Read More http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/tutorials/how-to-use-a-cute-font-for-your-blogger-post-titles.html#ixzz1h2aDxUXd

October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween from our OWL family to yours!





Hope it was a HOOT!

October 29, 2011

Say What!?

While my dad was visiting we took Mady to the zoo and he bought her a cute little Tiger Purse while we were there. She loves purses and all things girly right now, so this was a perfect gift for our little girly-girl.

The next morning I asked her what she was playing with and she said: "My Tiger person!" 
Translation: "My Tiger purse". 

To be sure I heard her right, I said: "Mady what is this?", while pointing at her Tiger purse.
To which she said and with full confidence: "Tiger PERSON!" 

__________________________________________________________________________________

Bryan's cousin faithfully serves us well by giving us her daughter's hand me downs. We love them and think they are very special because we know and love who used to wear them. She always has the cutest stuff, including fun Pajamas. Especially Halloween ones.

So since Halloween is right around the corner we've been putting Mady in the Halloween PJs at night.
The other night I put her in some cute ones with a little black cats and pumkins on the pants.
While I was rocking her in her dark room I noticed they were glow in the dark pants. Little outlines of cats and pumkins were neon on Mady's little legs.

I showed Mady, to which she said after intensely staring down at her pants: "Mom, turn eey yight off!"
Translation: "Turn the light off Mom.", while pointing to her pants.

She thought the glow in the dark could be controlled by a switch! So precious. Love that little mind so much.

October 28, 2011

Mady's Milestones ~ 2 years old

Two.Years.Old.
How did we get here?
and, so fast??
I'm sure every year I will say that. Why does time go so slow when when you want it to go fast and time go so FAST when you want it to go slow? I'll never understand.

Here are some more pictures from our "Family Photo-shoot". These shots were done in honor of the birthday girl.
She was doing what she does best. Having a tea party and eating some sweets! So fun!




Ok, Mady-Girl...here is a bit about YOU being 2,

Can I just say how much of a delight you are to your Dad and I? Simply saying it, does it no justice to just how much we adore and love you. Your smile, laugh, hugs and even snuggles these days, bring us a lot of joy. We also find your dance parties, tea parties and cup cake parties fun too. Here are a few pictures from your 2nd Birthday "Owl/ Cupcake" party.



You had a great time at your party and we were able to celebrate with all of your friends. Even your Grandpa was able to drive in for the special event. You are certainly something to be celebrated!

You have done quite a bit of growing this year. According to your doctors you are now in the 50th% in weight and the 25th% in height! You are right on track and exceeding where you were. Must be all that broccoli you eat. Hah! Maybe not, but you are a good eater. Mommy is very happy about that.

You are so fun Mady. Playing with you is an adventure every time. This blog is filled with countless things that you have done during our play times that crack me up! I am thankful for a place to record it all. Most days you are into girly things. We are either playing with your doll house or carrying around a stuffed animal or baby doll that you are mothering and taking care of well. You pretend change diapers, change clothes, give baths, cook supper, clean house, bake cookies and so on. You also still love books and stories. Anything Princess or Animal themed is your FAVORITE! You have princess dolls, books and even panties and a potty seat!! We are gearing up for potty training in the next few months. You are ready and so am I!

Your favorite thing to do these days is go outside. You love to go for walks to the park and playground, play in your little house in the back yard and have picnics! You also love trips to the Zoo. We have had a zoo pass this year and it has been wonderful. You are beginning to play by yourself more and more. I will find you setting up your little people and talking away! Having a great time in your own little world. I love it.

I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. Especially your kindness. You love people! You are very social and aware. You share and play well with others. You are a delight to be around and have many friends.

Just a few of the things you've learned this year:
  • All letter recognition and starting to learn letter sounds, singing ABC's
  • Speaking in sentences
  • Numbers (I think you can count up to 16 or so) and color recognition
  • Catechism questions and Bible memory verses
  • Praying (I love this because you rattle off things you are thankful for and "Mommy" usually ends up in there about 3 times and you also thank God for yourself too!!)
  • Singing along with songs (Your current favorite is "Gather Round Ye Children, Come", from the Andrew Peterson "Behold the Lamb of God" album. You call it the "Brave Yittle Boy" song. Before this one, your fav was "Wheels on the bus")
  • Shaking your hips rather rhythmically to music
  • Shapes and sorting games, also recognition 
  • Letting other people hold you (other than Mommy). A major MILESTONE! 

