6 Months

Man, oh man...time is just flying by!! I am just in shock that Maddux is already 6 months old!! It is going by way too fast and before we know it, he'll be crawling (the doctor said sooner than we'd probably like) and then walking!! CRAZY!!!!

Well, so lots has happened since we last spoke! I took Maddux to Houston mid July! Boy was that interesting! I vow never to travel with him by myself ever again! It was just simply exhausting! First of all, the plane ride was super stressful on the way there, as I was panicked he would cry the whole time. He actually did a great job, he only fussed and was easily settled.....now the plane ride home is a different story! The people sitting next to us said he only cried about 5 minutes, tops, but you know when it is you and your kid....I swear he cried for an hour!! Everyone was really nice though, the stewardess even gave me some apple juice to put in a bottle to see if that would calm him down (see, she wouldn't have done that if he had only been fussing for 5 minutes, right?) Anyway, I was so ready to get off that plane, I could have run with stroller, car seat, diaper bag and all!!

So, once that drama was over, I didn't consider the rest of the trip effecting him.....You see, when I go to Houston, I usually switch between my sister and parent's houses so I can see everyone I want to see! That is just what I have always done....well, that doesn't work quite as well with a 6 month old! 2 things could have been the cause of my lack of sleep for the week.....either he was just really out of sorts from the traveling and switching houses, or just sleeping in the same room as him, I could hear every sound he made and it would wake me up! So, not sure which it was, but never the less, I got, maybe, 5 hours of sleep each night there!

Other than that, Houston was great! My sister got to spend some good quality time with him and I got to see my niece and nephew for a good bit too!! My Aunt Letha and Cousin Vicky drove my grandmother to Houston, as well, to come meet Maddux. (My aunt had already, so graciously, come to Atlanta to take care of him, back in May, so she was just coming to play again)! Grandmother was so excited to see him and I loved that he got to meet her! It is so nice being able to say I knew my great-grandmother. Mine was 97 years old when she left us and I loved my Nonny! Anyway, I digress....We got to see Jean (one of my best and oldest friends in the whole world). She just moved back from France to Texas, so she came to Paige's to meet Maddux. I also got to meet another one of her kids! I had met one years ago, but now I have met Max. Maybe I'll get to Meet Claire soon too! We had a great time!

Maddux got to meet one of my camp friends and several of my mom's friends by weeks end, but boy was I ready to be home! Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing everyone and introducing Maddux to everyone I could, but I was just plain beat by the time I got home! And, Maddux was so excited to see his Daddy, as was I!!! So, great trip, but it won't happen again any time soon without Sam by my side!

Since then, lets see......oh, the doctor. I took Maddux back for his 6 month checkup last Tuesday. He weighs 14 lbs 4 oz. He is 24 and 3/4 inches long and STILL in the 10th percentile! We are a little sad about that, however, he is the happiest baby, always smiling, super relaxed....so we really have nothing to complain about! He did have to have his 5 shots that day and the after math does turn my happy child into a demon for over 24 hours....but again, he is usually so happy, I can deal with 24 hours! I hate doing that to him, but it is necessary.

Let's see....oh, thats right, I started school already!!!!!!!!!!!!! O wait, this is a a blog about Maddux, not me! Sorry!! I will say, they have added 2 weeks of random breaks throughout the year and that is why we went back so early, so really, I shouldn't be whining!!! However, while I am at school, Maddux is getting to go play at a friend's house while I work. Her mother-in-law just moved here to take care of their 5 and a 1/2 old baby and wanted another infant! WE are the lucky ones! He loves her already and she just dotes on him all day, I can tell. Friday, when I went to get him, I was putting him in his car seat and she was behind him talking, he arched back, looked at her, and just grinned from ear to ear! That made me so happy! Shelly (that's her name) told me as I walked in that day, that she was keeping him, and that just made me feel so good about leaving him with her!! I feel like I lucked out on the whole day care thing! Anway, I will stop here and bid you all a great Sunday! Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us.....See you next time!

PS, he can sit on his own now, he eats baby food from a spoon, and he is pulling up his knees sticking his cute little rear in the air.....Like I said, SLOW DOWN Maddux!!!

5 and a 1/2 months

Maddux is growing so fast now! He is almost sitting up by himself already!! I just know he is gonna crawl soon! His tummy time is great! We put him down and the next thing we know, he is on the floor about 3 feet away from where we laid him down! He is a mover and groover just like when he was in the belly!

We had our doctors appointment last Friday before the beach! He grew an inch and a half and gained a pound in one month!! He is doing so good! He is in the 10th percentile now! I'm so proud! She suggested we feed him another serving of cereal during the day and said we could feed him baby food as of this past week!

