Max is Four Years Old Now.

Today Max turned four and I'm really having a hard time coming up with both the time and the words to express what it's really like to watch my baby boy grow up.

And since I'm sick (sore throat is gone but now I'm coughing until that post partum incontinence rears it's ugly head) and since Logan's been home for just over 24 hours but has only been in our home for about 12 of those hours 10 of them sleeping. (God bless his robotic soul he's working his ass off)....I'm just going to show you a few pictures of those first moments of Max's life. Those moments I kind of wish we could freeze but it's probably good we can't because I'd have 10 children at this point with the memory of those times.

This is immediately following my c section. I think I was crying about the Virgin Mary over there out of the frame as I came off the anesthetic but Logan and Max were bonding. You'll notice Logan's JET BLACK hair. It took another year before he developed that hot salt and pepper look. You'll also notice how cute my baby is post partum. Being a c section baby he endured very little trauma in the birthing process. Unlike his sister who was traumatized by her birth.

Here I met Max on March 21st. At 1:30am. I look pretty happy and at peace there, except I was actually completely blitzed on morphine and praying to go to sleep. Hooray C Section!

Here is Max going home in the sweater I made him. Moments after this photo was taken he grew right out of this sweater. Thank God he was born 3 weeks early or else it wouldn't have fit.

Here is Max at 4 days old laying on my abdomen. How the hell did he fit in there?

I love this shot because Max looks totally wasted and awestruck.

I wish I had a picture of him from now but the thing is: I'm so sick. His birthday party with his buddies isn't until next weekend (ELEPHANT BIRTHDAY PARTY! No stupid party store bull shit!) and then I'll share the pictures.

I'm disappointing you I know but the nyquil is kickinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Comments

[andrea]

Happy birthday to Max! I hope you are feeling better soon...

[carol]

You are so lucky that you had a digital camera back then. How special to look back so easily. My youngest is three in two weeks. It's weird to see them grow so fast. Happy Birthday, Max!

[Flippy]

Aw, happy birthday, Max. I just went out to dinner with my family for my parents' birthdays - my mom turned 76 on Wednesday and my dad turned 80 yesterday. Doesn't look a day over 61.

And good luck with the cold - I've had mine going on a million years, or so it seems. It's only 16 days, I think.

[coralie]

Happy birthday Max!

Now, be a big boy and go get your mom that nyquil cocktail that's on the counter. Yeah, the one with the binky garnish.

Isn't it great that he's old enough to do that now?

[Leslie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAX! You're one lucky boy to have such great parents!!!!!

Get well, Melissa! And congrats on the week ALONE....YOU DID IT!

[SAJ]

Toby says, "I don't know what to say. I'm not a birthday guy. Tell him Happy first day of Spring."

I say: Max, live it up dude. Don't grow up to be like Toby.

[Phil]

Elephant Party? With like Stampy the elephant from the Simpsons? Or more like Ganesh the elephant God from the Simpsons?

Recently, my Mom said that the happiest moment of her life was when I was born, and that the saddest was when I grew up. God, no wonder she was such a you-know-what when I was in my twenties.

[Y]

Aw. Happy Birthday to Max.

My oldest just turned 12. How I sobbed. And I haven't really stopped. I wish I could turn back the hands of time and make him be 4 again, if only for one day.

So I could kiss him without him pushing me away while whining "Mooom, STOP"

So he would reach out to hold my hand, like that was the way life was supposed to be, instead of me reaching for his only to have him look at me like "are you crazy? I aint holding your stinkin' hand in PUBLIC."

So he'd ask me to sing to him at night to help him fall asleep.

They grow so fast, enjoy every moment. Every.Single.Moment.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

[Sam]

Happy 4th Birthday Max! What sweet pictures. Hope you feel better soon, Melissa. I had that same crud a few weeks ago, I feel for you. Have fun at the elephant party!

[Anne]

That is the most adorable sweater i have ever seen. As a fellow knitter, i know all too well how much effort went into it. And the critter inside is no slouch either!

[Sarcastic Journalist]

Its odd, but I can totally "see" your kids faces in their squished up baby faces. Happy birthday, Max!

And oh my gosh...is that a walker? You evil horrible mom who wants to kill her baby!

Nah, just kidding. Walk away.

[MelissaS]

Stationary walker, with brakes.

We got it because the approved Exersaucer takes up an entire room and the stationary walker with brakes folds up and is tucked behind a chair in the corner of the room when not in use.

It's all about space management in this small house.

[Terri]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW Happy Birthday Max!!! I can't belive he is 4 already!! I still remember that Christmas where his sex was revealed!! YIKES seems like yesterday. Hope you are feeling better today!

[Toryssa]

I am a sentimental fool today, but Y's post damn near made me cry. My baby is TWO and I don't know where the time's gone.

Happy Birthday Max!

[Dr. Johnny Fever]

Happy birthday, champ.

[coffeegirl]

Happy big four! Four year olds RAWK! And I'm not just saying that because my little guy is four. They really do rawk. So much so that I'm trying to convince my guy to stay four FOREVER.