You are turning into a Daddy's girl. I knew it would happen....and boy has it! You love your Daddy daughter date nights. You learned this year that dad protects and loves you and you've never been the same. Ya'll play hard and fun together. You always have a good time with "Dad" as you call him now-a-days.

My favorite thing to do with you is still our time spent together before you go to bed. We sing and pray and it warms my heart. You are moving, moving, moving all day....so to sit with you, rock and pray to our great God is a joy.  Teaching you Bible Stories and see you make connections is so fun. You always call Noah "Moses", which is funny and better from last year when he was "Ho-Ho". Your getting there. You are starting to "meet" Jesus too. He and His Holy Spirit, I pray are using these stories to connect your heart to the Gospel, your forgiveness of your sin and a need for a Savior. We have all that and more in Christ. I pray I am faithful to proclaim these truths to you every day and with both words and deeds.

We have had a hard year (not having to do with you), but looking at your face I begin to see and remember what God says in His word about "having more joy than when wine and grain abound". I do have immense joy in you and the gift that you are! Because you are here, God is using your life to sanctify my own.  But hear me love, He is my joy. You are an extension of that joy and a sweet blessing from God. If you could only know how much joy your bring me Mady, you would RUN to Jesus....because I have ten times that amount in my relationship with Christ (which seems impossible when you consider how much I love you). And thank goodness for this, because had I not been loved by Him, who is love, I would not know how to love you! So thank God for showing His love to me, because of this I am able to fully love you and show you TRUE JOY! This can only be found in Christ.



Mady, my love. You are precious to us. We love you so much more than you could ever know...well, until you have your own children...then you might get a glimpse of that love. I cannot wait to add to our days together and grow even closer. Every day you are more fun and every day I fall more in love with you! I am glad to be your Mom, your biggest fan and your constant support.  May we grow in Christ together one day. May we encourage one another with God's Word and be rich in fellowship as "sisters in Christ" ...that you too will taste and see how GOOD our God is. That is my greatest prayer for you. I pray your Dad and I would be found faithful in these things.

    “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
  
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)
Love you darling daughter,
Love Mom

October 26, 2011

Two Years....

gone by TWO FAST!!! 

Here is a glimpse into our journey with Mady, through pictures over the past 2 years.

–––––––––––––––– Birth –––––––––––––––––––
37 weeks pregnant, gave birth a few days later at 38 weeks
October 26th, 2009

––––––––––––––––––1 Year –––––––––––––––––

On October 26, 2010, actual Birthday

October 31st, 2010 at her Birthday Party


–––––––––––––––––– 2 Years –––––––––––––––


October 22nd, 2011 at her Birthday Party



Best and fastest 2 years of my life –– so far!!

October 25, 2011

A 2-yr-old Party

Here is Mady's Owl themed Birthday Party {in pictures, lots of them}.
We celebrated the weekend before her actual birthday, which happens to be tomorrow!
So on the Eve of her birthday I decided to upload some of my favorites from her party....enjoy!


Sunbutter and Jelly "M" sandwiches, with a few Owl's, of course.
Owl cocoa rice crispy pops.
Also some "Birthday Cake" flavored cake pops, straight from Daddy's Starbucks store. 



My Birthday Party Girl!


Chocolate cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles.


One of my very best {and crafty} friends made some of the cutest crafty, owl things for Mady. 
One being an adorable canvas with the fun message: "Owl always be your friend". 
The idea was that the kids would ink their finger and leave their finger print as a leaf. 
This was a fantastic way to remember such a fun day with all of Mady's little friends during this season of life. 
Thank you Bethany for your craftiness! You made this Owl Themed party come to life!!



Bethany also made these fun center-piece owls. 
Love them.


Momma and the Birthday Girl!


Where our family begins.


Caught you in a dance, baby girl.



Caught some people eating cake pops!


Having fun with friends.




Blowing out her candle! 
Make a wish.




Everyone enjoyed cupcakes.


Especially this little Birthday Girl!






She is a joy to us and we loved having all of our friends together to celebrate her Birthday.
Can't believe she's 2, tomorrow! 


Happy Birthday Baby Doll!
We love you so much and we are incredibly thankful for God's good gift he gave us in you.
He is good and worthy to be praised. 
He gives good gifts to his children.
May we bring Him much glory as we shepherd your heart well. 

Site Meter