03.06.11 - This Tea Party is OK

We've slowly been transitioning Maddie's room into a "big girl" room. It started when we replaced her crib with a toddler bed and removed the changing table. Then we added a small crib for her baby and a book shelf. Most recently we removed the glider rocker and ottoman and replaced it with a small table and chairs outfitted with a tea set. Also new are the curtains, coat rack and lamp.

02.19.11 - Daddy's lttle helper

I finally got the chance to get out in the backyard and take care of the fallen leaves. I raked some, bagged some and mulched the rest. Maddie helped, too. Sort of.

02.13.11 - Valentine cookies

In honor of Valentine's Day, Maddie spent the afternoon decorating some heart-shaped sugar cookies that Angie made.


Of course you gotta eat 'em! Perhaps we let her have one too many cookies!


She's a big fan of the icing!


In fact, she tried to get all the icing off this one before putting a single M&M in the middle.


Maddie, will you be my Valentine?!!

02.12.11 - "Noball"

Maddie has wanted to play in the "no" all week so we went outside today and made a snowman. Or, a "noball," as she calls them. She was very happy about it!

01.25.11 - More books

Maddie went to the library for the first time tonight. She was overwhelmed at first and why not? It's a room full of books! We checked out five books, due back in four weeks, and we read them at bedtime. We'll probably go back sooner than four weeks.

01.23.11 - What a busy day!

What a busy day! Maddie enjoyed a nice big brunch at Legends at the Airport Hilton. We can't go anywhere anymore without at least one baby dolls in tow. Today she brought Polly along for the ride.


While Nate and Daddy were shopping for groceries, Maddie and Mommy baked cookies. Here, Maddie gets her first taste of cookie dough out of the bowl.


Want some?!!


Come on now, Maddie. We really should bake those first!


And at bath time tonight, Maddie plays with her duck family. She lined up all her rubber duckies and assigned each one a family role. The daddy duck was the small one with pink and orange flowers. What's up with that?!!

01.12.11 - Baking cookies

Maddie enjoys helping Angie bake cookies after dinner. She enjoyed eating them, too! And if her "big smile" isn't cute enough, when they spilled a little baking powder on the floor, Maddie was quick to the rescue. "I have a broom!" she exclaimed, and grabbed her broom and dust pan to clean it up.

01.10.11 - Snow day

Maddie was running around the house all morning yelling "No outyide! No outyide! No outyide!" (That's "snow outside!" for those of you who don't speak toddler.) When we actually got out there, she was less impressed.

01.09.11 - Toothbrush

Maddie likes to brush her teeth with the new Elmo toothbrush she got for Christmas.


She's almost tall enough to see over the counter. She still has to use a step-stool, though.

01.02.11 - Woooo Hoooo! Maddie's 2!

Rubber Ducky you're the one, you make birthdays so much fun!


Someone thought they'd be funny and sneak some contraband into the party. I didn't think I had to worry about stuff like this until she was a teenager!


She liked 'em. Ugh.


Blue punch! (Because ducks swim on water, duh!) Maddie's got one clever Mommy!


Opening her first gift. Harley wants to know if there's anything to eat.


Nope, it's Maddie's first camera!


What's this one? "A BOX!" Well, yes. But look over there. There was actually something in the box, silly!


Get outta my way, tissue paper!


Grampy Keith and Nan and Pop watch as Nate tries to get in on the action.


Maddie lets Nate help open a gift.


Maddie sneaks a bite of icing before we can sing Happy Birthday to her. She ate the icing, ice cream and M&Ms but pretty much turned her nose up at the cake.


She had no problems blowing out her candle.


Her most special gift came from Nan and Pop. Nan's dad (that's Maddie Great Great Grandpa Scheer) made this baby bed for Nan when she was a little girl - nearly 75 years ago! And if you ask Maddie how many babies she has (between Christmas and her birthday) she just says, "more."

And in our house, ain't that the truth?!! Happy second birthday, Maddie Girl!