good days

We had a very exciting morning around here. Madison went potty! Yeah!!!! She was in there all by herself as I went to grab my morning coffee. When I came back she had gone on her little potty chair. We danced around and sang songs and of course she got stickers! We haven't pushed this at all which makes it even better. We just occasionally put her on. I felt that she was too young to really start but after today who knows. We are really reaching milestones and it is making me really sad so see her getting bigger. She is talking up a storm. Says her numbers and trys to say the alphabet with an occasional letter in the right spot. It is cute. I bought her a stepstool yesturday and she is very proud to be able to get up and wash her hands all by herself. We are getting out more too which she likes. Yesturday we went to the library for Tot Time. She really enjoyed singing and coloring. She enjoyed picking books out. We then went to borrow them only to find out that we live in the wrong county and couldn't get them without paying $32 for a library card. Guess we will go to the other library from now on! I never thought that they would turn down people to borrow books. oh well...
Today we had some friends over for a play group. Madison enjoyed playing with them. Daddy didn't like hearing that it was with 3 little boys! The other little girls that are in our playgroup couldn't make it so of course Madison showed off to all the boys... She was dancing and giggling in front of them. My little girl...don't know where she gets it!
We had a good day and it is only half over. The weather is nice here. Hope all is well...everywhere else...

Goodbye to the pacifier!

We have successfully stopped the need for a pacifier around her. It wasn't too hard as we only would give it to her when she went to bed. She had a little trouble falling asleep at first but doing great now. She never asked for it which I don't think she really new what it was. Now that we have one thing down soon it will be time for potty training. Though we are not going to push that. We are proud of her and how she just seems to go with the flow of things.
I have been busy planning our summer activities around here. Already have us signed up for puppet shows, summer reading program (with me and dad of course), zoo activities, outings with the local teeter toddler group and some down time at the local pool and park.

OLD KITCHEN

NEW KITCHEN.....ANY QUESTIONS?

some grand canyon pictures...

Reading with Papa..
She really enjoyed the hotel we stayed at the night before the train trip to the Grand Canyon. She loves her new book too...Feathered friends...
She is one lovable little girl...loves to give hugs and kisses.

Are we ready to go? Here we are in front of our train awaiting to take us to the Grand Canyon! We just got done watching a cowboy shoot out.

home projects

We have been updating our kitchen with the installation of wood floors. Dave has done it all and did a great job! We are so proud of him... Now I am starting to repaint and will soon have pictures for you to see.

My painting has been off to a rough start...I starte to paint and it became sticky and made it rough in certain places. Then it started to clump up in others. I have had to sand it all down. It has been a nightmare!!! I paint a lot and have never had this problem before.

back to sleep little one

She was standing at our bedroom door just peeking in....How could I be upset? Not at all...She is just the cutest thing and she just knows how to make me smile. But it was off to bed... as she got back into bed she just looked at me with those big blue eyes and said HAND? (she likes to hold my hand to fall asleep) I guess one litte hand hold won't hurt tonight.

She is now asleep and I am going to try to catch up on some emails and letters that have been nagging me. I thought that I would have more time for that kind of stuff when I decided to stay home but it just isn't the case. Anyway..thanks for listening....

bedtime routines

I am sitting in our bedroom with the lights off and listening to this little girl wear herself out with books. You see...bedtime routine has been good around here ( I really can't complain). She seems to enjoy her bath and then reading books. For her dad she will just say goodnight and fall off to sleep but for me she trys everything. I usually end up stayig in there until she falls asleep. But tonight...I thought I could do it like he does. It should be no different RIGHT?
Well...we said our good nights and then it was good for 5 minutes until I heard MOMMY over and over again. Then I heard her sneek out of her room through her gate.
This is why I am hiding in our room tonight waiting for her to fall asleep. ( I want to be close by if she trys to go for the stairs)
Gotta go..

We have enjoyed some time away in the warm state of Arizona. Spoiled by family and now trying to get back to reality.

No Way!

