The boys of summer

This moment

There have been more than a few occasions when I have come across a picture of my baby that is so sweet that I feel a rush to my heart.  A full fledged wave of emotion that stops me from what I am doing and makes me just sit, think and smile.  Not being home with Max every day is a decision that I made and for me, it is the right decision.  Do I have to work?  I am not entirely sure.  I think we could possibly get by without my salary, at least for a little while.  But quite honestly, I love my job.  I am good at my job.  I want my job.  Of course I love my baby.  I love every single inch and roll and strand of hair that makes up his beautiful baby body.  I love his smiles, his giggles, his belly laughs.  I love his tears and his whines and the way he fights off every nap that he takes.  I love his babbles and his coos and his sweet baby songs.  Coming home from work everyday and spending the afternoons and evenings with my husband and our little boy is exactly what makes going off to work every morning worth it.  The moments we spend every evening, as a little family, in his room, with Max in my arms and his daddy by my side make me the happiest momma in the world.  The most perfect moments as he drifts off to sleep and I drift into my thoughts of days, and weeks and years to come.  Those moments.  This moment.  That's what it is all about.

Max at the park

Hanging with Max at the park.

Max, mommy and daddy

Here we are, Damien, me and our little 9 month old.  I love these pictures.  It doesn't get much better than this on a Friday afternoon...

Max's style 05.30.11

And then one day you wake up and your baby has turned into a little boy!

At least that is how I am feeling lately.  And he really is just the sweetest little boy.  I have never seen a baby smile so much.  The other night, he actually fell asleep laughing and then woke up laughing the next morning.  Most of the time, we can't even figure what it is he is laughing about.  I think he just likes the way it sounds and feels.  I love the way it sounds.

He sits up so well and is starting to show interest in crawling.  He hasn't yet but I know it is coming soon.  Still no teeth, though.  And oddly enough, he seems to be passed all of the signs of teething.  We joke that we are going to have to get him baby dentures!

He is so talkative lately.  He will go on and on and on and he even gets really excited and will start shouting and squealing.  I would love to know what it is he is saying.

We have been trying to teach him how to clap.  A good friend of ours had shown us the classic Sesame Street clapping song which they played for their little girl to teach her how to clap.  So once a day, I put the video on for Max and he loves to watch all of the little Muppets singing and clapping away.  It's the only 3 minutes of TV he gets a day and I think he really looks forward to it.  

Max will be 9 months old on Saturday.  What a big boy!

Max's style 05.02.11 (and 8 months old)

As I sit here writing this, Max is passed out from a long day at school on his daddy.  They are breathing (snoring) in sync and both have the same expression their face, complete and total bliss.  I guess that is what happens when there is no where else you would rather be and no one else you would rather be with.  I am feeling like one lucky person right now...

Tomorrow, Max will be 8 months old.  Eight whole months have passed since this little guy first entered our world.  In that time, he has learned so much.  I think the thing he has learned the best is how to smile.  He has the absolute best temperament, making it so easy to include him in all that we do.  I think my most favorite sound is the sound of him laughing.  He really gets going now and it is completely and utterly infectious.  And the best part is making him laugh.  He thinks that Damien and I are oh so funny.  He loves all of the crazy songs that we are constantly making up and singing to him.  When I was little, my dad was always coming up with funny songs that he would sing to us.  I think I must have gotten that gene from him.

Just before Max was born, Damien bought him these Automoblox.  He couldn't wait until Max was here so he could enjoy them.  Well, right now, he enjoys putting them in his mouth, which we had to put an end to since we were afraid of small pieces coming off.  So I guess it will be a bit longer before Max truly gets to enjoy them.  

We are in the process of booking a trip to Ireland in August.  We will be taking Max and going with some good friends and their baby boy, who is just shy of 3 months older than Max.  We are super excited to be able to make this trip with him and to be able to share the experience with some of our closest friends.  In honor of that trip, we bought Max this hat.  He needed something to protect his fair skin since he spends a good portion of the day outside at daycare.  But I have to admit, he looks pretty darn cute in his Irish cap.

Irish cap- Babies R Us

motorcycle shirt and pants- Target

socks- Marshalls