Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Zoe's Vacation
We decided it probably wouldn't be a good idea to travel 2,000 miles with a child and a dog, so while we went to Ohio, Zoe got to spend two weeks with her Dede. She was spoiled rotten, as usual, and was allowed to get on the couch and the bed and apparently the coffee table, since that's what she's been doing since she got home... I have no idea why she feels the need to get on one of our coffee tables, much less both of them. What a weirdo. If she were smart, she wouldn't leave evidence (grass and leaves that she drags in from the yard). Anyway, here are some pics from Andrea's blog. :)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
First Snow!
Backtracking a bit...
On December 2nd, we woke up and were getting ready as usual. For some odd reason I turned on the news, which I never do, and I heard them say that it was snowing in the northern parts of the Metroplex. Sure enough, snow was falling at our house! We hurriedly got Madie up and in her jacket so we could take pictures before I left for work. It wasn't much snow, but it was snow!!
Madie & Mommy
Daddy's turn!
Of course, it all melted within an hour or two, but it was a fun way to start our day!
On December 2nd, we woke up and were getting ready as usual. For some odd reason I turned on the news, which I never do, and I heard them say that it was snowing in the northern parts of the Metroplex. Sure enough, snow was falling at our house! We hurriedly got Madie up and in her jacket so we could take pictures before I left for work. It wasn't much snow, but it was snow!!
Madie & Mommy
Daddy's turn!
Of course, it all melted within an hour or two, but it was a fun way to start our day!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Ohio Adventures
After landing in Detroit, we had about an hour drive to Grandma Shaw's house. Madelyn slept the entire drive, and it was an easy last leg to our trip. Grandma Shaw was outside waiting on us when we pulled up, and she was thrilled to meet her fifth great grandchild.
As soon as we arrived, Madelyn had presents to open!
That evening, we relaxed and enjoyed a quiet dinner with Grandma Shaw. Madelyn has recently become aware of "strangers," and she'll get really quiet and become a little withdrawn until she warms up to the new person. Except for Grandma Shaw. It was like Madelyn knew her from the moment she met her. Madelyn went to her immediately, and Grandma wouldn't put her down!
Mary and Madelyn
Whatcha cooking Great Grandma?
On Sunday, we went to church with Grandma, and then our girl decided to take several really long naps. Because of that, we didn't venture out at all the rest of the day (and good thing because it was COLD!!!). Mommy & Daddy did sneak out after the girl's bed time and went on a date at a nearby sports bar.
Monday was spent visiting family!
Hi Great Grandpa Joe!
We also spent much of the afternoon and evening being silly...
On Tuesday, we did a lot more relaxing and hanging out with Grandma Shaw. We did a little shopping here and there, and that evening, we planned to go visit Santa in the town shopping square. We got all bundled up and drove there to find out that Santa only works weekends at that particular location.
She decided this was the most efficient way to carry this toy around all week.
Getting bundled up to go see that Santa was "closed."
After dinner, somebody got a case of the giggles...
On our final full day in Ohio, we went and visited Grandma Lou and Grandpa Joe again.
And why not one more picture of the cutest little smile ever?! (Like this will really be the last picture of her...) ;)
When we got back from our visits, Grandma Shaw had invited several of her friends over to ooh and aah over Madelyn. She enjoyed all the attention, but she was happy to spend more time with GG (Great Grandma) after they all left.
Thursday meant it was time to say goodbye to Ohio (but not to Grandma Shaw. She came to Texas with us!). We had another easy drive to the airport, and the flight home was great. Madelyn and Daddy fell asleep on the plane, but while awake, she giggled and laughed and entertained those around us and the flight attendants. She was such a good traveler, and I hope she stays that way in the years to come!
My girl and me
Our family!
Overall, we had a great trip and really enjoyed the time off from the hustle and bustle of our everyday schedule. We also had some firsts while in Ohio, too. While we were there, Madelyn decided she wanted to try anything and everything we were eating. She tried peas, noodles, mashed potatoes and cheerios, and she did great eating them. She used her Great Grandpa Shaw's high chair while we were there, and she loved being pulled right up to the table to eat with us instead of having a tray separating her from the table. We used one of Grandma's friends' pack and play for her to sleep in, and of course, Miss Picky Sleeper wouldn't sleep in it. She also didn't want to sleep in the bed with us. Or in the bed with Daddy after she kicked and hit Mommy in the face enough times that Mommy slept on the couch. Needless to say, our great sleeper was up once or twice each night wanting a bottle. I just couldn't keep up with her, and because she decided to go on a nursing strike while we were there, we had to make a trip to the store for formula. Thankfully, she didn't really notice the difference, and she'd take a bottle and go back to sleep.
