Maddux's First Haircut!

Last week I finally caved and called and made Maddux an appt. for a haircut.  I was trying to last as long as I could because I feel like babies look so funny after their first cut so, I just didn't want to face it.  But with his hair in the front almost touching the tip of his nose when combed straight I knew we had to get it done.  So, I made the appt for Saturday at 9:30 (not even thinking that this is in the middle of his morning nap)  But we made sure we brought suckers (yes, gasp, suckers! Bad Mom Alert!) & Twizzlers (yes, gasp again)  to make sure he would sit perfectly still so we wouldn't end up with a horrible cut. 

His Dad had him sit on his lap the whole time and he did great never crying or fussing once. I will sadly say there are parts that are uneven--the very front & one of his ears is cut out more than the other. (but don't tell anyone I hope they don't notice)  This did change his looks-drastically, I think.  He looks like such a big boy. Here are some pictures of the big day. He's still adorable. :)

The final result (they were looking in the mirror)
These are in no way editted--sorry I didn't have much time! :)

8 Months! (a day late)

 

stats

weight: will update later (on our scale at home)

height: will post this later (done at home as well)

diaper size: 3

clothes: all 6-9

Firsts

First time getting a sucker

First haircut

First Halloween (you were a octopus)

First time "real" crawling

First time pulling yourself up on things--you now do it on EVERYTHING

First time falling :( you have a bruise and bump right above your eye

First Snowfall

 



notice your bruise right about your eye...that's the very first--of many I'm sure :)



Random Facts

Mickey is still your favorite.

We took your paci away this month (a week before you turned 8 mths)

Strangers are always talking to you and asking if your always that good and happy

You have changed your wave from a full arm wave to just moving your fingers

You love to eat what we eat--your over formula and baby food

You are starting to like to watch Jake & the neverland pirates

When you are crying in the car we calm you down by putting your mickey c.d. in

You still love bath time

Grandma & Grandpa Rowe still can't go more than a couple days without seeing you--your their happiness I don't know what they would do without you.

 

the picture is blurry but you guys are looking in the mirror after your haircut

Maddux James... You are the light of our lives. No words can explain the love we have for you.  We would do anything (I'm sure you can tell) to make you smile. You are growing so fast and getting such a personality.  Our world revolves around you and always will. 

HAPPY 8 MONTHS BABY!!
Momma & Daddy Love you

 

 

A quick update: bedtime, paci, etc.

I'm sure you have noticed that I was doing awesome on posts I mean for awhile I was scheduled out for over a week and now I've been absent.  So lets play a little catch up before I rush off to bed.

• Bedtime-- This "was" is going awesome.  But then Maddux gets off schedule when he has a night away from home--which is fine because Grandma & Grandpa are amazing. & I have NO complaints when he is with them but when he is there he is rocked to sleep and has my mom in the same room as him and is picked up at every little fuss which is totally ok because she's grandma but at home he doesn't he is laid down awake and if he wakes up in the middle of the night he has to put himself back to sleep with no consoling (it sounds meaner than what it is...I promise)  So last night and tonight hasn't been the best bedtimes but it is what it is and it will go back to normal in the next day or two.
• Paci- You guys read my concerns and what not with the whole paci attachment stuff and well the next day I decided to go cold turkey and let me tell you... it went AMAZING. He went down for both naps and bedtime with no fussy at all which was great he only cried in the car and I didn't cave.  Day # 2 was the night he spent with my parents and well that night he got it once he fell asleep which is fine and yesterday (day #3) he didn't have it at all but was super cranky and was not going to bed for us so we let him get up and at that time we contemplated giving him the paci well also during that time Maddux fell... he fell hard and hit his head... :( it was super sad and we gave him his paci to help sooth him and I was so upset from him falling I didn't want him to cry anymore that night that I put him to bed with it.  He didn't get it after that tho and has went all day without it.  He did cry himself to sleep at both naps and now for bedtime but he only cried for maybe 10 mins so it hasn't been to bad.  I'm so proud of him and us for letting this go so easy :)
• Well like you just read Maddux had his first big spill he was standing next to the couch and I was holding onto him but he had turned himself around so I went to go switch the position of my hand and just as I let go he fell so fast and so hard it was horrible. I called the doc on call in his peds practice and asked if I needed to take him to the ER and stuff but he said no and to just go in and wake him up 4 hours after he falls asleep and to make sure the swelling goes down which he woke up fine for me and the swelling went way down overnight. He just has a bruise and small lump right above his eye now. 

Well guys that's your quick little update.  Hopefully I catch a break soon and can write some posts to keep up again.

