Sleeping through the night...at last!

I have to admit... I was right.  I know that a lot of people and a lot of other parents believe in the Cry it Out Method, the Interval Training Method, the "Close the door and walk away" Method and that's fine.  As for me, I believe that when the time is right, it will happen.  In the past, when I would try to sleep-train Maddox, it was miserable.  He was unhappy and I was unhappy and Daddy was unhappy and we were all sleep-deprived.  There was no progress and I always gave up after 3 or 4 nights.  But this time, the timing felt right and Maddox was ready.  Four nights ago, I decided I would stop nursing him at night and teach him to sleep in his own bed.  5:00 would be the earliest I would nurse him and let him into our bed.  When he would wake up, I decided I would just rock him back to sleep and put him back in his bed.  So night 1 was rough.  Maddox woke up 4 or 5 times and cried for about 30 minutes each time.  Night 2 was better.  He only woke up 2 or 3 times.  Night 3 he woke up once and last night- night 4... HE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!  I was so excited and so proud of him.  Now, I know it's only one night so I am hoping that by writing this I'm not jinxing myself.  We'll see how tonight goes.  But contrary to my previous attempts, this time I am seeing progress.  I nursed him at 6:00 this morning and let him sleep with me for the rest of the morning.  I don't mind the co-sleeping at all.  In fact, the only reason I am sleep-training him is so that he learns he doesn't need to nurse all night.  And so that eventually I can move him into his own room probably within the next couple of months.  Although, I find myself feeling a lot of anxiety whenever I think about him sleeping in another room and not right next to me.  But for the sake of our marriage, I think it has to happen eventually and probably sooner rather than later.  Well after that big news, I feel like there isn't much more to say.  Maddox is still really close to walking on his own.  I'm sure it will happen any day now.  He knows who Cuni is and when I ask him where Cuni is, he looks at him.  No, he's not pointing yet and he's not clapping either but hey, at least he's understanding a little bit of what's going on around him.  Maddox is going through an awkward phase with his hair.  As his mother, I think he is beautiful and that includes thinking his hair is beautiful.  But to the world, he doesn't have good hair.  It's really long in the back and has a weird curly wavy thing going on but only in the back.  On top, his hair is straight and sparse.  So today we went swimming and after the sunscreen and chlorine, his hair was not looking its best.  Allan brought to my attention his hair issues and that's when I realized all of this.  But luckily, it's just a phase and I think it's because he is transitioning from his baby hair to little boy hair.  I still think he is gorgeous.  Anyway, Maddox is still a big eater.  The other day he ate a whole can of Spaghetti-o's and he can eat fruit and pasta for days.  We had his first experience in a bouncy house at a little girl's birthday party and he hated it.  He was really scared.  But I'm sure he will learn to like bouncy houses even though his dad wanted to teach him to like it now.  It's funny how the never-ending battle between Allan and me is my propensity to baby Maddox a little too much and Allan's propensity to toughen him up a little too much.  I'm sure we'll figure it out and find the right balance someday.  But for now, Maddox is my baby.  

Seconds Away...

Maddox is seconds away from walking. Every time I let go of his hand he stands there for a couple seconds on his own before realizing I'm not holding his hand anymore. Then he plops to the floor on his bum. It's like my mom said- he won't walk until he trusts himself even though he CAN walk. It's exciting though watching him learn. Maddy goes all around the house walking along furniture and pushing his toy. He has recently discovered how to throw things particularly food. He also loves closing or more specifically slamming doors shut. From day one Maddox has loved looking out our patio door. Unfortunately for both of us, there are blinds in the way. So of course, Maddox has smashed, ripped off, bitten off, and bent the blinds piece by piece. A couple days ago I decided to try and teach my 11 month old the consequences of destroying blinds. It just seemed like he knew what he was doing because he definitely understands what "no" means and each time I would say "no" he would just look at me and smile and keep playing with the blinds. Then when I would get up to remove him from the blinds, he would almost get excited and start hitting at the blinds faster and harder. So I thought I would teach him that it's not a game anymore. After putting him in "tiempo" or "time-out" several times which consisted of me keeping him in a sitting position facing a corner, nothing seemed to change. Maybe I was doing it wrong but more than likely, he's too young. Plus, I felt like a mean mom. After all, the blinds are right at eye and hand level for him and very accessible. And he definitely didn't seem to understand why I was making him sit in a corner. He of course didn't like it and cried but he looked pretty confused. I can admit that my first attempt at discipline was a complete failure. My approach so far and still is to remove from his access anything he's not supposed to play with or destroy and the rest is fair game. It's just easier that way. I hate feeling like I have spent my whole day saying "no" which is how I felt after the whole "tiempo" debacle. Anyway, Maddox is still enjoying books and his cartoons-Dora. He is getting a bigger appetite and loves fruit cocktail and spaghetti-O's. He has a ton of teeth now and is still biting everything. Maddy has been paying a lot more attention to Cuni (to Cuni's dismay) and has been getting a little better at being soft with him. Maddox loves swimming and his baths. He also loves playing the piano with Mommy. He is very vocal but doesn't seem to be close to talking. He screams and grunts and babbles baby talk but nothing coherent. Maddox has also learned to dance. It's the cutest thing. Whenever he hears a song he likes he starts bouncing and swaying from side to side. I love it! Well that's all that's really new. Hopefully in my next post I will be announcing that Maddy is walking.

