Halloween

Our Tall Dancer

We have had a busy month and a lot of fun!  Maddox had his 15 month check-up with the doctor and apparently, he is really tall.  The nurse measured him two times and then the doctor measured him again because they thought he was just too tall that they must have been measuring him wrong.  So he is in the 100th percentile for height which of course, his dad is super happy about.  I have to admit I was happy too.  I don't know why but having a tall and strong boy makes me a little proud.  Maddox is 85th percentile in weight.  It does seem to explain why most people assume he is older than he is.  Anyway, Maddox is climbing on everything and it has been tough to keep him out of trouble.  He loves climbing on the kitchen chairs and table, the toilet, the couches, the beds, etc.  He is very strong and a tough kid.  A couple weekends ago, we went to Utah and visited Allan's family.  Maddox got to play with his cousins, Mayan and Hunter and see his Grandma and Grandpa.  He was such a good boy and loved hanging out with his uncle Brent.  I think Maddox felt comfortable around him because he looks a little like Allan.  While we were all watching football together, Maddox climbed onto the couch next to Brent and sat right next to him leaning his head against him.  Then, Maddox grabbed a Pringles can and was just sitting there eating the chips watching football.  It was really funny.  Maddox also got to dress up for Halloween and go to a ward Trunk or Treat while we were there.  He was Yoda and I was Princess Leia.  He looked so cute!  Maddox was a good little traveler too.  I was really worried about the flights because Maddox has a hard time sitting still and not running around.  But he did great on both flights.  This past weekend, my parents came into town and we had so much with them.  We spent Halloween over at Becky's and went trick or treating in her neighborhood.  We all dressed up as characters from Stars Wars again- Maddox as Yoda, Allan as Luke and Me as Princess Leia.  It was so fun watching Maddox walk up to each door with his cousins in his cute little costume holding his little pumpkin for candy.  It made me realize Maddox is not a baby anymore...he's a little boy.  It was a bittersweet realization.  Maddox adores his cousins and loves giving Becky's boys hugs and following them around.  He also loved walking down the street with Grandpa and holding his hand.  The day after Halloween, Friday, we all went to the zoo.  Maddox is starting to notice the animals a little more and was pointing at some of them.  But his favorite part was playing in the water.  So we spent some time under the tree house in the water and the sand and Maddox got really dirty and wet but he had so much fun.  Saturday, we celebrated my Dad's 60th birthday at Carrabba's.  It was a great time and we are so lucky to have family so close.  Maddox is still breastfeeding and his eating habits have not improved.  A couple weeks ago, I bought the all-beef hot dogs instead of the cheap ones I usually buy and Maddox didn't like them.  I also bought a different kind of Teddy Grahams and he refused to eat those too.  I decided a while ago not to fight with him and force him to eat things because I don't want eating to be a negative experience for him but it is very frustrating.  I just have to tell myself that if he were starving, he would eat so he must not be starving.  We have discovered Maddox's favorite thing to do and his best talent- dancing.  Maddox loves to dance!  Anytime he hears music and pretty much any kind of music, he starts turning in circles and doing little squats bouncing up and down.  He is happiest when there is music on and we are all dancing.  He loves it!  My favorite part of the day is when Maddox and I dance together.  He is the best!

