Max is two today. I can't actually get my head around that fact. TWO! Two years ago he made history when he was the youngest person to be a South African twitter trend. I tweeted some of his birth, and my lovely twitter friends tweeted their support and the hashtag #MaxDay was born. #MaxDay made the number 3 spot on Twitter’s Home page, ahead of Star Trek and Swine Flu. This means that #MaxDay was the third most important topic on twitter in the world, and with an audience of over 7 million – that was no mean feat. (Link courtesy of Snowgoose)
Several other online publications picked up the story including News24 and Washington Post. Within the first few days of his life, Max had already become famous.
In fact, I am very good friends with an awesome woman Nicola Smuts (http://www.fertilityastrology.com/) who is the world's leading Fertility Astrologer (she has a success rate that is comparable with the best fertility clinics in the world), she did a quick reading for Max when he was born and she said that he had strong markers for fame in his chart. Well, she might just be right - his fame started at birth :-)
I can't believe my baby is two. As is the cliche, these past two years have flown by. It feels like it has been two months, not two years. Things are so, so, SO much easier / better when you are a second time around mom.
Max is an awesome boy, he is such a sweet, happy child. Everyone says that about him. I love and adore that child so much. Perhaps because I know he is my last baby (my very, very LAST baby EVER!), I love my time with him. Every stage seems so precious and even the harder parts don't seem hard at all. I know how quickly it goes by.
There is also a part of me that still can't believe he is here. My little bonus, freebie baby. A baby who came into this world all on his own. I had nothing to do with it. Well, besides a few minutes hours of pleasure (<--specially for husband). I didn't plan for a baby, I didn't pay money for fertility treatment, I didn't shed tears, I didn't try my heart and soul out, I didn't pray / hope / despair / weep / fear / be terrified out of my mind it wouldn't work. I did nothing and yet he decided to join our family. HE decided. That blows my mind. I look at him everyday and think 'how on earth did you get here?'. It is like Christmas everyday.
Max is an average, healthy, normal boy. I know enough about loss, about illness, about special needs and special challenges some people face to know how lucky I am to be able to say that about him.
I thought my family was perfectly complete before he arrived. I know now that with him in our family, we are completely perfect in our own special crazy, busy, normal way.
I adore you baby boy, my special, beautiful little boy.
xxx
(he is wearing a swimming cap in this picture. For no other reason other than he can)
PS we are having a small party for him today, so I might post some more pics later.
PPS poor baby had to have a small party as he has no friends besides his family and cousins. He doesn't go to play school and I am too old to do those moms and tot things. Oh well, he wont know any difference and we make MUCH cooler friends than other two year olds. At least we wont steal his sweets or play with his toys. Actually....we might.
PPPS He is two and still drinks from a bottle. And he has a dummy. HORRORS!
PPPPS Adam and Kate had a dummy and a milk bottle until they were four. I strongly suspect Max will go the same way. PHONE THE COPS AND ARREST THIS WOMAN!
![Medsitters Au pairs](<a href="http://medsitter.com/" title="Medsitters"><img src=" http://www.tertia.org/medsitter.png" /></a> ){kind=link}
Gosh, has it been 2 years already?
Happy Birthday to Max!
xx
Posted by: Julia | 15 May 2011 at 09:20 AM
Happy happy birthday Max! And HUGE congratulations Tertia!
Posted by: Angel | 15 May 2011 at 09:46 AM
Love u Moeksie-Poeksie! We will see you later for your party. x
Posted by: Auntie Mellie | 15 May 2011 at 09:47 AM
Happy, happy birthday! What a special gift! x
Posted by: Lindsay | 15 May 2011 at 10:27 AM
What a special bonus! Happy Birthday sweet boy!
Posted by: Janet | 15 May 2011 at 11:14 AM
Lovely post! Lovely Max! and his all yours!
Posted by: Happy Troll | 15 May 2011 at 02:34 PM
Happy birthday, special Max!
