Da shu

Max first learned about shoes by chewing on Josh's slippers whenever he could get to them. Now whenever he sees shoes he says "Da Shu!" which I think means "Daddy shoes". Da shu applies to his own shoes of late and he recently brought me two shoes (not matching as you can see) and pointed them at his feet. I obliged him by helping put them on.  He wore the mismatch shoes for awhile and then went to get a matching shoe and brought that to me and was clearly insistent that I help him wear the matching pair.  I'm just glad his shoe interest has moved from eating them to wearing them.

Snuggly

The only time Max is still for more than 2 seconds these days is at night before I put him down to bed. Sometimes he is actually asleep by the time I finish feeding him but often he is still awake and just sits happily and quietly on my lap, gazing out the window, sometimes giving me little grins. It's the sweetest time and I am trying to enjoy it every single day, no matter what else I need to accomplish later in the evening.

Camp songs and giggles

Ella and Dash are sleeping together in our "sleepover room" (ie our second tier basement guest room) and I have been down the hall in my office listening to them for the last 30 minutes, hysterically laughing and singing every camp song they can think of.  Someday they will be way too cool for slumber parties with each other, making this moment, this one right now with their joy at being together and being silly and recounting their camp experiences beyond priceless.

Smoothie pals

Max was really feeling like a big guy, sitting in a chair and drinking a smoothie with his sis. Probably no coincidence that his current favorite word is "Ella!Ella!Ella!"

Table manners

I have forgotten so many things about watching a toddler navigate the world, and it has been extra fun with Max to watch him turn into a real person, and also to see how much the big kids get a kick out of his crazy behaviors.  Last weekend in an attempt at kindness to poor Josh who handles more than his fairshare of Max's early mornings, I took all 3 kids by myself out to breakfast at our local diner.  Maxy (in his pjs, hand-me-downs from Ella and Dash, of course) insisted on eating the meal with his foot on the table.  Ella and Dash found this hilarious. Which of course Max loved.  Someday he will learn table manners. But for now, he can just enjoy the adoration of all of us.

Two scooters

The mutual scooting only lasted to the end of the driveway because Dash says his goes too slow (ie he is scared to make it move more than an inch at a time).  Someday he will deign to actually learn to ride his scooter and the pace of family walks will increase. He was pretty cute walking in his helmet, though.

Runner girl

One of our local running stores offers a kids running program on Sunday afternoons at a beautiful local park and we signed up for the session this spring. I had no idea what to expect and have been so thrilled to go each week and see the kids do a warmup, talk about healthy eating and activities, and then participate in low-key races. Dash has been looking strong in the 100 m race each week.  This might be my favorite race to watch because it's the littlest kids, and predictably there are a few super fast ones followed by some toddlers who tend to wander off course before they get to the finish line. Ella started with a 400 m distance but this week did the 800 m and finished it looking strong!  As a bonus, the program had a special Mother's Day 400 m heat this past week which I enjoyed running with my mom (in a skirt and sandals no less), Max on my hip, and Ella out ahead of me (we had to beg her to slow down long enough to cross the finish line with us).  Love this program!