"I'm up!"

Yes, we know.  Lovely to see the General burst out of his room at 6 am after another late, wild night.

End of an era

Max may have slept through Derek Jeter's last at bat, but he made up for that with plenty of post - nap viewings.  He also loved Bernie Williams's rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", and played right along with the man who shares both of his passions- baseball and guitar.

We also went to a nature event where Max bravely held a huge green caterpillar and got a book about mosquitos (perfect reading material for the boy covered in bug bites).  After seeing the insects, Max begged to go to the farm, so we went to Frying Pan Park where he saw (and made sound effects) all of his favorite barnyard pals. 

Watching Jeter's last at bat

"I want to see the boy [Jeter's nephew]"

Max was inspired by Bernie Williams's tribute to Derek Jeter

Max said that [The Very Hungry] catepillar would turn into a butterfly. Thank you, Eric Carle.

"I can ride the horse when I'm older"

Max remembers everything he is told.  But he doesn't always do everything he is told...

Even cows go potty

So happy to see all of the animals 

Bunny rabbit!

Chasing a Pawley look-a-like on the playground

Arcade date

Max and Sadie had so much fun at Carson's birthday party!

RE2PECT

Max and daddy had a Derek Jeter viewing party after school today.  To commemorate the Captain's last game at Yankee Stadium,  they watched Jeter's tear-jerking walk off hit and the clip of his nephew tipping his cap, dozens of times.

Knick Knack-in-training

Max loves playing his guitar more than ever now that he has a strap to wear it around his neck just like Mr. Knick Knack.  He has been complaining that his guitar is too heavy to play and dance around with at the same time.  Pretty typical two-year old problem.  "I want a neck one", he often asks/whines/begs.  Clearly he did need the "neck one" because once the guitar was around his neck he was a non stop music maker and would barely take five to eat dinner.

Fall at the Farmers Market

Dental hygiene at its finest

Happiness with Harry

Max had a great Monday, because even though he had the sniffles, he got to ride on Harry the dinosaur.

Halftime show

The first thing Max said when he woke up this morning was, "My guitar is fixed!".  This is true, thanks to Jake's daddy, Richie, who was greeted at our door yesterday by, "My guitar is broken". It will need to be repaired again shortly if Max continues to step on it between sets. 

Sunday football and music 

"Dunk me!" Summer is almost over but swim lessons have just begun again!

Max on the metro

Max took his first metro ride today; he was excited to finally go on the new train line that he kept seeing from the car.  

Long walk to the train

Front row for a concert at Tyson's 

King me!

Who knew Tyson's mall had so many fun things to do?

Max really wanted to see "the man" [who was driving the train], so at each stop we changed cars until we got to the front where he could see the conductor.

Max was about to climb out of bed during nap, but fell asleep just in time.

Max could hardly wait to eat his love cake for breakfast.  He completed the breakfast experience by wearing his chef hat.

Love cake

Max does not have the attention span to be fully addicted to the tube, but he does have a few favorite shows.  He likes to watch the same episodes of "The Pawley Show" (Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood) and "The Monkey Show" (Curious George) over and over.  He especially loves the Pawley Show episode where Daniel Tiger makes his mom banana bread in a heart pan.  Max (and mommy) knows every line, so we recreated the "love cake" tonight.  The show does a great job of emphasizing that the hardest part of making banana bread is waiting for it to bake.  Unfortunately, that message did not resonate with Max tonight.  He desperatly tried to eat the raw batter and demanded his "love cake" well before it was ready.

Morning selfie

Someone was a little tired after not going to sleep until 10:00pm.  And waking for milk at 5:00am.  Actually, more than one person was pretty tired after that.

...and than he dribbled it

The pumpkin did not bounce so well, but the stem makes a nice keepsake.

Pumpkin drum

Rise and shine

Late night, earlier morning 

Happy Monday!

Sunday football/basketball/soccer ball

With his [daddy's] gym bag full of gear, Max headed to Oakton and played all of his favorite games in the beautiful pre-autumn sun.

Let's play balls!

Max loves the Elmo alphabet game, mostly because, "A is for astronaut".  It is especially fun to play while dressed in an astronaut suit.  Obviously.  

Show time!

Max had a fantastic time at his first show- Sesame Street Live!  When he woke up this morning and found out he was going to see Bert, Ernie, and the Count, he jumped up and down [on his bed] with excitement.  He was great during the trip to Baltimore and held his ticket during the hour drive.  "I need my ticket for the show, mommy," he repeated.  

The long car ride was completely worth it!  Max was positively mezmorized during the first act and after intermission he danced like crazy in the aisles.  

To cap it all off, Max ended one of the best Saturdays with one of the better bedtimes.

"Everybody!!"

Dancing in the aisles was encouraged and immensely enjoyed!

Lunch at Di'Pasquales- the first resturant (and public place!) that Max ever went to

The big boy in his big bed looks so sweet  when he surrenders to sleep.  Mission accomplished after 45 minutes and one temper tantrum- best night in a long time.

Max at bat

Max only wants to play with his Uncle Jordan ball.  Mommy is on [20 feet in front of] the pitchers mound and behind the camera. Multitasking at its finest!

Out of control in love with Sadie Jean. But..."don't hold baby Tessa (not pictured) mommy."

These two. They hold hands without even being asked to. True love.  Maybe Sadie can ask Max to go to sleep!

Morning music time

Max has added a new form of defiance to his bedtime routine: taking off his pjs and diaper.  While still crying and screaming.  And rubbing his eyes like crazy, because yes, he is tired. 

Max rocked the morning away

The great morning continued to school, where Max requested his traditional photo.  He runs to stand in the exact same spot every time.  Even on mornings  when he is mad or crying (sadly, the night behavior has been spilling into some mornings), he asks [through the screams] to have his picture taken.