First Birthday Party

Tonight we had Madison's birthday party at my mom's house. Thank you to all my family for scrambling around and helping me get it together so fast. I can tell you now it is going to be hard having a birthday in December.

Alan and I got Madison some babies and a doll set for her birthday. She loved them! She's still not very soft with them though.

The hit of the night though was the pretend cell phone that Beth got Madison. She loves my cell phone (sorry to anyone who has been called by her :) and I hate her playing with it. So this is the best of both worlds!

We had an enjoyable time with her chocolate chocolate cake. She was a little bit timid at first, but in the end she wasn't scared to dig in!

We are so excited to have a one year old!

And a bath in the sink to clean up. Oh it was a fun day. I bought Madison a pin that said Birthday Princess with all the disney princesses on it. She wore it all day. It was so cute! Thanks again everyone for making it a great day!

My Baby is One!

I am going on a trip down memory lane tonight. Feel free to join me, but mostly this post is for me to remember one of the most amazing days I ever experienced a year ago. It was a Monday morning and I had been leaking fluids the previous weekend and decided to go into the doctor just to get checked. I was positive that my doctor would laugh at me, tell me I'm paranoid and send me home. I wasn't even dialated to a 1 for crying out loud. Much to my surprise, after a test my doctor came in and said "Well it looks like we are going to have a baby today!" My jaw dropped. Today? Holy cow. I still have over 2 weeks to go! Wasn't expecting that. And about 7 hours later at 7:48 PM my beautiful baby graced us with her presence. It was a picture perfect pregnancy and deliver. We were so blessed!

Our new little family right after Madison was born!

Her daddy was so excited to see her too. I think he's been wrapped around those long little fingers from the very start.

She was so teeny tiny. I was scared to change her clothes or diapers because I thought she was going to break. She was really such a good baby. I couldn't ask for anything more. We were truly so blessed. I look back at pictures now and it's hard for me to remember. Alan and I were looking at some of her pictures tonight and it's so crazy...once upon a time she was a baby! Where did that go?

But she's grown. She's not a baby anymore, she can walk and say words, and understand things that I say. She's my little pal. It went by so fast! She's ONE year old! Some interesting things about Madison at a year:

-She walks and is starting to run...she's everywhere.

-She really understands what we say. When we ask her where something in particular is, she goes and picks it up. She's so smart.

-She LOVES other little kids. It doesn't matter the age or the size she will just follow them around and watch them.

-When someone laughs or claps, for whatever reason, Madison thinks they are laughing or clapping for her. She gets a huge grin on her face like she's saying "Oh thanks guys, I'm super cool." It's so funny!

-She loves stuffed animals and baby dolls. She carries them around with her everywhere when she's at home.

-Sometimes when I give her crackers to eat and she's not in her highchair she will put them on the ground and walk back and forth over them because she likes the sound they make. haha.

-She LOVES being outside. I think she would be out there all the time if she could.

-She hates getting her hair done.

-She likes to play with McKinley, even though she doesn't get much of a response yet.

-She's not very good at chuch. I think it's too confining for her.

-She loves books.

-She's a huge imitator. She will make any sound that you make first.

-Other than some random sniffles she hasn't been sick at all.

-She still loves being naked.

-All in all she is a super happy little girl.

Madison,

You are truly my best little buddy and I can't even tell you how much I love you. It's hard to remember how life was without you in it. I want you to know how much your dad and I enjoy having you in our lives. We wouldn't have it any other way. We are very very blessed. Love you Sissy!

Mommy

Naughty Girl

Do you see those hands?

So Alan and I were watching the new episode of House tonight. It was a really good one and Madison was playing so nicely by herself. So quiet, you almost didn't realize she was there. Then I realized...hmm...quiet isn't always good. I looked over and there she was playing with one of my stamp pads. Brown. I've known plenty of adults who cannot open a stampin up stamp pad, but somehow my 11 1/2 month old was able to figure it out. It was all over her hands, and fortunately I was able to catch her before it was on her clothes too badly. I think it will come out, but this is the first major naughty thing Madison has really done. So I had to document it :) And somehow she still looks so innocent...

My Super Cool Husband!

Alan and his branch had a company wide competition, a DDA-a-thon (or new account competition), and they did really well! They were top in the division and Alan (branch manager), Ryan (assistant manager), Danny (personal banker), and Greg (teller) got recognized individually for being the top performer for their positions regionally with Ryan being top performer in the division. They were recognized in a division newsletter with their picture and a blurb about the branch and employees. Their original goal was to open 17 new accounts for the whole branch in two weeks. They ended up opening 46 new accounts altogether which is 271% of their goal!

