Christmas Summary

Well now that the dust has settled I thought it would be good to take some time and gather my thoughts and stories from our Christmas. This year was my year to have Maddox on Christmas Eve and morning. Hayley decided to have Maddie's Christmas with her on the 23rd so that I could enjoy not only Christmas Eve, but also ALL of Christmas day with him. Big time sacrifice for her to not have him on Christmas, but as we try to do as often as possible, she looked out for his best interest and stability and decided that the going back and forth on such an overwhelming day was probably not in his best interest. So ya, rambling to start this post but had to give some props to his mom for looking out for him.

Our Christmas Eve tradition always takes place at my grandpa's house. It involves quite a bit of food, family, and now it involves Maddox trying to steal the show and get all of the attention he can get. He's the only child there, so everyone loves seeing him. Sadly for him it's probably pretty boring. This year he set up shop in the dining area and split his time between singing "Hey Jude" to whomever wanted to listen, reciting the pledge of allegiance, and most importantly throwing touchdowns to people as they walked by. These were mostly unsuccesful touchdowns because if you're not looking and someone drills you in the crotch with a football or their blanket or whatever they may be throwing, where I come from that's considered an incomplete pass. I'm trying to teach him that before you throw something to someone you should make sure they are paying attention and wanting you to throw something to them. And that they aren't carrying anything in their hands. It's a work in progress, but he's getting better with it. Like most 2 year olds the he thinks the funniest thing in the world is catching someone off guard and hearing something to the effect of, "ouch," "ooomph," or "aaaah," or anything like that, he always finishes it up with his catch phrase, "BONK!" Pure comedic gold in his mind. Afterwards my immediate family, brothers, sister, and parents met up at my house to get Maddox ready for bed and hang out. I'm terrible at the Christmas waiting thing so I let Maddox open a couple of presents, which turned out backfiring on me because who wants to go to bed when they just opened some cool presents?

Christmas morning was pretty calm. Maddox made his typical 4-5 am wakeup call in dad's room. It's like clockwork lately, he comes walking in, throws his blanket up on my bed, and climbs up pulling on the sheets for leverage. As he's climbing he lets me know that he is there. "Dad, dad, um hi dad. I'm gonna lay with you for a minute." Of course my best parenting skills aren't at work at that hour, I don't even know my own name about that time, so I just nod and let him lay completely sideways taking over the entire bed, and he rests his bed head right in my rib region. Just another way for him to remind me that it's his world and I just live in it. About 8:30 am Maddox let me know that it was time to get up and eat, oatmeal time as we typically call it. Once in the living room he lost track of his hunger after seeing his gifts he'd opened the night before. After he played with them for about 10 minutes I was able to convince him he had other gifts and he needed to open them. Every gift brought the same result, "oooh, what is it? Oooooh, A BOX!!!!" And then of course he would find out what was in the box, and say, "open it!!!" Then he would play with each toy for a few minutes until I could convince him that the next one would be sooooo cool and he needed to open it. After he was completely overwhelmed with the new toys he'd received and he ran around not knowing what to play with, we decided it would be a good idea to head to grandma's so that he could get even more spoiled and open even more gifts that would likely end up in the closet after the next two weeks. Now grandma decided that it would be a good idea to get Maddox a car. This is the equivalent of giving Cookie Monster a years supply of Chips Ahoy. Unfortutely it was also a gift to me, the gift of scratched up kitchen drawers and walls. He LOVES the car. It was the hit of the holiday season. He drives it into the kitchen and repeatedly slams into the stove just so that he can see his reflection and yell "crash!!" I'm already stressing about where my car insurance premiums are headed here in 14 years. Watching him with this car is so fun though. He talks about it like it's a real car. He takes trips around the house like he's heading to the store, to mom's house, or my personal favorite "to the emergency." Since he's a fireman of course. I finally gave up protecting the walls after about an hour. I decided that I could probably fix up my house when he turns 18 and goes to college.

We had a great holiday weekend though. After Christmas we spent the next few days just lounging around the house and playing with Maddox's new toys. One of the new gifts I got for Christmas was a new video camera and camera so that I can post new pics and video of Mad Dog since this is his blog. SO that's one of the new years resolutions for me, more pics and video of him. I got some good stuff Monday night of him reading me books for story time. It's impossible to keep track of all that he's doing, about 50 times each day I think, "I wish I could record this." But I will do better this next year.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and we hope to keep in touch with you all in the new year.

I Pledge Allegiance....

