Escaping 101

There are so many things Maddie is a pistol about but one area we have been so lucky is her sleep. She has slept through the night for as long as I can remember, goes down fairly easily and has never tried to escape from her crib...until now.

I put her in time out (normally I use a chair but I was in the middle of something that needed my attention for a few minutes, so I put her in her crib) and the next thing I know, I hear the pitter-patter of little feet and hear a little voice behind me, "Hi Mommy." What the bleep?? I tried to put her back in and see if I could re-create the escape but she just smiled coyly and waited for me to lift her out. Later I realized she didn't do it because I was standing there. So I put her in the crib and left the room (grabbing my video camera), and peeked around her door. There it was. In plain sight. GASP. That night we converted the crib into the toddler bed, got a safety rail on Craig's List (for 10 bucks, whoop whoop!) and hoped and prayed our good sleeper would stay in the bed. And she did. All night. I assume only until she figures it out, which knowing this little one, won't be long!

Big girl swing!

*SIGH*. As I have said more times than I can count, I am constantly traumatized/excited about Maddie getting bigger. Another milestone: Maddie went on the "big girl" swings for the first time by herself this week. I've been so nervous to let her try for fear she'd fall off. As per the usual, she insisted on doing everything Bella does, so it was a matter of time! She loved it and did great! Held on and kicked and everything. Big girl. It's....ok...I guess.....

Sidewalk Chalk+Hopscotch+Adorable Girl=FUN!!

I can just hear her thinking "hmmm, what's this all about?" The weather has been so nice and we sort of re-discovered sidewalk chalk (AKA: I found it in a closet and had forgotten all about it) so I thought a nice session of Hopscotch was in order (um, do kids even do this anymore?!).

She didn't quite jump with her one and two feet alternating but she jumped her little heart out, squealing the whole time. Good enough, I say!

Doodle Bear!!

Maddie has been talking, incessantly, about this "Doodle Bear". Never heard of it but she apparently saw a commercial at Oma's house and it has been all she's talked about. It's a bear you can draw on, wash and repeat. "I like purple and Bella likes pink." Um, ok.

Garret had the holiday off (Veteran's Day) so he decided to take her to Target. Per his side of the story, they walk into Target and Maddie spots the thing a hundred feet away, screaming, "DOODLE BEAR!!!!", and he was forced to get it to avoid a very public meltdown. I'm guessing the actual version went more like this: Maddie spots the thing from ten feet away, Daddy rolls the cart over and after looking into those sad, big, beautiful brown eyes, he was like butta and just whisked it into the cart. Sucker......

He fully admitted he rarely gets to buy her things and it was fun for both of them. I couldn't agree more. And, to make his 20 bucks worth it, she still hasn't stopped talking about it.

Jess #2's wedding! (I'm #1 cause I'm older :)

When I lived in Colorado for a couple years, I became close with a group of ladies I met online. I know, odd. I had put an ad on Craig's List after feeling really lonely and missing my tight group of friends from Florida. Mind you, this was long before the Craig's List Killer (not to mention we were not in the sexy section :). We dubbed ourselves "The CL Girls". I actually met the bride, Jessica through someone she was dating and the next was Chrissy. It just grew and we were about 7 strong (with people coming and going along the way). I became closest with Jess, Chrissy and Jill. I loved all the girls but, as I suppose happens, you just bond with people differently.

Jess was that girl I had always envied. Self-assured, beautiful, smart...I would have been intimidated were it not for her easy, kind demeanor. No pretense although she had every reason to be conceited. I loved her instantly and in a short time knew we'd be lifelong friends.

When she called to tell me she met someone and was smitten, I was so excited! Jess is extremely independent, has a great career and enjoys her time with friends. She has never "needed" a man in her life, so when she spoke about him, I just knew something was different. Now, they are husband and wife and I am so honored to have been witness to the love they so obviously share.

We left Maddie in great hands with the Grandmas and headed to my favorite state I have ever been to for the celebration. It was my mission to force Garret to also fall in love with it in hopes we could one day move there! Hee, hee....

Our friends, Mark and Chrissy were kind enough to let us stay at their beautiful home in Denver near Downtown.

The rehearsal dinner

I had to take Garret to an old favorite hangout, Armida's (a karaoke bar)

Doing my usual 80's rock routine...

My back up dancer, Chrissy...

The big day!

Jess was breathtaking! It was FREEZING and she mustered through with a strapless gown.

I had an amazing time with these girls...like no time had passed!

CONGRATS Jess and Jeff!!

I'm so happy two of my favorite people love each other...and whiskey.

Pigtails and M & M's....

Oma has been putting Maddie's hair in pigtails and I am mildly obsessed! It's no secret I am not a huge fan of her current mullet :) so when I picked her up and she had this adorable new 'do, I was beside myself. Too cute! Not to mention the fact that on the heels of Halloween, this was as close to a "Millie" hairdo she could get!

Halloween...the good, the bad and the tearful...

Maddie's first official Halloween was so much fun! I say "first official" since it was her first walking and trick-or-treating experience. Some friends and Monique, Oma, YaYa and Bella joined us. It was our first Halloween in our neighborhood and let me tell you, it was as I had heard...so crazy and fun! I didn't know so many children lived close to us until they swarmed the neighborhood! It was an absolute blast!

I asked Maddie for weeks leading up to the big day what she wanted to be. She thoughtfully considered it and during an especially exciting episode of Team Umizoomi, she decided on Milli, measuring ponytails and all. This was a challenge because A: there is no such existing costume (what is with this kid and latching onto things with no products, as with her Bubble Guppies Birthday?!) and B: I knew my severe lack of sewing skills would be required. She would occasionally mention wanting to be Tinkerbell and I secretly hoped she would land on this well-known and ready-to-purchase character! She apparently likes to test my craftiness! Well, if I say so myself, she looked adorable. She was so excited about her ponytails and her light-up bucket. It was almost perfect...


As we were ready to walk out the door, I grabbed my camera, turned it on and attempted to take a photo. It didn't work (collective gasps, please). It said it was "locked" and I had no clue why or how to fix it! As traumatic as it was, I did have my FLIP video camera and figured that would be ok (although not NEARLY ideal). After watching my sweet girl say "trick-or-treat" to everyone we approached followed by a "thank you" and multiple "Happy Halloweens" I was grateful to at least have that live stream of adorableness. Until...

I ran home to use the restroom and the unimaginable happened. The FLIP was in my back pocket and it fell. In the toilet. And was d-e-d. I now had NO memory of this momentous occasion. I sat there stunned and just cried. Me, the crazy camera lady had zilch. No working camera and a now-defunct video camera. After composing myself, I rejoined the group and tried to enjoy the rest of the evening. I told Garret what I had done and he tried to comfort me but I could not be soothed. To add insult to injury, after our company had gone and we returned home, Maddie decided she wanted to hand out candy. She waited for the request, dropped the candy in the outstretched bags and made commentary on the costumes. Adorable. It happened, I swear. All of it. I just don't have much evidence. Thanks to our friends and family that provided us with what they had. Here it is...what remains, of the best Halloween to date.

These are a few I took the day after :) I needed something...