He's Crawling!!

8 months+

Well hello again! I know it's a week after Maddux turned 8 months but I've been neglecting the blog a bit lately! Life is busy - wonderful but busy! Hope you enjoyed the Giggle Monster video from the other day. Doesn't Maddux have a great laugh? He did that for maybe 5-10 minutes straight - he thinks his daddy is hilarious!! I especially love that video, because it's not just the milestones we need to stop and capture, but also those silly moments filled with joy that come to us out of the blue!!

In the past month, Maddux has hit some milestones, however. He has TWO toofers, he can flip back and forth off his belly to back (he has been able to do belly to back on occasion for about a month but he "mastered" it this past weekend). He also likes to give his daddy high fives! He also is pushing up his legs when he's on his belly, pushing with his arms and managing to go backwards and around in circles. I have a feeling it won't be long and he'll figure this crawling thing out. He also likes to "stand" with our help, and I think he's going to be itching to walk early too...that's my prediction anyway. I know our backs and arms could use the break! (Although, to maintain my strength I'll have to start lifting weights again!!)

As always, Maddux keeps us on our toes and entertained!

He really enjoys splashing around and playing during bath time. Yes, he gets to take his baths in mommy and daddy's whirlpool tub!!

He stayed in so long, his toes shriveled up!!



In early February, we went to McKenzie's birthday party at the Ramkota hotel. This was Maddux's 2nd experience trying out "swimming". The first time, on New Year's Eve, did not go so well! This time, he was more curious aout the water and actually didn't scream/cry!!

Hanging out in the hotel room at the party:

Getting kisses from Auntie Lyndsey:

Do they look like two peas in a pod or what? T-R-O-U-B-L-E!! (Frosting, what frosting?)

Maddux got some balloons form a party at Gramma Joyce's work place and he LOVED them:

Just playing and being his usual silly self:

We went to Taylor's basketball game at the Y a couple weeks ago. He enjoyed it!

With Gramma Sandy and McKenzie:

With Papa Ron who likes to play "sack of flour" with him - Maddux seems to enjoy it as well!!

Our sweet 8-month old:

Playing Peek-a-Boo with Daddy!!

When he is done playign with toys, he just pushes them away from him, like in this picture:

Showing off the two toofers (and some carrot remants on his face, apparently):

Our little Valentine:

As for Jay and me, we have been keeping busy with work. I've gotten some scrapbooking time in, continue to play v-ball and have recently gotten back into running more. I'm hoping to run a half-marathon in May with my brother!! He's ahead of me in training rignt now, but I have almost 3 months to get in the long distance miles.

Jay has gotten out ice-fishing a few times - not much luck - but I think he has fun. We are the proud new owners of Ran's old snowmobile which Jay will likely put to use quite a bit! I may have to try it out sometime too ;)

The beagles are doign pretty well - they have had a few minor injuries this winter, but nothing serious. They also have recently added green beans to part of their diet, in hopes of cutting back a few pounds from both of their current weights!! Once the weather turns nicer, we'll try to get them (and Maddux) outside as much as possible. I'm so anxious for Spring and Summer to arrive once again!!

We continue to enjoy our life and journey as a family!! God is good!

Giggle Monster!

7 months

OK I have been BAD about updating this blog! But...better late then never, right??

Maddux turned 7 months old on the 17th of January.

Here are some pictures to show what he has been up to in the last couple of weeks...

Being silly - sticking his tongue out and not cooperating with the measurement picture. He's about 30-31 inches long now!!

His favorite toy - at home - is the Exersaucer. He especially likes the toy on there that spins. He's gotten quite skilled at that!!

Having fun in the Exersaucer again!!

Mommy's Little Bear :)

Being a big sister, even as a beagle, is apparently exhausting. Just ask Jerz...

And Bailey...

Quite happy and proud of the fact he's hanging out with Dad on the couch:

Dad teaching him all about the sacred remote!

Our happy little man!!

And so handsome :)

Playing with Mom. His face is orange because he just ate carrots!

Happy to be (almost) naked and playing!

Looks like a mischeivous smile to me!

Our big boy!!

Mommy better teach him that you KICK the soccer ball, unless you're a goalie!

Praciticing the hand over the heart for the National Anthem before basketball games!!

Gotta work on that shooting form!!

As you can see, Maddux can now sit up on his own - he's been able to do that since he was about 6 months old, a little before Christmas. He can roll either way from back to tummy but has only rolled tummy to back once (at daycare, it must have been a fluke). We work on that every night. His legs are quite strong - so who knows, he may be standing/cruising/walking before he figures out the crawling thing!!

Other than that, he just continues to grow & grow. He LOVES his solids - veggies, fruit and cereal. We've found some "fancy" cereal that works better with his tummy than the other rice cereal did.

He loves to play and "talk" and giggle. He sleeps through the nights most of the time now, or if he does get up it's around 5:00 a.m. We are very grateful for our happy, healthy little boy and can't believe he's already 7 months old!

Short Video

5 Months Old! How time flies when you are having FUN!

Well our Maddux turns 5 months old tomorrow (cnannot believe how fast that went!) Here are some pictures from the past couple of weeks of our busy little man!!

Exhausted after Mommy made him play and exercise!!
What's up?

Our boy with his BIG BLUE eyes!

Looks like he's going to try to take the camera from me!

HI!!! (Yes, I realize there are sweet potato remnants on his face - oh well!)

He decided last night to work on trying to roll over to the left...almost got there, but not quite! Give him another day or so and he'll get it!

Tummy play time!! (This was post blow-out and pre-bath...that's why he's hanging out in just a diaper!!)

GUILTY!!!

BAM BAM!! This is why we won't be able to have nice things until he moves out of the house!!

We tried sweet potatoes this weekend since cereal did not agree with his tummy and this kid wants some SOLID foods!! Went pretty well overall!

Jerz, the mother hen, watching over her little brother again!

More tummy play time!

The Madd Hatter!! :)

This is the day he decided he was going to figure out how to roll over - later that evening he figured it out!

Wreckin' shop at Gramma Sandy's house!

I love this picture! It looks like he's telling Gramma Schaff a great story!

Visiting Great Gramma Schaff in GU:

Entertaining Gramma Sandy!

With his buddies Kaylee and Sam (and Mommy's friends Missy and Sara). Kaylee is 2 and a half months older than him - but Maddux looks like the oldest by far!

Entertaining Sam by blowing bubbles!

Tired out after being at Great Gramma Gerhardt's birthday party...just fell asleep in Papa Ron's arms!

Gramma Great's party:

The Birthday Girl - 87 years young!

Maddux with Great Gramma Gerhardt:

Playing like a big boy!

As you can see, he's a very active, happy boy and we are very grateful for that! He's gotten through his first double ear infection and we continue to try ot figure out what he can eat with solids. Rice cereal caused problems for him so we're trying just regular baby food for now...

He continues to entertain us and seems to learn a new trick every day! We love this phase but really think time flies by too fast. I can't believe he's 5 months old already!

Hope everyone has a great week!!