Photo-a-Day six

the little teacher

Photo-a-Day four

Photo-a-Day three

and rotting brains on Sponge Bob

Remember Today 3.13.11

{remember} I introduced Maddox to Flickr today--he spent 20 minutes looking at Lego creations there and then another 40 building.  An hour well spent!

Remember Today 2.17.11

{remember} how much Maddox grew up today: holding his little arm safely against his body, going to x-ray bravely by himself.  I wonder how a child can look so incredibly small and vulnerable and so brave and independent at the same time.

Remember Today 1.29.11

{remember} Maddox making this house all by himself!

Remember Today 1.6.11

{remember} how much Maddox loves to build with Legos, and how much I love building with him.

Remember Today 12.30.10

{remember} how obsessed this guy is with how tall things are: is it taller than you, is it as tall as Daddy, is it 6000 feet, someday I'll be 6 foot 10 (sorry, honey, not with your genes).

Today he built a Lego tower taller than me (and ultimately taller than anyone we know), and was super proud of himself.

What the . . . ??

I have a mini-album idea I want to jot down here so I won't forget. Gotta use this blog for something! The album will be called wHat ThE. . .??? and it will contain all the wacked-out things my youngest does. Here's a taste of the content:

The one that started it all:

After Logan gave Maddox his old "i-pod", Maddox thought the best way to really make it feel like his own was to *customize* it. Yup. With lots of red and orange paint. Tell me again why I keep these paints within his reach?!

And then there's this one:

Just days after getting his haircut, Maddox thought it wasn't quite to his liking. So, {snip-snip} he added his own signature style. I'm not even sure his dad has even noticed it yet, or maybe he's learned to just keep his mouth quiet about such things!

And then tonight:

and:

We go into the bathroom to brush teeth, and I can't see the toothbrushes anywhere. Gee, wonder why Maddox has that smirky grin on his face. Ahh, clever boy decided we didn't need the old traditional toothbrush holder anymore.

I'm sure there will be plenty more content for my little album, and I'll add it here as it comes in!

He'll always be my baby

I should have realized it when he let me sleep until well after 7:00 am this morning. I should have realized it when he came into my room fully dressed. I should have realized it when he bounded down the stairs to pick out his breakfast without any whining. I should have realized it when he styled his hair and let me spray it with hairspray. I should have realized it when he accepted the phone call from his Auntie without running from the room covering his ears. I should have realized it when he went, not only willingly, but brimming with excitement and happiness to Target and lunch with Nani and his big cousin (and without me). I should have realized that my baby is growing up. He had no trouble realizing the effects that turning four has on a little boy. Today his smile was a bit bigger, his eyes a bit brighter, his expressions a bit more mature. He walked with a little spring in his step and talked with an older tone to his voice. And when the day was through, he snuggled up to me and asked if tomorrow was still his birthday. When I replied that no, your birthday only lasts one day, he looked into my eyes with desperation and asked, "But will I still be four tomorrow?" Oh, yes, little man you will still be four, and you will always be my baby. Happy Birthday, sweet thing!

Remember Today 7.5.09

{remember} the way in which this little guy gives himself completely to the water--no worries, no fear, and . . . NO BUBBLE! He is so proud of himself and his swimming. And I am so proud at how far he has come from the clinging, shaking toddler who climbed up my body like a spider monkey to escape the water in swim class last fall.

Maddox's writing

My littlest had his first school experience this year. We made a little gift for each of his teachers and he dictated to me what he wanted to write (in hand over hand style):
His favorite thing at school were the "projects" as he called them. He's such my crafty guy.

Writing his name was all him with just a little verbal direction from me: M (he's got that letter down), circle and a little line, circle and a big line, another circle with a big line, circle, and X. He just learned X and is so proud to be able to do it all by himself that he has taken to writing xtra X's. I asked him to add some O's because then at least we could pass them off for kisses and hugs!

Remember Today 5.9.09

{remember} a little impromptu jam session with the neighbors on Rock Band--made me laugh out loud. And Logan comforting Maddox after Maddox crawled into bed with him during a thunderstorm tonight.

Is there anything better. . .

than a brand spankin' new box of Crayola watercolor paints?

when they look like this, I figured it was time to buy some new ones.

our little Rembrandt is liking them very much. I'm trying to teach him to rinse his brush between colors, so we'll see how long these pretty paints can stay this way. His new strategy is to use all of one color: the turquoise is already gone.

Remember Today 4.29.09

{remember} getting Maddox out of the car to take him to school and a little conversation that went something like this:

Me: Come on, buddy

Him: Come on, Yease (not sure of the spelling of this one but rhymes with grease)

Me: Yease, who's yease?

Him: He's a mouse.

Me: A mouse, and what does he do?

Him: He's a fireman and he gets all the sticks.

Me: A fireman , but he's a mouse?

Him: Yeah, and he wears a flat hat like this [pushes palm of hand into his forehead].

Me: Oh, so he gets sticks?

Him: Yeah and dandelions. He gets all the sticks and dandelions.

Me: And what does he do with all the sticks and dandelions.

Him: He throws the sticks in the woods. And he throws the dandelions into the woods, too.

Me: Aaah, interesting

This kid cracks me up. He's always making up little crazy stories like this. I need to write more of them down. . .

Spring is Springing

Maddox and I took a walk with cameras in tow today. I was so happy he actually let me push him in the carriage (that we had to lug down from the attic). These days of carriages are numbered. While he took pictures of a soda can laying on the side of the road and a dog in a yard, I snapped a few shots of my own:

a magnolia budding

two white ducks and a mallard on the farm pond

We could have stayed for hours and watched, but we had to get home for Camden's bus.

Remember Today 4.9.09

{remember} how easy it is to please this little guy: a tray full of Moon Sand + a couple of Matchbox cars = one very happy little boy and his Momma (who can actually get some things done!)