Max is usually very happy when he’s playing around the house (as long as Mama’s near). There’s also happy sounds to go with this face but their best experienced in person.
Max’s Aunts Kathy and Courtney came over to babysit him while his parents went out to dinner. His Aunts can’t believe it has taken this long before they were “trusted” with the little prince for the evening. Although the “job” only lasted about 1.5 hours, everyone had a good time – even if Max refused to eat his dinner 
Stella and Leo came over for playtime at the Vranko’s.
Okay, so you say you have heard since May 15 that Max can walk. And it is true that he took his first real steps then. But after falling too many times he had sort of given it up as a real mode of transportation. However, in the last week he has decided that walking IS a good way to get from point A to point B and now he does quite a bit of it. He can even get around obstacles (including moving ones like other crawling kids at his school). Max can also kick the soccer ball while walking by himself! And of course as you can see by the picture, he can also push his corn popper that his Aunt Courtney got him for his birthday while walking
It was the best of behaviors, it was the worst of behaviors, it was the age of walking by oneself, it was the age of ear infections, it was the epoch of making new friends, it was the epoch of fights with Alexandra, it was a time of eating all of the school lunch, it was a time of slapping other students, it was the season of throwing balls, it was the season of throwing food, it was the era of new lessons, it was the era of making mistakes.
It was the year of Our Lord two thousand and five, and Max was just learning to find his way in the world as a toddler. Learning self-discipline is not an easy task, one needs good guidance and lots of patience. Hopefully Max was blessed with both.
I’m 13 months old today!
So what could be new with me since I turned one you say?
I am trying my hardest to put on my own shoes;
but no success yet, it is still on my list of to dos.
I am good at pulling things out of cabinets and drawers and putting them on the floor.
But I will also put them back away if you ask, a trait my parents adore!
I found out there is a great way to get fruit and yogurt, I love Jamba Juice!
Mom thought if she made me smoothies I would eat them all up; she is a silly goose.
I like to go running with Mom and drink all the water from her camelback.
Afterwards we go to the bookstore and play with the trains, I can even keep them on the track.
My fear of dogs has gotten quite extreme;
now the mere mention of the word can make me scream.
I like to stand all by myself with nothing to hold;
I have started to walk more on my own and am getting quite bold.
There is so much I have to say that I spend all day jabbering.
Unfortunately to my parents it still all sounds like blabbering.
Dad’s new car is a Turbo Diesel Jetta. So far he is getting 40 to 46 mpg. Mom and Max will now be cruising around in the Touareg (which tried to sneak into the picture).
Max and Dad having fun on the new swingset.
Mama and Max are enjoying the new playgound equipment. Max will need a partner on the slide for a while.
