Maddox's Half Birthday

At 6 months, Maddox: is 15 pounds 14 ounces, 26 3/4 inches, and his hair is 4 inches long. Maddox is eating solids. He sits pretty well on his own and is itching to crawl. He naps and sleeps well now (after some sleep training). He gets stuck between the bars in the crib just about every night. His pacifier use is limited to bed time. Maddox will suck on his thumb if he is upset and doesn't have access to his pacifier. He still stares at dad, and he will look at doors for him. He rarely falls asleep in the car, but still enjoys driving. He will "roar" with mom. The fun blowouts continue. Maddox is a happy and content little guy... unless he's tired, kind of like mom:)

Firsts: He went to his first birthday parties in March. He celebrated his first Easter. Maddox enjoyed the park for the first time Easter weekend. He loved the swing but was indifferent when it came to the slide. He also washed the cars with mom and dad for the first time that same weekend, a Layton tradition I am sure he will grow to love.

He likes: being outside and in new places; sleeping on his tummy; bananas, mangos, rice cereal, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and carrots; balloons; mom's terrible singing; tugging on mom's hair; mirrors; dad's toothbrush (and he will help Scott brush his teeth); his tongue (it is often sticking out).

He hates: avocado and green beans; he gags on these.

Maddox at 5 months.

Maddox is so happy to be 6 months old!

Maddox was pointing out which spots we missed...

Maddox's first Easter, wearing the special tie Grandma made for him.

Connell

We made a couple quick trips to Connell recently for some special family events. The first was in February to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa Anderson's 50th wedding anniversary. There was good food, fun company, and some words of wisdom from the guests of honor. Grandma's advice on how to have a successful marriage: "PATIENCE!" I highly doubt that Grandpa has ever tried her patience... We are grateful to have such wonderful grandparents (including our other three sets) who show by example how to have long and happy marriages.

The second event was in March to watch Brit participate in the local junior miss program. She performed like a champ, and she won the Spirit of Junior Miss award! It was so fun to watch her and she looked beautiful. We are proud of you Brit!!

Proof that we were in Connell...

4 Month Update

At 4 months, here is the skinny on Maddox:

-He weighs 13 pounds, 8 ounces (10th percentile) and is 25 1/2 inches long (50th percentile)

-His hair is over 3 inches long

-Maddox laughs a ton and has a cute, flirtatious smile

-He especially loves his dad and can't look away from Scott when he gets home from work

-Maddox kicks his legs and flaps his arms when he gets really excited

-He loves bath time and is really good at kicking and getting mom wet

-He gets excited to take his vitamins

-He likes watching mom wheel Great Grandpa Layton's toy tractor around on the floor and he tries to push it around himself

-Maddox likes to sit at the table with mom and dad during dinner; normally he is in the Bumbo, but if we are holding him, he'll try to grab our glass when we take a drink

-He likes looking at the computer, TV, iPhone.... basically anything with a screen and color

-He is very ticklish on his back/sides

-He can stick his pacifier in his mouth AND let go (that was the tricky part for a while)

-He is a master at sitting in his Bumbo now

-Maddox can roll from his tummy to his back and is so close to rolling from his back to his tummy, he just needs to swing those legs over

-He is almost able to sit up on his own

-He is finding his legs and feet a lot more

-He puts EVERYTHING in his mouth

-Maddox helps turn the page when we read

-Maddox is rocking cloth diapers

-He currently spends 3 days a week with Mai while mom and dad are at work; she is wonderful with him and he is always happy at the end of the day when we get home

-He sleeps a lot better than a month ago; currently, he'll take 2 good 1 1/2 hour naps during the day and at night he's going down between 8:30 and 9:30, waking up 2 times on a good night, and sleeps for about a 3 hour stretch at a time... we are constantly working to improve his sleeping habits:)

-He is liking tummy time a lot more and will rest his head when he needs a break instead of immediately crying

-He had his first tears a couple weeks ago...sad:(

-Maddox has this cute little cry/shrill that Scott has dubbed "the dinosaur cry" (he compares it to a baby velociraptor or pterodactyl)

-He went to his first motorcycle show last weekend

-He went on his first hike two weekends ago

-Maddox went on his first road trip (to Connell at 3 months) for Christmas; while we were there, he also cheered at his first basketball game

We opened gifts here at home Christmas Eve before heading to WA.

First road trip!

Maddox at 3 months.

Christmas Day 2012

Enjoying some spoils from Christmas.

Mom's first day back at work.

This is Maddox after he finished his burger at Red Robin.

My two cute guys in their Sunday best.

Maddox at 4 months.

First hike!

We found Maddox's doppelgänger... Nick from Scott's work.

Maddox loved the motorcycle show...almost as much as
dad loved showing it to him.