Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

I L-O-V-E, love the smell of a Christmas tree!


Sheldon and I always pick out our tree together. However, M has a little cold so I didn't want to take her out in the chilly wind as we tromp around searching for the perfect tree. Sadly, for the first time, Sheldon went to get the tree alone.


I worried...would he be able to pick "just the right tree" on his own. Not too tall, not too short...not too fat, not too skinny. Without my eye there to critique, I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Never fear, he found a beautiful one all on his own! Just perfect!!


What a beauty! I love Christmas and am so looking forward to celebrating our first Christmas with Madelyn.

(excuse the quality - it was taken on Sheldon's phone)

A Baptism & A Shower

I have had this post ready to go for several weeks...however there was a picture on my Mom's camera I wanted before I published it. Since I have forgotten to upload about 10 times now, I decided to go ahead and post with out it!

A few weekends ago we had waterworks...figuratively and literally.

It was a busy, busy weekend! Saturday I hosted, along with two of her best friends, a shower for Aunt Shelby at our house. It turned out great. She received so many wonderful gifts and had so many loving friends & family come to celebrate the soon-to-arrive baby Colt.

We are so excited and can't wait to meet Madelyn's cousin and our little nephew...his arrival is right around the corner!

That Sunday was a very, very special day. Madelyn Leigh was Baptized at our church, Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, in Galveston. We had so many family & friends who came to be a part of our dedicating our baby to the Lord. We appreciate you all so much for being there as we promised to raise her to know and love Him! She wore the same christening gown my cousins & I and my mom & her sisters all wore. My great grandmother Mary Leigh made it!

After the service, Sheldon & I hosted a luncheon at Olympia Grill on Harborside. It was a wonderful day and everything turned out beautifully.



Shelby's Shower

Madelyn's Baptism

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last week we had another East Texas journey.

This time we had several stops...we set out for the Farm Sunday (surprising Lolly who didn't think we would be there until Wednesday!) before Thanksgiving and had several fun days in the country. We headed to my Dad's house Thursday. Friday we made a swing over to the lake house to visit with all our family there. At both the Farm & Lake, M was introduced to relatives she had never met before!

I do not like turkey & dressing etc. and this year I lucked out. I dodged every place when the traditional foods were served! We left the Farm before Thanksgiving dinner and that evening my Dad made YUMMY, YUMMY chicken & dumplings. Thursday was turkey day at the Lake and we didn't make it there until Friday.

Madelyn was great during our travels. However, by the time we got home the following Sunday we were all ready for our own bed!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday!!

At the Farm there is not bath tub, just a shower, so Madelyn had to get her bath in a large bowl! At first, she wasn't so sure what she thought about that!

She decided it was ok after all...

Looking cool with Lolly in Uncle Greggy's buggy! Check out her A&M ball cap Lolly got her!


Little Turkey in her Thanksgiving jammies...

Spending time with Nanny at the Lake house.

Hanging out at Sir and Granna's house.

6 Month Check Up

Madelyn had her 6 month well visit this week. I just have to brag a bit, so indulge this proud momma for a minute.


She is right on track with all her developmental milestones! Dr. Q complimented her and she just grinned at him...no playing bashful for this girl!


Just a few of her note worthy tricks:
- Holds her head up GREAT!!

- Grabs toys (and other items...including, but not limited to - my hair, Clara, my hair, burp rag, my hair)

- Smiles, laughs, and talks up a storm!

- reaches out to play with the objects on her jumperoo

- rolls both ways

- wiggles all over the place!

- tries to hold her bottle
- is very, very aware of her surroundings (and she knows when I leave the room!)

- sits up well with support


My favorite thing lately is watching her figure out sitting up. I have a feeling she will master this feat without support soon. Dr. Q says expect it in the next month or so.


She has been doing this thing lately where when you sit her up and take your hands away she leans forward (like she's touching her toes) with an arm on the ground in front of her. I learned at the Dr. that this actually has a name. It's called the tripod! How funny!!


Madelyn's Stats:
Height: 25 3/4 in
Weight: 17 lbs 3.5 oz
Head Circumference: 17 1/4 in

playing with sister

The "tripod"

pushing up from the ground

smiling during tummy time

EVERYTHING goes in her mouth...(so please strangers at a restaurant or the grocery store DON'T touch her hands!!)



hanging out in her bumbo

It was a Two Tu-Tu Weekend!

The tiniest dancer? My little ballerina!

She couldn't decide...pink tu-tu or white tu-tu...sooo we wore ballerina costumes all weekend!

On Saturday GiGi came over to hang out and help Daddy while Mommy went to Miss Elise's shower to help celebrate M's future friend "Baby W". M wore her pink tu-tu.

Sunday M wore her white tu-tu to church and lunch at the Sunflower...she skipped trick-or-treating this year...
Clara kisses!!

Doing some stretches...

Practicing second position

Pumpkin Carving Party!

The end of the day can be a tough time for our household. Madelyn has just had all she can take and sometimes it's a battle to make it to bedtime. To combat this, we try to think of things to do during this time period...take a walk, run a short errand, etc. Otherwise, we are literally moving her every 5 minutes from one of her many positioners...the jumperoo, swing, bouncer,bumbo, boppy, activity gyms and so on from the end of the afternoon nap until bath time. Oh, and Clara also chooses this time of day to ask out every 10 minutes! Let's just day this makes cooking dinner a little challenging...

So, you can imagine how excited we were after breakfast yesterday morning to find an email from Miss Sarah inviting us to come carve pumpkins.

M hung out in C's old excersaucer...note to self, don't know where we are going to put one, but another item to add to the aforementioned positioners.

Loving the excersaucer...will she like it as much if we get one for our house? Who knows...

C thinks Pumpkin is tasty!

P escapes...again!

Daddy carves a pumpkin...

and enjoys an adult beverage! What did he carve? An ATM of course!!

Yay! Davis arrives!

Miss Sarah's owl carving

M had a great time...she partied until she passed out! :)