Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Maddox and I just got back from the Parenting Oasis Halloween Party and we're napping to get ready for the trick-or-treat parade this afternoon at 4pm. Just thought I would show you how adorable Maddox is as a cow!

The Birthday Parties!

Last Wednesday night we headed down to Cannon to further celebrate Maddox's birthday and also wish our friend Bekah good luck on her new adventure moving to North Carolina. We went to Mill Street Tavern for drinks (Maddox got a tall water and Morning O's!).
We also saw Great Auntie Tam Tam who gave him a big squeeze!

Wednesday was so eventful that Maddox and I just relaxed at home on Thursday. Here's some adorable post nap cuteness pictures!

After he got up, he decided to try his hand at golf. We're hoping he'll be a golfer or swimmer instead of a football player. Grandma Michelle wants him to play something that's more gentle to his head.
Friday night we went down to Grandma Michelle & Grandpa Rob's house for a pre-party celebration. Grandma made a turkey dinner and even got cupcakes for all to enjoy. Maddox liked to crush his more than eat it.
He did, however, love to lick the frosting!

Party day! Maddox played outside and hung out with Grandma and Rowan while Corey and I made homemade chili and a chocolate cake for the birthday party.

He even got to drive the lawn mower.
I'm one!
Well, the plan was to get Maddox down for a nap between 1 & 2 and then he would be up in time for his 4:00 party, but as usual Maddox had other plans. He didn't go to sleep until 3:30 and woke up at 5:45! We had chili without him. We also worked on Maddox's hand-painted step stool. Corey and I bought a white step stool at Target and all the guests had to paint a picture on it. It turned out great, but I am ashamed to say I have no pictures of it (our memory card filled up fast!), so that will be to come.

Here's the sleepy man waking up to a house full of people.
We decided to start with presents since we knew he would love that!
He did a great job opening them.

A monkey backpack! Isn't it cute. That's what he got from Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Jane.
Here he is checking out his new book! Uncle Kyle had to work, but he sent this present. This Cookie Monster was just crazy. It would talk, sit down, lie down, roll around, sit and stand up. Maddox was a little creeped out by it, but now he laughs at it. I think he's taking a defensive stance in the picture to protect himself.

Uncle Scott got him a cute tractor with a farmer and farm animals. Here's Rowan showing him how it all works.

Corey and I got Maddox his very own sling and baby. When we put it on him his eyes lit up and he started rocking his baby. It was adorable!

Family Picture!
Alright, here it is, the first cake I've ever made from scratch. Lots of chocolate! Decorated with melted chocolate chips. Yum!!!

Everyone singing Maddox happy birthday! I have pictures on my sister's camera of him eating the cake and I'm waiting for her to send them to me, but I'll just post what I have for now.
Maddox showing off his new backpack.
Post birthday lounging. Maddox, Corey and I lounged around with Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday watching football.
Shoes that fit! I had to include this in the post. I finally found shoes that I can get on Maddox's chubby feet! These are pedipeds and they're perfect for chubby feet. They make his ankles look just huge, but don't worry, there's no circulation being cut off. He thought they were a little strange at first, but he eventually was walking around in them just fine.
What a great birthday! Thank you so much to everyone who made Maddox's birthday so special. Our little guy is so lucky to have such amazing people surrounding him. You all spoiled him (maybe a little too much)! Thanks Mom & Dad for hosting a terrific party! You two are the best parents a girl could ask for (and grandparents too)! We love you all! Thanks!

Halloween 2007 here we come...

My Little Baby's One!

Today is Maddox's first birthday! I can't believe my baby's one! Just a year ago I was being induced because Maddox didn't want to come out. 10 days past my due date!

Here's some flashback pictures of Maddox on the day we took him home. He looks so tiny to me now.

He sure was and still is a lot of work, but oh so worth it. He's just such a sweetie and loves his mommy and daddy!

Maddox and Rowan are still the best of buds and it's so fun now because they can communicate and play together.

Isn't he adorable? Corey and I took Maddox just outside our apartment to snap some pictures. He was more interested in nature than smiling for the camera.

Maddox has grown and developed so much over the past year! He's walking great now with few tumbles. He loves to talk! His vocabulary amazes me sometimes. He's starting to string two words together like, "Hi, Daddy". He likes eating more and more, but is still getting most of his nutrition from breastfeeding. It's super cute now because in the middle of the night he'll sit up, make the sign for milk and say "nurse, nurse". Unless he's sick (the past weekend) or teething he gets up twice at night to nurse. Usually around 1:30 and 5:30 he'll nurse for 5 minutes and go right back to sleep.

Maddox still has just the 4 teeth, but just yesterday his 5th finally popped through in the front left right next to the front two. He's also working on the other 3 surrounding the front ones and 4 molars, OUCH! His gums are just red and bulging on all sides. Poor little guy! We've still been unsuccessful in giving him a dose of tylenol. If we get it in, he will throw it up in 3 minutes guaranteed! We're going to ask about tylenol suppositories at our next doctor's visit. Oh, at the ER on Friday night Maddox was 27 lbs 14 ounces in his diaper and sleeper. He's gained a few ounces since June, but that's it. He's getting taller everyday, so he's definitely slimmed out.

Today, for Maddox's birthday, Angie & Rowan joined us for lunch at Punch Pizza after yoga class at Lifetime. Rowan sang Maddox happy birthday and also said that he was going to bring Maddox a present for his birthday party. It was so sweet.

Maddox has just taken to coloring this past week. Corey and I took him to Plum's Bar and Grill last Friday night where he colored us his first picture.

Sometimes Maddox forgets what the crayons are for and tries to get a taste. We're working on that.

Maddox has become quite the monkey all of a sudden too. The other night he decided to climb into his play table and use it as a chair.

Then he figured how to stand up!
Now I have to be at the ready constantly. He's also triend to climb on top of the desk. Yikes!

Swimming lessons! Maddox started swimming lessons the Monday following Labor Day. He's in a class with two other kids his age. Corey takes him every Monday so I can get a break and they can bond. This past Monday I decided to come with and check it out.

It was super cute! They sang songs, played games and so much more. Maddox even goes under water!

Maddox loved swimming around hanging onto his noodle...

...but when Grandpa Rob and Grandma Michelle got there he was a little distracted.

He kept looking at us watching him swim.

The kids also get to walk across a floating platform and jump in the water.

It's definitely one of Maddox's favorite parts!Monkey crawl across the side. The kids just look so little and cute doing this. Almost like they're to tiny to be swimming.
They would kick off the wall and swim on their back away from the wall and then kick on their tummy back to the wall.
"Daddy, where did you go?"

Swimming lessons has definitely made Maddox quite the little fish. When he takes a bath at home he gets down on his tummy and "kicks his kickers", blows bubbles, and sometimes just drinks the water.

Well, here's to one year down and many, many more to go. We're having Maddox's big birthday party on Saturday, so more pictures to come!