Friday, July 22, 2011

Seven now Eight

DSC_0843I cannot believe my little #2 is closer to one year old than to being a newborn. More than that I cannot believe how crazy this year have been and my lack of keeping a record about this little doll. There is so much to remember in the first 8 months!

DSC_0164Maddie is such a joy.  She will smile for almost anyone, though sometimes she smile then turn into me and cuddle… a little bit of shyness I presume.  Her smile makes me giddy inside and others have commented on how she just makes you feel happy.  A genuine happy spirit. DSC_0732Her eyes are a Hazel green and always full of wonder and happiness.  I could stare into them all day. She has fuzzy blonde hair and skinny mini arms and legs.  Her mouth, as I said, smiles at everyone and I love the way her top lip curls under on the sides.  Her tongue is also a feature of hers that we know well as it is out most of the time.DSC_1416Madelyn waves with her right hand by sticking her arm straight up in the arm, curling her hand, but sticking her pointer finger straight up. She also gives a big “eh!”  She signs “all done” by waving her arms and responds to us saying, “so big” by putting her arms straight up in the air.  “Dada” was her first word besides, “eh” for “hi.”  “Mamamama” is a regular in her vocab, but mostly when she is hungry…. I know where I stand.  She was saying “nanana” today, perhaps for Anna?DSC_0676She LOVES Mia, watches her with awe and reaches out to pet her all the time.  She even helped me hold Mia’s leash on our walk … which didn’t last long as it ended up where everything else goes, in her mouth.DSC_0818Baby sis is content to just sit and play, or watch Big Sis. She lights up when she sees Anna.  They have the cutest sisterly bond which is so fun to see.   She loves anything soft like stuff animals and towels  Maddie is pushing from her bum to her front with her knees, perhaps she’ll be crawling soon. She is easy going unless she NEEDS something, then she is a ticking time bomb.

DSC_0263Just like Anna, Maddie loves music.  If she is fussy in the car I will turn up the “kid music” for Anna and Maddie will quiet down and sing along.  She thinks it is hilarious when you sing and use her arms for actions. DSC_0679 (2)She is finally putting herself to sleep, with just a little bit of fussing.  Which is SOOO nice. DSC_0786Her favorite foods are vegetables especially squash, sweet potatoes, green beans and peas. Fruits seem almost too sweet for her and I have to mix them with rice cereal and formula. She still rarely will take a bottle, sippys are okay, but her favorite way to drink is from a straw.  Mads is a quick nurser, but she is constantly moving the whole time, kicking, pulling my shirt or hair and forget nursing if any one is around.   (side note: Anna came and gave her a toy while I was nursing yesterday, I said to her, “she is trying to eat” and Anna replied, “it is for her to hold so she doesn’t pull your shirt or scratch you!”  Such a good big sister!!)DSC_1347Anna calls her Mads, little munchie, baby sis and Maddie Janers. DSC_0797I love her giggles and kissing her cheeks, It is a joy to have her with us!  DSC_0845

Sunday, July 17, 2011

The Fairy Door

Our new “Layton home,” as Anna now calls it, has a FAIRY DOOR!!! We enjoyed seeing them around Ann Arbor, Michigan while we lived there and now we have our very own!!!

Anna had ME color a picture for them and we left if out for a few days by the door.  (Those Fairies took a while to realize we had invited them in.)  But today they left Anna a little sucker treat! We are so excited to have these fairies know where we live!!! It will be a fun year.  Next up… decorating the door and making it more inviting.

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P.S.  Yes, our fairy door resembles a doggie door, but let’s be honest Mia won’t be using it.  Also, please disregard my decoration station aka place I have put everything that I haven’t decorated with yet.

Little by Little

This is my theme for the last month.

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LITTLE BY LITTLE I WILL …

Pack up and clean my home in Modesto

Find a place to live

Say goodbye (or I like to just say “see you later”) to good friends

Say hello to family and friends

Clean up our rental home in Bountiful for over 100 hours

Find out more and more information on our previous renters and their criminal son.. that is one for the books!

Unpack into storage and live in 2-3 places

Find a sense of structure and routine

Unpack in my new home

Find where something I need is

Decorate

Help my two daughters get over high fevers

Plan for new activities, preschool, vacations, etc.

Get back up on my slalom waterski

Play with my dog

Enjoy my mountains again

Decorate

Garden

Loose weight

Get to know new neighbors and ward

Get back into blogging

Catch up on record keeping

Enjoy everyday with my girlies and husband

(P.S. The photo above is a picture from my bedroom window… so beautiful!)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Best Surprise Party Ever…

I “hosted” my own Surprise party last week. Kind of. 

