MJ's new discoveries...

This summer, Madelynn has been keeping us quite busy...It is funny but I feel more tired now than I did when she was a newborn. This toddler age is definitely full of new adventures! I really liked it when I put her somewhere and left the room, I knew when I would come back that she would be in the same place! Within about a week, MJ was climbing and pulling her up onto everything! Matt and I were so shocked at the places we would find her (it was not like we would leave her for long, but like turn our backs for a second!) At first, it was the kitchen chairs...then it was the kitchen table...then one day I watched her climb from the chair, to the table, to her high chair...When Matt and I would prepare her meals, we would tell her to get into her seat, which meant she would pull her chair out and stand next to it so we could get her all ready to eat. Well, now I am afraid if we tell her that, she will just start climbing. Next, she started climbing onto the toilet...She absolutely loves to stand on it and watch me get ready...she will take some of my make-up and pretend to put it on her...Well, one day, Matt found her sitting in the sink in the bathroom. She never use to go into the bathrooms, so we never thought about closing the doors...the final straw was one night when I was at grad school, Matt walked into the bathroom and found MJ standing in the toilet. Needless to say, all of the bathroom doors are closed. I wish he would have been able to get a picture of it, but he said she was really scared. I am not sure if she was trying to stand on it like she does when I get ready...or if she was trying to sit on it!

This summer, we have gone to the pool quite a bit with our friends Rachel and Landon. She has been trying to hard to blow bubbles in the pool but usually ends up drinking the water...Tonight, when I was giving her a bath, she finally got it! She loves to "swim" in the bathtub. It is so cute...she kicks her legs and now, blows bubbles!! Today, on our way home from church, we heard Madelynn in the back seat, repeating a lot of what we were saying. I can't believe how big she is getting...Time flies!

Since it is so hot, we have been staying inside a lot more often. Madelynn has discovered that she really likes to play dress-up in her big cousin Rachel's old clothes! I think she just looks so cute in them. Here are a few cute ones...

Daddy and MJ playing dress-up.

July '10

What a cutie pie!!

All dolled up!!

July '10

Summer Fun!

Well, I tried to start this blog and then was a little confused on how to use it. Thanks to a great friend, who helped show me how to get it started! Thanks Celeste!! I promise that I will keep everyone posted on what our family is doing!!

Our summer has been filled with lots of fun...well, as much as we can since I am finishing up my grad school. I am in the middle of my very last class! What a great feeling...But in between school and homework, we are keeping Madelynn busy or maybe I should say, she is keeping us busy! We have been going to a sports class at the Westerville Rec Center, play group, Story Time at the New Albany library, many trips to the pool, and lots of fun at home...Here are a few photos of our family's summer fun...

Madelynn's favorite place to be...the pool! She loves swimming, especially in Honnah and Popper's pool. Memorial Day '10

Madelynn exploring her new ball sprinkler.

She loves eating ice cream, especially orange sherbet!

Madelynn is such a great eater...She loves her corn-on-the-cob!

Again, she loves to swim! Although, she loves to be in the water, she is a little unsure of the sand...Swimming in Maw Maw and Tom's pond. June '10

Kennedy, Kinsey, and Madelynn on the beach of the pond...June '10

This summer, she has also discovered the fun of dress-up. She found one of my dad's old hats and loves to put it on!!

We went over to Easton for dinner one night and thought Madelynn would like to play in the fountains...She was not so sure of it!!

Madelynn's 1st ride in Daddy's Jeep! 4th of July fun...She rode in it to the 4th of July festival. She was a little unsure of the wind, but after a little bit, she seemed to enjoy it!!

Madelynn's 1st fireworks show...She LOVED it!

Of course, we were a little worried because we had to wake her up to take her, but she was awesome. She was so happy when we got her up (Daddy says that she does not get that from her Mommy) and watched the fireworks. When we got home, she laid right back down and went to sleep!

Madelynn's Ace Ventura hair style!

July '10

Our annual trip to the zoo with our nieces!

July '10

My sister took a trip to Mexico with her husband, so when my mom and Tom watched the girls, they brought them down to go to the zoo. The girls did great, despite the hot and humid weather!! Madelynn really liked the animals...

Daddy with MJ and Kinsey...looking at the monkeys!

Mommy and MJ at the zoo! (She was pouring water all over her, it is not sweat!)

This was Daddy's idea...notice the box says "Ship to Rwanda!"

We were not even out of the parking lot of the zoo...What a day!!

Summer is going by so quickly...In just a few weeks, we will be taking our family vacation to San Diego. I can't wait to get away and relax with my family. Until then, we will continue to enjoy our summer!