Top 10

So, we are counting down to Maddox's first birthday on Friday.  I thought it would be enjoyable to count down the top 10 moments of Max's life so far (at least in my eyes).

So, here are numbers 10,9,8:

#10 Maddox's first real smiles.  I can remember sitting in the living room way back last spring with Lane and Laresa.  We were making noises and silly faces and Maddox just started breaking out into these beautiful smiles.  We were goofy with happiness experiencing some real joy with the little guy.

#9 The mobile.  I never knew how fascinating a Winnie the Pooh mobile could be until I experienced it through the eyes of a 3 month old.  Max would sometimes lay there for 45 minutes watching his mobile and cooing.  The happiest baby ever in the land of Tigger and Piglet and Eeyore.  

#8 Max's first taste of real food.  I don't know who decided that rice cereal was the best thing to give a baby as their first "food".  Looking back it seems like a stupid decision and I would say Max would agree.  I have never seen a more unhappy baby than my little man when he got his first taste of the bland, gross rice cereal.  

So there you go... I know you are all in suspense about what more I have to say but I will save that for tomorrow!

The Damage We Do...

As parents, we have a certain responsibility to Maddox.  We are suppose to love and nurture him and help him grow into a productive member of adult society.  Through the process of parenting we are bound to give him at least one neurosis either intentionally or unintentionally. 

 

Well, we started that process tonight.

First, we taught him an action that is often associated with Native Americans and can be considered politically incorrect (see video).

Then, we put a diaper on him that had been in my car... which meant it was cold... which according to my husband is like putting on underwear that you had pulled from the fridge... which explains why he started screaming like we were torturing him. 

So, the question remains:  What weird habit or emotional disorder will our child suffer because of the things we are doing now?

Only time will really tell!

 

Boys are Gross(but Funny)

Here is some video of Max amusing himself after he finished eating some yogurt. When Lane showed it to me(I had been gone at the wedding of my beautiful friend Heather), I could not stop laughing. You all might not find it quite as funny but I had to share.

Video Proof

Here is some proof that the baby boy is indeed walking!  Enjoy!

Let the Injuries Begin

Max officially took more than three steps in a row on Monday, January 21, just shy of 11 months old.  He has been taking a few steps here and there but this was the first time he had actually walked across the room.  He then promptly fell into the corner of a cabinet and bruised his forehead.  He is approaching walking like you imagine any rough and tumble boy would, he is throwing himself headfirst into the effort.  

Injuries to date (1 week and 3 days after his first steps):

1. Bruised forehead

2. Bruised Chin

3. Split Lip

Hopefully I will be able to get some good video of him walking before he permanently injures himself.  

Almost 11 Months

In a few days Max will be 11 months. We will be enjoying our last month of a baby. Soon we will officially have a "toddler". It seems crazy to me that a year ago, I was still caring for my baby boy in me and now he is almost walking, very clearly talking (by clearly, I mean clearly to Lane and I) and he has developed his very own, unique personality. Being me, I am obsessing a little(or a lot) over first birthday plans, milestones he should be meeting, and certain things we should be giving up, like the bottle. My mother, in her tactful way, told me to calm down and enjoy these last few staples of babyhood. Sometimes I am in such a hurry for Max to meet the next milestone, I don't take time to enjoy where he is at right now.

So, let me introduce you to the wonderful world of Maddox at 10 almost 11 months.

• He is a good sleeper. He has his moments where he wakes up, but he is getting really good at soothing himself. Last Sunday, Lane and I woke to the beautiful sound of him singing himself back to sleep. Is there anything better than that?
• He loves his Mama, but in his heart he is a true daddy's boy. He saves his best and most beautiful smile for the moment his "dadadadada" walks through the door each evening.
• He is a true man. He already laughs at farts and burps. He also loves to eat. I can only imagine our pantry when he hits his teenage years.
• He is almost walking. In fact, if he trusted himself a little more he would be walking. He cruises like an expert and loves to walk holding your hand.
• He has the best laugh. His laugh can take any day and make it better. He loves to be tickled and he laughs his hardest when his daddy chases him.
• He loves trucks. Lane's friend Dusty and his wife Kenzie got him a big dump truck for Christmas and Max loves to push it around and he even says "vroom"!
• He is obsessed with our cats, pulling the cords to turn fans and lights on, and anything you are eating.
• He makes my day. I love my job and I love my 19 students. But nothing beats the moment when I pick Max up from daycare. No matter what type of day I have had, he makes it better.
• He is the light of our lives, he makes us laugh in ways we didn't know were possible, he makes us smile when everything else is hard, he helps us appreciate things like red wagons and warm winter days. Every day he changes and becomes a little more like a "kid" and a little less our baby.

God gave us the roller coaster that is Maddox. Somedays it makes for an interesting ride, but there is no amount of money you could pay me to give up even one of those days.