*Me and my shadow!

When I was a little girl playing with my dolls I would play that they were pulling at my legs wanting my attention. I couldn't wait for the day when I would have a baby of my own who only wanted me! Well....that time has arrived and I had NO idea how time consuming it would be! I have found a couple of things that help me to have my hands free. This is my snuggle me! I have a sling also that Madi cuddles in.
I have also learned to do a lot of things with Madi on my lap. She is quite the little apprentice! What can I say, it takes me quite a bit longer to get stuff done, however I wouldn't give her back for all the free time or money in the world! I love it!

*Happy Birthday to ME!

Happy Birthday to me!!! Holy Cow, another year older! It has been a quick year, birthday and 2008 all together! I didn't work today and Brice took the day off too! We had a nice little sleep-in, I got to cuddle with my two favorite people! As I was cuddling with Madi I was thinking of my birth day and my mom! Being a mom has changed my life! I was thinking of how much I love Madi and how she has added to my life. It made me think how much my mom loves me!

We then went to breakfast (Brice's favorite thing!) This afternoon Brice ran his errands, I ran mine and then we met back up at home. Mom came down (she was going to go to dinner with us, but wasn't feeling so good and didn't want to get us sick) to give me my gift. She and Brice gave me the pedant that matches the ear rings and ring Brice gave me. It is really beautiful. Alicia came by and gave me a card and gift certificate. She loved on my little Madi for a bit and then had to go back to her life!

Brice took me to dinner tonight at the Cheesecake Factory. YUMMY!!! Aaron came into town last night for work, he came by to see me! He went against our pact and bought me a Christmas present. I actually have to thanks Kristen for that. I happened to point something out while shopping with her after Thanksgiving and she picked up on that one!!! Tricky little sister! Have to watch her from now on!!! Aaron was hoping to come to dinner with us, but couldn't get out of a business dinner he had to go to, or so he says!!!

All in all it has been a nice day! Right now my little daughter is asleep on my lap as I type this. What a perfect way to end my day, sitting on the couch with my honey and holding my sweet little one!! She has added so much to my life! Thanks babe for making my birthday a great one, and for spending it with me. I love you so much!

*All smiles!

Madison has such a quick and easy smile. She loves smiling at everyone! I love it when she smiles at me! I love it when she laughs and talks to me! She is growing up so fast! What fun!

*7 Hours

Madison slept 7 hours straight last night. I put her to bed at 10 and she didn't wake up until after 6am. I still woke up at 4:30 wondering if she was still breathing (it's amazing how often I worry about that!!) but she was in her little bed just snoozing away! She's getting closer to sleeping completely through the night! YEA!

Today I didn't go to work. Mom has not been feeling well, and my dear sweet cousin has taken Madi for the last two days. However with a large family Christmas party this week, she needed some time to get ready and so I didn't have a babysitter today. I got to sleep in, it was wonderful! When Madi did start to stir I went and got her and put her in bed with me. (I know the "experts" say you shouldn't do this, but I love snuggling with my little baby!!!) She and I snuggled and slept for another 2 hours!!! (Sorry honey you had to go earn us a living!!)

It was such a nice day to get to spend playing mommy! I love this job! It's the best job in the whole world! No wonder I don't want to work full time anymore! Just a few more days of this everyday thing and then I am done! In a few years from now I'll probably be begging to get a job and get out of the house, but for now there is nothing else I want to do, but be with my baby!


***I'm playing catch up on my blog. It's been so long since I have written. So I am just going to jam out some entries and then add pictures later!! It's amazing how a little baby can busy up your day!