Oh &&&

Hubs has 2 interviews this week

Both of them are with awesome companies in our community

He actually had one today (this one would be his 2nd choice & he will know if he is offered a job tomorrow)

& the 2nd one is on Thursday at 5

so please please please say some prayers for him...

I want baby #2 soon and that can only happen if he gets a new job ;)



Things People Say...

I swear some people don't think before they speak.

First of all maybe I'm not right but you don't talk to strangers and you especially don't touch them. 

I'm  a friendly person but I don't just walk up to someone while they are eating dinner and talk to them when I have no clue who they are.

Well this past week a couple things have happened.

1- Maddux was called FAT... yes fat people not chubby not chunky just plain FAT.-- unacceptable I think so.

&

2. Maddux has been referred to as a girl on 2 different occasions.  A GIRL??

Let me elaborate on these subjects.

We were going out to dinner and my husband being the kind man that he is decides to hold the door for a family leaving the restaurant--mind you we live in Indiana so the weather was ridiculous but as this family is walking out this little girl makes the comment "awwww look at the baby he's so cute" & the mom instantly fires back..."Yeah a FAT baby" and she didn't even say this in a nice cheerful voice. No. She was snarky and rude about.  I instantly said as she walked away and her husband was thanking my husband for holding the door.  OH MY GOD did you seriously just hear what that lady just said? I'm like she just called him Fat.  My sweet 7 month old FAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? A baby is not fat--what is wrong with our society... if you can seriously look at a little baby that can't even walk yet and call them fat you seriously have problems and I feel very sorry for your kids. 

What upset me the most about this lady calling my child fat was the fact that she said it right in front of him and was rude.  I know Maddux doesn't understand what that mean lady said but it's just the fact that it's like really, you couldn't wait until you got to the car to say that? I mean it was just uncalled for... it took everything I had to just stay calm and not strangle this lady.

Now... on to the next issue.

Maddux looks like a girl... I think not.

This has been said on 2 different occasions both times by elderly people

the first time maddux had on jeans his purdue shirt and his cubs hat & the second time he had a gap onsie with old style cars all over it.  Neither outfits at all resembling something I would ever put a little girl in. 

I personally just feel like if you are unsure about what a baby is then just shut your mouth and don't say anything.  Tonight was the second time it happened and the old lady went out of her way to come over and comment on how it wasn't fair that we were making --"her it's a girl right?" uh no lady he's all boy--eat cheerios while we had wings. It's like really just really?  My husband was like Seriously he doesn't look anything like a girl... oh well I guess I would rather have him referred to as a girl than fat any day. 

But Moral of the story is....

DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS ABOUT THEIR KIDS!!!

WE DON'T WANT/NEED YOUR ADVICE OR TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR CHILD OR PARENTING!!
THANK YOU!
& let me leave you all with a picture of my sweet healthy baby boy

Growin' like a weed.

Where has the time gone?

3 days before I gave birth

In Labor...

right after birth

1 mth.

 2 mth.

3 mth.

4 mth.

5 mth.

6 mths.

7mths.

Crazy Right? This just makes me so sad to know that he is getting so big...

He looks like a little toddler sitting on the potty waiting for his bath.

:)

P.S. He is crawling--Has been for awhile now but he now "real" crawls not just army crawl unless he really wants something then he goes back to the army style because he can do that faster :)



Make New Friends....

How do you do just that?
I mean seriously I'm just over this whole friend situation.
 I love my old high school friends but I just don't "connect" with them.  I mean they will always be my friends but until they are on the same chapter of life as me we will never "connect" like we used to ya know?
 I just struggle daily with not having anyone that is going through the same things as me so I have only my husband to talk to.
I do have a couple of mommy friends but I want best mommy friends ya know?
 I know friendship takes time butttt.... I want to just be able to text someone and tell them about my bad day or just swing on in for a playdate and likewise... I want to be able to gossip and just relax. I just want that best friend relationship with someone on the same level as me!

I feel like life just happens and all the sudden your stuck in the middle of it-- alone. 

I mean I have my husband and I have my mother and they are my true best friends but I just still feel like there is something missing. 

I need some friends.  Tell me where to find them or what I gotta do to get them because I miss having them! :)

Halloween 2011 {mini photo dump--Our little Octopus}

I had searched all over the internet for Maddux's costume and I finally found it here! I changed it quite a bit but overall this is where the idea originated from....

I couldn't find cute socks anywhere so I decided to just tye dye is outfit. So that's what we did... I didn't do a hat though simply because Maddux hates beanies and constantly tries to pull them off whenever he has one on so we just skipped that.

Maddux is such a wiggle worm anymore and doesn't hardly sit for ANYTHING

Here's a few more pics from our 1st Halloween as a family of 3 :)

We just went to families houses since he cant walk or talk or eat candy we just thought it would be easier to go visit family :)

We had a great Halloween & hope you did too! :)

We love our little Octopus!

