Hot for January

75 in January?! We'll take it. The boys couldn't wait to get outside. Maddox loves all things with wheels so the bikes and coupe car kept him busy while Macen and I played kick ball. 

The Game of Life

I introduced Macen to this game today. We played 3 times and as of the 2nd time he only cared about getting babies for his van. Lol! Could have cared less about the money. He was even all about getting twins. Not only did I get twins the first game but I also adopted a set of twins. It was hilarious listening to him. He was not happy on the last round when I got 2 sets of twins again. What are those chances?!

Fritz's

Took the boys to the "train restaurant". Maddox was pretty little the last time we went so he was all about the trains this time. He had been "asking" to get the trains out at home lately so it may have helped that we put the train set back together that morning.

18 months

Maddox is now 24.8lbs and 33". He's gowing like a weed - I just did another rounnd of clearing out clothes he has outgrown. He has been quite intrigued at the doctors lately. We've been twice, once for what I thought was an ear infection (it wasn't) and then for his check up. At the first one, once he saw the dr put on the blue rubber gloved he "asked" for one by mimicing her actions on his hand. She proudly handed over her glove to him. At his check up, he headed straight for the gloves when we got into the room and wore it the entire time we were there. When the dr was examining him, he was stiff as a board and watched her like a hawk, even mimicing some of the things she did. She was quite proud and suggested we start a medical school fund for him.

Maddox is a busy as ever. He is currently fascinated with toothpaste, playing in the toilet and washing his hands. Pretty thankful for the washing the hands part because after the first two, he needs it. Haha! His love for chocolate and ketchup is as deep as ever. He had slowed down with the words for a bit but is now repeating us again a lot. He really wants to have full conversations and say full sentences. He will mumble a whole lot of different sounds all at once and continue on if we talk to him. He is really interested in numbers so we've been counting more.

He is getting ready to start hourly care on post once a week or once every other week for a few hours. Not sure I am ready for it but he appears to be as social as Macen so I think it will be good for him. It also gives me a little of a break with James gone now. 

18 months...wow! Hard to believe but here we are. So proud of our little guy!

Deployment

James made it to Kuwait and will be there atleast another day if not more. Here is the group he deployed with. Not all are from Leavenworth.

Daddy kisses - the boys get a kiss everyday dad is gone and when it's empty, he will be home. It doesn't look big but it is so this is just enough to last until James comes home on R&R. Then we'll start over again. We just started this once James left for Kuwait and it has already proven to be torture for Maddox to see chocolate sitting out in plain sight all the time.

The boys have their daddy dolls and they are using them often. Maddox carries his around off and on. Macen has had a couple of moments where he really misses James so it helps him get to see his dad whenever he wants.

Saying Goodbye

James left on Friday. He will spend a week in Georgia then fly to Afghanistan. The boys seem to be doing good but James has made frequent out of town trips this year so it may take a week or so before they start really noticing. Macen and I have had discussions about him sleeping in mom and dads bed. He likes to sleep there when James is away and I allow it once a week. He got his turn already but still wanted to sleep there last night because he said he was lonely in his bed. I have a feeling its more about him not wanting me to be lonely.

The day after James left was not good. Lots of things went wrong in the morning. The afternoon turned out better but if that was any indication of how the year is going to be then I say NO.THANK.YOU.

So we are ready for whatever the year brings. Deployment typically always means a vehicle breaks down. Trust me, it's there under the definition, lol. So I am on a 1 year stand by for that :) And we will meet any other challenge head on as always. Keep James in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy New Year!

 

Champagne and dominos! This may have been the second time ever since James and I have been married that we saw midnight on New Years Eve. We had a great time with everyone!

TROUBLE

 

Not sure if I should be more concerned he climbed onto the coffee table and then into the castle or the fact he makes this face every time he knows he did something he shouldn't have.