On that note....well, Maddux wasn't a big fan! He loves his milk, but not so much the baby food! We started with apple sauce and he was having none of it! He wouldn't even open his mouth. And, when I forced it in there, he would just spit it out! It was so funny! I even modeled (because that is what teachers do) with ice cream with me....but with no success! He does stare at us when we eat, it is hilarious! It is like he is jealous, but then he won't try it himself! In any case, my mom is coming here tomorrow and claims she will show me how to force feed him baby food! Of course, not really, but she said she has a fool proof method!! So we'll see!

So, we just got back from the beach on Sat! Man, that was an amazing trip and Maddux seemed to really enjoy the change of scenery for a week! He loved swimming in the pool, but not as much in the ocean! The ocean was freezing! The pool was fantastic! I am ready to go back already! My redneck pool in the backyard is just not quite the same!

So, mom, dad, Tyler, and McKenzie come in town tomorrow for 5 days and we can't wait! The kids (my sisters kids) haven't met Maddux yet, so I am so excited! I'll post pics of that after their visit! Not much else to say, so I'll update more after the big weekend!! Hasta Pasta!

Maddux is almost 20 weeks!

I can't believe it has already been 4 weeks since I posted last! I feel like school just ended...but sadly, I only have 6 weeks left! I know, pity party, but that is one of the perks of being a teacher!

In any case, you're here to read about Maddux, not me!! He is almost 20 weeks this Friday! Wow, I can't believe how fast time goes by with him! So we went to the doctor for his 4 month check up the last week of May. He weighed 12 lbs. and was only in the 5th percentile for everything! That was really sad...as much as I love how small he is, I don't want him to grow up to be like mommy! So, the doctor asked me to start feeding him rice cereal between his last 2 feedings at night! The first night was hilarious because I tried doing it with a spoon! That was silly considering he can't really understand what solid food is yet! So, since then, we have fed him the cereal through his bottle! He likes it though, so that is awesome!

Since the additional feeding, I have also added formula to his diet, and I think he has gained at least a pound in the time since the last visit. I just weighed him here and he is 13 lbs if not more! So, looks like the beefing him up is working...I can really see it in his pictures! He's becoming my chunky monkey!! I love it!

So far, our summer has been pretty busy! We are a part of a play date group called Murdock Mamma's. This is a group of teachers from my school who have all had kids in the past 3 years. It is once a week and takes place at a different teachers house each week. My week is July and I have no idea how I am going to entertain the 15 kids that are a part of this! Maddux doesn't have toys yet, so not sure how that will go! It is fun though! There is a set of twins who are in love with Maddux. Usually it is just because he has a paci they want, but still, I'm gonna think it is his good looks!! He is the only baby boy (there is one 3 year old boy, but that is such a huge age difference) so he is surrounded by the ladies! He takes after his daddy! Te he! In any case, we have fun seeing all the other babies and look forward to him growing along with them!

We have gone swimming 3 times already too! The last time we went, Sam and I both dunked him under the water and he pretty much took it like a champ! Only the last dunk did he cry! I also seemed that he didn't take on any water, so that was a relief! We leave for the beach next Friday and I can't wait to take him into the ocean! The complex has a pool too, so that will be great to use as well! We'll be there a week, so it will be interesting to see how he does when not at home 24/7! Wish us luck!

Maddux and I are also traveling to Houston in July. I'm really afraid to fly with him, but he is usually such a laid back baby, I hope he'll do great! Also, his cousins, Tyler and McKenzie, are coming here with my parents in July, so we have that to look forward to as well! Busy, busy summer, but so far so fun! Until next time!!! Thanks for keeping up with Maddux!

Maddux at 16 weeks!

Hello all...it's been a long time! Things are great here. School is out for the kids and I only have 2 days left! Then, I have almost 2 months home with Maddux. I cannot wait!

So, what has been going on? Nothing too interesting, but we have had a very busy past couple of weeks. First of all, I went back to work 3 weeks ago (hence he slacking on the posts). The first day was really hard....but after a weekend, it was easier to get back into the swing of things!!

The first 2 weeks back at work, Sam was home with him, so that was awesome! They got some serious daddy baby bonding time! Sam did admit he was bored to tears by the end of the second week...he said he needed adult interaction. So, needless to say, he was ready to go back to work this past Monday!

My Aunt Letha just left yesterday. She spent all last week here taking care of Maddux while I spent my last week with my students! We are so incredibly lucky to have had her here. I can't remember when I got to spend so much time with her. It was so nice to go to work and not worry about whose taking care of the munchkin! We are certainly blessed (thank you Aunt Letha, we love you)!

On to the baby....Maddux is probably almost 12 lbs, but we go to the doctor for his 4 month check up on Friday, so we'll see. He has grown long though. He is finally fitting into 3 month clothes and can no longer wear his newborn outfits....so Sam is happy about that! He is giggling and smiling constantly! He loves to be the center of attention (wonder where he got that from :))! He is sleeping from about 9 at night until 7 or 8 in the morning....but I am still waking him for one last feeding every night before I go to bed just until I am home from work this week. So, we'll see what happens if we don't wake him, how long he'll sleep without that last feeding!

