Max's 3rd birthday this week, and he started potty training Sunday. It's going, and going, and going as it were.
He can also hold up 3 fingers and knows his age. He also can pick out, surprisingly, quite a few letters in the Dora Happy Birthday sign we hung up for his little party.
What else can he do...? Lessee... he can put on shoes (that are velcro-style), he can run around in circles like a madman. He can drink easily from open glasses and hasn't spilled anything in a while. He knows how to pick his nose and ask for tissues thanks to several months of near-constant illnesses.
He can name basically every train and character in Thomas the Tank Engine. The last couple of months he's been less satisfied with Dora and watching the same episode repeatedly until my brain gurgles out my ears. Now he watches a bunch more shows. New additions are Blue's Clues, Clifford the Big Red Doggy, Thomas on tv, and 64 Zoo Lane. Oh, and Koala Brothers.
We took a swim class last night which was fun, him and his friend Alley down at the rec center boppin' around in the water with me and her dad. He definitely digs spending time and doing stuff with a friend.
Speaking of which, he goes nuts when he doesn't get to spend enough time with his buddies. Daycare in the midweek is not enough anymore. He needs after-daycare play, weekend play, evening play... Mom and Daddio just aren't cutting the mustard and Liam's not quite up to speed yet.
He was a bit late getting the whole "why and because" concepts. At least, later than I thought he'd be, but he's all over it now, and his language skills remain a year or more ahead based on the surprised looks everyone keeps giving him when he goes off on a long soliloquey (sp?).
He's starting to understand or at least feel anticipation, like with his birthday party and that we were going to start potty training.
He loves his little brother and likes to tickle or make funny faces and dance a crazy little jig to get Liam laughing. He'll also come to us and tell us that Liam's crying in his bed and ask us to go get him. Maybe he just doesn't like the sound?
Max is starting to boss the dog around a bit more instead of just going to us for help. And I wonder about how I yell at the dog, because Max likes to really lay into him in full voice, "Bailey put your paw DOWN!" that sort of thing. Ahhh, well, at least I stopped kicking the dog and using the hot pokers, so my nosy neighbors can kiss my butt if they don't like it. Errr... ;-)
Max remembers names like crazy, often helping me with neighborhood kids' names when I don't remember them immediately. He can rattle off 10 kids without even thinking, and remembers names for months between seeing someone (like his cousins... Thppttthhth).
Kids are pretty cagy, and Max is no exception. He definitely learns the tricks we use such as "Just a sec." He starts repeating that when we want his attention. "Just a sec, Dad." DOH!
So, he's getting older!