New year, new goals

I can't believe it's January 13th already!!!! Madelyn is 6 1/2 months old now and doing great! She went to her 6 month check up on Monday and weighed in at 15 lbs and 10 oz, being 25 1/2 inches long. That puts her at the 50th percentile for both height and weight and she is a healthy little peanut! We are so blessed by her!

I've started my new job and so far so good. I've only been in the office a few days but I feel like I am learning quickly and it seems like I will be able to do the job well. I've done a couple of assessments for the kids with my supervisor and then next week I will be doing more with my supervisor, but then it will be mostly her watching as I do it all. Eeek!!!

Matt's been busy at work, trying to wrap up year end stuff and dealing with issues in the office. He gets frustrated when things don't go right but that's just the perfectionist in him and him trying to get everything done right the first time and on time.

I suppose that's all for now. I will post pictures later (kinda tired and going to spend time with Madelyn before she goes to bed!)

Merry Christmas!

It's been awhile and I'm sure there are lots of things I could update so we'll see what I remember to add here.

On Thursday, the 17th, Matt, Madelyn and I loaded up the car and headed to Michigan for Christmas. It's a 12 hour trip so we stopped that night at one of my best friends house in Indianapolis. We arrived at 3:30 that afternoon, so much sooner than we thought! Mady did great and was able to have some fun playing with Rebekah's two boys, Luke and Jackson (Jackson is a couple weeks younger than Mady). It was so nice to take a break and get to spend some time together with her since I don't see her very often. It was a rough night for Mady but we made it through and hit the road around 8 that morning to get ot my parents house.

Friday night was the Treece party (for my mom's side of the family) and Saturday was spent getting ready for the Mouw party (dad's family). Sunday we spent the day with Matt's family and Madelyn got more toys than she will ever know what to do with! She had quite the pile! Later that evening, we went to see our former neighbors and spend time with them and their little one (Clayton was born 9/11) We had such a great time with them! I didn't want to leave but it was late and we had some things to do the next day and they had to get to work.

Monday was relaxing and we went to see my cousin Austin's school Christmas program. Tuesday I got to go to Olive Garden with my best friend, Sam! We had a wonderful time with our usual "soup, salad and breadsticks" lunch. Mady even behaved well! Wednesday I went to Panera Bread with Melanie and then we watched "The Blind Side." What a great movie! It was nice to get out and spend some time with her since next year she is going overseas to be a missionary. That evening we had another Christmas party at my uncle's house. Mom and dad were nice enough to take Mady home so Matt and I could go out with a bunch of friends from high school. We had no idea there would be that many people there but it was nice to see all of them since we are all over the place now.

Christmas eve was spent playing cards at Matt's grandparents house and then going to a Christmas eve service at their church. After the service, per our tradition, Matt and I opened our gifts to each other. He got me the game, "Settlersof Catan" which I am addicted to now, thanks to Joel and Katie! Christmas morning we celebrated with my parents and I"m sure they enjoyed watching Mady open her presents, although she enjoyed the paper more than anything else. We had a great time teaching them how to play "settlers" and just relaxing at home.

Saturday afternoon we headed back to Georgia and stopped once again at Rebekah's house. Twice in 10 days was great! We made it back here yesterday around 4:30pm and celebrated Christmas with the family here before Jon had to go back to Memphis today.

That about sums up our trip I suppose. This is my last week as a stay at home mom since I start my new job next Monday. I'm excited but a little sad too that I won't get to spend the days with my baby but I know it's necessary right now. Anyway, I suppose that's all..... Oh, and Happy 1st Birthday to Dylan James!!! Rejoicing and celebrating his special day in the arms of Jesus! (http://www.fromgummybeartosweetbaby.blogspot.com/)

Madelyn opening her presents on Christmas morning.... she liked the paper the best!

Her first time in the snow! I had her all wrapped up and we went to watch Grandpa use the snow blower!

