CALIFORNIA TRIP

This is Maddox sizing up the waves before diving in at Laguna Beach, California. In the end, he decided to sit on the blanket, eat Pringles, and leave the surfing to the experts.

We spent the day in Santa Monica and Maddox kept his grandparents hopping. They kept up with him while he chased the pigeons and let him ride every little car ride there was at the Pier. Maddox and I had our picture drawn together for Mark who couldn't come on this trip.

Our last day, we spent at Huntington Library and Gardens in Pasedena, CA. There were over a hundred acres of gardens, but Maddox liked the Children's Garden the best.

First Haircut

Maddox looked concerned about getting his first haircut as soon as the cape went on.

Thankfully, Toby D was nimble enough to give a haircut to a moving target.

1st Birthday

Maddox's First Birthday!! I can't believe it's been a year. We celebrated with family and friends at our house and had a great time. Maddox opened all kinds of presents-just when I thought I wouldn't be able to find room for more after Christmas-and destroyed his very own chocolate cake. It was a wonderful time full of fun and chaos and lots of love. Maddox loves playing with this ball in our hallway. We close all the doors and he bounces it off the doors and walls and sometimes his own head. He especially likes playing this game with his dad. Little does Maddox know he will surpass his dad in basketball skills in about 2 years.

Maddox still hasn't figured out how to turn the handle until the monkey pops out, but he has figured out how to get his mommy to do it over and over and over......

Mental note.....save the carpet and put down a tarp next time.

CHRISTMAS at 11 MONTHS OLD

Does anyone know what to do with an 8 foot long Alphabet caterpillar?

Annual Silver Dollar City Christmas trip.

Trying to get a pic for our Christmas card, but Maddox was not a happy reindeer.

Helping to untie the Christmas lights or something like that.

Tasting some sugar cookie icing-yummo!

Maddox is now 11 months old, and I can't believe we are drawing close to his 1 year birthday. The last year has flown by and, except for the lack of sleep, it has been great. Maddox has changed our lives in many ways and we have had many great adventures together....sometimes just going grocery shopping turns into an adventure. Maddox now has 8 teeth and can eat just about anything. We have made it through his first cold where he learned to say "mamamamamamamamama" really well. He is crawling everywhere and cruising around all of the furniture. He loves Sesame Street and especially Elmo and it proves useful when I have to cut his nails or get him dressed and need him to hold still for a second or two.

What a wonderful Christmas! Becky and her new husband Daniel and Anna visited for a week. We had a marathon holiday, running here and there and trying to get everyone's Christmas in, but watching Maddox play with his new toys and his extended family made it worth it. He was only mildly interested in opening presents, but he loved the Christmas tree and the wrapping paper and bows. I can't believe how many toys he got and have no idea where to put everything. Maybe I'll re-wrap some of them for next year:)

Thanksgiving in California

Mark, Maddox, and I ventured to L.A., California to visit my sisters for Thanksgiving and to attend my younger sister, Becky's wedding. My mom and dad also flew with us and we enjoyed a week in L.A. Maddox went to the beach for the first time and flew for the first time. He did well on the flight and slept for 2 of the 3 hours both there and back-so no complaints here. While in California, we visited Solvang and did some wine tasting, visited several museums, went to the farmer's market, shopped, and basically had an exhausting, but great time.

Tree climbing on our way to wine country for the day. It was a beautiful drive through Malibu and the mountains.

Taking pictures at the beach before Becky and Daniel's wedding.

Wrestling "little man" for a family photo at The Getty art museaum. We enjoyed the gardens and watched the sun set over L.A.

The plane ride to California was a wonderful success.

Enjoying the seagulls at the Santa Monica pier in California.

Maddox's first visit to the ocean.

Loving that goofy daddy.

Aren't they making the exact same face? I included this picture just in case there is anyone out there who doesn't think Mark and Maddox look just alike.

Maddox loved digging in the sand!