11 Months

I can't believe he is 11 Months.

Next month it will be a whole year?!?!

Max has been doing lots. He loves to explore new places. Especially if he isn't supposed to get into it.

 He loves to play "I'm gonna getch you". All we have to do is say that and he tries to run away before we tickle torture him. He also likes to find me when I hid behind the couch. His smiles still melt my heart.

Love his little pot belly!

This picture makes me laugh! He has improved on his walking and balance so he is doing amazingly well. He has such a funny face sometimes when he is concentrating on the task at hand.



 He loves attention and anyone who will give him any. He has started liking books after about 4 months of me trying to read him bedtime stories. Now he actually pays attention when I read to him. He especially likes his Truck book because mommy makes all the noises.

He loves the kitties... even though they DO NOT like him. He tries to pet them and crawls after them, which has unfortunately resulted in scratches. I seem to find a few new scratches every once in awhile. Needless to say the cats are on the S list.

He pulls this face now. Like all the time! It is so funny. Sometimes I wonder if he learned it from me. Because when I get mad, instead of yelling or losing it I pull a similar type face. It is amazing what kids pick up on. They are very observant.

This is the only Baby Einstein DVD I have left since I lost my other ones when I took him to my Mom's for the day. I must have dropped them or lost them along the way. I am trying to get over it. He used to watch them a little, but now he loves them and dances to the music. I am so sad I lost those DVDs!!

Here is Max playing and Dancing to the music on my iPhone:

And here is his new favorite thing to do....



The little stinker

The Difference a Few Days Makes

Well, just 2 days ago, I was excited if Max took 1 or 2 steps. Then he would take 3-4. Now he's walking across the room! And he tries whether I'm looking or not. He is starting to master his balance. He still stumbles and falls a lot. But it is crazy to think how much he has improved in just a few days!

1/9/2011

1/10/2011

If You Don't Succeed.... Try, Try Again.

Well,

Max had his first ER visit.

(first IV)

And it was pretty much all my fault. I am trying to baby proof my house, but am finding more and more things every day that can be risky for a child. While I was going through my medications, throwing the expired meds away, and trying to place all the medications in 1 cabinet in our house. I had placed the expired medications on the counter top and went to the kitchen to get a garbage bag to throw them all away. Well... Max got a hold of a Tylenol PM bottle. And he somehow opened the child proof bottle top (child proof....Riiiight). Then he decided to try the pretty blue pills.

When I found him, there was an open EMPTY bottle with 1 pill on the ground. My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. I had looked inside that bottle not 10-15 minutes before and there were at least 5, 6, or maybe 7 pills in that bottle, not 1 or 2. I immediately pinched his cheeks and did a finger sweep of his mouth. Something that I have become an expert at doing because I do it at least once a day. Every day. For the past month and a half. I retrieved one of the pills and stuck my finger in again. I could feel one in the back of his throat, but despite my effort... he swallowed it. By swallowing that one pill he had taken 3 times the amount of Tylenol recommended for his weight and 4 times the amount of Benedryl. And I wasn't sure if he had swallowed any more pills.

I screamed for Chris to come he took Max who was now gagging and crying from my aggressive attempt at retrieving that pill. Chris found 2 more pills on the ground that I had missed in my panic. I was so upset that this had happened. I felt like the most irresponsible parent in this world. How could I, A NURSE... OF INFANTS, let this happen?!? Why did I have so much confidence that a 10 month old would not get a hold of one of those medication bottles on the counter top and open the child proof lid? I couldn't find the number to poison control so I called 911 in my panicked flurry.

Anyway, after the ambulance came and saw that he was stable and acting his normal self, they let us drive him up to Primary Children's to be evaluated. We had to be there for 4 hours to get his Tylenol level drawn. He ended up being just fine and his Tylenol level was OK. He didn't need any reversal medications. And the only affect of the Benedryl is he was a little more agitated and wouldn't fall asleep (Large doses can do that to you).

Anyway, BIG lesson learned. CHILD PROOF ANYTHING TOXIC! I feel like I can't leave this kid out of my sight! He is so active and loves to get into anything new.

My confidence was a little shot. But every parent makes mistakes. You just hope that the mistake you make doesn't end up being detrimental to your child. You just do your best. Nobody is perfect. I have to accept that, and just try harder. If you don't succeed.... Try, Try Again.

