A Snapshot of Maddox

Maddox is almost a year and a half. I don't think I've really posted about him specifically in a long time, but I'll hit some of the highlights of the last few months. He started walking at 15 months. He was very cautious about the whole thing and when he finally took the first few steps, I realized why it had taken him so long: he wanted to be careful not to fall! He was very deliberate about it. Now he enjoys trying to keep up with Lailey and giggling as she flies past him.

 He shares a room with big sister now.  We made the transition in the fall, and while there were a few nap times when I thought "What were we thinking?!?" they have both adjusted to it well.

Maddox is the sweetest boy I know. Of course, I'm biased, but he really is. He's so snuggly and lovey. He loves Mommy and Daddy and usually Lailey, when she's not getting in his space. He loves to be outside.

That irresistibly long hair to pull

Maddox is saying a lot of words. He says: (many of these are used with a sign)

Mommy (and Mama)

Daddy (and Dada)

Lah-lee, or La-la for Lailey

ball

doggy

puppy

Elmo

up

bye bye

hi and hey

help

snack ("'nack")

eat

'nana for banana

cheese

shoes

socks

outside

"wassat?" for "what's that?"

down

bath

bubble

poopoo

me

shirt

moon

dirty (I think he says it more like dir-dir)

all done

toot

hand 

please

more

baby

yes (doesn't say "no" but will shake his head)

Amy

Paw-paw (sometimes for Davey's PawPaw, sometimes for Grandpa, I think)

Addy

one (repeats this, doesn't actually count yet)

two (says it after one)

eight (will say it after seven, which really surprised me)

night-night

Words he signs but doesn't say:

water

drink

He is very smiley! (14 months)

Since Lailey was such an early talker, I expected him to the opposite. But he is surprising us all the time with all the things he can say and what he understands. It is a wonderful gift to be able to communicate. 

13 months

Giving Sissy kisses

Loving the outdoors

He loves to swing too!

Things I don't want to forget about Maddy at this age:

The way he snuggles on my shoulder. He often sucks his left index finger, so whenever I pick him up, he's got that finger in his mouth, and he pushes his right hand down and tucks it under my arm. He only lays his head on my right shoulder so his left hand can be out for that finger.

He loves dogs. The other day at the grocery store, he started yelling "doddie! doddie!" and I looked around and realized there was an end display full of Milk Bones, and sure enough, a large golden retriever on the box.

His favorite book is "Dear Zoo." He loves lifting all the flaps to see the animals, and he loves that it ends with a doggie. He is just starting to sit still for a few books, so I'm trying to sit down and read to him more instead of just Lailey.

He has the best laugh. It just bubbles up and explodes when he gets tickled, when we chase him, and when Lailey does silly things like pretend to fall down.

His legs quit working when he's getting chased! I can get down on all fours and growl playfully and he just cackles and falls over! Then he laughs some more. It's adorable! Sometimes he'll run straight at me and wrap his arms around my neck to catch me.

He is a Mama's boy and a Daddy's boy. He really adores both of us, which is nice, since Lailey has always favored me, sometimes to the extreme.

He is a little shy, but warms up if given the chance. In a new situation, he really likes for me to hold him for 10 minutes or so, but before long he's the life of the party.

He loves to dance. He's still rather wobbly since he's only been walking a few months, but he tries his best to dance. It's precious.

He gets very excited at the mention of the word "bath."

He does NOT like his diaper changed, his nose cleaned, or his face wiped.

He goes to bed at 7:30 pm. He takes one nap most days, occasionally asking to go night-night for a morning nap.

He eats a lot of different things, but as is typical of a toddler, his preferences change frequently. He'll like spaghetti one day, and spit it out the next. I just keep on trying and don't worry about it.

He loves his CamelBak Kid water bottle. He loved Lailey's so much and stole it that I finally just got him one for Christmas.

He is on the small side, at about 21.5 lbs. This is very good though because I don't think I could carry him as much if he were much bigger.

My little man is growing up so fast. Davey and I adore him to pieces and find such joy in taking care of him. Having a second child has changed me as a mom in a good way, mainly that I don't stress about things as much (I didn't say I don't stress at all, just not as much!). Sometimes I think about us being a family of four, and I can barely believe it.