NO WAY!!! This is our new saying around here. I don't know where she picked it up but it seems to have stuck. I have been trying to find food for her to eat as I feel like I have tried it all and she simply says NO WAY!!! Since being sick we are staying to bland foods but I have now resorted to anything except milk (I won't let her have that until her diarrhea is over). But still with anything to give her she says NO WAY! Now I know what you are thinking..she's not hungry but that is not the case as she says EAT all day long.
Today was a good day...she ate some chicken nuggets and fries. It couldn't of been good on her stomach but she couldn't get enough and has kept it down all day. So tomorrow...I will try again....and hopes that she will want something nutritious.

She has also started to put IE to everything! Like... cup = cupie, shake = shakie, It is rather cute. These are the simple moments that I enjoy.

We are sick of bland food around here! It has been days now and we still are sick. Hoping it will go away soon as we have travel arrangements next week. I have been up to my head with changing diapers and clothes around here. I think I have done almost 6 loads of laundry in two days if not more! I have started bleaching everything down and now it smells like the fresh sent of BLEACH! I even smell it when I close my eyes at night...I guess it is better then smelling the other. Oh well...enough about me complaining.... I even love this part of being a mom! The cuddle time makes up for everything!!

shoes...

Here are some pictures from last week that you might enjoy. These last couple of days we both liked to stay in our pajamas! (thankfully no pictures)


I am starting to worry as she loves shoes at such an early age! We had to try on each pair even though they don't fit her yet.
She had to ask her best friend if they looked okay. Of course Sydney nodded and then Madison tried to convince her to put them on! They have truly become best friends...
Daddy is teaching her the secret plays to life!

We spent the day today cuddled up on the couch watching cartoons. I wish I could say that it was by choice but sadly Madison is sick. Has some awful bug. It started out with diarrhea on saturday morning and progressed to throwing up all night long til early morning. Just when would think she was starting to get better she would throw up. Thankfully I have stayed under the radar with this and hope to.

another day in paradise..

We have had many sleepless nights lately around here. Someone once told me that cutting the molars were going to be rough but I really didn't think anything of it until it is happening to us. I say us as we seem to be crankier around here too as we get less sleep. It first started last week and we just brought her to the bed in the morning (around 6 am) then each day she would wake up earilier and what would we do...but bring her to our bed. When it became 4 am we put a stop to that and we slept on her floor until she would fall back alseep. Then it started. She would wake up almost every hour and want us. Now I am sure her teeth hurt but it seems harder to go from sleeping all night to not sleeping much. I was really enjoying sleeping all night. We really didn't realize how quick one gets into a new routine by bringing her to our bed in the morning. Now I love the cuddle time but I never sleep well. I am excited to say that she slept through the night last night! Lets hope that it is the start of many good nights again.
I went to check on her today at naptime and didn't see her in her bed then looked around all her stuffed animal and didn't see her. Then I saw these two little bare feet sticking out. She was just sitting there very quiet. I am not sure if she was hiding from me or just having fun but it was the cutest thing. It is times like these during the day that I am so thankful for being home with her. I don't think I will ever forget those little feet sticking out from under the curtain.

bunco...

Bunco is just an excuse to get out and that is just what i did tonight. I don't really realize how much I miss being around other women until I get to bunco. It is only one night a month but I look forward to it each month. We say we play bunco but really I don't think anyone really keeps track of the points. We find ourselves talking or some would say gabbing and forgeting about rolling the dice. I have really enjoyed it since I have moved out here. This neighborhood is really neat. Everyone is so nice and has invited me into their group. (possibly because they were short a person and needed one more person to play) but I really don't care why...I just like getting out and being around other women. So tonight that is just what I did...it was nice. I come home refreshed to handle anything coming my way...like middle of the night awakenings or early morning hellos..

family visit...

Carrie and Madison enjoying new books! Thanks Rob and Annie...Carrie, Donna, Tina, and Madison early in the morning saying our goodbyes!

