Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Happy Birthday Maxwell!
Maxwell turns 1 today - at last! We had a little party for him with banana cupcakes (with whipped cream on top), and presents, and a lovely lunch with Nana.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Maxwell's birthday eve
Tomorrow Maxwell turns 1! At last - he is so grown up and I can't believe he is not 1 already.
Today Preston was so well behaved that for the first time ever, I let him hire a Wiggles cart at the supermarket! He always asks and then we have the obligatory tantrum when I say no, but today I had no help and no stroller, and both boys at the supermarket (normally something carefully orchestrated to avoid). The cart was very good actually - both boys were strapped in with doors locked and they had their own steering wheel, and they could hear Wiggles music and stories playing on the inside (thankfully I couldn't).
It was the quietest, most uneventful shopping trip ever, and we left the supermarket without a single tantrum, or stern glare from other disapproving shoppers. Amazing! $2 well spent. However, since I don't plan on using this treat every time, I image the tantrums will be even worse when I say no....
Today Preston was so well behaved that for the first time ever, I let him hire a Wiggles cart at the supermarket! He always asks and then we have the obligatory tantrum when I say no, but today I had no help and no stroller, and both boys at the supermarket (normally something carefully orchestrated to avoid). The cart was very good actually - both boys were strapped in with doors locked and they had their own steering wheel, and they could hear Wiggles music and stories playing on the inside (thankfully I couldn't).
It was the quietest, most uneventful shopping trip ever, and we left the supermarket without a single tantrum, or stern glare from other disapproving shoppers. Amazing! $2 well spent. However, since I don't plan on using this treat every time, I image the tantrums will be even worse when I say no....
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Knight Preston
Preston went to a birthday party that was a Princess theme, so he went in this cool Knight costume. He was the only boy and apparently slayed a dragon bravely to save all the princesses, and they all love him. It was a big adventure - he had to catch the ferry to Devonport with one of the other mums (I wasn't going), and they went on an exploration through the tunnels over that way. Preston is getting very popular at kindy and has been invited to 3 birthday parties this week! Wow!!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Maxwell update
Just a quick pre-1 update on Maxwell's developments. He is taking steps all the time now - his biggest streak is 6 steps, but her regularly does 4, and seeks praise which is very cute. We all celebrate with him! He spends most of his time standing now, and crawls just for speed. (eg to get away from nappy changes etc)
He's trying really hard to communicate and say words - he has got 'mama' and 'daddy' and 'uh oh' sorted, and he's attempting to say other words. He's figured out what 'stop' means, and he says it to us - hand up in the correct format and 'DOB!' It's pretty funny (and clever). He's pulling out a lot of baby signing now that I had taught him a while ago but I though he didn't get and I've kind of let it lapse - but he has remembered and he's trying to use it. He was having a giant signing explosion the other night over Preston's toothbrush - he really wanted to touch it and he was signing 'cat' over and over and pointing at the bristles, so maybe he thought they were soft and furry like a cat? Clever logic really.
He's trying really hard to communicate and say words - he has got 'mama' and 'daddy' and 'uh oh' sorted, and he's attempting to say other words. He's figured out what 'stop' means, and he says it to us - hand up in the correct format and 'DOB!' It's pretty funny (and clever). He's pulling out a lot of baby signing now that I had taught him a while ago but I though he didn't get and I've kind of let it lapse - but he has remembered and he's trying to use it. He was having a giant signing explosion the other night over Preston's toothbrush - he really wanted to touch it and he was signing 'cat' over and over and pointing at the bristles, so maybe he thought they were soft and furry like a cat? Clever logic really.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Maxwell takes his first steps!
Hooray! This morning Maxwell took his first steps! He's been standing for a while and is really steady on his feet, and if he holds one of our fingers for balance, he can walk around the room. Then this morning finally figured out that he can move his feet without holding onto anything. Won't be long now before he is chasing Preston around. I should also point out that the first steps were Preston-related - ie, Maxwell was trying to get to Preston.
