Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

Maddie and I are home. We are back from Florida and back in the comforts of our own house. I've got to admit you really appreciate these things when you are traveling with a one year old baby. Ryan and I don't go out much anymore. We find that things are much easier when we just stay home. We have everything we need for Maddie O. and she has all of her things to keep her occupied. So, traveling by myself with our sugar booger proved to be a true test of my patience. After a self assessment, I think I did good.

We enjoyed our week long trip visiting my parents in Naples.













Mother Nature definitely wasn't on our side during this trip. She dropped some unseasonably low temperatures on the sunshine state. We had to trade our swimsuits in for hoodies.







During our visit we were able to celebrate my dad's birthday with him. Madison helped him open his gifts....sort of.



Madison is a true outdoor girl. If she fussed even a bit we would just take her outside and she was good to go. As soon as the patio door was slid open she would shout "Weeeee!" We spent a lot of time perched on the patio, where the wind was blocked and watched Maddie have a ball.





Madison also found a friend in Florida...herself. She has seen her reflection before in mirrors and windows. She'd react by pointing and smiling. This time was completely different. She was laughing, babbling and cracking up at herself. At one point she even gave herself a kiss.



I found a friend in Florida too. She moved so I had to find her again. We did and I also got to meet her little one, Alexandria. Celine and I met while working at an Italian restaurant while attending college. We had lots of fun while working and lots more fun after work. She is a dear friend and I often wished we lived closer together. Especially now so our little girls could see how much fun we are.





During our trip to Myrtle Beach Madison wanted nothing to do with the sand so I was a little anxious to see how she would do when put back into the same environment. This time was much different, she didn't even care that she was in the sand. She was more concerned with finding sea shells and handing them to her Meme. Meme was given a handful of shells but I'm not quite sure what happened to them.





So, yes it was chilly but we did manage to enjoy the beach everyday. I loved watching our tiny gal on the big open space, crawling around and both of us loving it just the same.







And the question here is....do I let her keep going or do I stop her before she reaches the chilly water?



Of course I let her keep going...these are great moments.





After all of the crawling on the beach, it does tucker a little one out.



There were a lot of moments with our Maddie O. during our visit with Meme and Papaw. Madison showed us her personality time and time again.









I now have a huge love affair with my new camera. In the 6 days we were gone I took close to 700 pictures. I love having these moments documented. Digital photography is awesome.





While we had a grand time on our little trip we are glad to be home. Maddie missed her daddy and I sure did miss my husband.

Now, there is snow a falling and a tree that is needing to be trimmed. It's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.

Until next time....

Quick Post

Good evening!

Just thought I would do a quick post because we've got a lot going on over here.

Mama got a brand new camera! I've been snap, snap, snapping away.





And it got here just in time for our vacation. Yes, that's right we're going on vacation. Well, Maddie and I are. We're going to see her Meme and Papaw in Florida. We've started to pack...sort of.







We've also started decorating a little bit for Christmas.



I think these little hands are enjoying the new "toys".



Speaking of Christmas....Sugar Booger's gift arrived today. If she only had any idea what was waiting for her inside. It's freaking killing me. I'm dying to rip open those boxes. Only twenty-two more days.



Even though Santa already brought her gift, we still have our elf on the shelf watching over her.



Bath time was a complete splash fest tonight. I think she practicing for the pool at Meme and Papaw's house.







She loves her baths and I love our little fish.



Bye for now!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! Yeah, yeah it's a little late or perhaps a little early for next year, you pick.

This Thanksgiving was very different than the last. Last year Maddie was only a couple of weeks old. It was her first holiday and we were eager to show her off. Everything was still so new to us and we were still learning. Madison slept a lot of the day and was passed around throughout Ryan's family as everyone was eager to hold our brand new baby.

This year, Madison is talking, mostly baby babble. She's crawling and attempting to walk. She's eating table food, not just formula and we've got ourselves a budding toddler here, not a newborn.

As I watched Madison throughout the day, exploring her surroundings and interacting with family, I found many things I am thankful for.

I am thankful, Ryan's family makes "real" mashed potatoes. And the story goes...My sister asked me if I've given Maddie mashed potatoes. I told her yes but she doesn't like them. She was shocked and asked what kind I gave her. I told her I wasn't sure, some sort of instant kind. She was appalled and let me know that was why Maddie didn't like them, It's because they were instant and not homemade. So, I am thankful that Maddie got to try real mashed potatoes. For the record, Christy was correct, Maddie loved the mashed potatoes.



I'm thankful we don't have stairs.





Lastly, I am thankful I have a lap for my laptop and don't have to put it on the floor and bend over like Maddie. Poor girl. Give it a few years sister and you'll have a lap too.



After our delicious meal, it was time to rest. We had our little sleeping bbeauty.



And our other beauty that just wanted to pretend she was sleeping.





That night, my sister, my niece and I headed out for a little black friday action.



Maddie just pretended she was shopping. It's safer that way. No crazy ladies cutting you off to get the last emerald green sweater in a size medium or whatever your fancy may be.





Thanksgiving was great we spent the day with our family and relaxed, ate, talked, played games and laughed.

We also discovered that our little sugar booger is getting some new teeth. She's getting some big ones now so she's chewing on everything again.





Lots of love!