There was a little girl...

There was a little girl who had a little curl

Right in the middle of her forehead;

When she was good, she was very, very good,

And when she was bad she was horrid.

This is my Taylor. To a T!

She decided it would be fun to dig in grandma's plants tonight.

There was about a foot and half square of dirt on grandma's nice clean, white carpet.

There was a layer of dirt smeared into the little kids couch.

I popped her leg (not hard) and put her in time out - until I had cleaned up the mess.

Afterwards, while explaining to her that she can't do that... she's done it before and knows better... she told me she was sorry.

All was immediately forgiven. You can't be mad at that face.

When Chris was backing me up - reiterating that it was bad - she just shrugged her shoulders like "what do you want me to do about it? It's too late now."

We both had to turn away before we laughed out loud.

Bumper pads and Lollipops

some random cuteness
this face is just so sad
and this one is too cute
taylor just looks so sweet here

here too

Madison is pure sweetness

Until now, maddie hasn't moved much in her sleep. She basically just lays there. The only scary thing for me has been that she likes to rub her face with her blanket. Because of this, I've gone in her room numerous times to find her completely covered by her blankets (whether she was swaddled or not) and I'm terrified she'll smother herself. Now a new scary thing... Maddie is rolling over. Both ways, very well now. Last night, I laid her down in bed on her back laying one way, with a light pink paci in her mouth. When she woke me up for her 3 am feeding, she was laying the opposite way, on her stomach, with a dark pink paci in her mouth. This didnt scare me at all... in fact, I thought it was pretty funny. Then she woke me up again, not long after, and her legs were stuck, hanging out of her crib through the rails. So, to bumper pad or not? It's in storage. We'd have to dig to find it. It's one of those super padded ones that you're not supposed to use anymore cause babies can smother in them. Do i get it? Or not? Or buy one of the mesh ones? I remember going through this phase with taylor... dont' remember what we did for it. Just remember she'd get stuck all the time. (***Note: after talking to chris today during his lunch break, he told me was the one who moved maddie in the middle of the night. LOL. He's the one who gave her the other paci. Crazy huh? I feel silly for thinking she'd done it all on her own! She did however roll over on her tummy. I'm very impressed chris got up with her... he usually sleeps through the crying. So thanks babe. I appreciate the extra sleep i got!) Moving on...

Taylor and I made lollipops today. LOL. I just accidentally typed lollipoops. :) Too funny. Anywho- Taylor is SO into cooking right now. She even made lunch yesterday for me and grandma (it was pasta salad. She dumped everything in after I'd cooked it and gotten it ready... then she added the dressing and stired it up! She loves pasta salads.) So, i saw on John and kate plus 8 the other day, they made lollipops. Just melted down that candy you buy from craft stores, poured it on sticks, and decorated with sprinkles. Easy right? I thought taylor could handle that. So here's our first adventure into candy making!The supplies

Taylor with the chocolate on her face

How she got chocolate on her face

Our finished workPosing with her lollipop (she's saying cheese!)

No... i really didn't let maddie have any! I might be nuts, but I'm not crazy :)

Random

Here is taylor rocking out on her guitar.
Saying she wants to "hold you."

Princess of the Pirates... Maddie

Taylor is starting to wear headbands! WOOHOO... keeping some of that hair out of her eyes

...

That smile brightens my days! And makes my sleepless nights worth it.

Taylor and her best friend/cousin... Isaac. She asks for him everyday! They were trying to take a nap together on the little couch.

Maddie in her church clothes. Too pretty.

What have you done?

I'm copying whitney here... but here goes

The things in CAPITAL letters are things that I have done. What have you done?

