DIY (w/ Fam & Friends) Memorial Day Weekend

I thought I'd give an update on our first DIY project at our new house.

Ready for photo-overload?! (Oh, and of course the quality of the photos aren't the best, but you get the idea....)

We started with this...an above ground pool had been removed....what to do with the yard and a path to 'nowhere??' We decided to add a fire pit and patio! Josh had kind of an idea of what to do, and I had no idea how to do this...sounds fun, right?!

Day 1:

My husband decided that a large bush/tree thing was in the way...I'm not so sure it was really an issue...pretty sure he just wanted to push it over with the bobcat.

Although we had a nice flat cleared area, we did need a bit more, so Josh got to work leveling it out.

My Dad helped to add the form where the fire pit will be.

Then they had to compact the new area Josh had dug up.

Then, the long, long, long process of adding rock.

Almost done! Talk about tiring work! Josh moved it all by wheel barrel.

Day 2:

After the storm on Sunday, Josh poured the concrete for the slab underneath where the fire pit will go. (G'pa Lou supervised.)

Then, G'ma Bev got to work!

Great job smoothing it, Josh and Bev!!! for the record, Bev was MUCH better at this than Josh. He left lots of lines and uneven areas....

Day 3:

Next, Josh laid a form for where he'd place the sand layer for the first section he'd pave. By this time, Ryan had joined to help.

Sand was all leveled.

And now...the fun part!

Daddy and his baby girl.

After all the pavers are laid, he'll build the fire pit. And, we have great plans for more additions, such as stone benches, built-in tiki-torch holders, a stone structure to hold the wood).

We decided it was kind of funny our first project was outside and kinda geared towards entertaining...since #1) I hate bugs and the 'bonfire smell' that overtakes your clothing and 2) We're kinda introverts who don't necessarily LOVE entertaining all the time.

However, Josh loves bonfires in the fall, and I love s'mores. So...that won us over.

I'm so thankful for all the help from our friends and family this last weekend! Tracy was over on Monday as well and helped carry the pavers for Josh. He will continue to lay the rest of the patio this week, so I will continue to take (bad) photos of the progress.

Do, I have the BEST husband ever or what? He works 50+ hours during the week, and spends his whole long holiday weekend working on a home project, too.

*Oh, and just for the record...I did mow the front of our lawn on Monday and helped move pavers with Tracy (besides caring for M of course)...I wasn't a complete lazy bum. :)

Like Mother...

Like Daughter.

Example:

Josh was holding Madison last week and desperately trying to get her attention. He kept saying her name over and over (she does know her name), and she kept avoiding eye contact and just looking around at anything and everything BUT her Daddy. It was funny. :)

Then he says, "You're just like Mommy...neither of you listen to me!"

LOL!

Foto Friday - Scrunchie

Pretty cute, no?!

She does this on command (usually)...all you gotta say is, "Madison, do scrunchie!"

Still gotta try and get it on video, she makes a funny noise with it, too!

Froggies on the Outside, Please

I asked Josh to put Madison's socks on her. I threw the socks at Josh just like the picture below, so all he had to do was slip them on her and I said, "Can you just make sure the froggies go on the outside."

*Easy, right?!?!?*

This is how he put them on her.

Inside out AND pulled all the up. The froggies are upside down. At least the froggies were on the outside...

When I saw them on her like this, I asked Josh what he was thinking...he truly thought they looked just fine.

I guess I should have clarified (?)...I just meant the froggies should go on the outside of her ankle...you know, so the froggies weren't facing each other. It's kind of hard to explain, so I guess I can understand how my directions confused him.

I should print this picture so he has a visual for next time.

Either way...I laughed...a lot.

I hope you do, too. :)

Foto Friday - Two Pics Today!

Just working on standing, standing, standing! She's actually stood by herself quite a few times for 10-20 seconds...I'll keep trying to get a picture of it.

The little girl is using the couch for balance...but still looks pleased with herself. :)

Foto Friday - Like Father...

Like Daughter.

So, they both have that "annoyed with Mommy and her camera" look down.

9 Months

Is my baby really 9 months...9...NINE...one less than 10...oh gosh...double digits in a month...ahhh!!!!

She started crying half-way through. I wouldn't let her get out of the chair, and she got mad.

