CHRISTMAS: PART 2

The day after Christmas we went to Mimi and Grandpa's house and had another Christmas!

I loved their really big yard.

I got even more presents...Elmo, guitars, trucks...

...and a tricycle! I'm not quite long enough to reach the pedals but it won't be long! Two days later we headed back to Camden with a car full of toys....Santa sure was good to me! -maddox

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I had a rough start Christmas morning. The sight of all my presents brought me to tears (and not happy tears).

I screamed at my bouncy horse and my 4-wheeler. Dad showed me how to ride it but I just screamed some more.

I went back to sleep and woke up in a slightly better mood. Slightly. We went to Ninny's full house for the big Christmas dinner. There were aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and babies...everywhere.

I got more presents. This time I didn't cry.

But when someone wanted to get all the babies together for a picture the tears returned.

I took another nap. And Mom took more pictures.

Then Mom and Dad gave me my bouncy horse for the second time and...I was brave enough to ride him.

The 4-wheeler took a little more work. Papa Joe put me on it about ten times -tears and all- and I still screamed at it. Then Cousin Abbie showed me up. She rode on it without any fear. So, to Dad's relief, I manned up and took it for a spin around the yard.

Then, something magical happened. I loved it.

When Mom and Dad tried to get me off, I growled. Merry Christmas! I'm glad this one ended much better than it started! -maddox

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TONIGHT!

I cleaned Ninny's house today so that when Santa stops by tonight he will be really impressed and bring me more presents.

Then I ran around the house and tried to be a good boy, but it was too hard and I gave up.

I forgot about Santa for a while because we went to Papa Joe's birthday party. He was born on Christmas Eve fourty-something years ago.

I ate sugar cookies, meatballs, turkey delights, cheeseball, pumpkin bread, and something called a "pig in a blanket." I took a few refills of punch in my sippy cup, too.

The men watched the women talk. Then they talked a little. Then Papa Joe opened presents.

I passed out on the way home while Santa was hard at work putting my presents under the tree. -maddox

DAD'S BACK!

On Saturday, I hung out in the airport with Mom, waiting for Dad's plane to land. Santa Claus wasn't coming to town that day, but Dad sure was!

We've goofed around and had some "man to man" talks. It looks like I am not the Alpha male anymore.

But that's ok. I love having Dad home. It's a lot of fun. I just don't like it when he snores. -maddox

THE SHIRT THAT SAVED THE DAY

It rained alll day. Cold, cold rain. I was pretty mad about. I threw so many fits while Mom tried to bake that I got some "Maddox time" in my crib. But, at the very end of the day, I came across Mom's shirt in one of the drawers that I ransacked.

I stopped fussing. I just walked around the house carrying, loving on and sniffing that shirt.

I even laid down with it. Mom and Nana laughed about it. Laughter is good on a day like today.

And, well, that was the end of today's grumpiness. Mom's shirt saved the day. -maddox

p.s. Dad is coming home tomorrow!!!!!

WHAT A SPECTACLE

Let's hope Mom and Dad did not pass on the "four-eyes" gene to me. -maddox

DEAR SANTA...

...Aren't I cute?

And isn't Nana's tree cute...all decorated for the Christmas season with sparkly balls?
Let's be frank, Santa. I know I am on the "naughty" list this Christmas. Last Christmas I was on the "nice" list, but come on, I was only four months old and the worst thing I did was cry. This year is different.

I put the remote control in the toilet. I slapped Mom in the face. I threw a fit in Walmart over a can of Cheetos. In fact, every day I throw a fit.

But, please, Santa...listen. I am a nice little boy most of the time. Let's just forget about me yanking the pretty sparkly ball off Nana's tree and move on, ok? Put me back on the "nice" list. You have eight days to do it. Thanks! -maddox

NO DIAPER, NO PROBLEM

Today after my bath, Mom put a clean diaper on me. As she went to get me some pajamas, I went into the kitchen. I quickly took off my diaper and peed in front of the stove. I then proceeded to splash around in this newly made puddle of fun. That was a great moment. Too bad there wasn't time for a picture of me...or of Mom's face. -maddox

KETCHUP

Ketchup makes everything better.

-maddox

HATIN' ON ELMO

Today I met him.

I approached with caution.

And as soon as he opened his mouth I fled. I think he must be the devil or something close.-maddox

rain rain go away!

This is how I feel when it rains alllll day. This is also how Mom feels on a rainy day. -maddox

100% BOY

Right big toe + BANDAID = I am becoming more of a daredevil every day.

Watch out. I'm tough.
And I live life dangerously. -maddox

Christmas Cards

I may be coming to your mailbox in the near future. Here are a couple of pictures from my Christmas card photo shoot that didn't make the cut.

These are really cute I know, but just imagine what the winning photo looks like. -maddox

FUN IN A BAG

This is what happens when it rains all day. - maddox

cookies, teddies & a special bday

Mom and I had fun today. We knew it would be a good day when I woke up smiling and clapping. We baked Dad cookies because his birthday is coming up. I watched. And ate the cookies, of course.

I decided to share my abundance of Teddy Grahams with Dad, too. See? It says "To: Daddy From: Moo (my nickname) Love you! Happy Bday!"

There is even a picture of us on the back of the box. -maddox

THE DAY AFTER

-oatmeal
-raisin bread
-pumpkin bread
-honey nut cheerios
-carrots
-pizza
-spaghetti
-banana
-pimiento cheese sandwich
-wheat roll

I know most people pig out on Thanksgiving Day.

But I went for the day after. -maddox