Pudding anyone???

Madi has become REALLY picky!  One day she will eat something like it is her favorite thing ever and the next she won't even taste.  So, as long as she is eating something we are happy.  Sunday she wanted pudding.  She won't let you help her either.  She wants to be totally independent. 

Crafts...

Last week I worked on a lot of different crafts.  I did Easton's letters (below) and about 11 of my 14 ornaments for my shelf.  I only have pictures of two but I will get the rest posted soon.

 I tried to do as many as I could doublr sided to add a little variety.

Easton Letters...

Bad Hair Day???

Super cute, baby girl!

Mama's girl...

When I was little my mom made me this coat from a velvet skirt she had got from the DI.  We put it on Madi Sunday and it fit her perfect!  She is so stinkin' cute, I just can't get over it!

"Thanks for the coat Grandma!" Love ~ Madi

Addicted???

This little lady is in love with anything that is carbonated!  There is no hiding it from her either.  Saturday night we stopped and rented a movie and got some drinks for our date night.  We weren't even out of the parking lot before Madi started begging for a taste! 

 Sneaking another sip...

 Daddy caught her!  The drink was then put on a high shelf and out of sight.  "Sorry Mads!  No more pop for you!" 

Madi...

Madi loves to look at pictures, especially ones of her.  She looks at her scrapbook several times a week.  It is fun to watch her.  She never gets tired of it.

 She is so excited in this one because she sees her daddy.  She is totally a daddy's girl.  It is so sweet!

 Not sure if she wants to watch Einsteins or come play with mom...

 Mom won!  Peek-a-boo!!!

 I love that little grin!

 She is starting to look more and more like a little girl and not my baby anymore.  I love that she is starting to talk more too!  If only I knew what "THAT" was.  It is her favorite word and she "wants dat" all day! :D

 I love you Madi!  Thank you for being my sweet baby girl!  You are so precious to me and I love being your mommy!

Craftin...

This week  I have spent a lot of time craftin'.  I LOVE to craft.  It relieves stress and is so relaxing for me.

 Hard to see in the picture above but the black has glitter...

 ...and I found some chunky glitter I love for the red!

Easton...

We had the privilege of seeing baby Easton this week.  Look how cute he is!  I get more excited every day!

 Hand

 It's a BOY!!!

 Foot

 Hand

Madi has started saying Easton and Brother this week.  It is so cute.  She is going to be an awesome big sister!

Thank you Mindy for letting us go with you to the ultrasound.  It means so much to us!

So cute...

Last night we had chocolate fondue for dessert.  Madi just kept saying "mmmmm...yum" over and over as she licked the chocolate of the bananas and marshmallows.  She put the whole pretzel in her mouth and sucked of the chocolate and then took out the pretzel and said "kuhka".  She normally likes pretzels. :D

All geared up...

Madi LOVES to be outside and asks me EVERY day if she can go outside.  She will even bring me her coat.  So, the other day I bought a sled at Wal-Mart and thought I would let her try it out.  I got her all dressed up in her hot pink boots and her snow bibs.  She looked so cute in them.

Add gloves, coat and a hat and we are ready to go!

 She was heading for the door as soon as I said we were ready.  She couldn't wait to get out there!

 Not so sure about the sled though.  We have a retention pond next to our house so we took the sled over there to go down the little hills.  She was NOT a fan of the sled.  I think it scared her. 

So, we came back home and just let her play in the snow while Jaxon drug the sled around the front yard.  She likes being out there and doesn't seem to mind the cold of the snow at all.  I have to pick her up and bring her inside because she refuses to go on her own.  I am really looking forward to the spring and summer this year.  I am pretty sure we will be living outside! :D

 Madi will say "brrr".  It is so stinkin' cute!  I love it!

I think with the next big storm we will be making a snowman.  I am excited to do that with Madi. 

Sickies...

My poor baby has a double ear infection.  Doc said that the tube may not be in correctly or that it could just be because they are plugged and she should stop getting them as she grows.  It makes me so sad for her though.  Derrick is sick too.  He has his annual bronchitis.  The doc said it could be triggered by some sort of allergy and told him to take Claritin next December and see if it helps.  I am glad I made him go to the doctor before it turned into pneumonia.  Why are guys so stubborn about going to the doctors???

2011 Goals...

Every year we make goals or resolutions and we rarely make it to the end of January before we stop doing whatever it is we have committed to.  So, I thought that if I write them down I might be better at actually following through!

