The Love of a Family

Yesterday was one.of.those.days. Maddy started vomiting pretty early in the day. I am petrified of vomit. P.e.t.r.i.f.i.e.d. BUT, want to know what is worse? ...Watching your little monkey sick. This is parenting, huh? -The overwhelming sensation to take any pain away.
Today I am thinking of two things.
I am so grateful for our sweet little girl.
I am so thankful for Ray, my soon to be husband.

In just over a week we are going to say our vows in what might be hurricane #4 in as many days for the Northeast. All of this hurricane talk is OK... you'll carry us through it. I feel strong because of you.

On that note... Here are some words from a song that reminds me of the family I have. Tell the repo man
And the stars above
You're the one I love
Perfect summers night
Not a wind that breathes
Just the bullets whispering gentle 'mongst the new green leaves
There's things I might have said
Only wish I could
Now I'm leaking life faster
Then I'm leaking blood.

Twinkle Toes

Maddy and Papa went shopping on Saturday.
Madelyn now has the new, hip Sketchers Twinkle Toes!

Brush Your Teeth! (or end up like momma)

Every night... between 7:00pm and 7:30pm the TOOTHBRUSH MONSTER comes!

He stealthily sneaks into the living room... blindsiding Maddy with fluoride!

Other than that scary development we are good. Hanging in and waiting for the BIG DAY! Californians arrive!

A Midsummer's Weekend

27 on the 13th. I was a little nervous about this one. Twenty-six sounded OK... twenty-seven? Well... that sounds a little older.
This was probably one of the best birthdays I have had yet. I awoke Friday morning to beautiful cards from Daddy and Maddy. (Maddy even signed her own!) Then off to work I went waiting for the nights festivities at Polari's... yummy.

Dad, Nana Pam, Nana, Ray, Maddy and I all met up at Polari's for a delicious dinner, and great laughs. I was lavished with presents, including this beautiful Pandora bracelet from Nana, Ray, and Maddy:

This bracelet also came with a beautiful bag...

Nana tried to claim it as hers, but Ray wouldn't let that happen. :)
I had such a wonderful night, surrounded by people that mean the world to me. (I was also subjected to the entire restaurant signing the Polcari's birthday song, but that's OK... I"ll forgive them!)
Saturday morning of this Midsummer Weekend was sectioned mostly to chores, errands, and general lunacy.

Papa came over and within hours had constructed this beautiful garden. Nana, Ray, and I stood back in awe.

After the clean-up Maddy gave Papa a "hi-five" and Ray and I were off to buy his suit.

Sunday morning:

Amanda: "Let's gather everything in the house, go to the laundromat, purchase those beautiful little Tide boxes, take $ 30 in quarters and wash anything machine washable."

Papa: Ugh... OK....

Ray: This sounds ridiculous.

3-hours later, a damp pile of comforters, and a freshly stocked fridge screamed: TAKE A NAP! As I laid my head down for a quick snooze, I awoke at 5pm. Err.

So, I made Grandma Bridgie's chicken tortilla soup for the family and settled in for the night.

Visions of Tide boxes danced in our heads.

Should we lock in oil prices?

Nana is funny.
She asked Ray the other day to start the weed-wacker. She has developed a green thumb since moving to the sticks... everything. must. be. weeded. Well, Ray dutifully starts the machine and Nana gets to work. Ray and I left to grab something to eat... and when we came home... a chunk of the house was missing. Nana weed-wacked the house.
I told her that this story would be told for the next thousand years... that this was the funniest thing since Snuggies, but she topped it.
Last night Nana came running upstairs, asked to see Ray, and proudly showed him a newspaper clipping of "How to lock in your oil rates." She pointed to this sentence, that paragraph, explaining what a cost savings we could gain. Ray very patiently waited. He then went on to explain that we do not have oil as a heat conductor. We in fact have 3- large propane tanks, right next to the hole in the house that was so artfully placed a few weeks prior. He did point out that it was a great thing she didn't "lock in the rates" and order any oil though!
Ray would have had to hawk gallons of low-cost oil on EBay.

Another MTV Show

16 Things You May Not Know about Madelyn...

1. Maddy and I both love daddy's version of the "Maybelline" song. "Maybe it's Maybelline, maybe it's Raybelline."

2. Maddy farts and pretends it wasn't her.

3. She makes googly faces at herself in any mirror she passes by.
4. Every night before bed, Maddy adds a "new" doll to the line-up of things she must. have. crammed. into. her. crib. in. order. to sleep. through. the. night.

5. She hearts Justin Beiber.

6. She has pooped in the tub... ewwww. :)

7. She can spot her dad from a mile away.

8. She is usually not sure of who her mother even is. Just kidding... she knows I'm only a scream away.

9. Madelyn gives the best hugs, but only if you ask.

10. She will share her most favorite snack... Goldfish, but only for you to look at. She will want them back and then eat them right in front of you.

11. She has almost 20 pairs of shoes, but would rather go barefoot any day.

12. Her mom lets her live off of peanut-butter and the aforementioned Goldfish.

13. Maddy can make her eyes go freakishly to the side, and then turn around in circles while laughing. It looks like she is trying to chase her tail.

14. Maddy does not have a tail.

15. She loves to talk on any one's cell phone. Give her a call, she's got a ton to say.

16. Maddy is the sweetest little girl you could ever have the pleasure to meet. She is a blessing that I could never have dreamt of.

A day late, a dollar short... Happy Birthday Auntie Christen :)

Time out... time.

Ray and I both feel that Maddy is at an appropriate age for "time outs." She receives one minute of alone time, facing the corner, in her purple chair. This allotment of time to self-reflect (lol) is usually the outcome from Madelyn throwing food, hitting, or slamming things into the wall and causing marks. (She is really a pleasant little girl- but she has mommy's *ahem* grace and patience.)
How things usually unfold:
Scene set: Living room of scenic New Hampshire, time 7:00 pm.
Maddy- *throws rocking chair into a back and forth rock, causing it to slam into any wall in a 6' radius*
Daddy- Maddy, sweetie love, sugar-pie please don't do that. That makes daddy sad.
Maddy- *archs back and laughs sadistically as she continues to ram chair into the wall.*
Daddy- MADELYN Eileen.......... the FIRST! Stop!
Mommy- ENOUGH!
Maddy- *giggles little adorable baby giggles, making Mommy laugh.*
Daddy- Time out then!
He then will put her into the corner and count to 60. She is usually p'od by this and then does listen to him. Great, discipline accomplished... easy stuff.

Well, let us fast forward to yesterday...

Maddy shows off what she thinks is the world's funniest trick.... Again, slamming the wooden rocking chair into the beautiful white walls. I tell Maddy that if she continues then it is time for.... you guessed it... time out. Well, the banging continued. I picked up my little 25-pound bulldozer and put her in the corner, counted to 60, explained what she did wrong, and asked if she would be a good girl. I then told her time-out was finished and that she could get up.

BUT...SHE STAYED IN TIME OUT. SHE PLAYED. SHE WAS COMFORTABLE. She sang little baby songs and mocked me for 20-minutes. Mission of discipline. FAIL.

I moved the rocking chair into the middle of the room.