Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Phil and I spent the evening downstairs in our basement tonight after eating our traditional meal of bagna cauda, the italian fondu delicacy that we have loved and looked forward to every New Year’s Eve for, oh, we’ll just say that it’s been a looooong time. We lounged, watching our tv show while Maddie played in the enclosed space that we created for her. ABCs and 123s and lots of colors in a large square on the ground for our little “Gobby” to run around on.

Oh, what a year it has been! I wasn’t really sentimental about it until Phil asked me what my favorite moment of 2013 was and I immediately answered: Madelynn’s birthday! I think back upon her first birthday party with so much happiness. My heart is filled with joy when I remember being surrounded by our friends and family and remembering Maddie’s reaction to us all singing to her in unison. It was just such a special moment! 

But, while that was THE moment of 2013 for me, I can’t forget the other milestones that I witnessed. Maddie’s babbling, crawling, WALKING (AH!!!), first tooth, the slow and steady growth of her hair, clapping, “gobble gobble”-ing, the excitement in her eyes as she sees our beloved dog, says his name, “Luka!”, and smiles when she sees the excitement in her parents’ eyes, the clapping while yelling, “ahhhhhh!”, so many wonderful times at the library, touching snow, visiting parks, dipping in the water, crying when feeling sand for the first time, chasing the kitty-cats….. How can I capture every moment in my mind? How can I ensure that I will remember it? 

Madelynn comes to me singing her favorite library-time song and I can’t help but think how timely it is….

“Tick, tock, tick tock…” she sings while rocking from side to side. 

I scoop her up into my arms (because I still can), rock her back and forth and finish the song, “I’m a little cuckoo clock. Tick tock, tick tock, now it’s almost TWELVE* o-clock.” 

Cuckoo! 

Happy New Year! 

*No lifting-of-the-baby-twelve-times was done during the writing of this blog. 

Sitting, Eating, Enjoying

Friday, December 6, 2013

We have had such a fun time the past couple of weeks! First of all, Thanksgiving was a blast! We had two Thanksgivings: what more could you ask for? 

The first one, was hosted at our house and my sister, Laura and her family, and my mom came over.  I made a bouquet of flowers for the table and filled the vase with some food-colored rice. I also made some homemade napkin holders from some pretty ribbon that I found at the dollar store.  I think the table turned out nice! 

We took some before and after pictures, too to illustrate just how full we were.  

Before.....

After. 

The food was so good! Laura made some yummy sweet potatoes and brought lots of other sides.  Her apple cheesecake strudel pie was a hit! My mom brought pies, too, and I only wish I had room to try them after the feast I ate for dinner: mac and cheese, turkey, stuffing with homemade sausage…. well, I guess I don’t have to list everything.  You know what’s served for thanksgiving.  

Before our second Thanksgiving, Friday and Saturday came.  Friday, Phil and I went to a few stores to shop around and we bought a couple of things.  I hit it big at Jo-Ann fabric, though, and can’t wait to sew with all of my new flannel and fleece! So exciting!!! We also put up and decorated the tree and got the decorations up outside, too.  Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 

Saturday was fun, too! We had Phil’s mom over and spent time sorting through some things in our garage.  I also dipped into some of the fleece that I bought and made some Christmas stockings.  Phil and his mom helped me decorate them with little embellishments and they turned out beautifully.  We had such a nice time.

Maddie and her Grandma ready for some fun!

Our homemade stockings. 

Thanksgiving #2 was at my parent’s house up in Highwood.  We missed Rich and Heather, who is due with their first baby in 10 days, but laughed our heads off with Danielle and her family, Meagan, Grandma and my parents.  I always find myself cracking up whenever I’m with them.  My dad, hands-down, makes the best stuffing in the world and his turkey turns our so good, too.  And his pumpkin pie, complete with sugar, was the perfect ending to a perfect meal (Maddie couldn’t get enough of it). My mom had so many amazing appetizers out for us to eat, including some homemade donut holes and Danielle’s Banana Chocolate Chip bread.  No wonder I have gained a couple of pounds! 

All-in-all, we’ve been busy but happy.  

Maddie, Uncle Taylor and Cousin Charlotte celebrating Cousin Sammie's (not pictured) birthday with pizza and the  best rice-krispy treat cake ever! 

Maddie learned that snow feels cold and wet. 

Maddie is learning so much recently, too.  

“Maddie, where’s mama’s nose?” 

“Buhs,” she responds, pointing to my nose with her index finger.  She also points to mouth and eyes, but we are working on ears, still.  

She loves to climb on things all of the sudden and wouldn’t stop going up and down the slide when I took her to the play area at the mall.  She also likes to sit on things. 

Maddie backing up, trying to sit on cousin Dylan

Maddie proud in her achievement of overtaking cousin Dylan's chair

Maddie sitting in my make-up box

Maddie trying to sit on the Christmas lights

Maddie sitting in her own detached high chair

And she officially has been sat on.  When we  were at the mall, this week, Maddie was crawling around (I guess she was tired from running), and a 3 or 4 year old girl walked up to her and, without hesitation, straddled Maddie’s back and sat on top of her like a horse.  Never a dull moment.  Maddie is fine.  

We discovered a fun little place called Safety Town down the street from us, which is perfect for Maddie. She just loves a big area in which to run around, so Maddie sized streets, sidewalks, houses and stop signs are right up her alley (shameless pun intended). 

Where's Maddie? 

Maddie Loves Safety Town

And, let the imitating begin! I absolutely loved this last week when Maddie, after watching me get ready for the day, picked up my hair brush and tried to brush her own hair! I then leaned my head down, so my hair was draped in front of her and she brushed my hair for me.  Just a reminder that she is watching and learning from everything I do.