Mr. Personality

Maddy got sick about a week ago and today is the first day he is feeling better and back to his normal happy self. He had Roseola. It was very stressful for me because he had a fever for about five days straight and he didn’t seem to be improving. That was really his only major symptom other than a decreased appetite which in itself was stressful. I took him to the doctor mostly to make sure it wasn’t an ear infection. The doctor said it was most likely a virus and to wait it out. Finally, a couple days ago he got a weird rash on his back and neck. After talking to Missy, I googled "fever rash" and discovered Roseola. It was such a relief finally figuring out what he had. During the past week and as I listened to Maddy fussing and crying throughout the day and night, I realized how much I love and missed his personality that I often take for granted. I thought that I would make a list:

•I love how he makes a “kah” sound over and over again when I let him play with something new.

•I love how he sits on the floor and spins himself around in circles when he is playing with a fun toy.

•I love how he wants to give me kisses right after he hurts himself.

•I love how he looks over at me and smiles right before he is about to do something naughty.

•I love how he loves books and can sit for hours turning the pages.

•I love how ticklish he is on his feet and thighs and tummy and neck.

•I love how he is so curious and gets stuck in all kinds of weird places and positions.

•I love how he crawls inhumanly fast when he is going for something he isn’t supposed to play with.

•I love how he looks out the window of the patio door and watches the birds and bangs on the door wanting to go outside.

•I love how he bangs on the door after Daddy leaves.

•I love how he smothers his face into his blankie before his naps and before bedtime.

•I love how he reaches for me in the middle of the night and rolls closer to me so we are always touching.

The list goes on and obviously a lot of these things are only endearing to me because I am his mother. But I realize how special he is and how lucky I am to be able to know him in a way that no one else ever will. I love Maddox with all my heart and I am so grateful to be his mommy.

Our little bookworm

Maddy is almost 10 months old and still growing. He has displayed a love for books recently and when he isn't crawling or walking along furniture, his favorite thing to do is sit and turn the pages of his books. It is so special to see him sit quietly and take a book in his hands and turn the pages. I can't believe how smart he is and how fast he learns. It's amazing. Maddy has also been trying to stand on his own. He has been letting go of the couch and the chairs and standing for several seconds before he falls on his bum. Maddox is getting a very big appetite and eating a variety of foods. He likes toast or a waffle for breakfast and of course he still loves cheese, yogurt and fruit. But he also eats whatever we are having for dinner so lasagna, enchiladas, quesadillas, pasta, meatballs, etc. So I am hoping he is not a picky eater and continues to like everything we give him. I have noticed that Maddox now understands what "no" means. Not to say that he listens but he definitely knows that when I say "no" he is supposed to stop whatever he is doing. Unfortunately, he also thinks it is funny when Mom has to go get him and take him away from whatever he is doing. Once taken away he then gets mad and being as persistent as he is, goes back to whatever it was he was doing. This cycle takes up a large part of our day. But I don't mind because I know he is exploring and learning and eventually, he will listen when Mom says "no"... hopefully. Maddox has been saying "mama" a lot especially when he is fussy but it is very endearing to hear him cry for me. Maddox loves swimming and playing with Cuni and Cuni has learned that he is not allowed to run away from Maddox so he just lays there while Maddox pulls at his hair and hits him. But I am teaching Maddox "soft" or "suave" so he is doing a little better with Cuni. Maddox also loves to go for walks and ride in his stroller. Maddox is a very happy little boy and very affectionate. He has a thing for girls with dark long hair. He will go to anyone that has long black hair and is very affectionate with them. It's really funny. Although he has become a little shy and when a stranger talks to him or looks at him he puts his head down and looks away. He is also very scared of the missionaries for some reason. Every time they have come over for dinner, he starts crying and gets really scared when they first walk in. I have a feeling he is going to be shy. Allan and I were both shy as children so it wouldn't surprise me. Maddox gets cuter by the day. He eyes are still bright blue and he is getting a little bit more hair which is still medium brown. Allan and I just can't get enough of him. We love our little boy so much!

