Our Eternal Family....

Saturday, March 20, 2010, our family was sealed for all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful sealing and when they brought her into the room everyone oohed and awed at how beautiful she was. We let her wear her Easter outfit a little bit early and she looked adorable in it! We were really surprised but they let us go out in our white clothes for a picture. So, here we are after our sealing. Some had already left since we didn't know about it until after.
Our little family...

Mommy and Madi

Uncle Andrew and soon to be Aunt Annie

Great Grandma and Grandpa Gurney

The Hawkins Clan

L to R: Grandpa Hawkins, Uncle Chad, Mommy, Madi, Daddy Front Row: Grandma Hawkins, Aunt Susan and Saber

Mommy and Madi

Great Grandma and Grandpa Baum with Madi

The blanket that we used at the temple was crocheted by Great Grandma Baum! It is a special blanket!

So tired! She missed all her naps and was still a happy little girl! Mommy kisses!!!

Madi's had it! Great Grandma and Grandpa Gurney. I think Grandpa Gurney wasn't quite sure what to think!

5 Generations of Women!!!

L to R: Great Grandma Gurney, Grandma Baum, Madi, Mom, and Great Great Grandma Louder

The Baum Clan

Back Row L to R: Nicholas, Daniel, Erin, Andrew, Daddy, Rick, Bekka, Annie, Christopher

Front Row L to R: Christina, Grandma, Mommy, Tiffany

Kids L to R: Brenton, Whitney, Caitlin, Madi

Madi's cousins, Whitney and Caitlin

Grandma Baum made Madi's blessing dress. It was made from the left over fabric and lace from hers and mommy's wedding dresses. It turned out beautiful!

She also was the one that held Madi at the altar in the temple. We are so glad that she was able to be here with us!

Our Eternal Family...

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

I'm back...

It feels like forever since I blogged! Life has been crazy busy the last two weeks. Madi's third tooth has poked through on the top but is growing in pretty slow. It is the tooth to the left of her middle one. I have given two talks, one in our Primary Teacher Development and the other for our Relief Society Birthday night. I have been getting everything set and ready for our sealing (will be in another post) and Madi's blessing day. I have trying and failing to keep my house clean. I have had a girl's night with my sisters that are in Utah. Madi has been sick and several other things.

Derrick's aunts, Jill and Suzane sent this blanket to Madi. It is so soft!
Madi is always so full of smiles! She is such a joy to have in our family.

She has really started to love anything that makes sounds, especially rattles.

My happy girl

Miss Independent...

Aren't kids usually 12 or 18 months before they start their "independent" stage? Madi must be starting early because SHE wants to brush her teeth and feed herself. She will even purse her lips together when I try to feed her. It cracks me up! I try to help her drink and she doesn't want my help and will get mad and pull it away if I even touch her sippy. She is growing up too fast! What an angel though!

Another first...

Today was Madi's first time playing outside. It was in the fifties, maybe sixty, so we decided to put on our jackets and get some fresh air. I am so looking forward to late spring, early summer when the temps are perfect and we can stay out all day. Since Madi already has a runny nose, we only stayed out there for about ten minutes but she LOVED every minute we were out!

Playin' with her ball

Peaches & Cream...

Last Friday when I was feeding Madi she kept grabbing for the bowl and spoon and refused to open her mouth. She had decided she could do it herself so, I let her... She had oatmeal with peaches in it. Yum!!!
She wanted to get every last bit!

She was so sad when I took the bowl away...

...until I said it was bathtime! :)

Crafting...

I finally finished the frame for Madi's room and am just waiting on the picture I ordered to put in it. It matches her name and "giggle". I think that I am going to redo her magnet board to match.

She makes me laugh...

Madi has "found" her tongue and has spent the last two days spitting at anything and everything. It cracks me up every time she does it! She is seriously the cutest girl EVER!!! :)

Dinner Time...

To show that we truely do feed Madi healthy food, we are sharing with you her first experience with Gerber Spagetti and Beef and for dessert... Gerber Vanilla Custard with Bananas!

