Happy Birthday Max!

Dear Max,

It has been two years since you entered this world fighting for you life. Your daddy and I heard the slightest of whimpers when they pulled you out of my belly and handed you to the NICU team that was standing by. We only got to see you for a second before they wheeled you out of the OR in an incubator headed for the NICU at Good Sam. I didn't let the fear of the unknown take that moment away from me. I held onto the sound of your first cry as I was wheeled into the recovery room. Daddy came to the NICU to see you while nana sat with me. After an hour or so, it was my turn. They pushed my bed into the NICU and maneuvered it around all of the isolates that held the tiniest of babies. We finally made it to the very back corner of the room and I saw you. My heart melted into a puddle of mush when I saw the beauty of my son laying in the isolate. I didn't let the fact that you were on a ventilator scare me. You were alive. You were breathing. You had a heartbeat. This was our moment. When a mother meets her child for the very first time. You were beautiful. You were mine.

I am so blessed to have been chosen to be your mommy. You have brought so much happiness into my life. The past two years have been the best in my life and I can't wait to see what you bring to this world in the years to come. I love you kiddo. Happy Birthday!

All my love,

Mommy


At the ago of two:
You are getting into everything.
You are standing with assistance and are taking steps with Mr. Dan.
You are pulling up to your knees.
You are drinking from a straw cup without assistance.
You know the colors blue and yellow.
You are signing for "more" "want" "help" "play" "drink" "please" and "thank you"
You know most of your body parts (when asked where your nose is you stick your finger in it and when asked where your feet are you put them in your mouth- you start giggling as soon as you do it).
You can say "bye bye" and make sounds for other words. You prefer to say "ah" for everything but if you really concentrate you can say other things.
You are very stubborn (just like mommy and daddy).
You throw temper tantrums when you don't get your way or when you are told no.
You hold your breath if you get really mad.
You love Barney and Friends.
You know he motions for the song "If You're Happy and You Know It."
You are starting to mimic everything you see.
You give the best hugs and kisses.
You are very hard to get down for a nap.
You still love your blankie.
You love being outside.
You are a beautiful little boy on the inside and outside.

In honor of Max's 2nd Birthday, we have put together this video to share his life with all of you. We hope that you have enjoyed him as much as we have.

Max is turning 2. from Rick Neltner on Vimeo.