Christmas time

We are in full swing with the Christmas season and I'm loving it! We have our tree up, decorations around the basement and all but 1 Christmas present bought! I'm getting so excited for next week though. We leave Thursday to go to Michigan for Christmas and I can't wait! We leave Thursday morning and plan on staying at my friend Rebekah's house that night. We stayed with her on our way to Georgia with my dad and this time, hopefully, we'll get there a little earlier in the day (we didn't arrive until 11:45 pm when we moved!) and the babies can play and Rebekah and I can catch up a little. Madelyn didn't get to meet Luke last time and we only saw Jackson for a few minutes in the morning before we left. It will be great to see them all again! We'll finish our trip on Friday, the 18th. Hopefully we won't run into too much trouble with snow, since there's a huge storm this week.

I must say, I'm having a great week so far. It all started on Saturday. Matt, Mady and I went to our friends, Joel and Katie's house to visit with another friend we went to high school with. He was interviewing for a residency program here in Atlanta. Anyway, we played the game, Settlers, and I won!!!! Joel and Katie introduced us to the game and I'm addicted. Sunday, we went to church and then back to Joel and Katie's for the day again. We had a blast. Plus, that morning, I won tickets to the Atlanta Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker." We're going next Wednesday before we leave for Michigan. Monday, I wasn't feeling too well but I took Madelyn to the mall to see Santa and she did great! We got some great photos that I'll post later. Our Christmas cards are made and ready to be mailed out this week. Then, to top it off, I got a job today!!!!! I'm going to be working at the Cobb County Health Department with a childrens program. I interviewed last Tuesday and was told I would hear one way or the other by the end of this week. My mother in law goes to church with another RN at the health department and she told my mother in law that they really liked me and I would be getting a phone call either yesturday or today. Well, I got it today!!! They needed another reference and when they got two more, she called me back (about 20-30 minutes after the first phone call) and offered me the job. I am so excited! I dont' start until January 4th, so there aren't any issues about me going home for Christmas and it gives me more time to get ready to leave Madelyn again. She's going to be with "Nonnie," Matt's step mom and I know she'll be well taken care of, but I know I'm still going to miss her. I think that's why God didn't have me get a job until now. He knew I wanted to be home with Madelyn and I have been so blessed to have been home with her everyday since mid-September. Now, I feel like I am able to go to work and not be so anxious to get back to her.

Well, that's about it!

Surprise!

There have been many things in the last two weeks here. The most important one is that on Friday, November 20, Matt took me out for a "pre-birthday date." I know I should have been suspicious but I just went along with it and did whatever. We went to Chick-fil-A (YUM!) and once we ordered our food, we went to get a seat and low and behold!!! My parents were sitting in the booth!!!!! They drove down from Grand Rapids to surprise me for my birthday! I was so excited I started crying. I had seen my mom a couple weeks before but I hadn't seen Dad since we moved here two months ago. He immediately took Madelyn out of her car seat and played with her throughout dinner. Saturday, the five of us went to the Georgia aquarium and then walked around downtown for a little bit. (notice we're all wearing "Michigan" stuff - that was the day of the Michigan vs Ohio State game. Matt was recording it so we could go the aquarium. Even Madelyn had on her cute Michigan onsie!)


Dad playing with his granddaughter while waiting to get into the aquarium. He was so excited to see Madelyn!


Sunday we went to church and then out to dinner for my birthday (this was my actual birthday). We had dinner at Sweet tomatoes, a salad, pasta and soup buffet. My parents went, along with Matt's dad, step mom, siblings and our good friend, Joel. We went back to the house for cake and ice cream and sat around and played games for a little bit. Unfortunately they had to leave the next morning since dad had to work on Tuesday.