15 months old

Above: Maddy's funny faces while watching TV

So Maddox is almost 15 months old and time seems to be slowing down a bit which is good.  I feel like the first year of his life flew by.  These last three months have been nice.  Maddox is getting better at communicating and is understanding a lot of what we say and do.  He waves, dances, points, brings me books to read, shakes his head (a lot) when he doesn't like something or doesn't want to do something, gives great kisses, throws balls, walks Cuni, gives Cuni treats, gives high fives, climbs on the couches, plays games on the Ipad and computer, and screams and yells when he is happy and when he is mad.  So still no talking other than Mama, Dada and he now can say "go" to Cuni when we open the door for Cuni to go to the bathroom.  But Maddox understands a lot of words like: no, tiempo, besos, bye-bye, fuera, salimos, vamos, night-night and lots of other words.  I know he will be a little slower because of the two languages but I'm trying to stick with it and not get worried over the delay.  Maddox loves his baths and loves swimming.  When we take our daily walk, I always try to avoid walking by the pool because without fail, Maddox tries to open the gate and then throws a little tantrum when I pull him away to continue on our way.  Maddox is still very active and never stops moving unless he is sleeping.  He goes and goes and goes and moves really fast.  But he is a very good boy and just has lots of energy.  The other day when we went swimming, Maddox wanted to get out of the main pool and go into the hot tub so I let him.  Then he wanted to go back into the main pool, then back again.  He was having so much fun going back and forth and felt like such a big boy getting out of the pools by himself.  I subbed for the 5-year-olds in primary last Sunday and took Maddox in with me.  He loved being with the other kids and sat up to the table with the other kids in his little chair.  He was so well-behaved and just loved belonging and being part of the group.  It was so cute.  Maddox definitely loves other kids and always laughs or smiles at any kid that he sees whether we are in the grocery store, at church or anywhere else.  Maddox is down to one 3-hour nap and goes to bed around 8:30.  He has been waking up earlier and earlier.  So no more sleeping in for Mama.  I was lucky for the first year but no more waking up at 10.  It's okay though because we get to play with Daddy before he goes to work.  Now I just have to adjust my bedtime which hasn't happened yet so I have been a little tired.  Maddox is still a picky eater.  Still pasta, hot dogs, toast, yogurt, fruit but only fresh fruit, and sometimes applesauce.  I keep telling myself that since I am breastfeeding it's okay that he doesn't eat veggies or a variety but eventually, I will have to figure out how to get him to overcome his finicky eating.  Just not today.  At least, he is doing well with a fork and spoon.  He is learning how to use both and loves feeding himself.  Maddox is still the love of our lives and continues to be our everything.  He is so much fun and although a handful, he is so sweet and loving.  It's a huge blessing having a child that expresses his love for his parents so well.  We are truly blessed.  

Our Iittle "terremoto"

So Maddox has earned a new nickname: "terremoto" which means earthquake in Spanish.  I almost think "tornado" would be more appropriate or something that destroys everything in its path incredibly quickly.  Needless to say, it has been very difficult to take Maddox to other people's houses or new places.  He is just so curious and now that he's mobile, he's incredibly fast.  After I remove him from one potential path of destruction, I turn around and he has found another.  And I should probably clarify, Maddox has no impure intentions.  He simply loves touching, throwing, hitting and grabbing things.  It's curiosity and discovery that motivate him.  We went to my friend's baby blessing last Sunday and then to her parents' house afterward.  During our one-hour stay, Maddox turned on their gas stove, opened a bird cage several times(no, the bird didn't escape thank goodness but all the other kids just looked at Maddox like they were jealous that he dared do what they all wanted to do), opened the door on their very tightly-shut entertainment center and pushed buttons on all the devices, climbed up the stairs about 20 times (even though he hasn't learned how to go down the stairs yet), tried to escape out the front door every time someone came in or out and the list goes on.  And this all happened while we were watching him like a hawk.  It's amazing how much energy Maddox has and how he can outlast us and outsmart us sometimes.  It's to the point where I asked Allan if maybe Maddox has a hyperactive disorder or something where he has too much energy.  I know it's my first kid so I just don't get it but I am adjusting...slowly.  And even though it is stressful to take him places, I am still loving every minute of motherhood.  I look at it as trying to cage a wild animal.  Of course, it's going to be difficult but when we get home or whenever we are in a child-proof place, I let him "out of his cage" and let him go free.  I love watching him run all around in the gym at church or when we take Cuni for a walk and he just wanders wherever he wants.  Recently, he has been putting a clear plastic mixing bowl over his head and doing laps around the house.  He thinks it's so fun.  Then the other day he tried putting one of my shirts over his head and face and did the same but ran into a couple of walls and furniture so that didn't last too long.  He went back to the bowl and did a couple more laps.  Maddox has learned how to take Cuni on walks.  I can't say Cuni is too excited about it but Maddox loves it.  We go on a walk almost every day and Maddox gets to hold the leash the whole time.  Sometimes, he gets distracted and wants to play with rocks or bushes and I have to hurry him along.  Afterall, we are walking out in 100 plus degree heat.  The heat does not seem to bother or slow down Maddox at all though.  He loves being outside and he loves being a big boy and getting to hold the leash.  Maddox is still a picky eater.  He will only eat fresh fruit, pasta, hot dogs, and toast.  That is literally his whole diet.  But I am still breastfeeding him so he is getting plenty of nutrition.  We all got sick last week and luckily, Maddox only got a little sick.  We had bad colds and mine turned into a sinus infection.  I would say that was the hardest week of motherhood.  I had no energy and my head felt like it was going to explode.  I felt bad that I couldn't play with Maddox or take him out.  All I wanted to do was sleep and I felt too weak to do anything.  But he is such a good boy and just played with his toys and read his books.  He loves his books.  Something else Maddox loves is hitting.  I've been trying to teach him that he shouldn't hit people but he just doesn't get it.  It's his way of communicating.  When I was sick, I laid out a blanket in the middle of the floor with a pillow and laid there while Maddox played around me.  I figured it was the least I could do and that way, I would still be somewhat "accessible."  Maddox kept hitting me right in the head.  I think after I kept saying "Ouwee" and "No" he realized that I didn't like it.  But he still hits me on my chest when he wants to nurse.  And he hits the couch when he wants the remote or my water bottle either because he thinks hitting the couch will move those items closer to him or because he knows that I understand his hitting language.  I hope that eventually he realizes that hitting isn't a good form of communication.  Maddox doesn't seem to be ready to talk yet.  He still says "Mama" and "Dada" but nothing else.  Maddox has learned to love his naps.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he only gets his pacifier when he is napping.  But it has become very easy to put Maddox down.  I just turn on his fan and humidifier and lay him down with his pacifier and his blankie.  He smiles and lays there and eventually falls asleep.  Maddox is still very affectionate and loves to give me hugs and kisses and loves being held.  It makes me so happy that even with how busy and active he is, Maddox will still walk up to me and hit me letting me know that he wants his Mama to hold him.  It melts my heart and assures me that Maddox will always be my little sweetheart.          

