So Maddox will be two in just over a month. It's very hard to believe but he is definitely showing signs of the "terrible twos." Tantrums have become a little more frequent and more dramatic but luckily, they are still pretty short-lived. And Maddox is still a softy for cuddles and hugs and kisses. After he gets his cries out and finishes with his tantrum, he comes to me to be held and snuggled. I am so glad he hasn't learned how to be angry with me or blame me for why he can't always have what he wants. I am treasuring the moments that he lets me hold him, kiss him and cuddle him because any day now he could just decide that he is a big boy. But a part of me believes he will always be affectionate. It seems to be in his nature.
Maddox is still very energetic and constantly running away to explore and get as far as he can before he is caught. He has become a fast little runner. His speech has progressed and he has been learning new words. He now says "bye-bye" and "mine" and "uh-oh" is still his most frequently used word as he says it anytime he gets into something he's not supposed to or any time I turn off the TV which has encouraged me to watch less TV since he seems to think something is wrong if it's not on. Maddox spends most of his nights sleeping on the floor by the door and has been very stubborn about sleeping in his own bed. I feel really bad for him and hate that he is sleeping on the floor but Allan reminds me that if it was uncomfortable he would move. But Allan is also a little bias because he spent some of his childhood with out a bed and had to sleep on the floor. I don't know what else I can do. I put him to bed and as soon as I walk out he gets out of bed and runs to the door. Then, I wait about an hour until he is asleep and I move him to his bed. But every morning I find him back by the door. I'm hoping he will grow out of it.
Maddox got to visit his cousins in Idaho for a couple weeks and loved his time there. All of his cousins were so sweet with him. Maddox was introduced to toy guns, fishing, boating and motorized toy tractors and jeeps. He fell in love! We had to pry him from the steering wheels each time as he fought to stay on kicking and screaming.
Overall, Maddox is a very good boy and is learning how to listen and how to be a good helper. He loves helping me load the dishwasher and pour in the soap and turn it on. He loves helping me bake cookies, pancakes and brownies. And he loves getting himself dressed. In fact, he refuses to let me help him get dressed until after an hour of him getting his head stuck in the arm hole, I insist on helping.
Maddox has become very attached to his Daddy and wants to do everything Daddy does. He loves putting on Allan's tennis shoes and doing exercises with Allan. Allan has been doing a program called P90X and Maddox has learned several yoga poses and how to use a push-up bar. Maddox is also obsessed with sports especially baseball but he loves basketball too. Every time we see a basketball or a hoop, he wants us to lift him up so he can throw the ball in. Maddox is very technologically savvy and is able to easily navigate an iPhone and iPad. He especially loves the camera app and loves taking pictures of random things around the house like the ceiling fan and the couch.
These past few months, I have been trying to accept that our lives are going to change drastically when the new baby arrives. I know that my love for Maddox will not change but our relationship will. I am hoping that I can balance both of my babies' needs and that Maddox won't feel abandoned or unloved. This is my biggest fear. At the same time, I want to give the new baby just as much attention and love as I gave Maddox. I held Maddox all day when he was baby and he slept by my side every night. I don't want Maddox to feel excluded and I want to spend our days snuggling and playing just as we do now. I'm sure I will figure it out but becoming a mother of two is going to be a challenge. I just hope Maddox stays patient with me and loves me through the process.
