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

Twas the night before Christmas...

Growing up, my family always got to open one present on Christmas Eve, new PJ's.  This is a tradition I wanted to share with our family.  Madi was really funny.  She did not like the wrapping paper and didn't like to touch it.  Derrick opened one little part to help her get started.

Then he opened another little part since she didn't want to do it.  He hoped it would get her excited about what she saw so she would open the rest.

It didn't... 

I love this picture.  She is such a doll! 

We finally gave up and Derrick opened them for her.  She loved them and wanted them on. (yes, she went from old jammies to new jammies because mommy was too lazy to get us both dressed :D) 

After we got her bathed and in her Christmas jammies she sat on daddy's lap for some stories about Christmas. 

Madi LOVES stories and listens so intently. 

After a couple stories we read the Christmas story from Luke 2 (another family tradition) and off to bed she went!

Biggest Loser...

My brother, sister and a couple of her friends have been doing a biggest loser competition for the last few months and I joined them. We finished on the 31st and I WON!  Saddest part is you can't even tell I've lost anything.  We are going to do it again so maybe I'll be able to notice it after this next round.

Christmas Card 2010...

It's...

a BOY!

At least for now.  The doc did a quick ultrasound yesterday but the 'real' one isn't until the 10th.  We all feel like it is a boy though and with the doc's unofficial confirmation, we are gearing up to sell our PINK in exchange for some BLUE!  (If you need a pink swing, bouncer, carseat or stroller let us know.)

Our little monkey...

Madi LOVES to climb.  Last week she found "new" things to climb.  She figured out how to climb onto the couch by herself and the same day she figured out how to climb onto our kitchen chairs.  Since she can already push the chairs she can get into anything!  She has climbed on the table, the counters, and here, she was unloading the the kitchen sink for me!  What a good little helper! 

The part that REALLY makes me nervous though is when she stands on the bar like she is starting in this picture.  What am I going to do with her? :) 

Pop pop...

Bubbles...

Madi picked out a Disney Princess bubble wand for going potty in the toilet.  She has LOVED playing with them.

Let it snow...

Last Wednesday night Madi was insistant that she wanted to go play outside.  She kept signing "hat" and pointing to the door.  So, I got her bundled up and then we went outside to play.  She had never played in the snow before so I was excited to see how she would act. 

 At first she wasn't too sure but she warmed up to it quickly and has wanted to play in it every time we have gone outside!  We are gonna get a sled so we can take her sledding.  I can't wait!

Steps...

Madi just took her first steps! 
So exciting! 

Tried to video some but she wanted to go to bed by the time I got the camera out.  I will try tomorrow.

Is it possible???

Is it really possible for this girl to get any cuter?  To me she does every day.  I love when she wakes up each morning and I can hear her chattering from her crib.  I love the big smile she gets when I poke my head in her room to get her up.  I love that she gives me a big kiss as soon as I pick her up.  I love that she is a daddy's girl.  I love how excited she is to be with him and how much she loves him.  I love that she will bring me books and want me to read them to her.  She is such a sweet little angel and I am grateful for every moment I have with her!

I think she is making some progress towards walking.  She has a toy that she pushes around the house.  Until last week she had been pushing it around on her knees.  She has started walking when she pushes it around now.  She is also starting to stand without holding onto anything.  She has been able to do this for a while but just hasn't been brave enough to do it for any amount of time.  I am crossing my fingers that she will be walking before the end of the year.

I thought this picture was cute.  It looks like she is getting all ready for her prayers.

Madi is starting to talk a lot more.  This morning she kept saying bottle over and over.  I wasn't understanding her and so she signed milk.  I LOVE that she can sign.  It helps so much! 

CrAZy bUsy...

We had a SUPER busy weekend but it was a great one!  Saturday we spent the day with Mindy and then took Madi to the Mayan.  She LOVED to divers and the atmosphere.  Derrick and I remembered why we hadn't taken her there yet... we don't like their food.  It was fun to watch Madi though so it was worth it I guess.  We want to take her to the Rain Forest Cafe.  She would go NUTS there! 

After the Mayan we headed to Orem for the annual Baum Family Christmas party.  It was great to see everyone.  We had to leave before Santa came and I was bummed about that but my cousin got married Saturday so we went to her reception.  She looked amazing!  I didn't get a picture of her and I wish I had.  It was a little weird to think she is old enough to be married because I can remember babysitting her as a baby.  Man I feel OLD! 

