WOOF WOOF!!

Maddux has figured out how to detect a dog and what a dog says. Each time a dog shows up around him, he starts saying, "woof woof." Soon, I began asking him, "What does a doggie say?" and he always replies, "woof woof!" he's so proud of himself and i'm so proud of him. It is obvious to me that he understands more of the english language than he can actually say.   He knows when I want him to stop doing something, or go in another direction or put something down. He knows when I tell him I love him, and that the TV has his show on, and that I want to make him feel better. He has begun playing all on his own and figuring out how to entertain himself without need of his mommy every moment of the day. I have even been able to take naps on the couch while he plays with his toys right next to me in a closed off space. He's getting so big and so smart! This last week, he started purposely hurting himself (by poking himself in the eye or very lightly hitting his head on the couch) so that he could look at me with the very most fake hurt face I have ever seen, and then he fake cries and its hilarious, which is what he's going for in the first place. He is such a silly boy!

Spring Pics

My Toddler

Maddux is getting so big now! He's been crawling like a pro all over the place. He finally figured out how to crawl on his hands and knees, as opposed to army crawling. He can pull him self up into a standing position on the furniture and walk along the furniture, but he has yet to figure out his balance with standing. No walking just yet. He's beginning to speak now. He took a bath today and spent the whole time showing me his rubber duckies and saying "duck duck" over and over again. He also grabbed his comb and brush and stuck them in his hair. I was very proud! He knows that I call him duck, but he might end up confused about what a duck really is. He went to grandma's for easter this weekend. He got an easter basket full of stuff to blow bubbles, a chocolate bunny, and a floating swimsuit. He apparently said "grass" while he was there. His favorite thing to say is "whats this?" or "what is this?" For the longest time, it sounded like he was saying "sis?" but now he has turned it into two words so that its "was sis?" but he'll get there. Sometimes, when he's reaching for something he can't get and wants me to help, I could swear he says "peas?" I didn't teach him that one, but I like it! 

Maddux's First Birthday!

Maddux turned 1 in March! We had his birthday party at Dannika Wallis's apartment. Her living room is the size of my whole apartment, so its perfect for parties. Me and Dannika had a way fun time decorating for the party, she bought a bunch of decorations to go with the ones i had saved from the baby shower. We had a Winnie the Pooh theme. Dannika and I made Maddux's name out of twine and tape on the wall, it looked really good! 

lots of people came and it was a huge success! Maddux covered himself in cake and was all red from the frosting. He was adorable! 

Maddux's cake was really amazing. Kellie Stephens, my cousin, made it for him. It was lemon poppy seed with raspberry filling. it had 2 layers and a ribbon around the bottom layer. 

Back in Utah

The family moved back to utah around Christmas this year. We really missed our friends and family. We didn't want Maddux to grow up without seeing them on a regular basis. Maddux is getting very close to walking these days. He crawls like a champ and he's been learning to pull himself up to a standing position very well. He can also walk when guided by someone else, but he leans heavily on that person. He's still very small in size, some people say he's the size of a 6 month old baby and he's almost 11 months. Nonetheless, he's doing very well. He's very bright and very funny. He will do all kinds of things to get people to laugh with him. He loves it! He's not all that shy either. He met a new baby the other day and just walked right up to him to say hi. The other baby was twice his age and scared to death of him! it was kinda funny!
We took Maddux to get pictures done again this month. We tried and failed at having him stand in on of the pictures. Here are the two that I ordered copies of:

I love this picture because he has the EXACT same smile as Brandon did when he was a kid. He's practically the spitting image of his daddy. 

Next month I want to take him in his bear suit that he got for christmas. OH! I never posted pictures of christmas!

This is Amanda and Cameron Shannon, Brandon's sister and her husband. They came from California for the holidays. 

This is Amanda's dog Pacha. She's just the sweetest dog! I want one like her eventually. 

From right to left: cousin Gary Ashley, Maddux sitting with his grandpa Al Brown (or "Papa"), grandma Tootie Ashley, mommy and daddy.

The Duck got a duck!

Grandma Tootie made personalized stockings for each of us. Al's, which you can see on the couch next to her, is made out of a shirt he got in Las Vegas which reminds him of good times, but is hideous and he never wears, so she put it to good use. Her's is made out of coffee beans, that material that coffee bags are made out of (I always forget what its called), and cheetah print. Mine is made out of a wool jacket with red plaid all over it. Brandon's is by far the coolest one. Its made out of a jacket he wore out in high school. it had holes all over it and just wasn't good anymore but he loved it sooo much. Its neon green and pink and has the hood on it with the zipper running down the front and toe section of the stocking, it also has a guitar  that tootie put a great deal of effort into making out of random house items. Its great!

Before I finish, There is one more thing I would like to post. The other day, Maddux was in his walker watching a tv show and he started to fall asleep. I thought it was so funny that I had to record it. 

Duck Now Has Three Teeth!

Which means I need to learn how to brush baby teeth now. Wish me luck!