1. STARTED YOUR OWN BLOG
2. SLEPT UNDER THE STARS
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. WATCHED A METEOR SHOWER
6. BATHED IN A RIVER
7. Been to the Taj Mahal
8. Walked on a glacier in Alaska
9. CAUGHT AND HELD A SNAKE
10. SPOKE IN FRONT OF A BIG CROWD
11. Bungee jumped
12. HAD A WHIRLWIND LOVE AFFAIR THAT BROKE YOUR HEART (HIGH SCHOOL!).
13. Found an arrowhead or fossil
14. TAUGHT YOURSELF AN ART FROM SCRATCH
15. RESCUED AN ANIMAL
16. Ate sweet breads, glands or tripe
17. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
18. GROWN YOUR OWN VEGETABLE
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. HAD A PILLOW FIGHT
22. Hiked to base camp on Mt. Everest
23. TAKEN A SICK DAY WHEN YOUR NOT ILL
24. BUILT A SNOW FORT
25. WATCHED AN ANIMAL BEING BORN
26. GONE SKINNY DIPPING
27. LEARNED A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. STAYED UP FOR MORE THEN 24 HOURS
31. Trained a dog to do cool tricks
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. VISITED THE BIRTHPLACE OF YOUR ANCESTORS (JACKSON TN)
35. SEEN AN AMISH COMMUNITY
36. Can drive a stick shift car
37. Won over $1000 in a raffle or lottery
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
42. BEEN SERENADED
43. Visited Africa
44. WALKED ON A BEACH BY MOONLIGHT
45. BROKEN A BONE
46. STARTED YOUR OWN BUSINESS
47. QUIT A JOB BECAUSE YOU WERE TOTALLY UNHAPPY
48. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
49. Been to the Eiffel Tower
50. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
51. KISSED IN THE RAIN
52. PLAYED IN THE MUD
53. GONE TO A DRIVE IN
54. Been in a movie
55. Visited the Great Wall of China
56. Joined a prayer group
57. Taken a martial arts class
58. Visited Russia
59. Served at a soup kitchen
60. Gone whale watching
61. RECEIVED FLOWERS FOR NO REASON
62. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
63. Gone sky diving
64. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
65. Bounced a check
66. Flown in a helicopter
67. SAVED A FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TOY (MY MOM KEPT MY FIRST RATTLE, MY GIRLS NOW HAVE IT.)
68. VISITED THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
69. Eaten caviar
70. Pieced a quilt
71. Stood in Times Square
72. Toured the Everglades
73. Been fired from a job
74. Seen the changing of the guards in London
75. BROKEN SOMETHING EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE
76. Been on a speeding motorcycle
77. SEEN THE GRAND CANYON IN PERSON
78. Published a book
79. Visited the Vatican
80. GOT A TATTOO(AIRBRUSHED AND HENNA)
81. Been to a coffee shop in Amsterdam
82. Seen the aurora borealis in person
83. Read the entire Bible
84. VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE (NOT INSIDE)
85. killed and prepared an animal for eating
86. HAD CHICKEN POX8
7. Saved someone’s life
88. Sat on a jury
89. MET SOMEONE FAMOUS
90. JOINED A BOOK CLUB
91. LOST A LOVED ONE
92. Toured the UN
93. Hiked to Machu Picchu
94. Swam in the Indian Ocean
95. Conversed with someone when neither of you spoke each others language
96. DIRTY DANCED :)
97. Been stung by a bee
98. ACTED IN A PLAY
99. Had more than 5 surgeries
100. THREW A SURPRISE PARTY FOR SOMEONE

Love is in the air... and lots of germs too.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Me and Chris exchanged gifts Friday evening when he got home from work. We couldn't wait! First, Chris got me a Heart shaped Box of Chocolates, and a dozen roses. The perfect start. I thought it was done there. But no. My handsome is full of suprises. He also got me an ITunes Gift Card and the movie Nights in Rodanthe. WooHoo. He even is going to watch it with me!

Our roses... Taylor's is the yellow one, Maddie's is pink... mine are the redder ones.

Not only did my handsome treat his Oldest woman on this valentine's day. He also bought a rose each for Maddie and Taylor and a stuffed animal for each. The stuffed animals were holding their own little boxes of chocolate (Taylor is getting to eat Maddie's, but don't worry... Maddie gets hers by proxy :P )

Taylor with her rose and elephant and chocolates.

Chris got a Kurt Cobain Biography book. And a handmade card! I worked hard on that card. :) No... my gift was not as cool as what he got me... BUT, I honestly didn't think he'd get anything, except maybe the flowers and chocolates! another BUT... Valentine's is kinda a girl's holiday anyways... right?

Taylor and her elephant

So, all that was friday night. On Saturday ~ V-Day! ~ Me and chris took the girls up to my mom and dad's so we could go out just the two of us. After dropping them off, we went to eat at Buca Di Beppo (my absolute favorite italian restaurant ever!) We had the best lunch and an awesome waiter! And there was no wait cause we were a little early for the lunch rush.

Maddie and her tiger and chocolates... chris's book is beside her tiger too... the Kurt Cobain biography.

After our incredible meal, we went to the Frist to see the Renaissance Exhibit. It was amazing to see all those artifacts, statues, books, etc. I told chris I would read my scriptures more often if they had all that gold and colorful drawings in them.

Maddie eating her tiger!

My favorite item was a sculpture of the virgin mary and joseph on their way to bethlehem. It wasn't the most beautiful... but it stood out to me. Mary was riding the donkey (like most pictures portray the story) with joseph walking beside. There was another man/boy in the pictures, and it said the boy was josephs son from a previous marriage. I thought that was cool... not that he had the son... if that's even true, just that i'd never heard of that before. I wonder where they got that from.

My movie, chocolates, and itunes card.

After the Frist, We drove around for a bit... we ended up stopping at Krispy Kreme. We bought a dozen doughnuts for dessert and for a thank you for my family for babysitting. After that we went back to my parents and hung out for a bit.

We ended our day by going over to John and Krystin's and watching Isaac while they went out to see a movie. Taylor and Isaac have started to play so well together. they're too funny.

The only bad part of the day was... Me and Chris both woke up with sore throats yesterday. By the end of the day, my head hurt, my nose was running, my stomach was churning. I was SICK. I am Sick. I couldn't sleep last night and that made it worse. Also, both my girls have runny noses. Maddie even has a temperature. So this morning handsome went to the store and bought us meds (everything at krogers was buy one get one free, so we stocked up.) I've taken mine, maddie's got hers. Taylor even got some vitamins. Now it's time for a nap. If only maddie will let me.

