Maxx

Maxx is taking some big strides in his verbal skills recently.  You have to listen carefully and be aware of what is going on though, or you're likely to miss some of it, as many of his words sound very similar.  He says them in the cutest, somewhat high-pitched voice and most of his words have a strong emphasis on the ending and often will pitch up at the end as well).  It almost makes him sound British sometimes.

Some of his pronunciations:
Bok - milk or book
Butt (with extra emphasis on the "t") - button, which he LOVES to push - on the atm at the grocery, the dishwasher, the garage door, the radio...
Aight - light, which he loves turning on and off, also sounds a lot like his version of "eyes"
Peas - peas or please
Ep - help or up
Wee Weesh - goldfish crackers (this one took me a while to decipher)
Deet doo - thank you
Bee bee - baby, sometimes he uses this in reference to his Cars book that he loves
Cu cu - cracker, not to be confused with:
Ca, Cuck - car, truck - they sound very similar and I think he uses them interchangeably
Mowa - more
Bot - boot or boat or Boots, the monkey from Dora
Shzeow - Show.  Isn't it awesome that he already asks me to turn on the TV?  I think so.
Wa wa - water
Lollo - yellow
Chees - cheese or what he says whenever he sees a camera
Choo choo - train

Eh, eh, eh - for everything else

In addition, here are some of his other, more recognizable words:
No, shoes, juice, hot, NO!, mine, uh-oh

He is experimenting with repeating many of the words he hears us use.  Oftentimes, though, if we encourage him to say it again, he gets shy, or ornery, and will clam up.  But he is quite willing to help out Go, Diego, Go! and shout out whatever HE asks.  Well, at least he's learning and it is for the sake of helping animals, after all.

This week he said his own name ("Mac") for the first time, when he was flipping through a photo album. He also said Papa in reference to separate pictures of Poppy and Papa.

Maxx also has the most annoying cutest way of calling me.  "Ma...  Ma... Mam...  Mam...  Maaaaaaaam!"  Kind of reminds me of this clip of Stewie from The Family Guy.  And he will constantly call me and then point to something, just to say, "look" at this cool train or this book or the TV.  It's funny and mostly awesome.

And he sounds Irish when he yells, "Da!" whenever Jedd comes home.  Or the front door opens.  Or someone knocks on the front door.  Maxx can't get enough of his daddy.  So sweet.

Our little man is developing quite the adorable, impish personality!

Cold & Flute Season

Imagine this: Kyla is lying on the couch, watching Tinkerbell.  I ask what's up.  Pathetically, in a small voice, she says, "Mommy, I think I have a little flute."

I turn to Maxx, and ask him if he has a little flute, too.  To which he responds by pointing to his bare foot and saying, "shooo?"  And then, "wee weesh?" (i.e. gold fish, which is what he has in his mouth at the moment).

Ballet

Kyla has just started ballet at the Y.  She loves it!  Her instructor, Miss Hannah, has shared a couple of comments that Kyla has made.

On her second day of class, Kyla informed me that she did not want me to stay and watch her.

Me: You mean you want me to leave?
Kyla: Yes.
Me: Okay, Maxx & I will go and we'll come back later.
Kyla: No, I no want you to come back later.
Me: Well, we have to come when the class is over and take you home.
Kyla (in her fake whiny voice): Ohhhhh...  Well, okay, then.

I did not actually leave.  Maxx & I stood and watched from the hall windows for a bit.  Then one of the Y employees told us we could sit in a room across the hall if we wanted and she even brought some toys for Maxx to play with.  So I sat in there with a couple of other moms and we chatted while the girls had their class. 

When class ended, I went to get Kyla and I told Miss Hannah what Kyla had said to me.  Miss Hannah laughed and said that once all the girls were seated, Kyla politely raised her hand.  When she was called on, she said, "Um, can you please go and tell my mommy to leave now?"

For today's class, I did leave and made a quick trip to the grocery.  At the end of class, Miss Hannah told me that she was explaining to the girls about attitude and bringing their good attitudes to class.  Kyla raised her hand and said, "Oh, yes.  I keep my good attitude in my jewelry box at home."

Maybe that's what's been going on recently.  It's not a phase, she's locked up her good attitude!  Now that I know where it is, maybe I could go get it for her and things will get easier for all of us.

 

Haircut

You may have read about this previously on facebook or if I saw you in person recently, I might have just told you about it.

Several weeks ago, Kyla cut her hair.  A rite of passage for many young children, I think.  And in her case, a way to definitively tell us that she wanted her hair permanently out of her eyes.

She did this while I was out of the room and when I came to check on her, she was no where to be found.  However, she needs to work on hiding the incriminating evidence.

The Evidence - Exhibit 1

The Evidence - Exhibit 2

Surprisingly, the chop job was not drastically horrible.  It was almost like she just put some layers on the sides.  And in photos, it was noticeable at all.  Therefore, no "after" photo.  When Jedd took her to the salon, the lady asked what they were going to do.  Kyla, without saying a word, put her hand up to her forehead, in a sort of salute, to indicate she wanted bangs.  And, I must admit, she looks pretty darn cute with her new 'do!

Post-Salon Visit

Tonight Kristi & Kaylen babysat the kids while Jedd and I went and saw Tron 2 (good movie, if you're not expecting too much).  When we got home they relayed some funny things that Kyla said.  This one makes me laugh every time I think about it.

Kristi: So, Kyla, I heard you cut your hair.
Kyla (looking a little confused, but with complete sincerity): But your house is very far and my scissors just make a small noise...

Good God, I love this kid!

  

Leotard

At preschool, Kyla class gets to spend time in the gym.  They get to go on the trampolines, swing on a rope into the foam pit, walk on the balance beam, jump in the bouncy house and practice tumbling moves.  Everyday when we leave, Kyla wants to look at the gymnastics leotards and comment on their pretty embellishments.  Today, as usual, Kyla asked to look at them again.

Kyla:  Mommy, I just want to look at the quitars 'fore we go.
Me:  They are leotards, honey.
Kyla:  Oh, I want to look at the leotards.  Why they leotards?
Me:  That is what they are called.
Kyla:  Well, why they not just tards?

Sometimes I need a minute to compose myself before responding to her inquiries.

  

Two, Too, Tutu

Tonight Kyla was telling me about a child who went to her old school when they were two years old.

Kyla:
I went to my old school when I was two, too.
Hey!  Tutu starts with two (holding up 2 fingers).

  

Fertilizer

Today we went to story time at the library.  When we got out of the car the smell of the farms (manure) was in the air.

Kyla:  I smell like something.  (That's what she says when she smells something.)  It smell yucky.
Me:  I think that is the fertilizer.  (followed by a brief explanation)
Kyla:  Why dat turd-ilizer?
Me:  No, honey.  It's FERT-ilizer.
Kyla:  Fart-ilizer?

Well, she makes a good point.