I am Thankful

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. While I do my best to teach Maddox (and Paxton, but he just looks at me and smiles, I'm pretty sure he has no idea what I am saying, but he sure likes to watch me talk..and if I'm being honest, I like to watch him watch ME talk...his grin and beautiful blue eyes make it impossible to not smile back at him....oh anyways, back to what I was saying....) I try to teach the boys what it means to be thankful and to always be appreciative of all the things around us. We have so much to be thankful for.
Today I am thankful for a healthy family. Thankful for a wonderful husband who works hard at everything he does. He is loving, kind, funny, and a wonderful daddy. I am thankful that God brought us together to balance each other out. I am thankful for the two most adorable boys who hold my heart in the palm of their growing hands. I am thankful that Maddox has my big brown eyes. I am thankful that Paxton has his daddy's stunning blue eyes. I am thankful Paxton is sleeping through the night (most of the time). I am thankful for how wonderfully planned God has our lives and how his timing is always perfect. I am thankful for our families, near and far. I am thankful that my mom lives so close to me and that we have grown to be great friends as I learn to be a mother. I am thankful that my parents are happy. I am thankful that I have amazing in-laws who have always treated me as one of their own. I am thankful to be a Kalivoda. I am thankful that the boys have 3 amazing sets of grandparents who love and spoil them on a daily basis. I am thankful that all the grandparents put so much time, energy and effort in loving on our boys. I am thankful for my brother, sis-in-law and sweet little Mollie. I am thankful that they live a few blocks away. I am thankful that my boys have such a sweet cousin to grow up with. I am thankful that Maddox and Mollie play well and are now carrying on conversations with each other. I am thankful for my sister, Carol and the growing friendship we have. I am thankful for her super funny personality and how sarcastic she can be. I am thankful for my sis-in-law Kim and her soon to be husband Austin. I am thankful for her sweet spirit, and the love she has for Madd and Pax. I am thankful for my bro-in-law Brandon and my new sis-in-law Ashley. I am thankful for the opportunity to watch Brandon and Brad's bond as brothers grow as I imagine the bond that will form between Maddox and little P. I am thankful for my dear sweet friend Sarah who has changed my life forever. I am thankful that the Lord brought her in my life almost 5 years ago and the sisterhood that has formed between us. I am also thankful for my dear friend Anna, although she lives all the way in California, she never stops encouraging me and making me laugh. I am thankful for my sweet friend Trish and her ability to always make me laugh and the impact she had on my life right when I graduated high school, started college and working in the real world. She was there when I started dating Brad, when I got engaged, got married, changed jobs, changed jobs again, found out I was pregnant (and she was pregnant too) and talked me through the crazy changes that we occurring to both of us as we become mothers just one month apart from each other.
Goodness, while I type all of this out I realize I could go on and on. We have so much to be thankful for and so many people who bless our lives on a daily basis.
Thank you Lord for your perfect plan, timing and your guidance. Thank you for amazing families and friends who have forever changed our lives.

 Aunt Kim and Maddox on his 2nd Birthday

CiCi and Maddox on Polar Express

Maddox and Mollie having fun (this was the day after Paxton was born)

My amazing mom and Paxton

Sweet sweet Granny and Baby P

My Three Boys

Sisters!!!

7 Months

Paxton James you are now 7 months old...how is that even possible!?! You are getting way too big way too quickly...please slow down just a little bit for your momma.
What are you up to these days?

