12.30.11 - Maddie's 3rd birthday party

We celebrated Maddie's third birthday party tonight. We celebrated with a taco dinner, including black beans that Maddie has been saying for months she would eat on her birthday. Do you think she ate any? Of course not! After dinner we opened presents and ate a Strawberry Shortcake chocolate cake - that Angie made - with ice cream. The house was packed, we now own every conceivable Strawberry Shortcake toy that can possibly be made and Maddie went to bed a happy three-year-old.

12.27.11 - Baby Jesus

Maddie's favorite outdoor Christmas decorations are nativity scenes. She excitedly points them out when we're driving. Lisa, our day care provider, has one in her front yard. This morning, as we dropped her off, Maddie asked me if I'd take a photo of her with Baby Jesus. I didn't have a camera with me at the time but I was sure to bring one when I picked her up.

12.24.11 - Maddie's 3rd birthday

Maddie turned 3 today!


We celebrated during breakfast - chocolate chip bagels from Panera.


So proud of herself for blowing out the candles.


The birthday bunny she got from Santa a few days ago joined us at the table.


Her birthday prizes included a couple of Strawberry Shortcake paper books.


Again, so proud!


Christmas Eve is Angie's mom's family's big Christmas celebration so we spent most of the afternoon and evening at Nan and Pop's house. We sang Happy Birthday to Maddie at the minute of her birth. She sang along, too, while cuddled close to Nan.

Happy Birthday, Maddie Girl!

12.16.11 - Santa

Tonight, while standing in line to meet Santa, I asked Maddie what she was going to ask for. She thought about it a bit and said, "a bunny!" But, when she got the chance, she stumbled on her words. I asked her to think about what we talked about it line. She said, "I know! A bunny!" So, Santa talked to one of his elves and came up with this Bugs Bunny birthday-themed stuffed rabbit, which is perfect since her birthday is on Christmas Eve.

12.13.11 - Feed us now!

At dinner tonight, Maddie, Nate and Ellie started banging on the kids table. They were just playing but some nights at dinner it sure seems like we can't feed them fast enough!

11.29.11 - Kitchen Aid

We've talked a lot about what we want in our next house: A bigger pantry, a garden tub, a deck, main floor laundry, bigger kitchen. But one thing it has to have is a Maddie girl kitchen aid!

11.24.11 - Pinball

We spent some time at Grandpa Greg's house today. He's got a cool pinball machine in his basement.

11.22.11 - My two best girls

I wish I could take credit for this frame but I can't. This is all Angie. In fact, I didn't even know she'd shot it until I was editing for Tommy's blog tonight. This frame stopped me in my tracks. I can already tell you it will be one of my all-time favorites of Maddie.

(And Harley, too!)

11.19.11 - Leader of the pack

Cutest little girl we know!

10.31.11 - Strawberry Shortcake

Maddie dressed up as Strawberry Shortcake - one of her favorite characters - for Halloween this year and struck this pose in from of Grandpa Greg's house. She likes to watch Strawberry Shortcake movies on Netflix and she's always quick to tell you if she wants to watch "a big Sortcake" or "a ittle sortcake." (That's a long movie or a shorter episode, for those of you who don't speak toddler. Nan made the outfit from a pattern Angie found on eBay and we purchased the hat separately, also off eBay.

10.21.11 - Threenager

More than once, someone has told us, "oh, just wait until she's a teenager." Well, she's been acting like one lately, with the Terrible Twos in full swing. Today, she carried her pillow, blankie, books and Snuggly Bunny out to the couch when she got up and proclaimed, "I'm not ready to get up yet." So, we're caling her a "threenager." She's close enough to three. As she'll tell you, Halloween is coming up soon and "den it's my berfday."

10.13.11 - Playgroup

Maddie took turns playing mommy and doctor during today's playgroup at KU.

10.09.11 - Raisin Bran cookies

Angie offered to bake cookies with Maddie tonight. They were going to bake chocolate chip until I whispered in Maddie's ear that oatmeal raisin is my favorite kind of cookie. She then proclaimed to Angie that they were going to make "raisin bran" cookies. Well, I do like raisin bran, too.


Finally, I've convinced a girl to make me oatmeal raisin cookies and I couldn't be happier! Although something tells me Maddie would enjoy making any kind of cookie so long as she gets to help with the cleanup!

09.30.11 - Ghost lights

Angie came up with this clever use for empty milk jugs at Halloween. Draw on a scary face with a Sharpie and then cut a hole in the back. Use a strand of white Christmas lights to illuminate each jug, creating a strand of ghost lights. Include one cheesy two-year-old and you've got yourself quite a cute Halloween decoration!