Here is a list of things Maxwell should be able to do at 11 months:
MOST KIDS CAN:
Says "mama" and "dada" to the correct parent
[yes]
• Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo
[yes, doing this for months]
• Stands alone for a couple of seconds
[yes, for ages]
• Cruises
[yes, has been doing this for months]
HALF KIDS CAN:
• Understands "no" and simple instructions
[yes, and understands when i do baby signs]
• Puts objects into a container
[yes, this is a favourite game - especially with lego]
FEW KIDS CAN:
• Says one word besides "mama" and "dada"
[yes, says 'uh oh' every time he drops something. also tries to say a word for the cat and preston. Also does baby signs for more, food, flies, hat]
• Stoops from standing position
[yes]
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Clones again
I thought Maxwell was starting to develop his own look and wasn't so cloney anymore, and i think generally he is looking less like Preston, but i caught them watching tv today with the same expression and they do have the same facial features....
Maxwell is 11 months old!
He's standing for ages now, and can stand up from crouching position without holding onto anything, so i don't expect it will be long before he takes a step!
Also today he FINALLY started saying 'Mama' properly (I've been teaching him for ages but it's been no use, i've been 'yaya' instead). So his current words are Dada and Mama. He says something like 'daidai' for Preston and he tries to say something for the cat. He hasn't bothered with signing for any of those words, but he knows what i mean if i sign it. He's not that interested in doing signing much any more since he can get his message across in other ways, but he does occasionally do milk, more, all gone, again. I think he just wants to talk - i was trying to get him to copy sounds like 'ssss' and he tried to copy me straight away which was really cool. Don't know why he wouldn't say mama all this time.
Maxwell and Preston are best friends and they play together so nicely (mostly). They love to laugh and be silly together - it's very cute!
Preston's had 2 weeks of swimming lessons every day, so he's quite competent now. Tomorrow he starts a week of art class every morning, and then it's back to kindy the week after. He is not into art much at all, so hopefully this class will encourage him to do some drawing/painting/writing etc, especially since his world is all about interacting with a touch screen or controller or keyboard... but wow, he is so clever at playing games. I want to find some kids gaming championships for him to enter!
Also today he FINALLY started saying 'Mama' properly (I've been teaching him for ages but it's been no use, i've been 'yaya' instead). So his current words are Dada and Mama. He says something like 'daidai' for Preston and he tries to say something for the cat. He hasn't bothered with signing for any of those words, but he knows what i mean if i sign it. He's not that interested in doing signing much any more since he can get his message across in other ways, but he does occasionally do milk, more, all gone, again. I think he just wants to talk - i was trying to get him to copy sounds like 'ssss' and he tried to copy me straight away which was really cool. Don't know why he wouldn't say mama all this time.
Maxwell and Preston are best friends and they play together so nicely (mostly). They love to laugh and be silly together - it's very cute!
Preston's had 2 weeks of swimming lessons every day, so he's quite competent now. Tomorrow he starts a week of art class every morning, and then it's back to kindy the week after. He is not into art much at all, so hopefully this class will encourage him to do some drawing/painting/writing etc, especially since his world is all about interacting with a touch screen or controller or keyboard... but wow, he is so clever at playing games. I want to find some kids gaming championships for him to enter!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Maxwell is 10 months old!
Maxwell is very quickly turning into a small boy. He is so determined to be doing whatever Preston is doing, that it is spurring him on to develop a bit faster. He races around everywhere with expert crawling and climbing around the furniture abilities, and the last few days he has been practicing standing up without holding on to anything. The look of extreme pride on his face each time he lets go is so sweet! Since yesterday, he has increased from not being able to stand on his own, to standing for about 5 seconds. He initiates all the attempts on his own, so it is something he has decided he's ready for, and I would say over the coming week he will be a pro. Then he'll be walking in no time!
His baby signing is also developing in leaps and bounds. We are now at the exciting stage where he will point at something of interest and I can say the name of it and show him the sign, and he will repeat it after being shown it only once or twice. This is very exciting for communication!
And yesterday I discovered that Maxwell can play a game of bouncing a small ball to each other - he loves this! He understands the concept, and it's so fun, especially when Preston joins in and we all play. They love each other so much, it melts my heart. :) Cute boys.
His baby signing is also developing in leaps and bounds. We are now at the exciting stage where he will point at something of interest and I can say the name of it and show him the sign, and he will repeat it after being shown it only once or twice. This is very exciting for communication!
And yesterday I discovered that Maxwell can play a game of bouncing a small ball to each other - he loves this! He understands the concept, and it's so fun, especially when Preston joins in and we all play. They love each other so much, it melts my heart. :) Cute boys.
