So Big!

I am growing and changing so fast these days!

I have been learning some ASL (American Sign Language)

and have started to make some rough first signs. (Milk, Eat, Water etc.)

Mom and Dad say that it never hurts to be multi-lingual!

I am taking more and more steps on my own.

(I have taken five steps and travelled about 3.5 feet now!)

I am climbing more and more (onto chairs and ottomans),

and I have a pretty long reach too!

(I can grab things off from the kitchen table and counters.

I'm getting really, really tall!)

My hair is growing really fast, too!

(It hangs over my ears and Mom and Dad debate about whether to cut it yet.)

I make lots and lots of sounds!

Sometimes Mom and Dad think it sounds like sentences!

I understand lots of words, too! When Dad says, "It's time for your bath!"

I go right to the stairs and start climbing up to the bathroom saying "Ba! Ba!".

If Mom asks, "Where's your baby?" I crawl right to him!

I also know just what I want!

If Mom and Dad don't let me have what I want, I get pretty upset.

(I know that sometimes it's for my own good, like wanting to chew on electrical cords,

but I still have to cry about it sometimes.)

We watched some video of me from when I was just a little baby.

Mom got tears in her eyes (and so did Dad), because I am growing up so fast.

Leaps and Bounds!

Everyday Good Times!

Me and my Dad are playing in the tunnel Grandma W. bought me for Christmas.

(It's 12 feet long and tons of fun!)

I crawl through it much more easily than Dad,

but at least he doesn't get stuck squirming through like Mom did!

Who said that you can't wear just a diaper with hats and mittens?

Gee, I really wish that I had a dimple right... here!

I sure love being a baby!

Make like a Tree and...

Leaf!

Leaves actually!

Dad piled the leaves high around me. I had a great time playing outside.

As you can see, I loved the leaves!

Calf Creek Fun!

We took a little hike today in the Grand Staircase (6 miles round trip). We saw a lot of interesting things en route to our ultimate destination; for instance, shaded patches with frozen sand and lots of frost.

There were droves of cacti! I wanted to hop out of the pack and explore, but Dad didn't want me to get into a 'prickly' situation.

We also saw pictographs! These three guys are huge ancient paintings on the canyon walls, done by the Freemont people. Archaeologists aren't sure if they were a celebration, a record, or a warning; but, from the size of them, they seemed like a warning to me!

Ahhh! At last we reached our destination - Lower Calf Creek Falls. It is a 126 foot waterfall, and it was as cold as Minnesota! Mom and Dad said that we will have to come back when it is warmer so that we can splash in the pool at the base of the falls.

Needless to say, the return trip required a little shut-eye!

Until the next adventure...

Peek-A-Boo!

I think my Mom and Dad are a little crazy. They took me to a gulch called 'Peek-a-Boo'. It is a very narrow slot canyon in the Grand Staircase. We had to scramble a 15' wall to get in and some places in the gulch were only 18" wide. It's a good thing I lost my milk gut!
We met a couple guys who helped us up the wall. They hooked a rope onto my backpack and hoisted me up. It was really fun! When we caught up with them further in, they took our picture.
When we got out, we took a break because I was a little thirsty. Mom thought that this chunk of slick rock was a great place for a scenic meal. I hope that you can come see this place sometime!

Off Roadin'!

Yesterday I turned 11 months old! Time goes by so quickly!

Here I am riding my new ATV (Power Wheels, of course!) over the rugged Utah landscape.

(It was an early birthday prezzie from my Dad.)

Soon I won't be a baby anymore, I'll be a toddler.

Look out world!

Bye, Bye!

We took Grandma W. to the airport yesterday. (I was really happy that she was able to spend the holidays with us.) We had some really neat adventures! I just can't wait to have more visitors to show around Utah!

While we were a little sad when she went to board the plane, we all felt better knowing that we would see each other again soon. (We are flying back to Minnesota to spend time with all of our family for my first birthday! It's gonna be swell!)

The Many Faces of Max!

Mom and Dad say that I have lots of different smiles.

Here are a few of them;

"Oh, Wow!" smile & "I'm Content" smile

"You're Silly, Mom!" smile

"I'm laughing" smile & "Pfft" smile

"Sckrinkle" smile

(A scrunched and krinkled nose smile)

Well, I can't wait to give you all one of my smiles personally!

Have a great day!

Let's try this again!

Mom and Dad thought that it would be fun to discover snow today. As you may remember, I approached my last experience with a little uncertainty.

"What is this stuff on my mittens?" I asked. "Snow my son!" said Mom and Dad with great excitement. "Wow!" I exclamed "This is very cool!" (no pun intended). Mom and Dad chuckled and we all had fun in the snow!

I had fun sledding with Grandma W. We took a few rides down the drive. Since I was bundled up, I also did a little swinging.

Dad took this picture of us right before he pulled us up and down the street with the four wheeler. All of this excitment really wore me out, but it sure was a lot of fun!

Happy New Year!

I was planning to help ring in the 2006, but I just couldn't stay up that long!

We had an adventurous New Years Eve!

We took a trip to Zion National Park.

We took a hike (2miles) along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon.

There was a light rain, and we only had a little time, but we really enjoyed it.

(Mom forgot the memory card for the camera, or I would post some pictures of us there.)

People say that you are supposed to make something called a 'resolution' for the new year.

I'm not sure what that means, but I plan to learn a lot, have a lot of fun,

and grow big and strong in 2006.

I hope that you make some great resolutions, too!

Have a prosperous, and milestone filled, new year!