We were so thankful to spend most of our 5 days there relaxing, playing, reading and enjoying the company of our family. It was a great vacation, and we look forward to going back soon!
As soon as we arrived, Madelyn had presents to open!
That evening, we relaxed and enjoyed a quiet dinner with Grandma Shaw. Madelyn has recently become aware of "strangers," and she'll get really quiet and become a little withdrawn until she warms up to the new person. Except for Grandma Shaw. It was like Madelyn knew her from the moment she met her. Madelyn went to her immediately, and Grandma wouldn't put her down!
Mary and Madelyn
Whatcha cooking Great Grandma?
On Sunday, we went to church with Grandma, and then our girl decided to take several really long naps. Because of that, we didn't venture out at all the rest of the day (and good thing because it was COLD!!!). Mommy & Daddy did sneak out after the girl's bed time and went on a date at a nearby sports bar.
Monday was spent visiting family!
Hi Great Grandpa Joe!
We also spent much of the afternoon and evening being silly...
On Tuesday, we did a lot more relaxing and hanging out with Grandma Shaw. We did a little shopping here and there, and that evening, we planned to go visit Santa in the town shopping square. We got all bundled up and drove there to find out that Santa only works weekends at that particular location.
She decided this was the most efficient way to carry this toy around all week.
Getting bundled up to go see that Santa was "closed."
After dinner, somebody got a case of the giggles...
On our final full day in Ohio, we went and visited Grandma Lou and Grandpa Joe again.
And why not one more picture of the cutest little smile ever?! (Like this will really be the last picture of her...) ;)
When we got back from our visits, Grandma Shaw had invited several of her friends over to ooh and aah over Madelyn. She enjoyed all the attention, but she was happy to spend more time with GG (Great Grandma) after they all left.
Thursday meant it was time to say goodbye to Ohio (but not to Grandma Shaw. She came to Texas with us!). We had another easy drive to the airport, and the flight home was great. Madelyn and Daddy fell asleep on the plane, but while awake, she giggled and laughed and entertained those around us and the flight attendants. She was such a good traveler, and I hope she stays that way in the years to come!
My girl and me
Our family!
Overall, we had a great trip and really enjoyed the time off from the hustle and bustle of our everyday schedule. We also had some firsts while in Ohio, too. While we were there, Madelyn decided she wanted to try anything and everything we were eating. She tried peas, noodles, mashed potatoes and cheerios, and she did great eating them. She used her Great Grandpa Shaw's high chair while we were there, and she loved being pulled right up to the table to eat with us instead of having a tray separating her from the table. We used one of Grandma's friends' pack and play for her to sleep in, and of course, Miss Picky Sleeper wouldn't sleep in it. She also didn't want to sleep in the bed with us. Or in the bed with Daddy after she kicked and hit Mommy in the face enough times that Mommy slept on the couch. Needless to say, our great sleeper was up once or twice each night wanting a bottle. I just couldn't keep up with her, and because she decided to go on a nursing strike while we were there, we had to make a trip to the store for formula. Thankfully, she didn't really notice the difference, and she'd take a bottle and go back to sleep.
We were so thankful to spend most of our 5 days there relaxing, playing, reading and enjoying the company of our family. It was a great vacation, and we look forward to going back soon!
First Flight
On Saturday, December 12, we were up bright and early (read "all night long") getting ready for our vacation and flight to Ohio. In typical fashion, we didn't pack our bags or get our Christmas cards out or anything ready until Friday night. Well, I had finals that week and a ridiculously hard accounting final Thursday night. I don't know what Anthony's excuse was... ;)
Anyway, we left our house on time (this is big) and got to the parking lot shuttle and airport in plenty of time. Of course, we held up the security line getting our car seat, stroller, diaper bag, my carry on, Ant's carry on, the computer, our shoes and our jackets through the x-ray machine. I felt bad that we held up the line, but DFW should have had more than one machine going! While we waited for our flight to board, Madelyn enjoyed looking around at all the people and ate her breakfast as usual. We boarded the plane fully expecting her to fall asleep during her normal nap time, but all she wanted to do was play and talk to the lady across the aisle from us! We lucky enough to get an empty seat in our row, so we spread out as much as we could as we took off for Detroit.
During the flight we had to make one diaper change. I had no idea those 2X2 bathrooms on board also had a changing "table" in them, but they do! During the flight we ate puffs, played with toys, read the 737 safety manual (why not get her started early?) and chatted with our new friend, who couldn't get over how cute Madie was. There was just so much fun going on that Madelyn did not go to sleep. At. All. By the time we landed (12:30 our time), she was exhausted. She fought her nap so hard, but Anthony finally got her quieted down and to sleep as everyone got off the plane. We maneuvered her into the bjorn and she slept until we got to the rental car place.