*Melinda and Owen

Today was Madi's first day with Melinda and Owen. I am so grateful to Melinda for taking care of my baby. Melinda has one child, Owen who will be 2 in March. He is such a cute little guy. I dropped Madi off this morning and headed on my way. **I can't say enough how grateful I am for these 2 women in my life, Mom and Melinda. It's so wonderful to know my Madi I so well taken care of while I am away. I love you both!!**

This is the last week I will be working full time outside of my home. It's a hard thing physically and emotionally getting ready and going to work when you have a new baby! I am so grateful that I will not have to do it much longer. I am amazed my these women that do it! It is really the workout before you even get to work! Just getting out the door with a feed/clothed/semi-happy child is quite the feat!

Anyway...Melinda did a wonderful job taking care of my little one. Madi was fed, diaper changed and well on her way to a nap when I got there to pick her up! However little Owen wasn't quite so fond of sharing his mommy today! (Sadie can complete empathize with you Owen!) Melinda told me that Owen didn't take a nap today because he was afraid that she would love on Madi to much, and he wouldn't be there to get those loves! Then about an hour before I got there to pick Madi up Owen would walk over to the door and look out it then back at Melinda and say "Baby go home?" how cute is that!!?? Thanks Melinda for loving my baby for me while I am away!

*An unexpected special friend!

It's amazing to me, how you find someone in your life who has been there for some time, but all of a sudden becomes so important to you. This is my cousing Melinda. She and my cousin Jesse have been married for 8 years. They dated for quite a few years before getting married so I have know her for some time. This year she and I have become so close. I don't know the particular instant we became so close, but I am so grateful her!

Melinda is who got me into blogging! I used to read her blog often and was so facinated by all the great things she was doing for her little family. Infact she even got my blog started for me so all I had to do was start adding entries. Melinda is an amazing mother to her son, and someone that I admire for many reasons. The first week after I came home from the hospital with my little Madison, Melinda and I bonded on a new level (at least for me). She and I talked on the phone for close to an hour. She listened to me, cried with me, laughed with me, and empathize with me! It was what I needed and was missing from so many other conversations I had had with others.

She then did the most incredible thing for me before hanging up. She offer to watch my little Madison (if I ever needed her to) while I was at work! My mom had told me when we first found out that I was pregnant that she would watch Madi for me. How grateful/excited I was for this. No daycare for my prescious little baby! My mom also works a part-time job at Macys. She just recently got put on days instead of the horrible night hours she has worked for over a year. I didn't want mom to have to give up her job, but I didn't want to have to send my baby to day care. Enter Melinda! When she offered this I was so grateful. I had been facing the thought of having to send Madi to daycare on the days mom worked. Now I had a solution. It took a huge weight off my heart!

Tuesday was going to be the first time I took Madi to Melinda's. However Mom called me tonight and told me she is not feeling well. She told me that she would still take Madi, but she wanted me to know that she was ill. I told her I would call Melinda. When I called Melinda she so willing said yes! She is such a sweet heart! I don't know how I got so lucky to have her be so wonderful to me! I know that Madison is going to get sick. I just don't want to put right in the middle of it if I don't have to. Plus I would rather it be when I am not working full time so that I can be the one taking care of her. Anyway... Melinda to the rescue AGAIN!! I'm telling you I love this girl!!! Thanks Melinda! What a hero you are to me! (and Madi)

*Mary did you know?

I have always been amazed by Mary, and the faith she must have had inorder to carry and give birth to the Christ child. I am sure there are many worries that she had and fears! I can't even imagine what she went through and what it must have been like for her. This year has brought a whole new reality to me of what life might have been like for her! What was it like to have to give birth in a stable? How did becoming a mother change her life?





There is a Christmas song called "Mary did you know?" It asks the question of did Mary know that she had given birth to the Son of God, and did she know that He had come to earth to give His life for all of us.

I have had a similar experience this year. As I look at my sweet little baby I wonder...What will she do? Who will she become? Who will she influence and what are her talents?

It is an amazing thing to become a mother. It changes your life is so many ways. I just hope that I can help Madison to grow up and do what she has been sent here to do. As I watch her grow and change I wonder what her life will be like! I am so excited to be a part of her life and see what/who she becomes!