terrible twos

Mister Maddox turned two a few weeks ago.  He is a handful most days and kicked off the twos like a boss.  I can already tell the terrible twos will hold true for him.  Poor kid goes to time out no less than three times a day.  He started biting.  Carson looks like he was attacked by a bear, he has bite marks all over his back to show for it.  He is now in a toddler bed because he would not stay in his crib any longer.  He naps in the bed really well but it takes him about an hour to fall asleep at night.  On most nights he is and was ripping all the socks, underwear, diapers and wipes out (not just the container-every single wipe).  Or I'll go in and find him in Carson's bed.  He also likes to rip the monitor out of the wall and then the parent unit beeps like the house is burning down.  This also means that now he is wide awake and in my room at 6am.  To which I promptly return him to his bed kicking and screaming.  I'm sorry-I have a rule that we do not wake before 7am in this house. He is exhausting.

The dozen or so of words he has, turned into a hundred or more and he will even put four words together.  He can ask for things and tells me what he is feeing.  One day he woke up and started calling "bra-bo" aka Carson by his name. "Cah-sten".  A little piece of me died that day!  He calls me Jenny sometimes too. And baby is now getting called "Why-dit."  He knows a lot of his colors and can count to 5.  He is interested in using the toilet.  He is still in a diaper, as the pediatrician advised me not to train him quite yet.  But he tells me when he has to go and is actually successful 50-60% of the time.  Hopefully he'll be a breeze to potty train.  He has no fear and will try almost anything without hesitation.   He loves to help me with chores and even got his own vacuum for his birthday.  He is a lover and a Mamas boy at the moment.

Jared had drill in Housron on his actual birthday so we spent the 11th with Caroline, Finn and Mary.  It was a beautiful day so we played at the park, had chick-fil-a for lunch (his favorite) and made him cake-pops for a birthday treat.  

 We celebrated a few days later at Pump It Up. They boys made their own pizza for lunch and we had cake and presents that afternoon.  Minus him being in time out 10 times that morning and not wanting to share his new presents with his brother and cousin-it was a great day celebrating our two year old little boy. 

2013: a year in review

2013 proved to be a wonderful.  We had so many life changing events happen to our family.  And 3 seemed to be a good number for us.

We welcomed our 3rd son, Wyatt Miguel on August 21 (2+1=3) , 2013.  He is named after his uncle, Daren Miguel who also is a 3rd born son. I was in labor for 3 hours and he was born at 11:13 am.  We were surprised to find out I was pregnant with him on New Years Eve 2012.  Wyatt was the missing piece of the puzzle and he rounds out our family so well.  He is happy-go-lucky and very social.  The boys adore him and Carson told me the other day "Mom I'm so glad we have a baby.  He is so cute." I couldn't agree more!  I thank God everyday for giving him to us. 

Maddox turns TWO in 11 days!  I feel as though I have blinked and two years have flown by.  He is wild, energetic and fiesty but he is so caring, loving and thoughtful for a 2 year old.  He waits, each morning in the kitchen for me to fix his milk.  I hand his milk to him and instead of running to the couch, cuddling up and guzzling his milk, he waits for Carson's cup as well and delivers it to him.  He is alert to Wyatt's every need and even if Wyatt isn't fussing, he is shoving a binkie in his mouth.  His speech has exploded in the last week and he is talking like crazy.  He refers to Carson as "bra-bo" but the other day he actually called him "Ca-sen."  And while it was so cute to hear him say Carson's name I was hoping he would call him "bra-bo" until he is 40.  I'm just hoping he defies the terrible two's and actually makes them the terrific two's for my sanity.

Carson started preschool in September and seems to enjoy it.  He dreads chapel on Thursday morning, I'm not sure why but it seems as though most of the little boys dislike it. So typical.  My cautious child seems to be a talkative one and I think he gets reminded often by his teacher to use his inside voice.  Typical Hidalgo.  And although he is loud I am told he is a good listener.  He is interested in spelling, can almost write his name and loves to be read to.  He is happy, silly and in no rush.  Our lack of friends in Texas has made our boys very close.  They fight like cats and dogs but most of the time they play very well together.  I love hearing Carson tell me "Maddox is my best friend" Or today when it was time for Maddox to take his nap he begged me to let him stay up and play.  I hope that all 3 boys remain best buds forever. 

  

Jared just graduated from the academy on December 13th. I am so proud of him for being so successful at all that he does and for being a great provider, hard working husband and father.  He is working 3rd shift and it has been an adjustment for all of us.  Change takes time and we'll find a rhythm soon enough.

We completed our 3rd (another one!) cross country move from California to Texas and are enjoying the lone star state.  It is no San Clemente but when I win the lotto I'll move back.  An added bonus was having Miles and Caroline in Texas, just an hour north of us.  Over the past 8 years Caroline has become my best friend.  Caroline was at Wyatt's birth and I was with her when she delivered her 3rd child as well.  When they move this coming spring I may need Prozac.  

I couldn't ask for a better year.  It was the first year in awhile that something awful didn't happen to us. I can only hope 2014 will be as great to our family as 2013 was.