The Maxinator

One thing we've learned about Max in the last 11 1/2 months is that he's resourceful. He can turn virtually anything he comes across into a fun activity or afternoon snack.

For example, the curtains are perfect for a riveting game of peek-a-boo.




The kitchen chair and trash can make great push-toys.



And as for the snacks, well, I don't have pictures of everything I've fished out of his mouth, but here's a partial list: strands of carpet, sand, toilet paper, tree bark, dried up bits of food from places in his highchair only he knows about, and door stoppers. Yes, he wiggles the door stopper until it comes off the wall, and then puts the little white rubber part in his mouth.

The good thing is, he's not a picky eater. Pretty much anything I put in front of him, he'll eat. Except carrots. Which I find a little strange. I mean, he'll eat cardboard, but not carrots? Oh well, to each his own, I guess.

Our little Max is such a joy, full of smiles and sweetness. He's a handful sometimes, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Cole's 3 Year Stats

Height: 39 1/2 inches, 90th percentile
Weight: 37.2 lbs, 90th percentile
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, Potty Power
Favorite Toy: Blue (Dinoco) Lightening McQueen
Favorite Activities: "Whacks" (Baseball), Chase, Hide and Seek
Other favorites: Reading, Riding escalators, Counting
Favorite food: Dessert
Little Quirks: Likes to speak in clues. For example, instead of saying "Let's go get in the van," he'll say, "Let's go get in the big blue thing in the garage. Do you know what that is, Mommy?"

Cole is a very sweet, loving boy. He's incredibly cautious and thoughtful, and doesn't like to try new things very easily. Socially, he's coming out of his shell a little, perhaps out of necessity, since we have people over from church so often. He still loves to cuddle, much to my absolute pleasure, and he's eager to help around the house. He loves his little brother, Max, and likes to try and make him laugh. We are so thankful for these 3 wonderful years with this amazing little boy, and eagerly pray for and look forward to many more to come.


***I am keenly aware that 3 of my 4 posts have been about Cole. I guess it's because his birthday happened to fall the same week I started a blog, but as a mommy, I want all things concerning my boys to be even. So, little Max, don't worry, I'll make up for it in the next few entries!

Party Time!

Last Wednesday, on August 13, Cole turned 3! We had a great day. It started with Cole's favorite for breakfast, oatmeal pancakes, followed by opening presents. After Max's morning nap, we went to the mall (at Cole's request) and rode escalators and played on the indoor playground. After lunch at Chick-fil-A and a nap at home, we had more playtime and then pasta for dinner with brownies for dessert. Before bed, we got to watch (most of) the movie Cars, a big treat for Cole since he requests this movie on a regular basis but usually doesn't get to watch it because it's so long.

Saturday was party time! Many of our family came over from Dallas to help us celebrate. Mickey Mouse is a big name around our house these days, so it seemed appropriate to have decorations that followed that theme. The party was scheduled for the afternoon, so naturally, the morning was spent getting ready. Much of this time was as anyone would imagine...blowing up balloons, hanging the birthday banner, picking up toys, etc. However, there was one rather unexpected turn of events that must be mentioned if anything about this day is mentioned at all.

First, a little background. Cole had requested a blue, Mickey Mouse cake. Perhaps this is an easy task for the experienced cake decorator, but for me, it was a big challenge. I went round and round in my head trying to decide how to accomplish this. Should I just make a Mickey Mouse shaped cake and put blue frosting on it? Should I try and paint his face on the cake? Should I just make a rectangular cake and put a Mickey Mouse candle on it? Etc, etc. For weeks I chewed and chewed on what would be the best way to do it (Yes, I do realize it's just a cake and it probably didn't really matter what it looked like, but I wanted it to be perfect for my boy) .

Anyway, just when I thought I'd made a decision, I'd change my mind. So here it was, Saturday morning, I'd made the cake and I was still stressing out over how to decorate it.

As I was filling Derek's ear with all my cake woes, he said something that came as a complete surprise. He said, "I have an idea for a cake, why don't you let me do it."

Um...what was that? Did Derek just say he wanted to decorate a cake?

Skeptically, I replied, "Are you just saying that because you want to help me out? Or because you really want to do it?"

"I think it'd be fun, and I'd like to give it a try," he said.

To which I replied, "Well, ok, then. Have at it..."

So, in typical systematic and mathematical Derek fashion, he set about to draw his design on paper and use a tape measure to figure the measurements for each piece of his plan. Here are some photos of the prep work...





