Happy Half Birthday, Madison!

Aunt Sarah threw Madison a "half-birthday" party last night! Madison wore a special outfit. Too cute.

Jumping Bean!

We love jumping at Grammy's house!!

Madison and I flew out to Portland on Tuesday! We had a great flight...although, within the first thirty minutes of the flight, Madison had such a messy diaper that it traveled up her shirt...I had to throw it away! So...she was in overalls and no shirt for the remaining 4 hrs of flight time! Poor girl. Anyway, she did wonderfully the rest of the flight, thanks to toys, a DVD and a great nap. We've had a fantastic time here at my Mom and Dad's and we look forward to Mark joining us soon!

It finally feels like Christmas!

It's finally a little chilly here! So, we had to dress appropriately for the occasion...

Merry Christmas

They really do like each other...

We're Back Online!

Madison meets Santa for the first time

Our family after my Dad's concert

Four generations

College girlfriends (L-R): Courtney, Danae with Madison, Shawn with Conner, Anna with Anne Botts

We are finally back online!! The truth is...I somewhere/somehow dropped my laptop and shattered the screen. I just got a brand new laptop a few days ago that I just love! So...I'm sorry for the delay...so here's an update:

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday. It was definitely a whirlwind trip, but so wonderful to see so many friends and family. We spent a week with Mark's folks at their house on Lake Gaston. We enjoyed relaxing away from home, fabulous food, and catching up with Mark's cousins, aunt/uncle and his grandmother. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we rented a car and drove down to Charlotte. There, we visited with some of my college girlfriends and then spent time with my aunt/uncle, cousins, friends of the family, and my grandparents. It was really special that Madison got to meet her great grandparents. We also got to see my mom, dad and sister, as they flew into Charlotte for a concert my dad gave at Calvary. The best part of the concert was when my dad played the wedding processional he composed for our wedding - and he showed a video montage of our wedding which was really touching.

After we got home, we were really busy getting settled back in and ready for Christmas. We have hosted one holiday party and will be hosting another this weekend! Madison is doing really well. She had a little cold after our vacation, but is fine now. She is flipping over constantly, talking all the time, and really interested in her toys. She also just loves to be with other kids. She smiles, laughs and talks to her friends. We've had a few rough days, however, with her cutting teeth. It's been an adventure.

I'll post more pics to our Shutterfly website soon!

Thanksgiving Day

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Mark's family in North Carolina!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!! We are enjoying a vacation in North Carolina. We'll post more pictures soon!

November already?

Getting messy with my green beans!

Love my Daddy...

Mommy loves me!

Another picture, Mom? Please!

All of my shoes! (okay, so she's outgrown about 5 pairs of them and can't yet fit into most...but still -they are sooo cute!!)

I'm a little sick...but my outfit is so cute, right?

My thumb is my new best friend!

Both baby and Daddy sacked out!

Hey guys! So this week has been exceptionally busy...Madison (and Mommy) came down with a bad sinus infection on Monday. Bless her heart, Mad has been a trooper! Never whined about feeling sick the whole week until today (Saturday). Mark was out of town on business this week until Friday evening. We were so glad when he came home!! We've run some errands, have done some Christmas shopping and have just chilled out at home together. Mark grilled out tonight and we really enjoyed that. Tyson has not been doing too well...he has been going the bathroom outside his litter box...we didn't know if it was due to behavioral issues (i.e. the baby in the house) or a medical issue. Test results show that it is most likely medical - he has a marble size bladder stone. So, he needs to have surgery soon. (OK, I was so upset when he climbed inside my shopping bad and urinated on my new winter clothes that I got on sale...but maybe he can't help it...). We'll take care of it! In other news, we are so excited to gear up to go out of town for Thanksgiving to North Carolina!!!! We will fly up to see Mark's family next Saturday for a week and then drive down to Charlotte to visit my Grandparents and my parents who are flying in for my Dad's concert the Sunday after T-giving. We're really looking forward to it!

Mark's Parents Visit

Our little gangster...it was cold outside the beginning of last week!

Mark and his parents with Madison

The Parent/Child Committment Ceremony at church.

Dressed up before church

Our cul-de-sac group had a Halloween party.

Miss Clareanne, me and my friend...

Me and more of my friends...

On our walk...

My new Exersaucer that Uncle Ryan bought me...and that Grandpa Chipley put together. It took 2 days to put together!!

Getting ready for Halloween weekend....

I like eating carrots and sweet potatoes!

Grandpa reading me books

Daddy's Sweetheart....

We had yet another busy week last week! First, I needed to take Madison to downtown Houston at Texas Childrens Hospital to get her skull x-rayed. We (and doctor) were concerned that her head was not growing properly (just because it buldged out a little on each side). But after the results came through and some specialists looked at everything, they determined all test results are normal and everything is just fine! After that, we spent the next two days getting ready for Mark's parents to arrive. We put all our Fall and Halloween decorations out and everything. Mark's parents came in on Thursday and Madison and I picked them up from the airport and then fixed a lasagna for dinner. Mark took the next day off of work. We all went out to a Mexican lunch and sat outside enjoying the gorgeous weather. We ran some errands and went for a walk around nearby lakes in our community. Then we came home and enjoyed dinner and a movie. On Saturday, Mark and his dad again accomplished so many home improvement projects. They had a great time together. That evening, we all went to our cul-de-sac Halloween party! It was a blast. And after the kids went to bed, the adults had so much fun, too! On Sunday was Madison's big day! It was our Parent-Child committment ceremony at church. Katie and Dan Henderson, Clareanne, and Mark's parents helped us celebrate. It was so nice. After church, we all had a great dinner at home together.

