happy & we know it: January 2013

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

in case you wanted to see lots of pictures of my girl.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Happy Birthday Maddie!

On Sunday we celebrated our sweet Maddie's second birthday. We were finally able to get her over some of her initial fear of her birthday (still a little scared but a big improvement) and I think she loved it. She's had me sing happy birthday to her in both of the days since so I think it was a hit. I think it was her balloons that changed the mood of her birthday - especially the "happy" one (she's obsessed with everything being happy). We started off the morning with her favorite breakfast of "pan-pan" (pancakes) with "sur-sur" (syrup) on fancy paper plates. She got to go to church (which she loves) and eat cupcakes, open presents, and just generally be spoiled all day. It was such a fun day for Josh and I - this whole parenting thing isn't half bad - I think we had more fun than she did.

At two Maddie is talking like crazy. The way she says certain things just kills me - my favorites are beach, morning, happy, Harry Potter (she has no clue what this is), yay! yay! yay!, Josh, and especially Mommy. She mostly still says one word at a time but we get phrases in occasionally. She is still a great napper and generally a great eater and a good sleeper most of the time (minus last night). She's pretty opinionated about some things - the songs we sing to her at bedtime, what cup she drinks out of, and she has to have a certain blanket over her at night. Lately it's been that she has to have her Brave doll and horse (which aren't small) right next to her every nap and every bedtime.

Maddie is so obedient and so observant. She listens to and obeys everything I say and loves being around other kids. She is definitely a Daddy's girl but I'm growing on her ;) She's our little artist and loves to "draw." It's rare to find her more than a few feet away from her crayons/ markers/ easel/ pencils/ etc and I can't get away from the grocery store without her coloring all over my shopping list while I shop.

She is still so girly - I think she gets more and more girly as she gets older. I love it. She loves clothes and doing hair and makeup already. She asks me to paint her nails and loves shoes and bows and jewelry. She watched part of Beauty and the Beast the other day and kept saying "pretty, pretty" when she saw Belle. I hope a little brother doesn't scare her away.

She's a little nurturer and starts to pretend cry whenever she sees someone sad (or someone she thinks is sad) and immediately says "happy, happy" because she wants them to be happy.

We're beyond lucky to have this little girl. I still can't believe it has already been a whole year since this and two whole years since we brought home that teeny tiny baby from the hospital. Saying she's the best thing that happened to Josh and I is an understatement. Happy birthday Maddie!!

Aaaand on a side note, we kicked off the terrible two's with a bang when she decided I needed my phone in the shower with me this morning and kindly brought it to me.

Snowed In.

We've been spending a lot of time indoors the past few weeks. With such cold, snowy, freeze-your-everything off weather, we don't have many other options. Last week we went to story time at the library three different times - and considering they only change the story/routine weekly, that's saying something. I'm not sure who misses being outside more, but as we were jumping in the car this morning (to head to story time... again), Maddie excitedly pointed and yelled "The sun!! It's morning!" She also asks no less than 5 times every day if we can go to the park. May or even March can't come soon enough sometimes. Until then, we're trying to make the most of our days inside.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Afraid of Two

I can't believe that in less than two weeks, I'll have a two year old! Where does the time go? (something I always feel like I am saying as a mom). If you would have asked her about her birthday before this past Sunday she would have responded by saying "Happy happy!!" (happy birthday) or "Yay! Yay! Yay!" Buuuuut, after watching me blow out the candles on my birthday cake this past Sunday, she somehow decided that birthdays are the most terrifying thing ever (she hates fire). Now when you ask her about her birthday she responds immediately by saying "NO, NO!!" and then clenching her little fists together and saying "scared" dramatically. She also has gone from telling you she is two to telling you she is one again and if you ask her if she is going to be two she again says no and that she is scared. In trying to get her excited for her birthday, I've promised cookies, cupcakes, the pool and more - Josh even told her what her presents were and she told him no - that she didn't want them.

I'm not sure what we've done (besides having my birthday) that has her this scared of her birthday, but here's to hoping that we can convince her otherwise before her second birthday... because like it or not, she's getting a party. You'd think I would be more scared for her to turn two (terrible two's anyone?) than she would be.

Christmas catch up

Elder Featherstone

I feel like this blog would be incomplete without a post dedicated to a project Josh and his brother have been working on for the past year and a half. When we were living in new Jersey, Josh felt he should write a biography/life history on his Grandma and Grandpa Featherstone. Over time the project evolved into a two volume series, the first of which was printed over Christmas break. I'm not sure I've ever seen Josh and Christian so excited about something (I'm sure I have, but still...).

Nothing could do justice to who these two are, the lives they have led, or the love we have for them but this book is a pretty good start. I've been so proud of Josh and all that he has put into this and I can't wait to see volume II!