Better

So I've reached a point with Max where I can say...it's better. It's not perfect, for sure. There is screaming and bothering and talking back and tantrums, etc. but overall...when I look at the big picture, it is sooo much better than it was 6 months ago. I hate to even say this out loud (or write it) but he's a little nicer to Mallory. I might even take it so far as to say he's pretty into her. He started walking around with Mallory's baby doll and saying "this is my little sister, her name is Mallory Dylan" and he'll sit on the sofa and say "my sister wants to watch tv with me, she wants her blanket". It's so cute. I think the walking around with a baby thing might have something to do with alot of his friends recently becoming big sisters or big brothers and he's a little jealous. He doesn't remember when that happened for him, and now Mallory isn't a baby, she's almost his equal. It kind of makes me wonder what things would have been like if I had a baby at the "normal" time-3 years after my first, rather than less than 2 years. I see what a huge difference it is for the whole family now that lots of my friends have a second. Obviously I wouldn't change what I got for the world but I just think about how life would be different.

Regardless, I think he finally gets after a year and a half that she's not going anywhere and he's ok with it!

He's just so smart the things he knows and says now. I heard from another mom at his school that she saw him not only picking out his name to put on the board (they do this every morning) but also helping some of the other kids find theirs! He is showing alot of early reading skills. Hes not "reading" but recognizing alot of things. I hope that means reading will come easy to him in a few years.

I guess I should say what my second child is up to these days since she just turned 17 months...

-running everywhere and running up and down hills with no trouble-keeping up with the big kids
-seems to be very agile and almost athletic for a 17 month old. She just seems coordinated to me
-doesn't talk much but does have a few favorite words-mommy (she calls me when i'm out of the room now), elmo, barney, doggie, bye, hi, night night, "ba" for bottle
-points to her nose, head, and a few things in books
-says what a doggie says "wowowo"
-still eats mostly everything put in front of her
-still sleeps with her hippo blankey and binky
-still drinks milk out of a bottle (I think this is the last time I am going to admit this openly-I'm fine with it but I know it starts to be a no no sometime soon)
-is starting to really let us know when shes mad at something, she'll throw something down and start crying when she doesn't like something. It's kind of funny because it's so fake and she thinks shes like a real person already
-still takes 2 naps but one of them is usually kind of short
-goes to bed between 7:30 and 8 and wakes up between 6 and 7 (or whenever Max wakes her-ok thats one thing that is NOT better with him but I won't get into it during this positive post)
-wears a ponytail on the top of her head almost every day
-is still the sweetest most easy going baby I have ever known.

I'll end with the sad news. Belle, my in-laws dog passed away this weekend. She was 14 which is considered well past the average for her breed. She died at home in a very peaceful way and although it was somewhat unexpected, we are all happy she didn't seem to suffer much and she had such a wonderful life. We have been talking to Max alot about it and it's pretty cute to hear him talk about it. He was confused at first and asking lots of questions "why did she die?", "cause I touched her?" "where did she go?" We kept trying to explain and grandma and grandpa talked to him too. Now he goes through the whole thing..."Belle died. Grandma and Grandpa are very sad. She's in heaven with Bubby and she is happy now". Sounds like he got the gist. We'll miss you Belle!!

With Max at 3 weeks old!

At a park in virginia beach when max was about 7 months

In the pool in Salisbury, Max 2 years old

Rest in peace Belle.