Our new friend

Not only is our family going from three to four...Madelyn's friendship with Peyton is quickly doubling in size! Our friends Brian and Erica welcomed their new daughter, Sophie Ann on March 16th. She's a beautiful little girl! Now Peyton is a big sister and she's been giving Madelyn the scoop on what's to come here in our household! Soon there will be a 4th girl to add to the bunch...it'll be the big sisters against the little sisters!!

Sophie and her GREAT Grandmother!

First haircut!!

Madelyn had her first REAL haircut yesterday! She'd had a little trim on her bangs before, but this was the real deal. She was SOO excited to have it done. We officially removed the mullet...almost three inches came off! Now it's even and she's got a cute bob. I took her along to Teresa's, who does my hair as well, she's an angel really! I haven't gotten a cute picture of it all yet, but here's the cut as it was going on...

Teresa has a new baby herself...Lily - a sweet little 5 lb. maltese. She is such a sweet little thing! She and Madelyn got along great!!

A surprise visitor!

Last week, we had just gotten home from the store and getting ready for lunch. The doorbell rang and it was Grandpa! What a surprise that was! He was in Richmond at the Veterans Hospital and decided to stop by. It was great to see him. He stayed a few hours before we took our naps...

We haven't had much going on lately, just preparing for Emily's arrival. Ben has been doing his own style of nesting - deciding that he needs to have his car done before she's here. Which is great, but my hormonal self has been a little bitter about it! WHY NOW, when we have a 2 year old who is refusing to sleep and has tantrums....while he's in the garage - I get to spend 2 hours each night trying to get the little devil to bed after battling at least ONE tantrum every day!

AND...the past few weeks have been really stressful, since Madelyn's late night partying with her pants off, Ben frantically finishing his car...and the list goes on - I've been quite emotional. I really wanted to enjoy the last month before "the three of us" became "the four of us" - well, of course I've wanted to enjoy it all along, but mostly as our threesome comes to an end. I get a little sad thinking about all we've done together and just giving all our attention to Madelyn. Don't get me wrong - I am thrilled we're having Emily, and I know we'll love her just the same -- it's just a strange feeling.

I'll have another doctors appointment next Friday the 3rd - Emily is due the 7th...we may give her that week and see what happens. If she doesn't make herself known by then, we'll see about "encouraging" her a little!! :) It's getting quite uncomfortable, and my Fred Flintsone feet just aren't very attractive these days, no matter how nice my pedicure looks! Ugh - I didn't ever have this swelling with Madelyn!! Maybe thats the real reason Ben has been hiding in the garage!!

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks:

My doggy, Ginger

Workin' my hoe...I mean working WITH my hoe!

This is much better than that boring cup of milk over there

Diaper & bottms on the floor, bare butt for all to see, sound asleep!

End to a l-o-n-g week!

Whew, the week is over and we can enjoy our weekend together! It's been a crazy week around here, between the back & forth weather and our own happenings - it's just been exhausting!

We had a few days with temps in the 80's, but the past few days have been cold and icky - and it stinks being stuck inside all day. We just felt like laying around in our PJ's all day! Here are a few pictures from our warm weather days:

Up to no good!

Yesterday I was super productive, I've got the nesting going on again! Cleaned the bathrooms, scrubbed the kitchen floor, even scrubbed some of the baseboards! I had a doctors appointment today, Emily isn't any further along than she was last week - shucks! Something I've NEEDED to do but haven't yet -- make LOTS of food to stock in the freezer. So many friends and family brought us TONS of yummy dishes when Madelyn was born. I never realized how helpful it actually was until I went through it myself! Now I understand the tradition of bringing new parents food. If anyone has any yummy, easy, freezable recipes - please share!! Kim...I know you've got some good ones!

We'll probably hang out and have a quiet weekend. Ben woke up sick this morning, and when he's sick - the whole world ends! It's a rare thing around here, tonight Madelyn said to him, "don't be sad Dada, be happy!" Thats her thing lately..."be happy" she tells us! How can our stresses NOT instantly melt away with her looking out for us like that!?

Our tragic loss

It is with sincere sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved blue friend, Doorstep. Although many did not have the chance to spend time with our new family member, his 4 days in our household brought many fun and enjoyable moments.

"Doorstep is as dead as a doorknob" ~Haylie

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OK - seriously, thats pretty bad that we couldn't keep a betta fish alive in our house for longer than 4 days! Maybe Madelyn spiked his water with some apple juice? Who knows, but we'll always remember our first fish - as slow moving and boring as he was. Maybe the next one will provide us with more entertainment.

Introducing....DOORSTEP!

As part of her birthday present, we let Madelyn pick out her very own pet fish. And she has so proudly named him "Doorstep", or as she pronounces it "Doorstuff". Not Henry, or Fred, or Joe, or Hank...but Doorstep! I couldn't think of a better name if I tried! haha

We have an Elizabeth Mitchell CD that we all LOVE to sing along with. One of Madelyn's favorite songs on it is Three Little Birds - originally sung by Bob Marley. Part of the lyrics go like this:

Dont worry about a thing, cause every little thing gonna be all right.

Singin: dont worry about a thing, cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Rise up this mornin, Smiled with the risin sun,

Three little birds pitch by my doorstep

Singin sweet songs

Of melodies pure and true,

Sayin, (this is my message to you-ou-ou)

So as you can understand, there is just no better name for a blue betta fish than DOORSTEP! We love this girl, she's a keeper!

Birthday snow-fall

It's official, Madelyn is TWO! Look out everyone!! Last Saturday was a fun day with all our family here, except Grandpa Jones...he was stuck at home with silly goggles on his eyes - he had surgery that morning and couldn't see much, so he stayed home. But we're SO glad he's all better now!!

Madelyn is so lucky to have gotten so many nice things....books, puzzles, Romp N' Roll goodies, a crib and changing table for her baby dolls, lots of Little People AND an art easle!! She didn't know what to do with herself!

She woke up on her birthday to SNOW outside!! She was so excited to get out and play! Of course I don't have a snow suit for her, because we never have snow...so she had socks on, then tights, then long-john pj pants, then fleece pants over those! HA -- I almost tortured her like my Mom did when I was little...with bread bags on her feet so they wouldn't get wet! But I didn't...she looked toasty just the way she was! Besides, thats something I told myself I'd never do to my own kids!