12 Month Update {Maddox}

12 M O N T H S

It's the weirdest...feeling like I've known you forever and yet also unable to believe you're 1 year old. 

You are still my little boy...but the reality of you being 1 reminds me that the years are short.

Months 1-6

Months 7-12
 

Stats:

Height: 29" (29%)

Weight: 19 lbs. 15 oz. (28%)

Head: 46 cm. (45%)

EAT

You love to eat.  I thought Jacoby liked to eat but you REALLY know how to eat.  We were on vacation last week and you ate so much Mac & Cheese and you had it everywhere...so much in your hair that it made a mohawk!! :) 

You like almost all food but yogurt, pasta + any other carbs is your favorite!

You have switched to formula fully in the last month, and we will be introducing milk in a few days, and you have gone from refusing every single bottle to drinking 10 oz at a time! We just had to find the perfect bottle. 

SLEEP

You're a decent sleeper.  You sleep 9-6ish, wake up & nurse and then go back to sleep.  I honestly haven't worked on getting you to drop that nursing session.  I plan on hoping to get you 9-9 pretty soon here, but I don't mind the mid-morning wake up too much. 

You only nap once a day, for around 2 hours, but it's at the same time as Jacoby...so that's really all I ask ;) You'll occasionally sleep in the car if we're running errands in the late morning, but if we're home, you refuse to sleep in the morning.

PERSONALITY

Your personality is so beautiful.  You are sweet, reserved, endearing, + so loving.  You are a magnet to your mama. If I'm around, it's hard for anyone else to make you happy. You're fine if I'm not there, but if you can hear or see me, you need me.  I credit my arm muscles to you always wanting to be in my arms. 

You are reserved and like when people talk to you, but you won't go to just anyone.  Even people you know really well, sometimes you don't want to be held by them either.  You love to watch people, including your brother.  There are moments where I see you two playing together and it's like watching my dreams unfold. Jacoby gets down and crawls and chases you and you both just laugh.  

Speaking of laughing... you have such a quiet laugh. Your gentle spirit just flows in everything you do.  Your little babbles, your big smile but quiet laugh + the way you are silly but not in a loud, obvious way.  It's watching the little things that you do that make us laugh the most.  Last night in the tub, you kept leaning down, slurping up a little bit of water and then sitting up and giggling with the biggest smile on your face.  You just shine in the calm, sweet moments like that.

I remember this day like no other. I remember thinking "Will he look like Jacoby? Will he be a quiet baby or a spitfire? Will he sleep well or not? Will I be able to make sure he feels loved even though my time + efforts are split?"

It's amazing what God does to a mama's heart when another baby comes along.  Know what else is amazing? The way God made you so perfectly unique and the absolute perfect addition to our family.  

I so look forward to watching you grow...and being the one that gets to watch you day in and day out.

A letter from your daddy and then one from me :) 

Maddox Eric,

I cannot believe you are one year old! This year has absolutely flown by. And yes, some parts were hard, but I cannot express how much I loved it.  It has been such a joy to be your and Coby’s daddy.  

I don’t know if you will ever understand the impact that you had on our family.  You have the sweetest little personality.  From the moment that you started smiling, I told your mommy, “there is just something different about his smile. He lights up the whole room.” And when you were very little, you didn’t like to give those smiles out for free! You made us work hard for them.  But as you’ve grown, you really have become the happiest little boy. You love to smile and you are generally so content (as long as Mommy is around ;).

It is so amazing to watch you and Coby interact.  There is nothing that your mommy and I love more than watching you two boys play together.  I will never forget the night that you were born.  It was so late at night and your Papa and Cici brought Coby at around 11 PM to come meet you.  I went out to the waiting room to get him and told that him that his little brother was ready to meet him.  He came into the hospital room and as soon as he saw you his eyes lit up and he said “Hi Bubba”.  And you have been “Bubba” this whole year.  You are the perfect brother for him.  You are so tolerant of his aggressiveness (and even give it back to him sometimes ).  I do not want you boys to get older, but watching you grow up together is going to be so awesome to see. I can already see your bond with him growing.

My little boy, I thought my life was perfect before you came.  But you came and showed me that it could be even more perfect.   I love you so much.  I love your soft, kissable cheeks (your uncle Eric thinks they are the softest in history). I love watching you figure new things out (your little face is so adorable when you’re proud of yourself). I love your dark (yet still bright) eyes. And oh how I love your smile and kisses.  

You are our little sweetie. It’s just the perfect way to describe you.  You get called “sweet” multiple times a day.  Thank you so much for coming in to our family and rounding it out (for now anyway ).  

I’ll never stop loving you and I will always be there for you,

Daddy

My sweetest Maddox,

I can't say enough wonderful things about you.  You are a little magnet to me...and I love the bond we share.  You are the one who makes me feel like I'm doing this parenting thing right.  I just know that you're going to grow up to love so fiercely.  You already do...and what a beautiful gift that is! 

The day you were born is so special to me.  I waited so long for you -- 2nd babies are supposed to be quicker, you know ;) I remember the moment they placed you on my chest and I looked at you and thought...he's perfect.  You have made being your mommy such a joy.  

I want you to know that being your mommy is my greatest blessing.  I pray every day that God gives me everything I need to be the best mommy to you, because you deserve it.  

You are so attached to me and I adore that about you.  It is such a beautiful thing to be the one that you want. I pray that you have a compassionate heart--one that loves hard, always. 

You are endearing and I pray that you use this to bring people to know Christ.

You are my sunshine, the one that lights up this world like only you can.  Thanks for bringing so much love + light to our family.

You are so deeply treasured, my Maddox Eric.  If there's one thing you need to know...it's that you are fiercely loved and always always will be.

xox,

Mama