Madison Walking!

(Wow...I really need to work on more creative titles for my posts....)

I had to stay up late (yes, 10:30pm is late for me!) to make sure I posted this tonight!

I'm so glad I caught her on video...finally. I've been trying to for days...normally she just drops to her knees and crawls to me to try and get the camera.

Look at our baby girl go! :)

She's still a bit wobbly, but she practices all day, so I'm sure in no time she'll be running...maybe I should resume working out so I can get in better shape to run after her.

Notice Winky playing dead on the sofa...I'm pretty sure he did a motion-less happy dance when she decided to walk instead of torment try and hug him.

Yes, that is a Kai-Lan doll...we make her watch Kai-Lan instead of Dora. :)

Normally she wears clothes...but she was being punished (KIDDING) for managing to unscrew the top of her sippy cup a few minutes earlier and dumping water all over herself.

I don't know how to end this post...so...that's it. Night!

Hugging Winky

A video of Madison and Winky. She finally hugs him around the 40 second mark.

Poor Winky...I think you can tell he's annoyed, but he puts up with her SO well. We are so thankful he's so good with her.

I think I say "hug" only about 2,349,772 times.

(Yes, he got a treat after the video, too!)

Foto Friday - "Look, Mom, no hands!"

FINALLY...I caught Little Miss Sass-A-Frass on camera standing. She is holding/eating her burp cloth, but whatev...we'll take it!

She's been able to go from all fours to standing on her own without pulling up for a while now, but I could just never get it on camera...untill now!

Happy Weekend, All!

Father's Day

In Memory of Tom Smyser

Josh and I miss his Dad very much. We talk about him almost daily. We know what a great Grandpa he would have been for Madison. I know that when Madison is older, Josh will share many memories with her so she knows all about her Grandpa Tom.

I love this photo.

Classic Tom. He had nicknames for everyone. He called me, Meggo.

For some reason, I didn't take any photos last weekend. Boo on me.

We celebrated with Josh's family on Saturday with a yummy homemade meal at Tracy's. And Sunday, Josh and my Dad and brother went golfing, and then we went out to eat. Nothing major. But, we enjoyed spending time with family.

Josh is a WONDERFUL Father. I could go on and on and on...but I won't. Not today anyways. :) Seeing Josh care for, cuddle, and grow with Madison makes my heart burst with happiness. I absolutely love seeing the two of them together.

My Dad has taken to the Grandpa role very well. I see a special light in his eyes when he's with Madison. (I posted this picture on FB, but wanted it in this post as well.)

Anyways, I know this is late, but I hope all the Dads out there had a great day last Sunday!

Foto Friday - Bein' Silly

Ten Months

Our baby girl turned ten months on Monday...TEN! I did take her picture Monday, but was not able to get to this post until today because we've been busy, busy, busy. I really made it a priority to get this post up today though because she's been doing SO many new things that I don't want to forget!

I'm not even sure where to begin...well, pictures first of course!

I'm not sure when her fear of her Pooh Bear developed. But, she was not happy sharing the chair with him. I even gave her her brush, which she normally loves, to try and bribe her to be happy.

,

And, like any good Mom, I snapped her picture BEFORE consoling her and taking away the evil Pooh Bear.

Ok, onto some updates.

Madison has been standing and balancing on her own for a couple weeks now. She's pretty steady, and can stand for 30 seconds or so I'd guess. Just this last week she's learned she can get on all fours, and bring herself to a standing position without pulling up on anything! She's done that a few times now. She has taken a tiny step from the couch to Daddy once. And, I really think she'll be walking by her next monthly post. It's hard to get pictures of this girl these days. Especially when she is standing. Once she sees me and the camera, she plops down on her little bottom and crawls to me to try and get the camera.

Just last weekend she started really waving a bit more regularly. She still gives high fives to everyone though.

Just the past couple days she's been much more cuddly and lovey giving hugs and big open mouth sloppy kisses. This is the BEST!!!

Anyways, after the morning's picture torture session, I tried again...without Pooh, and this was the best picture I got.

Madison is still nursing 4 times a day, and eating 3 solid meals a day. She's pretty good with her sippy cup and self-feeding. I'm still feeding her some purees, but am trying table food with her here and there. I actually tried a couple different stage 2 and 3 baby foods, and she gagged, like a lot...so I think I'm just going to keep letting her try table foods. If she doesn't like something, she'll throw it on the floor. The doggies love her at meal times.

Some new foods she's had this past month are:

yogurt

cottage cheese

cheese

cheerios

mac n cheese

pizza crust

chocolate ice cream (of course - Josh was the reason for this, and of course she loves it!)

french fries

cheese quesadilla

watermelon (she did not like)

ground beef (she did not like)

chicken (she ate if a tiny piece was mixed in with her mac n cheese)

sucker (again, this was Josh, not me. Yes, I'm a fun-hater.)

She LOVES opening drawers and cabinets and pulling EVERYTHING out and creating huge messes. I can't wait until she learns how to put things away. :) I have a video of her pulling off all her books that I'll have to post sometime.