There are moments in my life that bring out my inner patriot. Certain occurences, songs, movies, or symbols make me want to break out in a "U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!" chant. Like the first time I watched Rocky IV and saw Rocky take down the invincible Ivan Drago. Even though I was like 5 years old I seriously considerred getting an American Flag tattoo. Or the time I watched the 1992 "Dream Team" annihilate every other country in the Barcelona Olympics, watching Charles Barkley throw elbows with a 60 point lead helped me realize everything that our great country stands for. Or the time that I got stomach parasites while serving my mission and lost like 25 lbs. Nothing will give you more USA pride than the consequences of eating food in another country. Many other things have made me proud to be an American, but none quite as much as what I experienced with Maddox this morning. Maddox is learning 'The Pledge of Allegiance.' Although he doesn't have all the words down, he's loving to practice, and is actually pretty close on most of it. The thing that kills me about it is his enthusiasm. Even though he's only 2 he gets it, he realizes that we live in the United Freaking States of America. What's not to be proud of? Our country gave birth to Elvis, Chuck Norris, all you can eat buffets. I could go on all day about what an amazing country we live in, but I won't, because I'd like to talk about my amazing 2 year old American son. As we drove in the car this morning Maddox started yelling, "Dad! Look at the flag!!!" We must have been passing an American Flag off to the side of the freeway. I couldn't see one, but he kept yelling for me to look at the flag. Then he started into the most prideful and patriotic version of 'The Pledge of Allegiance' that I have ever heard. It started out slow and with conviction, "I pledge allegiance, to the flag OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!!!..... he screamed that part. Then it died back down as he was surely struggling to remember the words..."And to the republic, for witches and stands, One nation, UNDER GOD, indivisable, with liberty and just us for all." Although he missed a couple of words I sat there in a patriotic stupor. I couldn't believe how good he did. I couldn't believe how well he nailed the most important parts. I couldn't help but ask him to do it again, and again, and again. We probably went over it 50 times before we got to his daycare. And each time my heart was filled with more patriotism and love of country. This moment ranked way ahead of Rocky beating the Russian on the scale of patriotic moments, it even topped the time I heard that most foreign women don't shave their arm pits. Even more than my heart being filled with patriotism, it was filled with immense pride and love for this little boy. He's the most amazing thing that I've ever seen. He blows my mind every single day we spend together. I'm proud to be an American, but much more than than I'm proud to be his dad.

"Smartest Kid I Know"

Maddox and I spent the majority of the Thanksgiving weekend together. Whenever I get 4-5 day chunks of father/son time there's always sure to be more than a few funny moments. This weekend was no different. The funniest moment to me came Sunday afternoon as Maddox, my brother Trevin, and I drove over to visit my grandpa. In the car I got a call from my dad who wanted to say 'hello' to Maddox before he sailed off on his cruise to Mexico. As he talked with Maddox he told him that "grandpa is getting on a big boat, going out into the ocean..." Maddox responded with, "Grandpa, are you going on the Mayflower?" Maddox had been learning about Thanksgiving at school, and had some pretty funny commentary about the "childrens and the indians," as he calls them. Trevin and I were still amazed at the fact that a 2 year old went plymouth rock on us. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he tosses out "The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria," on me soon. As my sister and I talked about this the next day she said, "he's so smart." Maddox stopped playing with his cars and responded, "Yes, I am smart." I know I'm totally building my kid up to be the smartest kid ever, and I'm sure other parents that read this can think of reasons that their child is the smartest kid ever, or the best kid ever at (fill in the blank.) I guess that's the beauty of being the parent of a little child. Everyday they show glimpses of how remarkable they really are, and how much promise there really is in their future. I know that I often take these glimpses and run with them. I'll tell people all the time, "seriously, you should see how he throws a football, and he can catch, he's got big hands he'll be an excellent receiver." Or, "he totally is trying to read already, he can memorize every book that I read to him, he's going to go to Harvard and become the CEO of a major corporation." I literally believe that my child is going to graduate high school at 13, start at quarterback for USC at 14, stick around there for 2 years before going to the NFL, win a couple Superbowls, and then retire and go to Harvard Law School to work towards becoming a Supreme Court justice by the time he's 40. Alright, I only believe about half of that stuff. And he would have to actually potty train before he can accomplish any of it. I guess where my rambling in this post is leading you is the fact that each child has infinite potential. My theory with Maddox is that if I tell him that he's the greatest thing ever he'll start to believe it and will act/achieve accordingly. That's the plan anyways. And if he doesn't I'll still think he's the greatest thing in the world, and he'll hopefully feel that.

