Overheard Tonight

Max is in the bath tub and I overhear...

Max: "splash, crash, watch out little boat, don't hit the boobies!"

Daddy: "Max, what are you talking about?"

Max: "The boat has to go super, super fast so it doesn't crash into the boobies."

Daddy: "What boobies Max?"

Max - pointing to several places in the water "here's a booby, and der's a booby, and the boat can't crash into tem - like on Little Einsteins."

Daddy: "Oh, you mean the boat can't crash into booby traps?"

Max: "Yep, it can't crash into boobies."

Also Overheard tonight...

Daddy repeats mumbling to Max over and over and Max says stop it Daddy several times.

Exasperated, Max walks up to Mommy, puts his hands on his hips, and declares: "Mom, Dad's bugging me!"

Max: Age 3-1/4

Nicknames: M.A.X., Monster Max, Little Man, Max Man, the Boy, Stinky Dinky, the Super Dup (doop), Monkey, and Maxy.

Max at three and a quarter:

1. Since Max turned three he has been infected with the silly bug and we can't get rid of it. Silly and goofy are the name of the game with Max. He likes to gently tease, make funny faces, and laugh uncontrollably.

2. Max really likes being around people and his little sister is no exception. Sometime he likes it a little too much and a little too close.

3. Max wants treats constantly. He thinks I'm a vending machine.

4. He is very proud that he can use the potty by himself.

5. Max has recently developed a phobia of being in bed by himself and after a few terrible weeks of waking his sister up in the middle of the night his bed is now in our room.

6. Max is a toy monger. He also thinks he need to take at least one toy with him everywhere we go.

7. He loves to read books and look for letters he knows on the pages.

8. He has a wonderful imagination and my bed often turns into a rocket ship blasting off into outer space or the closet is a hang out for monsters (nice ones) or a pool of snapping crocodiles.

9. Taking after his father, Max loves anything with wheels. The louder and more obnoxious the better.

10. Max is all boy but one of my favorite things about him is that he is very sensitive and aware of how people are feeling.

11. He wants to do things by himself. "Don't help me Mom" is a constant now.

12. I don't know anyone who doesn't like Max and vice-versa.

Max is wonderful company and it is no wonder Elle follows his every move.

Elle: Age 9 months

Nicknames: Elle Belle, Elle Bug, Little E, Baby Girl, Wee Marie, the Stritch Scratcher and Little Sweets

At 9 months:

1. Elle is crawling like lighting, eating anything she finds on the floor, and standing up and taking little steps while holding on to tables etc.

2. When Elle wakes up I walk into her room to find her in her crib standing on her bumper and smiling.

3. She loves to eat and is finally feeding herself finger food.

4. Her brothers toys are her favorite and she is often seen with a match box car in each fist.

5. Her hair is out of control and I don't do much to tame it.

6. Her pointer finger is always out scratching at something (hence the scritch scratcher).

7. For the past 6 months changing her diaper is like roping a calf.

8. She loves Max and is doing all she can to keep up with him.

9. Elle started saying Ma ma ma a few weeks ago and is now starting Da da da. Da da daddy is very pleased with this. She is still a screecher.

10. She is our little Houdini. She can work herself out of straps and restraints like nothing you've ever seen.

11. She is making up for her first 4 months of being a lousy eater and sleeper. She is so easy to put to sleep. She puts her thumb in her mouth, cuddles her lovey, and rolls over to sleep. So cute. She also loves eating although it doesn't show- she's mini.

12. She cut her first two teeth at six months and they are super cute.

13. Lately we've found Elle standing up looking at herself in the floor length mirror trying to eat her reflection.

14. Thing Elle hates most is having her face wiped clean.

15. She has to keep moving constantly when awake and is very aware of everything going on arond her.

We are all enjoying our baby girl and feel so lucky to have this beautiful little girl in our family.