Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

Mackenzie, my dear you are obsessed with "The Witch", commoners like to refer to it as, The Wizard of Oz.  Back during Thanksgiving, when we were at the beach, The Wizard of Oz came on and you and Pawpa sat and watched almost the whole movie before falling asleep.  It came on the next night (got to love TBS) and again, you both watched it from beginning to end.  Did you cry or get scared at the wicked witch, munchkins, lion, or how about those flying monkeys?  Nope, you would laugh hysterically at them.  When the house fell on the witch, you laughed.  When the lion jumped onto the yellow brick road, you laughed.  And when those crazy flying monkeys appeared, you about fell over laughing so hard.  Now, I know for a fact that most 5 year olds are afraid of this movie, but you, no way.  And when we ask you what the lion, tin man, and scarecrow need, you reply very matter of factly, "apple juice".  When the witch melts, you know the part, "I'm melting, I'M MELTING", you say, "Where the witch go?" all while holding your arms and hands out with your little head cocked to the side.  You think Glenda the Good Witch is a princess and you love to say how pretty she looks and before it even happens, you know she's about appear in a bubble.  My absolute most favorite thing you say about the movie...when we ask you what Dorothy's dogs name is, you say, "Poto".  As we were leaving PCB after Thanksgiving, Mommy and Daddy made the best $9.44 investment, we bought you The Wizard of Oz. 

7 Months-Nolan

 I'm not even going to try explain how in the world I've missed documenting your 6 month of life and I'm just now getting around to your seventh month.  It's been a crazy few months, little man.  I have, however, been writing things down as you're doing them.  You went to the doctor for your 6 month well check and your stats are:
weight: 19 lbs.10 oz. (90%)
height: 27 1/2 in. (90%)
head: 44 cm. (75%)
The whole time the doctor was checking you out, you were pulling, tugging, and drooling all over the place!  You also decided while we were there, that you would sit up all by yourself!

You like:
*To eat!  We got the go ahead at your 4 month appointment to start you on solids and you haven't looked back.  You opened your mouth and took that food in like you've been doing this for ages.  You're now eating all fruits and vegetables.  You're just like your sister and LOVE the greens.  You had a hard time with peaches at first, but now love them.  And I'm making your food now.  It's so easy and cost effective.  Not to mention I know exactly what I'm putting into your food.  You have about 4 8 oz. bottles a day and are drinking water out of a sippy cup at supper time.
*You are happy all of the time.  You only fuss when your diaper is dirty or when you're hungry.  Other than that, you're all smiles all day long.
*Right after Christmas you started saying, "Dada, Dada".  We thought it was fluke, but sure enough, you know who your Dada is.  Now you're saying, "Baba" and "Mama".
*Within the past week in a half you've started clapping and it's adorable.  We all shout, "Yay!" and you get your goofy smile on and do it more.  It now sounds like you're trying to say, "Yay" too.
*You absolutely adore Mackenzie.  She can make you laugh and smile when it seems like no one else can.  And you love it when she sings to you.

You're Disses:
*You hate whenever we walk out of your sight.  I guess you're at that age that you think we magically disappear when we get out of your line of vision.  You cry some major crocodile tears and then as soon as you see us again, you have tears on your face and a huge smile.
*You will not sit still.  You're in constant motion.  This makes changing your diaper or clothes especially hard.

January 4, 2011

Christmas Day #2

After naps and a bit more playing with all of our new toys, we loaded up and headed down the road to Nanny and Papa's for The Madsen Christmas.  It's sort of like a marathon.  It used to be that everyone took turns, one at a time opening presents...Ooo-ing and Ahh-ing and then the next person went.  As you can imagine, this takes a very long time especially now that all three original Madsen children are now married and there are now 7 grand kids.  This year, all the kids took turns opening their presents and then we took a break, ate, drank, ate some more and then the adults opened their presents.  It was fun having all of the grand kids under one roof this year and they all got along so well together.  We feasted on the traditional Christmas dinner-turkey, ham and all the fixin's.  I was getting nervous as the night progressed because the snow WOULD NOT STOP FALLING.  We had plans to visit Gramma, Pawpa, and Jordan first thing Sunday morning, and with the snow not letting up, my fears were starting to come true. 

