Danielle, Eric, Max, Echo and Riley: December 2011

Wow! I wrote the draft for the last post quite some time ago, but didn't post because I hadn't uploaded any pictures. Feels like it was just a few weeks ago, but it was over a month ago!
Having a two year old keeps us so busy! It seems like we've done so much but hardly anything at all. Max's cousin Ellie has spent a few weekends with us. Max loves having her here to play with and she is so good with him. She likes to read to him and chase him around and there is nothing Max likes more than running around and being crazy. He is one energetic little boy that fights taking naps and going to bed like a champ!
Max is so amazing. He is learning new words every day and even talks in complete sentences sometimes. His favorite question this week is "What is Daddy doing?" He asks me this whenever Eric isn't in the room or when I pick him up from school. He is still loving trucks and every morning he tells me that he is looking for a mixer. We bought a bed frame for his bed, so he has been so excited to climb up the stool into his high bed. He is even starting to sleep better and longer in his bed by himself. We are still venturing into the realm of potty training. He just isn't showing any interest and I don't feel like pushing it right now. We'll see where things are after the holidays and the new year.
We had a light dusting of snow last night and today. When we got home, we went outside with his shovel and played in the driveway. He thought it was a lot of fun when I would scoop up snow and then throw it on him. We had a fun time.
We decided not to put up the big Christmas tree this year and I felt kind of bad that I've been in a bit of 'bah humbug' mood. So, I made Max a little felt tree with ornaments and we decorated it this evening. Didn't seem to hold too much interest for him, but at least it's a little bit of holiday decoration for us!
In the interest of getting the update and more pictures out there, I'm going to get busy with the upload, so here you go...