Merry Christmas 2010

Where to even begin...I don't know if I can attach words to the experience of Maddox's first Christmas. All I have heard for the past several weeks is how much I was gonna enjoy this year, and trust me I did. We started off the festivities when my mama arrived the day before Christmas Eve, and didn't stop until now. It's amazing how a little jammied babe can bring families together, both old and new. We had so many delicious meals, and Maddox made sure he kept everyone entertained. Although someone was forever missing, she wasn't forgotten. It was........wonderful.


Maddox and Me


Santa's cookies - my favorite Christmas thumbprint cookies


It looked like a tornado had hit


Nona hand knitted this hat





This was his signature smile for the weekend - hammin it up big time


This shows how active my boy is - I'm lucky to get a still shot of him, and most pics end up like this, a blur


A blast from the past. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Tha 'Burg

I just came home from a very awesome weekend with some besties - Maddox stayed behind (sniff sniff) but it was honestly really good to get away and have some adult time. Matt and I went to Pittsburgh for the weekend to visit Megs and Doug. Matt had never been there before so we did some sightseeing, ate lots of good food, but most importantly we went to the Steelers game to watch Doug! It was so exciting!! Since we moved back from Memphis I'd forgotten what living in a big city feels like - it's like you can actually feel the energy of all the people buzzing around you - it's infectious! We barely beat the snow back and now I'm all cozied in my house drinking hot chocolate with cool whip...more pics of the trip to come ~

December

Taking a week off of work to stay at home was the best decision I've made in a long time! I've so enjoyed all the fun things I've been doing - shopping, wrapping, peeling, chopping, tasting, sipping, baking...but most importantly spending time with the mad man. Every night I hold on to his jammied body just a little longer before I tuck him in and I thank the Lord for choosing me to be his mom. Today I actually got to do something that has been talked about for years now but I never had the time - I spent the day doing a cookie party! Everyone made different cookies and at the end of the day I came home with tons of delicious Christmas cookies. Aaaaahhhh the holidays...I'm soaking it up this year

Happy Holidays!

Our little family has been busy lately - it all feels like a whirlwind. We've had Mama's 50th birthday bash in Raleigh, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and we're on our way to Christmas! Matt and I spent all day Saturday decorating the house and putting our tree up and I was so excited for Maddox to see it but....he just wants to chew on the branches. Go figure. I've got a week of vacation and last minute I decided to stay home and just relax, focus on my baby and enjoying the holidays

Maddox and Daddy - Daddy had too much turkey...

The cutest little monkey you ever did see

Mama blew out 50 candles....Shhhh....







Me and my Golden Boy (if you look closely, you will see the Christmas Tree Creeper aka Rocco)

.

Bad blogger...

So I never have time to blog. What a surprise huh. I was going through old photos, and even though this one is blurry its one of my faves - my belly was so big!

Warning: Waterworks

This sweet family suffered the ultimate loss, but their story is inspiring. Every single day that we have with our children is a blessing! Warning - I cried so hard after watching this that I scared Maddox
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Remembering-Eliot-The-99-Balloons-Video

I'm in trouble...

This picture says it all - I mean look at that arched eyebrow! He is already brewing up disasters I can just feel it...

Happy Fall!

Innocence

While I was home sick last week, I had lots of time to flip through the channels on tv. I watched reruns of the 2010 VMA awards, which is something that I normally wouldn't have had the time to watch. I was strangely intrigued and inspired by a song that Taylor Swift sang. I say strangely because usually I'm more of an Audioslave, Godsmack kinda girl and not so much Taylor Swift but this truly was a beautiful song. It's alledgedly aimed at Kanye West and his antics at last years VMA's but that's neither here nor there. She sings about childhood, mistakes, forgiveness, and innocence and it just got me to thinking. About my childhood. About Maddox. Pondering the meaning of innocence, where it begins and ends and before I get too deep I will just say this. I am inspired, as a mother, to make Maddox's childhood magical. Like mine was. We are gonna read stories. Make forts in the living room with pillows and blankets and have Saturday morning cartoons. And Sunday morning chocolate chip pankcakes. We're gonna bake cookies for Santa and write him letters too. And go on adventures outside in the woods and save teeth for the tooth fairy. In the summer we'll catch firefly's and camp outside in the backyard and tell ghost stories. I will zip his puffy little snowjacket up to his chin and we will build snowmen. We will look for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and he will be Superman. Because one day he will be 12, 18, 24, 32...and he may feel so small in a big world that isn't so nice sometimes. And there will be nothing I can do to protect him from that. So for now, he is innocent, and he will believe in everything.

Missing my baby...

