January 31st

No children were harmed during the taking of this picture.

January 30th

Madd is being buried alive.

He actually looks tiny in this picture, which is something we don't say very often.

January 29th

Talking to Poppy on the phone

Pulling himself up on Daddy's legs

January 28th

Why won't she smile....

January 27th

Night-Night Grace

January 26th

Madd's new favorite toy...wooden spoon and a pan!

January 25th

Mackenzy (8 months), Henry (8 months), Maddox (9 months) & Brinley (12 months)

BUDDIES!!!

January 24th

Grace kept giving me all these weird faces, so I finally asked her to give me one good smile and I would be done and leave....she did! Who knew all you had to do was ask!

January 23rd

He loves watching his sister play!

January 22nd

This is why you don't see as many pictures of her (she doesn't like to have her picture taken anymore!)...but why must she give me these faces!?!

January 21st

Madd enjoyed his dinner...did you?

Just playing with his blocks...and the box they came in.

January 20th

Today we met some friends at Just Add Children. Madd enjoyed all the playing and was reunited with his buddy Henry. It was so adorable. Henry gave Madd like 5 kisses in a row! Such buddies! (Yes, I do realize that there will be a time when this could be considered inappropriate, but it's just so adorable right now!)

January 19th - Sucking through a straw?

Who knew...Madd has many hidden talents, but apparently this kid can figure out how to suck through a straw when he wants an Ocean Water Cream Slush bad enough. Dan laid down next to him with his drink and Madd made a beeline for Dan (this happens often...at least when you have food). Dan told him that he couldn't have any since he didn't know how to suck through a straw, but I guess he gave him a chance and before we knew Madd was slurping. After he lost interest Dan pulled out his Mozzarella Sticks and again, Madd was waiting...this kid is going to eat me out of house and home...I just know it!

January 18th

Just a day short, but doesn't this chubby little face make up for the wait?

January 17th

What a great day for some barbecue and playing in the backyard, so we did just that!

January 16th

Grace took some time out of her day to snuggle in with her baby brother in his crib:-)

Madd as a Storm Trooper!

Janurary 15th

What a sweet couple!!!

January 14th

Madd's new favorite activity is roaming the halls "nakey" after a good bath. He seriously did this for about a half hour before he was forced into footy pajamas and sleep.

He found something! Quick get it before it ends up in his mouth!

January 13th

Well today was busy (well not really, but that is what I am telling myself since I totally forgot to take a picture of the kids.) So instead you get a last minute pic of me before I go to sleep. Don't judge...I'm about to go to sleep so you missed my whole "I'm one HOT Mama" look earlier (yeah right!) I personally like the Desitin box behind me...that says a lot about me I think.

Well this is what you get!

January 12th

We had such a great morning! The sun was shining and the temperature was warm. We got a nice walk in and then had some bubble fun. Grace loves blowing bubbles and Maddox loves watching. Everytime she would blow some new bubbles he would crack up laughing.

I LOVE THEM!!!

January 11th - Madd's 9 month appointment

Today Maddox had his 9 month check-up. He was such brave baby boy. He got 3 shots and his finger pricked to test for anemia and didn't even cry! I appreciate that, it always makes me so sad when he or Grace cry after shots. He weighed 24lbs 7oz (94th percentile) and was 30 inches long (92nd percentile). He is getting so big. I think he is about to outgrow his 18 month shirts:-( I can't wait for Madd to learn how to walk up the stairs, because my arms are tired!!!

January 10th

It's hard to decide which picture to make my picture of the day. Do you go with the picture of Grace refusing to share her princesses or do you go with the one where they are playing blocks together so nicely. I think I will go with the more rare occurance and make the picture of the day where they are playing nicely together:-)

January 9th

Male bonding time

January 8th

All Clean!!!

January 7th - Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my friend Monica!

AND....

Happy Birthday to a special family member...Pie!

Pie turned 8 years old today.

Here is a picture of Pie enjoying her birthday present.

January 6th

Goodnight kisses for Daddy

January 5th

We had so much fun playing at our friends' house today. Lots of dress-up, baby dolls & dancing!

January 4th

Who doesn't love that winning smile and those gorgeous lashes?

I love my baby boy!

January 3rd - First Haircut & Picture of the Day

Grace got her first haircut today! While she hasn't grown a lot of hair over the last 3 years of her life, it is getting a little longer and with the length it is stringy and frizzy! I couldn't take it much more! So I took her to Fantastic Sams for her first cut. She did really good and was so excited to get her hair cut like Mama and Daddy. The stylist said she was going to give her a "bob" and took off about an inch or more. Not sure if it is a bob, but it has to be an improvement. Hopefully the cut will help her hair grow a little faster and fuller. Keep your fingers crossed!

Picture of the Day

Grace after her first haircut. She loves it, so I love it too:-)

January 2nd

Grace is enjoying (although it doesn't appear to be) her fettucini alfredo made with love by her Daddy.

Our day was spent hanging out around the house. We were deeply saddened when our beloved Pokes failed to win the Cotton Bowl.

January 1st - New Year's Resolution...but not really a resolution.

So I am going to attempt something new for 2010. I am going to take a picture of our family (may not be everyone in the family, but it will at least be one family member) and provide a caption for each day of the year. Not sure what my plan is for the end of the year, but let's go with it. I hope I can at least make it for a month. I will try to post daily, but we all know how that goes.

This picture pretty much represents what we have been doing all day long...nothing! Just watching some football and hanging out in our pjs. Gotta love Grace's expressions!

Christmas 2009

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

Only a hippopotamus will do

No crocodiles or rhinoceroseses

I only like hippopotamuseses

And hippopotamuses like me too!

Grace's new favorite song! She has been singing it all season long. We enjoyed Christmas at home in San Antonio. Grandma & Papa flew in from Pittsburgh to spend Christmas with us. This is the first year that Grace really "got" Santa and she loved talking about him and what he was going to bring her (Ariel in the pink dress). She actually sat in his lap for about 10 seconds before you could tell she was about to lose it! Grace got a new doll house (from Grandma & Papa) for all her princess barbie dolls and she LOVES it! I haven't seen her since Christmas:-) Maddox got some new boy toys, like footballs! It was so nice to wake up in our own house and see what all Santa left us and still be able to spend it with some of our family. We feel truly blessed.

Grace's 3rd Birthday

Whoops...kind of behind. We celebrated Grace's 3rd Birthday numerous times this year. Granny flew in for the weekend before and we had dinner at The Cracker Barrel (they even sang Happy Birthday to my little girl and she enjoyed a free sundae) and at home we all enjoyed some ice cream cake. Grace opened some of her gifts which included, Ariel dress-up outfit, Ariel wig, Ariel shoes and crown, Ariel jewelry, etc. Do you see a theme? We then celebrated with all of Grace's friends on December 14th. The theme...you guessed it...Ariel! It was an "Under the Sea" with Ariel theme. Granny and I, with the help of a helium tank, blew up 450 teal and purple balloons. We had Ariel cupcakes and listened to the music of The Little Mermaid. Grace greeted all her guests in her Ariel costume. She had so much fun and it made all my blisters (from tying 450 balloons) worth it. Grace, Maddox, Daddy & I celebrated Grace's actual birthday the next day (December 15th) with a quiet meal at home and had leftover ice cream cake. What a great few days for a beautiful & sweet baby girl.