 Nolan, you were so happy!

 Oh Mackenzie, you couldn't believe your eyes when you found "Chawklit" in your stocking!

 Move over slot machines, it's Mexican Domino time Dora style!

 Checking out your new accessory kit from Aunt Missy and Uncle Joe.

 I just love this picture.  Best friends for well over 10 years, turned brothers in law, having a heart to heart over Dora blocks.

 The official Madsen kid's table.  Bless their hearts, it was almost 10 p.m. and they were starving!

As we were driving home well after 11 p.m. with both of you snoozing in your seats, Daddy surprised me by telling me that we were just going to drive up to Flowery Branch right then.  I was so happy.  We swung by the house to drop off a truck load of presents, feed the dogs, grab some clothes and off we went.  Daddy thought because the roads weren't bad yet, that they would only get worse as the night went on and he didn't want us to be stuck at home on Sunday.  I think he also knew how important it was for all of us to be together this Christmas...without Uncle Matt.  Oh, and Uncle Matt called on Christmas Eve!  I LOVE getting his phone calls!  He was in very high spirits and had just completed a mission.  Ok, back on track now.  When we got to Gramma and Pawpa's at almost 2 a.m. now, Christmas was in the air!  Pawpa was still wrapping presents (he really doesn't like to wrap), and Gramma was waiting for us with open arms.  After giving Pawpa a wrapping tutorial, we were off to bed for Santa's second visit. 

Just waking up for your second day of Christmas.

 When we were waiting for Jordan to come home and while Nolan was napping, you, Daddy and me when out in the snow.

 Snow kisses are the best.

 We made a snow soldier for Uncle Matt!

 You loved that snow man so much, you were kissing it!

 You and your Daddy, you two were made for this type of weather.

 I just love how your checking yourself out in the reflection.

 Let the festivities begin!

 Nolan, you were so chill!

 Hannah came over and got a cookie press!  That's it, she's official!

 Now the real fun begins...

 Having Hannah around to spend Christmas with us, really helped not having Matt around.  We're way too much alike and my goodness, we are goo-fy.

 Puffer vests were not planned...that's how cool we are.

 Mackenzie and Nolan aren't you two so proud to call us, "Mommy" and "Daddy"?!

December 26, 2010

Christmas 2010

The one morning I beg for you two to get up early, you both sleep until your normal wake up times of 8 and 8:30!  Mackenzie, I think you were still a little worried that Santa was going to be hanging out in the living room and you were a little skeptical of walking out to see what all Santa did bring you.  We finally convinced you that we were the only ones in the house and that it was safe to come out into the living room.  You were so surprised to see presents!  Santa left an Aqua Doodle pad hanging from the fire place and you wanted to play with it right away.  Nolan, you were amazed with all of the...paper and boxes and bows!  You wanted to eat everything in sight.  Mackenzie you're at such a fun age for all of this.  You would open a present with such delight, wait patiently as Daddy got whatever it was out of the insane packaging and then you wanted to play with the toy.  We had to keep reminding you that you had other presents to open.  Nolan, you sat so entertained by all of the madness.  You got a choo choo that makes crazy loud noises and were content with that for some time. 

 Poor baby, Nolan, there was nothing in that sippy cup!  But you knew exactly what it was for.

 In aw.  Mack, you got your dolly house!!!

 Nolan, you received a glow worm, your train, a crinkle bear (you love noise), and a ball popper.

 Mackenzie, you were pure disbelief that Santa brought you Play-Do!

 Chopping on that cup again.

 Daddy doing what he does best, putting a house together. 

 Either excited about the train, or the paper, you guess.

And as we were getting ready to leave for Nanny and Papa's we discovered it was snowing!  The first white Christmas since 1831!

