Someone's in the kitchen with Mommy...

When Meredith was little, she used to love to play in all the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen (who I am kidding, she still does). It would seem that Miss Madilyn is following in her footsteps. But she is a little bit quicker and can already open the drawers and doors by herself. The two most favorite drawers are the one with my extra pans underneath the ovens and the one that we don't really know what to do with, so we put all of our koozies in. Madilyn decided that the pan one was the best one that night.

Meredith came in from all of her bouncing to show MK what to do with this big round pan.

That sister is so silly....I know just what to do with this pan....smush it!

Hey! Where did Mere go???

Now I have to clean up by myself!

More Bouncing!

Here are lots of videos of the girls playing in the bounce house. Like always, I could not decide which one(s) to post, so I just put them ALL!

Meredith's BIG Birthday Present

We finally got Meredith's birthday present for her. We think that this is the gift that keeps on giving. She has played with it everyday. She loves to go outside while I am cooking dinner. This just gives her a little something to keep busy (and make her tired!).

Hmmmm...what could it be?

Oh my, it looks like a bounce house!

It is a bounce house with a slide!

This is the best present EVER Daddy and Mommy!

I like it too!

So much fun!

I wish that I could jump like my big sister!

Hmmm...Maddie Kate, do you think we should go down this slide?

Everyone has left me, but I am still having fun!

Yea! Daddy came back to play with me!

Swinging, Swinging, Swinging!

Saturday was such a pretty day. Michael FINALLY got to go pick up his tractor. We had a date night, so as soon as he got home, we played as much as we could with the girls. We took them out to the play set and Maddie Kate got to swing for the first time. Meredith has also moved up to the big girl swing!

(and yes, Maddie is still in jammies....I stayed in mine too...I waited until the last minute to get ready for our date....wanted to look "fresh")

I love this swing....it tastes delicious!

I'm a big girl!

Weeeeeeeeeee!

Look how high I can go!

Just a little video for you to experience the joy for yourself!

Meredith's First Sleepover

Last Friday night, Meredith went to her very first sleepover with Mimi. I was so very nervous. The only nights that I have ever been away from my baby girl are when I had Madilyn. I knew that she would be in very good hands, but I just worry that she will be sad and miss me (but I know I am really the one who is sad and missing her.) She did fantastic! And Michael and I had a very nice night at home with Madilyn. It was kind of nice. We have only ever really been alone with Meredith.

Meredith's over-night bag!

Getting her bag...all ready to go!

It was a little heavy, maybe I will just pull it!

Or maybe I will just check out what mommy put in here!

I Can Walk! (Almost...)

Madilyn has a new favorite toy. It is a little pink princess car that she can push or ride on. She has mainly been playing with all of the buttons on it. The past few days she has started to push it around while she is crawling. I have had no problem with this because I am in no hurry for her to start walking. Today, she crawled over to it, pulled herself up and just started walking with it!!!! She seems to really enjoy how she can get around even faster then when she crawls. It looks like we are in for some busy times with this little girl....

Happy 2nd Birthday Meredith!!!!!

Meredith Grace...you are 2 years old!

What you are up to these days:

• you are wearing 24 month/2T clothes (they are a little big, but you need the length)
• you wear size 4 diapers
• you really don't seem at all interested in potty training, so we are going to wait a few months
• your hair is finally long enough to put into little bity pigtails (and Daddy loves it!)
• you are starting to talk so much more (even if Mommy is the only one who can understand you, it still counts!)
• you love Flintstone vitamins
• you love to watch Caillou, Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo
• you love to be outside
• you still have your Hippo lovey
• you sleep around 12 hours at night and take a 2 - 2 1/2 hour nap
• you sleep in a big girl bed
• you are starting to like Maddie Kate a little bit more (or you are at least protective of her)
• your favorite thing to say is, "No Da-e!"
• you barely eat enough to stay alive
• you love water, sweet tea and any type of coke if you can get your hands on it
• you love Hershey Bliss milk chocolate squares
• you love chips (just like Mommy)

Meredith,

You are just the greatest litle girl in the entire world. You have no idea how much Mommy and Daddy love you, or how much everyone you meet loves you. We had no idea what we were in for when we had you. But I can tell you that it has been the best time of our life so far! You a re just the sweetest, funniest best girl!!! Happy Birthday our girl!

Sunday was Meredith's 2nd Birthday! We just had a small at home "party" because she is having her big birthday party in 2 weeks. We cooked out hamburgers and then had a cake from Sam's. I might have let it fall out of the back of the car when we got home, but that didn't matter. It tasted delicious. Meredith loved every bite!

Meredith and Daddy

Meredith and Mommy

Maddie Kate did not know what to think about that icing!

"No, Rocky!"

And these are some videos from the night. I couldn't decide which ones to put in, so I put them all in. I figure you are all family and all love her, so you will love watching!!!!



Meredith almost burned her lips off blowing out the candles. We may have to have a few trial runs before her party!

Just Playing Around!