How to do it?  Plan an event, like watching So You Think You Can Dance, and invite friends, expecting that between book club the previous night and Scrapbooking the following night, that you might have one or two show up. If no one shows up, it is okay because you are packing your house for a big move anyway and don’t mind if you have to watch the show alone.

Yeah, I was planning my typical get together which I have done for the past few years with those who were interested, and thought I would make it an open invitation to any of my Modesto Friends.  Then sneaky Leah and the others decide to make it a surprise party for ME! Complete with a table full of goodies (wish I would have gotten a picture), balloons, a poster and a “we love Heidi song.”  I opened up the door for a COMPLETE surprise, 15 girls lining my front path!! (Then a few others joined later).  I was shocked (2 minutes earlier I was gearing up to start some more packing, thank goodness they freed me from that!)

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It was an awesome night. I felt VERY loved and grateful for my time here in Modesto.  The women I have met are amazing. They range from newly married to having kids in college.  Among them are AMAZINGLY creative SAHMs, a caterer, a marketing director, a hairstylist,  a professional ballerina, a school teacher, scrap bookers, book club enthusiasts, Twilight fans, Lawyer, nurse, and decorator, home décor refinisher (cannot think of what else to call her), and many other creative talents. 

DSC_1350I have learned that no matter what age you are, girls nights are fun and very refreshing…and these ladies are the best at planning!  They do once a month scrapbooking, birthday lunches, book clubs, movie nights, dinner nights, and incredible showers (including my own baby shower).  I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time!! I love that I can be myself, show up at 10:00 P.M. in my jammies and laugh the night away.

I will miss my Modesto Women! Thanks again for surprising me and making yet another fun GNO!

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Monday, May 30, 2011

Big Sis in 2008 and Little Sis in 2011

Yep they are sisters! Can you tell who’s who? The both have their own looks, but definitely some similarities (especially the dress). (:


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Both love and hate tummy time. I remember Anna getting stuck in the corners of that thing, Now Maddie does it too!


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They both think I am the coolest Mom…. (and enjoy sticking their tongues out)


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P.S. Anna has a elephant and Maddie has a giraffe. (:

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Maddie Janers at 6 months

DSC_1183Hi, I am the second child and my mommy seems to be a lot busier today than she was when my sister was born.  There are not many posts about ME!  SO I am doing it myself, impressive huh? DSC_1181

I just turned 6 months!!  I am the happiest baby, okay MOST of the time. My smile can make anyone melt!  I am just 14 lbs. 6 oz. and 26 inches long.  My mom was worried about me last week , but as long as I am gaining, as little as I am, the doctor isn’t too concerned.  I am still 15 percentile for weight and 25 for height. I love waking up in the morning and kick like crazy when my family comes to get me.  I have been “snacking” ( obviously I am not a big eater yet) on a little rice cereal and fruit.  So far I think it is a little weird, but I like it when I can hold the spoon and get really messy! Speaking of holding, I grab and grab anything in site and put it in my mouth. I roll all around, I can arch my back up further than seems possible, and I like to sit, but my back gives way most of the time, so I need help.  I can talk up a storm and tell cool stories.  I also LOVE music, I sing along with my sister in the car. I hate taking naps, I usually just get a cat nap and call it good.  But I sleep well at night especially with my pink blanket! I hate bottles for eating, they are much more interesting to chew and my mom’s milk is MUCH better.  I still just play with Binky's as well, I must have my Mom’s strong tongue (like her dentist says).  My thumb and toes taste good a lot of the time as well.  My gums are getting hard, but no teeth yet. My eyes still cannot decide what color they are, they are a hazel green/brown.

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I love my big sis and think she is the coolest, she can be a little overbearing at times, but that is okay.   I love looking out the window when my diaper is getting changed and I love looking at myself in the mirror.  (I am hilarious! AND cute! ) I love my dog, Mia, and think other animals are funny.  I am a Daddy’s girl and a  flirt.  I am still pretty particular about things, but I am the youngest Princess here so I feel like I am entailed to be!(: DSC_1176  DSC_1178

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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Late Night Frog Adventure

No we don’t live in the Bayou, but some nights it sounds like it.  There is a main street right behind our backyard and along the main street there is a canal.  One in which the frogs like to play, but only at night.  One jumped out in front of me when I came home late one night after a GNO movie night.  And another appeared the other night.  Who knows where they hide during the day?!

After a day of not much attention from us, I went out to throw some toys to our dog, Mia.  I almost stepped on the little guy below.  It was 10:30P.M. Anna had just gotten in bed (we had a fun late night after a LONG nap during the day) and I called her outside. Dave was gone to a meeting and came home to us checking this frog out.   The Frog was scared or stunned, didn’t move until Mia started checking him out.  She was scared.  Anna loved it.

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