Maximilian Francis – First Week of Life

July 11, 2013

Gaber and MaxFirst Bath

Max - First Time Bath
First Bath…

Maximilian- First Bath

Max and Daddy
Maximilian - First Bath Time

Nanna and Papa
Nanna and Papa…the reason I have survived this first week as a mother of three!

Snuggled Max
Max- Favorite Seat
Gabriel Max and V

There aren’t really words to describe that first week of life of a child. Despite the post labor pains, the sleepless nights, and adjustments at home, there is an unprecedented joy and peace that takes over my heart to have this tiny being in existence. I can’t bring myself to put him down very often. There are only a few precious months when their innocence and dependence on you is so pure and simple.

Watching each member of the family experience little Max takes that happiness to another level…

My husband couldn’t wait to tell everyone his boy was a whopping 9lbs 9oz. and looks at him with such pride. He holds him with such delicacy. It stops me in my tracks to see him love our children. I don’t think I could love him more than in the moments he cares for his family with such dedication.

Gabriel has amazed me with how long he wants to be near Max. This morning, 15 minutes went by of him just holding and gazing at the baby before miss Veronica demanded a turn. He proudly announces he has a new little brother named Max to every visitor we have. Each day he has made sure to have some quality time with his baby brother, and it gives me hope that he will be his life long friend and protector.

Veronica makes sure to check on the baby every ten minutes or so and she always has a diagnosis for him. “Baby Max is cryin.’ Needs paci.” She has already tried to nurse him…oh dear. She is going to be the second little mother to him, and I will have to make sure she doesn’t smother him. This video is of their first meeting in the hospital…

With each child I have grown more aware of just how fleeting the time is, and so I have ignored the laundry and the growing mess in our room, and just held him a little longer. Everything else will come and go but the time we have with our children is irreplaceable and irreversible. I know there will be rough patches with adjusting to life with three little ones, but we have moments like this to hold onto to get us through…

*Full disclosure: The smartest and most convenient baby bath and baby seat we have ever seen was a very generous gift from 4moms.com and we are so grateful to be able to use them for baby Max! 

71 comments

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  • Francine
    July 11, 2013

    Beautiful baby and beautiful family! I love those first few days at home, getting to know each other. Enjoy your time together!

    Reply
  • Steph @ meet.make.laugh.
    July 11, 2013

    Congratulations on your growing family. I love reading about how you experience and feel during your time with your family, it seems so special 🙂 Thanks for sharing a little glimpse!

    Reply
  • Necole @seriouslysassymama
    July 11, 2013

    Sweet babies are the best gifts ever! I love seeing my husband with out baby girls.

    Reply

  • Katie

    July 11, 2013

    How beautiful!!! AHHH!! I have the feeling that Veronica and Paul would be great friends. 🙂 I would love tips on how to prep Paul for the baby he’ll be recieving in November! 🙂

    Reply
    • Anna Liesemeyer
      July 12, 2013

      I can’t wait to meet Paul! You know, the best thing is to have him be around your friend’s babies! Gets them familiar:) This helped so much with Veronica!

      Reply
  • Bri
    July 11, 2013

    siblings are so sweet, i’m glad mine are going to be so close together. we used the same swing for william and he loved it! 4moms rocks 🙂

    Reply
  • Molly
    July 11, 2013

    Anna, these pictures are beautiful! You are a stunning mother of three. You continue to impress me with everything you do . . . baby making included. And I’m with you, men and newborns . . . gah! Melt my heart.

    And, oh that video – too sweet. It makes me so excited to hopefully someday introduce our daughter to some siblings. 🙂 Thanks for the first week peek.

    Reply
  • Lauren
    July 11, 2013

    Oh my gosh, that’s the sweetest little video. I love when she sings to him 🙂

    Reply
  • Christine
    July 11, 2013

    ohmygosh, the singing!! I am melting over here. So happy to hear your new life is treating your so well, Anna 🙂

    Reply
  • Hannah
    July 11, 2013

    seems like there are sooo many people who already love him to death!! congrats! he’s perfect! sending all my love! <3

    Reply
  • Jenmarie
    July 11, 2013

    I’m just so excited for you all! These photos (and video) are absolutely sweet. I can’t wait to see more!