We finally cleaned the play room up a bit (we got rid of the couches and tables that were up there). Now that there is more floor space, we have been spending hours (HOURS) up there every day. The girls seem to have so much more fun now that they have a huge open space to play in. They play by themselves, together, and sometimes just by each other. There seems to be less fighting up there for some reason...

Meredith playing a tune!

Maddie Kate is cooking up something in the kitchen!

Playing by each other without hitting and screaming!

My little happy camper!

Madilyn loves to stand!

I just love that little smile!!!

Our New Tricks!

Madilyn is now 8 months old. She has been crawling for almost 2 months. I guess that crawling on the main floor is not good enough for her anymore. She wants to go everywhere that Meredith does. Even upstairs to the game room. She may be tiny, but it is going to take more than a few stair to slow this baby girl down.

(Meredith did not like not being the center of attention)

The other night was a full moon. Michael took Meredith out to show her. On their way out the door, I jokingly told them to howl at the moon. Well, Michael showed her how and it only took one time for her to get it. She is so funny, now she doesn't even need the mood to howl!

We're Back!

So, I am sure most of you have noticed that I have not been updating the blog. A few weeks went by that were hectic, and I just didn't have the time. Then Madilyn became mobile, and our days just seemed crazier and crazier. After bedtime, I was just so tired that I only felt like sitting and relaxing. Then I was just so far behind that it became more and more daunting to actually do. To make it easier on me, I have decided to just start fresh as of today. I am going to try to post every night. If there are days that I don't have anything, I will just go back over the last few months and post some of those pictures. Enjoy!!!

Smile!

These are just some of my favorite pictures from the past month...

Mommy says that this is her favorite onesie of mine!

I told mommy that if she didn't strap me in I WOULD turn over!

Mommy has not been updating this blog very often. I think that she needs my help.

This is the neatest pumpkin house that I have ever seen!

Mommy told me that this is where she married daddy. Can you believe that they didn't invite me?

Cheetos...never leave home without them!

Are you looking at me?

(check out my shoes)

Manolo Blahnik...try Ziplock!

(Meredith put baggies on her feet. We don't know where or how she learned it.)

I snuck outside while mommy was making breakfast. If I can just get my sunglasses on, maybe she won't recognize me?

We are just hanging out watching cartoons while mommy makes the bed?

Sleeping Beauty!

Madilyn really only sleeps when she is all swaddled up. The past few days, she has decided that our bed is just as comfy as being swaddled. She has fallen asleep when we have layed her down to do other things (while we are in the room...we don't leave that roly poly alone on a bed). She is so sweet that it almost makes me wish she slept with us...almost!

so sweet

Don't I look like my Daddy?!?

How Does She Live?

I truly do not know how Meredith is still growing. She eats about 2 bites of food at her meals. About once a week, she will eat an entire meal, but the rest of the time she barely eats anything. I have even resorted to giving her not entirely healthy things (cookies, pudding, chips, etc.) and she will eat it once, and then start turning it down to0. I guess it must be true what they say....milk must really do a body good!

Mommy made me the best meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans!

(I will not eat it, but daddy says it is the best!)

(and yes, those are potatoes in my hair)

Not only did I put potatoes in my hair, I put some on the floor for Rocky!

Mommy was so proud, she thought I really ate those potatoes. I just put them in my chair!
(this is Meredith's new favorite spot to hide her food besides down her shirt!)

Fall!

I know that it has been fall for a while now, but it is finally starting to feel like it. Meredith's new favorite thing to do is pick the berries off of bushes. Everytime that we go out into the from yard, she climbs in the flower beds, picks off as many as her little hand can hold, brings them to me, and then does it all over again. I am so happy that it has gotten cool enough to actually enjoy being outside!

I finally found the lowest spot to climb over.

I need to find just the right berry to pick!

Found it!

Last week, I raked up a pile of leaves for Meredith to play in. She knew exactly what to do without me even showing her. Happy Fall!

Bath Time!

Madilyn loves to take baths. I have been giving her baths in the sink like I used to with Meredith, but she is super squirmy. I finally went out and bought a baby bath, and our bath time has become so much easier. I cannot wait until she is big enough to sit up on her own. She will really love her baths then!

No Free Rides!

We decided that Meredith is old enough to start doing chores...ha! We have been letting her feed Rocky. She gets so excited and runs to help everytime we need to feed him. She is so funny...she is super careful not spill any of his food, but she throws the cup as soon as she is done instead of bringing it back to us. Hopefully she will be this excited to really do chores once she is old enough.

Chocolate Pudding!

As many of you know, Meredith does not eat very many foods. I have been trying to find different things to give her for snacks. I bought her some chocolate pudding cups. She loved them! A few weeks ago, I was feeding Madilyn during snack time. Meredith obviously got bored with just eating the pudding and decided to paint herself. She was so covered in it that her arm actually stuck to her body. I had to rinse her off in the kitchen sink before I could bathe her. But she had fun, and that is what counts!

(I don't know why these pics are blurry, but you can still get an idea...)

YUMMY! This pudding looks as good as it tastes.

That mommy is so silly...she is trying to give me a shower in the kitchen sink!