WHERE IS THE SNOW?!

Hi Max!

I was so ready to build our first snowman this morning, but we didn't get as much snow as they predicted (8-10 inches turned into 1 or 2). 

We probably would have had to put that on hold anyway as you kept us up late. Your first sinus issue and your first vomit (projectile, streaming blast of white vomit) were highlights to our night as you fought to go to sleep. You finally conquered it and we appreciate the sleep. 

We'll have to wait until next year for the snowman, but for now, we'll build it with toothpicks and marshmallows. After all, Lucky goes nuts when you give him one. It's fun to watch. LOL.

To Your Success (and all the fun on the way), 

Max's Dad (Michael)

Dream Big, Max, DREAM BIG!

Hi Max!

You seem to like this game we play so I thought I would explain it for when you can read these notes. 

Our nightly ritual:

Right before you go to bed for the night, I put you in your little blue chair. I say, "Are you going to dream big tonight?" You look at me with your big blue eyes. I say a little louder, "Are you going to dream big tonight?" You start to smile a little. I say a little bit louder, "Are you going to dream big tonight?" I take your hands and put them shoulder-width. I say, "Are you going to dream this big tonight?" You put a little smile on your face. I take your hands and put them straight out to your sides and say, "Are you going to dream this big tonight?"You smile and gurgle. Lastly, I'll put your hands all the way above your head as far as you can stretch and say, "Are you going to dream THIS big tonight?" You giggle and laugh. 1 minute later, you are asleep. :) We love our nightly ritual. 

We have a lot of fun together with our morning and nightly rituals don't we?! :) 

DREAM BIG MAX! Donald Trump once said, "You are going to think any way, so you might as well think big." I agree. At 5 months and 1 day old, you have your entire life ahead of you. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. DREAM BIG. We encourage daydreaming (and night dreaming). 

To Your Success, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

Your First "Sick-Day"

Hi Max!

Yesterday and Today were monumental. You battled your first cold. I was very impressed as to how you handled it. I was waiting for the fussy, achy crying, but there was none. You are a trooper. You've smiled through it. Your breathing is raspy and we're sucking crud out of your nose (oh, the things we do for you). You are sleeping right through it and you've really helped mommie and me by not whining, crying, or moaning. We are delicate parents and are very glad that you have handled this without the noise. :) You are amazing... and a quick healer. You are already showing signs of breathing better and less runny nose. 

It's cool that you are perfect. :) 

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

I love my child...

Hi Max!

Perhaps this is what everyone was talking about, but is it possible to love your child more each and every day. Something I've known and experienced, but never to this degree, is that love is infinite. There is enough love from me for everyone and enough love from everyone for everyone else. But the love of a child fits into its own very special box. 

When I open up Google Chrome, I have three tabs open with it - Facebook Inbox, Twitter, and www.LittleMaher.com. Now that I posted your four-month pictures, I always hesitate on that page. You have become so expressive, so smiley. You are now a little human; whereas, before you were a little pod - a sleepin' and eatin', poopin' and peein' pod. :) 

I just had to write this. In a wave of emotion, a swelling of love, I put fingers to typepad and wanted to let you know that I love you. Your everything I've ever hoped for and more. You are just a cute kid, a smiley little baby, and a night-sleeping little angel. I'm blessed to have you as my son. 

To Your Success, 

Michael

Max's Four-Month Photo Shoot

Hi Max!

This is a Photo Gallery of your photos from today. Personally, you have to be the cutest kid on the face of the earth. :)

Max, you brought tears to your mom and dad's eyes today. You are the most beautiful baby. You behaved so well during the photo session. Every morning, I ask, "Are you going to smile all day?" Today, you smiled all day. And your mom and dad smiled with you. 

To Your Success, 

Michael

Four Months TODAY!

Hi Max!

Happy four-month birthday! Hard to believe you are already 4 months old! You are such a cute little guy. :) You now look like a little human. Before you were more like a... pod. LOL. I don't know what that means, but you are so alert and so conscious of your surroundings now. You can see things, your arms and legs work, and you are getting some hair. 

Our morning and go-to-bed rituals are even better now that you are more aware. You are much quicker with the smiles. :)  I love the morning ritual: Are you going to smile all day?! 

I grab your hands and you look up at me so intently with those big, blue eyes.

"Are you going to smile all day?!" 

You start to smile a little bit or look at me weird. 

"Are you going to smile all day?!" 

You start to smile. 

"Are you going to smile all day?!" You smile. 

"Are YOU going to SMILE all day?!" You smile and gurgle. 

I take your hands and put them shoulder width.

"Are you going to smile THIS big?" You smile. 

I take your hands and put them a little wider than shoulder width almost straight out to your sides. 

"Are you going to SMILE THIS big?" You smile and gurgle. 

I take your hands so they make a big U over your head.

"Are you going to SMILE THIS BIG?!" You smile, gurgle, and laugh. I am laughing with you. What great times you have laughing at your funny daddy. 

Our go-to-bed ritual is just as fun... for me. :)

"Are you going to DREAM BIG tonight?"

"Are you going to DREAM BIG tonight?"

"Are you going to dream big tonight?" Tired smile. 

Hands shoulder width - Are you going to dream this big?

Hands straight out - Are you going to dream this big?

Hands in a big U - Are you going to dream this big? Gurgle and smile. 

I love those times and never want to miss those two times with you. It's tough to leave the house and I come home much earlier now as you go to bed around 8:30. I want you to smile all day and dream big every night. 

For those adults reading this blog, I encourage you to ask yourself: 

"Are you going to smile all day?" and "Are you going to dream big tonight?"

My prescription: Take these two phrases and see how you feel. 

To Your Success, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. What phrases do you use to affirm your strength, happiness, and success every morning or night? Looking forward to your comments. 

No news is good news...

Hi Max!

You have really stuck to the structured plan for the last few weeks. We added some rice to your formula and you took it like a Champ. I have been focusing my efforts on getting our real estate team and getting my book done that I haven't had time to write here about all that we have been doing. I guess no news is good news as you are growing steadily, staying healthy, and retaining your title as most awesome and cutest kid on the entire planet. :)

One new bit of news is that you started your Your Baby Can Read videos. We're having plan watching the DVD. I wonder if you are getting it, but at least you are entertaining and watching it. And I've learned how to properly pronounce words like gorilla, tiger, elephant, cat, dog, and hi. At the very least, we're spending some time together and laughing while the DVD runs. 

It's time for your pictures and we're getting them done within the next week. Can't wait to share them with everyone as you are growing like a weed. 

We did watch the most exciting game in Super Bowl history on Sunday. We kind of watched it together. I watched it with you right next to me in your swing. You watched it through closed eyelids as you slept the entire game! Still loved having you next to me for the big game. Hopefully the first of many we share together. 

That's it for now. It's not that every day isn't exciting because every day IS excited. Just not things others would find exciting - a gurgle, a laugh, a quiet sleep, a beautiful smile. Great stuff. 

To Your Success, 

Max's Dad (Michael)