She clearly says "Mom" and "Ma Ma" now...although, she says them kind of randomly, like she says, "Mom," all the time when she's eating or about to eat. Sometimes she'll repeat them if I say them, sometimes not. I'm pretty sure she doesn't connect them to me, but I still LOVE hearing it. I keep working on "Da Da."

She kind of sings and does a little bounce dance or will wave her arms when Josh sings to her.

She still only has her two middle bottom teeth, and no signs of any new ones. I feel like I've been saying that for forever.

She's kinda got a temper. :) I think that's from me. Josh seems to think so anyways. :) She doesn't show it often, but if she's frustrated or not getting her way she'll make a mean grunt noise and ball her fists. It's kinda cute actually.

She loves people! I think that's from Josh and Grandma Tracy. When we're out and about, she smiles at everyone and loves to interact with them.

Madison showing off her "scrunchie" face. Silly girl. Apparently she decided to share her chair with him at this point.

She sleeps from about 8/8:30pm until 6:30am. And she still naps twice a day. Overall, she's a good sleeper now. I'm very thankful for that.

She will make a fake cough noise if you do it first, and she also does it when she hears me sneeze.

Josh told me the other day that she's not a baby anymore, she's a toddler. It made me sad. She'll always be my baby, right?!

When she wants picked up, she will crawl to Josh and put both her arms in the air. Daddy cannot resist it...how could you?! This reminds me...I'll have to get a picture.

How ADORABLE is this picture?!

Madison is growing and learning SO much everyday it amazes me. I'm trying my best to capture what I can with pictures, video, and this blog. The little stinker doesn't hold still for her picture to be taken and clams up once the video camera is on...but I will keep at it of course!

I'm so excited that we'll be celebrating her first birthday in just 2 more months! I better start organizing!!!

Patio Update

Ok, people. I know you've been on the edge of your seats waiting for this update. :)

Josh worked with our good friend, Ryan, a couple days during the week last week lay a bit more of the pavers.

Here they are leveling the sand.

Anyways, they ended up laying almost that whole quadrant that evening. I don't have a picture because I apparently became sidetracked and obviously thought a picture of Madison and me was more important.


Anyways, the work resumed last Sunday...when it was like 100 degrees out. Our other good friend, Rick (Ryan's brother) joined in. And, my Dad pitched in, too.

Ryan showed up a bit later. (Notice my Dad on the right...what a great supervisor!)

Almost done! Josh was just cutting the last few pieces of stone to finish up. (Again, notice my Dad...supervising again.)

All done! I felt really bad for the guys all day Sunday out in that heat. But, I did what any good wife would do...stayed inside in the air conditioning...hung out with Lindsay (Rick's wife) and made sure the guys stayed hydrated.

M and me on the finished patio!

Monday afternoon...my Dad returns to supervise. :) Josh began by tamping it...I think that thing just shakes the stone and levels them out or something...I'm sure Josh explained it to me at some point.

Dad then helped dump the special sand stuff while Josh swept it into all the cracks. Then, they just had to get it hose it down and get it wet, let it dry, re-wet, let dry, etc. for a few rounds...the sand stuff then kinda hardens...again, some process I'm sure Josh explained to me at some point.

A close up of the finished patio!

**We could not have done all this without the help of our friends and family. We are really thankful...especially since they helped in 100 degree weather last weekend! We know we are so fortunate to have great family and friends...they didn't even complain one bit! :)**

Still, we are not done. Again, by "we" I mean, Josh. :)

The fire pit has to be built and the yard has to be cleaned up. But, we're pretty happy with the progress so far!

Foto Friday - Silly Girl

Isn't she funny trying to drink from the bottom of her sippy cup?!

And, a second 'foto' because I realized I never posted last Friday!

Have You Seen This Piggy?

Madison LOVES this piggy/blankie.

She chews on him, holds him, and loves on him during naps and at night time.

She received it as a gift from one of my showers, and I honestly can't remember who gave it to us. I suck.

She has another blankie like Piggy that's pink and brown and has a lady bug instead of a piggy head, but she doesn't like it as much...she knows it's different. Of course.

Anyways, I looked online to find where to get another one (as a back-up), and I can't find it anywhere!!! The only tag on it says "Breathe Easy Baby."

I can't find it on Amazon.

I goggled "Breathe Easy Baby Pig" and came up with nothing.

I tried Ebay, and a USED one was already up to $35!

If you see one, please let me know!

Or, just cross your fingers that nothing ever happens to her beloved Piggy.

Thanks! :)

She Speaks!

Madison's official first word was, "num, num." She says it ALL the time and knows it relates to when she's hungry or is getting fed. I've tried getting her on video saying that, but haven't been successful. We figured out little chunker's first word would be related to food...she LOVES eating!

She said her second word today, "MOM!"

I was LUCKY to catch her on video. She did it a few times and when I realized what she was saying I grabbed my video camera. She says it great a couple times right in the beginning, and the rest of the video is me just being greedy hoping she'll say it again.

I know she may not (probably doesn't) relate it directly to me...but it MELTS my heart hearing her.

Gotta work on, "Da-Da" now!