Busy Boy

Last Saturday, I left Maddox with a babysitter for the first time.  He did really well.  And surprisingly, I was not worried about him.  Allan and I went to the temple so we were gone for almost 4 hours.  Maddox napped for a couple hours and then played with the babysitter for the rest of the time.  I was so proud of him.  He didn't cry and wasn't as shy as I thought he would be.  I'm starting to think that he only acts shy when I'm holding him or when I'm around.  I don't really get it but it's not a big deal.  Anyway, Maddox has learned to love music and dancing.  Anytime a song comes on or anytime I start dancing, he will start swaying from side to side and bouncing.  It's really cute.  He is still clapping and I think he uses clapping as a form of communication.  Sometimes, when he is done eating and full, he will clap and sometimes, when I'm changing his diaper, he will clap to let me know that he doesn't like laying down and wants to stand up.  It's kind of funny but I'm glad he has figured out how to let me know how he is feeling.  Maddox does use words like Mama and Dada but no other words yet.  I really need to work on talking to him more.  I read books to him everyday and I point to things and say the name for them but he just doesn't seem interested in repeating me and doesn't seem to care.  Maddox is extremely busy and curious and always seems to get into trouble.  It's getting more difficult to take him places like restaurants, church, and other people's houses.  All he wants to do is walk around and explore touching everything along the way.  He refuses to just sit still and let Allan or I hold him.  I totally get it though because he loves being independent and when we're in a new place, he just gets so excited.  Maddox is really good with other kids and loves giving them kisses and patting them on their heads.  He always laughs at other kids and tries to play with them.  It really makes me want another baby.  I know Maddox would be such a good brother and he would have so much fun playing with someone other than me all day.  I have been trying to be more accessible recently and have been sitting on the floor instead of the couch.  I find that Maddox gets a little fussy if I'm sitting on the couch because he wants up but I won't let him just climb all over the couch because we have hard floors and I don't want him falling.  Anyway, if I'm on the floor, Maddy can give me hugs and kisses or bring me a toy or a book and it just makes him happier.  I've also been trying to not use the word "no" unless he's doing something that could hurt him or someone else.  I got to a point where I was overusing the word and it was losing its significance to him.  Also, I don't like spending the whole day telling Maddox no.  At his age, he wants to do what I do and what Allan does and he wants to play with things that aren't toys just for that reason- they aren't his toys.  I'm trying to let him do as much as possible without completely destroying our house and I'm also trying to take him to the museum and swimming at least once a week.  He's such a good boy and I love watching his mind work.  Maddox is getting so smart and one of his tricks is that he will drop or throw a toy somewhere that he's not supposed to be just so that he has an excuse to be in that place to go get his toy.  He does that with trying to get past the chair barrier to the dog food and he does it with the bathrooms and the bathtub.  It's hilarious because I know exactly what he is thinking.  I am so in love with him and am so happy he is such an easy-going kid.  