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you had a good one. I sure did. Cold and all!

It was a great valentine's day.

A Wednesday Letter for you

My mom and dad -in laws read this book recently, and said it was a great read, so I thought, What the heck. I'm waiting to either borrow goose girl or buy it, so I'm not reading anything at the moment. Why not try out this little book. Also, the author, Jason Wright, spoke at Time Out For Women that I attended a little while back. He was very funny and I just knew this would be a good book.

Then the first chapter happened. I won't say much about what happened. But I didn't want to read anymore. I thought it was awful. Not the writing or anything. Just the story. I didn't want to finish it. It made me very sad. I get a little over emotionally involved in books. But Pat said to keep on going and I trust her (especially about books.) So... I picked the book back up yesterday morning and started reading again. I just skipped past chapter one.

I was finished reading last night at 9:30. Oh my, what an incredible book. There at the end I was crying pretty hard. (It takes alot to make me honestly cry at a movie, but for some reason, when it comes to books... I get the runs from my eyes! Sorry for that imagery.) I'm sure Chris saw my silent sobs and shaking shoulders from across the room where he was working on his laptop. Maddie was laying on the bed in front of me and it seemed the more into the story and upset I was, the more she screamed. I would put the book down and calm her down, then pick it right back up.

I have to say, this was SO good. I've told Chris he HAS to read it... it's not really his cup of tea, but regardless, he's going to read it. Maybe someday I'll even get my own Wednesday letter! LOL... right! Well, I can dream can't I?

Some old pictures

I've been meaning to post some old pics, but they were lost on my memory card. Since it's been found here they are.

First off, I need to thank the makers of Baby Einstein. Y'all are geniuses.

Y'all allow me 20+ minutes of uninterupted peace a day.

Both of my girls watch you and love you.

This is truly a miracle. You appeal to toddlers and babies alike!

Thank you for my sanity!

These next pictures are from a while ago. This is how I found Taylor one day after nap time. I love the bolero look she's created here with her shirt!

I just know taylor will be so proud of these pictures when she's a teenager!

Patience

I've learned recently that patience is a funny thing.

It seems like every time I lose it... Chris finds it. I have to say how greatful I am for this.

He's saved Maddie from certain death a couple times this week alone.

I'm just kidding!!!! I would never do anything to my gorgeous baby girl. I would, however, pull my hair out and lose the last of my sanity, if it wasn't for Chris saving the day.

Another funny thing about patience... It seems to me that the more I pray for it, the harder it is to keep it. Maybe I should quit praying for it.

Even as I sit here, Maddie is fussing behind me as chris tries his best Daddy Dance to calm her. I can hear his patience slowly being lost, and I'm calming down a bit, gearing up for another round of gassy baby cries.

Oh the joys of parenthood!!!

:)

Tootin Toes

Here is Maddie showing you her toes. Listen closely and you'll hear her other talent :)

A Special Request

My little sis cayce saw this video the other day and has been asking for me to post it on here. Unfortunately, I had lost my memory card and hadn't been able to put it up yet. But Super Husband found it today in a box that had been thrown in our closet. So here it is. The waiting is over.

Also, Madison is almost sitting up on her own now! And she's rolling over very well. Oh, and she found her toes. She'll even show you them if you ask nicely! :)

Taylor Made Cookies

Like my little play on words? LOL.

Me and Taylor made cookies today.

She helped alot more than I thought she'd be able to.

She helped to un-lumpify the mix (I can't think of another word for it!)

Then she helped me add the egg, water, and butter.

Then she helped stir the mix.

She helped dump teaspoons of dough on the cookie sheets.

She helped clean up the bowl and spoons.

She helped put the cookies on the cooling rack.

She helped put on the frosting.

She added the sprinkles.

Especially to this one.

We admired our good work.

Then she enjoyed the fruit of her labors.

Kinda. She only ate the sprinkles and frosting.

Good Job Taylor. Your first attempt at baking was great. I had fun cooking with you today! Next, we'll try brownies!

Thank You Girls, For Rock Band

Thanks to our wonderful daughters, we had a nice little tax refund. We are being very good with most of it. Paying off debt, and putting the rest into savings. But... We decided since we were being so good... we deserved a treat!

So, last night we went out on a date (thanks to John and Krystin!) and we bought Rock Band 2! I am SO excited... we stayed up a bit and played last night. Then we woke up early this morning before the girls were up (well, maddie was awake, but not fussing) and we played some more. It is too much fun. I really like the drums, but I suck at them. I'm better at the guitar thanks to guitar hero. And the singing is my favorite... though I haven't had a real chance to rock out there. People were trying to sleep both times we played and it's hard to whisper sing.

Anyways... I'm so glad to have my girls in my life. And glad to be able to use them as tax deductions. And glad to be able to buy this awesome game with that tax deduction.

So thanks girls. Daddy and Mommy love our new toy!