Hello & Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!  We've been indulging in lots of yummy food, we've put up our Christmas tree and decor, and are getting ready for the big day.  Maddyx is really excited about everything Christmas this year which makes it even more enjoyable for us as parents.  He loves the Christmas tree, all of the lights, and of course, Santa!  We've got a visit to the Big Guy on our to-do list.

Below are some recent pictures of our little Maddyx.  He's growing up so fast.  He's 3 years 4 months and really doing great.  He's a typical three year old boy and with that comes its challenges.  Some days worse than others, but we are surviving!  He brings us so much joy and has completed our family.  He's healthy, happy and adjusting great! 

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THREE!

So I'm a little late....but I'm here, and I'm doing it. And that's a major accomplishment in my book! Now that I got that out of the way...pheew.

On July 25th Maddyx turned three! What an exciting age. Three seems to be a turning point. It feels like the point that Maddyx is officially changing from a toddler to a little boy. He doesn't act like a baby anymore, he doesn't look like a baby anymore, he sleeps in a big boy bed, he wants to wash his own hands, brush his own teeth and rarely does he *want* Mom's help. And then there's the no more diapers thing (that's about four weeks up the road...next post maybe...eeek)!

He absolutely loves school. I was so worried that we'd started him too early, but he really thrives in that environment and is quite the little social butterfly. Come to find out, we have the hugger (and the hitter) of the class. Maybe he does one to balance out the other? He's even started pushing. Oh boy... I keep waiting for this phase in his (our) life to end. But it hasn't yet. Soon. Please?!?

This year's birthday was very quiet and simple. Just the way we like it. We had a birthday dinner with just our little family of three (plus our four legged baby) with balloons, cupcakes and presents. And of course, the highlight of Maddyx's evening...CAKE!!! I also went to Maddyx's preschool and brought some fun treats for the class and they all sang Happy Birthday to him. He was so excited that it was finally HIS birthday. And everyone was singing to HIM this time! So cute.

Maddyx's daddy is a big golfer. So therefore Maddyx has been *overly* exposed to the sport since the first day he came home. Golf channel upon rising, driving range and putting green on daddy and son days, trips to the local Golfmart, and of course, chipping in the front yard. So we decided that this birthday was the right one to get Maddyx a couple of his own *real* clubs. A wedge and a putter. And here he is in action on his birthday.

Happy Birthday my little Angel. You are truly a blessing. Mommy loves you!

P.S. The necklace he's wearing in the photos is one he made at school. He really loves making and wearing these. He calls them his neckies. We have many.

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Celebrating 4th of July Hawaii Style!

Thankful

This year I am most thankful for our little family.  Our family that was brought together through the beautiful gift of adoption.  I am thankful that I was given the confidence and strength on April 1, 2009 to take a leap of faith into the unknown.  I am thankful that infertility blessed me.  Without it, we would have never found Maddyx and our family would not have been complete.

We are different...
We are unique...
We are special...
We are a family...
We are a perfect fit. 

Not much more to say than we are so happy together and feel so blessed to have one another. 

I'm also thankful that after an entire year we were FINALLY able to get a family picture.  Meaning a picture with all three of us.  Together.  Technically this is not our entire family because our four legged baby Cooper is not in it, but it will have to do for now.

I hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving. 

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Happy Halloween!

Some of you may recognize this costume.  And if you do, the answer is yes.  Yes, it's the same costume as last year.  I know, I know, you're probably thinking, seriously?  How lame!  But in my defense Maddyx hardly got any use out of this costume last year and he really enjoyed wearing it this year.  And it still fits, so why not go round two?  Besides, he looks so stinkin cute - I just couldn't resist one more year of our little Moo. 

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Fall Is Here!

Well it's officially my favorite time of year again.  Pumpkin, apple and caramel scented candles fill the air.  Cozy throws on the sofa and the amber colors from the fireplace light the room. The change in season instantly motivates me to cook and bake in all of my spare time, which results in lots of oven baked dinners and yummy sweets.  And lets not forget the big sweaters, jeans and boots that are all pulled out and ready to wear.  Yes, this is definitely my favorite time of year.

