Sorry, I did it on purpose!

So, Annabelle is working on what is the difference between making a mistake that you know is not ok and learning from that and making amends and doing something by accident and apologizing for it. As an example she would take a toy right from Max's hands and though she knew it was not ok, she would do it anyway, because she is still 4, but with some help she would give the toy back and make a plan on how she would ask and what she could do while she waited for the toy, but she kept saying, "Sorry Max, it was an accident."
So I explained to her what an accident was, like bumping into someone when you don't see them, etc, but she meant to take the toy, so it was not an accident, but a mistake that she needed to correct. So now we hear, if she does "something" to Max like, take a toy, etc, "Sorry Max, I did it on purpose!"
The thing is she is serious, not being mean or trying to be funny, she means, "oops, I made a mistake, sorry about that." And then she fixes the mistake, like gives him the toy back or tries to trade a toy with him.
I love how earnest she is about being a goood person and sister. I also love this period in her language, she has a huge vocabulary, but still uses words and phrases in interesting ways, like calling long pants, "long-sleeved pants." As she has gotten older she has already lost so many of our favorite words, like "amve-ance" for elephants and "ding-ding," for bycicle, though she is teaching some of them to Max, like how she used to say ice cream, "LLLL!"
So Jack and I will keep saying "long-sleeved pants," and "amve-ance" just so we remember!

Lots to do!

Max wakes up with tons of energy. He is busy all day long, exploring and playing. Max loves balls, all sorts, and he makes up games with them. For awhile the game was to throw or roll a ball under a couch and then try to get it out with a broom or a bat. Then the game became: Max throws the ball under the couch and Mama or Dada have to get it. He would do this over and over, saying, "Dada," and signing ball and pointing to the couch, then he would even give us the broom.

Now the game uses a golf club and a big beach ball. The way this game works, is we go outside to the backyard, Max finds the big metal golf club and drags it over to an adult, usually Jack, but I will do if he is unavailable, (This weekend it was his Papaw who played this with him.) then Max locates the ball and points to it, saying, "Nada!" This means we are supposed to hit the ball with the golf club and this makes Max laugh with glee! Then he points to the ball and says, "Nada!" Because you are supposed to go over and get the ball and do it again and again and again! Now earlier in the week, Max would go ge the ball and bring it back to you, but now it has become a spectator sport for him, because now we must go after the ball.

Max keeps busy drawing, painting, and building too. He can fill a whole piece of paper with small deliberate marks. Today when he painted, he dunked his hand into the pot of paint and slapped the paper over and over. Max can sit and stack blocks taller and taller and rebuilding again after the blocks tumble.

Max's favorite books are Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boyton, The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey and Don Woods, and Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boyton. His favorite song is Thank God I'm Country Boy, especially when his sister sings sings it!

Max laughs and makes us laugh a lot and he gets into lots of mischief. He has a little twinkle in his eyes that can be downright heartmelting or frustrating depending on our own mood or what the mischief is. He has a lot of perserverance, trying to be understood or trying out his own ideas. He also is sweet and gentle and easy to hug and hold. If Annabelle is sad, he will give her a hug. If he is worried Mabel Rose is hungry, he will carry her food bowl right over to her head. If he spills something on accident (and on purpose) he will wipe up his spills or clean up the floor. He loves to use tools just like his mom and dad. If we are in the garden he has a shovel or a rake too. If we are sweeping, then he gets out his broom too and sweeps with us. He is still learning how to gather the dirt in a pile instead of scattering our piles, but he is getting there. He is learning to eat with a fork and drink from a cup, just like his sister, not a sippy cup, but a real glass or mug. When I am baking or cooking he likes to help stir or measure or pour. He loves to "wash the dishes," too. And he loves to help his dad fill the dishwasher, though sometimes he empties the dirty dishes or puts dirty dishes in the clean dishwasher, but he is right there helping either way.

He is great company and loves to be outside in all weather (excpet maybe the snow!). He still loves looking for birds and can spot a bird in a tree way up high. He seems interested in all animals. Dogs and ducks are some favorites.

He is fun to be with and has brought much joy and happiness to our family. Mostly when I think of Max, I think, he is my sweet, funny boy. I love him so. We all do!

Happy Birthday Max!

So Max turned 18months, well almost a month ago! He loved blowing out the candle. He must of done it 5 times, before he ate his doughnut muffin, a treat he is especially fond of these days!

I love you, Baby Boy!

John Denver & Soccer!

Annabelle's new project is John Denver. She loves him! She draws him, creates him out of clay, listens to his music, pretends to be him ,and puts on concerts. She has even written her first song.

She has also begun playing soccer. Look at my girl go!