 We spent the night at Christopher and Annie's.  We always have fun with them and enjoy the time we are able to spend with them.  Early Sunday morning we drove to Payson for the blessing of my newest cousin, Ava.  And, I failed to get a picture of her too.  (What a slacker am I?!?!) 

 Madi was BEYOND exhausted and had a complete meltdown but still refused to nap.  She loved the piano, even though they were off. 

After a brunch we decided it was time to head.  We got in the car and Madi cried for about 30 seconds and then she was OUT!  The poor kid was drug around all weekend and was just so tired.  We stopped to see Tiffany's place, dropped Chris and Annie off and then headed home just in time to get to tithing settlement.  After that came the home teachers and after that... we finally got to sit down and breathe! 

We had a wonderful weekend full of family and friends and we are glad for the time we had to spend with them.  I love the holiday season and that it allows "excuses" to see our wonderful family that live so close but yet so far.  We wish we were closer to everyone down there and that we were able to visit more often.  We are excited for Nicholas and his family to get here and that we get to spend some time with them over the holidays.  We have really missed them since they moved to WA.

Our ward Christmas party...

Friday night was our ward Christmas party.  We had such a great night with the friends in our ward.  We ate yummy food and watched a program that was written and directed by one of Madi's FAVORITE babysitters, McKinley (her other is Megan, McKinley's sister).  She casted the play with kids from our primary.  They had great props and a beautiful script.  McKinley is only eleven but it was one of the best programs I have seen.  Of course since I am in the Primary and I adore all those little kids it made it that much more special.

The gym was decorated so cute!  Thank you Stacie, Ammon, Emily, Matt and anyone else who helped to make it such a great night!

Madi made a new friend.  I should have got pictures but didn't even think about it.  There is the cutest little boy a few months younger than her, Bronson, that she played with.  She is so social!  I love it.  She kept playing with his hair.  He has a head full of curls.  I told his mom it was because she's jealous!  Her mullet is coming in nice!

With Madi off playing it gave me a few minutes to snuggle with Vivianne, one of Liseanne's adorable twins.  They were born just before Thanksgiving.  It makes me anxious for baby to come.  I was surprised that Madi wasn't at all jealous.  She did come over to see and got up on my lap and softly touched her hand and then got back down to play.  She is going to be such a goos big sister!  I am so very blessed to be her mom! 

Hide and seek...

One of Madi's most favorite spots to play (other than the drawer below the oven) is the empty cupboard in our armoire.   

 She loves to climb inside and then she shuts the door and plays peek-a-boo.  Sometimes she will leave it open a crack and will look out through the crack to see if I'm watching her.  She gets the biggest grin if I am.  It is so cute!

My little one is getting to be so big!  She loves to explore and is always on the go. 

A lot of FIRSTS...

We had a great weekend and a wonderful start to the week.  It was one of those weekends that we didn't have anywhere that we HAD to be so we just did what we wanted.  It ended too fast, but they always do!

Madi adores her daddy and always wants to play with him or be held by him when he is home.  Saturday they were playing on the couch and were so cute so I had to get out the camera.

Madi knows her facial features and she loves to point to them and say them.

Madi LOVES her baby dolls and carries them just about everywhere.  She is such a good little momma!

Lately Madi has started putting her hand over her mouth when she laughs and when she cries.  My favorite is when she cries because she makes it seem SO dramatic! :) 

Sunday morning Madi wanted to sit on a chair.  Derrick got her all situated and then pushed the chair around the table.  She thought it was great and has wanted to do it a few times since.

Madi went to nursery for the first time on Sunday.  She is officially old enough but she is distracting the primary kids and it's Derrick's month to conduct in EQ.  After some convincing from the other ladies in the presidency, I brought her to nursery.  She LOVED it.  They said she did great!  Yeah for nursery!

Last night Madi went to the bathroom door and kept knocking on it.  She wanted to go in for something so Derrick opened it and followed her in.  She went to the toilet and pointed.  Derrick asked if she wanted to go potty and she nodded yes.  She didn't actually go, but this morning before her bath I sat her on again and she actually went!  I am so proud of her!  I gave her a Tinkerbelle sticker for going potty in the toilet.  It is still a little early to start potty training but maybe this is a sign that she will be easy.  (A girl can hope, can't she! :D)

Some of her other first: She said CHOCOLATE and THANK YOU and she stood by herself twice yesterday and did great until she realized she wasn't holding on to something.