Merry Christmas

Madi, Chad and I headed north to Bemus Point, NY for Christmas this year. We left on Christmas Eve and came back on Sunday the 28th. We got to spend Christmas with my entire family. My sister Shae and nephew Xavier flew into Cleveland on the 23rd and made there way to Bemus on the 24th. My sister Kellie, her husband Rob and my nephew Carter also came in on the 24th, then my baby sister Nikki and her husband Gregg came in on Christmas day. We spent Christmas morning at my Mom's house and then in the afternoon headed off to my Dad's house to spend the rest of the day with him. We went back to my Mom's house on the 26th to have Christmas with the entire family. Early Friday morning the entire clan headed off to Sears to get a family portrait. It was interesting trying to get 3 children and 7 adults to all smile and look at the camera at the same time. I have to say that Madi was probably the hardest one. She did not want to smile (which isn't unusual when the camera comes out), but she also didn't want to sit still. We did manage to get a couple nice pictures and then surprise my Mom and Dad with the pictures.

Tomorrow night we are having Christmas with the Catlett's, so I hope to get some good pictures of all of them, but here are some pictures from Madi's 2nd Christmas. By the way, she loved opening her presents and everyone else's. She didn't care about the actual gift, but loved the wrapping paper. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

Nikki, Gregg, Madi and Xavier:


Madi playing with Xavier:


Madi and Carter:



Chad, Kellie, Madi, Carter and Xavier:


Shae and Xavier:


The Lipsey Girls with their Daddy:


Madi and her Poppy:

Happy Thanksgiving

I like to think that I am thankful and grateful throughout the year, but Thanksgiving allows me to put into words what I might say in my prayers, but don't always say out loud. I am thankful for:

My husband Chad: He is an amazing man, husband and father. He is always supportive of anything I do and watching him interact with our daughter makes my heart melt. If only every man could be more like Chad (loving, caring, understanding, compassionate, sensitive, etc) the world would be a much better place.

My daughter Madison: This little girl changed my life and I am forever thankful for her. She has brought so much joy and happiness into my life and I love her more with each passing day. I thank God every night for allowing me to be her mother.

My Sisters - Shae, Kellie & Nikki: What would I do without my sisters? My life would be boring and lonely. They have been with me through the good times and bad and they truly are the best sisters/friends a girl could have.

My Dad: He's amazing and perfect. He taught me right from wrong, to hold my head up high and I knew that no matter what he would always be right next to me holding my hand. I am a better person because of him.

My Mother: I love my mother more than she knows. She would go without so that I could have what I wanted/needed growing up. She's an amazing Grandmother to Madison and for that I will forever be thankful.

My Nephews & Nieces - Carter, Xavier, Amari & Abigail: I can't wait to watch you all grow up. I am so thankful Madi will have cousins close to her age. I can't wait to see the bonds that you all form.

My In-Laws: I was lucky enough to find a family that would welcome me with open arms. From the first moment I meet them they made me feel at home and even though I am away from my family they have made me a part of their family and I am thankful for them all.

My Friends: I have been lucky to have some of the best friends a girl can have. I may not have always been the best friend back, but I have friends that I can call on anytime of the day/night who will listen if needed, cry with me if needed or laugh with me if needed. I am thankful for each and every one of them.

My Life: My life is blessed and I know that. I have a roof over my head, food on my table and a healthy, happy family. What more could I ask for?

I try not to take my life for granted and I want everyone to know how much I love them and appreciate them. You have all molded me into the person that I am today and for that I am thankful.

Onto a few new pictures:

Happy Halloween

What a great weekend we had!!! Friday night was of course Halloween, so first we stopped by my bosses house, where they had a special Halloween treat for Madi, then we were off to trick or treat with friends. Madi was such a trooper walking around the neighborhood. She was always on the move that I wasn't even able to get a good picture of her in her kitty costume. On Saturday we had swim lessons in the morning (she still doesn't like to kick, but enjoyed the water anyway), then in the afternoon, Chad, Madi and I went to the park. It was such a beautiful day. She got to swing and play on the playground and then walk over to see her favorite animals....the ducks, at the duck pond! Sunday, she ran some errands with me in the morning and then we just had a relaxing day of playing and coloring inside. We bought her a new big girl table and she just loves it. Anyway, onto the pictures:


Madi eating her lunch at her new table:


Madi at her friends house playing on his rocking horse:


Playing on another toy that moves, but at least I could get a some what decent pictures:


Her new favorite toy is...her Daddy's shoes:


My sister Kellie just sent me these pictures of my nephew Carter and they are to cute not to share:




And here's my other nephew Xavier, enjoying his first Halloween:

Busy couple of weeks...

It's Fall!!! My favorite time of the year. Madi has been busy enjoying many of the fall activities in the Shenandoah Valley. First she spent 10 days (Oct 3rd - 13th) with my Mom, visiting the park everyday for a minimum of 2 hours. She loves watching the leaves fall from the tree's and loves feeding the ducks. She even got to ride the little train that runs through the park a few times. She has decided her new favorite activity is swinging and she will let you know if she's not ready to get out of the swing. While my Mom was visiting we went to Dayton Days (a local arts and crafts show) and visited the Golden Kernel Farm to pick some pumpkins. Of course my camera battery died after one picture, so no cute pictures of Miss Madi in the pumpkin patch. The 10 days with my Mom went so fast. I am so grateful that she can come and play with Madison all day long. I don't know who had more fun, my Mom or Madi and we are already planning my Mom's next trip to Virginia.