    Reply
  • Melissa // The Fauxmartha
    July 11, 2013

    Crazy beautiful! So happy for you guys!

    Reply
  • Jessica
    July 11, 2013

    beautiful photos!!

    Reply
  • Suzy Smith
    July 12, 2013

    He’s beautiful! Congratulations!

    Reply
  • Jan
    July 12, 2013

    Congratulations – what a sweet little family!

    Reply
  • Martha@RomancingReilly
    July 12, 2013

    I wouldn’t usually get teary when looking at baby pictures, but now having just had our first child two months ago, our little Sebastian, these pictures are bringing back those early first few days and as you said — they are so fleeting! God bless you and your family and congratulations!

    Reply
  • lindsey marlor
    July 12, 2013

    omigosh this post makes my heart melt!! Love all of these pics!!!

    Reply
  • Lisa | Happy By
    July 12, 2013

    That video…You will thank yourself forever for shooting it…It could touch everyone’s heart…Veronica is the first kid I see singing to the new family member…For example, I refused to kiss my little brother because he seemed ugly to me (I was 5)…I am glad there were no mobiles available for shooting back than 🙂
    Enjoy your time with the baby and all your sweet family!
    xoxo

    Reply
    • Anna Liesemeyer
      July 12, 2013

      Thank you Lisa! My hope is that in making these videos and documenting their little lives I am creating some of the memories for them. Felt like I hit gold when I caught that on film;) Oh and laughed thinking about how you reacted to your brother. Too funny!

      Reply
  • Lisa Marie
    July 12, 2013

    So beautiful! The first week with a new baby is just as you said indescribable! Enjoy this precious time with your family 🙂

    Reply

  • Nellie

    July 12, 2013

    Love love love the name… We plan on naming one of our boys Maxamillion. Right now we just have 2 girls. 😉 Beautiful pictures and video. You make motherhood and family life look so beautiful and just the way God designed it to be. You’re one of my inspirations. Love reading your blog.

    Reply

  • Jessica Liesemeyer

    July 12, 2013

    Anna- he is just so handsome with that dark hair of his. This post was just so good. So, so good! Sounds like he has been a joy for everyone so far….so awesome! I loved the video…Veronica is just too sweet! And that song?! I used to listen to that song on repeat back in the day. Gets me every time.

    Reply
  • Katie @ Loverly She
    July 12, 2013

    Anna – what a treasure. And I just love reading about your heart for your family – it is truly so encouraging. May you have grace upon grace as you continue to adjust over this next little while!

    Reply
  • Helena - A Diary of Lovely
    July 12, 2013

    what a gorgeous family Anna! Congratulations once again xx

    Reply
  • Sarah
    July 12, 2013

    Aw! I actually cried a bit when I watched that video, such a wimp I am! My husband and I are talking about adding a second child to our happy little family, it fills me with delight to see the tenderness and love between your children!

    Reply
  • Clemence
    July 12, 2013

    Such beautiful pictures, handsome baby, precious moments and moving words. And Veronica singing! Sweetest thing ever. What a gorgeous family!

    Reply
  • ilene @muchloveilly
    July 12, 2013

    such a beautiful post! my sister just had her baby a few weeks ago and she doesn’t know what she would have done without our mom there helping her out the first week. family is so special during this season! so happy for you, anna!

    Reply
  • hailey
    July 12, 2013

    this video made me ball my eyes out! i can’t wait for my baby boy to meet his new sister in a couple of months!

