Weekend Recap

After a great weekend with friends, our house has finally caught up on sleep and are back on schedule. We had a mini vacation to Ruidoso and we had a blast!!!

We even got a little bit of snow on our last day there.

Friday afternoon we headed to Lubbock to drop off the dogs with my sister. She tried to get us to leave Madeline with her as well, but I told her it was important to see how well she took care of the dogs before we dropped off the kid! haha

Three families met up in Lubbock for the road trip. Mike told me all week I had to limit our "cargo" because there would be other stuff from everyone else to put in the Excursion.....good thing we have a big vehicle because when we go any where it is F.U.L.L. with all of the baby stuff, 2 large dogs and their beds and pillows, plus our stuff it doesn't take long to fill the truck....

We managed to get 4 adults, three little kids, a baby and all of our luggage plus food in the truck! Good thing Mike doesn't need to see out the back window! ha!

We meet up with the Major family in Ruidoso for a low key weekend. It really turned out to be more of a girls weekend, but the boys didn't mind too much.

The kids had a blast together and Madeline enjoyed all of the big girls taking care of her. They even helped her walk around some and know she is walking all over the place!!!!!!

It was sad to leave Ruidoso and was way tooo short, but we enjoyed ourselves. I miss those girls! We have known each other since junior high and became good friends in high school.

Although we live in different places (Lubbock, Amarillo and Abilene) we all managed to stay close and never miss a beat. We might still act like we are in junior high! ha!

Adios Pool!

When we were house hunting we came across our current home. We looked at it on a Sunday afternoon for the first time. It was pretty much what we were looking for 3 bedrooms, two baths and plenty of room for us to grow. The only drawback was the underground pool that probably was original to our house. We loved the house...it was made for entertaining, something we both love, it also had a sunroom, an added bonus because it was not on our original "want/need" list. However the upkeep of the pool would be expensive and it wasn't it great condition either. Finally after several days had past we decided to look at the house again. It was definitely was one of the best and it just felt right. We figured we could do with the pool part later. Our first summer in the house we tried the pool out and quickly decided we would never own a pool unless we could afford to pay someone to clean and deal with the upkeep, especially if there is a large elm tree next to it!

Here is the original backyard.

After looking into several options we decided we would fill in the pool. The work consisted of a lot of man hours and hard work! Thankfully I found out I was pregnant at the beginning of this project and lucked missed out on all of the hardwork. Darn! :) I don't think Mike minded too much, he played with a lot of new toys!

We had lots of help from our families.

However, this weekend I participated in the fun!

Madeline joined me in the fun! I think she liked the tractor.

Not long after I gave Mike the keys to the tractor, he decided to leave his mark in the neighboring fence. Thankfully his daddy came to the rescue and fixed it up!

All of the rocks and weeds we removed from the yard.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. After two long years we can finally say we have a backyard! HOORAY!!!! We still need some topsoil, but we will be planting grass soon and Madeline will have a yard to play in and a place for her swing set!!!

Never thought it would loook soooo good!

Best Job Ever

When we first found out we were pregnant we didn't have a plan for where the new baby would stay during the day. I was still in school and had no clue what the future looked like for me. A new opportunity came up and I was offered a full time job. I was excited to get back in the working world and felt everything fell into place. When I went into labor 5 weeks early and meet this sweet little girl I started to panic. I couldn't imagine anyone keeping her, but me. I went back to work after staying home for two months. Our original plan of daycare fell through and God provided. Thankfully, Madeline was in a home by herself and I felt better about the situation. The closer it got to putting her into daycare we kept hitting a standstill. The daycare didn't have room for her and after much discussion between Mike and I we decided I would quit my new job and take care of our baby. It has been the best decision I have ever made! Although I LOVE missions and working in ministry I knew my heart was with this sweet little girl.
I never imagined myself being a SAHM and sometimes I still can't believe that I am. Sometimes it is hard being away from other adults and not having conversation with any besides a one year old, but I wouldn't trade this time with her for anything.

I have witnessed almost all of her "firsts" and am so grateful that we have made this work for almost a year. Although it wasn't my plan, it was the right Plan!

Plus... who can resist this cute face?

Cleaning House

Cleaning the house.....

Yes she thinks she has to "help" Mike vacuum...she always crawls straight to him and he picks her up. I think he has created this...he used to hold her when she was a newborn and vacuum, but a lot different when she weighs 5 lbs vs. 24 lbs!

We tried to let her play in her crib while we picked up her room, but once Daddy started vacuuming it was over!

Lazy Day.....

We had a pretty low key day around our house. Of course Madeline played like she always does, but she only took one nap today. I have been very fortunate to have a baby make it this far who takes two naps a day....but I think those days might be over. I still managed to get a shower and even get dressed for a dinner date with my favorite guy and little girl!

I managed to get our living room picked up during Madeline's nap time, but it didn't last too long after she was up...

as you can see those pillows are sooo much fun to pull off the couch

and roll around in...good thing she is so cute!

Bribery

I think it is ok to bribe your child sometimes....

with things like books.....

toys and crackers....

apple juice and water....

because it might make her use the potty!!!!

Madeline and I spent A LOT of time in here today! Today was her first day of potty training. After ten hours, 5 pair of training pants, lots of water

and juice, stories, and crackers she decided to potty for her daddy after 2 minutes of sitting on her potty!!!! But that is ok....because I am one happy mama!!

Here is what our big girl was up to while I was taking pictures...apparently

she wanted her hippopotamus out of the bathtub.

14 Months

Where has the time gone? It feels like yesterday we celebrated your first birthday. It is amazing how much you have changed in the last month! You are such a sweet little girl and it seems like you are looking more and more like a toddler....not so sure where my baby went. You are such a loving little girl and still just as sweet as ever!

You still love computers...

and you know who Jesus is...you can pick him out in your Little People Nativity!

You still act silly and talk a lot!

You have also discovered TV....and like to watch Veggie Tales in the car...

• You get excited when you hear the door unlock and crawl quickly towards daddy....and if he doesn't pick you up immediately you line him out!
• when you are out in public you start laughing to get attention, but once you get it you act shy and make your audience work for a small
• constantly look around at people and love other kids
• you are taking some steps here and there, but you have little desire to walk
• when you don't want to take a nap you start singing with me and give me kisses...so usually I let you get back up and play
• you have figured out how to throw good tantrums
• you like to take your socks off
• you climb up in your sport center and watch tv
• bottom molars are working their way through your poor gums
• give us hugs and sweet kisses (sometimes you stick you your tongue)
• you love on everything and really like your little people
• are fearless and have learned how to climb....which means you climb up on your bumpers and jump into your bed...on the ottoman, and anything possible
• very sweet, but you are testing us more when we say no! (I think you get this from your daddy!!) haha
• You have also learned to point and reach for things