Max shows us his sign language

I've been trying to make a video of all of his signs for a while now - but each time I turn on the camera - he gets shy. This time he did it! He was tired and distracted - but he did it! We wrote out all the signs we thought he knew and asked him to show us each one. Some are more obvious than others - but because we are around him a lot we recognize his "baby" signs. It's just like baby talk. Only the parents really understand them! This morning he showed me 3 more signs that I didn't realize he knew...so I'm going to add to the list and do another one in a month or so. It's truly incredible to me how much sign language he has picked up. He LOVES Rachel Coleman and Signing Time DVD's. I cannot recommend them enough. We have a portable DVD player and we have it when we go out to eat so he can watch and learn while Jerry and I actually have conversations with each other. It's so helpful on many levels! I don't think I would be fond of it if all he did was sit in front of it watching any such thing. But I'm so grateful that they made Signing Time DVD's because the singing and dancing and repetition create a fun learning experience....for all three of us. I literally wake up with the songs in my head.

Right now Max is outside swinging in our backyard with our babysitter! We hired someone to come here 3 times per week so I can actually work on my photography business and get some much needed time for myself. It's been a hard thing for me to actually do for myself. I feel guilt. I feel inadequate. I feel like I'm missing out on time I could be with Max. Time that I can't get back. But I do notice a big difference inside my being. I notice that when I am with Max I feel more present. I feel more light hearted. I feel less distracted by my business and all the things I want to get done that I cannot get to. Mama NEEDS this time. I've got my tea, my favorite candle is lit, I'm going to turn on my itunes playlist and let myself sink deeper into my own skin so I can be an even better mama for Max - and a better friend to MYSELF! I do notice that Max benefits from having a mama who is more fulfilled. Don't get me wrong. It is very fulfilling to be Max's Mama. AND it's fulfilling to create my artwork, create my business, be alone, take a bubble bath, sip tea in a quiet room and wear my favorite boots and dress up for no reason. Yes - I put on make up and did my hair for my day in the studio. I'm curious what fills you up when you get time away from mamahood? What is on your dream list when you are deep in diaper duty and dream of having time to just do what ever  you want? Add a comment and let me know.
xo
*c

Buddy Walk and Hebrew School!

This weekend was the Utah State Buddy Walk. It was incredible. Not only because the event was really geared toward the kids and there were a lot of things for the kids to do. ie: a train ride, a bouncy thing, lots of booths with games like at a fairground, and then........there's RACHEL COLEMAN and SIGNING TIME! We got there early - because Rachel Coleman has a facebook page and we were talking back and forth about her schedule. We joined her Signing Time team, and knew she was going to be there at 9am for her sound check. Jerry and I felt like this was the most important day in Max's life! He LOVES her. He watches her dvd's every day several times a day and when he wakes up crying at night - guess what soothes him?? Signing Time Dvd's. During this photo above we had JUST met her and Max was like "WHAT????" " HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE"! "I DON'T GET IT!!!" But when she started her performance on stage - we made sure to be right in front and he flipped out! He was so happy. Here is the first video I took when she started to sing. He is actually signing to almost all of it. When you see him moving his middle finger back and forth, that's his sign for "play". I love that he has his arm up in the air like we would at a concert! It's partly his sign for rainbow - but I think also his excitement at seeing his favorite human. I should say favorite humans because her daughter Leah was there and her nephew Alex was as well. Incredible. Jerry and I were emotional. On top of that we got to see lots of our friends from the Down syndrome community who I am so fond of. Kristin, Kecia, Jodi, Darla, Heather, Brooke, Phil and all of their kids! Do I have photos of them? ummmmm......( this photographer is sad to say that NO I don't. ) I do have one photo of Max and his friend Max right before the actual walk started but then we had to download all of the photos off of my iphone and poof. gone. so lets' just pretend I didn't totally blow it at the buddy walk and move right along...... the next day was his first day of Hebrew School at the Jewish Temple near us. YES there are Jews that live in Salt Lake City. Lots of them. There are several Jewish Temples in town and one in Park City. The first day was a celebration of Noah's ark, they dressed up in costume, and brought in real animals.....like a CAMEL. BEST day of Hebrew School I have ever seen in my life. Camel Petting zoo Max is the youngest in the class. They don't care if he wanders and guess what? Max doesn't sit still. Ever. He was walking all over the school/Temple. The gal who suggested we sign up told us that they brought their daughter early and it took her being in the same class for two years to get comfortable with the idea of school, sitting still, being involved etc. So that's probably what we are going to do. I must admit - I'm not used to hearing the word "LORD" sung in Hebrew School, but whatever. I really like the Temple. It's very warm, inviting, pretty, and I enjoy who've we've met there. I plan to take adult classes there. I want to learn Hebrew. Jerry and I feel a little bit different this morning. Lots happened over the weekend that was what I would consider epic. Rachel Coleman? A Camel? Hebrew songs? Oh and we ran into Greg Kogan. The friend of ours who has Ds who is a certified preschool assistant - he works at the Hebrew School. So great to have that connection and see him in action.

** The Soul*Full eCourse is Filling Up! If you are still interested it's time to sign up. Here is the link

Happy Monday! xo *c

A Summer of Naps!

