Cutest thing ever...

Hi Max!

Just had to share with you. We just finished Max Time - that's time that daddy spends with you. I had the sequence of feeding you, changing you into your pajamas, playing with you, and then giving you milk before bedtime. While I was feeding you, you made the "more" hand sign (hands together) and I fed you more. Soon afterwards, you made a sign I didn't recognize. You put your hands out with your fingers spread out wide. I know milk, more, and high-five. I didn't know this sign. I called your mom. She didn't know either. I kept feeding you applesauce and you kept eating it.

Later, I got you changed and we starting playing in your room. In your room, besides a few toys, you have a bookcase of books - dozens of books - you've always loved books (wonder where you get that?! =0). You went over to the bookcase, grabbed a book, and brought it over to me with a wry smile on your face. I said, "What?"

The book was Baby Signs -Sign Language for Babies. You wanted me to know the sign you made!!! I went through the pages (of a book I didn't even know existed!) and there a few pages in was the hand signal you had made. It was the sign for Done. You were telling me you were finished with your dinner (and dummy me had fed you for 5 more minutes. =0).

Thank you for bringing the book over (and now I have a reference for future signs) and thank you, once again, for teaching me a lesson. I love spending time with you.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Nurture over Nature...

Hi Max!

You are a baby of beauty, my little boy. :) You are playing with rattles. You are becoming more of a little human every day. It's incredible to watch. Being self-analytical, it's been interesting to watch my progression as a human as well. I am more sentimental, emotional (coming from a 0 to a 3 or 4), and outwardly loving (key word is outwardly). It's a good feeling. For example, you were recently diagnosed with plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome). 

Plagiocephaly is caused by too many nights sleeping on the same spot. It causes a flat spot on the back of your head. The issue has become more common due to SIDS research that shows that a baby should sleep on their back until at least 6 months. We've had you sleep on your back every night without any type of cushions to have you sleep at a slightly different angle each night. You've developed a flat spot on your right side. Since it is asymmetrical, the doctor is concerned.

We are looking into helmets, because as I told Sheri, "Whatever it takes to make it right, we're going to do." With the news that you may have to get a helmet and that you had a "syndrome," I was more upset than I would have guessed. I want to provide you with every opportunity possible and the environment necessary to allow you to reach your potential. I'm sure every parent feels the same way. 

That is where reality meets ideal. The reality is that these helmets are VERY expensive. I'm sure many parents have faced this with braces. Cosmetic issues aren't covered by insurance. Rest assured, we'll find a way to make sure your head is round, but what a dilemma. I'm going to work night and day so that money is not a limiting factor to your achieving your potential. I have a talent for selling houses, helping people buy the right home, speaking and writing, and helping people. That is what I will do to conquer any issues necessary to raise you as well as I can. 

Also, I have committed to writing a "Parenting For Dummies" book after my Seven Levels of Communication book is finished. There is no reason that preventable issues can't be prevented. How many other parents didn't know to have their child sleep in slightly different positions every night? How many are just glad the baby is sleeping and not worrying about his or her head? Where's the baby manual?! I read Parenting magazine, Baby Whisperer, and more, but no simple, quick-to-read manuals exist that I have found. Readers, if you have one, please let me know!

Max, you are making the world a better place just by your influence on me and your mom. You are already starting to make an impact and I'm proud you are my son. Together, we'll conquer the world. :)

To Your Success, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

Family Reunions, Four-leaf clovers, and Chinese Food

We had our Annual Maher Family Reunion this weekend. It's every year on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. We have it at Big Hill Lake near Cherryvale in the southeast corner of Kansas. It was a good time. We saw Paula and her son, Blake and her daughter Lauren. We saw Dan (my dad's brother and your great-uncle) and MaryLou. We saw Linda (dad's sister) and Edith (dad's sister) and Jim (dad's youngest brother) and Neddy (Jim's wife). We saw Jana (Edith's daughter) and Taina (Linda's daughter) and Taina's daughter. Then there was our immediate family, Susan and Courtney, Brian, Mom, Rob and Lisa with Brady and Allyson. Everybody, your uncles and aunts, your cousins, your great-uncles and great-aunts, everybody is looking forward to meeting you next year. You'll learn to grow out of your shyness with the Maher family. :)

Something that was really cool was that while Sheri and Brady were walking they came upon a clover patch. Sheri goes, "Ooh, Brady, wouldn't it be cool to find a four-leaf clover?!" Brady goes, "Yeah!" They went from one patch to another, then lo and behold, Sheri found a four-leaf clover. A real one! I didn't even know they really existed.

Isn't it interesting how we will lose weight, we'll tan, we'll do a bunch of different things to prepare for a class reunion, but we basically show up as we are for family reunions? Isn't it great that family loves us just for who we are and how we are? :)

I'm typing this after your mom made Cashew Chicken. The thing about Chinese food is that it fills you up pretty quickly, you feel a little bloated afterwards, then you are hungry in about 2 hours. You'll get it. I'm guessing there are some Gerber's mini-meals that make you feel the same way.

By the way, Bay-Bee, I'm reading a great book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby (or something like that). It talks about systematizing your day and having standard sleep times (sleeping even before you are sleepy). I'm excited about this book because I live a very systematized life and my life has been fantastic since I have implemented my time blocking and task blocking. So hopefully, you won't have to be 30 years old before you learn this fantastic lesson.

We have a doctor's appointment on June 9 (Monday) but we won't be able to find out if you are a boy or girl yet. I'm excited to find out. It doesn't matter to me... boy or girl. Just want healthy. :) So you sleep now. I'll try to get some work done so I can earn some money and start preparing for your college fund. :)

To Your Success,

Bay-Bee's Papa (Michael)