Look Who's Three

This post is a long-overdue response to Megan S's request for me to post recent pics of Maddie. I've been a little busy and haven't captured my sweet girl's growth over the months.

I left out as many pictures as I could for this post, but sorry--there's a lot! It's just that 1)she's way too cute, and 2)this is for posterity's sake after all. So I gotta. Please enjoy. (I sure have!)

December 22 -- We created a friend out back. He stayed for weeks. December 25 -- Look what Grandpa Ed and Grandma Norma gave Maddie for Christmas! Go Broncos! January 15 -- True to my word, we began potty training on January 1st. It has been as rough as I expected (but no doubt it was probably that rough BECAUSE I expected it to be). Accidents seem to be increasing in frequency, so exactly last Wednesday, out of sheer desperation, I started the "Potty Pill Program". I hate the concept of buying a kid with candy, but boy is it working. WHY did I fight it?? My favorite part of the rules (and the reason I think this program actually works) is that she gets one potty pill (M&M or jelly bean) every time she goes in the potty. But if she goes in her pants, me or Ray get TWO potty pills. She hasn't had an accident yet on this new program! She's always been sort of territorial with her food. I guess I finally found her Achilles heel...and should have tried this much sooner. February 4 -- Maddie has the best curls which makes for a fantastic pony tail(s). February 11 -- Maddie in my pioneer-wear. I am currently helping to plan yet ANOTHER handcart trek. This time for the stake. I am also the tambourinist in the trek band (so cool) AND Maddie and I are learning the harmonica. Let me say that is one of the LEAST annoying instruments I've ever heard a kid playing. She sounded good from the first time she blew in it. Looking for a fun, non-annoying instrument to get a kid? Get a harmonica. I promise, you won't regret it. February 17 -- So pinkish. February 22 -- And yellowish. February 28 -- Could be the best bed-head I've ever seen. March 20 -- Maddie with her friend Andrew. Andrew's mom Kara and little brother Matthew. March 22 -- Maddie and friend William. William's mom gave birth to a new baby brother, so we got to have a sleepover. They were so cute together, brushing their teeth, etc. March 24 -- Love these pics. Love her outfit. Love her personality! April 2 -- Making Italian Braid Cookies with Emmy and Susan Filkins. I was enchanted until we had to frost the cookies that we had just spent all that time braiding! Totally hides the beautiful art! But still fun. April 4 -- Easter Check out the cool, completely edible Easter bonnet that Gwen made. April 13 -- Playgroup Birthday Party for April birthdays April 22 -- Maddie's actual 3rd Birthday. Played with her friend, Lizzie, in the morning. And ate good stuff at Dairy Queen in the evening with Mom. Dad was out of town. May 6 -- Representation of the plethora of vehicles Maddie can choose from to ride. She's Daddy's Girl for sure. May 8 -- Helping Dad out in the shop. May 10 -- I just love her boots. That's all. That and the downed vehicles on the far side of the deck!

Mother's Weekend

[Ray and Maddie on Christmas Day, 2009]

Ray. He's great. He came home Friday after work and said, "Instead of Mother's Day, how about having Mother's Weekend instead? Why limit it to just one day?"

??? (Whoah--where did that come from? But um, OK!)

So from Friday night on Ray put his ideas and opinions on the shelf and I made the decisions. We could do whatever I wanted for the most part and dictate what Ray did with his free time. Problem is, I often freeze up when such freedom comes to me. I SO can't think on the spot, and I even had a whole weekend to do so!

And sometimes I can be just too practical. Why did I feel like I had to keep getting things done? I wished I had taken him up on his spontaneous idea to go camping that night. I wished I had thought to have him take me on a shopping spree. Why didn't I ask to have 5 hours straight--off--away--by myself?! I don't know for sure.

I still teamed with him in the cooking and in caring for our child, etc. But I just gotta say how great it was that I got the whole weekend and not just the day to be guilt-free and have and do whatever I wanted. It's sure nice to feel spoiled sometimes, and get to brag about it. Lucky me!

Happy Day

I've stayed up so late that I have welcomed in Groundhog's Day. Wonder what he'll see this year? And long live that movie, too. Classic.

But that's not what this post is about.

Today was so Happy because some friends of my brothers welcomed home two beautiful children from Haiti. For over two years, Jody and Judie have been going to an orphanage there to visit the two children they were planning to adopt--8 year-old Cynsha and her 9 year-old brother Hendrick. The family has been learning Creole for the past year and a half, as the kids know little English.


From what I understand, Jody and Judie had completed and complied with all necessary paperwork and anything else that was required on their part. So they were just waiting to wrap up the final steps of the process that were slow due to bureaucratic policies. They weren't sure when they were ever going to get their children home, but they had hope.

Amazingly their miracle came...in the form of a massive, devastating earthquake. It's incredible to me that amidst the powerful and terrible destruction of a country such as this, such beauty can come. And does. God moves in mysterious ways. And oh how He has blessed these two children and this family.

While not direct friends of Jody and Judie, I was way too excited for them to not go to the airport. OK, sure, I'm just a little jealous too! But mostly just excited for them all.


The family had four children, three boys and a girl. The girl is so excited to have a sister, and they are less than a year apart. There is a 10 year-old boy in the family who is so excited to have a brother now who is close to his age as well.



Jody and Judie already have such a strong bond with the kids and is amazing to see. Judie is the one in the photo above in hot pink.