    Reply
  • nicole neesby
    July 12, 2013

    the early days are so magical. . . now i have baby fever. 🙂

    xo

    Reply
  • Megan
    July 12, 2013

    Oh so beautiful. Your precious moments are just making me all the more excited for our second one on the way! I often wander how this time will be different… the first one was so new and full of questions (am I doing this right?). I’ll have more confidence this time, but I’ll also know to soak it all in more now experiencing how freaking fast my son, Liam has grown up and established his little independence! 🙂

    Megan from Chasing Davies

    Reply

  • Radka

    July 12, 2013

    what a blessing to find this post. you helped me to remind myself of how I felt nine months ago when we brought home our little treasure (Veronika, btw) 😉
    now I don´t feel so sleepy when I imagine you with the three kiddos of yours.
    wishing you nutritious sleep to stay strong.

    Reply
  • Anne
    July 13, 2013

    oh he is so so sweet! I’m dying over Veronica trying to nurse him. Love kids!

    Reply
  • Tiffany @ Savor Home
    July 14, 2013

    Max is SUCH a beautiful baby. The video is beautiful as well. What a special moment it will be when V watches it when she gets older. I’ve told you this 100 times, but your family is such an inspiration to me and gives me so much hope. xo

    Reply
  • Jessica
    July 15, 2013

    I’ve actually come back to read this post several times over the weekend. What a beautiful portrait of parenthood – I just can’t seem to get it out of my mind. My husband and I are newlyweds and not quite ready for children yet. But oh, I would be lying if this post didn’t make my heart ache for babies, just a little. I cannot wait to experience this one day! What an absolutely beautiful family you have.

    Reply
    • Anna Liesemeyer
      July 17, 2013

      Jessica, thank you for your sweet comment! Max and I are all about promoting baby fever;) I am excited for you to experience motherhood someday! xo

      Reply
  • Abbey
    July 15, 2013

    This is so beautiful, Anna! One of my favorite posts! Love seeing your sweet family and those special candid moments that make everyday life so amazing. Cutest family in the world!

    xo

    Reply
  • Kelli Murray
    July 15, 2013

    This melts my heart! What a perfect addition!

    Reply

  • emily

    July 15, 2013

    i just fell to pieces watching V be so sweet to baby Max. what joy must be yours to be able to witness such precious moments. so happy for you and your precious family!

    Reply
  • Denise Lopatka
    July 15, 2013

    I have no words. So beautiful.

    Reply
  • laura
    July 15, 2013

    Congrats on the newest addition – he is just gorgeous – and your other babies with him are precious too!

    Reply
  • Kristyn @ Milk + Crown
    July 16, 2013

    That is the sweetest video I’ve ever seen. Brought tears to my eyes! It’s so amazing to see that instant connection of love between siblings 🙂 She will make a great big sister. So happy for you guys, congrats with everything!

    Reply

  • Amanda H.

    July 16, 2013

    Beautiful!! Love all the pictures. Can you tell me what type of camera you use? Looking for a really nice one to use as I am due in 2 months. I will be taking photography classes too. Thank you!

    Reply
  • Lana
    July 16, 2013

    Just too precious Anna, I love how you share all these special moments with us xx

    Reply
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  • Jennifer @ Little Silly Goose
    July 17, 2013

    What a beautiful post! The pictures are gorgeous, and I started tearing up watching the video. We have a 4 month old baby boy and an almost 3 year old boy, and introducing them for the first time was an amazing experience. I love watching their relationship develop– they already adore each other! I also have been trying to really savor every moment since I know just how fast it can go, but time still seems to get away from me. Thanks for sharing your family!

    Reply
  • Racheal
    July 18, 2013

    Awe… found your site through pintrest. Love the pictures of your little guy! I just had my third baby on the 10th of this month! First week is crazy but oh so amazing hey!? And it is so fun to watch the other children interact with baby =)

    Reply

  • Klaire

    July 25, 2013

    You have suh a beautiful family!

    Reply
  • Maia McDonald
    July 30, 2013

    So precious! Congrats Anna.

    Reply

  • Alaina Bell

    August 5, 2013

    Made me tear up! Beaitiful! You have always had such a way with words.

    Reply
  • Nicole Underwood
    October 26, 2013

    so precious! Congrats!!

    Reply
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