Adoption Poem

A poem that was shared with me - from one adoptive mother to another [thanks Aunt Eileen!]. 

To my sweet Max: let me emphasize how much you are loved...by both your mothers!

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other

One you do not remember

The other you call mother

Two different lives shaped to make yours one

One became your guiding star

The other became your sun

The first gave you life

And the second taught you to live in it

The first gave you a need for love

And the second was there to give it

One gave you a nationality

The other gave you a name

One gave you the seed of talent

The other gave you aim

One gave you emotions

The other calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile

The other dried your tears

One gave you up - it was all that she could do

The other prayed for a child

And God led her straight to you

And now you ask me through your tears

The age old question through the years

Heredity or Environment - which are you the product of:

Neither my darling - neither

Just two different kinds of love

Anonymous

Rollover Rollover

So I am THAT parent.  Actually, I am going to put Sam also in this category.  WE are THOSE parents!

We have spent weeks pulling out the video camera determined [did I mention DETERMINED?] to get Max on video the first time he rolls over. 

Day after day, we have put him on his belly, coaching, encouraging, cheering him on with our trusty camera in the "on" position. 

Nothing.

Then today...it happens.  

With NO VIDEO CAMERA on hand!

And the ironic part, I almost missed the entire thing...out of the corner of my eye I see him on his side about ready to roll. I spin around and catch the last half of his first rollover.

Apparently, Max doesn't appreciate an audience.

Cereal Mess!

We had Max's well check-up a few days ago.  He has grown! 

14 lbs 12 oz [50th percentile for weight]

26" long [90th percentile for height]

Since we have a growing boy on our hands, the doctor suggested we start trying a bit of cereal. Max was quite unsure at first. I am sure he was thinking, "what is this foreign object coming towards my mouth and where is my bottle?!"

I am not sure exactly how much cereal he actually got IN his mouth...but there is always tomorrow to try again!

Indian Lake Part II

Back to the Lake for another fun day in the sun! This time we spent the day with friends and family...BBQ, pool and boating. 

Notice cousin Gabriel's classic cuddle move with Maximus. Gabe loves, loves, loves to lay on the ground next to Max [ok, really it is practically on top of Max] and give him the biggest hug!  So cute and sweet.  ;)

Miles of Smiles

Max has an award-winning smile...and he loves to show it off!

I have to admit that 3 months has got to be my favorite age [ok, so maybe I said that at 1 and 2 months too!]. It is so fun! 

He recognizes us and his face lights up! 

He reacts when he hears our voice!

He laughs when we tickle him! 

He talks [babbles] when we talk to him!

He smiles when we smile!

Can this get any better?

Baby Blues

Max has the most beautiful blue eyes (seriously I am so jealous).  

We get stopped all the time. All. The. Time.  People just have to comment on how blue they are. Now I realize his eyes could still be changing...but I am keeping my fingers crossed that the baby blues are here to stay!

P.S. He still loves the thumb. Isn't even partial to just one of them.  He likes them both.  Sometimes even at the same time. 

Zoo Pass

I am not sure what the official rules are on becoming a parent.  But, I am pretty sure that somewhere in the fine print it says you must have a membership to your nearest zoo.  

Check.

Seriously, I have waited years to buy a family pass to the zoo.  What a glorious day it was to step up to the counter and say that this "family of 3" would be in need of a membership card!

Indian Lake

Some of my best memories as a child were spent at Indian Lake. My grandparents have owned a home on the Lake since I was little.  We would spend weekends with our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on the boat, jet skis and in the pool.

So it was time Max got to experience Indian Lake! Max and I joined my aunt, uncle and cousins for a fun day and spent the afternoon on the boat.  He did great.  My uncle got the hang of driving with an infant on board real quick.  Max would start fussing when he drove slow and would fall fast asleep when we started cruising.  Needless to say, we spent most of the time cruising the Lake at a pontoon-fast speed!