The Different Ways to Say, "Daddy."

Hi Max!

Here is tonight's Facebook post and stream:
Michael J. Maher
Nothing like hearing Max say, "Daddy". :) Now he has different ways of saying it. Daddy! (=Hi!), Daddy (like C'mon Daddy!), Daddy? (like how's this potty thing work?), Daddy (low, serious =broke something), Daddy (whisper,loving, tired =bedtime), Daddy (sarcastic, like Daddy don't be silly - I get that one a lot), Daddy (full squeal - in the midst of being tickled). Daddy! (=where are you Daddy?!) And so on. :) +m2
3 hours ago · Like ·
Dianna Kinnard, Julie Patterson-Poor, John Dennan and 17 others like this.

Eric Michael: Awesome. I can hear each one. (with my kids saying it, of course)
3 hours ago · Like

Beckie Agan-Realtor: I get the Nanna (sarcastic, like "Nanna, don't be silly") one a lot too. FUNNY.
3 hours ago · Like

Shane White: And it only gets better!! I know you are having a blast with him...
3 hours ago · Like

Beckie Agan-Realtor: The totally excited, look of astonishment, almost fearful, look of discovery while he says, "Nanna", as he experiences something awesome for the first time.... that's my favorite.
3 hours ago · Unlike · 1 person

Bronwyn Ball Kemp: I remember my dad telling me that when I was in middle/high school that I would come to him and say, "Um, Dad?" and he always knew a request was coming, usually involving his money!!
2 hours ago · Unlike · 1 person

Beckie Agan-Realtor: As he gets older, and the newness of the world wears off, we get those reactions less and less. That's why we love being with children. They remind us of the spectacular world in which we live.
2 hours ago · Like

Michael J. Maher: So true everyone. Beckie, I love that one too. The Daaaddddeeee! of joy when he looks up at me with his big blue eyes. :) Here's one of those looks I captured from Max back on August 8 of last year --> http://dadmanconfessions.blogspot.com/2010/08/sunday-is-son-day-august-8.html <-- So precious. Time just flies doesn't it? +m2
2 hours ago · Like

Justin Nielsen: If I don't answer my boy immediately, he goes from "FAR"(Daddy in Danish) to "FAAAARRR!!!" in a second!
2 hours ago · Unlike · 1 person

Beckie Agan-Realtor: It does fly.....then one day, they are parents themselves, and looking to you for guidance. All you can do is tear up, because you know there are no words to explain just how fast it goes, how much you miss, and how you'd give anything to do it all again.
2 hours ago · Unlike · 1 person

Max, I love it when you say, Daddy, how you say Daddy, and I hope you'll forever call me Daddy. :) We really had a great night playing together. Really enjoyed playing "tackle", "cars", and "KenpoX". :)

To Your Success With Love,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Stop and smell the...

Hi Max!

You are so adorable! I have to just say that as your language and articulation gets bigger and better you are just so fun to be around! :)

Tonight, mom called us to dinner. As we were heading up the stairs, you took a few seconds to stop and smell the two fragrant candles that are on the landing of the stairs. You made sure not to touch them with your hands because we had just washed them. You ever so gently edged up to one, took a big sniff, and enjoyed the moment. You then slid sideways to take in the other one. It reminded me of watching a wine connoisseur take in the entire experience of the wine. And then in a blink, we worked our way up the rest of the stairs.

I was glad I was there for that moment.

I was glad you reminded me of why I was there.

I need to take time to stop and smell the roses... and the candles. We all do.

Thank you again... for educating me and teaching me on a daily basis.

With Love and To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Bath Time! So glad that you love the water!

(see his little horns :)
Hi Max!

Well, in the last week, we've had 70-degree weather, 30-degree weather, snow, sleet, rain, cloudiness, and sunshine. It truly is Kansas weather. Springtime is coming.

John Maxwell is doing a videoblog in which he does a video explaining a word. Today, out of the thousands submitted, he picked mine. I sent in 10 words (as requested by the Maxwell Company) and they picked "Selflessness". Many feel that is appropriate for me. Selflessness is a maturity, a self-assured person who gives without thought of reciprocity. You're so comfortable with yourself that you can totally concentrate on the other person and their needs. I love that. Here's the video --> http://johnmaxwellteam.com/selflessness/. Hope you like it. By the way, you may ask if you are named after John Maxwell and the truth is... not really, but it certainly helped cement your name. Adds a lot of power, leadership and credibility to your name. Max is such a wonderful, strong name.