My video footage of the family. Hear Jody speaking Creole like a native (or so it sounded to me!) Awesome.

Jody started a blog about their experience five days ago, so check it out here if you want to read more about their story. Amazing miracles occurred.

And here's the news article to read about it. You can click on the left to see the video coverage. Somehow Maddie and I ended up there, which I wasn't wanting to happen! (Well, at least not me anyway. It's fun to see Maddie.) But anyway, who cares. What a Happy, Happy Day!!!

Santa Who?

I've never given much thought to Santa Claus. I mean, he's nice enough, I guess, but I just personally don't get into the guy. Growing up, my mom would always have one gift for us from Santa on Christmas, but we all knew it was from her. I don't remember believing in Santa OR learning that he was not real. I don't even have any Christmas decor depicting Santa.

So you can imagine my surprise when Madeline really took to the guy this year. I don't know where she learned so much about him, but suddenly she's pointing to Santa here and Santa there. And, sure enough, he's EVERYWHERE! I had been wondering a few months ago if we should do the whole Santa thing with Maddie, but had been leaning towards not. Until now. I guess Maddie made the decision for me.

Her latest thing has been learning the song "Santa Claus is Coming To Town". So when I received the gift of the Andrea Bocelli "White Christmas" CD a few weeks ago, Maddie made me repeat that song over and over again. I'll admit the song has grown on me, but especially when Maddie sings along with it, or on her own.

Following are three (very cute) renditions of the song by Maddie, in five-day increments.


This first clip is 2:21 long.


This one's short--:39. Please note where she acts out the "sleeping" part at :20. Also note the "Santa Claus is coming by"--she made it rhyme when she shortened the song. Clever!


This one's 2:41. I have to explain that Maddie insisted I film her singing this song along with Andrea on the CD. I really just wanted her to eat her breakfast. So when you hear me insisting, know that I was not trying to do a Jonbenet sort of thing--it really was her idea.

Favorite parts are at :47 when she excuses herself, and 2:18 when she finally gets her yogurt back and then proceeds to fold her arms to wait for the prayer. I love that this is caught on video, because it could be the first time she's wanted to eat but patiently folded her arms instead! I love it.

Also, I didn't get through the entire song, but at the end Andrea asks the children's chorus "Who's coming?" and then they sing "Santa Claus...". Maddie lately says, "Mommy, who's coming?" and waits for me to sing "Santa Claus...". So cute.

I'll take this occasion to admit that I have stooped to using Maddie's new-found knowledge against her. About three times now I've found myself saying things like, "Maddie, you'd better not cry: Santa Claus is coming to town!" or "Maddie, he's going to find out who's naughty or nice...!" Bribery. Works every time, too.

One time, soon after she first learned the song, out of the blue Maddie said "Mama, I'm not bad." And of course I freak out inside, saying "Of course you're not bad, Maddie", all the while thinking "Where did she get THAT??!!" And then a week later it clicked..."He knows if you've been bad or good..." Sheesh.

Who's Who & What's What

Did anyone else have a Who's Who in their Junior High Yearbook? You know--like Best Hair, Best Smile, Best Personality, Biggest Flirts? I did. (I'm just now wondering, as I look back on my 8th Grade Year, who it was that decided Who was Who, and what they based it upon?)

I just got back from a trip to the Bay Area, and in honor of the Monte Vista 20 Year Reunion--the main purpose of the trip--and Memory Lane, I will document my trip in Who's Who and What's What.

Best Addition to our trip: Aunt Caroline. She decided to come right before we left and joined up with us in Reno.

Cutest Passenger: Madeline

Biggest Sport: My Mom, travelling when she wasn't feeling the best. So glad she came!

Best Co-Driver:Wendy. OK, she was the only co-driver. But still!

Best Eyes: Maddie and Maria

Best Photo Sequence of Cutest Passenger:

(This last pic is really to die for.)

Best Beach Picture: Muir Beach

Runner up Best Beach Pic.

Best Oldest Friends I saw:Valerie and Joanna. (Just don't look at this pic of me! Yuck. I had to antique it to help it.)

Best Instant Friends:Maria and Maddie

Most Fun Cousin who joined us for the day:Romney (black shirt)

Funniest & Scariest Memory:
1125 Nielson Street. Albany. Visiting the house my mom and aunt grew up in from ages 0-10, and being taken on a tour of the inside by the current residents. We saw every room!Driving up Marin Street to the top of the Berkeley hills. And I mean, The Top. So scary. Here we are at 15 The Crescent. (Don't try to leave out the "The". I've tried.) Again, we toured.

Best Joiner of Reunion Festivities at my coaxing:Sheri (middle). So glad she came.

Best Part of the Reunion:
Being responsible for gathering this many Stone Valley School alumni at the reunion and getting a picture. Who cares about high school? For me, the best part was seeing all these people who I went to school with from 2nd--8th grade!!! They are the ones I remember and love the most.

Most Adaptable: Greenbomb family. (Pictured here: Celia and Pam. Read funny story behind this pic I stole here.) We tried and tried to find a time to visit these folks, but kept changing things on them. They agreed to us coming by for a bit one afternoon. AND even served us the dessert they were going to give us that night, right then at 3:45! It was so yummy too! Thank you, Pam!

Best Hostesses:
Anne, Kim and Maria

Best Smile:Carma Gaggero (far right)

Zaniest Uncle Visited: Uncle Gus