Good job babe I'm so proud of you guys!

Getting so big...almost 1 year old!

Madison is growing up way too fast and it makes me sad. I've gotten some cute pictures of her over the past little while and need to put them on here. It's not often that she pauses to look at the camera these days so when she does I have to take advantage of it.

My mom got this little baby doll for Madison and ever since she gave it to her she just carries it around saying "bubby, bubby". It's so cute and it's the perfect size for her. I'll ask her "Madison where's your baby at?" She'll look around and go get it and give it loves and look at me like "here she is mom!" It's seriously so cute!

I put her hair in pigtails the other day. It's starting to get long! It looked so cute, but I think it hurt her head so I had to take them out. Not long and she will look like this all the time. And yes that is cracker all over her face, I had to make her sit still and food is generally a good way of doing that :)

Today Madison looked so cute and I had to take some pictures because she was being way smiley. I had my Super Saturday this morning so Alan spent the morning with her and got her ready and everything. She looked so cute! I was impressed. I don't normally put hats on her (Alan did because he doesn't do hair), but I totally will from now on because I loved this on her!

I put two on here because I think she looks JUST LIKE Beth when she was little in this one! It's so funny that somehow, Garrett looks like me when I was little, and Madison looks a lot like Beth! What are the odds?

Proud Daddy!

Madison is totally a daddy's girl these days! It's very cute. When he comes home after work she is so excited to see him and walks over and says "da da". I love it!

Time Out For Women

So I'm a little behind, I meant to post this last week, but just never got around to it. Last Saturday, my mom, sister, sweet baby McKinley, and I went to a Time Out For Women put on by Deseret Book. It was seriously SO amazing! They should have things like this way more often. It was a full day of inspirational speakers and singers and it was much needed. It was so nice to get out and enjoy a day of spiritual upliftment. The speakers were so awesome and the singers had so much talent. We are planning on going next year again. The closest one is in Las Vegas, so we are super excited! Thanks Mom and Beth for a very fun weekend!

She's Walking!

The cutest hot dog in the world :)

So for Halloween Madison was a hot dog...I know awesome right! I found the costume at target for only $15 bucks and I just could NOT pass it up. I thought how cute to have a little toddling hot dog. Then I had another awesome idea...Alan and I could be ketchup and mustard! And so it was.

Our meal of a family...

Alan was (as you can see) VERY excited to be mustard. He is such a good sport to humor me.

Then of course there was Optimus Prime. JD and Madison had a fun time trick or treating together:) Aren't they such cute kids?

So when we got home from trick or treating we pulled into our complex and there was our HOA president, Frank the Pirate, (called as such because he flies a pirate flag on his flagpole...you can see it in the background of the picture if you look closely...) standing on the corner waiting for people to come by to hand candy to. And how fitting for him to seriously be dressed as a pirate. Sadly enough our complex doesn't get many trick or treaters...don't know why (you would know if you have ever been to my house I think :) Anyway so we felt that we needed to show him a little attention so he didn't go to all the work of decorating his porch for nothing.

So we took a few pictures and talked to him for awhile. Nice guy, different, but super nice guy. Overall it was a good Halloween.

In other news, I have the flu. Not so fun. I broke out with a fever early Sunday morning and have been feeling very crappy for the last two days, but tonight I'm doing much better and I'm pretty sure I'm done with the fever. So I'm on the mend, but I went to the doctor today and he said he was pretty sure that because I have it Madison will get it. He started both me and Madison on Tamiflu today and $165 later...seriously...we both should be okay. But please keep us in your prayers. I don't want to have to see my precious little girl as miserable as I have been.

The Mighty Hunter...and good family times!

Alan got his first Buck ever! All week long Alan, along with my dad, brothers, and friends have been hunting from when the sun comes up to when the sun goes down...my mom and I have felt a little abandoned. My dad got his Buck on Saturday, the first day of the hunt, which never happens, and Alan got his on Tuesday. It was kind of a team effort to get Alan's deer down. Reed, Dan, and Alan all shot it, but Alan shot the killing shot. I'm so proud of him! It's a 2X3 so it's even a good size! Good job honey! (Sorry for those of you who don't enjoy looking at a dead deer...)

Here is Reed actually skinning my dad's friend Cory's antelope that he got last week.

This may gross some of you out, but when we were little we would play with the deer feet after my dad cut them off...I know it's a little morbid, but Reed bribed JD with Ice Cream if he would play with them. He was a little skeptical, but he thought he was pretty cool afterward.

