Madylin's First Christmas

Merry Christmas! Madylin had a very exciting first Christmas! We had lots of stops to make and tons of people to see but our little girl was a trooper through it all. She got lots of great toys, books and clothes. Our basement looks like a toy store!
Our first stop on Christmas Eve was Great Grandma Helen's to celebrate Grandpa Steve's birthday!


Maddy had a great time at Great Grandma Sax's on Christmas Eve. If you watch our last post you can see Santa coming and giving all of the kids a present. Maddy lasted until about 9:30 before she passed out and we headed home.


Santa came and left our stockings full of great stuff. Nola even got a huge BoBo. I guess he liked his cookies!


Maddy then got to open her presents from Momma and Daddy.


After opening our presents at home it was off to Grandma Carolyn's and Grandpa Steve's. Everyone was there and this picture can sum up the excitement of 5 kiddos opening all their presents. It was so much fun to see everyone so happy!


At lunchtime we headed over to Great Grandpa Horvath's for his delicious ham! Here is Maddy in her new wagon. We can't wait to take it to the Zoo.


Then Grandma Katie and Papa Bob came over with even More presents.


Riding on her gobbling hippo from Momma and Daddy.


It was a very busy couple of days. Maddy snuck in one 30 minute nap and yet stayed in a pretty good mood. Thank you to everyone that shared our little girl's first Christmas with us!

Happy Holidays!

Exciting News Our little girl just has to be different! She got her third tooth yesterday but it is not one of her top teeth it is her next tooth on the bottom!

Santa Comes to Great Grandma Sax's

We managed to get 15 plus minutes of video of Santa's visit this evening. If anyone would like a hard copy of it just let me know.

Getting ready for Christmas

Tonight we started getting ready for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We started the night by making finger jello for Grandma Sax's. Maddy thought it looked good but the weird texture caused her to spit most of it right back out.



After the jello was done we started on our cookies for Santa.

Mad helped place the dough on the cookie sheet (yes we saved ourselves a mess and bought break and bake cookies).


Then Maddy helped scoop them off the pan.


We let Maddy be the official cookie taster.


I think they pass the test. I just hope there are some left to put out for Santa tomorrow.


Other exciting news
Our fearless girl took 2 unassisted steps today trying to get the cat!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

The Moose Christmas Party

Today was the annual Moose Christmas party. When my brothers and I were little my Grandma Helen always took us. So now it's our turn to take Maddy.

Maddy enjoyed playing with this balloon. Daddy was bouncing it off her head which she thought was pretty funny.


Maddy tried to eat her candy cane with the wrapper on.


Only 3 more days!

A Letter From Santa

Maddy got a letter from the man himself!



Santa knew all about what a great job Maddy is doing crawling and standing! He even knew about our crazy dog Nola!




Now we just have to figure out what kind of cookies to leave out and wait 8 more days!

Breakfast with Santa

This morning Madylin got to have breakfast with Santa at Eckert's. Momma, Daddy, Grandma Carolyn, Grandpa Steve, Jenny, Alli, Drew, Michael, Emma, Grandma Katie, Aunt Stac, Logan, Great Aunt Janet, Great Uncle Ron, Cousin Angie, Cousin Chris and Cousin Ella were there too! Maddy once again sat with Santa and didn't cry but really gave him a stare.

Mad got some really cute snowflakes painted on her cheek.




Maddy and I iced a cookie.


Maddy loved licking the icing and sprinkles off the cookie, her hands and right out of the icing tub.



Happy Holidays! Don't worry we told Santa you have all been good!

First Snow

Today was Maddy's first snow. She couldn't really play in it but we took her out for a couple minutes to check it out and to watch Daddy shovel the driveway while Nola attacked the flying snow.



Maddy really didn't know what to do. She started to crawl off the towel but when she hit the snow she stopped. (P.S. is it tacky to have your Christmas lights up and to have forgotten to take in your Halloween flag?)


After coming inside Maddy had really rosy cheeks.

I'll have what they're having...

...or what your having. I am not picky just so long as it comes from a grownup's plate.

Maddy is practicing using a spoon. I think we need a little more work.


Pancakes and apples are good.


Oh and we have also learned to point.

Cookies with Santa

On Friday Daddy and Momma took Maddy to the Parents as Teachers Cookies with Santa. This was the first time that Maddy got to see Santa up close.



I would have bet anything that Maddy was going to scream when we put her on Santa's lap, but once again our little girl surprised us. She just kind of stared at him. After a couple of minutes she decided she had had enough and wrinkled up her face and looked for us. Good job Mad!

Maddy did a couple of easy crafts when we got there.




Maddy really enjoyed her cookie with red sprinkles that became face paint when you add slobber.




I dare somebody to try and take this girl's cookie away.


Crawling all over chasing the bigger kids and up tables might have been the best part!

9 months old!!!

This month we had a lot of firsts. Mad got to go out of town, get kissed by a boy, get the stomach flu, have Thanksgiving dinner and see her first Santa Claus parade. She is getting so good at cruising around all her toys and furniture. She is standing more and does this crazy squatting thing while she is playing. We have also developed a bit of a temper. When something doesn't go her way she lets the whole world know how she feels about it. I am not sure where this stubborn attitude comes from, Grandma Carolyn said she has a guess though. I'm sure she is thinking what I'm thinking, Daddy's side!



Maddy is getting so tall! She likes to stand at the dresser and turn the knobs. She opens and closes her drawers (which has only resulted in one mashed finger so far). She LOVES to pull all of the clean clothes out of the baskets and throw them around the floor. This is very helpful.



Maddy enjoys eating toast, oatmeal and pretty much anything we will let her eat off our plate. She doesn't always like what she tastes but she is not going to miss out.

We can't hardly believe our little stink is already nine months old. Where does the time go! Happy 9 months sweet girl! We love you like crazy cakes.

These shoes were made for walking...

...around furniture and stuff. After stopping by Great Grandma Sax's to do some chores, and visit with Aunt Janet and Ella, Grandma Katie went with us to the mall to buy Maddy her first pair of shoes. In the store I was looking at all the shoes and the sizes they were available in. I was getting kind of down because not many shoes come in smaller than a size 4 and I was sure Maddy had a smaller foot than that. The sales lady came out and measured Maddy tiny foot and I was shocked when she said she would need an size 4. How could those tiny feet be a size 4!



I guess the sizer doesn't lie. Size 4 it is.


A perfect fit!


Look at this hotshot!


Thanks Grandma Katie for the cool new kicks!

Oh Tannenbaum

With the outdoor lights already in place we decided it was time to put up the tree. After a minor setback, because Momma skipped the bottom row, we had the tree up in no time. Then after another minor setback, our lights we've had for 8 years finally burnt out, we had it decorated in no time. Maddy wasn't quite sure what to think about this huge tree in her living room. She didn't really like the way it felt and has really shown no interest in it, so far!





Maddy napped for most of the tree assembly and was pretty entertained by these dancing and singing snowmen the rest of the time.




The finished project




Now I guess we'll have to start wrapping some presents!