We kicked off the season with a trip to a local dairy farm that transformed into a really cute pumpkin patch.  Which also happened to be the same day Maddyx started school.  It was a big day for our little guy! 

We took a hayride around the farm where we saw sheep, goats, cows and llamas.  Maddyx did a great job of yelling out all the animal sounds as we saw them.  His favorite being Maaaaa!  More like MAAAAAA!!!!!  At the top of his lungs.  Only a couple people stared.  He took a wagon ride with dad, visited the petting corral, shot some hoops, chased dad through a hay bale maze and got to pick out his very own pumpkin to take home.  Okay, so he couldn't make up his mind on which pumpkin, and frankly wasn't too fond of the prickly stem, so Dad picked it for him.  Still a very good pumpkin.

It was a long day for Maddyx and he did very well up until it was time to leave.  As we paid for our pumpkin he happened to notice a very large industrial size fan inside the barn store.  And that my friends is where the good times ended.  You see, Maddyx is just a little bit obsessed with fans.  Okay, a lot.  And when he saw that big, beautiful fan inside the barn, that is where he wanted to stay.  So when I said it was time to go I got the screams, the flailing arms and *the* scene.  Yep, the one where everyone stairs at the poor mom carrying her child out under one arm, while the other arm is carrying a purse, a camera, a water bottle and also trying to pull a wagon that we needed to return.  And where was Dad you ask?  Oh, he thought it would be a good idea to take the pumpkins to the car.  Sweet of him, huh?

It really was a great afternoon.  I loved watching Maddyx run around and just enjoy all of the activities.  He's grown up so much.  I can hardly believe that last year at this time we had been a family for just over a month.

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Wordless Wednesday: First Day of Preschool

An Afternoon at Sea World

Wednesday was the perfect day to cut out of work early and head to Sea World with my boys.  It was the perfect day because it was the perfect San Diego weather.  Sunny and low 70's.  This is why I love my hometown. What better way to spend the day, right?  It was a good day.

Maddyx found a new friend at Sea World that he got to bring home with him.  It was a tough choice he had to make.  The competition was stiff....there was Elmo (an obvious top choice), Grover (eeh) and Big Bird (could be a contender).  When we arrived at the vendor station selling these little stuffed guys (right at two year old eye level...great marketing) we told Maddyx he could choose ONE to take home.  After SEVERAL minutes of picking up Elmo and then picking up Big Bird....dropping Big Bird and picking up Elmo....drop Elmo and back to Big Bird, Mama finally had to intervene and let Maddys know he needed to make his choice now.  So he made his final decision and never looked back.  Meet Maddyx's new friend, Big Bird.

He even shared his popcorn with his new best friend.  And that's a big deal, because Maddyx doesn't give up good food easily.

Maddyx, Dad and Mom bounced around in the bouncy 'thing' ....yea, that thing.

And then.  And then Maddyx might have had one of his *most* exciting moments in his two years of being on earth.....

OMG!!!....I'm HUGGING Grover!!!

And ELMO is here TOO!!!!!!  Good thing I have a diaper on!!!

If you're wondering - yes, he's still hugging him.  It was about a five minute long hug.  Or at least it felt that way.  It might have been the cutest moment ever. When you meet Elmo for the first time, you give him your biggest, best hug ever.  He had a crowd of people laughing.  It was the best. He could have sat in his arms all day long.  I actually feared the moment I had to tell him his turn was over.  You know, the two year old, my world is coming to an end meltdown moment.  The one we all fear in moments like this.  Fortunately for me, we didn't have it.  Thank you Jesus. This ride looks very innocent, but I have to say that it's much scarier than it looks.  I was watching from the side lines as it decided to do some pretty aggressive spinning.  And of course, my little man was having a blast.  We have a roller coaster junkie in the making. On to the next ride.  This one he's done before.  Piece of cake. Until next time Sea World.....thank you for a great day.