It's been so nice to have all of my family in town. Reed and Rachelle have been transfered back out here! So they will live in Las Vegas and we are all so excited for them to be closer. I haven't seen my brother in two years, so that has been very fun! The kids were enjoying crawling all over Alan one night at my parents so I made them pause for a picture. Can you believe how big they are all getting? It's crazy!

We've been trying to show Madison "gentle" and "soft" with baby McKinley. I'm so afraid she's going to grab her and break her, but she is very interested in looking at her and touching her. Here are Rachelle with Madison and McKinley (with Brooklyn on the inside). Can't wait until there are 3 of them to all play together!

You can just tell that Reed is so excited for his little girl to get here. He loves Madison and McKinley so much! I can't wait to see him with his own little girl!

On the first day of the hunt my Mom, Beth, and I decided to take the kids to Pirate Island Pizza to get some energy out. They loved it! JD played some games and won a Twizzler and a little finger monster thing.

Garrett loves to just run around and go everywhere! He's such a little ball of energy.

Afterward we went to a park to sit outside because the weather has been so nice lately. The boys played and the girls sat in the shade. Madison would love to get down and play too, but I told her not until she walks and stops eating wood chips. It shouldn't be too long!

And little McKinley! She's the easiest in the group. I forget how nice it is to just have a baby that lays there and sleeps all day...sigh. Isn't she beautiful?

I feel like I haven't updated about Madison for a long time so I will tell a little about her doings lately.

First of all she is everywhere! She is crawling super fast now and loves to go up (and somewhat down) the steep stairs in my home. She gives me a heart attack because she seriously has no fear. She thinks she can do big people things because other people can, but she isn't always successful. She's fallen a couple times, but has only gone down 1 or 2 stairs. I'm not looking forward to when it will be the entire way down. But there's no keeping her away from them...gates help.

She is trying so hard to walk. She has taken some steps and is getting closer, but she's not quite ready to let go. She has been walking along things forever it seems like, but just won't let go yet.

I've been trying to gradually take the binky away and only give it to her at naps and at nightime. I'm not very good at it because, sad as it is, it's a way to stop the noise...But I really don't want her to be a little addict (although I think it's already happened.) If you have any advice on taking it away, it would be much appreciated.

She was teething last week and was ornery as ever. It is so hard when she teethes. I wish that they would just come through and get it over with. She's happier this week then last, but I know it's not the end of it.

She is getting so big and will be a year old in a month and half. It makes me sad to know that before I know it, she's not going to be my baby anymore, but my little girl. She is so fun and the biggest joy in my life.

McKinley Abigail Olsen

Here she is! My beautiful niece McKinley was born on Monday October 12, 2009 at 12:08 PM. She was 7 lbs. 1 oz. and 19 inches long. She is so beautiful! They came home yesterday and both Beth and baby are doing great! Welcome to the family McKinley! We love you!

Yay Madison!

Pumpkin Carving

Last week Alan decided that he wanted to carve a pumpkin and since there really is no way to keep Madison out of it, we decided to let her just make a mess and play with it :) So we put a tablecloth down and let her at it.

Getting ready to play.

Alan looks like he's karate chopping the pumpkin, but he's not I promise. (p.s. he got his hair cut! Doesn't it look so good!)

She was a little skeptical at first...

But it didn't take long for her to dive in. This is just proof that Madison will truly eat anything...even nasty pumpkin. Also, I wouldn't recommend letting babies eat pumkin...the diaper is horrible the next day. BLECH!

The Best News EVER!!!

I am so very excited to announce...that I no longer work at The Spectrum!!! I'm a free woman :) I have been counting down the days the past two weeks and today was my last day at The Spectrum. Jill Olsen (a family friend and Reed and Beth's mother-in-law) offered me a job working with her scrapbooking business. Beth works for her too and I cannot even begin to describe the joy I am feeling right now. I will work on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday's with Jill and I will be able to take Madison with me! This is the best news of it all. I'm so grateful for my mom and her willingness to watch Madison for me while I work, but it killed me to leave her everday. I'm so glad to have my precious girl with me all the time. I will have Wednesday and Friday's off. I'm so excited to have some time back in my life and my stress level has already been cut in half. Anyway, I had to let you all know so we could all celebrate together!

Over the weekend Matt and Ali came up from Phoenix for a visit to St. George. It was a nice little visit. On Saturday we went up to a campsite to roast hot dogs and marshmallows and shoot guns.

This is how we build campfires...hick style :)

Alan's parents took their turns shooting Al's shotgun.

Dryden and Cohen are such cute boys!

Madison did NOT like the water very much as you can see.

It was very pretty where we went. I love being out in nature. It's good.