So, the bribing begins. She was temporarily ok once I gave her the brush, and Daddy came in, too. (Don't let her fool ya...she started screaming right after this shot.)

She's about 20.5 lbs./28 inches. She still fits in her 9 month clothes, but I should probably stop jamming her into those (some sleeves are a bit short, and some pants are capris...hey...it's almost summer) and get some more 12 month stuff.

Every day I marvel in Madison's growth and development. I happily and over-joyously clap numerous times a day as she learns and perfects new motions, skills, and sounds. We're teaching her to wave, give high fives, and what "no" means. (It's hard telling her 'no' when she's doing something she shouldn't...she's so darn cute and she just stops what she's doing and smiles at you....usually. Sometimes she's start waving her arms and crying...an early sign of mini-tantrums....) She loves when people clap and when I sing 'patty cake' and clap with her, so we're trying to teach her to clap on her own, too.

She is cruising along furniture, walking behind her stand-up-walker toy, and even stands for a few seconds unassisted! It's amazing to watch that. She gets really excited once she realizes what she's doing, then falls on her little tushie and laughs. I'm trying to get her on video, but once she sees the camera, she stops what she's doing and crawls to me...so, we'll see...

She loves feeding herself. In fact, she'll eat bananas and (cooked) carrots as finger foods, but not if I mash them. I'm working on getting more finger foods into her diet...(besides puffs and crunchies)...I think I'm going to try pasta and cheese next week.

She loves her Daddy. (Except at bedtime...then she only wants Mommy.) When she hears the front door open and his keys drop on the table, she immediately stops what she's doing and crawls to the stairs to see him.

She hates having her diaper changed. Ugh. I hate her whiny attitude when I have to change her. She'd just rather be playing I think.

She enjoys going into this 'forbidden' area of our place...especially once she discovered the doggies' water bowl! She's trying to look innocent here.

She talks and jabbers a lot more...nothing recognizable or understandable...yet.

She's been sleeping WONDERFULLY this past month...no more middle of the night feedings. Yay! If she does wake, she usually puts herself back to sleep fairly quickly and without major crying. Still 2 naps a day.

She still nurses 4 times a day, and has 3 meals a day, too...I think the kid could eat all day if I let her. She has her 9 month appointment later this month, and I'm going to talk to the doctor about the weaning process...I've read a lot on-line, but just want her opinion, too. I'm very thankful breastfeeding worked out for M and I...especially with this economy...I'm lovin' that M's main source of nutrition is FREE!

Still only 2 teeth on the bottom. And no real signs of any new ones.

She always seems to be carrying something with her when she's crawling around or pulling up. She's got her Sophie with her here.

She can now go up stairs...but hasn't learned to go down...safely. So, we need to work on that.

Oh, and she makes this cute/funny face and scrunches her nose. She does it best at her Daddy's request. I'll have to get a picture of that.

Oh, and I *think* I finally chose the theme for Madison's 1st Birthday! I'm so excited. And NO, I'm not telling...yet... :) Haha. Yes, I know that's mean. :)

Happy 9 months to our baby girl!!!

Josh Is...

A Baby Whisperer.

Seriously. It kinda irks me. But, I LOVE it. :)

Example 1:

A couple nights ago, I told him he had to dress M in her pjs for bed. For the past couple weeks, when I go to change her diaper or dress her, she is the BIGGEST wiggle worm EVER. She waits right until I'm going to do a snap and then kicks so it usually takes me FOREVER and I end up attempting to hold her down with my forearm. I've gotten really fast at snapping her up in those pjs.

So, he agrees, and I leave the room. I wait for him to call for help, and when I don't hear a peep, I sneak a peek in the door. I'm expecting to see him struggling and getting frustrated. What do I see? M is just gazing up at him, smiling, and laying perfectly still as his fumbly man fingers take what seems like 5 minutes to get her all snapped up. Seriously. Not one movement. Just smiles for Daddy. WHAT?

I couldn't believe it. I asked him how he managed that. He told me I just told her, "Madison, Daddy has to get you in your pjs, so, just lay still, please."

I tried that the next night...it didn't work for me.