Preston is 4!
Wow, Preston is finally 4, after acting like he's been 4 for ages and surprising people when they ask how old he is and he says '3'. He's had a pretty exciting year and has developed all sorts of skills, including being able to play computer/video/iPod/Nintendo games on his own and actually very well (Dan and Preston play co-op games all the time now where they have to work together), and swimming, and also Lego. He is very good at following the diagrams to build things - it's quite impressive to watch. He had a Lego birthday party, and he's going to a Lego school holiday program (and also a swimming program too).
Here are a couple of party pictures - I made Lego cupcakes and Lego crayons:
Thanks everyone for all the amazingly generous presents - he now has more Lego than some toy stores, and also lots of new inspirations such as drawing with magic reveal pens, and books. And with the added bonus of Christmas a week after his birthday, it's been very exciting for him lately!
Here are a couple of party pictures - I made Lego cupcakes and Lego crayons:
Thanks everyone for all the amazingly generous presents - he now has more Lego than some toy stores, and also lots of new inspirations such as drawing with magic reveal pens, and books. And with the added bonus of Christmas a week after his birthday, it's been very exciting for him lately!
Kathy draws our life
My lovely friend Kathy made us this amazing piece of art for Christmas - it details our life, it's so clever! In case you don't know us as well as Kathy does, here is an explanation for everything in the picture, starting top left:
Baking Delights: I do heaps of baking, especially cupcakes, and I bought a fancy cupcake display stand while Kathy was staying with us
TradeMe Sales Parcels: Kathy and I did an intensive Trademe few weeks of selling all sorts of random stuff, which resulted in millions of parcels to pack up
Blendy: I'm playing Rock Band, singing and being an Expert Guitarist, and sock knitting (the pink socks that I knitted for Kathy, and because I'm writing a sock knitting book so i'm always knitting)
Zombie Garden: Preston was quite addicted to a game called Plants vs Zombies for ages, so we planted a zombie garden (to protect our brains from being eaten) with the plants in the game. The yellow flowers were the power-producing plants, and the pea shooters were peas that could shoot the zombies (who said 'Braaaains!' and some wore road cones on their heads for extra protection)
The Too's: our family. And put on a drum kit. We play a lot of Rock Band.
Dan: He is playing Expert Drums and singing, plus holding a chef spoon as he is an excellent chef, and also conducting international commerce on his computer.
Christmas Tree: decorated with socks that i've knitted - i designed some patterns for christmas tree decoration socks :) It is also covered in World of Goo - this is from another game that Preston was very addicted to.
Preston: He is jumping off the couch (typical), wearing a cape saying 'Presto!' which is what the Little Einsteins (tv show) say when they want to go super-fast. He is singing the zombie song (from Plants vs Zombies), and is playing both the iPod Touch and the Wii. He is leaping over his Lego city (his new obsession), and past his games of Tantrix and Magnetix. The TV is showing NumberJacks, (Kathy and I call it 'NumberJerks') which is a really annoying kids show with some weird characters trying to teach something about numbers.
Maxwell: He is dancing to the music, while rattling something, and eating asparagus, and has food on his bib, and is also rather obsessed with Lego.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Maxwell learns baby sign language
Baby Sign from Daniel Too on Vimeo.
Maxwell has just started to figure out how to do some baby sign language himself (we've been doing it to him for months, and now he has the dexterity to do it properly). It's very exciting - now we can have signs for everything and can communicate so much better!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Maxwell is 9 months!
On Tuesday Maxwell will be 9 months old! Wow! And, as usual, my apologies for not updating this blog in ages - this time it has been much too long though. However, you should keep an eye on Dan's Flickr album for more frequent updates.
Maxwell has been crawling properly since about 7½ months (since around 6 months, he could crawl backwards only which was very frustrating for him), and now he is a super speedy crawling professional, and he loves chasing Preston around the place. He can pull himself up against furniture to stand up, although is not at the creeping stage just yet, but give it a few more days and he'll figure it out.
