Madden is especially excited these days because he's going to have a baby BROTHER!!! Baby #2 is coming February 1, 2015, and we can not wait. Madden was the first to find out that a new baby was coming and we were able to surprise daddy with a video on Father's Day. I'm never able to surprise Jeff with anything, ever, so this was a proud moment for me. We are so excited to have two baby boys and we are ready to take on the madness that two boys will bring. The boys will be almost exactly two years apart and we know Madden will love having a playmate and will be a perfect big brother to our new baby. We can't wait!
We're also thankful to have Step 2 boards out of the way. Jeff took his test up in Tampa, so Madden and I went with him and spent the day at the zoo! It was Madden's first time and we had so much fun! I thought that Mad might still be a little young for the zoo but it turned out to be perfect! This zoo was so great, there was a splash pad that of course Madden got soaked in, and a fun carousel that we went on five time. Madden cried every time we had to get off, so we just got right back in line and went again! Madden loved most of the animals too. He saw the tiger and roared, he made the monkey sound when we walked past the monkeys, but he pretty much woofed at every other animal we saw. It was a really fun day!
Madden is 18 1/2 months now, time is flying by way too fast! Mad went to nursery for the first time a couple weeks ago. He's been ready for quite some time, he even knew where the nursery door was. Every time we passed the nursery while we were making our rounds during second and third hours, he would run up to the door and pull on the handle and whine. So on his very first day, I let him open the door and he burst in and didn't look back! I didn't even get a goodbye kiss! He did so great, and I didn't even see him for the rest of church. But afterward, our nursery leader came and brought him to me, and he hugged me so tight and wouldn't let go of my neck. I was trying to talk to someone and he kept pulling my face towards his and giving me kisses over and over again. He missed me :) The second week in nursery was great too, except I didn't get the warm reunion with him afterward this time. Instead when he saw me come in the room, he ran and hid. He obviously didn't want to leave! Hopefully this enthusiasm continues...
Madden's favorite things to do these days.... When he's in the bathroom, his focus has thankfully shifted from the toilets to lotion bottles. But recently, he's figured out how to open the lids and make a little snack out of the lotion. I'm trying to teach him that it's not food and he should rub it on his skin, but then he just licks his arms and legs. Oh well. What else... he thinks all of his food is hot so he blows on everything including his cereal and sandwiches. He fake burps, which I'm pretty sure he learned that one from his dad. Anyway, Madden thinks it's hilarious. Also taught by his dad, he loves to gargle his water and milk. Even in the bathtub he'll suck up some water and tilt his head back and gargle away. He also thinks this is hilarious. This past month, he's also been spitting his water out or letting it dribble down his chin. Whenever he has water, most of it ends up absorbed into his shirt and pants. It's driving me crazy, especially when he does it with milk, so hopefully he'll find something new to do soon!
Madden is a major bed jumper still, but now he's getting pretty good at it! He's finally bending his knees and springing upwards and getting some pretty good air! He also likes to climb up onto the table next to the sofa and jump off onto the pillows. When he's on the floor, he loves to spin and spin and spin in circles until he falls down dizzy. He never gets tired of this! When he falls, he lays down for a few seconds to rest, then he pops right back up starts spinning again!
Mad is creating a bit of an obsession with Mickey Mouse these days. I found an app that plays short little episodes of Mickey, and he LOVES them! He knows just were to find them too. Whenever he gets ahold of my phone or ipad, he knows how to navigate through and find his favorite episode, which is the one where Mickey forgets his date with Minnie and Pluto is trying to help him get dressed. He loves Pluto and laughs so hard when Pluto is trying to catch Mickey's hat. One funny thing he does while he watching Mickey is he pulls his feet up to his mouth and bites and sucks on his toes! He's so focused on his show that it looks like he doesn't even realize what he's doing!
It's funny how he's becoming pretty particular about certain things. For example, in the bath tub, when the tub is full of water and it's time to turn it off, he insists that I leave the water running just a little bit. He hates when the water is completely off. It at least has to be dripping so he can come over and take a quick drink when he wants one. After bath time is over, he still runs like the wind and tries to escape from getting his diaper on. I need to have a diaper open and waiting or else it takes 10 minutes (and several potty puddles on the carpet) for me to wrangle him into a diaper. He's a squirmy and fast little thing!
We're entering the stage of independence. I can't tell you how many times he swats my hand away when I'm trying to help him with something. He likes to try and buckle himself into his carseat and stroller. I usually give him a few minutes to fumble with the straps and try to get it buckled, but he hasn't quite gotten it yet. We seriously take forever to get anywhere, we are never in a rush. In the grocery stores, he refuses to sit in the cart, and if I even try to strap him in he cries and wails like he's getting his hand chopped off. It's so important to him to help me push the cart, so that's just what he does! He even gets carried away sometimes and starts helping other people with their carts too. He also likes to talk to everyone at the store. He usually picks someone and goes up to them and starts babbling non stop. He'll sometimes follow them around the store talking as he goes. He's got a lot to say apparently and a lot of people to say it to!
He has also started trying to dress himself, but everything goes on his legs. Even if it's a shirt, his legs go through the arm holes. It's really cute to watch because he holds his foot in the air and tries to guide it into the pants. He gets really frustrated that he can't get his shoes on by himself. They are tricky little shoes, even I can trouble getting them on his feet sometimes!
He's getting really good at prayer time. He'll fold his arms when we pray at night and squeeze his eyes closed for about two seconds, but then he thinks it's over. During family prayer, Jeff and I tell him to come over for prayer, but usually he's all over the place. Most of the time he ignores us but a few weeks ago, in the middle of the prayer, I noticed that he came over and sat down on the ground and folded his arms. He stayed that way too until we were done!
If I've learned anything in my short time as a mom, I've learned that nothing is consistent with Madden. His little stages come and go so quickly and he changes and grows a little bit every day. But the one thing that has never changed about my cute boy's personality his that he has always been so sweet and loving. He can be totally wild and crazy, but he always takes a quick break to run over and give me a little kiss or a hug. Multiple times a day, I'll hear Madden running after me with his little lips puckered and saying, "mmmmmm". And afterward, he runs off and I hear a little "thank you!" every single time. I doubt he'll always thank me for kissing him, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts :) It's also so common to feel Madden collide with my legs while I'm standing at the sink and have him hug my legs and say "Awwwww". When I'm on the ground he come up and hug me from behind and lay his head down on my shoulder. Being hugged by tiny little arms is the best feeling there is! I love it too when he hugs me and pats my back with his little hands.
Every night at bedtime, we say our prayers and read stories, sing a couple songs, and then we snuggle for a while. I don't know how I'm going to split this precious time between two babies in a few months! And I think Madden is going to have a little problem sharing me at first, so we're getting in a lot of snuggle time while we can. He loves to lay down on my chest and he tucks his arms under his tummy and swings his legs back and forth. I love this time we have together, and I'm so glad I get to do it every night. Before I put him in his crib he gives me a kiss, and then I say, "Can the baby have a kiss?" He pulls up my shirt and kisses my tummy, but then finishes by blowing on my tummy and laughing. I think that pretty much sums up Madden's sweet and silly personality. Man we love this boy!
