One line - Two line, Red line - Blue line

However they are read - this one said POSITIVE. We're due in January!

My Punishment

As a first time Mom, I've really created some terrible sleep habbits for Maddie - that I am now (11 mos in the making) trying to break. She has started fighting bedtime, so Rob suggested that we put her in her crib and let her cry herself to sleep. I know that half of the moms out there are saying, "duh.." While the other half are saying, "Oh! How could you?" Well - either way, we're trying it. Last night and tonight I sat in the office grinding my teeth - trying my VERY best to not go in and comfort her. Last night it took fifteen minutes, and tonight it took eight, but both nights she fell asleep on her own. But boy do I feel AWFUL when I walk in and find her sleeping like this. Last night her cheeks were still pressed in between the bars. Am I going to be sent to "Neglegent Mother's Limbo?"

The Scrunch

Splish Splash - She was Taking a Bath...

Yes, she's WAY too big for that tub - but when Rob's not around to offer two more hands, it's the only way.

For Rob

Yesterday was our three year anniversary, and although we didn't do anything very exciting - it was a great day. I've been thinking about how lucky I am to have someone in my life who loves, supports, and appreciates me. He is the funniest dad, and has the most amazing relationship with Madelyn - she cried yesterday when he left for work. She adores him and so do I. Thank you Rob for making my life so blissful. Every day with you is a blessing - you're my best friend and my hero. Happy three years, babe - I love you!!

She Speaks

Maddie has learned her first word - besides Mama and Dada. Every morning we get up and wave "bye-bye" to Rob when he leaves for work. She's been practicing the B sound for quite some time, and as Rob was leaving yesterday she blurted out, "Buh Bye Dada." Now, putting together a somewhat sentence was quite the accomplishment - SO I THOUGHT. But apparently - while I was picking up my niece Sydney yesterday, my other niece Abby, taught her an even better word. And although I have yet to hear Maddie say it, I'm sure it's accurate. I mean, what better a third word that Gardener? So there you have it folks: Mama, Dada, Buh-Bye, and Gardener.

Circus Freaks

Yes, that's what I felt like with a baby in Vegas. In Utah, having babies is the trendy thing to do - but once you leave the state, you might as well be carrying a monkey. Everyone stares at you like, "What IS that small creature?" They then stop everyone they are with and say, "Can you see that? What do you think that is?" This is followed by the part where they walk over, grab Maddie's hand, and begin telling us about how they actually HAVE seen one of these things before, and that it's possible that there may be one in their family tree somewhere.
It was actually quite endearing, and Madelyn LOVED the attention - it's just funny how different things are outside of Utah (but I think we ALL knew things were a bit odd here...)
Anyway, here's my cute little Monkey

Viva Las Vegas

Never a dull moment. Well, except the two days that Maddie and I spent in the hotel while Rob worked. But other than those two dull days, never a dull moment.

A Fish out of Water

Madelyn had her first swimming experience while we were in Vegas - to say the least, she wasn't a fan.

The Dream

Last night Madelyn was up a hundred and one times coughing. And now that I'm a mom, my spidey-hearing has kicked in, so I was up one hundred and one times as well. Somewhere in between coughs, I managed to get into dream mode - and this is what I came up with:
Rob and I are staying at my parent's house for some sort of vacation when my dad mentions that they're thinking about "down-sizing" and finding somewhere else to live. Within five minutes of this, we have a buyer. Not just any buyer - but a family that I used to babysit for back in Chicago - 7 kids. (Mom - Dad and anyone else who remembers - it was the Warners.) In my dream, I was laying in bed with Rob telling him how sad I am that the house was going to be sold - and that I am sure that all the furniture will be ruined by these seven kids. At that moment my Dad comes in and says he needs to talk to Rob and I. He announces that they've been planning on moving the family into our house. My parents will take the master bedroom - Rob, Madelyn and I will get the second bedroom - Greg and Mandy will get the office, and Sarah will sleep in the laundry room. All of us will be paying rent to my dad. He then pulls my little brother Johnny in and tells him that he'll have to find a place of his own..but that won't be a problem, because Johnny (and this is my favorite line) "has some sort of future."
In my half conscious state of waking up, I felt no relief, and no concern, I just remember thinking..."well, at least Johnny's got something going for him."

Home is Where the Zoo is...

I think i took about 150 million pictures while we were in Indiana for my brothers wedding - so forgive me for the several posts that are yet to come. A lot changed when my parents moved from Chicago to Indiana, but I think the most noticable thing is the abundance of animals on my parent's property. Just as a side note - only one of these animals is REALLY their pet - the rest just sort of showed up.

Who says it's not easy being green?

These pictures of my parents house makes my "do do do looking out my back door" post look a bit silly. I can't believe how green it is - I'm already homesick! I love the picture of Johnny and Rob fighting with the oars. Rob didn't realize what a great shot he had at my Dad until he saw the pictures.

Not One More Bite

Easy Like Sunday Morning

What the...?

It's amazing to me how fast kids move. I was feeding Maddie when the screen door swung open. I got up, walked across the room, closed the door - and by the time I got back (less than 10 seconds later) she looked like THIS! She had enough time to grab the jar, put her hands in it, shove hands in mouth, rub hands together, spread on arms, rub in hair, and then ditch the evidence.. she chucked the babyfood onto the floor. I guess it's true: never turn your back on the ocean.