Snow Days

Max has been able to spend a lot of time with mom this week due to mother nature! I had two days off school becuase we got 6+ inches of snow. I'm sure to some that doesn't sound like much, but around here it is enough to close things down. I was scared to venture out with Max on those two days. It was really cold, but I guess that usually happens when it snows. . . Max also doesn't have a snow suit and I thought he would get all wet if I took him out.

Today the weather is much better, in fact the snow is really starting to melt. We took Max outside to check it out. He had a seat on his sled - one of daddy's garage sale finds - and checked things out. I think he looks pretty cute!

10 Months Old

Time just seems to go faster and faster! I can't believe my little man is already 10 months old - I know I say this every month, but it is true! He has been a very busy boy. He posed for a few pictured today. He loves to look out the window, as does the dog. We also realized that peas are not his favorite food, he must take after his Nonno. I think more of his peas ended up on his bib rather than in his belly.

We had an appointment with his Partents as Teachers representative this Saturday. She did some type of screening and he passed all areas with flying colors. We have noticed that his lowest area was language. I think daddy and I need to do a better job of helping his language development by naming things and talking about what he is doing. He has been babbling like crazy lately. He strings together lots of different sounds, but none of them have meaning for him yet.

He recieved his first real battle wound yesterday. He was playing in the bathroom and we tried to get him to move out so that he wouldn't get hurt. As he was exiting the bathroom he conked his chin on the tile floor. My poor little man cried and cried. A couple hours later I noticed a big purple bruise on his chin. It doesn't seem to bother him too much and I am sure it is just the first of many. I can only imagine what life will be like when he begins walking!

Who needs toys?

Who needs toys when you have a big box, daddy's shoes, and a cat?

This is what Max must be thinking when he plays in the living room. While he does have fun with his toys he is just as happy with these three objects. Just see for yourself! If you look really closely at the toe of daddy's shoe you can even see tooth marks. Max thinks that what he gets for leaving them out. Anything on the floor is fair game!

I love this pic of Max with the cat. He just loves to snuggle up to his soft furry freind!

Max is such a funny little guy. It is freezing here and this morning I tried to cover his face with a blanket as we went to car. At first Max thought this was great fun - he is always up for a game of peek-a-boo. Then he realized that momma wasn't letting him pull the blanket off and he got angry! It was the first time that he has ever gotten upset about something that I have done. I can see his little personality beginning to shine through and it is so much fun!

Attack at the Shoe Store

Max got his first real pair of shoes tonight. Now that he is pulling up and beginning to cruise along furniture it seemed like he finally needed something more than socks on his cute little feet. We went to Laurie's Shoe Store tonight. Max was fitted and he tried on a pair. While he was hanging out in his soon to be new shoes he was attacked - literally.

A little boy came down the slide and made a bee line for Max. I was right next to him, but before I could react the kid was doing his best to claw Max's eyes out! I pulled Max away, but not quickly enough. He was screaming so loud the whole store heard. My poor little man. . .

The salesman says that things get pretty crazy there sometimes but he has never seen one child attack another. We were all so amazed at how quickly it happened. I think the other little boy had some major anger issues. I feel bad for his future teachers.

I guess it was not a total loss. Max recovered fairly quickly once he was safely in mom's arms and the salesman felt so badly that he gave us a 50% discount on Max's shoes. Daddy was pretty happy with that. Sorry it the picture isn't the best. By the time we made it home Max was not a happy camper and he didn't feel much like modeling his new footwear.

I am also adding a cute little picture of Max with the pets. The weather was really nice the other day and I was able to open the front door. The pets always love a good sun spot. Max really enjoys looking out the windows at the passing cars too. The cat, dog, and him have that in common. The sun spot by the front door is the perfect spot for both.

Look What I Can Do!

Max has learned more new tricks in the last three weeks than I thought possible! We were with some family freinds on Saturday evening and Max pulled himself all the way up to standing a few times.

On Sunday we decided to get video proof of his new skill. He gets so excited! It is funny to watch. He crawls up the ottoman, pulls himself up and then just laughs and laughs. He is so easily entertained. A couple times he even clapped for himself while standing. I hope you all enjoy the video!

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas it has been! It is always fun to spend time with our friends and famiy and Max was a perfect addition to the festivities. His first Christmas was a busy one! Every Christmas Eve my family gets together. It is a rather large gathering, including lots of Max's Great-Great relatives. We used the opportunity to take lots and lots of pictures!

I love this picture of Max with his Great, Great Uncles - Joe, Sam, and Mel. These three amazing men are my grandmothers brothers and Christmas wouldn't be compete without them. It is fun to think that this picture represents the youngest and the oldest of my family.

Here is Max with his Great Aunt Carmelina and his

cousin Aurelio. We were all so glad that he came in from San Fransico for the holiday!

Here is Max with Nonna Carlotta and cousins Nia and Carissa. Nis is a sophmore at Missouri State and Carissia is just starting chiropractic school here in town. We are so glad to have her closer to us. Note that he is now missing his sweater vest. . .

I think this was my favorite picture of the evening. Max just loves his Nonna.

Here we are opening gifts with Max. Not only his he missing his vest, where did those socks go??

Can you tell we were enjoying the evening? Max has a couple very crazy Uncles! You can also see that at this point in the evening he was a bare diaper baby. He has no shame. . .

We hope that everyone had as wonderful a holiday was we did. Every day truly is a blessing! Merry Christmas!

9 Months Old

It is the time again, monthly update time for our little Max Man. We had his 9 month check up with Dr. Spewak last Thursday. Our little man now weighs in at 21 lb 15 oz and measures 29 3/4 inches long. He is still in the 95th percentile for height, but he has dropped down to the 50th for weight. He is becoming a long and lean little boy. I was a bit concerned about the drop in percentile on his weight. Dr. Spewak doesn't think it is really anything to worry about at this point. I think part of it is due to the fact that Momma's wells are going dry. We are now having to supplement with quite a bit of formula, not only at day care, but when I am at home with him too. I feel really sad about this. I was really hoping to make it to the year mark, but I don't think that is going to happen.

Max looked like the picture of health at his check up, that is until they checked his ears. . .They are both infected! He had an infection in one a couple weeks ago and was put antibiotics. It doesn't' seem to have cleared up like we would hope so he is now on a different medicine, so hopefully that will take care of the problem. He doesn't seem too fazed by the whole thing.

He has been a very busy boy too! Nonna Carlotta and Nonno Mason came over to visit with Max this past Sunday evening. They missed him! He was very excited to show off all of his new tricks for them. The most exciting is that he is officially crawling! No more GI Joe here! He has finally figured out how to work is arms and legs together without dragging his body behind him. He thinks his new trick is pretty fun and I am worried that he is going to start building up speed here shortly.

I am so excited to spend our first Christmas with Max. I know that it will be lots of fun and I can't wait to see all of our family over the next two days. However you celebrate I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!