7, 6, 5, 4, 3...

Continuing with the top memories of this year with Maddox, here are numbers 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3:

#7 The first few nights at home.  Their is an astronomical amount of panic and fear that you experience when the doctors and nurses at the hospital tell you that you can take your bundle of joy home.  Bringing Max home was when it first hit me that I was someone's mom and have been given the gift and responsibility of raising this beautiful boy.  There have been times this past year where I have felt totally inadequate at the position of mother, but I try to remember back to those first few nights of parenthood.  The tiny baby in my arms and the complete and utter faith that Lane and I had been chosen by God to be Max's parents.  

#6 Max and water: a complex relationship.  Max hasn't always been that sure about the water.  His protests were loud and insistent during those first few baths.  This changed as he learned to sit up.  It evolved further when Max learned the joy of splashing.  Then came the baby pool.   Max was joyfully curious in his pool.  What would the water taste like?  Would this fountain feel the same as that fountain?  What happens when the water is hit this way and that way?  Max would have spent all afternoon in his pool if his Daddy and I had let him.  Who knew that a plastic island of water from Walmart was a 5 month old's version of heaven?!

#5 Maddox is Daddy's little boy.  I could spend hours describing the love these two have for each other and the joy they bring to my life.  They are truly already partners in mischief and fun!

#4 A baby comes with an overwhelming amount of gadgets.  There is the boppy, the bouncey seat, the swing, and so on and so on and SO ON!  The one gadget that was not only functional in our house but highly entertaining was the Jumperoo, aka the Pooperoo.  Max loved his Jumperoo, he looked like he was performing intricate dance moves while bouncing to a beat only he could hear!  Not only was Max entertained, but we were entertained... it was better than any tv program.  Also as a side benefit, it would get things moving in the southern digestive region and often provide Max with some much needed relief.  It was a sad day in the Nelson household when the Maddox reached the weight limit and the jumperoo was retired to the basement.

#3 Max has learned very few words but he is able to "cuss" you out if you make him mad.  I will never forget the first time he cussed me out.  I don't remember what happened exactly to make him mad, but I clearly remember his reaction.  He turned to me and in his little baby voice he cussed me out horribly.  Of course they weren't real words, but it was impossible to mistake his intention.  If you don't believe me, ask his Granny Bop, she saw the whole thing and will tell you it is true, Max is a champion baby cusser!

Tomorrow he turns 1.  It is hard to believe.  I will continue my countdown then! (the suspense is killing you, I know)