two more "firsts".

within the past few weeks, max has started eating solids (well, he had been eating cereal, but that seems so not as cool as vegetables and fruits) and tried his hand at drinking out of a sippy cup. the first meal of green beans he was a little unsure, but now he screams whenever the container is empty. and as for the sippy cup? well, he either doesn't get it, or he doesn't like it. time will tell....

the human pretzel

one of max's newest favorite ways to pass the time is to suck on his toes. it's extremely entertaining to watch!

"get out of that bed, and wash your face and hands..."

grandpa pete got max this singing elmo for Christmas. it's super annoying in the fact that once you play the thing one time, the song is stuck in your head for the duration of the day. but max is infatuated with it. i don't know if it's the vibration, the music, or the lights, but no matter how cranky his mood is, if we press the button, max immediately stops what he's doing and just stares at elmo. (and apparently sometimes also tries to tear out his eyeballs.....it's out of love, i'm sure!)

i've become "one of those mothers" who talks about poop.

it's not uncommon for max to poop while i'm breastfeeding him. in fact, he probably does it at least half of the time. (i *promise* that this has a point!) so last week one night when i was feeding him, it wasn't alarming when i heard him poop. however, it smelled worse/stronger than usual, so i was quick to change him as soon as he was done eating. i was totally surprised to see that he hadn't "blown out" (a term brian and i have come to use quite often) his diaper. usually when it smells that strong, it's because the poop has not been contained in the appropriate area.

minutes after changing his diaper, i was meandering around the house, attempting to pick a few things up, when my hand brushed against something moist and sticky on my pants. yup......it's exactly what you're thinking i'm going to say. max somehow managed to poop ON me. i still have yet to figure out how he didn't get any on himself. he's either a magician or a trickster. either way, i'm disgustingly impressed.

i took photos of the oh-so-wonderful event:

a weekend of boys!

well, it's official. johannsens teamed up with either acklands and ohorilkos (with their respective parties, of course!) make super cute boys. this weekend was dietrich's first visit to my mom and dad's house, and all three cousins got to hang out. we've decided that this time next year will be interesting/fun/completely insane.

free time courtesy of the snowy weather.

just some more pictures:

the story of max and the plastic, see-sawing animals.

once upon a time there was a cute, little baby named max. he lived in a magical land of purple-maned lions and orange elephants. max was very interested in these animals.

one day max had an idea. he decided that he would like to eat the purple-maned lion and the orange elephant. he just needed to figure out how it could be done.

he realized he needed to move closer. he locked his gaze on the poor, unsuspecting purple-maned lion and leaned in.

max's mouth was wide open. his hand was on the lion. he didn't understand why the lion was not in his mouth. clearly the lion was too smart. luckilly, he had a plan B.

he switched his attention to the elephant.

with two hands poised, he got his mouth ready for the tastiness of the orange elephant.

with his mouth open and his grip of steel, max still couldn't eat the animals. he decided to give up for the night, but he was determined to try again the next evening.

the end.

the moral of the story: plastic, strange-colored animals are smarter than they appear.