Life Through the Lens// Daddy's Little Boy

Photo Bombed by Dolly

Obviously, this has Danny written all over it! Leave it to him to make sure that Max had his first ride in a truck right after he was born. If only it was a Ford! I'm quite certain there will be many more rides in the truck with Daddy in the future... and surely someday he'll want one (or two) of his own. Just like his dad.

L

Life Through the Lens// And With our Hands, our Hearts

We took a few photos with Danny's iPhone while Max was in the hospital. I don't intend to share any of the other photos here, because that was a really hard time for us. But this one tells the story of the first time my sweet little boy held my hand. And it's a story I want to share. Just like the first time his daddy and I held hands, it was a moment that will be imprinted in my mind forever.

Our time in the hospital was very challenging for me...  I longed to hold my baby without an audience of hospital staff dictating our schedule. If I was allowed to hold him, it meant that it was feeding time--and that was pretty stressful and exhausting for both of us. He often lost weight just from the energy it took to try and eat. Usually it would end up with him fed being through a feeding tube.

The few rare quiet moments just singing and rocking my little Max to sleep in my arms were a delight. It was one such moment, when he sweetly placed his hand on top of mine and opened his usually tightly griped fist, as if asking for me to hold his little hand. I gave him my fingers and he happily tightened his grip. "He's holding my hand!" My heart burst with joy and I smiled as I thought of the first time his daddy had held my hand. How my heart had known in that moment that nothing would ever be the same. And there it was. A brief happy moment in the Pediatric unit when once again, my heart knew it would never be the same. To paraphrase Shakespeare, and with our hands, our hearts.

L

Life Through the Lens// Daddy and Max Part 2

These two.
I can already tell they have a very special relationship.

The way Max would kick and dance in my belly when Daddy talked or sang to him.
The way he was determined to come a month early so that he could be the guest of honor at Daddy's 30th birthday party. Even still, Max waited a few extra hours just to have his own day;)
The way Max arched his eyebrows and gave me a look that was so classically his daddy's, just hours after his birth.

The way Danny holds him and they gaze into each others eyes (both with eyebrows arched) and smile.
The way Danny takes pride in taking Max to Home Depot, Lowes, and Harbor Freight, and talking to him all about gadgets and tools.
The way Danny prays for him and gives him blessings of health and comfort when Max is sick.

Goodness. I love them both so much. Seeing them together makes me love them more.

L

Life Through the Lens// Daddy and Max Part 1

In honor of his first Father's Day, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite photos of Danny and Max. These are from his three week photoshoot. I absolutely adore them--so sweet to see the beautiful connection between Daddy and his boy.

About a billion more photos to come... but I need time to format them, so I'll get them up as soon as I can! Also, I made a movie for Danny for his first Father's day with a bunch of photos of he and little Max. I tried to upload it but it wasn't working so when I have a little more time I'll give it another go.

Now we better dash off to buy more formula before somebody gets hungry again!

L

Around Here// Love My Littles

Poor little Max has been struggling with acid reflux and colic for the last several weeks. It's been pretty hard to get much done around here, because he just wants to be held and comforted twenty-four hours a day-- it's been the most wonderfully exhausting seven weeks of my life. When he was in the hospital I could only hold him for feedings--which were honestly stressful and challenging for both of us. It was really hard to see him suffering and not be able to pick him up and comfort him. Even though it is really hard to keep up with everything, I love that I have been able to hold and comfort him so much over the last month while he hasn't been feeling well. I can't wait for him to be healthy and happy. It breaks my heart to see him so uncomfortable all the time. We are hoping things will improve soon with the new medication and formula the doctor prescribed.

As for my Dolly, she adores little Max and is very sweet with him. Even still, she's had a really hard time adjusting to the changes in our routine, and having to share my attention. She came into my life when I wanted so much to be a mama, and she is used to having all of my love and attention. Hopefully some medication will help her too. It's so hard for me to see her suffering, and not have the ability to do much about it. I hope she and Max will become best buddies, and that soon she'll adapt to the changes around here. I love them both so much.

Needless to say with all that's going on around here taking time to upload photos just hasn't really happened. There will be plenty of time for that later, I think.

L