Walking

Madeline officially started walking last Thursday, on her birthday. She'd been taking steps several times a day for a few weeks but was never interested in using walking as a form of transportation - she would much rather have been carried! One of her little friends came over to play last Thursday and Madeline noticed that she was walking. So, she got up and started walking herself. She's been toddling around everywhere since. There's nothing like a little peer pressure!

ONE!!!

It's hard to believe this picture was taken one year ago yesterday. In some ways it seems like she was born just a couple of months ago, and in other ways I feel like she has been in our lives for years. This picture is an example of how we felt a year ago: unprepared. In all of the craziness of the morning we left for the hospital, we forgot to bring our camera! Scott had to go to the gift shop to buy a disposable camera. It was a piece of quality workmanship - the flash didn't even work. This is the only picture that even remotely turned out.

Before Madeline was born I honestly felt like I was prepared to be the mother of a newborn. I'm the oldest of six children, the youngest being triplets. I helped my mom out a lot with my siblings. I babysat for twin baby boys during college. I worked as a nurse on an infant medical/surgical unit for two years. I thought I had a pretty good resume for being a mother. I really wasn't anxious at all.

Well, motherhood doesn't require a resume, and I found that mine wasn't helpful at all, except that I was an expert "swaddler". Being a mother is so much more than daily tasks like bathing and changing diapers. I was amazed at how little I knew about how to take care of my child.

I have learned many things during the last year, and continue to learn everyday. I have learned to have more patience, how to be more selfless, how to love more strongly, how to be more gentle and nurturing. I am truly a better person now than I was a year ago.

Last night we went to eat at La Madeleine. I was thrown a baby shower there by my coworkers just a couple of days before Madeline was born. It was nostalgic for me, and fitting because of the name.

Then we opened presents at home. Grandma Serr's presents hit the spot - a puzzle that makes animal noises and an electronic purse. She didn't care about opening any other presents after the puzzle.

She especially didn't care about the bear I made for her, which she promply pushed away. I guess it was probably a little scary and mangy looking. She liked it a little better today.

I am so happy to have Madeline in our family. She has brought us a lot of joy. We look forward to learning and growing with her for a long, long time.

SNOW!!!

I finally took Madeline out in the snow to play. I had bought snow gear for her before Christmas, thinking she would play outside over the holidays. Due to the craziness of that trip I never took her out in the snow. We finally did it last Tuesday evening - mostly so I could have pictures of her! I thought she would love it, but she wasn't too sure about it. All she would do was sit and look at the snow on her pants.

She also tried to eat it, but wasn't a big fan. I don't blame her - that snow's been on the ground for weeks. It probably really was nasty.

My sister and I helped her make a snow angel. My parent's dog, Molly, was outside with us. When we laid Madeline on the ground she started going crazy, jumping all over her.

Then she ripped the mitten off of her hand and ran with it. I thought we had seen the last of the mitten, as I'm sure her plan was to bury it in the backyard. It took some skill and a few doggy treats to get it back. Thanks to my sister, Megan, for taking the pictures in the cold with us!

Little Getaway

Madeline and I went on a short trip to Utah to visit my family last week. We were just there a month ago, but I got a greal deal on Southwest, so away we went again. My sister had her first baby while we were in Utah over the holidays. He spent 12 days in the NICU, so I didn't get to see much of him. I was so exited to hold and snuggle with him. Shelley, Jerod, and baby Hunter live in Salt Lake, but they drove up to stay with my parents in Logan while we were there.

Madeline didn't seem to even notice that Hunter existed during most of our stay. We did catch one moment of her being sweet to him.

We had a little family birthday party for Madeline one night. She will turn one on February 19th!

She LOVED her presents - especially the doggy and the cell phone! We watched her jump, dance, clap, and squeal for a good long time while she played with her new toys. Unfortunately, now that we're home they have lost most of their appeal.

Madeline's "smash cake"

It actually took her a while to figure out what to do with her cake. She squished her fingers in it for a while until she realized she was supposed to eat it. Not surprisingly, she loved it! Eventually I had to take away the tin, because she was trying to shove the whole thing in her mouth and I was afraid she'd cut herself. That didn't go over well.

It was so nice to get away for a few days and spend time with my family. I only wish we could do it more often.