As I write this post, it has been 3 days since I have touched my baby. 3 DAYS!!! I am very sick with pneumonia and Maddox has been staying with his Mimi and Nanny so that he won't catch it from me. The worst part about this of course is not being able to spend time with him. I cry when I even think of him!! He has been doing so many new things lately. His first official word: Dadadadada! Lol would it be anything else? He is eating baby food now and loves his fruits and veggies. He is trying so very hard to crawl and rolls all over the place. It is just amazing to watch a child grow and change before your eyes. Every single day there is something new. This little person is my world, my heart and soul.

And then there's you

And then there's you

Happy 5 Month Birthday!

Dear Maddox,

Today you turned 5 months old. Where has the time gone? Seriously! Just yesterday you were a little bitty that we just brought home from the hospital. We may have had a rocky start, but man, you and me kid we've got a groove on. I change your diapers for you, you sleep all night for me. Every single person that you meet you steal their heart in a second. I couldn't be happier or more proud of you my sweet baby boy.

Love,

Mom

P.S. Stats update at his 4 month appointment Maddox weighed 17 pounds and was 26 3/4 inches long. Big boy!

Friends

I have been blessed in my life with some pretty awesome friends. I think too often friends get put on the back burner, but in my book friends are the family that you get to choose! You've got your friends that you know you can call for a fun night out on the town. Friends that you can call in the middle of the night. And then there are the friends that feel as comfortable as cool sheets in the summertime. No matter how much or how little you get to see them. Maddox got to meet one of those friends this summer on his very first beach trip. Even though she lives 600 miles away, she stays dear to my heart!

It's official

I might not have the happiest baby on the block...




He may not be Baby Einstein...



But he is DEFINITELY the coolest kid in town!!!

summertime fun

As crazy busy as I am, I always try to slow down a little in the summer - It is my favorite time of the year. I already can't wait until Maddox is older and we can really play outside and swim at the pool, but most of all I can't wait to catch lightning bugs with him! Those of you who know me well know how much I love my lightning bugs. Anyways, the past couple of weeks I have been getting Maddox in the pool every chance I get. As little as he is, he loves it. He is starting to giggle a little, and its the sweetest thing ever. He will be crawling before I know it - Time is going by so fast. I wish I could freeze all these little moments and keep them forever...

Confessions of a new mom

As Maddox turned 3 months old today, I reflected back on the past 90 days and realized how far I have come in such a short time. It has been a bit of an adjustment, to say the least. I think that people do new moms an injustice by always telling them "motherhood is the most amazing thing in the world!!!!!XXX@@@@!!!!" Now, don't get me wrong, it IS the most amazing thing in the world but it takes some time to get there! No one told me there would be days that I would have puke in my hair before the sun came up. They forgot to mention that babies cry an average of four hours a day. FOUR HOURS!! I wasn't prepared for the fleeting feelings of jealousy when my baby free friends would stop by, hold the baby, and hand the baby back when he started crying. No one could have prepared me for the absolute heartbreak I would experience when my best efforts to just breastfeed my child did not work out. I thought I was going to kick the baby blues in the a** but there I was, crying in the shower, crying because I didn't like my bassinet, crying while trying to sing Baby Beluga...lol yeah I was a nut. For the record I've only locked myself in the bathroom once and I'm daggone proud of that!!! But then.........








No one could have prepared me for the love I would feel for this child. When I look into those precious blue eyes that came from me and see this person that has a piece of my soul...oh my. the love. There is nothing I wouldn't do for this baby. I get down on my knees every night beside his crib and THANK GOD for allowing me the honor to be his mom. I don't care if there is puke in my hair. I don't care if he cries a million hours. Maddox, we can party anytime of the day or night that you want to - even if it is 3 am. I love him so much it hurts. Happy 3 month birthday my sweet baby boy

Happy Fathers Day

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” - Isaac Newton

Happy Fathers Day Matt

Bathtime Fun

People always ask if Maddox is a good baby and the answer is yes! He is sleeping through the night and I believe it is because of his nighttime routine which includes his favorite thing in the world - his bath. He can be screaming and crying and the second his little tush hits the water he calms down and is so happy. He kicks his little legs and arms and tries to swim! I can't wait to get him in the pool and to the beach - he is definitely a water baby. As you can see from the picture he sometimes pees in the tub - he thinks its hysterical

It takes a village

I've heard the quote "It takes a village to raise a child" over and over again and never gave it any thought until I had my own child. Maddox has been so blessed to have so many grandparents and friends! His Nona came to visit this weekend and I've been able to shower, take a nap, paint my nails, all the little things that you take for granted when you are baby free. I just wanted to give a shout out to my "village"