Example 2:

She woke up a few nights ago. Screaming. I mean screaming. I thought something was wrong. Josh said, she's fine. I'll go check on her. He does. She screams louder when he leaves...and 2 minutes later, looks around her crib, lays down, and goes back to sleep. 2 minutes. 2.

This is the case whenever she happens to wake in the middle of the night. It doesn't happen often, so when she did a few nights ago, it reminded me to post about it.

He says, "She knows Daddy means business. When I go in there, I lay her down, and tell her, Madison, it's time for night night."

This I know is true. She knows I'm more likely to give in.

Games with Dad. Of course it's a shooting game.

Yesterday, he says, "Tell your friends if they need help to call me since I'm the 'Baby Whisperer.' I gave him the biggest eye-roll ever.

Mother's Day

In memory of my Mom.

13 Mother's Days have come and gone since my Mom passed away. None have been easier than the one before. I assume it never will be "easier." I think about her daily...and even more now that I am a mother myself.

I love her and miss her and am so thankful for ALL the moments we shared...too many to share now, but hopefully over time I want to document them for Madison (and myself).

I am so honored to be Madison's mother. She has brought so much happiness and a pure joy into my life like I could have never, ever been prepared for.

She was so excited for Mother's Day that she woke up an hour early to see me. Thanks, M!

We had planned to go for a bike ride...the weather was beautiful! Too bad Madison HATED it and screamed the whole time and VERY loudly... so much that Josh and I had to turn back and drive down to Rudy's to meet the rest of the family. She didn't like the bumps...or the loud train that passed...or all the people staring at us. :(

I felt horrible...like, "Hi, Happy Mother's Day...I'm a great Mom...do ya hear my kid screaming her head off!!!"

All the Moms and Madison...4 generations!!!

(Before the ride.)

Oh well...maybe next year she'll like it more. :) Let's hope she starts liking going for rides at some point...that bike trailer wasn't cheap!!!

I hope all my mom readers out there had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Foto Friday - Tip Toes

Silly girl. :) Already trying to escape!

Doggie Update!

Madison LOVES Winky and Benny!

I'm not sure the feelings are mutual...

Winky

I think Winky just tolerates her. She constantly "pets" him - pulls his hair and ears - and has now started to use him to stand if they are both near each other on the floor...I still need to get a picture of that.

Madison tries to share her toys with Winky...and the last few days she's been "talking" to him, too! It's so cute!

But when he needs to escape her...he climbs up out of her reach...I suppose this will work...until she learns how to climb up on the furniture. But, he'll be safe for a while anyways.

Benny

And Benny...well, Benny typically avoids her. However, once he discovered she's a source of food...well, he's coming around to liking her a bit more now...

This is how it started a couple weeks ago.

Then he decided he should just camp out under her hair chair during her meals...I suppose he has the best view of any food she drops. Smart doggie he is.

Video

And, finally...a video. This was shot like a month ago (oops!) when she first started crawling. But, I thought it was cute, so enjoy! (I can hardly imagine the next video once she starts walking after them!)

The Mother's Day/Birthday Rule

I decided (the ridiculousness of) a recent conversation Josh and I had was blog-worthy.

My birthday is near Mother's Day. Depending on the year, Mother's Day is sometimes closer to my birthday than other years. Naturally, I had to inform Josh of when (and if) he could combine celebrating my birthday with this holiday.

So, here's my Mother's Day/Birthday Rule:

- - If my birthday and Mother's Day fall within the same weekend and or within a day or two of each other than combining is acceptable (this is what most often happens, lucky guy).

- - If my birthday is closer to a separate weekend than Mother's Day and 3 or more days later (like this year) than combining is NOT acceptable.

Easy-peasy, right?!

Future Mother's Day Dates

2011, May 8th - Do NOT combine
2012, May 13th - Can combine

2013, May 12th - Can combine

2014, May 11 - Can combine

2015, May 10 - Can combine

2016, May 8 - Do NOT combine

*Oh, and I reserve the right to change this rule at any time (especially if I want 2 presents on a given year where combining is acceptable). :)

Ok, in all seriousness, most of you know I don't even really care about my birthday...

I can't believe I was given the opportunity to be a Mother to Miss Madison. I love this little girl with all my heart and words cannot express how I feel about being her Mommy.

(Of course I manage to get a decent picture of her only when the background is all messy....)