A Stubborn Side

We have had a busy week.  We went to San Diego for a little family reunion and Maddox got to meet his cousins.  Missy's girls love Maddox and were very sweet with him.  He also got to play with Becky's boys and had a lot of fun with them too.  Maddox loves the beach!  He loved the sand and was covered it in from head to toe every day we went.  He doesn't seem to mind the taste of sand and would repeatedly put it in his mouth or put sand toys in his mouth.  I'm sure he ate several handfuls each day.  But it kept him busy and he was such a good boy.  He wasn't a huge fan of the water but probably because it was cold.  He slept pretty well the nights we were there.  Overall, we had a great time and I feel like Maddox is finally at the point where he can adjust to being somewhere new easily.  He took good naps, slept well and was happy.
Maddox has decided to be even more picky and now will not eat fruit cocktail, peaches, cherries, or pears.  He does like bananas and has discovered oranges.  We went to a buffet while in San Diego and he ate about 10 orange slices.  Maddox still loves yogurt, hot dogs, pasta and watermelon.  Today, Maddox has shown me just how stubborn he is.  Over a span of 3 hours, Maddox and I had a nonstop battle of the wills.  Cuni's water and food is in the kitchen in the corner.  I have the table and chairs set up so that they create a barrier from wall to wall so Maddox can't get through.  Just in the last couple of weeks, Maddox has learned how to crawl through the legs of the chairs.  So today, he was determined to get to Cuni's food and water.  I kept telling him "no" and would pull him back through the chairs over and over again.  After about an hour of this, I decided maybe just holding him by the food and water and letting him see it up close would take away the novelty and his curiosity but I think it just made him want it more.  After another hour, I switched the chairs onto their sides and over the next hour, switched them about ten different times since Maddox is incredibly strong and can move them, lift them, and pull them to get through.  Needless to say, it has been a long day.  I am shocked at how stubborn and persistent Maddox is.  I have never seen this side of him.  Our battle ended with me finally arranging the chairs in a way that Maddox couldn't disarrange and him screaming and me putting him down for a nap.  On the bright side, Maddox seems to have inherited the part of Allan that makes him such a hard worker.  When he wants something, he goes after it and does not give up.  I, on the other hand am more of a procrastinator and tend to give up rather easily on things that aren't that important.  You would think that touching dog food and splashing a little bit of water wouldn't be worth a 3 hour battle but apparently, it is worth it to Maddox.  I love my little boy and I can't believe how fast he is growing up and how much of a little boy he is now.  He is showing us his personality and although stubborn and persistent, he is still loving and affectionate.  Each time I told him "no" and pulled him away from the dog food, he would cry and still let me hold him and hug him.  He doesn't hold grudges and forgives me immediately for not giving him what he wants.  Maddox is still my little sweetheart!

Birthday Questionnaire

1. What is your favorite color? Green (I think Maddox looks so cute in green and his blankie is green)
2. What is your favorite toy? His new house with shapes on the roof and anything that isn't a toy. Maddox loves blinds, remotes, phones, trashcans, toilets, cords, and the piano.
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
4. What is your favorite tv show? Dora La Exploradora
5. What is your favorite movie? Toy Story
6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Nothing! Maddox loves being naked.
7. What is your favorite animal? Dog, Maddox loves Cuni and loves his talking puppy (stuffed animal).
8. What is your favorite song? Any song with a beat... Maddox loves to dance!
9. What is your favorite book? Baby Animals and This Little Piggy
10. Who is your best friend? Mommy (or at least I like to think so)
11. What is your favorite snack? Veggie Straws
12. What is your favorite drink? Juice
13. What is your favorite breakfast? Yogurt and blueberry waffle
14. What is your favorite lunch? Hotdogs and watermelon
15. What is your favorite dinner? Pasta
16. What is your favorite game? this little piggy, dancing with Mommy, playing with Daddy
17. What is your favorite thing to play outside? swimming
18. What is your favorite holiday? N/A
19. What do you sleep with at night? His green blankie and his pacifier
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? I would say a lifeguard. Maddox loves to swim and loves the water. He also is very compassionate and affectionate and incredibly strong.