Have a fun party and eat lots of cake.
Tertia, my twins are 22 months and still have dummies and milk bottles too. My Dr S said when I asked him about the bottles, "do you really want to mess with a good sleep routine?" and I said, "definitely not!" so that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Posted by: Marcia (123 blog) | 15 May 2011 at 02:52 PM
Clearly that apple-cheeked, smiling boy is in grave danger from him dummy.
Posted by: Jillian | 15 May 2011 at 03:43 PM
Happy birthday Max!
I can personally atest to Nicola Smuts' amazing talents. Thanks to her we have triplets after 7 IVFs...
Posted by: Dee | 15 May 2011 at 08:47 PM
OMW can't believe he's 2 already!! I remember that day on Twitter, was very exciting.
Posted by: Jeanette Verster | 15 May 2011 at 10:59 PM
Happy Birthday Max!!
Mine had bottles until 26 months. One one had a paci until 3. They are 15 and 9 and are just fine.
Posted by: Stefanie | 16 May 2011 at 03:23 AM
It's funny, but pretty much EVERYTHING you wrote about your bonus baby, I can write about my sweet, happy little boy. Like yours, he came of his own accord and without anxiety, tears, fertility treatments, etc. AND we happened to be celebrating his birthday today with his little friends. He completed our family and I also can't believe how much I love and adore my little man. I fondly remember Max's famous arrival. Happy Birthday Max!
Posted by: Heidi | 16 May 2011 at 04:19 AM
He is just precious.
He he he - parenting police's toes must be curling! :-)
Guess what. My Hannah, almost 4, STILL has a bottle. Guess what else. She is a chatty, confident, angel child - whith a little bit of a stubborn streak - just for good measure.
Posted by: BiancaW | 16 May 2011 at 08:35 AM
Congrats on Two! I share your sentiments when you talk about how special he is because he is your very last baby! I feel the same about my toddler! Mine also still has the bottle, and when my husband asked what we are going to do about it, I told him it is for our sanity... (not having to freak about spilling cups etc) and not so much for her! ;-)
Posted by: MomAgain@40 | 16 May 2011 at 08:41 AM
Happy second anniversary of MaxDay! :) I remember your worries before he was born, most of which were based on past experiences (understandably so), along with worrying if you could love another child as much as A&K. While nothing can ever erase the tragedies you endured, Max's conception and birth (and even your pregnancy with him) were uncomplicated and "normal." I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that you were able to have that be your last experience with building your family! I think your baby boy has done what you probably previously thought was unimaginable... brought you closure and some measure of peace. And for me - and perhaps for so many others across the world - it feels like cosmic justice was finally served.
He is your special, miracle boy, Tertia. Happy birthday, Max!!!
Posted by: Woody's Girl | 16 May 2011 at 01:45 PM
Happy B-day Max! (I honestly don't give a hoot about a bottle or dummy past 2, we have managed to chuck the dummy, but the bottle stays, for now...)
Posted by: Elleznom | 16 May 2011 at 02:54 PM
Firstly happy birthday to little dude! Secondly, I have a three year old who still drinks from a bottle. So there.
Posted by: Vanessa | 16 May 2011 at 03:38 PM
Happy Birthday to the gorgeous young man!! And I am SO happy for you!!! You have a beautiful family and you'll never have to worry about DBTs EVER again (neither will I, and I am bathed with relief)!!!! Who says that dreams don't come true?
Posted by: Stacey | 16 May 2011 at 04:12 PM
I always think of you and Max on Piper's birthday, as they were born so close to each other... each a miracle in his/her own way! (btw, Piper's still got her bottle as well... why is it considered so socially unacceptable for these little ones to hang on to their dear bottles for a couple years?). :-)
Posted by: Beth | 17 May 2011 at 10:19 PM
baby moo had her dummy until just after her 3rd bday. horrid, right? LOL I wish she still had it sometimes, it made life super easy!!
Posted by: Moo | 20 May 2011 at 04:50 AM