HOWDY

Maddox's sweet personality is being to show through and through!!! It is so much fun to see what makes him laugh and what will make him give you the "stink-eye" He makes the funniest facial expressions! He is currently fascinated by his little hands, he is constantly moving them and just watching his fingers bend and reach and pick up things! You can almost see those wheels just turning in his head as he is attempting to discover new things!

He has become such a happy little boy and I am so excited about that. What an answer to my prayers and what a JOY he is to have in our lives!!!

Just Roll With It

Wow how things can change in one day. Its just crazy how fast Maddox is learning new tricks, eating new foods, and simply discovering his world around him! As I have mentioned, Maddox has mastered the art of the roll from tummy to back; however, today he rolled from back to belly and belly to back, just like a roly poly!! It was hilarious and he always has this stunned look on his face when he accomplishes the roll over (I honestly don't think it is because he is surprised by his new accomplishment, it is because I get so excited and I think I scare him a little...hahhaha)

Maddox has done amazingly well with all the new foods he has tried! S0 far he has eaten sweet peas, green beans, carrots and sweet potatoes! The change of foods does not seem to affect him, he just eats whatever you allow him to! He is a very eager eater and has made this very easy for Brad and I. He has been more gassy since we started the solids, but in all honesty I was totally expecting some tummy problems because that is all that we know with the Madd-man; however, overall he is doing amazingly well with the change of diet and I couldn't be more thrilled!

It has been so fun watching Brad and Maddox bond over the past 5 months. It just melts my heart to see them giggle and play together! Brad is so good to him and I love to watch Brad's face light up when he gets home from work and begins to tickle Maddox. When Brad comes home for lunch and I am feeding Maddox his lunch, it because almost impossible to keep that spoon in Maddox's mouth because he is constantly watching Brad and forgets to pay attention to eating (now for those of you who know Maddox, you realize how big of a statement that is. Maddox actually gets distracted from eating because he is so focused on his daddy. It is absolutely precious!!!)

I feel this has been the best month of motherhood for me. I am finally beginning to feel like myself again and I am loving all the time I get to spend with Maddox. I don't feel like I am constantly walking in a fog or so exhausted that I can hardly function. I have time to pick up the phone and call my friends, sit down and write a quick email, and enjoy the day ahead of me! I knew it would eventually get there, it just took me a while to find MY spot in this new world I am surrounded by, and let me just tell you, I LOVE it! I am so blessed to have an amazing husband who works his bottom off so that I can have the opportunity to stay at home with Maddox. I am so lucky to have this time with my mom to bond with her and watch her relationship grow with her grandson!! I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Thank you Brad, Sarah, Dusty, Kameron, Jason, Carol and Anna for your constant support and patience as I have attempted to find who I am as a mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. You guys have been so supportive and have helped me more than I could ever thank you for!!!

Sorry to just ramble on and on there. I have some pictures for you and some video! I hope you enjoy!!

Maddox eating carrots

Maddox and daddy laughing



Jumping around in my Birthday suit!!!

Lets Roll

We have officially mastered the art of rolling over from tummy to back!! (by we I mean Maddox, you guys would not be interested in knowing that I can roll over from my tummy to my back, I am 25 for goodness sake) The minute you place the little man on his tummy, he shifts those hips and rolls over on his back again. I always knew he hated tummy time, he has found a way to get out of doing that for sure!! Hahaha. It is so amazing to watch the new things he can master in just a few days!!! I have a feeling he will be crawling in no time. He already tries to wiggle his little legs while he is attempting to roll over. Oh my goodness, I am about to have my hands very full!!

Well I am going to sneak out of his room for now, he is finally asleep! I shall leave you with one of my favorites of my boys!!