This past weekend was pretty busy too. We went over to Jill and Mari's house on Saturday night for dinner with the family and some pumpkin carving. Then Sunday morning we attempted to go back to a pumpkin patch and get some pictures. This time Jill and Mari went with us to Chester - Cestari Farms, but that didn't turn out so great. Madi did get to see a few sheep and she didn't seem to scared. I guess I'll have to try again with pictures in the pumpkin patch.

Also, yesterday we finally tried out the Halloween Costume I bought for Madi a few months ago and she didn't seem to mind her costume. It was a little big and the zipper is broken, but I am debating about getting her a new one.







Next week we start swimming lessons. It seems like I've been trying to get her in swimming lessons for months now, but they were actually suppose to start last week and got pushed back until this Saturday. With the weather getting cooler I am going to have to bundle Miss Madi up after coming out of the YMCA, so she doesn't freeze to death.

Update and Messy Madi

Madi has been at her new day care for almost 3 weeks now and the change in her is amazing. She is such a different, happy child. Don't get me wrong, she was never an unhappy child, but this smaller setting has made such a difference. Madi had gone to the old daycare since she was 10 weeks old and up to the very last day, she would still cry when I dropped her off. After 3 days with the new sitter she just walks right in, gets in her high chair and waves bye bye to me. And when she comes home after daycare she is just so happy. She dances, plays, reads, and laughs so much more than she did before. I can only chalk it up to the new setting and getting more attention. The new day care has a total of 5 kids and she has one other little boy who is exactly her age, so they play together all day long. Chad and I couldn't be happier.

Now, onto the messy girl. Madison just loves blueberries and would eat them all day long if you let her. I went to store to buy her some the other day and the prices had just gone sky high. I wasn't going to pay $4.00 for about 40 small blueberries (I know cheap Mommy), but then someone mentioned that I should try frozen blueberries. I went back to the store and bought a big back of frozen blueberries for $3.25 and she loves the same. The only problem with these blueberries is they make mess.They stain her little fingers and bib, but she loves them so much its worth it. Then on this night to top it off I had given her a small piece of cake, so we had frosting all over as well. So, I took a few pictures of her when she was finished eating - boy what a mess (and that's her laughing in the pictures, not screaming).






And next Friday Madison's Mimi (My Mom) arrives for a 10 day visit. I know the two of them will have so much fun. Maybe my Mom will be able to get her talking. Right now all we get is Dada and once in a while an Okay. She does love to give kisses now and finally doesn't come at you with an open mouth, but you still get all the slime that goes along with it, but this Momma would have it any other way!!!

A few pictures

I haven't added any new pictures lately, so I thought I would add a few today. Everything is going great with Madi and her new day care. It's a husband and wife team and Madi has really taken to the husband. It makes me feel so much better knowing she is happy all day. She has been so much fun at home too. Less tantrums and more happy playing. Anyway, onto the pictures...

Madi and Carter in NY over Labor Day:


Getting to hold Xavier for the first time:



Jill, Mari, Chad, Madi and I at Todd and Diana's house:


Miss Abigail Kate;

Another cousin

Abigail Kate Catlett was born on September 4th, at 12:21 pm. She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and was 19 inches long. Madison went to meet her new cousin last night and she is just precious. Of course, I forgot my camera at home, but you can check out Bruce's Blog for a few pictures of baby Abigail and her proud parents. I hope to get some pictures this weekend.

Seperation Anxiety

I think Madi has started suffering from separation anxiety. I started in NY and has continued since we got home. This morning I dropped her off at day care and she will usually jump out of my arms into her teacher Amanda's arms, but not this morning. She started crying and throwing herself backwards. That happened a lot in NY and I was so afraid she was going to hurt herself. She would just throw herself on the ground and roll around. She wasn't happy unless she was with Mommy or Daddy. At first I thought she was just having tantrums, but I think its more than that. I have read everything I can get my hands on in the past few days about separation anxiety in toddlers and the best advice I have read so far is not sneaking out on your child. You want to say goodbye quickly, but if you just sneak out then they become afraid that every time they turn around you will be gone. Madi also starts a new daycare on Monday, so it might me an interesting first week. Any advice any has is greatly appreciated.

I think I may have taken one or two pictures while we were in NY, but I haven't even downloaded those yet. I did get to meet my nephew Xavier and he is such a cutie and probably the happiest baby I have ever seen. It's to bad we weren't able to get a picture of the three cousins, Madi, Carter and Xavier, but guess we'll have to wait until they are all together again.

Madi's newest cousin should arrive tomorrow. Diana is scheduled for a C-section tomorrow afternoon, so we are very excited about meeting him or her. I have a feeling that she's having a boy, but guess we will know for sure tomorrow!

Picture show

I've added a picture show of Madi's first year. I took all of my favorite pictures and created this montage. It's a little long (10 mins), but I made it into a DVD for her to have when she's older. Enjoy...

Madison's first year

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com