Christmas Eve Part 2

As we were driving home from church, we decided to look for Christmas lights.  There's a house in Brookstone that has all of these cardboard cut outs of Disney characters, the Peanuts Gang, and much more.  The house is decked out in some serious lights.  Mack, you are obsessed with lights!  As Daddy would drive away from one house, you would say, "More lights pleeeeaaaase, Daddy?"  As we were driving around the neighborhood, I spotted a giant white star sort of floating in the sky.  We thought it was coming from a church not too far away.  We decided that we were going to find it one way or another.  Daddy was driving all around the neighborhood like we were in some sort of rat race.  I, being as crazy as I am, would say, "Nope, we're going the wrong way." or, "You're getting closer, just make a few more turns!"  We finally found this star and we were stunned.  It WAS floating in the air!  It was tethered to a very thick rope that was anchored to the ground with weights.  The house that had it in their driveway didn't have anything spectacular going on, just this giant star hanging in the sky.  It really hit home, that it's not about the shopping, presents, Santa's, but the birth of Jesus.  Daddy and I sat quietly, I reflected on the year's past events as you two, M and N gazed at the giant white star.

By the time we got home from all of our Christmas light searching, it was time for bed!  Mackenzie, I think you were a bit afraid to walk into the house.  After all of this talk of Santa, I'm pretty sure you thought he was actually going to be at our house when we got home.  Mommy wrote a quick note to Santa including that you M, wanted that dolly house, and Nolan, you wanted a Chugga, Chugga, Choo, Choo.  Mackenzie, you picked out the cookies, and Daddy poured the milk and off to bed you went. 

Christmas Eve 2010 Part 1

We had a nice, quiet Christmas Eve this year.  Daddy and you, Mack, did go out with all of the crazies for some last minute shopping while Mommy and you, Nolan stayed home and had some one on one time.  We spent the afternoon relaxing and taking in the last few hours of the holiday season.  Mackenzie, you've made us so proud this year.  Gramma bought a little manager for you and "Brugger" and you love playing with it.  Daddy and I tried our very best to explain to you what the manager was, who was born there, and the purpose of the holiday season.  We often found you playing quietly in your room with said manager.  You know know that baby Jesus is in the bed, His Mommy is "Mawry", His Daddy is "Josuf", and the angel is Gabriel.  Once we all awoke from our afternoon naps, we got all dressed up and had a short visit with Nanny and Papa before heading off to church. 

Never in a million years, thought this blue eyed babe would be spending Christmas 2010 with us!  Nolan, you have lit up our world!

 Such a handsome, happy boy you are.

 And yes, you are sitting on your own.  You've been doing that for about a month now.

 Beauty, looking at her prized ornament she made at church.

 Mack, you are so proud of that little Christmas tree.

 You celebrated your 3rd Christmas this year, and look at you growing.  You are one beautiful little girl.

 Mack, you are ALWAYS trying to kiss that "Brugger" of yours.  I never imagined you loving him this much. 

 I love you.

 Such a lady, crossing your legs at your ankles when wearing a dress.  ;)  You're a doll.

 And the Cingular family!  Seriously, we look like we belong on one of their commercials!

Mack, I have to share a funny story with you.  Mommy's really big on having you and now Nolan, with us in church on the major holidays.  We had prepared you that you must be quiet and that you can't act up.  And when Mr. Jim says that we must pray, you must close your eyes and put your hands in our lap.  Well, my dear, you went above that.  There's a character on the show Super Why named Princess Pea.  As the family was lighting the Advent candles, they were reading about the Prince Of Peace.  Well, you shouted as loud as you could, "Oh, Mommy Princess Pea?"  I couldn't help but laugh.  Then, as instructed, you closed your eyes for prayer, however, you were NOT instructed to start snoring!  You started full on Honk Shoo-ing, eyes closed, with a big goofy grin on your face.  You're a funny, funny girl.  At one point during the service, we watched a short video about the birth of Jesus.  You knew exactly who He was and then started naming everyone as they appeared on the screen.  Needless to say, we had a funny and memorable Christmas Eve at church.

December 24, 2010