A Temper & Tantrums

Maddox is only 9 and a half months and he has already displayed a very persistent personality.  When he wants something that he can't have, he does not give up.  Maddox loves to play with and chew on cords; all kinds of cords, computer cords, TV cords, internet cords, phone charger cords, etc.  No matter how we try to hide them or how high we place them, he keeps after them.  Maddox has also discovered Cuni's food and water.  Once he realizes that he can't have the thing he wants, he throws a tantrum.  He screams and cries and throws his head back.  I was so shocked the first time he did it but now I am used to it and I just try to protect his head from hitting the hardwood floor.  But last night was quite an episode.  We went to the church to watch Allan play basketball and Maddy fell in love with the court.  All he wanted to do was crawl on the basketball court and he wanted to crawl toward all the guys playing basketball.  It was like he wanted to play with them.  Obviously, he couldn't crawl onto the court while they were playing so I would grab him and hold him back.  He was furious!  Maddox screamed and cried and threw his head back.  Once he calmed down, he would try to crawl back onto the court.  This cycle lasted the whole time we were there until finally I took him home.  In between games, I would let him crawl on the court and he was so happy!  It was really cute.  It seems he is already taking a liking to sports.  Maddox has gotten a little better about eating.  I figured out that he likes baby food plain without cereal mixed in so I have been feeding him that.  Maddox had his 9 month check up and all is well.  No ear infections, his umbilical hernia has healed and he is big, strong and healthy.  Maddy also got to go on our girls' trip to Vegas.  He had a lot of fun.  My mom, all my sisters and I went to Vegas for a couple of days.  We went shopping and swimming and ate out.  It was so much fun and Maddy was a good sport.  He got a little restless on the ride home but overall, he was great.  Maddy is so affectionate and loving.  It is so nice that he loves my mom and sisters and will give them hugs and let them all hold him.  Anyway, Maddox is doing great in spite of his temper tantrums.  His two top teeth are growing in so he has been a little fussy but he is still such a happy baby.  I always have to keep my eye on him so he definitely keeps me on my toes.  He is a very busy and curious little boy!

9 months old already!

Maddox had his first Easter and his first visit from the Easter bunny. He loved the eggs! Maddox turns 9 months old in 3 days. I can't believe it. He is crawling really well now and pulling himself up onto chairs, couches and beds. I can tell he is very anxious to walk. He definitely prefers to be on his feet standing. I am realizing how "un-baby-proofed" our house is now that he is so mobile. Maddox is also becoming a finicky eater. I can't seem to figure out what he likes or doesn't like and when he is or isn't hungry. He still has a big appetite when it comes to nursing but he refuses his cereal and baby food. I'm assuming he is asserting his independence because he only seems to eat table food that I let him feed himself. So lately, I have been giving him cheese, little bits of meat, veggies, fruit, grilled cheese, waffles, etc. Stuff that he can pick up and put into his mouth all by himself. The problem is he takes a really long time to eat and sometimes just plays. My concern is that he isn't getting enough to eat so sometimes, I put the food in his mouth just to help him out a little but he gets really offended. Needless to say, I spend a lot of my day "feeding" Maddox. I am debating as to whether or not I should start feeding him three meals instead of two. Maddox is not showing any signs of starvation and is still a very large little boy. He is extremely solid though and almost muscular. His legs are really firm but massive. Maddox is wearing 18 month old size clothing already and some of the clothes are a little snug. He is also wearing size 4 diapers. The other day, my friends mentioned on Facebook how her 2 or 3 year old daughter wears size 4 diapers. Maddox is also a very good snuggler. He loves giving hugs and kisses and still loves sleeping with Mommy and Daddy. But he is getting better at not eating as much at night. I am optimistic that eventually he will outgrow nursing at night. Maddox got to spend some time with his Grandma and Grandpa Morrill. They came to visit a couple of weeks ago. Maddox was very sweet and affectionate with them as he always is. It's very nice to have such an affectionate and loving little boy. His hugs and kisses mean the world to me! Maddox's first top tooth just poked through yesterday. I can't believe he is going to have top teeth. He is growing up way too fast. Time has flown by and we sure have had fun! We love Maddox so much!

8 Month Photo Session