You weigh roughly 20 pounds
You are wearing 9 month clothes (barely...in just a few more days I fear you will already be in 12 month clothes)
You are still wearing size 3 diapers
You are sitting up all by yourself
You are perfecting the art of the army crawl
You put EVERYTHING in your mouth
You are a fantastic eater and have yet to reject anything that has been offered to you
You are finally sleeping all through the night
You have been changed from Zantac to Prevacid to hopefully help more with your tummy issues. You have been on the new meds for a week and it seems to have helped and not added more issues
You love to watch Maddox and prefer to play with his toys rather than your own, which Maddox is not always a fan of, but we are learning to share
You laugh, talk, babble and smile continuously
You have the sweetest spirit about yourself and you are simply a joy

Learning from the Kiddos

I love how God blesses our lives with children, whom we are to guide, raise, teach, feed, bathe, comfort and provide all things for; however, while doing all the tasks we are called to do a God fearing parents, He uses these children to teach US. These two boys are constantly teaching me new things and opening my eyes more and more to the love that the Lord has for us.
Paxton is in a "phase" right now (I hope it is just a phase) where he cries heavily if I set him down, or take two steps away from him, or turn my back, or heaven forbid leave the room that he is in. He has the saddest and most pathetic pout lip and a cry that makes you think you just ripped his little heart right out of his chest. During the evening time he loves to play with his daddy (as long as I am in the room as well) and lights up when he sees Brad for the first time when he gets home from work. Paxton LOVES his daddy, there is no doubt about it; however, there is just something about ME, his mommy that he LONGS for and even demands. God has opened my eyes to the simple truth that I should feel that way about the Lord. I should have a longing so embedded in my soul to seek the Lord and His truth that I will not be happy unless I am face to face with His goodness and Grace. I should not allow any other good thing in this world take the place of my Jesus!!

Oh What a Beautiful Day

Oh what a Beautiful Morning! Oh what a Beautiful day!!! 

Paxton slept through the entire night (8pm-8am) without waking a single time!! Oh it certainly is a Beautiful day...it's amazing what can be accomplished when receiving a full, uninterrupted nights sleep!

The many ways little P sleeps (fun pictures I found on my Mom's computer)

Thanks P-nut for sleeping ALL night and letting your momma get some good rest!!

Trying to Catch Up

Sheesh, it has been far too long since I have updated this little blog. Everything is going well here....the boys are growing up so quickly and I find myself struggling to keep up. I cannot believe that Paxton is almost 7 months old and Maddox is so close to 3...I just keep praying that I will savor each and every moment with these two sweet boys. Maddox is doing really well in school these days and he asks every morning if he "gets" to go to school. Paxton is getting huge and is doing really well eating solids. I have decided to make his baby food and it has been surprisingly easier than I anticipated. He LOVES to eat and has yet to refuse anything I have offered him. So far he has eaten banana, carrots, pears, sweet potatoes, peas, avocado, and green beans (we are having to wait a little longer to try these again, his little tummy did NOT like green beans).  He can sit up for a short time by himself and he LOVES to sit up and play like his big brother. He wants so badly to move around he is starting to get frustrated when on his belly because he cannot get his little body moving in the right direction...he usually shoves himself backwards or rolls all over the place!

My favorite part of everyday is watching the boys interact with each other. Paxton's entire body lights up when he sees Maddox and Maddox tries so hard to make Paxton laugh....Maddox is so sweet to P and comforts Paxton when he is crying or spit out his Paci.

Oh sweet little Paxton is ALL smiles these days! 

Using one of our formula cans to make a craft outside. (Hey, we have to get the most out of our money spent on that special formula for Mr. P....Brad calls Paxton's formula "GOLD" because it costs almost as much per ounce.) 

Oh the sillyness of our sweet Maddox. Here he is sporting his Thomas the Train PJ's and his FireMan's hat (backwards of course) 

 Maddox will bring his airplane into Paxton's room every morning so he can climb up and see his baby brother!!



 Sweet Brothers



 The big guy all ready for his hay ride at school

 Paxton enjoying the ride outside while we watched the horse drawn hay ride at Maddox's school





 Maddox's class as they walked outside to see the horse





Happy Halloween (Late)

Happy Halloween!! Okay, so I know I am a week late in posting this pictures, but here are just a couple from our Halloween weekend!! Thanks again Murlon for making the boys costumes, they were precious as always!!!

Our Sweet Little Frog Prince, Paxton

Our Scary Dinosaur, Madd-a-saurous