Max has also decided to attempt to walk. He is not graceful what so ever. It is hilarious to watch him. He pulls himself up, attempts to take 1 or 2 steps and then totally face plants. Then he just rolls over and gets back up again. You can't blame him for trying, but this is why my child may have a few more bruises or scrapes then the average child. I swear he has NO FEAR. He just falls over, and gets back up again. A good lesson in life too.... If you don't succeed, try, try again! Thanks for that little buddy.

Here are the video's:

Christmas!

Well. Christmas came and went. I unfortunately got a terrible cold during the week and was feeling AWFUL! The irony of my bah-humbug attitude to get sick the week of Christmas.

I was able to spend Christmas Eve with my family. My entire family (meaning both my out of state sisters!) We hadn't spent Christmas together since 2004. We normally see a movie on Christmas Eve, however the only movie we all wanted to see came out on Christmas Day. And I worked Christmas Day. Plus, having Max puts a damper on any movie going, because I have some respect for other people and would not take a loud child with almost no attention span to a movie. But that's just me.

Here he is on his rocking MOOSE that Grandma gave him!

And here is my family together (from left Chris, Max, Lisa, Dad, Sara, Jill, Beat[pronounced Bay-aught], and Mom)

So Tradition usually has us going to a movie, then coming back for my moms delicious cooking. The feast includes eating Rock Cornish Game Hens with twice baked potatoes, spinach salad, rolls, cheese ball, ribbon jello, and cocktail shrimp. Then we would go for a drive to see all the neighborhood Christmas Lights. Then we would gather in the living room around the tree and put on a Christmas program for our parents. It usually consisted of the story of the birth of Christ followed by a few Christmas songs I would play on my keyboard. Then we would light the hand carved nativity that my Dad brought back from his mission from Germany. Then we open our Christmas Jammie's, and watch A Christmas Story before we go to bed, awaiting Santa's arrival.

This Christmas we did some of those things. Having Max and being ill made things seem a lot more rushed and distracted for me. But it was so much fun to hang out with my family and visit.

Max eating paper as usual.

Opening Presents (Mommy got what she wanted!)

Then I took turns getting a picture with everyone in the room with Max and his Santa Jammie's before we had to leave.

 Grandma

 Aunt Jill and Beat

 Grandpa

 Aunt Sara

And finally a picture of us as a family!

Christmas morning was pretty low key. I was able to be called off for half my shift so I spent Christmas Morning with my boys. Santa just brought Max one gift, but he is a spoiled little boy anyway. Plus, it was just another day to him! He got a Giraffe toy that sings and has a track for balls to go down. Perfect for a 10 month old! 

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

10 Months and What Max really wants for Christmas....

(Warning.... Lots of pictures from an obsessed Mom!)

So It's Christmas time... in case you hadn't notice. I had been trying to get into the spirit since I had such a bad attitude about Halloween. I didn't put up the tree right away, in fact I hadn't even planned on putting it up. Because it is such a light weight tree and Max is such a curious little guy, I was certain he would try to stand up using it as support and knock the entire thing over or pull it onto himself.

Then a cute friend of mine with two little ones of her own made the suggestion of putting it behind the couch. I thought, well I don't know if that would work, but we could put our bean bag chair it front of it. And so that is what I did. Having a tree is one of my favorite parts of Christmas, so I was so glad to be able to have it and my little tornado. I didn't put any glass ornaments up though because of him and my cat's who LOVE to knock anything that resembles a ball around. I might have to give up glass ornaments for awhile.

 I also decided last minute to do a Christmas Card. So If you didn't get one, I'm so sorry! I either didn't have your address, or through my disorganization I missed you! I started taking pictures for it and when I uploaded them onto my computer, there were 79! (Ya.... I know!) So Thank GOODNESS for digital camera's. Not only can you see the image immediately, but you can take 79 pictures in order to get your shot. So I got some really good ones, here are a few of my favorites.

Max also turned 10 months today! I can't believe how much he changes every day. He truly brings such a spirit of happiness. Even though sometimes I can get very frustrated with him... all he has to give me is his huge grin, or infectious giggle and it all melts away. I can't imagine life without him.

For his 10 month birthday we had a pretty low key day. I was supposed to work, however, got the most nasty cold this week with the most terrible cough so I didn't want to be taking care of babies in this condition. So Max and I just stayed home and played.

