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.