Also, you may have some new subscribers and followers. :) Rene Rodriguez mentioned www.LittleMaher.com at an event with 200 people today.

With Love and To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Laughing Baby Makes Me Smile!

Hi Max!

This video reminded me of you. Too funny! I laughed out loud while watching this baby get so excited over ripping paper. Reminds me of your bath time. :)

Here's another one:

My promise is to post a video of you laughing soon. I'm smiling as I type this because you are such a happy little boy. You laugh and smile all the time! :) You make me laugh and smile all the time.

It's amazing how contagious a laugh or smile can be.

Are you going to smile all day? :)

To Your Success,

Michael

Today is a Beautiful Day!

Hi Max!

Wanted to share my affirmation with you today...

Today is a beautiful day. Today is a great day to be alive! Today I am full of energy - feeling dynamic - full of ZEST! A bounce in my step, a smile on my face, a jig in my mind, and a warmth in my heart. I'm in love. I'm in love with life. Won't you join me in this appreciation for this beautiful day?

Love you son! You are the sunshine brightening my every day!

To Your Success,

Michael

Zig Ziglar & Michael Maher - The Lunch of a Lifetime

Hi Max!

Big thing in my life happened yesterday and I wanted to share it with you. I had the honor and privilege of speaking on Zig Ziglar's World Wide Webcast. It's quite an honor, they only have 24 per year and they have had such top names as Andy Andrews, Rudy Reuttiger (Rudy the movie), and others. It was really nice to hear that we had the third highest attendance ever. The top two? When Zig himself was presenting... :) I can live with third place considering that. :)

The title of my presentation was The Lunch of a Lifetime. Want to hear something funny? I had the Lunch of a Lifetime right before the Webcast! I had lunch with Zig, his wife Jean, and Tom Ziglar, his son. It was absolutely wonderful. I had Zig sign several of the books he wrote and I even signed one of my books for him and Jean! Zig is writing a book about encouragement. And I was really happy to share a story about geese.

There are animal sociologists who study groups of animals and how they interact. The reason geese fly in a V is to maximize what is called drafting (it takes less energy to follow someone than to be the lead and take on the wind resistance and friction). The lead goose is taking on 4 times as much wind resistance. It will fly as the lead for a while and then after getting tired, fall back to the end of the line and recover. This allows the flock of geese to cover large amounts of distance without having to stop. While the lead goose is flying, the geese immediately behind honk. Well the animal sociologists guess that those geese are "honking encouragement" to the lead goose. "Keep going", "Great job", "Press on", "Thank you", and other phrases come out as a simple little honk. I told Zig. You have to have that story in your book!

Tom looked at me a little funny and said, "Where did you get that story?"

I said, "I read it somewhere. I've read so many books I don't remember."

Tom, Jean, and Zig looked at each other and laughed. "That's Zig's story from 20 years ago."

"Oh," I said and we all had a big laugh. Then I said, "Yes, but do you know one side of the V is longer than the other side?"

"No," they said together.

"Because there are more geese on that side of the V," I said smartly. :) We all laughed again.

I love that story and through my reading and studying had taken it, internalized it, (even called it mine - taking ownership), and told it to 100s of people.

It really was the Lunch of a Lifetime.

Love you son.

To Your Success,

Michael

To a Child, Love is Spelled... T I M E...

Hi Max!

First, I want you to know I love you. With all my heart, all my head, all my soul, and all my being. You are such a precious treasure. I love you.

I was watching a video at www.simpletruths.com about Vince Lombardi. It is Super Bowl time and any time the Super Bowl rolls around, I think of Lombardi, not just one of the greatest coaches and leaders of our time - but one of the greatest "shapers of men" ever. He was like a father to his players. I love his inspirational quotes and the movie (Click here for Lombardi Movie) on their site. And as happens every time, I saw and played another movie on the Simple Truths site...

To a Child, Love is Spelled... T I M E. It brought tears to my eyes. It is a story about a dad who had to bury his son. So powerful... Click here to watch "To a Child..." Movie. I want to spend every minute of every day with you. Watch you grow and learn... and you are speaking SO WELL now. Amazing, you're 2 years 3 months old going on 6 already. T I M E flies. I can't wait for those days of fishing, playing ball, and goofing off - like we did yesterday in the cold and snow - on that dang tractor. =0) I'll see you in the morning. Sleep tight and remember, your dad loves you.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)