Here Fishy Fishy

OK, so she may not swim like a fishy just yet, but Madeline is a water girl for sure! We started swimming lessons last week and the only time she fusses is when we have to get *out* of the pool. :-) These lessons are supposed to teach her how to kick on her belly and her back (with me holding her, of course), stick her face in the water and blow bubbles, hold on to the side, and basic water safety. We paid $40 for 8 lessons and the first week the instructor didn't even show up, then a new lady "taught" on Thursday and all she did in 30 minutes was lead us in a song and practice kicks twice. Oh well! I'll just chalk it up to money well spent on pool-time fun for Maddie and me!

Yes, Maddie, this is your 1st swimming lesson! :-)

practicing kicking our feet (and apparently flying like an airplane, too!)

Maddie loved twirling in circles and always made a cute "woooooo" sound.

This is so much fun, Mom! Let's do this all the time! :-)
What a cutie pie girl.

What's Old is New Again

Searching for an interesting way to spice up your wardrobe?

Here's one way--

start off about 10 pounds heaver than you'd like, then get pregnant, have a baby, don't completely lose all the weight, get pregnant again 5 months later...oh, and for the last seven or so months of that process, pack up about 90% of your wardrobe in storage boxes and shove them in the basement because you're remodeling your house. (Caution: this process could go on for years!) After all that, get sick of wearing maternity clothes (because you refuse to buy new clothes in a larger size that would actually fit you), and suck it up--go on a diet and start exercising!

Lo and behold, after about a month, dig out those boxes from the basement and *VOILA!* --you'll have a whole new wardrobe and clothes you completely forgot you had! It's like a shopping spree in your own closet!

All that to say...I got out my pre-pregnancy jeans today and they FIT!!! Granted, I still have a LONG way to go, but I was so excited to fit into my old jeans today! Ah, it's the small things in life that can bring such joy. :-)

Grandparents

Keith's parents, Ron and Darlene, were here for a week-long visit recently. They are both laid-back, easy-going types, so they're easy to have around. :-) When I asked what they wanted to do during the week, they said in unison, "Play with Maddie!" Wish granted! Having free babysitting is awesome and a rare luxury! I was able to unpack some boxes, paint Maddie's new bedroom, paint a bookcase and side table for her room...things I got done in a few days that would have taken me weeks worth of precious nap times! Thank goodness for grandparents! :-)

We're back! :-)

Whew, it's been a whole month since I've posted anything on my blog! That's a good indicator of how life's been around here. We finally moved into our house in mid-January and then nine days later Keith's parents came to visit from Ohio! It was a whirlwind time, but lots of fun. Most years we only get to see them once, but this year we'll see them again in June--they have a timeshare in Orlando, so we get to go to Disneyworld! Maddie will go crazy! :-) We're planning to make this a yearly event. Keith's sister and brother-in-law have a son, Dominic, who is two weeks older than Maddie, so they'll have great fun together.

In honor of the vacation, I've decided to start Maddie in swimming lessons next week. She's such a water girl, so I know she'll have a blast. The person it'll be harder on is me...braving a swimsuit in February (or any time of year, for that matter) is quite scary--oh, the sacrifices we make for our children! :-)

Now for a smattering of photos from last month...

Maddie loves reading books in her new "big girl chair".

Helping Mama sweep the floors--she actually does a good job!

"Helping" Daddy install the kitchen cabinets...well, NOT actually so helpful!

About two weeks ago our girl became a full-fledged walker! She's a total pro now. She'd been able to walk since Christmas, but refused to practice...then one day she made up her mind to do it and she's been on the run ever since!

Family portrait when the grandparents were here--Maddie is quite fascinated with the flashing light on the timer.


This is one of my best friends, Christine, who visited us the day after we moved in. She was my roomie in college for 3 years and a matron-of-honor in my wedding. She and her husband Mike just had their first child, cutie pie Jonathan David, in November!


We opened belated Christmas presents and, while I was excited to see the actual gifts, Maddie and Lucy were more entertained by the tissue paper.


I'll add more later...now off to exercise! My goal is to lose 20-25 pounds by the end of May (for our Florida trip), so I'm putting my nose to the grindstone! Wish me luck! :-)

This is what it looks like...

when you become a LET-ME-DO-IT eater and refuse to let anyone help you. Yogurt beard. Yogurt hands. Yogurt lake on your tray. Oh, food is so entertaining!



Finally you just give up the spoon altogether and opt for your hands as scooping devices.

On a different note, the other day I was packing in our bedroom and Maddie decided to create a makeshift phone booth for herself. Perhaps she's calling Aunt Dana in London! With her technological abilities, it wouldn't surprise me! :-)

Almost Home!

After a remodeling process that has seemed to take forever (mostly because we're so anxious to get it done, already!), we are almost home!! I'm going to the house on Monday to get as much cleaning done as possible and then we're hoping to move in next Tuesday or Wednesday! Of course, there will be lots of little projects still left to do, but at least it will save Keith an hour of driving there and back each day and I can be unpacking and getting us organized during the day (as Maddie allows!). Here are pictures from yesterday's visit...




Guest bedroom...now doesn't that look appealing?! Keith's parents are coming to visit for a week on January 22nd, so I'd better get my tail in gear!! Nothing says "welcome to our home" like a pile of construction debris! :-)

It's football bowl season mania around here lately, so of course a game was on the radio at the house. "Touchdown" was one of the first gestures that Keith taught Maddie. She's so well trained now that she even does it when she just hears an announcer's voice!!

Oh my gosh, I'm so excited about my kitchen! The appliances are in! My first dishwasher in 6 years!!! :-)

I'm sure Maddie was being a big help with installing the gas cooktop. :-) The hood above it is actually stainless steel...I was just itching to pull of all the protective coatings on everything and see the shiny goodness!



Although the hardwood floors look good from this distance, the guys doing them messed them up, so this weekend they have to be totally stripped down again and re-done! Ugh. That is why I'm waiting until Monday to clean!

Resolve & Reflect

As 2007 draws to a close, I've chosen six goals for myself for the coming year (and, of course, it's another great excuse to scrapbook!). I hope these goals will help me achieve a healthier life in mind, body and spirit. The first page lists my resolutions and the second page will be left blank until the end of 2008, so that I can reflect on my progress in each area.

My resolutions for the new year include:
1. Invest in friendships...old & new (I need to be more deliberate about this!)
2. Do something creative every day (even if it's only for 5 minutes, I need that renewing energy that being artistic/creative gives me.)
3. Make healthy choices...meals & exercise (I want to change my mindset...it's not just about the scale, but about feeling strong and healthy and setting small goals over the long-haul.)
4. Read the Bible in one year (I've been a Christian since I was 5 years old, but I've never read the entire Bible!)
5. Learn more about photography (this is a fun new hobby, but I really don't know much about it other than point-and-shoot, and I see so many cool photo ideas I'd love to be able to replicate...perhaps I'll take a class, get lessons from a friend, get a book on it.)
6. Be the best wife and mom I can be (this will be a goal for the rest of my life, but I want to be more conscious of giving 100% as consistently as I can to support Keith and Maddie in becoming the people God meant them to be!)

"resolve for 2008"
(click on photos to see close-ups)

"reflect on 2008"

Happy New Year, everyone! I love you all! :-)