10 months

Oh Maximus, you are 10 months old today.  How fast you grow!

To look at you now, you'd never know we almost didn't get to keep you.  You'd never know we once worried you wouldn't survive.  You'd never know we spent months worrying about possible brain damage.  Because Max, my boy, now you are the epitome of the perfect 10 month old little boy.  You are so strong.  You are our miracle.  You completed our family.  Your big brother Alex, he made us a family, and when we brought you home Max, we were whole. 

You look like your dad, but you've got my nose.  You have a dimple when you smile, just like your brother, only his is lower left and yours is upper right.  You have a very toothy grin (EIGHT TEETH!), and really enjoy showing off those pearly whites whenever possible.  Your smile is infectious and it is literally impossible to be in a bad mood when you're grinning at me.  You have soft wispy blonde hair that doesn't appear to ever grow.  And sadly, you're thinning out, we'd hoped you'd stay chubby, but it looks as though we've got another skinny bones in our house.  That's ok.  At least you and your brother won't have to worry about dieting all the time like your father and I.

Even though you're skinny, you LOVE to eat!  You'll try anything once, sometimes even twice, and sometimes you'll keep eating even though you don't like it and just give me dirty looks the entire time.  You're still breastfeeding, but you'll take a bottle of expressed milk from your dad.  You won't take a bottle from me, you can't be fooled when the real thing is right there.

You've recently learned how to clap and you do it all the time. At a soccer game CLAP CLAP CLAP!  While watching American Idol CLAP CLAP CLAP! When you wake up from a nap and I come in your room, you'll usually be sitting up in your crib and as soon as you see me you give me a round of applause.  I love this.  You've also added waving bye bye and blowing kisses to your repertoire.

You're still working on crawling, but you do get around pretty well scooting on your belly.  You can pull up to stand and do this all the time. I wouldn't be surprised if you're walking by the time you turn one.

You surprise me lately with how fast you catch on to things.  Just today you were playing with your shaped blocks and trying to fit them through the shaped holes in the box.  You try to build things with your brother's Mega Blocks and you draw on the magnadoodle.  Your favorite toy is your walker and you zoom around the house and out on the back patio with glee.  Chasing your brother and the dog and sometimes giving Alex a ride as he stands on the back.

You love to talk, and you're already really good at mimicking sounds.  You say Dada, Baba, Hot, Tata all on your own, but with encouragement can say Mama and Ah ee (when we ask you to say Ally, for Alex).

You laugh ALL THE TIME.  You think peekaboo is the greatest game ever.  You love petting the dog.  You love pinwheels and balls and books (to eat, not so much to read). 

You like to get your way.  In fact, in your world, we are all here simply to serve you.  Where your brother has always been independant, a real "I'll do it myself" kind of kid.  You'd much rather be carried than get there on your own.  Though you can feed yourself finger foods, you'd rather sit there with an open mouth like a baby bird, waiting for me to feed you.  If you are tired, you require someone to be standing and walking around with your head on their shoulder, we are not allowed to sit, even in a rocking chair, no matter how tired you are, you know if we're comfortable.  It's almost like your comfort is directly related to how uncomfortable we are.  You will play on your own with toys sometimes, but you'd much rather bug your brother to play with you.  You want whatever he has, and you're usually successful in getting it by way of SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER until you have a grip on it with your chubby little fist.  And speaking of the grip, it's like a vice. Once you've got hold of something you will not let go.  Boy, you are strong!

Oh and Max, you love me.  You are a true Mama's boy and I couldn't be happier.  Your face lights up when I walk in the room and even if you were perfectly content in the arms of whoever was holding you, when I'm there, no one else will do.  I'll admit it, I love it. I love every bit of it.  I love the smiles and the special Mama kisses you don't seem to share with anyone but me.

I am leaving you next week, I'm going on vacation for a few days, and I am nervous about it.  I've never left you for more than a couple of hours, so five days sounds like an eternity. I have this theory that I suck at bowling (your dad and I joined a bowling league this year and my average is downright embarrassing!) because my body is off balance without you perched on my hip. This vacation seemed like a great idea months ago when I booked it, but now that it's getting closer I wonder, what am I doing? I can't leave my boys!  But, I think it will be good.  You and your brother will have some special time with your dad taking care of you, and I hope to come home relaxed and refreshed and able to be an even better mom to you and your brother.

Max, I love you so much.  You may never know how much.  You and Alex are such amazing little boys and I feel so priviledged to get to be your mother.