8 MONTHS OLD

Maddox is eight months old. Can't believe it. He is such a cut-up and loves to laugh and be funny. He still has 6 teeth-no new ones this month-so we haven't had to deal with any teething lately. He sleeps 4-6 hours at a time at night, takes a bottle, and goes right back to sleep. Things are pretty easy right now, although I am not looking forward to flu season. Maddox has had a few colds with a runny nose, but that's about it so far-fingers crossed. Mark is taking the next two weeks off for vacation and we will be sure to have lots of fun and are planning a trip to Kirksville to visit friends and a trip to Elephant Rocks also.

Maddox eating the rubber tablecloth at Ruby Tuesdays-yummo!

Asleep at The Home Depot-oh how he loves shopping for power tools.

Looking cute in his hoodie and sweat pants-can't wait to get bundled up for his first snow.

First time at the river. Loved the water on his toes.

My sister Becky and her fiance Daniel visited from LA this month. We had a great weekend and we even went to Republic's Pumpkin Daze along with Sherry and Kyle. Maddox got to see a huge pumpkin and a miniature horse. Mark and I tried fried Oreos (I think I'll stick with Oreos and milk from now on) and brought home the mandatory bag of kettle korn. We also got to see the tricycle tractor pull and we will be starting Maddox's tractor pull training program ASAP for next year.

OUTBACK MADDOX-"What's up Mate?"

Hangin with the girls

Learning how to make motorboat noises from uncle Rodney

GOING ON A WALK WITH GRAMMY AND GRANDPA AND THE DOGS

BATH TIME WITH DADDY

Sweater Weather

Maddox woke up early on a Friday morning to play a little and eat breakfast and then go back to bed-all before 8AM.

7 MONTHS OLD

Maddox is now 7 months old. The time is flying by. He has been a busy little boy this past month. He learned to sit, although we still keep him surrounded with pillows just in case. He is spending more and more time on his belly, but it is still not his favorite position. Hopefully he'll get interested in crawling soon, although I am trying to enjoy these last few months of relative calm before the storm. Maddox would much rather be on the go either getting carried around the house, in his stroller on a walk, or riding in the car. He hates to be left behind. He is a little social butterfly and loves to see new things and meet new people, especially other children.

While Maddox may be a little behind the curve with crawling, he is an overachiever in the growth department. At his 6 month appointment he was in the 100% percentile for height, 95% for head size, and 90% for weight. At least he is proportionate!

GRANDPARENTS 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

We went to my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary on their farm. Maddox got to sit on the tractor and meet his cousins and aunts and uncles for the first time.

COUSINS

Maddox spent some quality time with his new cousin Alexa born July 18. Cousin Kendra also helped babysit when she came to visit.

Maddox learned to sit this month. He can sit for 20 minutes now without toppling over, but we still keep him surrounded with pillows-wouldn't want to bump that precious head of his.

SIX MONTHS

Maddox is now 6 months old. He is getting more teeth-this time on the top-which means he is officially on the bottle full-time (yeah for me and mine)! Unfortunately for Mark, this means he gets to take some of those nighttime feedings (again, yeah for me)! Maddox is eating tons! It's really just ounces, but that's not quite as exciting. He loves his baby foods, especially pears and squash and oatmeal with apples and carrots and...... He is also starting to drink a little water from a sippy cup, although he pretends he can't hold the cup when I'm around.

Maddox stays on the go when he is home. He loves his walker that his Auntie Sherry got him. He pushes himself backwards and in circles and is just figuring out how to walk forward. Just yesterday he started "fake coughing" when he wants a little attention from his Daddy who quickly responds with, "Goodness!" or "Poor baby." Maddox also enjoys laying on his back or standing up and wiggling side to side while we sing "shake your booty." He rolled from his tummy to his back last week for the first time (at the sitters of course), but hasn't rolled onto his tummy yet without a little help. I guess that 85% head of his doesn't help.

Having fun and staying busy!
Mark, Melissa, and Maddox

Photos from our walk at the Nature Center in Springfield.

ALL IN A DAYS WORK.

Naptime.

I hate it when he sleeps like this, but I don't dare move him when he's taking a 2 hour nap.Saturday Morning.

Kicking it in bed with Dad watching Muscle Car TV.

Bathtime.

No need for a rubber ducky.

Maddox keeps himself occupied.

Playtime.
Having fun in his walker making motor sounds and pushing himself in circles.

TOUGH GUYS

Mark and Mini Mark (also affectionately know as Maddox) showing off their tough sides. Maddox is wearing a muscle man shirt his grandparents brought home from a recent trip to Venice Beach where they visited my sisters.

FIREWORKS

Baby's first fireworks. Maddox loved them and didn't cry or even jump at the loud ones.

5 Months and Counting

Maddox is turning 5 months old. What a little sweetie! He now has his two bottom teeth and he is constantly rubbing them with his tongue or his finger. He has been drooling like a madman and loves to blow bubbles in his baby food. He is seriously thinking about turning over onto his tummy, but hasn't accomplished it quite yet. We spend our days playing in the floor and sitting in his Bumbo chair. We have also been swimming in my brother and sister-in-laws pool just down the street. That has been fun and Maddox loves to try and drink the pool water. He like to be on the go and wants to see what everyone is doing. He is also wanting to try a bite of everything Mark and I are eating, so he has been trying tiny tiny bites of some "big boy" foods-mostly fruit and potatoes and scrambled eggs. The most exciting news is that he has decided to take a bottle!!! What a relief for everyone! He is even taking a bottle from me during the day and I even think he likes it better than nursing 'cause there's more and he can drink it faster. Every day there's something new to learn about him and his little personality is blossoming more and more.

5 MONTHS OLD

4 MONTHS OLD

Maddox turned 4 months old May 29. He is so much fun and everyday gets better and better. Maddox is getting his two bottom teeth and is constantly chewing on his chubby little finger (or he's planning to take over the world-not sure which). He continues to refuse to take a bottle for the babysitter or his Granny Reiners or Mark (except for the occasional bottle that he'll gobble down just to keep things interesting), so he's been eating more solids and trying new things. We've tried rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, apple juice, and water with a spoon.

He is pushing 15 pounds and is outgrowing his bassinet. Looks like he'll be moving into the big boy crib in his nursery in the next week or two. Hopefully he'll still sleep well. Right now he only wakes up at 1:30am to eat and then goes right back to sleep so he can rise and shine at 6:30.

Maddox posing for some pics with Grandpa Aldridge's old car-forgive me Jim for not knowing the make, model, or year-but isn't that little boy cute!

Maddox tried his first bite of rice cereal this week. Not sure if he actually ate any, but we had fun blowing raspberries in it anyway. Look at those "Zoolander" lips (as my sisters would say)!