Swimming

To help the slow month of January pass by Madelyn and I signed up for swim lessons. They are loads of fun! We go twice a week, and to tell you the truth they are the best two days of the week.

Madelyn just loves to swim, but hasn't quite picked up on any of the steps. She doesn't like splashing, kicking or the reach and pull technique. However, she does think its funny when I blow bubbles in the water....

She likes doing the Hokey Poky, AND she loves counting to 3 and jumping off the side of the pool!

28 Years Later

Wednesday night I had a meeting and Dan was going to put Madelyn down and then do a little homework in peace and quiet while I was gone. I left the house around 6:30 and drove over to the church. Little did I know while I was gone there was a different plan in the works. I guess this is what Dan thought I meant when I said, "All you have to do is rock her to sleep".

PARTY AT BEST BUY! I didn't have any idea what was going on, but turns out Dan and Madelyn had snuck out to Best Buy for a little shopping. When I got home from my meeting early, which didn't exist because it was really scheduled the following week, the house was empty and I began to have a mini panic attack. After convincing myself that there was no way they were at the emergency room, I calmed down and awaited their return. When Dan and Madelyn returned, they were a bit sheepish for being caught out of bed, but wouldn't let me get to the bottom of their shennanigans.

The next day was swim class and my birthday! We woke-up ate breakfast, left for swim and came back to take a little nap. When we woke-up from our nap, Dan had come home early from school to hang out with us. I convinced him it would be a good idea to let me open my gift before he had to go back to school. (And yes, we have incorporated our Christmas tree in our permanant interior home decor.)

Dan had me thinking that the first gift I unwrapped was from him. I opened it and thanked him for it before he revealed to me that he didn't know who it was from at all and only wrapped it up because he figured it was something for my birthday. Turns out he was right.
Thanks Aunt Andrea, I love it! Then he finally let me open my birthday present...

A new computer! I had no clue! I couldn't even guess what he could have gotten me. Completely shocked and amazed. I am one spoiled lady!!! Then after that he took me out to TGI Fridays where I was able to get an appetizer and a dessert. For those of you who don't know I love getting appetizers and desserts. I almost feel like that is all I ever need when I go out to eat.

Madelyn was also able to celebrate with us a little. She had graham crackers as an appetizer, bread as a main course, and sweet potatoes fries for dessert. She was in heaven. One of her favorite foods is sweet potatoes. Who doesn't love their favorite food fried? Fried Oreos, snickers, doughnuts, well you get the picture. Yes, Madelyn is officially American now! (Sorry Aunt Thresea)

Yes, I am wondering if our waiter will ever figure out how to take the picture. He counted to 3 and then just froze. I am not good at holding a smile, but this is as good as it gets!

Date Night

Saturday night I was getting the bug to leave the house. January is always a little bit slow. We got back from Christmas, cleaned, decompressed, and then there was nothing left to do but bowl! Bowling has been one of our most common date nights, and we haven't gone in about 8 months. We're horrible, but we have fun together. So we packed up the little tike and out in the snowy night we went. (Note the football in the car. An essential item in every roadside emergency kit!)

The bowling pins didn't have a chance when facing this 20 lb bowling ball.

Christmas Highlights

Let's start at the beginning. Madelyn's first airplane ride was a huge success. I planned and worried my little head about her screaming and crying the whole time, but turns out a mild mannered baby on the ground equals a mild mannered baby in the air. She was a great little traveler. Her favorite part was flashing the fight attendant smiles every time one would walk past. She found a few friends to flirt with, but for the most part she just babbled and played. Once our plane landed we had a little decompression time in the airport. Turns out everyone thought we were coming in at 3 and we landed at 1. After a few surprise "we're here" calls, we were able to snag a ride home from Grandma Shewey.

Christmas Eve.... There was magic in the air, and cookies in the oven. It was just a few more hours until I could start to open that big box in the left corner of the picture. I couldn't wait until I could figure out what Mr. and Mrs. Clause had hiding in there.

First we had our Christmas Eve program where I (Madelyn) got to play the babe born in Bethlehem. All of the girl cousins played Mary, and they did a very good job taking care of me. My cousin Jacob played Joseph, but with three Marys he turned up MIA for the pictures. I don't blame him, in a few more min. I turn up MIA as well. Turns out bed time gets in the way sometimes.

Its finally here! My First Christmas!!!! All the traveling and anticipation was worth it!!!

Madelyn couldn't be any happier then she was opening her big box!

Somewhere in the middle of opening my box Grandma talked mom into helping me! Grandma was getting a little excited to see what Santa had brought me.

My very own pink poka-dot chair. I love it!!!! Recently I have been sitting up to play. I love sitting more than rolling or crawling, this is just what I needed!

After the Christmas festivities we went over to Grandma Willcox's to open more presents and to have our traditional Christmas picnic. It was as always tasty!!

A little while later Grandma Shewey gave me a few lessons on the piano. She taught me the C scale, and told me to practice for 6 months. That is when I get lesson #2.

The day after Christmas we all decided to go and see the ginger bread houses at the Idaho Falls Museum. Don't ask me why, but we all match. A matching day always equals a picture so here we are sporting our Air Force Pride with a little New Mexican baby and a Red Grandma.

We do love our Alien shirt that Grandma gave Madelyn. If was perfect for our trip.

Just hanging out with Grandma in my new chair!

Over Christmas break Madelyn got a little ear infection. We went to the doctor and he gave her amoxacillin. One of the side effects to amoxacillin was bath time due to adverse effects of the drug. And who doesn't love a good picture of bath time.

Because of Madelyn's ear infection we were able to experience a little Christmas Miracle. Our plane was over weight and they asked for volunteers to give up their seats and fly on a later flight leaving out of Idaho Falls. We were so excited not to fly with an ear infection that I sent Dan running up to the counter to volunteer. The man behind the desk pulled a few strings and took an extra standby passenger just to help us stay for a few more days. It was AMAZING! After that we decided to stay with Grandma Willcox for a few more days of rest and relaxation.

Here we are re-cooperating! Madelyn is doing better then me at this point. She is learning how to blow air through a straw. Looks like spit wad prep to me.

Overall, we had a great time in Idaho! We love going home to visit family and loved ones. We caught a flight back on the 3rd of January, which was a little stressful because Dan had class the next day. But, with a fast Jeep drop off by our good friends in Chicago, and a great dinner in South Bend, we were able to make it to Dayton by 2:00am with no trouble at all. Madelyn was so sleepy from the flight that she slept all the way home (what a miracle)! We can't wait to see everyone again this summer!

Cookie Exchange

Today we are getting ready to go to Dan's work party. We were told it was a cookie exchange so Madelyn and I went to baking. We decided to make snowballs (or commonly known as Mexican Wedding cookies) for our cookie. Madelyn was a big help and I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of her first cooking experience. They didn't turn out very well, but if you look close you will see how much fun we were having. Surprisingly, the cookies turned out too!!!