Maddox is TWO

Oh my sweet baby boy. You have grown so quickly. Is it even possible you are TWO? It does not seem like long ago that you were born on a hot August night (natural birth story). You stole our hearts from the beginning, and everyday as we watch you grow we feel so blessed by having you as a part of our family.

You've grown in so many ways over the past year. At one year, you were only talking a little and hadn't started walking yet. Now you are running, jumping, climbing, and talking quite a bit. You rarely ever sign anymore because you can tell us what you want in sentences and phrases. Occasionally we have a tough time deciding what you are telling us, but most of the time you can say anything you need to. Often quiet around people you don't know well, they are quite surprised when they do hear you talk and remark about how much you say for your age.

You love a good adventure. Splashing in puddles, running, climbing things, "body slams" on the couch from Daddy, and making anything into a drum are a few of your favorites. Your dinner plate often gets flipped, food and all, and becomes a drum with your fork or spoon when you have had enough to eat. You love to explore but usually do everything close enough to me or Daddy so you can run and get a snuggle when you need it.

This year you absolutely loved the beach. Sand, water, waves, you couldn't get enough. 

Though I'm sure you'll grow out of it eventually, you love to dress up and play tea with your sister. I often find you in her pink fuzzy boots, with a scarf and hat on!

You love to eat! Anyone that knows you well remarks on your ability to put away quite a bit of food. You're a bit picky, like most toddlers, but if you like it, you sure can eat it!

Getting chased and chasing us is one thing you just can't get enough of. Sometimes, you just fall down on the spot because your legs quit working during a fit of laughter! We love tickling you and hearing your gleeful laugh and then "a-din!" (again)

You have the sweetest blue eyes and blonde hair. It takes me one booster seat, a favorite movie, some shears, and the time it takes for you to eat two lollipops to finish cutting your hair. You tolerate it pretty well, actually. So long as I don't forget the lollipops. That doesn't cut it.

You have funny little quirks that I adore. You love your blanket (also called a miney, a la Lailey), but you really like snuggling with pants. Yes, pants! Particularly pajama pants. Soft jersey cotton ones. Who knows why, but when you find some, you curl them up by your shoulder, suck your finger, and lay down. Sometimes you will find my clothes and do the same thing. Scarves, shirts, pants, and the like. I am considering making you a blanket of the same material. Maybe I should make it in the shape of pants!

You love to FaceTime with Grammy and Grandaddy, snuggle and read with Grandpa, and spend as much time with your grandparents as you can. They adore you as much as you do all three of them.

Your favorite books (when I can get you to sit still long enough) are:

Your favorite movies and shows are:

By far your favorite thing of all is MUSIC. To say you love it is an understatement. For a long time your favorite song was "Big God" (The Akins), but now you've added "Kneel" and everyday you ask for "Bid Dod an Kneel." You will listen to it a dozen times in a row if possible. Now you tell me everyday "Bid Dod an Kneel, iPad, Duh Atins, NOW!" We're working on you being a bit less demanding, but you definitely know what you want. Anytime you hear a song with a good beat, whether in the car, at the grocery store, or at home, you start nodding your head and dancing around.

You love to sing and will sing as many words to songs as you can. Lailey is definitely inspiring your singing abilities, and you two enjoy singing together. Amazingly, you are starting to match pitches and will finish musical phrases that I sing for you. Since you are quite a snuggler, you often tell me before bed, "Tay A-wate, wock you" ("'Stay Awake,' rock you), which is your way of telling me you want your favorite lullaby from "Mary Poppins," and you want me to rock you a few minutes before bed. It is one of my favorite parts of the day when you lay your sweet head on my chest, curl up with you finger in your mouth, and make song requests. You usually pick from "Winnie the Pooh," "Stay Awake," "Baby Mine," and your new favorite "Den Sings Ma So," which translates to "Then sings my soul" and means "How Great Thou Art." I couldn't believe how quickly you learned that one.

You are very serious about your drum playing. Anything from spoons, forks, chopsticks, wooden spoons, pretty much anything long enough becomes a drum stick. Your most-played-with toy since your first birthday (that's half your life when you think about it!) was your drum from Uncle Nick and Aunt Julie. For this birthday, your new mini drumset from Grandpa was instantly your favorite thing and we couldn't get it out of the package fast enough. You also like to play on a little piano, on which you actually try to play, not bang. And though you haven't quite figured out the strumming yet, you love to pick up your red ukelele (you call it a guitar) and dance and jam out. So far you are consistently a lefty when it comes to guitar. You also like the xylophone, maracas, djembe drum, kazoo, and recorder. Someday, if you follow in your daddy's footsteps and continue in your love and talent for music, it will be fun to be able to tell people how tiny you were when you started. You could play the drum before you could walk!

 Mommy, Daddy, and Lailey love you so much Maddox. You are a treasure and a gift. Your silliness and sweetness bring such joy to our lives every day. Happy Birthday, Maddy!