Thursday was Thanksgiving, Madelyn's first. We had a delicious dinner, followed by lots of yummy desserts and turkey induced comas. My inlaws and Matt and I decided we wanted to go shopping today, Black Friday. We went to one store at Midnight (After being up all day) and it sucked!!! I felt like I was with a herd of cattle being shoved in to the stalls. Anyway, we got home around 1:30 am and then I went to bed with Mady. Matt stayed up all night and went to Target at 4, ready for the doors to open at 5am. We really wanted to get a digital camera, since ours got broken at my cousin Racheal's house when I was up north for her wedding. We succeded! He got the camera and then went to Home Depot to get a pre-lit Christmas tree. Now, if you know me at all, I am NOT a fan of having a fake tree. As a kid, my mom would put up her fake tree in the living room and I would make them go get a real one and put it in the basement to put my ornaments on it. So for me to get a fake tree was a huge deal. Matt and I thought that since we would be in Michigan for a week over Christmas, it would be better to get a fake tree this year and plus we don't know where we will be for next year (a new house, new apartment?). So, today we put the tree up and tomorrow I will finish decorating the tree and puttin gup other decorations to get our "apartment" to look like home and cozy and ready for Christmas!
The next two pictures were taken at my cousin's wedding while I was up from Georgia.



Mom, Madelyn and I waiting in the nursery for the ceremony to startMom put Mady in the leaves in her back yard for some cute pictures. I did not add the fake leaves so she wouldn't eat the dirty ones.... they were just for added color :)

What a cutie!!!!! I'm not biased at all :)

new milestones

It's been an interesting few days for us, that's for sure. Last Wednesday, Madelyn and I flew to Grand Rapids so I could be in a wedding that Saturday. She did great on the plane! Everyone thought she was so cute and loved to talk to people. She slept for a good portion of the first flight, from Atlanta to Milwaukee, then slept the entire way from Milwaukee to Grand Rapids, even if it is only a 20 minute flight :) Wednesday evening we had dinner with Matt's family and then I saw some friends from church. Thursday was another travel day, going to Indiana for the wedding, but not before stopping at the outlet mall! Mom bought a cute dress for Mady to wear to the wedding that actually matched us! We arrived at my aunt's house and just relaxed for a little bit before I headed out with Racheal and the girls for the "bachelorette party" dinner. Unfortunately, Mady wouldn't take a bottle from my mom so she battled with her until I got home. Friday consisted of decorating the church and Mady not sleeping ALL day!!!! She got up at 7 am and didn't go to bed until about 10 pm! Only a 1 hour nap in between, when we went back to the house to get ready for the rehearsal! Poor kid! Poor mom for having to watch her again and she still wouldn't take a bottle! Anyway, the wedding was Saturday and I must say, I'm glad it's all over! No more drama! We headed home and noticed..... Mady got her first tooth!!!!!! One broke through on the bottom and a second one is well on it's way! She did great traveling back to Georgia yesterday! She went in her exersaucer last night too and loved it. The downside is that she's too short and can't touch the bottom! Oh well....

Well, I guess that's it. I will have to post pics later since my camera broke and I have to wait for my mom to email them!

quick update

Just wanted to show a few pictures. My little girl is growing up so fast. Next Wednesday, her and I will be flying to Michigan to see our family and I am in my cousin's wedding. It should be a good time to see family and catch up with a few friends.My sweet baby girl. We went shopping for the day and she did so well in her car seat. She's so cute!


She likes to sit and help daddy work! It's nice having him work from home!



She likes to play on the floor with her toys... generally she is in a happy mood too!

time sure flies

One year ago today, I found out my dream of being a mommy was going to come true. I think I took about 7 pregnancy tests over the weekend to be sure (I took the first one, which was positive, went to the dr. and he said it was negative.... took some more over the next couple days, they were positive and then went back to the dr and it was a BIG positive!!!) I can't believe my precious baby girl is 3 1/2 months old already. She's getting so big. She rolled over (from back to tummy) for the first time on 10/09/09 and has also been starting to eat cereal for the last 3 nights before bed. Then just this morning, she went from back to tummy to back again, all in the same direction! She's too cute (will post pics once I find my camera cord!)

We seem to be settling in here. It's been 3 weeks now since we arrived and started unpacking. I will say I miss home and my friends and family, especially in the fall. I LOVE fall in Michigan. All the pretty colors on the trees, going to apple orchards and going on hay rides, picking apples and drinking apple cider. Yeah, I miss it (but I like Georgia too - had 70+ degrees last week) I am very excited to go back to Michigan in a few weeks. I fly out on Nov. 4 and come back on the 9th, so a nice little vacation for me and Madelyn. It will be nice to see some friends, as well as a lot of my family.