1. Create and stick to a healthy menu.  The most frustrating part about dinner is deciding what to make.  So, I thought if I have some sort of menu or meal plan it will help me.  It will also help to ensure that my family and I are getting the right balance in our diets.
2. Create and stick to an excercise plan.  I normally say 'lose weight' but this year I am setting goals on how I am going to lose weight.  Since Madi was born I have lost 30 pounds.  I would ultimately like to get back down to what I was when I met Derrick but it will take some time.
3. Read the New Testament.  This is the book we are studying this year in Sunday School and since I am in Primary I want to read it on my own.
4. Stay up to date on my blog.  I have not been as good about posting and then it takes me a long time to get caught up each time.  So, I am going to try to do better at this.
5. Be a better house keeper.  I am going make a plan of what days to do what so I can stay more organized and on top of things. 
6. Go to the temple once a month with Derrick.  We used to go often before Madi was born.  It has been much harder because we have to find a babysitter and because I miss her like CRAZY when I am gone that long.  I miss going to the temple too though so we are committed to do this.  Any volunteers to babysit? :D

That is it for now but I am sure I will be adding to this list.  I hope every one had a great year and is planning on an even better 2011!  Happy New Year!

Madi has this little pink square that we call her 'lovey'.  She is getting pretty attached to it and gets so excited when she has it.

 Being mommy to her baby...

She LOVES babies!  I love to watch her play with them.  She feeds them and rocks them.  It is so sweet to watch her.

 She is walking really good now and only crawls when she is tired.  It is fun to see her grow and see each new stage.  I love it!

Cousins...

Madi has been able to enjoy some time with her cousins and has had a lot of fun.

 Kisses and hugs from Caitlin...

 Loves from Brenton (I wish I had been on the other side!)

 Brenton was so good to share his new Christmas toys with Madi all week.  Madi LOVED this one!

 Sweet moments with mom... (Brenton has such a cute little face!)

 Whitney has been so motherly to Madi.  It is so cute to see them.  Whit would get so excited each time Madi would do something by herself.

We have enjoyed having them around again and will be so bummed when they go back to WA.  It is fun for MAdi to have a few friends around and I have missed the whole family!

Pumba...

Madi has decided she is TOO big to not sit at the table so we went to Babies'R'Us and got her a booster seat Monday.  We let her ride on Pumba.  She thought it was great!

After a much needed nap we went to my grandma's for Christmas dinner and games with my siblings.  My sister, Annie, made us a beautiful quilt and my brother, Chris, made us a game (similar to Aggrivation).  I will have to post pictures of it.  He has an incredible talent when it comes to wood.  It looks like something you would buy at the store!  Nicholas and Christina's family came from Washington.  It was great to spend time with them.  They gave us a book which is filled with beautiful art.  Grandma gave us Spiffy Whip.  My mom gave Madi the cutest pink hoodie with a Texas longhorn on it.  It is adorable on her.  She made us a magnent board with vinyl that says "Home... where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends"  I love how talented my mom is and the fun things she can do!

We played games and visited and ate yummy food.  We spent the night down there and then came home Sunday morning.  It was a wonderful Christmas!

I forgot to put in this morning's post what Derrick and I got from Chad and Susan... the new Scrabble game!  Thanks guys!  We love games!

Wake up... It's Christmas!!!

I LOVE Christmas.  It is one of my favorite holidays!  I get so excited and can hardly wait to get up to open presents.  I love to see the reactions of Derrick and Madi and others that I love when they open what I got them.  This year was especially fun because it was the first year that Madi could really react.  Derrick and I woke up at 6:00 and showered and got ready for the day. Here is the load that Santa left...

My mom and dad made this cradle for me when I was younger.  I gave it a fresh coat of paint and made bedding to match the quilt I hand stiched for Madi LONG before she was born and added a baby doll. 

Madi woke up to the sound of my blow dryer.  I am not so sure she was actually ready to get up but I wasn't about to let her go back to bed.  There were presents to be opened!  We tried to get her to walk out but she just sat down and cried.  Poor girl... 

Derrick carried her in though and as I hoped, she was elated with what she saw and wanted down.  She crawled straight to the cradle and wanted her baby.

She played there for a few minutes before we took her to the other side of the tree, not without her baby though. 

Her fear of wrapping paper continued to the morning. 

After several attempts to get her to open something, Derrick showed her what to do. 

Yeah!  She caught on!   

I think her favorite gift was the phone she got from Uncle Chad and Aunt Susan.  She LOVED it and has hardly put it down.  Thanks guys!  

After she opened the phone she wasn't interested in opeing anymore so Derrick opened one for her... a Tinkerbell shirt.  

This is what Madi got for Christmas.  I think she did pretty good and she really seemed to like everything she got.   

I couldn't help but pick up a few things for Easton too.  We are so excited to add a sweet little one our family! 

I got everything I wanted!  An ipod dock and some craft stuff... Derrick spoils me.  I have the best husband a girl could want! 

Derrick got some shirts and a much needed alarm clock.  (I know, boring, but he is IMPOSSIBLE to shop for.) 

We had a perfect morning!  We ate German Pancakes and went back to bed. :D