Overall, she was an angel! There were a few minutes of crying as she fought falling asleep, but otherwise, her first flight went off without a hitch!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
8 Months!
Catching up from December!
I say it every month, but time is just flying by! I remember how the days used to drag so slowly when I was a kid and I just couldn't wait to grow up. Now I beg father time to SLOW DOWN!!!
The past month our sweet girl has been up to several new things, the most exciting of which is finger foods!! She has tried puffs several times and after the initial shock of "oh my God what are you doing to me?" she actually likes them. She prefers the sweet potato flavor over the banana (the only two we've tried), but she'll eat either one. She is slowly getting the hang of getting them in her mouth by herself, but Mommy & Daddy have to help show her how it's done sometimes. She also just tried a real banana this month, too! We originally tried real food in a mesh feeder, but she wouldn't take that at all. She likes to practice using her fingers instead! She is also doing very well eating all of her homemade baby food (with her two bottom teeth). Her favorite, by far, is butternut squash. She'd eat and eat and eat it if we'd let her! She loves sitting in her big girl high chair for her meals, although we still use her bumbo chair quite often. I'm sure she'll outgrow it here soon.
Madelyn is a pro at sitting by herself, and she is tolerating tummy time much better nowadays. She's still not interested in crawling or rolling, but we practice every day. She is now in a stage where she wants anything and everything that is in our hands or within (or just out of) her reach. It becomes quite a chore to put her on her changing pad and change her diaper or clothes because she wants to grab all the fun stuff in her changing basket. Who knew Aquafor, Desitin and diapers could be so exciting? Our girl will stand for several minutes by herself if we put her in front of the coffee table or couch, but she just hangs on and/or grabs for whatever she sees in front of her!
Her favorite toys are still her ring set and her blender. She has figured out how to take the lid off the blender and get the "fruit" out. Everyone knows the fruit pieces taste way better than anything else anyway! She is good at playing alone every now and then, and, although I feel like I have to be in front of her at every waking moment, I'm doing okay at it, too.
I finally packed up her 3-6 month clothes since she's finally consistently wearing her 6-9 and 6-12 month clothes. I don't have her weight for this month, but she's still pretty long and lean, as she has been at all of her doctors appointments. She is saying mama and dada, but I'm not sure if she's associating us with it or not. She's also been saying ba and ya, and I'm starting to introduce her to some baby sign language. So far, milk is the only one I'm doing, but I'm hoping to do some more research and introduce her to new words soon.
We have been so blessed with such a happy and easy going little girl. She is always smiling or giggling or laughing. Apparently we are some hilarious people because she laughs at us all the time. She still only really fusses when she's extremely tired or really hungry, but we both know her cues like the back of our hands, so that's a rarity. She is sleeping 12 hours a night (7 pm - 7 am), and she is still doing great at daycare. She's not napping as well at daycare as I'd like, but she's otherwise doing great. I still feel bad when I drop her off in the mornings, but she gets excited to see her Ms. Claire every morning. All day I look forward to walking through that door to say her name and see her little face light up and those legs and arms start jumping.
The past month was so much fun, as we celebrated Madie's baptism and her first Thanksgiving! I know the next month will be just as exciting as we fly to Ohio and then celebrate Christmas.
Looking back, every month has gotten so much better. It is unreal how in love we are with this little girl. This has truly been the best year of my life.
Zoe was on "vacation" with Dede when we took our montly pictures. We let her other puppy sit in, although Madie sure missed her Zoe.
I say it every month, but time is just flying by! I remember how the days used to drag so slowly when I was a kid and I just couldn't wait to grow up. Now I beg father time to SLOW DOWN!!!
The past month our sweet girl has been up to several new things, the most exciting of which is finger foods!! She has tried puffs several times and after the initial shock of "oh my God what are you doing to me?" she actually likes them. She prefers the sweet potato flavor over the banana (the only two we've tried), but she'll eat either one. She is slowly getting the hang of getting them in her mouth by herself, but Mommy & Daddy have to help show her how it's done sometimes. She also just tried a real banana this month, too! We originally tried real food in a mesh feeder, but she wouldn't take that at all. She likes to practice using her fingers instead! She is also doing very well eating all of her homemade baby food (with her two bottom teeth). Her favorite, by far, is butternut squash. She'd eat and eat and eat it if we'd let her! She loves sitting in her big girl high chair for her meals, although we still use her bumbo chair quite often. I'm sure she'll outgrow it here soon.