We've been taking both boys to swimming classes - Maxwell is very good about swimming - he neither dislikes it nor likes it particularly, but he doesn't cry, even when he goes under the water. Preston is enjoying his swimming class - finally we have found something that suits his personality (ie, not a team sport!) and he even listens some of the time, so that's a bonus! Soccer did not work out at all so we quite that after 2 terms of extremely bad behaviour, and now he also goes to Playball which is a great ball handling skills program, but he's not that interested in following instructions...
Instead Preston loves video games and lego. In the last few weeks, we've noticed his skill level has increased dramatically, and he can play games like Super Mario Bros on the Wii and Lego Batman on the DS and all sort of online games, and he was playing the drums on Rock Band and actually hitting the notes - and these games keep him occupied for a while. This weekend, Preston and Dan have been playing co-op games together, so that's really awesome! He is learning so much from playing games, and the skills he figures out are amazing, especially considering they are not designed for 3 year olds. He is right into lego as well, and he astounds us with his ability to follow the instructions to build things.
Maybe I'll have to give him all his instructions via pictorial charts. That might actually work.
I'll have to find some photos to post. We even had a photo shoot last weekend. The boys are growing up fast. Preston will be 4 next month, wow! Actually, now that I think about all the things he can do, that's not so unbelievable. And he is Maxwell's idol, so Maxwell is so lucky to grow up learning all the things that Preston is teaching him. They are so cute when they play together!
Maxwell has been crawling properly since about 7½ months (since around 6 months, he could crawl backwards only which was very frustrating for him), and now he is a super speedy crawling professional, and he loves chasing Preston around the place. He can pull himself up against furniture to stand up, although is not at the creeping stage just yet, but give it a few more days and he'll figure it out.
We've been taking both boys to swimming classes - Maxwell is very good about swimming - he neither dislikes it nor likes it particularly, but he doesn't cry, even when he goes under the water. Preston is enjoying his swimming class - finally we have found something that suits his personality (ie, not a team sport!) and he even listens some of the time, so that's a bonus! Soccer did not work out at all so we quite that after 2 terms of extremely bad behaviour, and now he also goes to Playball which is a great ball handling skills program, but he's not that interested in following instructions...
Instead Preston loves video games and lego. In the last few weeks, we've noticed his skill level has increased dramatically, and he can play games like Super Mario Bros on the Wii and Lego Batman on the DS and all sort of online games, and he was playing the drums on Rock Band and actually hitting the notes - and these games keep him occupied for a while. This weekend, Preston and Dan have been playing co-op games together, so that's really awesome! He is learning so much from playing games, and the skills he figures out are amazing, especially considering they are not designed for 3 year olds. He is right into lego as well, and he astounds us with his ability to follow the instructions to build things.
Maybe I'll have to give him all his instructions via pictorial charts. That might actually work.
I'll have to find some photos to post. We even had a photo shoot last weekend. The boys are growing up fast. Preston will be 4 next month, wow! Actually, now that I think about all the things he can do, that's not so unbelievable. And he is Maxwell's idol, so Maxwell is so lucky to grow up learning all the things that Preston is teaching him. They are so cute when they play together!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Holiday at Grandad and Nana Karon's
We went to stay at Grandad and Nana Karon's for the weekend while Dan was in Australia. Here are some cute pictures of the boys.
Grandad reads bed time stories
Preston went on his first ever fishing expedition and caught lots of fish! We fished from a wharf into the new canal at Marsden Point and it was so much fun, especially for proud Grandad.
Who can fit the biggest bit in their mouth?
Grandad reads bed time stories
Boys playing together on the iPod
Mr Mischief 7 months old
Monday, September 21, 2009
Maxwell is nearly 7 months old
Oops - haven't found time to update the blog in ages. I will try to add some photos tomorrow.
Maxwell is just developing so fast at the moment. He will be 7 months old this week, and has grown out of the 'baby' phase, and into the pre-toddler phase. He's picked up the concept of baby sign language really well, and responds to various signs that we've taught him, and can sign for himself a few things - 'milk' 'more' 'puss puss' and 'rusk'. It's just amazing watching communication.
Preston and Maxwell are the best of friends and love playing together. Their favourite thing at the moment is making each other laugh, and Maxwell ends up in fits of giggles at Preston's silliness which of course spurs him on to be sillier and laugh even more. Watching them play together is my absolute favourite thing in the world - it really is a dream come true to have two super cute little boys who love each other and play so well. Long may it last!
