Maxwell - 12 Months

My baby is now a toddler! In the last 5-6 weeks he has grown up so much I can't really say he is a baby anymore. Check out his skills at 12 months:

• Maxwell is loving being able to communicate by using signs. His vocabulary seems to grow by the day and by his needs. His current signing vocabulary includes: more, want, eat, drink, up, book, help, and please. He even strings 2-3 signs together and will say 'want more please'.
  
• Maxwell has starting saying words. Yes, my 12 month old is talking. I couldn't believe what I was hearing at first. His vocabulary includes, but is not limited to: 'a done (all done), hello, hin (hi - not sure why he puts an 'n' at the end but it is cute!), hat, up, bye bye, ites (lights), Okay, hep (help), bite, and ba (both ball and book). When he says 'hi' when he is greeting you after a nap or when you come into the room he does it in a sing-songy way. At his 12 month appointment, the doctor was AMAZED at his skills both in communication and motor skills. She said 'I wish I had a camera for this. I've never seen it before! Show me more!' As she was checking out his tummy he kept saying 'a done'. He'll say he is all done when he wakes up for naps or in the morning, when he is done eating etc and he means it! Really, Max will try to repeat a lot of what we say and understands so much of what is going on. Absolutely amazing!
• Max is still in diapers but I have been sitting him on the potty a few times a day. He loves this routine and asks for a book right when he sits down. We'll read a few and then he'll say he is done when he gets uncomfortable and tired of sitting. He has gone both types a few times. YAY!! I am hopeful training will be a breeze (I REALLY hope I am not jinxing myself by saying that!)
• Maxwell likes to repeat animals sounds. He moos like a cow, hisses like a snake, roars like a lion, and neighs like a horse. He knows where his nose is and likes to point to his and our noses. He knows where his toes are and whenever he sees toes (no matter whose they are...) he 'ttatatata' tickle tickle tickle's them. He also likes to pretend his is snoring 'haaasshshshs'
  
• He loves the dishwasher and any toys in his hands will go flying when he sees it is open and comes to 'help'. He also likes to close the dishwasher door and other doors/lids. I've had the washer lid shut on my hand as well as the microwave door shut on me as I am trying to get things in or out.
• Max prefers to drink from the straw sippy cup. He has only used the other kind a handful of times.
• Maxwell is a tease! For example, he'll get McKay's shoes and bring them to him. He'll hold them out to McKay and once he starts to reach for them, Max will turn and run away laughing, only to return and repeat.
• Max brings me books to read to him and toys to help him play with (things that are hard to turn or to get to make a sound).
• Max started to refuse his pacifier just after he turned 11 months. He's only ever used one for soothing at nap time or bedtime at our insistence. He has made it very clear he is DONE with the pacifier. He is also toying with getting rid of his morning nap. I've had full weeks where he has only taken a nap in the afternoon and then I'll have a few days where he'll take a morning nap again. At 12 months?!? (McKay dropped his morning nap at 15 months.)
• Max is very affectionate and free with his cuddle hugs and kisses. His hugs are usually accompanied by an 'ahhh'. So sweet. He loves it when McKay gives him hugs and kisses , including nosey kisses and 'i love you ' whispers before nap time. They they wave and say 'bye bye'.
  
• Max LOVES to take a bath and splash all over. When it is time to be done he says 'all done' and 'bye bye' as he waves bye bye to the tub and McKay.
  
• Max can walk and kick a ball or toys across the room, step, kick, step kick. He is very coordinated.
• Maxwell knows that light switches turn on the lights and loves to point to the lights wherever we go.
• Max is fascinated with McKay's belly button and whenever he sees it he takes the opportunity to examine and poke it, which always brings giggles from McKay.
• Making dinner can be quite the process because Max begs the e.n.t.i.r.e time! Eat! want! more! please! He is impossible to ignore too. I've tried. He won't sit and watch a Baby Einstein either while I make dinner. Anytime anyone is eating Max wants some. Just plan on it. He eats well and (it feels like) all the time so I'm not too concerned that he was 28 inches tall and 18 lbs 2 oz at his 12 mo check up, right at the bottom of the (darn) growth chart. Even when he acts like he can't eat another bite and he yanks off his bib because he is 'a done', once he is down from his chair I STILL can't eat in peace because he comes and begs for more bites.
• Max repeats things McKay laughs at even though he doesn't have a clue why it is funny. I love love love it when my boys laugh together!
  

I love his curls. By the end of the day, his hair is curly all over.

Laughing with McKay.

Running just.like.his.brother.

Maxwell loves the park and gets so excited to go down the slide. The park is way more exciting (for Max) now he can walk!

He put McKay's apron on his head and walked around the house saying 'hat!'

We do most of our shopping at Henry's Farmer's Market and McKay always asks for a free balloon. These boys love balloons!

Begging for food.

Maxwell loves to empty my tupperware cupboard and my zip-lock bag drawer. Sigh. If I didn't love it though I guess I would put locks on the cupboard...

He walks all over drinking his water. Both boys are good drinkers, especially on hot days.

This was when I discovered he knew how to and likes drinking from the straw cup. McKay reads books during quiet time and Max found his water next to the bed.

HAT!

Max likes to play with the magnetic letters and will stretch up on his tippy toes to reach letters McKay has put up higher because he has spelled a word or something.

Easter was fun. We had grass everywhere!

Maxwell loves to look out the window.

This video of the boys laughing was taken May 10, 2011. I don't think they have any idea what they are laughing at!