Max: 3

Max: my 3 year old Fireman/NinjaTurtle/Tornado/Ferg/Angel Baby

In thinking of the 3 words to describe him, this is what I've come up with: 

1. Silly: This one stands out AT THE TOP. This boy is so silly. He loves to laugh and, when he does, you hear it from miles away. If you ever have a need to hear a 3 year old cackle, we can definitely help you out. He laughs at his friends in his class, at his sister dogs, at his Daddy, at his Bop, but mostly at Anderson. And, lucky us...our older one likes to be quite the comedian. Also, Max loves to make us laugh by making silly faces, quoting funny things (i.e.: things that he thinks are funny,) and being destructive. In short, we love the laughter he brings to our house. 

2. Friendly: By "friendly," I mean 2 things-he loves to be included in groups. He is a part of what his teachers call, "The Crew" at his school. There are 4 little 3 year olds who have created a toddler clique. It is hilarious & precious.  He is at his HAPPIEST when Anderson has a friend over & he gets to join them. One day, Noah was with us and Max yelled at everyone who would listen, "We have our friend, Noah!" Another day, Jack spent the night & for the next 3 nights, he kept asking for him, again. He loves a friend. Also, he is very quick to make friends & talk to people in public. His little voice when he tells random kids, "I'm Max. Who are you?" will just make me melt. 

3. Creative: I was initially going to say sneaky or destructive, but I felt sort of bad including what could be seen as a negative in his list, even if a Mama does have to keep it real. But, in truth, he is really creative, which I was I think leads to his ability to think of multiple ways to sneak out of the house/garage/backyard. Also, he is really creative in the ways he thinks up to destroy things or wreak havoc. Truly, my favorite is his total creative investment in his playing-he is still hard core into construction, emergency vehicles & all things with wheels. And, he genuinely believes he is a fireman or a ninja turtle, just depending on the moment. I love his imagination. 

For example, he "trimmed" Bop's tree/bush/thing with a golf club. He seriously thought he was being helpful and we had to give points for his choice of tool. 

Loving Bop hang out time, especially with the bobcat in the area. 

Compared to Anderson, he is nowhere near as physical and is not at all interested in sports yet. We did buy him a tee ball set, which he used exactly one time and has never looked at again. But, in his defense, who has time for that when there are fires to be put out?

This.Right.Here. 

Let's be honest, this sums up this kid more than anything else. The fireman outfit has been with us since September. Seriously. NINE MONTHS of this "phase." 

You gotta appreciate the consistency, if nothing else. 

Guy time with Brandon. 

SO excited to see Reese. 

Also, SO thankful that these 2 have a way less complicated relationship than their older counterparts. 

He always wants to help me cook dinner & is so proud at what he accomplishes. 

Also, he never wears pants. WWIII occurs daily around here when he has to get dressed. 

Sweet Kennadee brought him this awesome Paw Patrol fire thing, which he is OBSESSED with-thank you for giving us an activity that fills up hours!

Again, he always benefits from having an older brother because he gets to do things like creating huge messes that we pretend are science experiments. 

Sleeping Max. Just thank you. 

He does not love sleeping and I am grateful that I had Anderson to prepare me for him. Max used to be an AWESOME sleeper. He never slept late, but he slept all night. Then, he turned 3 and literally lost his mind. His imagination is working better now and he is scared of all kinds of random things, so he is constantly calling for me all night. 

Lily got him that little lion & he loves it. Also, he still only sleeps with GG's blanket, but he is really too long for it, so I always have to sneak in there and cover him with the fireman blanket. He will wake up and throw it off every time. Don't mess with his blankets. Also, monkey. 

Every night before he goes to bed, we have to tell him 2 stories. He has a line up and these are his favorites, in order:

1. When I stepped on a bee when I was 8. 

2. When Brandon broke his hand (twice) at work. 

3. When I broke my arm when I was 9. ("Tell me about the time Uncle Zack throwed you across the room."

4. When Bobble Cole picked up the piece of glass. 

5. When Bobble Cole had hot lava coming out of her toe. 

He literally waits in anticipation every night, like he has never heard the story. He makes all of the appropriate faces at the right parts and fills in details if I forget them. He makes me show him on his foot exactly where the stinger was located/on his hand where Bobble Cole got stitches.

Perhaps these bedtime stories are what is keeping him awake at night?

I always love the pic I get from his school each day. 

Max loves: monkey, blanket, firefighters/trucks/stations, wearing pajamas if he has to get dressed, watching random videos on the iPad, yogurt drinks, chocolate milk, triangle chips (doritos), pizza, washing his hands, dirt/sand/mud, laughing, granola bars, playing at GG's & Noni's, helping, friends at his school, whining, ketchup, spraying water of any kind, the bales of hay we drive past every day, anything with wheels, green, making a mess, saying "Yes, Sir" to everyone (male or female) when they give him an order, his Mama. 

Max does not love: eating regular meals, sleeping in clothes, being quiet, sleeping all night, not driving past the fire trucks on the way to school, listening to directions, when Anderson attacks him, being inside, most foods.