They love each other so much that in fact they are sharing a room! We bought Preston a new bed (his next stage of growing up) and intended to turn our spare room into Maxwell's room, but in the process of bed construction Preston excitedly asked if Maxwell was going to share his room - so we thought it was a great idea too! It is working out perfectly - Maxwell only wakes about once at night, and Preston is a heavy sleeper so isn't bothered at all. And in the morning they play and chat which is very cute.
Maxwell is eating solids now and loves his food. We've started with an array of vegetables and minimal fruit so that his tastebuds get set up nicely and so far it is working well - he hasn't rejected anything yet. I think we are ready to move on to more advanced foods like dairy, grains and some types of meat.
He has been crawling backwards for nearly a month now, and hopefully soon he will figure out going forwards as it frustrates him a lot.
The boys are busy with activities - Preston has been going to an accelerate preschool class one day a week which has been interesting, and kindy three afternoons a week which he loves and has finally made some friends, and soccer which he does not like (yay, last session this week - the teacher breathed a sigh of relief when we said we were not re-enrolling), and we've just started preschool swimming which is really good - although Preston doesn't necessarily follow the instructions properly, he actually enjoys it and participates pretty well, and next term he starts a preschool sporty program (something to replace soccer). Preston is completely addicted to computer games (all kinds) and knows how to find and play games on the computer, internet, iphone, ipod, nintendo, xbox...... he is amazingly skilled at a lot of games he plays. Maxwell loves to watch, so he'll get wise to it all too.
And next term Maxwell starts his baby swimming class! Fun!
Preston's behaviour has also improved a lot, and consequently so has my sanity. He loves his 'girls' who come to look after him after school and the nanny we have one day a week has worked out really well. Having some extra help has really made a difference. (plus he's taught them all how to play his computer games!)
I'll try to post pictures later.
Maxwell is just developing so fast at the moment. He will be 7 months old this week, and has grown out of the 'baby' phase, and into the pre-toddler phase. He's picked up the concept of baby sign language really well, and responds to various signs that we've taught him, and can sign for himself a few things - 'milk' 'more' 'puss puss' and 'rusk'. It's just amazing watching communication.
Preston and Maxwell are the best of friends and love playing together. Their favourite thing at the moment is making each other laugh, and Maxwell ends up in fits of giggles at Preston's silliness which of course spurs him on to be sillier and laugh even more. Watching them play together is my absolute favourite thing in the world - it really is a dream come true to have two super cute little boys who love each other and play so well. Long may it last!
They love each other so much that in fact they are sharing a room! We bought Preston a new bed (his next stage of growing up) and intended to turn our spare room into Maxwell's room, but in the process of bed construction Preston excitedly asked if Maxwell was going to share his room - so we thought it was a great idea too! It is working out perfectly - Maxwell only wakes about once at night, and Preston is a heavy sleeper so isn't bothered at all. And in the morning they play and chat which is very cute.
Maxwell is eating solids now and loves his food. We've started with an array of vegetables and minimal fruit so that his tastebuds get set up nicely and so far it is working well - he hasn't rejected anything yet. I think we are ready to move on to more advanced foods like dairy, grains and some types of meat.
He has been crawling backwards for nearly a month now, and hopefully soon he will figure out going forwards as it frustrates him a lot.
The boys are busy with activities - Preston has been going to an accelerate preschool class one day a week which has been interesting, and kindy three afternoons a week which he loves and has finally made some friends, and soccer which he does not like (yay, last session this week - the teacher breathed a sigh of relief when we said we were not re-enrolling), and we've just started preschool swimming which is really good - although Preston doesn't necessarily follow the instructions properly, he actually enjoys it and participates pretty well, and next term he starts a preschool sporty program (something to replace soccer). Preston is completely addicted to computer games (all kinds) and knows how to find and play games on the computer, internet, iphone, ipod, nintendo, xbox...... he is amazingly skilled at a lot of games he plays. Maxwell loves to watch, so he'll get wise to it all too.
And next term Maxwell starts his baby swimming class! Fun!
Preston's behaviour has also improved a lot, and consequently so has my sanity. He loves his 'girls' who come to look after him after school and the nanny we have one day a week has worked out really well. Having some extra help has really made a difference. (plus he's taught them all how to play his computer games!)
I'll try to post pictures later.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
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