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!
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