18 Months

Height: 32.25 inches (2.69 feet)

Weight: 24 lbs, 12oz



Madelyn-

You are a VERY active girl. I don't think you sit still for more than 30 seconds all day. You are constantly moving, running, and getting into things. You are just BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

You have recently added some new words to your vocabulary and mommy and daddy think it's the cutest thing in the world when you say them to us.  Here are a few:

Elmo ("Melmo"), Tata (Tara), Hello ("Ewwo"), Love You ("Duh Do"), Yuck, Cheese, Hi, Tree ("Tee"),

Bird ("Dird") , Moon, Balloon ("Boon")

You have started waving to strangers and saying "HI".  You are definitely not shy!!!

You LOVE animals - especially dogs. You can't get enough of dogs....You start barking every time you see a dog...on TV, outside, in a book, etc.

You have started to be very picky about food. You just refuse to eat most things. I'm hoping it's a stage because you have always loved food!

You are SO smart and extremely determined. We are working on discipline and it's a little easier now that I know you understand. You love to test me and your daddy on every little thing and see just how much you can get away with. The thing you must know is I'm just as strong willed as you are! :-)

I have to laugh sometimes, because every time you get out of time out - you will smile, wave, pat my back and or come give us a kiss. It's EXTREMELY hard to be mad at you and not to laugh when you are being loving (and so stinkin' cute) while we are trying to discipline you.

This time last year you were so tiny! I can't believe how much you have grown in a year. I thought you were so big then!  I can't begin to imagine what you will be like a year from now. We love you so much! You are our pride and joy and are very special! There aren't words to describe the love we have for you!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Garrett spent the majority of the weekend working outside on our yard and putting Christmas lights on the house.  Here is the finished product...

Thanks for all of your hard work, Garrett!!!  The house looks GREAT!!!

A Visit With Santa

I knew we would be making a visit to the jolly old man sometime this month, so we've been telling Madelyn about Santa for a couple of weeks now.  She seems to really like the big guy!  She will even bust out with a little "HO, HO, HO" for you if she's in a really good mood.

So....after much preperation, we decided to take Madelyn to see Santa this past Saturday while we were at Dias Festivos Marketplace.  Garrett and I were both a little worried about how she was going to react to the big bearded guy, but she did much better than we expected.  She didn't cry, but she didn't smile either!!!  She pretty much just FROZE!!!  It was really cute! 

Although she didn't tell Santa all of her wishes for toys, babies, Elmo's and more, we did manage to get a few good pics!  Enjoy!

Thanksgiving 2010

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family in Waco this year.  I don't really have a lot to write about, but I wanted to post a few pictures anyway. 

Madelyn had her Thanksgiving party at school on the Tuesday before we left town and this is what her teachers had for all of the little girls to wear!  I thought Madelyn looked so adorable in this pilgrim bonnet and I was shocked that she left it on all day!!! 

I had Madelyn's Thanksgiving turkey dress made by a sweet lady who has a shop on Etsy.  I was so pleased with how it turned out!!!  She looked so cute!  I'm hoping I got it big enough so she can wear it next year as a shirt!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I can't believe it's already time for Christmas!!!  Where has the year gone?!?!?

The Motorcycle Incident

Many of you have been writing, texting, and/or calling to check on Madelyn, so I figured a blog post would be the best way to update you all on her progress.

As most of you know, Madelyn burned the bottom of her feet (primarily her right foot) on my uncle's motorcycle over the Thanksgiving break.  It was a complete accident and my uncle felt awful about it! 

When my uncle picked Madelyn up to take a picture on his motorcycle, her feet accidentally touched the hot muffler.  I happened to be outside taking pictures of her playing right before the incident happened, so I caught the actual moment she was burned on camera...

We took her to the emergency clinic and she was diagnosed with second degree burns.  The doctor applied a burn cream and wrapped her feet up with tons of gauze, non-stick padding, and sticky wrap.  We were told to keep her feet clean and wrapped at all times unless she was sleeping...that way they had a little time to breathe.  They also prescribed her a topical burn cream and Tylenol with a little codeine in it to help her sleep.  This is a picture of the burn about 4 or 5 days after it happened.  The big blister has already burst and her skin is starting to come off...

These pictures were taken right after she got out of the bath, so her feet are a little wrinkly!  The muffler not only burned her on the sole of her foot, but also got her toes.  You can see the blisters starting to form on her little piggies, too!

Thankfully, she didn't really mind the bandaging on her feet and was able to walk fine since the day it happened.  I think it hurt me and her daddy more than it hurt her.  It's so hard to see your baby in pain!!!

