Monday, February 28, 2011

We met up with some friends at the zoo this morning and it was a MUCH needed dose of sunshine! It was a little colder than I had anticipated, but thankfully it felt good in the sun. I think this is the first time that we have been to the zoo that I didn't take tons of pictures. As a matter of fact, I only took four. I was too busy talking with friends to take pictures. I'm not even sure I really showed MK that many of the animals! However the elephant seemed rather frisky and I have no idea what it was trying to do, but it gave everyone a good laugh! MK even clapped for it a few times. I am so thankful for such a fantastic local zoo...frisky elephants and all!

Fun with Aunt Rach!























Sunday, February 27, 2011

what happens when...

a 17 month old dresses herself, you ask?

Saturday, February 26, 2011

apparently she remembers

Friday night MK, Luke and I hit up Applebees with my sister. She came in town for the weekend and wanted Madelyn to spend the night with her so we met there. Worst out to eat experience ever. Needless to say, we won't be going back there. The only redeeming factor was getting to hang out with my sister. She took Madelyn with her from there and Luke and I had no clue what to do with our freedom. Movies? It seemed like a waste to us. 2 hours not getting to really talk or hang out didn't sound fun. Instead we drooled over laptops and cameras at Best Buy.

Tonight my family came over for burgers. This was the only picture I took.
 At least it's a cute one right? Notice Emily made a smiley face out of her ketchup.

Apparently Madelyn remembers the day we tried to get her to sleep in her crib recently very well because the second Luke sat her down in it she lost it. Before that day, she would play in there while we picked up her room and that's exactly what Luke was trying to do. Now? Not so much.


Hmm...here's to hoping she forgets soon!

Go number 5

We spent Friday and Saturday morning at a local college gym cheering on the Martin's Mill girl's basketball team in the regional tournament. I made MK a onesie to wear to cheer on her favorite player, Emily. Madelyn had so much fun running around and climbing all over the bleachers. She got so excited when everyone would start cheering that her reactions were a little delayed. Of course I thought it was so cute!

This basketball team has quite the winning streak. We watched them clinch their 6th straight trip to the state tournament in Austin. Talk about something to get excited about.


It was so fun to watch Emily cut the net as a senior. It's hard to believe that she was in junior high when we met her. We'll be cheering them on from home next Thursday but we know they will do great! Go # 5!!!

Friday, February 25, 2011

17 months

Dear Sweet Madelyn,
Life with you is precious. We treasure each day and look forward to the next. This last month I have enjoyed viewing the world through your curious, bright eyes. Your excitement for just about everything is so stinkin' fun. You love people, play time, purses and so much more. It's harder and harder to keep track of all of your stats because so many new things are added all the time. New foods, extended vocabulary, new favorite toys, friends and places. Although I want to list some of them, the most important thing I want to remember is how much fun you are!

You laugh all the time and it is so contagious. Sometimes you even laugh for no reason at all. Nothing will have happened or changed...the next thing you know, you are cracking up! You love to chat with your friends on your play phone (aka anything that will fit in your hand). Your conversations go about like this, "Hellllooooo! Good (as if someone has asked you how you are)! Oh no! Ok! Love you. Bye Bye!". You have on average 10 of those conversations a day. Some times they are longer. Some times shorter. However they always make me smile.
 
If you could choose to do anything, I think you would choose to go to the park every day of the week. Being outside is the coolest thing since table food in your world. I think you forgot what it was like to be outside after a couple of unusually cold winter months around here. Lately, if it's not raining we have been out side. We hit up several local parks, use our zoo membership on a weekly basis or we just roam around in the yard at the house. I love that you love the outdoors!
Some of my favorite things that you say are (in your own little adorable way of course!):
  • one, two, three go!
  • please mommy
  • thank you
  • welcome
  • excuse me
  • more please mommy
  • good
  • I love you
  • let's go!
  • a, e, i, o, u, y
  • a b c d h m and it trails off from there...
  • buckle up
  • fish
  • sleep
  • night night
  • bath
  • oh my
  • oh no
  • swing
  • grapes
  • bananas
  • nugget
  • water
  • wash
  • see you later
  • park
  • zoo
  • puppy
  • Target (just kidding...but I am thinking you will say it any day now!)
You say lots of names these days as well:
  •  Maddie
  • Mommy
  • Daddy
  • Rachie
  • Grandma
  • Gigi
  • Papa
  • Emmy
  • LoLo
  • Ella
I love that you even though you can point to all of your body parts when we name them, you rarely perform for others. I know it's not because you are shy. I am not sure there is a shy bone in your body. You talk to strangers every where we go and will dance for anyone. Every once in a while you get a little embarrassed and cover you face. Even that is precious.

