Dancing on the Table

Crazy Girl

Being pouty because I wouldn't let her climb up on her table...this is her new favorite thing to do...my fault, because I let her the other morning after we talked to Paul on the phone. She was so excited that she was dancing on the table.

Talking to daddy..cutest face and expressions.

Beautiful day and a little spring fever

It was such a gorgeous day a few days ago and I really was getting spring fever! I had the windows rolled down and was just enjoying the sunshine and driving. It was so beautiful with the sun and the background of snowy mountains, that I to take a few pictures.
This is really a moment here in SLC in the winter....look how clear it is! No inversion over the valley at all! This is a rare treat. I just had to capture it. Horrible pic, I know, but I was driving at the same time...shhh...don't tell anyone.
Driving home.
Love this drive/view!

Sunday at Grandma Penny and Paps house

Madilyn had a great time with her Grandma Penny and Pap last Sunday. She helped Grandma feed the birds
Took a walk to visit the horses.
Really studied how to feed the birds, so that she can help next time. She loves watching the birds on the feeders. It is really cute.
She also tromped around in the snow with her big boots. She carried her "daddy" book with her the whole time. Since Paul has been gone, she has had to take this book everywhere with her. It has been her surrogate daddy for the past few weeks. I think it is adorable :)

A little blurry, but way to cute!
Finding "treasures" all over my parents yard.

Fun day at the park with Grandma Joan

Madilyn made some new friends while we were there....a group of girls that were probably 8 or 9 years old. They were sitting in a circle and Madilyn just walked up and sat down in middle of their circle and said Hi, then said "play" over and over. She really, really wanted to play with them. She cried when I picked her up when it was time to go! She is such a social little thing :) She really needs a bro/sis, so I am really glad that we have one on the way!

Here I am at 18 weeks along with #2

It is a bad self portrait, but with Paul being gone, I just have to make it work! I am trying to teach Madilyn how to take pics, but she is just not tall enough :)
I am happy to be in my 2nd trimester and I am feeling really good now. I am just pretty exhausted by the end of the day, but that is to be expected. Everything is going well this time so far. My next Dr. Appt is March 13. I also have my ultrasound that day too. I am very excited for that! We might find out if it is a boy or a girl...but maybe not, we'll see.

Happy 18 months Madilyn!

Today, Madilyn is 18 months old and it is so hard to believe! My mom was right, time goes by faster and faster every year.

As for Madilyn, she is really in the midst of toddlerhood. She is so grown up in some ways, but still such a baby in others. She loves to do things herself, but she also asks for help when she needs it. I love that about her. She is so happy and enjoys playing and trying new things. She is happiest when she is outside exploring. Winter has not stopped her at all. She loves to walk the paths at the park and pick up snow. She loves saying "Hi" to everyone she meets. She also loves to tell people that I am her mama. It is adorable. It is like she is saying "Hi, meet my mama and me"...too cute. She loves to be out and about. She is really doing well with talking and understanding what I am asking of her/or telling her. She loves books and we read about 20 or so a day. Sometimes it is the same 5 books over and over again and sometimes it is all different ones. Just depends on the day.

She sleeps very well at night. Usually about 12 hours. Naps, on the other hand, are a different story. I am really lucky if I can get her to stop and take one. My mom says that I was like that, so go figure :)

We are so lucky to have Madilyn in our lives and can't wait for what the next 18 months brings!

"snuggle"

Madilyn is really attached to a blanket that we call "snuggle". She is in love with the thing and drags it everywhere. The thing gets SO filthy and stinky. It is so hard to get it away from her to wash it. It is usually a 2 person job between Paul and I to get it in the laundry room without her seeing it and then distracting her for an hour while we wash and dry it. This morning, I had to go it alone, since Paul is away for work. Well, I couldn't pull it off and she found out. So, I showed her how "snuggle" was "swimming" in the water. She thought that was cool and was okay with it. Then when it came time to put it in the dryer, she followed me in. I told her that "snuggle" was going for a ride to get dry. She was okay with it for a few minutes, but then she burst into tears. It had been too long since she could hold it. Luckily, I got her involved in coloring and she forgot again.
Soon, they were reunited and she was a happy girl again.

Paul, we both miss you in so many ways and are counting down the days until you come back to us.

Valentine's Day

I was surprised to get a knock at the door on the Friday before Valentine's Day. It was Paul's dad with 2 dozen tulips and a card from Paul!!! I was really surprised and excited. Thanks babe for surprising me from 1/2 way around the world :) The flowers looked a lot better than this when I first got them, but I didn't take a picture until this morning! I wanted you to see them Paul. They really brighten up the table.
Here is Mad on Valentine's morning. I had a little bag of goodies in the hall outside her room. She immediately saw it and ran to it and ripped everything out! She loved this big sucker, but she obviously didn't know what end to put in her mouth! I haven't let her eat it yet.
We spent most of the day at my parent's house.
We decorated heart sugar cookies. Madilyn loved decorating them (and sneaking little treats and frosting too). She was really good at putting the decorations on. We were really impressed.

she got to try her first M &M that day.
The finished product.
Then it was time for presents. We go big for Valentine's in my family because it is my mom's favorite holiday.
Madilyn got a "monga" and she pulled that out of the bag first and kissed it. It was adorable. She is definitely in love with monkeys. You can see my prego belly in the background here....I am really showing now.
This pic is for Paul. I just wanted you to see the cute things she got.

We went to Paul's parents house for dinner that night, but I forgot my camera! We had pizza and a heart shaped rice krispy treat cake. It was delicious. Madilyn was spoiled with more gifts. She got jammies and the cutest Elmo book about sleeping over with Grandma and Grandpa. Too cute.

We had a great day, but we had one big thing missing.....

So much snow they need a backhoe to manage it!

The other day, Mad and I were playing and we heard a very loud sound. It startled Madilyn, so I went to the window to check it out (so did Madilyn)....
I loved this expression that she gave after seeing the big "truck"
This is what we saw coming down our street.
Madilyn loved watching it, but was a little afraid of it at the same time.

I am so ready for the snow to stop and for winter to be over with!

"Helping" me email daddy

Little Obsession with Elmo and Sesame Street

Is this a "zoned out" look or what?
I really didn't want Madilyn to get obsessed with TV, so I am really trying to only let her watch 2 episodes of Sesame Street a day MAX. She absolutely loves it and talks about Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar, Grover, Cookie Monster, etc as if they are her friends. I don't know how this show does it, but it really draws kids in! I even remember watching when I was little and even recognize some of the same people on the show. At least it is educational right?

For Paul...because he is far far away right now

and probably really missing this face.....
and this one....
maybe this one?
and of course this "innocent" one.
but mostly this one
we have such a beautiful little girl
She is silly...this is a self portrait..haha. Reminds me of the pics you take babe!!!
sneaky little munchkin
a little mischievous maybe..
She has had your boots all over the place. She loves trying to walk in these things. I think they weigh as much as she does. I think it makes her feel more connected to you (Paul) while you are so far away.

More of our beautiful girl


Madilyn keeps asking about her daddy (like she does several times a day, even when Paul is home, but just at work for the day) and I tell her that daddy is in the airplane. This makes her happy. She always smiles and makes the motion and sound of an airplane with her hand. She tells everyone and everything that her daddy is in the airplane by doing that hand motion and sound. It is adorable. When we hear a plane overhead, she points up and says daddy and smiles. She is such a smart little thing.

We miss you babe and are very glad that you can look at our blog while you are away. Can't wait until you get home :)