Daily musings...

1. Ella GIGGLED today!!!!!! It is a mother's favorite sound.

2. Maddie said the cutest prayer, crystal clear: "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for Daddy and Mom. Thank for my birthday. Please bless (jibber jabber)... name of Jesus Christ, AMEN! (We are just slightly excited for said birthday.)

3. Why didn't anyone warn me, I mean really warn me, that raising babies would be hard? Good thing I prize them above life itself--and good thing they take naps so I can rediscover my chi.

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From the mouth of babes...

Kids say the darndest things. I've been writing down Maddie quotes lately and just had to share!

-"Baby Blue needs some Mommy milk!"

-"I'm full of pee!"

-"Vegas baby!" (to her baby)

-"You know what? Grandma's coming to my birthday!!!" (x 10)

-Me: "Are you going to be 2?" Her: "Like a bunny rabbit!"

About the men in her life:

-"Santa Claus went to the North Pole, member?" (She was pretty confused when all the Christmas decor disappeared, but beats me why she announced this at lunch yesterday!)

-"Mommy, Prophet! President Monson!" (looking at Ensign)

-"Watch Barak Obama on TB." (telling this to her friend Abby while turning the TV on)

-"Nephi builds a boat!" (when she saw a picture of a boat)

-"Jesus is my friend!" Give him hugs and kisses!

-"I love you so big much! Daddy says that!"

The CIRCUS is here with fun things to see!

Blake and Hannah both turned 30 and invited us to their Circus birthday bash. Hope she doesn't mind me bragging for her... this girl knows how to throw a party!

Check out those tights! Mike doesn't usually like to dress up but he got pretty into it. Hannah's headdress was my favorite costume of the night.

Ella was my magical baby bunny (we left Maddie with a sitter).

The circus was complete with a sword thrower, fortune tellers, lion, snake charmer, bearded lady, and clowns.

Maddie enjoyed our costumes but her favorite part was Daddy's balloon tying!

Honesty...

Maddie provided the soundtrack for our weekend hiking excursion. Our friends just went to a Billy Joel concert and inspired Mike to practice this with Maddie:

It was a gorgeous day and the scenery was breathtaking! Maddie is still talking about 'hikin on the rocks'.

There were a few kids on the trail, but we got quite a few comments carrying two. Ella was snug as a bug zipped into my sweatshirt. (If you didn't see her little feet sticking out you might wonder about my potbelly and saggy chest!!! :)

Fruit snack break! Then of course Maddie didn't want to get back in the pack... when Mike let her walk the last leg to the car he said she was practically skipping she was so excited.

Ella Bella

This girl is so smiley! She is close to laughing when she gets really excited. Here's a little lopsided grin for ya...

Maddie gets some good ones out of her!

No smiles in this one but check out her stylin' boots!

Recipe for a Rainy Day

Blankets...

More blankets

Chairs

Cheeze-its

Daddy and laughs!

Best Buds

Maddie and Abby got to spend two evenings together in a row! (We exchanged date nights with a friend--yes we actually went OUT!) Maddie absolutely adores Abby. I had to document how cute they are together.

Goodnight!

I Heart You!

Happy Valentine's Day! Now that Maddie appreciates my attempts at festivity, we make the most of holidays...

Heart pancakes

Letter of last week

This week...

Introducing Maddie, the Queen of Hearts.

Ella wore hearts too.

Heart pizzas!

On Valentine's Day we got to see my cousin Merissa and her husband Chris while they were visiting Vegas for a Valentine getaway! We ate at the Cheesecake Factory--yum yum.

Maddie loved the huge fish tank and the huge piano at F.A.O Shwartz!

It was a great day, topped off by a sweet letter and flowers from my honey. Can't every day be heart day?

Videos

Here's a little Ella noise for you Mom! It's not her most vocal moment, but you get a feel for her concentration and eye contact! (Please-oh-please disregard my corny narraration.)

I couldn't help post this too... this girl cracks me up!

P.S. I am LOVING Maddie's haricut!!! Thanks Jessica!

2 months old

Little Ella is growing up so fast. Her smiles and coos are so sweet! Her measurements put her right around the 50th percentile, so she's healthy and well. Here are some recent shots...