Max's Blog

Maxwell Turns 1

On March 21, 2008 – Maxwell Q. turned one year old!

In the last month of Maxwell’s first year, we have seen so many changes. We are realizing that toddler-hood is just around the corner.

Max has taken well to sign language – which we’ve been teaching him since around six months old. The most common signs that Max does are: milk, more, diaper change, and book. He uses the signs to tell us what he needs which is different from just a few months ago when he understood the sign but would only do it to copy us – he never signed spontaneously. When teaching Maxwell a new sign, he is eager to try it out and copy almost immediately.

In his 12th month, Max spent lots of time with Grandpa and Grandma Smith. They came for a week in February and again in March for his birthday. He spent his days with them going on walks and going to the park. It is always a great, relieving, happy break for his Dad and Mom not to worry about schlepping Max back and forth to daycare.

Grandma Linda (my Mom) came for a week in early March. Brendan was out of town for the week and G.L. (as my niece calls her) came to help me. It was a special time, having my mom here helping with Maxwell. My mom taught me most things I know about babies – through either the daycare she did when I was a child, my baby brothers, or my nieces and nephews. I remember imagining the day when I had my own baby, and I would picture my mom teaching me the ways. Turns out – it is exactly as I imagined and that makes me happy! My mom gives me practical yet meaningful advice and guidance that I will always remember. She thinks of things that I never would, yet embraces the things I do that she hadn’t thought of.

My mom taught Maxwell how to roar like a lion, drink from a cup, and make the sign for a diaper change. While she was here, Max got his first birthday present from Grandpa & Grandma Bentley – a new bench that has turned out to be a hit!

In general, Max loves dancing to music, playing “peek-a-boo”, running from Mommy, eating, reading books, and going outside. He has settled into the routines of the day – from getting ready in the morning, going to daycare, coming home for the evening hours with Mom & Dad, and going to bed at 7pm. He goes to bed easily and is happy to do so. Max wakes up anywhere between 5:30 – 6:15. He is such a joyous happy person in the morning. It’s a wonder how we make it to work each day.

The Birthday Party
Grandma & Grandpa Smith, Aunt Andrea, Uncle Randy, and Mira (Maxwell’s cousin on the Smith side) flew in from Portland to share Maxwell’s first birthday.

It was a small party. Had we had more family in town perhaps it would have been bigger, but Max received just as much attention as he needed from the people there. Maxwell had the gracious assistance of cousin Mira (age 3) to teach him how to open presents. He was overwhelmingly happy! Max was in the moment – and he knew it! Max received a wooden train and book from Mira (thank you Andrea & Randy), clothes from Uncle Colin, and lots of clothes, toys and books from his grandparents. He even received gifts from his Great Grandma Margaret and Great Aunt & Uncle Barb & Warren – who remembered him on his first birthday.

Max loved his birthday cake! OK – so we made that up. Max had mediocre feelings about the cake and was not so much excited. He did eventually take a bite but it was nothing exquisite in his taste.

Happy Birthday Maxwell!

Max, at 11 months--happy, delightful and moving

by Grandpa Smith

The pictures don't lie: Maxwell Quentin Smith-Bentley is one very happy little boy. He smiles constantly--for his Mom and Dad, for us as grandparents (fortunate to have spent a week with him just after he passed the 11-month mark), and for strangers, too.

The latter was apparent on daily visits to Crema, a new coffee shop four blocks from the S-B home in San Jose. The owners, a Vietnamese-American couple, are charmed by Max's presence. And he returns that affection to "June" and "Duke" with a welcoming smile.

And sometimes with a little chuckle that Max has added to his persistent demeanor of happiness. And, invariably, Mysti--a mother's heart warmed by her son's patented laugh--responds with her own sincere laugh of approval and celebration.

You'll find quite a few pictures of our Feb. 24-March 2 visit to the Smith-Bentley trio and also to see Colin (living nearby in Cupertino). With Mysti in Dallas for three days for a hospital administration conference, it was an opportune time to lend a grandparent assist and also have some quality time with our first grandson. The days were routine:

• 6:30 a.m. arrival in our bed and an hour playing with his toys (a contented child he is!);
• the visit to Crema for our coffee and Max's Cheerios or bananas;
• a return to Morrison Ave. for more playtime--and maybe some time with Mattie, the bulldog; lunch at the kitchen table and then a bottle before a nap (that might stretch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.);
• afternoon visit to a nearby park--for enjoyable time on a slide, horse, swing and his favorite: crawling
through a tunnel (with his grandparents stationed on each side);
• late-afternoon time at home, often with books (this young man loves to be read, too--his books are
favorite possessions!);
• greeting his parents with his characteristic and eager grin as they return from their posts at Silicon
Valley Bank and Stanford University hospital.

Evenings during our week were spent over home-cooked meals and with Uncle Colin joining us most nights. By 7 p.m. or so, Max was ready for bed, having spent time with his Mom and Dad, doing everything from dancing to music on Brendan's Ipod to being lovingly cradled in Mysti's arms for a nighttime bottle.

I opened by saying Max's personality is filled with joy; he brings delight to all. We especially witnessed that one morning when we brought Max to Brendan's bank and he was greeted by his dad's co-workers. Work schedules stopped; even a meeting in a conference room among a dozen SVB employees halted for waves and smiles at Max.

Max is also a mover and climber: He can move across the floors in a very quick crawl. And he constantly pulls himself up, especially in the kitchen on the refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. And once he reaches a destination, he looks back with a grin and an eye contact that both seeks approval and also makes a statement about his increased exploration.

He'll soon be one (on March 21). And he'll soon be walking. And talking is not far behind. And all will be greeted with the love and affection of family and friends...and those who have yet to encounter Max.