Madelyn is a pro at sitting by herself, and she is tolerating tummy time much better nowadays. She's still not interested in crawling or rolling, but we practice every day. She is now in a stage where she wants anything and everything that is in our hands or within (or just out of) her reach. It becomes quite a chore to put her on her changing pad and change her diaper or clothes because she wants to grab all the fun stuff in her changing basket. Who knew Aquafor, Desitin and diapers could be so exciting? Our girl will stand for several minutes by herself if we put her in front of the coffee table or couch, but she just hangs on and/or grabs for whatever she sees in front of her!
Her favorite toys are still her ring set and her blender. She has figured out how to take the lid off the blender and get the "fruit" out. Everyone knows the fruit pieces taste way better than anything else anyway! She is good at playing alone every now and then, and, although I feel like I have to be in front of her at every waking moment, I'm doing okay at it, too.
I finally packed up her 3-6 month clothes since she's finally consistently wearing her 6-9 and 6-12 month clothes. I don't have her weight for this month, but she's still pretty long and lean, as she has been at all of her doctors appointments. She is saying mama and dada, but I'm not sure if she's associating us with it or not. She's also been saying ba and ya, and I'm starting to introduce her to some baby sign language. So far, milk is the only one I'm doing, but I'm hoping to do some more research and introduce her to new words soon.
We have been so blessed with such a happy and easy going little girl. She is always smiling or giggling or laughing. Apparently we are some hilarious people because she laughs at us all the time. She still only really fusses when she's extremely tired or really hungry, but we both know her cues like the back of our hands, so that's a rarity. She is sleeping 12 hours a night (7 pm - 7 am), and she is still doing great at daycare. She's not napping as well at daycare as I'd like, but she's otherwise doing great. I still feel bad when I drop her off in the mornings, but she gets excited to see her Ms. Claire every morning. All day I look forward to walking through that door to say her name and see her little face light up and those legs and arms start jumping.
The past month was so much fun, as we celebrated Madie's baptism and her first Thanksgiving! I know the next month will be just as exciting as we fly to Ohio and then celebrate Christmas.
Looking back, every month has gotten so much better. It is unreal how in love we are with this little girl. This has truly been the best year of my life.
Zoe was on "vacation" with Dede when we took our montly pictures. We let her other puppy sit in, although Madie sure missed her Zoe.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
"School" Pictures
Catching up from October...
Just after we had our pumpkin patch pictures done, we received a note that Madelyn's daycare was doing "school" pictures (they also have a private pre-school and kindergarten there, so I guess that's why they do this). We laughed and talked about how silly it was to take the pics of the infants, especially in front of the cheesy backgrounds, but when we got the pictures back, we had to spend the money to get some of the pics. We have the first up on the fridge and giggle at it daily. I love the look on her face!
Our girl's first "school" pictures (at 6 months)...
How did we end up with such a cute kid?!
Just after we had our pumpkin patch pictures done, we received a note that Madelyn's daycare was doing "school" pictures (they also have a private pre-school and kindergarten there, so I guess that's why they do this). We laughed and talked about how silly it was to take the pics of the infants, especially in front of the cheesy backgrounds, but when we got the pictures back, we had to spend the money to get some of the pics. We have the first up on the fridge and giggle at it daily. I love the look on her face!
Our girl's first "school" pictures (at 6 months)...
How did we end up with such a cute kid?!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Update
Wow, it's been a while, huh? I have lots of updates and tons of pictures, but our lovely computer died on us...again. My advice, don't buy a Dell. They suck. We had our motherboard replaced in July (on our 1 1/2 year old computer). We already have to have it replaced again.
Just before Christmas, I deleted all of our pics off of our camera card (all 1892 of them) so we could make room for Christmas pictures. Because they're all stored on the broken computer, I don't have any pre-Christmas pics to update with. And because I'm a nerd, I can't update out of order. That would be crazy!! Here's hoping (and wishing and praying) that none of our files/pictures on the broken computer are deleted. In the hurry of getting all the Christmas dinners and presents and trips planned and ready, I didn't back up all my pictures on our external drive. *headdesk* The tech support guy tells me our data is safe, and we didn't lose anything in July (which is why we bought the external drive), but I can't help but worry.
Hopefully we'll have some updates next week. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year.
Just before Christmas, I deleted all of our pics off of our camera card (all 1892 of them) so we could make room for Christmas pictures. Because they're all stored on the broken computer, I don't have any pre-Christmas pics to update with. And because I'm a nerd, I can't update out of order. That would be crazy!! Here's hoping (and wishing and praying) that none of our files/pictures on the broken computer are deleted. In the hurry of getting all the Christmas dinners and presents and trips planned and ready, I didn't back up all my pictures on our external drive. *headdesk* The tech support guy tells me our data is safe, and we didn't lose anything in July (which is why we bought the external drive), but I can't help but worry.
Hopefully we'll have some updates next week. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year.
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