I haven't abandoned the blog...

...we've just been really busy! It's been a non-stop whirlwind of family dinners, outings, gatherings, and fun for the past week or so. Also, I'm getting ready to return to work on Monday (insert dry heave here) so I've been spending every possible minute with my sweet baby boy cuddled up in my arms.

As soon as I have a bit of time, I'm going to write a decent blog update and upload some picturse from our wonderful first Christmas with Maddox.

On a quick note, Maddox is now rolling from his back to his side and has decided that he's going to be a side-sleeper! He's also beginning to reach for me when he's laying on the bed or his changing table (which, of course, makes me swoon!).

A picture is worth a thousand words...

10 weeks

Our sweet boy is 10 weeks old! Here are some Christmas-y pictures!

We're so excited that Christmas is less than a week away! Brandon and I are looking forward to spending our first Christmas with Maddox- we are so incredibly blessed.

Maddox met Santa

Brandon and I took Maddox to meet Santa yesterday. It was so much fun (well, for Brandon and I at least...Maddox really couldn't have cared less!).

Sleep Begets Sleep

Ohhh yeah! Little Maddox James Garrett slept through the night last night! He's been gradually increasing his long sleep stretch during the night and finally slept from 10pm until 4:45am. No nighttime feeding at all! I obviously know that this probably won't be a regular thing for quite some time but it feels great knowing that he's at least capable of sleeping that long (and I definitely don't mind staying in bed all night long instead of having to get up for feedings and diaper changes). I've realized that he sleeps much better at night if he takes at least one long morning nap (2 hours or so) and then another long afternoon nap. On the days that he doesn't nap well, it's like he can't settle down enough to sleep at night. He's still sleeping in the pack & play in our room and will probably be in there for a few more months at least. I still cannot imagine him being alone in his room (I'm sure he wouldn't mind but I'm not ready). Usually he starts the night in his pack & play and ends up in our bed after his middle of the night feeding. I guess we can add co-sleeping & bedsharing to the list of things I thought I'd never do as a mom!

9 Weeks

Our little nugget is 9 weeks old!

Maddox and I are having a lazy PJ day today since we're coming off of a very busy week/weekend and right into another busy one. Last Thursday, we went to Grandma & Grandpa Garrett's house so that we could visit with family and Maddox could meet his Great Grandpap and Grandma Keener, Great Uncle Dan, and Great-Great Aunt Loretta and Bob for the first time. On Friday, we had his 2 month pediatrician appointment where he weighed 12 lb 14 oz and was 24 1/4 inches long. His development and growth is on track! Friday night, we kept our sweet little nephew Preston for a while (both boys slept the entire time...almost too easy!). Saturday was a busy day- we started the day with errands and Christmas shopping, went back to Grandma & Grandpa Garrett's to spend the afternoon (playing cards with the family while laughing along to Hanunkah music was the best!), and then went out to celebrate Kristi's 7th anniversary of her 21st birthday that night while Mamaw & Papaw watched Maddox. Sunday was a day of rest (with our weekly grocery shopping trip thrown in).

Maddox is starting to enjoy tummy time a bit more and is cooing and squealing nonstop- I love his sweet little noises! His hair and eyelashes are growing longer and he's starting to reach for toys/rattles that we dangle (love that word) above his head.

This week should be a fun but busy (aka exhausting) one. We are resting today, visiting Santa tomorrow when Daddy gets home from work (and will probably try to finish up some Christmas shopping while we're out), going to see Addy in her Christmas program and having lunch with the Lerch/Dancoff clan on Thursday, having date night while Uncle Jeff and Aunt Lisa keep Maddox Thursday evening, and then having a few friends and their babies over on Friday evening to celebrate the season. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this week so that I don't have to drag Maddox out in rainy/cold/nasty conditions.

Only 11 days til Christmas!

2 Months Old...

Trouble in Toyland

Brandon and I started shopping (on Santa's behalf, of course) for Maddox's Christmas gifts last week. We thought we'd really done a good job finding this particular Fisher Price toy:

Apparently, I am going to have to start researching every single toy that is brought into this house. Earlier this morning, I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs when I came across an article saying that this toy was put on the "Dangerous Toys List for 2009." Looks like a return to Wal-Mart is in our near future! Here's the article link for other fellow parents that may be interested: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/perilous_puppy_is_put_down_p3sFAgThdyaDRqcuuQUoXI

8 Weeks Old

It's hard to believe that Maddox is 8 weeks old already...although I think I could start every single post like this because time is flying by! He's growing so fast and is really starting to show a bit of his personality. For whatever reason, he always laughs and coo's up a storm when he's on his changing table and LOVES his play mat (especially the mirror because he likes to stare at himself). He's also rolling from his back to his tummy more often now and is holding his head up very well. We're still working on his sleeping schedule (even though he makes his own schedule right now) so that everything runs smoothly when I return to work on January 4th- YUCK! The thought of having to go back to work makes me want to hide in my closet but the one thing that comforts me is that Mom (Norma) has GRACIOUSLY agreed to come to our house a few days a week during January and February so that we don't have to put him in daycare until March. This is a huge relief & blessing...THANKS MOM!!! I will still be working from home at least 3 days a week but am going to attempt to drag myself into the office one or two days- it will probably be good for me to get out of the house and focus on my career again. We put our Christmas decorations up last week and Maddox loves being able to look at all of the blinking lights. Our plan is to take him to visit Santa this week (and we'll get a picture made, of course). On Thursday, Maddox will be able to meet some very dear family members for the very first time- his Great Grandma and Grandpap Keener, Uncle Dan, and Loretta and Bob. I am so excited for him to meet them! He is officially 2 months old tomorrow so we'll post the official 2 month pictures later this week (I would do it now but he is just waking up from a nap & is going to be demanding food in a minute!).

Before I was a mom...

Before I was a Mom
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom,
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words of lullabies.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on
Pooped on
Spit on
Chewed on
Peed on
Or pinched by tiny fingers

Before I was a Mom
I had complete control of:
My thoughts
My body
And my mind.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child
So that doctors could do tests
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
Could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonder
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.