:)

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: New Pets

Maddux is the proud new owner of 4 goldfish.

He LOVES my grandparents fish tank (it's huge w. some really big fish in it)

He will sit and watch them forever so we decided about a month or 2 ago

that Maddux needed a fish tank

every morning I sit him right here in this position in front of the tank while I get his breakfast ready and such.

He will sit and watch them for quite awhile-- He bangs on the tank all the time :)

He Loves them! :)

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: 6 Month Photo dump

These are Maddux's 6 month pictures taken by Tara.

She did such an awesome job... we seriously love them all! :)

{I didn't realize I didn't post these sooner...sorry!!}

My absolute hands down favorite!
He LOVES Mickey and this picture shows that.
it's soooo cute! :)

He looks like such a big boy here :)

amazing, right?!

I know! :)

7 Months!

stats

weight: 22.5 lbs. (on our scale at home)

height: 26 1/2-27 in. (done at home as well)

diaper size: 2 {we officially made the switch to pampers this month}

clothes: mainly all 6-9 you can still fit in 3-6 but we normally put you in 6-9

Firsts

{sadly Momma can't remember many of these :( }

First time eatting Mac & Cheese (I blended up some of mine for you)

First time eating chocolate (you sucked on a Kit Kat)

First time saying Dad (Wednesdy, October 12th)

First time Waving (you do a FULL arm wave)

First time attending the DeKalb County Free Fall Fair--big deal :)

First time getting a fish tank--you could sit and stare at that thing for hours

Random Facts

You still love Mickey.

You used to be soo quiet but now you talk often.

Your not like most babies you don't just sit and ramble dadadadada you say Dad.

You are a momma's boy.

Banana is your favorite food.

You smile constantly :)

You are very friendly to everyone including strangers

You are trying to crawl but still aren't there yet...

If you want something you will find a way to get it this normally involves a lot of nose dives and rolling

You Love your fish & you dogs.

You love kids especially little girls (Leah is probably your favorite person)

Baby Number Two?

That's the Big question.

We are asked this at least once or twice a week.

When is number 2 coming??



The best part of getting this question is seeing people's reactions (or hearing it thru emails)

We want to start trying in December.

Yes, this December.

Fall 2012 Baby.

"trying"

that's the key word.

Also, the same word that makes me cringe.

I don't want to have to "try" to have a baby I just want to have a baby.

as most of you know Maddux was just kind of a wow. surprise kind-a-deal.

so... it makes me very nervous to have to try to make a baby because I don't want to have to deal with any kind pressure, stress or dissappoint--if it doesn't happen right away. 

Also, 95% of the people that we tell this to tell us we are crazy & instantly start telling us how "hard" things are going to be. 

Yes, this I know.

Sleep... I'll miss it.

Money... if I wait for money I'll never have another child.

Me time... Thank God for AMAZING grandparents.

3 Bedroom-Small House... We will move--someday... We have room for 2 kids--just not 3 here.

Friends... Ha. I don't see them now 2 kids won't matter.

My Relationship with My Husband... stronger than ever kids won't change that--not for the worse at least.

So... I know we are crazy, I know this will be a challenge...

2 under 2.

Big Deal.

We Got This.

:)

Now to convince my mommy friends to try for some more! :) :)

What do you girls say?

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: All Boy!

seriously last week my Husband insisted Maddux wear his Cubs hat...
This is after the fact that I had already dressed him in a Purdue shirt so he didn't match but he wasn't budging Maddux had to wear this hat.

I have to admit he looked pretty cute even though it's still a little big on him :)

wordless{ish} wednesday: Sophie

We are now proud owners of Sophie the Giraffe.

As soon as I saw that Babies R Us was selling them I knew Maddux just HAD to have it-- Thankfully my hubs wasn't with me he would have never let me spend that much on her.

(let me also say that he now loves her and questions where she is when we leave her at home or in the car etc.)

Maddux loves Sophie!

Head on over & Link up! :)

Wordless {ish} Wednesday :: Maddux's first Word.

Maddux now says his first word... Hi.

Not the normal MaMaMa or DaDaDa... nope just hi or hey. :)

It's super cute and I got him recorded saying it.... Enjoy.

sorry it's sideways... :)

Big Regrets.

I've been a real mom for 6 months now & let me just tell you I have some huge regrets already. 