09.26.11 - "I wanna go fast!"

Maddie is always telling us to slow down when we're driving in the car but when it comes to swinging she wants to go fast!

09.25.11 - Scary ghost

Maddie is already practicing for Halloween. Tonight she was a scary ghost!

09.17.11 - Down in front!

There were some emergency vehicles on our block today for some reason (trust me, they're there even though you can't see them) and Maddie just had to get a better view. Of course, we let her stand there just long enough to get the photo then we made her get down. Fun haters, I know.

One of my favorite photos of Maddie's first year was taken just about two years ago from the other side of the same window. Click here to see it.

09.11.11 - Why the long face?

I took Maddie and Nate to the Law Enforcement Expo this morning. We enjoyed looking at the different police vehicles but Maddie turned shy when she had the chance to meet C.J., a member of the WPD's mounted patrol. But the highlight of the day came when we bumped into Wichita Eagle photographer and friend Travis Heying, who snapped this photo of us and put it in the paper. It's below the fold on the front page of Section B or attached to this story at Kansas.com.

Special thanks to Travis - who's keeping a daily photo blog of his daughter Helen, link over there on the right - for sharing the photo with us to use on Maddie's blog!

08.28.11 - No more Maddies jumpin' on the bed!

Spending the night in Manhattan means gettiing a little creative on sleeping arrangements. We employ no less than two air beds and two pack-n-plays when we're there. On this trip, Maddie slept on a twin bed in Cayden's room. I really didn't think I'd have to worry about her sharing a boy's room for several more years. They held hands the next day while shopping at Target which gave her daddy another panic attack. At least I know Cayden's folks will keep him in line so I really shouldn't have anything to worry about. And Uncle Brian is her godfather, too, so there's that.


Cayden and his dad get doughnuts from "Grandma Dillons" every Sunday morning. Maddie's never had one but when he asked her what kind she wanted, she said, "Chocolate!" It must just be in a girl's DNA.


She wanted sprinkles, too.


We hit City Park before lunch where Maddie had a blast on the playground. That playground alone could get us to move back to Manhattan.

08.13.11 - Silly faces

One of our current books checked out from the library is called "Silly Faces."

We have three of them!

08.07.11 - Little helper

It's been well-documented on the boys' blogs that we went to McDonald's today. It was our first time to actually go inside and we invited Nan and Pop to go with us. Without asking, Maddie went to hold the door for Pop. It's quite heavy for a two year old so Nan helped. Still, it's another one of those melt-your-heart moments!

08.03.11 - A little heavy reading?

When we told Maddie that Angie works in a library, she got really excited and said, "I want to go there." Medical school libraries aren't known for their selection of kids material but Maddie grabbed a couple of review books and made herself at home.

07.31.11 - "Good job, Suzie!"

Gramma Karen dropped off a new play mat for Tommy tonight. Maddie overheard her tell Tommy "good job" more than once. So as soon as Tommy was done with it, Maddie raced to her room, got a baby and a changing pad. She played for awhile, reassuring her baby doll by saying, "Good job, Suzie! Good job!"

07.27.11 - Pedi

Maddie got her toe nails painted for the very first time! She chose pink over blue sparkles.

07.10.11 - Pouting

This photograph is dedicated to all the grandparents who think Little Miss Maddie is always a ray of sunshine. And speaking of sunshine, this photo was made this morning before the temperature reached eleventy billion* degrees.

*Actually, today's record high was 111.

06.26.11 - Tea Party

Today we cleaned Maddie's room and set up her table with her tea set and fruit. Maddie and Nate were very excited to see it all set up and had to have a tea party right away.


Maddie cheesing for the camera. That's my silly girl!

06.19.11 - Dancing queen

Maddie tore up the dance floor at Mac and Amanda's wedding last night in Erie. With a couple of self-described wallflowers as parents, it's unclear where the lack of inhibition comes from.


The wedding was at a golf course in Erie. They sat (mostly) still for 20 minutes then we let them run free before hitting the reception.


Golf carts provided a lift to the parking lot for those interested. :)


Hold on!


At first, Maddie wasn't sure what to do. She just kinda walked around playing with the balloons.

But, she's very observant and figured it out pretty quickly.


Then she showed her brother.


They chased each other all night.


She kept saying, "I want my Nater-Tater," even when he didn't want to play anymore.


At times she was the only one on the dance floor. We're going to have to find a wedding to crash soon so we can let Maddie dance again!