03.30.11 - Dress yourself!

Today Maddie picked out all her clothes for the first time. Two t-shirts, tights, shorts and boots. Then she decided she wanted to go "out yi-yide." We told her she needed a coat, thinking she'd get one of her lined hoodies from her room. Nope, she came back wearing her heavy winter coat and a stocking hat. She even insisted on wearing the attached mittens, which is something she didn't do all winter. Regardless, still pretty stinkin' cute!

03.26.11 - Learning to read

Never to early to start reading!

03.23.11 - Big sister in charge

As if she needed a shirt to say so ...

03.20.11 - Pockets

Maddie discovered the pockets on her shorts while taking a stroll through the backyard on this wonderful summer-like day on the first day of spring.

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?!!