"Daddy and Maddox Just Hang Out"

A few weeks ago while going about our Monday evening routine I was driving down the freeway heading to dinner with Maddox. He was talking in the backseat as usual, "Lightning Mcqueen is SOOOOOO red dad!!! And Mater is SOOOOOO grown (brown)!!!!" Just his usual banter in the backseat. Nowadays it involves "Toystory 3," "Cars," or "The Childrens and the Indians," since he's been learning about Thanksgiving at school. He then said something that really caught me off guard, "girls date." Wait what? What is he talking about. Then he said, "mommy dates." First of all I was confused because how does a two year old know what dating is? How does he know that his mommy does it? "Does Maddox date?" I asked him. "NO! Daddy and Maddox just hang out!" I felt a strong sense of pride and purpose after hearing that. Damn straight we do Maddox. This was Maddox's first assertion of something that most guys don't pick up on until they're in their teens. Usually when one of their friends starts dating and the rest of them are either too awkward or too ugly to get their own girlfriend, and out of jealousy they start to say something to the affect of "bros before hoes." Now I don't agree with calling any woman or girl a hoe. I think it's distasteful and disrespectful. But I do like the comradery and unity that usually accompanies the saying. Maddox was pointing out to me that we have each other. We have all we need. Not that dating when you have a child is a bad thing, in fact it's a healthy thing. I like to date as much as the next guy (actually I hate it, the dating game is a joke.) I enjoy the company of a pretty lady every now and again. But not at the expense of my Maddie time. And don't know how I'll ever get to the point where I can invite someone into our little world that we've created. We have our own inside jokes, we have our own rituals, and we have our own love and happiness. We are the most prolific touchdown duo in all of American Fork Utah. Maddox and I combine for at least 10 touchdowns each and every football session in our living room, which is always followed by him pointing at me and yelling "YOU! Good job man!!!" I feel happy to have that type of connection with my son, the type of connection that propels him to say, "NO! Daddy and Maddox just hang out."

GOOD JOB DAD!!!

This morning was a lot like most mornings. I heard Maddox talking down the hall at like 4 AM, I really didn't want to try and help him fall back asleep in his room, and if I don't help him go back to sleep, or put him in my bed, "oatmeal and sesame street time" will ensue. I was pretty tired so I took the easy way out, I went in and grabbed him and put him in my bed. He takes over the bed. Ever see Elway in the fourth quarter of a close football game? Ever see Michael Jordan in the final 4 minutes of a basketball game? That's what Maddox does in my bed, he asserts his dominance, totally controls the situation and makes himself at home. He spreads out, does whatever he wants, whenever he wants to do it. In fact sometimes he'll be so in control of the bed that I wake up a few hours later on the floor. Who cares that he's only 2 feet tall, he's taking every square foot of that bed that he can. Anyways, I wake up next to him, in a headlock with his knee in my ribs, and I stumble into the bathroom. I do the usual morning routine, as I'm finishing up washing my face Maddox comes into the bathroom beaming. "Daddy, did you go poop?!" This already has me laughing, "No Maddie." He smiles even bigger, "Daddy, did you go pee?!?!!?" "Yes Maddox, I did go pee." Somehow his smile got even bigger, "GOOD JOB DADDY!!!" As he patted me on the back of the leg. This was the best positive affirmation that I'd received in months. We continued on with our routine and as I got out of the shower a little later he came into the bathroom. "Daddy, did you take a shower? " He asked as he smiled. "Yes I did Maddie." I responded. "Are you all clean?" (Huge smile on his face) "Indeed I am Maddox." "GREAT JOB DADDY!!! Now you can put on some clothes!" Not only was this nice because it was probably the best morning mood he's been in months, it was great to get some good feedback for once. It seems like this cruel world just doesn't dish out positive feedback, ever. Most of the time in the work place we're reminded of what we're not doing, or what we're doing wrong. In our relationships all too often we dwell on what's wrong and not what's right. We're almost never reminded of the positive things that we do. My little dude, that little angel that is the one bright spot in every bad day that I have, he is so good at making me see the positive. I'd never been so proud to go pee in the toilet, or so happy to get all clean in the shower. Just another reason I love my little dude.