Regret #1
Trying to dictate my future parenting issues
I was the type of pregnant person that said my baby will do this my baby won't do that...
I plan on doing thing I will NOT do that....
&& let me just say I regret saying any of it because now that I'm here parenting my son there are things that I'm like really Ashlee, your ridiculous.  I regret letting some of the things I suggested out of my mouth--I've realized you can't honestly say what you will and won't do when it comes to parenting until you parent. plain and simple

Regret #2
Never Never Never. Never Never Never.
this can kinda relate to the previous regret. but I said Never a lot. 
my child will never wear disney clothes
my child will never sleep in my bed or with me
I will never give up breastfeeding
this list could go on and on and on....
my son is obessed with Mickey & I buy him all things Mickey
my son slept in my bed from 2 weeks--3/4months
I sadly quit breastfeeding when Maddux was 5 days old (something that still upsets me)
Plain and simple like I said before you have no idea how you will parent until you parent but one piece of advice that I will give all new mommies....
Never say Never.

Regret #3
Breastfeeding Drop Out
I swore up and down that I would breast feed Maddux until at least 6 months.
I didn't have that bonding feeling at all when I breastfed but that's not why I wanted to do it
I wanted what was best for my child and I thought that was it...
Maddux cried all day every day it was horrible--everyone would tell me they thought he was hungry which would really upset me because I would have just got done feeding him so he would just cry-- it wasn't fun and the moment I caved and gave him formula from a bottle he was the best baby ever.  he was like a real newborn he slept so contently... I remember getting a call from the Lactation Consultant suggesting that I keep trying and that I begin to pump I was so upset at the time feeling like a failure and like I had just starved my little baby for the past 5 days that I didn't want to deal with it I just wanted him happy and that is what formula did so I didn't do anything to try to breastfeed instead I did everything to dry up my milk supply. 
Still to this day--I wish I would have tried harder.

Regret #4
Research is for geeks
I wish I would do more research on the things I get for Maddux... this isn't a huge regret but I had 9 months where I could've prepared for what I was going to buy Maddux but instead I just bought the cute thing or the thing that "looked" safe-- I will say I am 100% satisfied with everything I bought for him other than my monitor but everything else has been wonderful.
but next time and in the future I hope I just look up a little bit more information & reviews on the products that my child will use.

Regret #5
Pictures or Lack of...
I didn't take hardly any pictures in the hospital--
I didn't take a single family picture until almost a month after Maddux was born
I didn't take but maybe 3-4 pictures the night Maddux was born
I didn't get real newborn pictures of him taken
I didn't family pictures taken until he was 5 months old
seriously DONT do this TAKE 1000 pictures the moment your child is born I will forever regret this... forever.

Regret #6
I'm Pregnant::Breakdown!
this is the biggest regret of my life... I can never change this and it sucks to even talk about it or admit it but...
the moment I found out the greatest most life changing news I... lost it.
I cried & cried & cried some more...
I ran to my bedroom, shoved my head into my pillow and just cried.
Jayce came in to try to calm me down and he kept telling me it'd be ok &
all that kept running thru my head was I wasn't married I wasn't married I just wasn't married it wasn't suppose to happen like this.
I had no idea what to do... I was just broken.
I eventually came to terms with everything and realized that in just 2 weeks I would marry the love of my life and the father of the child growing inside of me.
I don't know why this has upset me so much lately but knowing that for a split second I "cried" because of the greatest thing God has done in my life.
I regret it. I will never get to change that moment. I hate the way I handled it-- I handled it the way a young single 21 year old would not a mature, practically married woman would have and it sucks. it suchs I don't get to rewrite that moment.


Do you have parenting regrets?
I hope I'm not alone on this one.

Maddux got Dedicated.

On 9/11/11 we dedicated our sweet baby to our lord & saviour

Sadly I only have a video from the day and that's on my parents video camera so... these pictures were taken last week & the stuff he is with are his gifts/cards he recieved :) he is one loved little boy.



6 Months! (only a week late)

Stats

weight: 18 lbs 7 oz

height: 26  1/4 in.

diapers: size 2

clothes: 3-6 pants 6-9 shirts (a lil big) & still 3 month carters

Firsts

First time eating baby food

First time rolling back to belly

Celebrated Daddy's birthday.
First time being babysat by Grandma Bastin
First time trying real people food other than icecream :)
First time sitting up unassisted--you never did the whole tripod thing

First official ear infection

Random Facts

**You got dedicated this month--Momma & Daddy were so proud and are looking forward to raising you in the church. :)**

You are getting better at sleeping--most days

You love your carseat toys

You are still a Mickey addict

You love your jumper

You smile constantly

You aren't that happy when you try new foods

You love love love swinging

You are starting to notice the wrigley & addison--they make you smile

You still act like your teething and you have a couple lumps in there but nothing popping up yet.

You have done awesome in the church nursery

Maddux James we can't believe that you are 1/2 way to being a year old--It's been a fun ride so far we look forward to the little boy you are turning into.  We love you so much. :)

Love, Momma & Daddy.