Shopping Carts are Fun

Max had his first ride in the front of a shopping cart today and loved it. It seems like every time we go to the store he's sleeping in his car seat so he never got the chance before. He just watched everyone and everything. He kept peeking around me to see what/who was behind me. It was so cute.

11 Months

It's hard to believe but my little man is already 11 months old. Unfortunately, he spent his 11 month birthday being sick - a bad cough and sneezing - so these pictures were taken a little bit late. We went to the developmental pediatric specialists this week (not for any concerns but for follow up that they do because he was in the NICU). They said that his social and motor skills are excellent. Doing everything he should be. They think he'll be walking soon. The videos below confirm that. We need to work on his language/communication skills. Nothing to be worried about but we have to work on it. He's not saying any words yet and he doesn't recognize any commands or objects. I think he's just taking after his papa and daddy.....men of few words.

Ever since he tried Saltines in Virginia (thank you Aunt Janet), he just loves them. That is the only thing he'll pick up and eat. Other food like puffs, he just picks up and plays with or can't seem to get them in his mouth. He seems to be getting picky about some foods too. Ugh!! I always said that our mothers (mine and Roger's) cursed us to have a picky eater since we were so picky. Let's hope not. I hope this is just a phase.

We may need to change how we take his pictures from now on. He seemed to like standing up more than he did sitting down.

This video also shows his other latest tricl - clicking his tongue. Aunt Janet will be proud.

Thanksgiving and more!

This year we had a lot to be thankful for. Mostly we are thankful for our beautiful baby boy and the joy he has brought to our lives. I look at him every day and wonder how he can be so perfect and I am grateful for every minute with him.

The week of Thanksgiving was a week of first for Max (and Mommy and Daddy). He visited 2 more states. He started to pull himself up on everything, and he had his first ear infection.

We went to visit friends and family in Maryland and Virginia. On Wednesday we spent the night at Roger's cousin Massud's house. Massud and Ali and daughters, Sophie and Layla, spent some time playing with Max and teaching me how Roger and Massud are related. They are second cousins and grew up spending summers together at their camps in Iran. Then on Thursday we spent the early early afternoon with Massud's mother, sister Sohaila (this was one of the names we were considering if Max was a girl) and her husband Francisco and daughter Maria. It was great to spend time with them.

For the rest of Thanksgiving day we spent the day with my nephews family. It was great to see everyone and I'm glad that they got to meet Max. Unfortunately, Max was very, very cranky and didn't want to eat or drink or do anything. We did manage to give him the turkey leg and see what he did with it. Between him not feeling well and not really sure about any food in his hand, he didn't do anything more than just look at it. But it was cute anyway.

On Friday we decided we needed to take Max to urgent care because he definitely wasn't feeling well and we suspected an ear infection. I guess he's one of those kids that doesn't pull on his ears because he didn't do it at all but sure enough he had one. Poor little guy. He hadn't slept or ate well in a couple of days and was very cranky for the last day or so. Luckily the medicine kicks in pretty quick and he was feeling much better within a day.

Once he was feeling better, he was back to his old self....very happy and playful and starting to get into everything. All he wanted to do was pull himself up on anything he could grab. On our way home, he was much better and slept and played.

He's growing up so fast. When I dropped him off at daycare on Monday they told me we had to start thinking about moving him to the next room. How could that be? How could my little boy possibly be ready for the next room? I know he'll be 11 months old soon but he's still so little. The next room is for the 12-18 month olds that are walking and getting them used to the daycare's schedule. I can't believe he's ready for that room. Now we have to decide if we transition him (have him visit the room) or just got cold turkey and put him in there for good. Big decisions!! I cried all the way home....I'm glad he's progressing and learning but it's so hard to let go of the little baby.