Halloween

To me Halloween has always been overrated. I don't like to dress up, and although I consider myself a pretty creative person, I have no creativity when it comes to finding a "cool costume." As a kid I don't think I was ever anything except for a pirate or a vampire. Every year it was either pirate or vampire time. So I guess it wasn't surprising to me when we took Maddox shopping for a halloween costume and he was about as excited as I am to do my online billpay session every month. His mother and I were trying to sell it, "Maddie, look at this one, it's BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!!" He'd respond with, "I want chicken nuggets," or "can you buy me some trucks?" Finally we came upon the Elmo costume, he loves elmo, and agreed that it would probably be the best option for him. The Elmo costume is basically a furry muscle shirt with a hood that looks like Elmo's head. We decided that we needed to get him some red clothes to go under the furry muscle shirt so that he could, you know, look like elmo. As we looked for clothes the only thing that would work were some red stretchy pants and a long sleeve red t-shirt. I have a rule that no child containing my genetic material is allowed to wear red levi's, so we went with red stretchy pants, which look hilarious with his chicken legs and his diaper bulge. This was the costume our labors yielded.

The first opportunity Maddox had to wear his costume with me came at my work. After a parking lot wrestling match he let me know he didn't want to wear his Elmo threads. His exact words were, "Don't take off my Yankees jacket! I don't want to wear the Elmo coat, I'm going to smack you in the face." I took his not so subtle hint and let him wear his stretchy pants with the bulge, his yankees jacket, and the only shoes he'd wear that morning, his church shoes into my work. I decided it was better to look like a retarted guy who can't dress his kid, than to force Maddox to wear a costume when he didn't want to wear. We had a good time, everyone gave him candy, he probably even got more because they felt bad for his daddy dressing him like a gay tap dancing yankees fan. More importantly he got to play with his good buddy Lincoln.

Saturday was his second opportunity to wear the Elmo costume. Maddox and I had my family over to watch football and eat Saturday night. I had kind of warned everyone that he might not be down to wear the costume, and it was raining so we might not do the trick or treating at all. My grandpa came prepared. He brought a handful of candy in his pants pocket so that Maddox could at least say "trick or treat" to him. The best part of this was seeing my grandpa handing Maddox the smashed up melted candy bars that he'd brought. I love that guy. After dinner I asked Maddox if he wanted to go trick or treating with me, to my surprise he responded, "um, yes." I hurried and put on his furry muscle shirt with the elmo head hood. I kept re-assuring him that it was just a coat, and I was just taking him outside to get candy. He happily went along at this point, and took off towards the neighbor's door as soon as we went outside. Each door we went to was a new thrill for him. When he was given something he'd say, "thank you, can I have that red sucker too?" Or something like that. Sometimes he'd just want to get down to business and would go straight to, (pointing at the candy bowl) "Please?!" There weren't many trick or treaters out in our little community so Maddie got loaded up with candy.

As he held my hand walking to each door I couldn't help but think about how fast time is flying by. I watched my little boy knocking on doors, telling people "thank you." And smiling so big each time they would give him candy. I just kept wondering how this got here so fast. It was just a little while ago his mom and I brought him home. It was just a little while ago he started sitting up, rolling over, crawling, walking, etc. I want this to slow down a bit. Sadly I don't think it will. He is my whole world, and I'm so grateful for the little things he does everyday that make me laugh, the progress he makes that amazes me, and the special moments we share that remind me how much it is possible to love someone. I know this much, for the first time in my life Halloween wasn't overrated this year.

10/26/2010

10/26/2010
Maddox spent the last weekend with me. It was so nice. I’d missed him so much since I’d been out of town the weekend before and gone basically a week without spending time with him. He’s so smart, funny, and everyday he blows my mind with something he says. This last weekend for some reason he wanted to be my “grother” (brother, he says his b’s with a g sound.) He kept saying, “dad, you’re my grother.” Or “dad, I’m your grother!” I don’t know if he just wants a brother, or if it’s his way up upgrading me from his best friend, which he calls me, to his “grother.” Either way I loved it. I kept saying, “Maddox, I’m your daddy, and you’re my son, daddy loves his brothers but his son he loves the most.” That didn’t cut it with him, he wants to be “grothers,” so I guess until he understands it a little better I’ll be his dad, best friend, and grother.

Maddox loves to read his books. And he’s memorized most of them. My favorite book that he talks about is a Cat In the Hat book about the “Thingamajigger.” Maddox LOVES this book and even memorizes the more difficult words. The other day on the freeway he saw a weird looking tractor thing on a trailer on the back of a truck. He yelled, “LOOK DAD, It’s a singamajigger!!!!!” When we sit down for story time he takes control. Sometimes he wants to be read to, sometimes he wants to take over and tell me what the book says. For the most part he can tell me what all the books say, and when he can’t it’s hilarious to hear him make stuff up. My favorite is when I say, “let’s read….” And he comes back with, “actually, ummmmm, let’s read….” And he gives me another book that he wants to read. He’s so smart, funny, and cute, I just wish we could do something about the hitting and the destruction he loves to cause around the house.