Max and Mommy's Grand Adventure

We did it! A week in San Diego, just Max and Mommy, with more than a little help from our amazing family.

It felt like this....

Max snuggled with Baubee, helped Zaydee "work",

and went on his first carousel ride with Aunt Kay-Kay.

He loved every minute of it....

We played with Nana Nancy and Max met sweet Aunt Cindy for the very first time. Uncle Scott and Jo-Jo gave Max lots of tickles and attention, and we walked the boardwalk with my dear friend Anna and her husband Tyler.

San Diego kept Max's attention. There were fountains to splash in...

and drink from (oops!)....

See the hotel poking up in the sky, to Max's right? In my younger days (as in, pre-toddler drinking from the fountain) we used to go for drinks at the bar at the very top of that hotel. Killer view of the bay.

This is San Diego from Max's point of view....

Aren't you wondering who took these brilliant pictures? It's this gorgeous little sister of mine.

Yes, she's DRIVING. Just a few months away from getting her actual, real-life, now-I'm-16 DRIVER'S LICENSE. She's a patient, calm, focused driver. Just like her big sister. Stop laughing. I'm serious. She gets her skills from me. OK, she's a waaay better driver than me. Especially because she can park between the lines.

We love you San Diego!

Tastes Like Home!

Good thing he's not allergic anymore...this little guy devoured Baubee's famous "Smooshed Eggs" for breakfast!

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Feels Like Home...

My little guy and I are off on our grand adventure. Shockingly, Max was absolutely amazing on the flight down....While Baubee was at work today, Max and I made our way to some of my favorite old-school hangouts. I have to admit, this is the cutest boy that I've ever had a lunch date with at Cafe 976!

Being home means that I can hear the Sea World fireworks out our window right now. 9:55, on every summer night. Being home means that Max walks around the house yelling "Buh-buh (Baubee)" and "Where Zay(dee) go?" He looks for them around every corner, and can't wait to run to them every morning when we wake up. Being home means that I let Max walk into the bay and toss seashells, because it's beautiful there, and we can. Shhh...locals know it's contaminated and nasty, but you can't stop a toddler who is yelling "Splash! Splash!"

Tori, these are for you my friend....

We've missed you San Diego....

That's What I Said

Big boys eat cupcakes all by themselves. Like this one, that Max devoured while hanging out at our buddy Preston's awesome airplane birthday party...

Big boys also have LOTS to say. Max decided that he didn't want to take a nap yesterday, so as we were driving around (yes, I do that to get him to fall asleep every.damn.day for naps) he started yelling "Go hoooooome!" Which was particularly hysterical considering he has started using two-word sentences oh, just a few days ago. I told him "Mommy is going to get a coffee and then you are going to go night-night". As I'm pulling in to the coffee shop drive-through, Max puts his little hands together and tucks them next to his cheek. And pretends to snore. Pretends, as in, long drawn out "hooooonk, shhhhhh" sounds.

"Max, what are you doing?"

"Night night!" he says, sweetly.....still pretending to snore. We're driving down the main road for the thirtieth time and he is waving to every car that goes by. Then he starts counting. Why? Because it's nap time. "One, two, free, six!" And finally he is yelling "hoooouuuuuuse!" Game over. Max wins.

It's a brave new world now that Max can really communicate with us. Sometimes he makes perfect sense....like the other day when we rubbed noses and I said "nose kiss!" He gave me a big hug, and when our ears pressed together during the hug, he yelled out "ear kiss!" Other times, not so much. When I asked him how he got the owie scratch on his knee at preschool, he answered "Tee (teacher) Zach". Hmmmm. Teacher Zach is the music teacher. "Did you hurt yourself during music?" Max's response? "Five six!" So I tried again later...."Max, what happened to your knee?" This time he looked at me like I was the two year old. "Tee Zach!" he said again. And just as I was starting to think that it might be possible that sweet, gentle Tee Zach pushed him over during music, Max yelled out "'tar!" That would be "guitar" for those of you who don't have a toddler. Ah-hah! If you watched the video below, you will have a good idea of how my son may have injured himself. I'm guessing he was dancing (again, see video below) and crashed into Tee Zach's guitar. A plausible hypothesis if you've seen this child's dance moves.

Big boys like to take their clothes off when they think you're not watching, and run through the house squealing with naked glee as you chase them. Big boys help to throw chopped vegetables in the salad while you're cooking, but take a bite of everything as it goes in (or licks it, or sticks his thumb through it....remember that when we invite you to dinner!) Big boys say "hug Dada" and "kiss Mama", and melt your heart time and again as they show you that they are taking in every ounce, every whisper of this world.

Ruach! (That's Hebrew for "spirit")

I had every intention of writing a sappy, sentimental story about the Full Circle Moment that we had while attending our first Family Shabbat Picnic at Max's preschool. You know, something about how I sang all of these songs as a camp counselor for 5 amazing college summers. I loved my campers like Max's teachers love him. He is learning to sing in Hebrew, and the words that he dances along to will make the memories that shape his life. That kind of stuff.

But watching him dance right in front of Teacher Zach was just too damn funny. I know, I know...he gets his moves from his Mama....

(Yes, the video is on it's side. Yes, that's embarassing now that this blog is all PUBLIC and everything. But just because we're wanna-be blog gangstas now doesn't mean that we can figure out how to edit the video and put it right side up...so quit your whining and tilt your head to the side....see? Looks fine now!)

Some would call this creativity, some would say he's a little left of center. I say he's ALL MINE!

Mind Your Business

The old man in Starbucks today walked right over to Max and I and nodded towards Max's drink.

"Is that for him?" he asked.

I had a moment of Mommy Pride. In my head I responded "Of course! Isn't the little child sized cup so cute! I'm such a great, smart Mommy for figuring out that I could buy him a baby version of my drink....it's a mini soy milk....for 2 bucks!" But instead, I politely answered "Yes, it is".

"You're giving him SOY?" he said.

"I am" I responded. "Don't you know what soy can do to him?" he countered.

I smiled. Politely, again. "He has a dairy allergy" I said. Nicely.

"But he's a boy" the old man offered. "It'll turn him into a girl".

Suddenly I was back in the parenting workshops that I used to teach. Say what you want your child to hear, we said. So I (nicely, politely) said "No, it WON'T. And he doesn't even drink that much." And I left.

I hated myself for walking out the door. I wanted to turn around and say to him "Please, buy him a cup of milk. And then he will throw up all over your shoes."

"Yes, it's soy. Is that a latte you're drinking? Because caffeine is bad for old guys like you."

"Getting him to drink ANYTHING has been a major battle. I'm proud of him for drinking from a cup. I'm proud that he drinks out of a straw. I'm thrilled that he is finally able to drink a $2 cup of soy milk from a chain store instead of the $42 can of prescription formula that saved his life when he was diagnosed with multiple food allergies and GI issues, so SHUT THE HELL UP YOU STUPID JERK."

But of course, I didn't.

Say what you want your child to hear.

Maybe next time, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS would suffice. If said politely, of course.

Pimp My Ride

What happens when Mommy enjoys an afternoon away, celebrating her sweet friend C. at her baby shower?

Max and Daddy go shopping, and come home with this.... (The wagon, not the car. The car is another story all by itself. You can file it under "male impulse purchase" though, just like the tricked out toddler wagon. But I digress....)

They also bought this blue monkey, and these cool shades. You know, for when you're riding in your Jersey muscle car. I mean, your new wagon....

Hey Mommy! Don't you have another baby shower to go to this weekend???