to me in complete sentences and is able to tell me anything that he wants or needs. If he doesn't know the word for something he will directly ask me, "What is this called?" He then repeats the word (without my prompting him anymore) and then tries to use it again to ask for whatever he wants. In these moments I puff with pride and I think to myself, "You're so smart!" One of my favorite words that he uses (and one of his favorites to use) is "hilarious". He understands that it's a bigger word for "funny" and has taken to using it more and more frequently. I KNOW that he has gotten this word from me because I favor using it rather than just plain old "funny".

His vocabulary also includes lots of new animals. We look at animal flashcards a lot. He knows the difference between African and Asian elephants, the difference between bactrian and dromedary camels, he knows at least 6 different types of horses and that they can come in different colors. His favorite horses right now are the Clydesdales (which he sometimes calls the "beer horses" courtesy of his FATHER) and Falabellas. I think he just likes the way the name rolls off his tongue though. :) He very specifically asked if we could see the Okapi at the zoo this week. Unfortunately, it was hiding. But I love that he's learning obscure animals. Mostly because I learn them too then.

We have been trying to teach him about where things are located. For example, he knows that he lives in Troy, OH. While he doesn't know what the name of our street is yet, he can tell me which way to turn in town to get to our house on many major roads. A friend was in the car with us the other day and when we passed the entrance to our neighborhood to take her home he yelled out, "You missed our street Mommy!" My friend was amazed. He just takes in so many things. He also knows that his friend Maddie lives in Xenia and that the zoos are located in Columbus and Cincinnati. He knows that Grandma and Grandpa Hoag live in Cleveland. Just so smart!

Being home together for the summer has been enjoyable and aggravating all at the same time. There are days when we have a lot of fun together and then days when we both have complete meltdowns at the same time and we are both yelling and crying. I know that some of that is due to my fatigue and pregnancy hormones and the fact that he's only 2. But we always make up and hug and kiss each other at the end and say we're sorry. Inevitably being home together makes Max ask me to do things more than Kendall. He prefers me at times over his daddy. This has not been the case prior to summer vacation. It hurts Kendall's feelings sometimes, but I just try to remind him that Max and I spend a lot of time together and it's only natural that he would think of asking me something first.

We've been taking a lot of new trips this summer. New zoo, new parks, new museums, and trips to a real movie theater! We've enjoyed them all and i hope to be able to do a few more trips before Michael's arrival.

The transition to Max's new room went really well. He likes it a lot and I'm pretty sure he has forgotten that the other room even belonged to him. It is now baby Michael's room.

So all around a good start to summer. :)