Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful first Christmas with Madeline. We both feel so incredibly blessed to have such a beautiful and special daughter. I looked at Madi in wonder so many times, just amazed at that little creature. She was a stinker at bedtime. She didn't want to go to sleep knowing that everyone else was outside Grandma June's bedroom opening presents. She fussed for 45 minutes before I gave up. She sat in Daddy's lap, half asleep, until Bethany took her into the laundry room to put her to sleep. She went to sleep, finally, at 10. What a stinker. After breakfast and presents from Grandma and Grandpa Larson and her aunts and uncle, we went on to Andover to Curt's side of the family's party at Jenny's and Jim's house. We had a delicious lunch and lots of treats along with a big 4-wheeler present from cousins Jake, Joey, and Julia. Unfortunately our camera died at Jenny's house so we have very few pics of Christmas Day. We're relying on Jenny to email us pics from her camera to fill in the blanks. Madi had so much fun playing with her cousins that we stayed overnight. She pooped out at about 9 and slept until 9 the next morning! Then took a 3 hour nap. She was so exhausted. We finally got back to Rockford and washed clothes, unpacked, did dishes, vacuumed, etc. Madi played with a lot of her new toys and had so much fun. She is now in bed for the night - we hope. It has been a crazy week with the waterpark last weekend, sleeping at Grandma and Grandpa's, sleeping at Jen and Jim's, sleeping in the car, and now back sleeping in her bedroom. Poor girl doesn't know what's going on! Enjoy the pictures...

Madi and Great-Grandma June's Santa Bears

Madi and Mommy after Christmas Dinner at Great-Grandma June's

Madi got a special baby doll from Great-Grandma June

Opening her first present with Daddy

The happy family

Wrestling Fredrik to the floor!

Trying to pull Fredrik out of the rocking chair

Madi and Fredrik tearing the Christmas tree apart

Madi and Fredrik meeting Tov the Tomten

Christmas Day fun with her new fire engine

Yeah, new Crocs from Auntie B

Tired already!

Opening up a gift with Daddy

Christmas Morning Breakfast

Madi and JuliaPosing for pics in their matching Santa dresses

Happy 30th Curt!

Madi helps Daddy open gifts...

Here's a card from me!!

I Love You, Daddy!

Curt turned 30 on Saturday and we celebrated with his entire family at the Water Park of America in Bloomington. We started the day at home with Curt opening his gifts from me (Talladega Nights DVD) and Madeline (2 lbs of peanut M&Ms). We ventured out in the yucky weather to the Mall of America to see Santa before checking in to the hotel. Madi did great! She was very serious on Santa's lap and didn't cry at all. Curt's brother, Bret, and his family, Lisa, Bryce and Kyle, were there too. Bret, Curt and Bryce went on the scariest ride in the park. Here they go down the steep incline:and around the bend...

They survived!
Bret may have had an accident...
Here's Madi playing at the waterpark while Daddy was on the waterslides with his brothers:

Bathing Beauty. Nice hernia belly button :)
Splashing with cousin Kelly
Uncle Eric and Madi went around the whole park on an innertube on the Lazy River. Madi loved it!!
Goofing off with Grandpa Gordie after a bath and warm, dry clothes.

I hope it's just a phase

I am repeating this phrase over and over again. Since yesterday, Madi has been acting differently. She's acting more like a toddler who doesn't just smile and coo at Mommy and Daddy anymore. She doesn't eat her dinner and play with her toys like a good girl. She doesn't enjoy the bedtime ritual like she used to. She now screams immediately when she doesn't get her way or can't reach what she wants. She eats only what she can pick up off her tray but then takes it out of her mouth, smiles, and drops it on the floor. She wants to be held constantly but as soon as you pick her up, she wants to get down or crawl up on your shoulders. She thrashes around, throws books and stuffed animals on the floor, then wants them back immediately at bedtime. When you give her said books and animals, they are soon thrown on the floor again. And so the cycle continues...over and over...until she just collapses out of sheer exhaustion. And I do the same shortly thereafter. I hope it's just a phase....

Mmmm...spaghetti

Christmas Photo Shoot Pictures

Babies Gone Wild

This is what happens when you leave your baby with her Grandma for 2 hours...Nice hair, Madeline. Note the bottle of hair gel on the endtable to the left. But, who can resist those gorgeous blue eyes?

Happy Thanksgiving - a day late

Sorry, I'm late with my Thanksgiving wishes. We celebrated the day at Katy's house in St. Paul along with my side of the family and Katy's in-laws (Roz, Jim, Jessa, Eric, and Jonah). There were a lot of people there but it was cozy and fun! There were three babies under the age of 1 so that kept us all on our toes. Madi's first Thanksgiving meal was cranberries, squash, mashed potatoes, and a tiny bite of turkey. I put a little of everything on her height chair tray but these are the only things I saw her eat. Poor grandpa Richard sat on the other side of her and she used his shirt sleeve as a napkin. His left arm was covered in squash and potatoes! He loved every minute of it, like a good Grandpa should :0). Grandma Barb bought Fredrik and Madi matching outfits to take Christmas pictures. Well we had good intentions. The pictures did NOT turn out too well! The two babies were much too interested in everything else to pose for a picture. We tried everything but they were exhausted, hungry, over-stimulated, and just plain pooped out. We will try again next weekend, I think. Madi had her Christmas photos taken by our neighbor, Jessica Milkes, today at Aunt Bev's house. Aunt Bev has her beautiful house all decorated up for Christmas so it was a perfect setting. Grandma Barb hit the black Friday sales this morning and got an adorable little red plaid chair just Madi's size! Madeline loved that chair! Jessica did a great job and I can't wait to see those photos this weekend! I'll be sure to post a few when I get a chance.

SLOPPY Joes