I took Madelyn to her regular pediatrician on Monday because she had a cold, and while I was there I had the doctor check her burns to make sure they were healing properly.  She said everything is healing beautifully and told us we could start letting her wear a sock instead of bandages all the time.  Here is what her foot looks like today...

MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better!!!  Thanks for all of your thoughts and concerns!  Madelyn is definitely one tough cookie!

A Day At The Park...

Garrett and Madelyn spent some time at a local park on Friday afternoon.  I have been feeling crummy with a sinus infection, so I just sat back, watched them play and took lots and lots of pictures!!!

They had so much fun together!  There was a little play ground area for toddlers and then a larger area for the big kids.  Madelyn could care less about the toddler playground....she wanted to play on the big stuff!!!  She loooved the humongous slide!  I think she went down that thing no less than 20 times!  By the time she was done, her hair was standing straight up on her head from all the static electricity!  It was so cute!!!



They even stopped to do a few chin-ups...

I absolutely love watching Garrett interact with Madelyn.  I think it's one of the sweetest things in the world to watch a father play with his daughter! 



First Day of School

We were up and at 'em early yesterday morning for Madelyn's first day of pre-school!!!  We've been on the waiting list for a few months, so I was so excited when they called last week to tell me they finally had an opening for her.  She goes to school two days a week for 4 hours a day...I think it's just the right amount of time for a little one her age.

She looooves her little lunchbox!  I thought she looked so cute carrying it into school.  She insisted on carrying it, even though it was pretty heavy! 

As Garrett and I walked her into her classroom, we were terrified she would freak out and not let us leave.  She couldn't care less about us though...she threw her little lunchbox on the floor and headed straight for the toys!!!

We were so proud of our big girl!  After visiting with her teachers for a few minutes, we quietly snuck out of the room and watched her through the windows for a few minutes.  She was having a great time and I was so relieved!!!

Madelyn did cry after she realized that we were gone, but I got a call from the director about an hour after I left and she said Madelyn was doing great!  All it took was a trip outside to the playground and all was well!

I came home and got a little workout in, cleaned the house, and did some laundry before heading back to pick Madelyn up.  I love having a little down time, but I missed her SO MUCH!  I couldn't wait to go get her, so I went back about 45 minutes early and watched her through the window again. 

She was happy when I picked her up and her teacher said she ate pretty good, played well, and most of all, loved playing outside. ha!  By the time we got home, she was dozing off in her carseat.  I took her straight to the bed and she took a 3 hour nap! 

I would definitely say our first day of school was a success!!!

Halloween Memories...

This was our baby one year ago....

And this is our baby girl now....

What a difference a year makes! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Tuesday & Wednesday's Activities

The weather here has been beautiful lately...HOT, but beautiful!!!  Yesterday, we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather so we spent the afternoon playing outside.  Madelyn absolutely loves being outside...she points out every single bird and tree, she chases Trooper around, and she has a blast kicking her ball.   

Unfortunately, this is what happens EVERY TIME we have to come inside after our fun filled time in the sun...

Yep....full on MELTDOWN!!!!  I'm not quite sure where this temper tantrum throwing child came from, but she is here and in full force!  Have we already entered the "terrible-two's" this early in the game???  Lord, I hope not, because I don't know if I'm ready for this stage yet!

Today was our normal Wednesday morning Toddler Time at the library.  The theme this week was Halloween.  All of the kids dressed up in their adorable costumes and I have to say, they looked so cute!!!!  I didn't feel like getting Madelyn dressed in all of her bumble bee get-up today, so I decided to just let her wear her little skeleton PJs and call it a costume!  Good thing her buddy Braden was there and decided to wear his Pumpkin PJs too!

Madelyn seems to really enjoy Toddler Time.  I think it's such a great opportunity for her to meet other children who are not in our normal playgroup and it's good for me to meet other mommies as well.   The story for today was about a Monster and all of his body parts, I think! (I was a little busy talking to Jill during story time...oops!). 

After the story was over, all of the kids got to do a little "ghost bowling" and their "bowling ball" was a cute little Mummy.  Madelyn didn't really get the concept of using the Mummy to knock over the Ghosts, but at least she gave it a shot!

As soon as ghost bowling was finished, we headed over to the arts and crafts tables and made our own little monster like the one in the story. 

The kids got to take their monster creations around and Trick-or-Treat at different stations throughout the library.  They handed out things like lollipops, cheese crackers, fruit snacks, and animal crackers.  It was so cute!!!

I think after today, we are ready for the big Halloween night on Sunday!  This will be Madelyn's first year to actually get out and enjoy the fun of Trick-or-Treating and I can't wait to watch her do it.  She will definitely be the cutest bumble-bee out there!