Madison's First Favorite Book

Again, this video is primarily for the Grandparents...
Madison loves to read books. We've discovered that out of all her books, this one below on video is her very favorite. She'll always light up with smiles and even giggle throughout - especially in the mornings, when she's most happy.

Madison's First Solid Food

Ok, so this is not our most interesting video, but this is primarily for the Grandparents to see since they live so far away... Poor thing, she just needs to get the hang of it. I love Mark's ONE comment...too funny. Yes, we do own a high chair...but the swing was more convenient at the time. So we've tried to eat solids for four evenings now...and still crying through each time! She'll master it soon...

4 Months Old

4 Months Old!

Mr. John holding me!

Several of Daddy's co-workers

Mr. Verle holding me!

I love reading my books!

We've had another busy week here, visiting with friends and doing stuff around the house. Madison turned 4 months old on Saturday! We just can't believe how quickly she's growing. On Friday morning, I took her to Mark's office at Exxon so he could "introduce" her (i.e. "show her off") to Daddy's co-workers. We had a lot of fun. That afternoon, we took her to the Pediatrician's office for her 4 mo. checkup. She did so well when getting her shots! Again, she cried for only 10 seconds, then was all smiles...especially for her Daddy. She's Daddy's girl, for sure...he loves it, too. Since she was born, she has gained over 10 lbs (that's right - she now weighs 15 lb 11 oz!) and has grown 7" taller (now at 25 1/4")! She is definitely on the charts now! She's reaching all developmental milestones appropriately, so we are all so proud of her. We had a low-key weekend, which we very much welcomed! Mark rode his bike for 30 miles (no thanks) with friends Saturday morning and then we ran errands, went out to lunch, walked around a couple nearby lakes and watched a movie. Madison ran a fever post-shots, but is feeling much better today. Once again, she received very good reports for good behavior today in Sunday School... :) Madison is trying her hardest to still turn over on her own...she almost has it!! Also, we are beginning solid foods now...rice cereal to start with...she's cried the whole way through each time. Oh well, she'll get used to it soon! Mark's parents fly in this Thursday, so we're gearing up for that. They'll be here for the neighborhood Halloween party and the "Parent/Child committment ceremony" at church on Sunday. They haven't seen Mad since she was 3 weeks old, so they're in for a treat!

Big News in the family...Congratulations to my cousin Nicole and her husband Patrick, who just found out they are pregnant!!! Due in June!!! We are so excited for them!

Pumpkin Patch

In front of our house

At the Pumpkin Patch! ..."Away in a Manger"...

Sun is in my eyes!!!!

Just my size pumpkin...

Our family

Me and Daddy...

Playing with my BFF...

Another picture, Mommy?

I am so excited it is finally Fall...even though it's still in the 80's here in Houston...but Fall means new change of clothes, new colors outside, and new TV season!!! Love reality televison, I admit. Anyhow, we visited a Pumpkin Patch this weekend and it was so much fun. We made a day out of it and went shopping and out to lunch afterward. It was a treat, since Mark has had to work most weekends. We all had a great time. Wouldn't you know, Madison fell asleep right before we arrived and we had to wake her up...the sun was shining brightly in her eyes...thus the reason for many closed eyed pictures. ha. Have been doing well since and keeping very busy. Mark went to Dallas to meet our Atlanta neighbor, Rob, for the Cowboys/Patriots game and they had a great time. We also worked out in the yard and then Madison and I decorated our house in Halloween/Thanksgiving decorations. Madison still isn't going to bed before midnight...Mommy can't wait to get on a normal schedule!

Hangin' Out

Madison's Halloween costume...Lil' Tootsie Roll

Hayden the Lil' Penguin...too cute...especially when she walks!

Fajita night at the Hendersons'

Miss Katie holding Madison...and yes, we did have to switch outfits...Madison got sick at the end of the night...so both Madison AND Mommy needed to change outfits...(Katie, I'll return your shirt real soon...thanks again!)

Miss Vanessa, who brought me two more pretty outfits!

I love my mobile!

Tyson likes Mad's toys, too!

Best buds...(Tyson jumped up on the couch and sat beside her, promise!)

Mommy always plays dress-up with me...

Goin' swimmin' again...in October...that's Texas for ya! Curry night at the de Verteuil's.

We've been taking care of a sick baby last week/weekend...What I thought was the beginning stages of pink eye (Mark had it earlier) turned out to be an ear infection. Madison didn't act sick nor was she cranky, so had it not been for her eye, I wouldn't have even known! Anyhow, poor thing has been on several meds. But, thankfully, she seems to feel much better now. I've been pretty busy lately, but all that was quickly halted - sick kids require lots of holding and love...no time for household errands, etc. I cherished the time, however. Sure it won't be long til' she's grown up and won't want to sit in my lap - ha. Madison is smiling and "talking" all the time and laughed for the first time today. Unfortunately, Mark and I didn't see it...but our good friends Clareanne and Raymond did! Also, Madison is ALMOST rolling over. She tries so hard, bless her heart. It's so cute. Finally, she seems to be in the beginning stages of teething... Tyson, meanwhile, is competing for my attention. He tries to share the glider with me every time I feed Madison. It's quite squished, but I try to make room for him nonetheless...

Congratulations to Cary and Colin Williams (Cary is Mark's cousin) on the birth of their precious baby girl, Julia Hunter Dixon Williams, born Sept. 30th!