It has been awhile since I have found myself on the computer. It feels like forever. I have been getting my new business around and enjoying some time with my sisters and niece. They came to visit this past weekend and boy it really makes me miss them so much more now that they are gone. I don't know if the saying is true "absence makes the heart grow fonder" I think that it is the opposite because now that I can see family more it makes me miss them so much more. As before it was not very often that I saw them and I could easily get wrapped up in the day to day activities of life. I will try not to get wrapped up so often...
We all enjoyed their visit. Madison really took to my niece and wanted to have her play with her all the time. It was so cute. We enjoyed just visiting and watching movies. We even broke out the cards to play peanuts. They got stranded an extra day due to the winter storm that went through. It was so nice to have that extra day. We all hated to see them go.
Madison is growing every day. I love that I am able to see these changes go by as it goes by so fast. She has cut more teeth...soon hopefully to have a mouthful. She is really picking up more words and seems to amaze us everyday with what she can say. She is starting to say her ABC's and 123. She really loves playing with Sydney. I hope to get this on video soon to show you. They play tug of war all the time. (of course with me standing by helping)
She loves her bed and continues to do well with this. We really wish she could stay at this age. We are enjoying it. In fact every stage/day has been a gift!

I thought the whole pooping in the tub was over but I got a surprise the other night! Needless to say we now have to get a new strainer. One of my many jobs that come with being a mother. We are doing well around here. We have been getting ready for some special guests. My sisters and my niece. I am so excited. Family is truly wonderful. Thanks ahead of time for making the drive here. It is much appreciated.

1 hour out

I went to the dentist today. It was so nice. I never thought I would be saying that especially about the dentist. I feel guilty in a way for enjoying my time out to the dentist. AHHH! My dentist does a parifin wax on your hands while they work on your teeth. It is soooo nice. It was an hour of relaxation in my book today. Too bad the dentist is only twice a year. (Unless I eat more to get more cavities to be able to go to the dentist more often...now here's a thought!!)

Another fun day..

We have had another fun day together. We enjoyed going to our playgroup today. This playgroup is held in a church gym. Today she was trying her hardest to put a ball in the basketball hoop (which was obviously too high) I don't know how she saw it or even who she saw do it before as all the other kids were playing with the toys. Her this little girl was all the way down the other side of the court all by herself trying her hardest to make it go through. She had such a determination about her. She was having a ball at this for awhile. After playing we came home to enjoy a nap. After the nap we enjoyed making a craft and then a nice walk around the neighborhood. It is really warm for wintertime out here. Cloudy and wet (which reminds me of our old home) She is also adding more words to her vocabulary and Dave and I often have to watch what we say as she will repeat us. She has started to go around and say "grandama" However she says it as "mee ma" it is so cute.

back up and running....

We are back up and running after a cold came throught this house this past weekend and early part of the week. We are all doing well now and we are even sleeping good at night. We were so excited the other night Madison put herself to sleep. After reading books and putting her in her bed she played a little and then she fell asleep. We are enjoying this...
I have yet to sit down and make out my resolutions for the year. I think I should make one right now to sit down and make them....hee hee
I have started my own business. I am a Signature HomeMaker's Representative. Signature Homestyles Idea Company is one of the nation's fastest growing home decorating, organizing, and accessory companies. I am so excited to be doing this.

Good friends...

Happy Birthday to a great friend today! We miss you both so much around here. I was thinking of our trip we took together today and how this hike we took was only a short hike...hah...I was told that it was just around the corner...many many times. It was the best part of our trip and I would do it again. I hope to someday and maybe now with our daughter.



(above)This picture is part of the Matterhorn moutain in Zermatt, Switzerland. (below) The hike up...and up...




The start of our 5 hour hike up!

playdough fun

I now know why she was having difficulty sleeping...we now have a touch of a cold around here. I take back I said before about her not sleeping...i should know by now that there is ALWAYS a reason for her night awakenings. First it was Madison and now I have it. Hopefully Dave will not get it this time...he has already started taking the Zicam. We did manage to have fun today reguardless of our runny noses and allover aches. We made homemade playdough (flour and water). Here is a picture of our day.