Max learned how to use his toothbrush today. I decided to do it in the bath tub since we are only supposed to use water until he knows not to swallow the toothpaste. Does ANYONE ELSE think it is sort of ironic that toothpaste is so toxic that you aren't supposed to swallow it and there are all these warning labels on the tube.... WHEN WE ARE PUTTING IT IN OUR MOUTH!! Just wondering (exiting soapbox)

Of course one or two pictures turned into about 15. Here are some of my favorites and the adorable faces he pulls.

Oh... and in case you were wondering what to get Max for Christmas...  Here are some of his favorite things right now:

And if you think I'm joking.. I'm not. This is what he wants to play with all day. (Chris baby proofed some of the items)

Now I don't feel so guilty about only getting him a couple of things for Christmas.

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!

First Haircut!

Max got his first haircut!

Well, technically his "first" haircut was back when he had his little newborn hairs that always stood on end until one day Chris finally had enough of his troll look and chopped them off.

That was his "first" haircut.

(See the little newborn hairs)

Lately I haven't had a clue what to do with Max's hair. It is so soft, and I am so grateful he has any! But I just don't know what to do with it. It looks like a mop top most of the time. Or that he has permanent bed head. I have tried combing it, but it still looks a mess.

When talking to Chris, he said he loved Max's long hair. So we compromised and decided to trim the back and leave the top length. Chris has cut his hair since he was on his mission. So he has all the stuff and he is quite good at it. He was willing to tackle Max's hair.

Max hated the noise of the clippers. He was so scared. So we did a quick trim of the back and then ended the torture session. Then Chris did a few snips with the scissors. All I kept thinking was that he would be a nightmare if he ever had to be a patient in the hospital!

A nice trim.... it's not perfect, but oh well!

 He starting to look more like a little boy than a baby!

(Profile)

So he (and I) survived the first trim session. Hopefully in the future he sits a little more still and isn't so scared of the razor!

9 Months and Movin'

Max is 9 months!

WHAT?!?!?!

It's hard to believe. He has now been out longer than he was in. It's hard to believe that I was pregnant for 9 months because my life has changed so much more in the last 9 months since his birth then the 9 months before that.

It makes sense why when people ask how old a baby is you say ____ months. So much happens in the first year. Each month brings on a new developmental milestone and a new challenge as a parent. I was just looking at Max's pictures when he was 6 months and the difference 3 months makes is crazy to me!

Max went to the doctors and didn't have to have ANY shots (YAY!)

He is:

 24 lb's 2 oz (91%)

30.5 inches (97%)

and his head is

18.5 inches (90%)

So he is following the growth chart quite well (despite the fact that he is at the top of it!). And I have to admit I was a bit relieved in the fact that he only gained 2lb's 2 oz in the past 3 months. I was beginning to think he would be a size 3T by the time he was 12 months.

He is in 12 month shirts, and 12-18 month pants, 18 month footsie PJ's

He enjoys:

-Crawling

-Music

-Cords

-Papers

-Tags

-Stickers

-Remotes

-Door stoppers

-Shoes

-Shoe laces

-Cans

...Pretty much anything that he is NOT supposed to get into

-Climbing all over Momma and Dada

-Saying "Eh" and Squealing and occasionally Mama, Dada, and Baba

-Standing along anything (furniture, toys, legs)

-Putting EVERYTHING in his mouth.

-Dancing

-Refusing to eat real foods, he is already super picky

-Playing with Daddy's basketball

-Crying when he doesn't get his way (SPOILED!)

He gags and vomits when I give him biter biscuits and Gerber cheese puffs, yet I have to dig things like tags, door stopper caps, and ear plugs out of his mouth before he swallows them.

I think I am super anal because I fear I have left something on the ground that he could choke on so he is in near constant supervision... which takes a lot of my ability to do things like chores, and have a little free time to myself. But I guess that comes with being a new parent. My last child will probably be swallowing whole pennies and I won't notice.

He is spoiled because of my constant supervision. If he gets frustrated he just cries and I try to do things to stop the crying. It is a vicious cycle I need to break!

I am happy to report that he is sleeping so much better. He has some self soothing issues, and so we had to let a little crying happen so he can put himself back to sleep. It really has helped and he is back to waking up 0-1 times a night. What a relief!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures

The more excited he is... the wider his mouth is!

Here is some video's:

 This is his little Dance moves. (Sorry I know the one is sideways but I can't figure out how to fix it!)