High 5s

Happy Birthday to.....Me and Maddox (well kind of) This past week I turned the big 25 and Maddox turned 5 months!!! (I know..I cannot believe he is that old either...crazy how the time goes by so fast) Just a month for 5s It was a fantastic birthday for me. I actually feel younger this year. I always pictured myself much older when I started a family, so having Maddox "early" actually makes me feel much much younger (it doesn't hurt that I still look 15, although I do get some pretty nasty looks from the elderly people when they see me with Maddox...hahahah)

Things in the Voda house are going quiet well at the moment. Maddox is still sleeping in his big boy bed and doing great at it, I still pray for the day when we sleep through the night, but I try to cherish this time that he still "needs" me in the wee Hours of the night. We started the cereal again this past week and Maddox has done much much better with it this time. His little tummy is allowing him to digest it much easier. We ate sweet peas this evening...he made some funny faces, but he ate every last bite (he tried to help me feed him and he would pat his fat little hands on the high chair try when I wasn't going fast enough. Do you think I am going to have a "demanding" little one on my hands....I do think so..heheheh) He is laying on his tummy for longer periods of time throughout the day and is attempting to master the tummy role (that can go two ways...rolling from tummy to back and simply the fact that I have a rather plump boy with a few belly roles....so precious)

Maddox finally laughed out loud for Brad and I....yipppee...what a glorious sound!!! He laughed when he was getting his 5 month picture made, he laughed at the girls at Brad's work, and he laughs for Brad when he makes silly faces or noises. I think this has been our favorite milestone! We have anticipated that laugh for a very long time now and we attempt anything to make it happen. It is wonderful to know that our little one is feeling better now and is able to discover more of his personalty and enjoy the world around him. Thank you Jesus for helping him feel better!!!

I will leave you with a small video of Maddox the Sucker-Fish licking the frost off of a cold glass and some of my favorite pictures from this past week!!! I hope everyone is doing well, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to check up on our sweet little man!!!

Here is a pic from my birthday at my dad's house!! Don't my boys look handsome (yeah, I was a little tired that day, sorry for the squinty eyes!!)

Maddox eagerly awaiting his yummy cereal!!! (I love love love this highchair by the way!)

No Assistance Needed

Yippeee!! What a wonderful week it has been in the Kalivoda household, particularly in Maddox's bedroom!!! We have made that wonderful transition to crib sleeping....yes you read that correctly, Maddox is sleeping in his crib, by himself with no assistance. No baby papazon chair, just little Maddox, his fish mobile and his sacred Raffie!!!! I had been praying that the Lord would let me know when Maddox was ready to sleep in his bed unassisted, I simply could not fight Maddox anymore on the matter. He did not feel well and could not get situated on his back with his tummy hurting so badly...thank goodness for baby zantac...it has helped his so much!! One evening I went to put Maddox to bed in his little chair and he just arched his back and squirmed around and just couldn't get situated...the poor little guy was telling me he wanted to stretch out....I laid him in his crib, turned on his mobile and sat in the glider chair to see what would happen!!! The Madd-man fell asleep on his own IN HIS CRIB!!!!

I stay in his room and play his mobile 2-3 times until he is good and asleep. He has slept there ever since! He even spent the night at Grammy's house and slept in his Port-a-crib (we are not sleeping through the night yet, we still get up for at least one feeding...but I can totally handle one feeding) I still have to get up a few times a night to put his paci back in, but he is doing so well. My heart just leaps for joy because this was a huge obstacle that I had no idea how we were going to conquer!!! YIPPPEEEE!!!! I am so proud of him. You would not believe the change in personality of the little man. He just seems so much more content throughout the day, well it only makes sense that he would be happier...you know how uncomfortable a nights sleep in a recliner can be....the Madd-Man has been sleeping in a recliner-type-devise for 4 months...he needed to stretch out!!!! He smiles a lot, lets out a little giggle every now and then (he is just such a serious baby...studying the world around him...going to be just like his daddy....well, he gets the grumpiness from me of course...you all KNOW me...hehehhe) Oh it has been so much fun! Yes I still am exhausted some days, but I do believe that is the second definition of Motherhood!!!

Moving on, Maddox has discovered that he desperately desires to sit up. It is absolutely hilarious....I go to put him in his car seat, and he pulls himself forward and tries so hard to sit up and get out of that seat. I just laugh and laugh because he is trying so hard.....good job little man...he is not content in just being, he wants to go and do and discover...what a fabulous quality to have. So now, everywhere I go throughout the house with Maddox, he wants to sit up. I put him on our bed, surround him with pillows and let him sit and wiggle, it is precious! Here's a look at the Madd-Man playing in between all the covers!!! His facial expression in this one cracks me up!!!

Finally I will leave you with the sweetest picture of Maddox and Granny....pay close attention to Maddox's arm, he is grabbing Granny's arm as if to say "MY Granny" Sweet sweet baby boy!!