She's a Walkin... Just in Time

Maddy has taken her first tentative steps in the last few days. With a little prodding from her parents she can take about 3 steps. Progress feels wonderful, but sad. Where is that little baby I held in my arms? I do still pick Maddy up and hold her in my arms "like a baby," but she now thinks it is funny... not comforting. :)
This new accomplishment may have come just in time. My body feels like it is starting to fail me. Most days I am convinced I am aging at a much more aggressive rate than someone else in their twenties... and the pain on other days makes it hard to play, change, run, jump, skip or even walk with my baby girl. There are many, many, many days I feel wonderful.... but on the days I don't (*like today*) I throw a little pity-party for me. Want to know what is served at this party? Dunkin' Donuts White Hot Chocolate. It makes all my aches melt away.

Burfday... Smurfday!

Ray's birthday week has officially begun.
It started out a little bumpy with no electricity or... CABLE...but things eventually came back on and everything was forgiven. Happy 32nd sweetheart. You are the love of my life, now lets eat cake!
We went to the movies Saturday to see Shutter Island. This. Movie. Is. Freakin. Incredible. Double. Thumbs. Up. We came home to find a nice birthday surprise from Grandma Bridget and a very tuckered out little girl who had Nana wrapped around her finger most of the afternoon.
Sunday we went to Nana Pam and Papa's for a D.E.L.C.I.O.U.S. dinner and cake. Please take a look at the cake below.

Pretty cool cake, huh? Did you happen to notice the skateboarder dude is off his skateboard? Papa says that since he is "32" he is too old to be skateboarding- so he put an end to that nonsense! After desert we said our goodbyes and trekked out into the snow/sleet for our ride home.
Once we arrived.... BAM! Another surprise for daddy.

Maddy was a little late to the party here she is finally creeping in...

What was Ray's surprise from Nana, Maddy and I?
Check it out...

Happy Birthday to the best daddy in the world.

Remotes are for Kids

This is how I found Maddy the other day watching Wiggles...

Hmmm.... The resemblance to her father is eery!

Ray, Maddy and myself are going to the Cawley camp next weekend for a nice little retreat. Ray's birthday is right around the corner and we though that a little family time by the lake would be the perfect treat!

Here are some extra pictures to enjoy... :)

Slushy Days

The Forecast for Boston: Snow, slush, rain... in other words.... wet ALL week. I actually do not mind the snow... as long as it doesn't get too carried away with itself, snow is OK. Rain though... not so much. Maddy does not like the rain either, but I am hoping I will be able to show her some funny cartoons to pass the time indoors. SO the following are some of my favorites, grab a hot cocoa and stay inside!

68 Weeks

Hmmm 2 posts in one day... I wonder if this is legal.
I usually do not do 2 posts in a day... BUT this required a written thought. I receive a weekly email that gives me some generic info on "your baby." Every week from when I was very early in my pregnancy I have been receiving this email about what my baby is doing. Sometimes I just look over at her and check, but there are occasions where I have Today, the title of the email was 68-weeks. You guessed it... they are talking about her age. My little sweet, tiny big girl is 68-weeks old. Just a thought that I needed to share. My angel is growing too fast.

Glass Breaking Post

I was notified this morning that I have been nominated for Mother of the Year.... of the entire Universe. I was in tears when I received the news, but they were not happy ones. Let me back up to about 5 minutes before I received this prestigious accolade. The alarm clock goes off... Brrrrring. Brrring. (My amazing literary skills make it sound more like a telephone, but you get the picture.) Ray gets up and puts Maddy next to me in bed. "Hang tight little one, I am going to go make a milk-bubba for you." Daddy says Next thing I know -in a New York second- Maddy flies off the bed- LEAPS AND BOUNDS before crashing into the glass nightstand with her head. I jumped up and rocked her in my arms trying to make her fears go away- She looked up at me in anger. She was pee-ode. I could she her thoughts... How dare you let that happen?
It was shortly there after that I was awarded.

Maddy is OK... She was not hurt and continued on to her milk bubba with no problems. Her mom is a little bruised.

Lovey-Dovey Days

I was talking to my mom about how it is very easy to get lost in the role of "Maddy's Parents." Ray and I are hers. I love that about my life. I love that Ray makes it his daily mission to make her smile, but sometimes we need to be us. SO, this past weekend Nana took baby Maddy- and Ray and I went to dinner and a movie. I forgot what it was like to be us, Ray and Amanda the "couple." Although coming home to that sweet smiley face was a wonderful way to end a Saturday night date.
On Valentine's Day we went to Nana Pam's and Papa's. Maddy had wonderful gifts of money and clothes (she usually has gifts waiting for her there- even when it is not a holiday) and I had a delicious boiled-dinner waiting for me! I did have to scoot her out of there early... Papa and Maddy were sitting watching the Wiggles and I could see Maddy's eyelids getting heavy.... Something about Papa's lap and rocking chair puts Maddy right to sleep!

Friday night Ray came home with flowers for "his girls:"