The Scrapper Has Extreme Focus

Warning: Graphic Video
After watching his sister spin the wheels on the exersaucer, Max was determined to work them himself.

The Scrapper Watches

Lately, Max has begun to watch his sister more closely, although it was all about Mom during tummy time in the morning.

At music class, Maddie gave Max pointers on how one can never have enough shakers. Never.Good to know.

Back at home, while Max was in the exersaucer, Maddie came over and began to play with all of the gadgets (all the while, watching tv and saying, "E. E. E," her version of the theme song for Sesame Street). Max watched her. Sisters are way cooler than TV.

Madd Max Has A Suburban Picnic

Complete with hand packed lunch by Subway.

Hey - they serve apple slices now.

Madd Max Grows Their Wall

What originally began as a wall of 4 cohorts a little over a year and a half ago (see here) has now grown into a full fledged posse. Starting from top left to right - Ellie aka ELF, Gwen Wren aka Cuz, Lucia aka Lady Friend, Maya aka BFF, Emma aka Holy Mongous, Andre aka Smooth Andre, Edith aka Edi Lou, Mateo aka Possible Betrothed, Lilly aka Princess, Greta and Henry aka the Dancing Queen and Red, Elizabeth aka Elizabeth, and Aiden aka the HumVee.

The Scrapper Has A Trojan Helmet

Or a fish hat. Maddie loves to wear her dinosaur hat around the house, and kept insisting that Max should wear his. After the 5th attempt to jam it onto his head, Mom helped out. Maddie was right; it makes a smooth fashion statement.

Madd Max Gets Checked Up

At today's visit to the pediatrician, Maddie cried when Max was given his vaccinations along with her own. And here are their stats (Maddie is almost 19 months, and Max is almost 3 months).
Maddie -
Height: 33" (75th percentile)
Weight: 24lbs. 10oz. (50th percentile)
Head Circumference: 18 5/8cm (55th percentile)
Max -
Height: 23 1/2"(25th percentile)
Weight: 11lbs. 11oz. (20th percentile)
Head Circumference: 16cm (25th percentile)

Jess feared a tough day after the doctor visit and Maddie's first day without a nap, but things took a positive turn when they headed to ELF's for dinner. Maddie was so excited to see her, she attempted to scale her crib as ELF woke up from her nap.

Madd Max Has A Witching Hour

It's not 5pm. That's when little girls still have many, many things to accomplish.Nor is it 6pm. That is the ideal time for eating a home cooked meal at John and Erin's with friends.

Yes, you guessed it. It's 7pm. When the meal is winding down, plates are empty, and babies begin to tire, the witching hour begins. The Kender-Page excuse themselves into the house, and as friends occasionally come in, perhaps for a drink or a napkin, they leave, maybe slightly horrified, and amazed. It is possible that 2 things so small can create such loud and demanding noise.

Madd Max Has A Lovely/Miserable Brunch

At Paty's with Jess.
On the Max side - "Don't mind me, I'll maybe nap, and occasionally call out if I need a little attention. Enjoy your food and conversation."
On the Maddie side - "OMG, these fries are burning me to the bone! Why would you give me crayons; they belong on the floor with the silverware! Here's some ketchup for your hair! And you know what - I hate decaf! There - now it's all over the table! OW!"

The Scrapper Likes A Woman Who Knows What She Wants

The evening began with all of the kids on the floor, while the adults swirled around prepping dinner.Then Elizabeth saw something she liked.While not yet crawling, she does a version of an army crawl, and began her quest.She eventually got there, and then was flipped over by her mom.

Not to be dissuaded, Elizabeth did her best to roll over onto Max.
Who can resist a stud in some elephant jammies?

Later, it became clear that it takes a village.

To make a high-class dinner like this. Please note, the detail on the napkin.

The Scrapper Has Beautiful Feet

And tiny toes.

Madd Max Heads To Bud's

But first, Maddie had some chill time with Dad. Jess watched them lay like this for some time.

Then it was off to Bud's for his annual pot luck, and Maddie's first bounce house (and Jess' first time in one in years - really, like a decade).

In the backyard, Bud had what most would call a pool. Something fun to lounge by with friend, Diane. Jess referred to it by it's less commonly used name, the death trap.

Maddie did not agree with Jess' assesment, and her and K-Bar enjoyed the fun "I-splash-the-water-and-you-bite-my-splashes" game.

Meanwhile, Max got in some expert cuddling with Kathleen.

And some less expert, but equally enjoyable cuddling with Dennis.

Good times, Bud, you urban cowboy, you.

Madd Max Tastes Downtown Burbank

At the "A Taste of Downtown Burbank." The city shut down a stretch of the main thoroughfare, and about 30 local restaurants set up tents up where you could sample their food. To the background of live music, Maddie enjoyed a spring roll, a chicken taco, pizza, and ice cream.

It was delicious, especially for Jess, who got there as soon as it started, which meant she could jump from tent to tent to tent. The working people arrived later, which meant longer lines, and crankier kids.

The Findleys powered through, and Ellie got her second wind when she was given the freedom to use her new skill of walking in and out of the open stores.
Erin and John arrived just in time to see the kid's final breakdown. As they headed to the beer and wine garden, and the rest of us headed home, we vowed to follow their example next year. Burbank will taste that much sweeter for that much longer with the purely over 21 set.

The Scrapper Is A Player

Or maybe a baller.

Madd Max Lunches In The Hills

At the home of the very tolerant Greta, who responded with only a quiet, "hey," when Maddie began happily licking the cream cheese block Greta had been dipping her crackers in.Henry preferred the opportunity to pat Max, rather than to parallel play by his sister. Henry and Max do share a kinship - they were both delivered at their respective homes by the same midwives.His sister didn't mind, not when she found out that she could bounce on Greta's bed.

Which provided mom, Rachel, and Jess the opportunity to chat and nosh, an impressive feat with four 5 and unders.

The Scrapper Uses His Charm

At dinner at the Findleys. It began with a little lap sitting on Erin.

John had to pull Max aside to ask him to respect the bling on Erin's finger.Moving on, Max turned his attention to Suzanne, who while also taken, responded just as happily.

Madd Max Has A Dip and A Show

Appetizers out by the pool with the Findleys.Entertainment provided by the Burbank Airport.

Madd Max Has A Goodbye

A tearful one as Dad headed to work.

"Don't leave me here! I don't trust her!"Jess pulled out backup, for herself, not the kids, in the form of Mimi's love: strawberry muffins. Mimi had frozen 6 of the muffins that she had made the night before Jess gave birth so not only are they delicious, but they also are full of good feelings.Max was less concerned about their first day as a threesome, and more concerned about why he was hovering.

The day picked up for all after 3 hours at Kidspace, and by the time Sam got home, he was treated as if it were any other day.

Madd Max Has One Last Day

With Dad before he heads back to work.

Maddie, however, was occupied with trying to woo fellow stick-lover, Mateo, with a modified rose-in-the-teeth move.