all i want for christmas is my two front teeth

No more saber tooth tiger here....Madison is getting her two front teeth!!! 

18 weeks

Madison has a new favorite game.  Mommy sits on the floor while Madison plays drums on her little brother.  I am hoping that this is not a foreshadowing for whats to come but only the amount of extra love she is showing her brother.  ha ha.  I might be dreaming!

paint mines

A hidden gem...The Paint Mines ~ An Interpretive Park.  This park is free and only about 30 minutes away in Callahan.  As you can see the area is gorgeous!!!

Madison loved running around the rocks and trying to climb any and all the formations that looked her approximate size, or even slightly too large.  From the sandy texture of the rocks, we all turned white and had sand stashed in about every nook.

The weather was beautiful.  Just right at about 70 degrees, a slight breeze and sunny skies.

Here are some of the AMAZING pictures!!

Dad you are like a giant now!

I just had to share this picture.  Here we are giving some love to our baby and this is the response.  Screaming.  The minute we stopped, guess who smiled!

P.S.  Even when you feel like you don't need to reapply the sunscreen...You do.  Even when you are SURE that it isn't nice enough to need sunscreen....Put some extra on.  Madison had rosy red cheeks and a head sunburn.  Poor girl.  She didn't mind but Mommy felt like she failed!

purple

Yep. We now have a beautiful purple door!!! This sounds crazy.....But the outcome is gorgeous. Actually quite a few houses in our neighborhood have this dark purple color and I have always been jealous. The pop of color against our forest green looks fabulous!!! 
Now please don't you all rush me to get this color name and number!! haha.

Curb appeal at its best!

carnival fun

Do you have memories of the carnival?

I have alot...Many of which relate back to germs...

Yes, I may have a slight complex about the whole thing but just the thought of all those people touching all those rides which never get cleaned and don't even mention the amount of people that throw up...UGH!!!  I think I may have just done that in my mouth as well.

But can I really deprive my child of those memories?  Seeing the crazy clowns walking around, shooting the gun to get a great big bear or viewing the city from the top of a carousal.  Of course not!

Ben and I went to the carnival in order for Madison to enjoy the lights and the over sized stuffed animals.....And she LOVED it all.  She was in complete shock I think.  Zoning off watching everyone, including her Daddy waste some money on fun games to get stuffed animals.  Fun was had by all especially a little girl named Madison!

worn out

Madison loves to go to Pia's house once a week.  All day is spent playing with Leroy, the dog, taking LONG walks to the grocery store or playing in the park near by.

When Mommy or Daddy go to pick her up this is what the evening ends up being...

A very, very tired, worn out little girl.  I could not ask for a better person to watch our precious little girl.  She loves her like her own and cherishes her almost as much as we do.  Thank you Pia for this exhausted princess ;)

16 weeks

We are now into our 2nd trimester and Momma is feeling good

Cravings:
1. Sweets
2. Sweets
3. More sweets

I limit myself on this new sweets addiction but, ugh, I hate wanting them ALL the time!

I am growing as you can tell but am loving all the movements of little lambs feet.  Our sweet miracle is getting bigger by the day....

meeting great grandma stewart

When we were in Iowa we were able to meet the kids of Ben's cousins.  The parents kept talking about how it felt like only a few years ago they were watching their children run around the homes.  Now, 10-15 years later, the kids running around are the grand babies. 

These are the moments when you reflect on all the wonderful memories of your past.  Ben was talking about pieces of furniture that had memories attached to it.  For example these animal figurines his Grandma Blanche Stewart (seen below) have.  She painted them by hand!!!  The animals stand about 3 feet tall and the detail is impeccable!!!

These memories are what forms us into who we are .  The good, the bad, the exciting, the uneventful. 

Now, as Ben and I become parents we are trying to create that exact thing, memories.

Here are a few memories from meeting Great Grandma Stewart in Iowa.  Madison warmed right up to her.  Curling up, playing with her toes and giving Great Grandma some extra love.

Ryan (Our Nephew) enjoying time with Great Grandma

Little Lucas (Our other nephew) playing it a little shy

This little rocking chair was Madison's FAVORITE! Ever since this new found friendship we have been trying to find something similar but have not been successful.  Madison would carry the mini chair somewhere, sit in it, rock her baby and then turn around, placing the baby in it.  So cute!  She also pat the baby's back and walked around with her.  I am not sure if she was thinking she was burping the baby or putting her to sleep.  My baby is already preparing to be a momma. 

im a big girl now

Madison has mastered the art of using a spoon....Well, maybe just about 75% of the time.  The rest of the time is spent playing and at times even flinging the food around the dining room floor and table.

betty crocker style

I feel so productive today!  Homemade brownies with DELICIOUS chocolate frostin AND chocolate chip muffins.  Does life get any better than that?!?!

No, I did not plan to have the oranges in the backround but it did make me laugh.  Healthy vs. Not So Much Healthy!  Haha!