I have to say, I am so impressed with my husband. He did a fabulous job on the cake and Cole absolutely loved it. Here's the finished product...



So, if anyone needs a birthday cake decorated, you know who to call!

The birthday boy as we sang "Happy Birthday" to him...

Again

Over the last few weeks, Cole has really upped his game in asking questions. I knew it had to be coming, since this seems to be about the age kids do that, but I don’t think I was quite prepared for the persistence that often accompanies them.

For example, a conversation in the car might go something like this:

“What’s that car doing, Mommy?”

“Uh…It’s driving down the road, Honey.”

“Where’s it going?”

“I don’t know, Sweetie.”

“Well, is it going home?”

“Maybe so.”

“Well, what street does it live on?”

“I’m not really sure where it lives.”

“Does it live on Mayflower*?” (Our street)

“I’m not sure, Honey.”

“Well, does it live on Sunrise?” (The street we take to get to church)

“I don’t really know where it lives, Honey. I guess it might live on Sunrise”

“Well, does it live on Lone Oak?" (Grammy and Poppy’s street)

“Honey, I don’t know where it lives.”

“Well, does it live on Kingsley?” (Nan and Grandpa’s street)

(Taking a deep breath) “Sure, Honey, it might live on Kingsley”

(Pointing to another car) “Where's that car going, Mommy?”

Sigh…

I could go on, but you get the point.

Sometimes I think I might lose my mind over questions like these that come all day long.

And then, sometimes, I smile with wonder at this marvelous little creature with such a capacity for learning. My hope is that I’ll be able to answer all his questions adequately, or at least help him find the answer if I don’t know it myself.

One night last week I wondered if I had answered him adequately.

We were just finishing up my part of Cole’s bedtime routine. Derek usually gives him a bath, brushes his teeth and reads him a story. At that point, I take over and sing 3 songs, Cole says a prayer, I say a prayer, and then we cuddle for a few minutes before I kiss him goodnight. Cole is very predictable in his routines, most of the time. His prayer is often the same, “Thank you, God, for Mommy and Daddy and Cole and Max, and thank you for you, too, and baby Jesus. Amen.”

This night was no exception, until I’d finished my prayer.

The conversation went something like this:

Cole: Mommy, is God a train?

Me: A train? Uh, no, Honey, He’s not a train.

Cole: Well, what does He look like?

Me: Well, um, we don’t really know what He looks like (Pause for thinking, trying to figure how to explain an invisible God to an almost 3 year old). But we do know He’s big and strong and…

Cole: (Interrupting) Does God have a house?

Me: Um, well, yes, sort of…

Cole: (Cheerfully and matter-of factly) Then we can go to His house and see what He looks like.

Me: Oh, well, see, God lives in heaven, and when we get there, you’re right, we’ll see what He looks like. But for now we know He’s big and strong, and we can see the things He’s made, like you and me and Daddy and Max, and…

Cole: (Interrupting again) Yeah, He made us like puzzles.

Me: (Confused) Like puzzles?

Cole: Yeah, He put our heads together with our bodies and our arms and legs, and then He put in teeth so we could chew things.

Me: (Concealing a giggle) Oh, I see. Yes, I suppose it might have been something like that.

Cole: (Content and thoughtful for a brief moment, and then, solemnly) We should pray to Him again.

Me: Yes, Love, let’s pray to him again.

Oh, how I pray Cole will always think so much of our God and will always want to pray to Him again.

For now, let the questions come.

And my prayer: “Lord, give me the answers I need to guide this dear boy down Your path. And may I, too, always want to pray to you…again."

*Street names have been changed for privacy.

My Very First Blog

Well, I've decided it's about time I start a blog! For many months now, I've been reading and enjoying my friends' posts. Every once in a while it would cross my mind to start one of my own, but almost immediately after that thought another was close behind: What on earth would I write? And even if I had something to say, when would I find the time to say it?

I'm still not exactly sure what the answers to those questions are, but I do know that these days with our young children are passing so quickly. Cole is 3 now, and Max will be 1 in less than a month. They are growing and changing so fast, each one with his own unique personality, and I would love to have a written record of some of their sweet, and maybe even not-so-sweet, moments. If I can manage to find a few minutes each week to jot down a few words, hopefully one day, many years from now, we can look back on these precious, fleeting days and remember them a little more clearly, giving thanks to the Lord for what He has done in our lives.