I would say that everything you do is precious, but sweetie, that is just not the case. In true toddler fashion, you get a little irritated when you don't get your way. We've had a few fits around our house this last month. You are getting a little more used to the word "no" and your protests don't last long. You don't do much (yet) that warrants a whole lot of discipline, but your defiance lands your  happy little hiney in time out a couple time a week. Overall, you have such a sweet disposition and you although you may hesitate at first, you generally do what we say. We are still working on getting you to NOT destroy the bathroom while I get ready in the mornings. By the time I get out of the shower you've TP'd the place and emptied the drawers. Oh dear.
I am not sure how much you weigh or how tall you are but I know you sure are growing. Most of your 12 months jeans are finally getting too short to wear and we found a few pairs of 18 months that don't swallow you whole. As for skirts and shorts, you are wearing all 12-18 months. I put a pair of 24 months on you the other day and they kept sliding off. You got so tickled by that. You can wear anywhere from 12-24 months tops and I have loved putting some of your 6-9 months dresses on as shirts. It's amazing how much you have grown and it is very obvious when we look at the pictures of you in them as dresses. As for shoes,  you are wearing a 4. Unfortunately for you, your feet are thick so your shoe choices are very limited. I have purchased a few pairs of squeakers because they are all that fit well! You still wear a size 4 diaper and I don't think that will change any time soon. You are definitely one growing girl!
Someone pointed out to me the other day that we call you lots of different names. MK, Maddie Kate, Mad Kat (when you are throwing your fits of course), Madelyn and Maddie. Apparently it hasn't confused you too much because you answer to them all.
You are full of spunk, sass and equal parts sweet. You love to give hugs and pat people on the back. You are the queen of slobbery kisses and you blow them at rapid fire pace. It always brings a smile to the receiver's face. 
You have many, many teeth. Seven on top, two on bottom and several more that are about to pop through. Those teeth come in handy with all the food you eat. Some days you are picky and I think I am going to have to hold your mouth open so you will eat. Others, you are a human garbage disposal. You love Chick-fil-A (who doesn't), drinking from straws and eating with forks. You are too big for your own britches if you asked me.
Most of all, you are loved.

I am so blessed to be your mom. Love you now. Love you always.

Love,
Mommy

Thursday, February 24, 2011

17 months and dinner with friends

Today Madelyn turned 17 months old (more details about that later). In just ONE month she will be closer to being two than she is to one. OH MY GOODNESS! When did this happen?? I am so thankful for technology and the ability to look back on each post. There are so many things that I find myself reading and thinking, "I already forgot about that".
 Tonight we had some friends over for dinner. A few people that were on Luke's team to Uganda, a friend from MOPS and her family, and MK, Luke and I enjoyed some yummy food (thanks to the hubs) and laughter. Luke and I both love a full, noisy house so having people over always equals a great night.

I love watching MK play with her friends. She and Logan play so well together!
I've decided that we need to "rent" Logan on days when I need to get things done around the house because they are just so content playing together. We were laughing so hard as they were both trying to sit on her little caterpillar. The pictures speak for themselves!


It was pretty much the perfect end to an awesome day.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

party with the Little People

We partied in the front yard with what seemed like a 100 little people and their animals.
We had so much fun and Madelyn loved it.

She arranged all the animals together at first which made the elementary school teacher in me want to jump up and down and clap. This girl loves to sort. The good thing about it, she is actually really good at it!

Madelyn kept calling this one "mommy". I'm thinking it wasn't the blond hair, blue eyes, jumbo flower necklace or sunglasses that drew her to that conclusion (for obvious reasons), but that camera around her neck instead. I must admit, it made me a little proud.
She lined them all up on the step stool and then read them a book.






Have I ever mentioned that I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to share moments like this with Madelyn each day? The beginnings of toddlerhood have definitely kept me on my toes and I have found us doing something new and out of the ordinary just about every day. It makes things more fun and our days more enjoyable!

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