Our Man Max

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

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.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

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.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

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.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

There's no stopping him.

It's amazing how things happen so quickly. Max just started crawling on Monday and he's not even crawling a lot yet. But today he learned how to pull himself up. He started by pulling himself up while he was holding on to my leg but I was bracing him so I really had no idea that he could actually do it himself. Then we put him in for a nap and Roger and Shirin we're watching him in the monitor and saw him pull himself up in the crib. Then he did it a few more times. Amazing!!

Here's a great video of Max and Roger playing. Max was having a lot of fun.

Max's 1st art work. Aunty Rose, Arianna and Laila taught Max to color.

Monday, November 9, 2009

10 Months

Look at how grown up our little boy is. Can't believe he's 10 months old. Today he started to crawl. I mean really crawl, not just scooting or going around in circles to get where he wants to go. There's no stopping him now. He started full time daycare today. It's hard to think that he won't be with Aunty Rose 3 days a week but daycare isn't all bad. We taught him some moves so he can protect himself against the next biter.

For this months picture, he decided he wanted to play with the bear. The bear looks huge in these pictures.

We're having a heat wave in Albany and yesterday was a beautiful day for a walk to the park. Max and Daddy are enjoying the sunshine and view.

You can never have too many pacifiers (or Maxifiers as we like to call them)

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Max had a great time watching us rake all the leaves. And then he didn't mind sitting in them for a perfect fall picture. He kept inspecting each leaf and wondering what they were.

Max only wore his costume for about 20 minutes. We went to Aunt Tammy's to Trick or Treat but Max fell asleep on the way and then just as we started out to meet up with them it started to pour. Then we went to Tammy's neighbors for a party. It was a lot of fun.

Although I would love to let Max eat pureed food until he was in high school, we've been trying to get him used to eating more textured food and to feed himself. He doesn't seem to notice the varying textures but wants no part of feeding himself. With a little pleading and plodding he picked up and had a bite of the banana before he learned how squishy it was and how much fun that was. He's still a great eater. There isn't anything that he doesn't like. He had a reaction to yogurt and cottage cheese but soy yogurt seems to be fine.

Other news: He gets himself into a sitting position now and even crawled for a few seconds today. He's growing up so fast. Here are some other great pics....

Michael wanted to see if he could fit in the crib too. I love this picture.

Max is all dressed up for Adam and Christina's baby shower. Isn't he so cute?

Max loves Daddy and gives big kisses to prove it.

I love watching him sleep with his butt up in the air.

Max is obsessed with stings. See how happy he is when he's untying Roger's shoes?

Another great picture of Michael and Max. He looks like he's actually listening or reading along.

Some pictures of Max with family and friends: Uncle Henry (top left), Aunt Tammy, Uncle Henry, Aunt Shirin, Adam, Meme and Papa, and Steve. He's so loved.