It's not easy being me

As you can imagine, after this LONG winter, we were VERY eager to get outside and get active. We have been going on bike rides nearly every day and have been thrilled to find that Maddox is very happy to ride in his trailer. We had assumed that he would hate it since he now hates to be strapped into anything. But instead of protesting, he runs to the trailer and tries to climb right in. He asks to go all the time with a look on his face that is hard to resist. Once he is in the trailer, he insists that he take his shoes off so that he can put his feet up on the mesh and feel the air on his toes. If I could read his mind, this is what I imagine him thinking/saying:
"Mommy, Daddy... I have had a most difficult day. I could really use a little ride around the neighborhood. I am very tired and need some "me" time. Could you please hop on your bike and I will sit back here and put my feet up and take a little breather? Thanks, I really do appreciate it. Now, let's get going!"
Maybe it is the wind in his hair and toes, or the "extreme" biking daddy does with him on occassion, but whatever it is, we are happy to be out of the house and on the move with a very happy Maddox.

Maddox Gold, that's spelled E-V-E-L K-N-I-E-V-E-L

I will put this out there now... all these thoughts together at once will make it seem that Aaron and I are blind, unobservant, unfit parents... unless you know Maddox.

It started with his birth when he pushed off my ribs and flew out so fast the doctor almost dropped him... no seriously!! LOOK! --->

Ever since, he has been determined to outdo, outrun, outclimb, and outmanuever everyone and everything. He rolled over on his own at 5 weeks!

Well, as he toddled his way through this second year, there has been no shortage of moments of pure fear for Aaron and I. There was the time he climbed on the table behind the couch and stood there 3 feet in the air... at 14 months old!! The tumble down the stairs because he refused to let daddy leave him behind. Oh, the barrel roll on the Rocket Rider (though I totally blame that one on Aaron). He has fallen off the back of the couch, into table legs, off the tub, off the bed, down the stairs, off the porch... you name it, he has been there, face first.

The most recent event tops them all though. He is a true daredevil and loves the adrenaline rush... (a very slow heart attack starts now for me and doesn't end until he is about 40...) We were at a new park with our play group and there was a very tall, steep slide. Of course, he wanted to try it out. He climbed all the way up and down he went. It was so steep that, towards the bottom, he would come away from it a bit and slam somewhat at the bottom. HE LOVED IT! He did it about 5-6 times before he grew bored. Later, as we were leaving, he asked to go again. So, up he went. Once at the top, he put his hands out in his "Catch Me" stance. I quickly told him "NO you have to sit on your bottom" but it was too late. He fell face first down the slide and I had to catch him halfway. My heart was out of my chest!! But not a single tear from him! I couldn't believe it. We noticed later that he had a "war wound"- a large scrape on his elbow.

I can't let myself think of the awful crazy things he is going to get himself into in the future... it is just too terrifying. Do you think I would be frowned upon if I sent him to preschool with pillows duct taped to him?

Maddox's Creativity Flourishes

Maddox is quite the creative spirit lately. He has been exploring his new-found power of creation with "cooking". He pretends to cook with anything he can get his hands on and recently started experimenting at dinner time. His favorite is to doctor-up his favorite food, gaucamole. He will add fresh squeezed lime or lemon, salsa, anything we will give him and mix it all together. There was also the tortilla chip-ceasar chicken-sour cream creation... oh and the berry juice-onion strip-shrimp dip...
Recently, his creativity has been showing in his attire. A while ago he insisted on only leaving the house if he could be dressed as a pirate. And yesterday he paired his spiderman wristband with his toolbelt-turned-headband. This is all of course when we can get him to keep his clothes on at all!

New Images in our Photo Gallery

It has been a LONG time since I have posted any images to our family photo gallery, but I am doing it now!! So, please take a look when you get a chance. http://www3.dynamicimagery.net/gallery2/

Welcome

Ok, so after a LONG time of doing nothing because neither Aaron nor I have time to maintain an actual website anymore, I have set this up to share the growing number of cute/funny stories of Maddox's life. I wish I were more humorous and cleverly witted than I am... for that I apologize now. You will have to read Ginger or Tara's blogs for that, but I will give you a glimpse into life with Little M and the chaos that ensues. So, check back often... and leave a comment or two.