The Littlest Milestones Mean He's Growing Up...

When I grow up, I'd like to fly a plane

But I wonder if I'll know how

I guess I just keep learning things a little at a time

And I think I'll start right now

Because we learn big things a little at a time

To go right up the mountain, first we learn to climb

I can be anything when I grow up

By learning a little at a time

-Barney

It amazes me how far we have come in just 4 and 1/2 months. Not only did my boy discover his feet today, but he sat up on his own for ten seconds. He actually did this twice! First, he did it in my lap. He just sat there until he realized that mommy had let go and he was floating all on his own. This scared him and he lost all muscle control, slumping over and looking at me like, "why mommy? Why did you let go of me? I am not ready for that yet!" So I sat him on the floor and tried it again. He sat there, for 10 seconds, looking longingly at the little Vienna Sausages that are the famous Powers toes. He grabbed them, and then toppled over. But for one glorious moment, he was upright and grabbing and I captured it on film.

He also held a book and stared at the pages for a while, before he shoved them in his mouth. He is so interested in his world, my little one. And it breaks my heart and sends me over the moon, all at the same time. I long to show him this world. How magical to be able to teach him all there is to see, but how frightening that he is growing so fast. I love this time of discovery and I love looking at everything through the fresh eyes of my newborn son. But as much as I am love my Maxwell colored glasses, I also want things to slow down. But alas, the days are long. Yet the months are fast.

My big boy, standing in his "new" exersaucer, courtesy of my Bumpie friend Stacey!

My big boy, actually perusing a book, without eating the pages...yet!

My big boy, grabbing his little piggies.

My big boy, grabbing his piggies whilst sitting up!!

At the Park with Mandy

Over the rooftops I go swinging‘til I know no up or down.

Silent as geese, moonward winging,

over the rooftops I go swinging—body sailing, heartbeat singing.

Waving goodbye—or hello?—to my town,

over the rooftops I go swinging‘til I know no up or down.

-Lisa Chellman

On Friday, August 14th, I went to visit my Auntie Mandy. She's not really my auntie. She's my godmother and she's one of my Mommy's favoritest friends in the whole wide world! I love my Mandy because she talks nice to me and makes me giggle. She's also a very pretty lady!

We first went on a walk at the top of a big huge hill. Mommy calls it Queen Anne. I just call it big! Mommy and Auntie Mandy got good samwiches and stuff to eat their lunch in the park. I can't wait til I can eat samwiches and stuff too!

Then we walked to this park place that had slides and monkey things and swings. I fell asleep, but then I woked up to these black birds dropping stuff on the ground and I was hungry so I cried. Mommy fed me under the pretty tent and I got all full.

After I got all full, Mommy put me in a swing. I don't know about that thing. It was round and rubbery and I had to hold my head up real good for a long time. Then Auntie Mandy made me go up and down. I frowned a lot because I was confused. I never moved like that before. Mommy took me out and I spit up on her blue shirt. Then I felt all better.

After that park swing, we went back to Auntie Mandy's new home. I like her new home cause she has hard floors that I can stand real good on. They are fun!

But then I got sleepy and it was time to go bye-bye. Mommy put me in my big boy chair and I fell asleep before we even started going. It was a fun day!

I'm Getting Bigger Everyday...

I'm getting bigger every day.

In many ways I'm gettin bigger every day.

And I can't wait to see how big I'll be some day.

I'm getting bigger every day

-Unknown

Last week, my baby boy turned 4 months. I cannot believe how fast these last 4 months have past. The following photos were taken on the same living room chair, with Max's favorite blanky, his "weiner" bear, and a four month picky sticky (www.pickysticky.com). There was a new addition to this photo shoot though, Sophie. Sophie is a rubber squeaky giraffe that is best for...well, eating! This month's milestones, chewing on everything (due to teething), grabing stuff with both hands, and discovering his feet? Enjoy:

Take Me Out to the Ball Game...

Take me out to the ball game.
Take me out to the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks.
I don't care if I ever get back...
So let's root, root, root for the Mariner's.
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's 1, 2, 3 strikes you're out at the old ball game!
-Jack Norworth

On Friday, August 7th, I went my very first baseball game. I was of course accompanied by my Mommy and Daddy, but this was really an event just for me! Mommy dressed me in jeans and my Ken Griffey Jr. jersey. I also got to wear shoes. I like shoes because they help me to stand better and standing is my favorite thing.

We got to the ballpark early. I was really excited to meet my uncle Gabe. Well, this wasn't exactly true, Mommy was really excited for me to meet my uncle Gabe. We walked down to the left field line and Mommy yelled really loud. This made my uncle Gabe look over at us and then run over to meet me. He had never seen me before. I had never seen him before. He was really tan. He held me. I cried. I was still a little grumpy cause Mommy and Daddy woke me up from my nap. I don't like it when they wake me up! Mommy took a picture of us.

After we talked to Uncle Gabe, he gave me back to Mommy. This made me happy again. We went to our seats and sat down. Daddy got Mommy a beer. Then Uncle Jim came. I like Uncle Jim, and Uncle Jim really likes me. I played with him until I got tired again, then I went to sleep on Daddy. I slept for the rest of the game. I even slept when a guy named Langerhans hit a homerun, to win the game in extra innings. 44,378 people yelling doesn't wake me up. I'm a tough guy!

Max Max Bo Bax

Banana Fana Fo Fax, Me Mi Mo Max -- Ma ax!
- The Name Game

Unfortunately, the Name Game was the only song that I have to go along with this post. And since I have decided that all of my entries are going to be fashioned after songs, I had to use this one!

So onto the the purpose of this entry. Last night, I started thinking about all the names I call my dear child and how this could negatively affect him later on down the line. Will a "Tinkie Winkie" esq name attach itself to my little pumpkin? Would he hate me forever because of it? Will he not know his real name and go to school thinking his name was some silly variation of the Real McCoy? Would his Kindergarten teacher call on Maxwell N. and get no reply, or be corrected by a small blond child who says, "I am so sorry Mrs. So-and-So, but my name is: fill in the blank. Why do we name our child one thing, just to call him or her a whole host of other names?

This also got me thinking about all the things that I call my child:

• There are a variety of "B" names: Bubby, Bub, Bug, Buggy, Buddy, Bubsy, Bubbus, Buba, and Bubbisito.
• There are a variety of "Max" derivitives: Maximus, Maxipotimus, Maxi, Maximoose, Big Max (courtesy of my father), Maxtastic, and Max Fantastic.
• There are a variety of names that have to do with moods: Grumpus, Grumpy Bear, Grumpster, Captain Funny Pants, Smilerson, Smiley McSmilerson, and Happy Boy (not sure if the last qualifies as a nickname).
• There are three names that go along with a particular squished up stretch move that he has been doing since he was a newborn: Squinch, Squinchy, and Squinchy Doodle.
• And then there are the ones that go along with him being a boy, and innately being smelly: Captain Stinkopotomus, Stinkopotomus, Captain Farty Pants, Fart Machine, Stinky McStinkerson, and Poopy Pants.
  

I am sure there are more, and that there will be more to come. I just hope that none of the truly emabarassing ones stick, and that we don't scar him for life!