He is talking up a storm! I say talking but you all know, he is cooing and gurgling and all that! We have taken some great videos of him laughing, but haven't tried putting them on here yet, maybe today will be the day to try it! In any case, he is already growing up so fast and I just want him to slow down. Sam is ready for him to walk and talk, but not me! My favorite thing is to pick him up from his deep sleep and just snuggle him until he slowly wakes up! He is so sweet!

Well, I don't have much else since we are going to the doctor on Friday, but I did want to post a small update! Until next weekend! Have a great week all!

11 Weeks

I CANNOT believe it, but Maddux is 11 weeks old today!! Worse than that...I have to go back to school 2 weeks from today!!!! It's so sad...he is growing up too fast already and time is flying by! Thankfully, I only have to go back for 3 weeks and then I have 2 months of summer with him! The timing really turned out pretty good! I actually do feel lucky!

So, Mom and Dad (Gigi and Dandy) came for Easter and we had a blast! The weekend started off with Maddux's 2 month doctor appointment. He was 21 and 1/4 inches long and weighed 10 lbs. exactly! Unfortunately, he is still in the 20th percentile for all of his measurements. When mom told the doctor that Sam was hoping for a tall quarterback type kid, she told us that he probably should have considered the gene pool he married into first! I guess it is too late for that now! Maddux also ended up getting 6 shots that day and thankfully Gigi was there to help....I am not sure I could have held him down like she had to to get the shots! It was awful, his cry was a cry I had never heard before! He survived it though (better than me) and really behaved well the rest of the day even though we could tell he was in pain!

The rest of the weekend was pretty standard for an Easter weekend. We went to Kathy's (La La's) house for a party, went to church (Maddux's first time), and had an Easter egg hunt at Melanie's grandparent's house. Maddux won the egg hunt since everyone kept finding his eggs and handing them to my dad (who was carrying a sleeping Maddux around the yard:)).

All in all, it was a great Easter. I can't remember the last time I spent Easter with my parents! I really had an awesome time and was not ready for them to leave that Monday! I love having them come here...it is so nice!

The Monday after Easter, we went to the Braves opening day game! Maddux, Macon and I sat in the car for 2 and a half hours trying to get to the game...made it for the 5th inning, and then spent another 2 and a half hours in the car leaving the game! Believe it or not, Maddux was a trooper! He loved the game (sitting in KK and Nats laps) and really didn't mind being in the car for all that time! At least we know he can stay in the car for a good amount of time and stay fairly calm for the majority of the time!

Well, that is about all I have for now!! Happy Spring ya'll!! Enjoy the pics and thanks for catching up with us!!

2 Months old!! Wow!

I can't believe it...Maddux is 2 months old today!! Time is flying by and that means I have to go back to school in 5 weeks! Yuck! Although, I did go back to school a week and a half ago and it was actually a lot of fun! Everyone was so excited to see Maddux and they were really excited to see me too! It was a total ego boost as they doted on Maddux and gave me massive amounts of compliments on how non-prego I looked! I see myself everyday and forget that I have lost 27 lbs. and am 14 lbs lighter than when I got prego! I can't remember the last time I was in this weight range! It feels good and everyone made me feel amazing!

Anyway, back to Maddux....so we went to the doctor at the beginning of the month and he weighed 8 lbs 6 oz....but since then, I have weighed myself and then weighed with him in my arms....I'm pretty sure he is over 10 lbs now!! I hope so because his height and weight were both only in the 20th percentile when we saw the doctor. Sam is so scared he got my genes and and will be vertically challenged! I hope he doesn't take after me! Someone just last weekend didn't believe me when I told them I was 5'3"....so there's that!

Maddux is smiling a great deal now! He loves for me to tap his paci on his tongue and then tap it on his nose. He laughs and I think I am about to get a giggle! He also is responding to voices on the phone. Gigi talks to him often and he smiles at it or squawks at the phone when she speaks! It is really cute!

Not much else to report....but Mom and Dad (Gigi and Dandy) are coming in for Easter weekend! I am super excited about that! So, Sam and I have some major cleaning to do before next weekend. Then, the following Monday, we are headed to the Braves opening game! That will be tons of fun, Maddux's first game and we have an official shirt he is going to wear that Gin bought him last year (the first present we ever got:)). I'll post after that because I am sure he will look adorable!

Well, here are some pics to show you my chunky monkey!

4 weeks old

Maddux is already 4 weeks old....can you believe it?? I can't! Time is flying by! As I am sure most of you know, there is not much to say so far. He is eating sleeping and doing the other thing! He is sleeping a good 5 hours a night, which is great! He is starting to respond to tickling and getting sugar (nuzzling his neck with kisses), so that is fun! I think he is going to smile any day now!

We have his 1 month doctor appointment on Wednesday and I think he is already over 8 lbs. But, we will see! My postpartum appointment is next week as well, so things are just moving along! So, not much else to say, but I want to put some new pics of him....so enjoy!!