Madi's first cone...

We got Madi her first ice cream cone from McDonald's. I ate the top off and gave her the cone. She was freaking out when she saw it and kept grabbing at it. I set it on her tray and she picked it right up.

She dug right in!It only took about 15 seconds before she cried because her fingers were too cold! I took the cone from her and she screamed louder reaching for it back! So, mommy helped her.When it got to the bottom I took it and threw the rest away. I told her "all done" and she burst into tears!So sad... I always thought I would be strict with food, especially the first year. But she is just such an sweetie that we do give her a treat every now and then. :)

My girl...

Friends...

We ran to Wal-Mart the other day and the lady at the door gave Taylor and Madi stickers. When we got home the girls were sitting on the couch and Madi kept trying to take Taylor's sticker.

Taylor was not about to give up her sticker and Madi was so bummed! She looked at mom for help!Taylor showed Madi her sticker and then Madi seemed to be okay with it. It was pretty funny to watch the two of them. My angel....

Playtime...

Fertile Dreams...

We applied for an IVF grant last March and were chosen among the 20 finalists. We found out today that we were not selected to receive the grant. I thought I would be bummed but sitting here with my beautiful daughter I'm actually not. We have been so blessed to have Madi and we are grateful to Mindy every day! Someday we do hope that Madi will have brothers and sisters but for now we are loving each moment with our little girl!

Taylor's 3!!!

Yesterday was Taylor's birthday. She was so cute! She got her clothes out of her bag to get dressed and she was so excited to show me her cute new outfit that her Grandma gave her. After we got Madi to sleep we played with the camera a little. She LOVES to get her pictures taken. What a cutie!!!

So spoiled...

Derrick made this Valentine's Day so special! He fixed us a great dinner, brought me flowers and gave me a beautiful necklace! Here is a side view...

The necklace was kind of to replace one he gave me a few years ago. Last April I was at my Grandma's spending the night and took it off and set it on the sewing table. I forgot to put it on the next morning and she had all the family over for dinner. Two of my cousins (age 2) played in there and I searched everywhere and couldn't find it. It is now my brother's room and he was moving into a different room so I told him to keep an eye out for it.

On Tuesday morning he called me. He mentioned to Grandma that he was looking for it and guess what??? She had it!!! She had asked all her girls if it was theirs and she didn't know who else to ask. Where did she find it??? Under the stairs, in the CHRISTMAS TREE!!! Seriously, why didn't I check there first??? :D

Anyway, I love the necklace and thought it was so sweet of him to do that for me. He is a great husband and I couldn't ask for anyone better to share my life, my dreams and my future with! I love you Derrick!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

For Madi's first Valentine's Day we got her Tinkerbell (the movie) with the money from Grandma and Grandpa. She LOVES Tinkerbell. We tried to show her some toys and other things but she wanted Tinkerbell. It was too cute! Mom and Dad Hawkins came home on Sunday so we were able to spend some time with them. It was great to see them and will be so nice to have them back!

We were invited to my brother's fiances house for dinner Sunday night. We met her family and had a great time chatting and learning more about Annie. She is great and we are thrilled that she is going to be part of our family!

Oh Baby!!!

There are several people I know that are pregnant right now and those that know the gender are all having girls!!! Madi will have five new cousins in the next few months and they are ALL girls! I am so excited for her to have some little friends!

I went to a shower on Saturday for one of the cousins. Laura is due on March 4th with her first. She married Derrick's cousin, Jameson. We are so excited for them and can't wait to meet Rachel! I made her a hooded towel and a little "cake". It was so fun to make. It is the first one I have done! Hope you liked it guys!

My Valentine....

For Valentine's Day I made Derrick a coupon book. In the last envelope I included a gift card to McDonalds. He was thrilled! It's his favorite place and I hate McDonalds so he rarely gets it.

Good News...

Last week we found out that for the time being M&M is not going to sell so Derrick still has a job! Yea!!!