The last nap photo I posted here was August 3rd! I need to catch up! here are the rest of the August Nap photos. Looking over these just makes my heart sing. I LOVE how he cuddles with me. Thankful for the iPhone and how easy it is to take these shots right when he falls asleep without moving much on my part. Just closing my eyes and snapping the pic. I wonder how long Max will take these afternoon naps before he decides that staying up all day long is more fun. I take these nap photos because I know this time will end and naps will be a thing of the past. I will miss the cuddling. I will miss the sweetness. I will miss the big chunk of afternoon time to cuddle. I will miss how little he is and I want to document such a sweet time in his life and in my life....ok Max is letting me know that he wants to go swing in the backyard ( using his sign language ) so I must post these quick and get back to mamahood! here you go.....

 August 4th, 1:02pm

 August 5th, 1:40pm

 August 8th, 12:37pm

 August 9th, 1:57pm

 August 9th, 1:57pm

 August 9th 1:57pm

 August 11th, 2:38

 August 12th, 3:22pm

 August 12th, 3:24pm

 August 12th, 4:09pm

 August 16th, 3:29pm

 August 17th, 12:25pm

 August 18th, 11:19am my sobriety date - look at the gifts Sobriety gives to me! M.A.X !!!!

 August 18th, 11:21am

 August 19th, 11:18am

 August 20th, 11:33am after his swim lesson at Cottonwood Heights Rec Center.

 August 22nd, 1:25pm after his first Dentist appointment

 August 23rd, 12:01pm after our first playgroup at our house. It was hard for him. Too much noise.

 August 24th, 12:00noon last day of Summer music class

 August 25th, 11:00am

 August 26th, 11:46am

 August 29th, 11:46am

 August 30th, 12:11pm, after a wagon ride at Wheeler Farm

August 31st, 12:40pm after a trip to the Discovery Center

Looking forward to September naps - when the temp cools down and I can open the window and let the breeze roll in. I LOVE naps with windows open and my baby cuddling!
Happy day everyone...I'm off to push Max in his swing.
xo
*c

A Summer Afternoon...

 here he is - Over joyed by the flower toy thing he is holding.

 Last day of Summer Break for these Neighborhood gals. They came over to hang with Max on the hammock and push him on the swing. Fun to see everyone hanging in our backyard.

 Took a walk close to sunset. There's a trail a few blocks from our house.

 Max LOVED picking up rocks and sharing them with Papa.

 These flowers are everywhere in SLC right now. LOVE THEM.

This was the view on our walk. I'd say it's pretty gorgeous. Happy Happy Summer. xo *c

Sunday afternoon

nap 1:15pm
just finished up a big brunch with Grandma and Grandpa and a lot of swinging time out on the backyard swing set. Lots of laughing out loud. And passed out in 20 minutes when we went up for nap time. He always has a way of sucking me into taking a nap myself! This one lasted about 30 minutes for me - but 3 hours for him. Lucky fella!

see what I mean?

Nap, July 30th 2:35pm

Today we started with Speech therapy at our house from 9-10am
then first day of summer swimming lessons from 10:20-11:00
Then he PASSSSSSED OUT. For 3 hours.
SO dang cute.
Now he is up and gearing up for a BBQ we are having tonight
and more cuddles with his Grandparents that are visiting from San Diego this weekend.
It's a great summer day.

I hope you all are enjoying your day today as well.

xo
*c

I cannot be stopped!

My newest series is beginning to take shape. a few posts ago I shared a few nap photos I took with my iPhone and I just loved capturing that time with Max so much that I decided to make it into a series. So whenever I take him to bed for his nap I wait until he is asleep and then try to get a photo of the two of us. So they are self portraits - and documentation of our naps together. I think this series is important because at some point nap time will end. I want to print these out and make them into a book for my son. And for ME to remember the tenderness, the snuggling, the sweetness of this time with Max. I'd also LOVE to print this and have a show in a gallery. Still considering which gallery might be best for this type of thing....any ideas?? It can be here in Salt Lake City or anywhere in the world. I'm open!

 

Just a little cuteness for you

p.s. I just posted a few of my handmade goods for sale on my Etsy shop yesterday if you want to take a peek.

here is the link

http://www.etsy.com/shop/catherinejust?ref=ss_profile

I'll be posting more artwork and journals soon!

Aren't you Curious?*

Don't you want to see the photos Max took the other day????

If you missed the blog post - the re-cap is that Max watched me taking self portraits and jumped on his chance to be a little self portrait photographer himself.

Here is the video again if you haven't seen it...or if you just can't help but take a peek at it again. It's so cute and amazing - don't you wanna see it again?
ok I'll stop gushing here is the link

http://hang-on-little-tomato.blogspot.com/2011/06/max-learns-how-to-take-self-portrait.html

The photos below are all the ones that he took from that day. The video didn't show how long he went taking photos......

Well there you go! I'm so impressed! I cannot wait to do this again with him.
His two photographer parents are so proud!

So much more to share but you will have to just come back again and see what Max has been up to......more video!....... Yep. see ya'll soon!