Maddox's Real Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Maddox's real birthday on his real birthday, the 6th of December. As I think back to that time, I remember just wanting to not be pregnant anymore. It wasn't that I was uncomfortable, because I really wasn't. Okay, he did kick me in my ribs but as long as I didn't stay sitting down for too long I was fine. The real reason I wanted to have Maddox was that I didn't want to get a stretch mark and one had barely popped up. Vain, I know. I was so emotional during that time. I was a grouch and really mean for about a month. Jeff would argue that that meanness never went away. He is sitting right behind me and laughed when I typed the previous sentence and in a way, he is right. I am a little more stressed out and a little less patient with him and that is something I need to work on. New Year's goals here I come!

Anyway, we are so thankful for Maddox in our lives. He definitely keeps us on our toes and in check. He brings us many smiles and laughs and he is just so darn cute with his monster head and beautiful eyes that change colors depending on what he is wearing and the light. He is our little Gerber baby, so we wanted to make this day special for him, even though he had no idea what was going on. Jeff and I made miniature cakes and frosted them to look like all sorts of balls, which Maddox loves. He loves to throw them, bounce them, kick them, lay on them, roll them.

From top to bottom, there is a tennis ball, baseball, basketball, golf ball (he likes my pink one), football, racquetball, bowling ball, and then just a happy birthday cake. Here is the little guy about ready to touch the flame on the candle, so I blew it out quickly. He picked out the basketball. I think he liked it because it was a bright color.

He was not quite sure what to do with it. For awhile he just sat there until I put a bite in his mouth. Then he stabbed it with a fork and played with it. Then he threw some over the side.

Then he threw some on William. Then I gave him another bite and it clicked and he wanted more but couldn't figure out how to get it in his mouth, so all of a sudden he opens his mouth up wide and goes to stick his face in the cake, but stops right at last second, grabs a handful and shoves it in his mouth. Here is a sample. He did a great job!

And when he was done, after about 5 or 6 bites, he did what he always does and squished it, smashed it, squeezed it in his fingers, and threw it over the side of his high chair. Boy was it fun to clean up!Then we opened presents. Here Maddox is eating a present. He got some books, a puppetand this really cool wind up caterpillar that he and Matthew were scared of.

All the cousins together. Notice Maddox's head is bigger than all of theirs. We love you Maddox!