Merry Christmas!

Gertie has decided that Max's couch is the cool place to hang out.

I'm sorry that updates have been so sparse lately! I've been super busy in the lab and also a little sick with a cold this week. Max is doing well. He's been sprouting teeth like a champ and running, yes RUNNING, all over the house. He likes to color with crayons (sometimes on the walls) and is still a dancing machine when the mood strikes him. He also tries to sing along with us when Jon and I burst into any song.

The video above is a silly one. For whatever reason, I decided that Max's hat from the Akron zoo is a magic dancing hat. That is, whenever it is placed on someone's head, that person begins to uncontrollably dance against their will. Max thinks that this is hilarious...especially when the dancing hat finds its way to Daddy's head.

We had our first snow that actually stuck to the ground on Friday. It continued yesterday and we woke up this morning to another light coating. It isn't accumulating but just enough to make the roads a little slick. Max thinks it is great. He goes to the window and says, "SNOW!"

A week or so ago, Max had another check-up at the doctor's office. He weighs 26 lbs and is 33 inches tall. The doctor said that he falls at about 60th % for weight and 80th % for height as compared to most toddlers his age. He is a grazer. He doesn't sit and eat very well but he is snacking on various foods all day long. He loves bananas and grapes. Don't think that he only eats healthy food, though. This boy loves to eat french fries. He also likes "bawk bawk" (chicken).

I'm not planning on buying too much for Christmas this year. Money is tight and who has the time for a lot of shopping anyways? Mostly, we want to get Max some fun toys as this year he is old enough to get excited about presents from Santa. We definitely won't go overboard though as I know that he will undoubtedly get goodies from a lot of other family members.

This morning, we are having a family get together at my Grandpa's house. Everyone decided that it would be easier to meet up the weekend before Christmas. My cousin Bill is visiting from his new home in Colorado. Besides, most of the families have at least two households to visit on Christmas Day already.

I finally got brave and trimmed Max's hair a tiny bit. Honestly, I was fed up with it falling into his eyes all of the time! He didn't seem to mind too much. He's such a good little boy.

I do have more photos to get up here soon, but today, just a quick little story:

Every night when I pick up Max from my parents' house, he gives my mom a kiss and my dad a high-five. Tonight, Grandpa Latsch was asleep on the couch. When I asked Max if he was ready to go bye bye, he went over to my dad, lifted his hand up and patted it. Then he gently placed it back down beside my dad, who didn't wake up through any of it.

What a sweet little guy!

Here is Max enjoying Thanksgiving dinner alongside his "Pa" Latsch.

As you can see, he especially enjoyed the mashed potatoes.

Having fun on a swing at Great Grandpa Latsch's house with Jake


And I kept forgetting to share these photos of Max having fun with the Omaha Steaks box when it arrived. He thought that it was great fun to climb on.

Jon snapped this photo of Max and I napping the other day. Sneaky Jon.

It was nice outside yesterday so we took Max outside and let him run around a little bit. He really loves being outdoors. He had to go around and see AND touch every tree and bush. Video from this outing to come soon!

On Sunday, some of the family got together to send off my cousin, Bill, and his wife, Sara, as they are moving to Colorado. It's always fun to get all of the little ones together. Max, Lila and Jake have fun playing with each other. Max thinks that it is fun to be bigger than another baby!

Boo at the Zoo

We took the boys to Boo at the Zoo in Cleveland on Saturday along with Becky's niece, Teresa. Everyone had a good time although it was pretty chilly!

Super Mario and Grandma Debbie




Luigi, Mario and Princess Peach


Jake was DJ Lance Rock from "Yo Gabba Gabba"

This video is from the football game that we went to a couple of weeks ago. Max enjoyed the marching band.

He has been doing well...working on some new teeth, I think. He sleeps pretty well nowadays. Sometimes when he is very tired, he actually grabs his blanket and basically tells us that he wants to go to bed. Most nights we are able to just put him in his crib with his blanket and a bottle and he will go to sleep without much of a fight.

I can tell that he has grown a lot lately. Clothes and pajamas that used to be too big are now almost too tight! He still loves to watch episodes of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and "Yo Gabba Gabba!"

I've been working on our halloween costumes a little bit (because I have sooooo much free time). Becky and Eric's annual costume party is next weekend. We still have a lot of work to do!

Akron Zoo

I had to work in the lab all day today but Aunt Becky and Grandma Latsch took Max and Jake to the zoo. Here are a few photos that they shared with me!

This first one is from Friday night. Max and I went down to see my cousins' football game in Apple Creek. Max liked to watch all of the people and especially enjoyed the music of the marching bands.

This photo is from last Tuesday. We went out for a family stroll to enjoy the nice weather. We know that we only have so many more nice days here for the season!

An Impromptu Family Gathering on Sunday

A Little Fun at the Mall!

One of Max's favorite shows these days is "Yo Gabba Gabba." Becky, Jake, Max and I went to a live show today featuring all of the show's characters. They performed a bunch of songs and dances from the show. At first, Max was scared by all of the noise and lights. As you can see in the first photo, he wanted to sit by Jake and hold onto him. Overall, we had a good time!