It’s Madeleine’s Uncle Paul! He got a job in the Redmond area and needed somewhere to stay quickly before his job started. Madeleine is quite fascinated and adores him! Everything is “Uncle Paul” this and “Uncle Paul” that and sometimes it’s just “Uncle Paul! Uncle Paul! Uncle Paul!” And when she wakes up in the morning it’s “Downstairs? Uncle Paul?” And before we leave for the day it’s “bye bye Uncle Paul!” And sometimes it’s “Uncle Paul Doing???” (what’s Uncle Paul doing?).

Exhausting for poor Uncle Paul, I’m sure, but super fun for Madeleine.

So, for now, Uncle Paul has a little hang-out in our dining area and Madeleine has a new BFF.

And because you can’t quite tell…she was standing up and throwing herself backwards into the pillows, post-shower while I was trying to clean up the bedroom. She is a riot!

Snuggle time on the couch with mama when she wasn't feeling well.

In other news – we are all recovering from a pretty nasty cold that has plagued us for the last 2 weeks. On Wednesday I started to notice her behavior take a change for the worse where she was screaming and very easily upset. I thought she just hadn’t slept well. Friday I finally called the doctor to get her in and my intuition was right! She has/had a nasty ear infection to go along with the cough, runny nose, etc. She’s been on antibiotics for the last several days and is doing much better now.

Happy 2012!!! May this year bring happiness and joy to everyone’s lives!! Without going into to much detail, we are looking forward to more health successes for Madeleine and health for us as well! She is growing so much and changing every single day. We’re both really enjoying our jobs and are looking forward to continuing that success and have really enjoyed this time of year to spend as a family with loved ones and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Santaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Some of you may remember 2009 or 2010 when we went to see Santa with Madeleine. She was still too young those years to verbalize who she was going to see, but this year she was thrilled. Ecstatic, even. Can’t you tell by the photo? Hahaha!

But in all honesty, she really was!! She kept talking about him that morning and how she was going to go see him and I thought maybe this year we’d get a smiling one. No such luck!! I chose the least upset of all of the photos for this year, if that gives you any indication of how upset she was.

We had to wait for them to print the photo, though, so we went to the grocery store nearby and got a snack for Madeleine and then went back. Of course then she was happy with Santa. She even went into the room and said “Bye bye Santa!” Haha! Of course. Of course she’s into it when we’re leaving. That’s my girl!!

This was the same photo as previous years. I’m excited to have years of the same Santa in the photos to see the age progressions. So cool!

Grapes

Barrel of grapes

Daddy and M

Check these out!

Wow!!

Alex, wiggly toddler and Auntie Bri

Me, wiggly toddler and Auntie Bri

Parrot!!

This one was cool, too!

Thanks for going with us, Uncul Bee!! (Auntie Bri in Madeleine Speak). We had a great time!

Here goes:

Walking in to the pumpkin patch

The flood line from a couple of years back. Crazy!

There was a swarm of lady bugs. Madeleine had them all over her, as did the rest of us!

Madeleine was all about pushing the wheelbarrow.

...but she couldn't move it by herself.

What's in the wheelbarrow?

She was also all about helping pick out pumpkins. She picked out numerous pumpkins. haha!

Then it was time to help daddy with his.

Our cute little family

Me and the hubs!

Me with my mom!

Madeleine was playing in the hay maze. I just love how this one turned out.

Hay? What is hay??

And then we were off to load the pumpkins into the car and head home for carving at a later date.

Carving with daddy!

What's daddy doing?

I actually carved hers and mine and she helped to determine eye shape, nose shape, mouth open/closed, teeth/no teeth. Alex did his all by himself and got super creative.  We did a good job, don’t you think?

Our little family of pumpkins! Mine is the large round, M's is the small round and Alex's is the tall skinny. The others are just extra that we picked up Now Madeleine refers to big pumpkins as daddy pumpkins or mommy pumpkins and little pumpkins as "baby pumpkins"

And thanks to the distraction of the surgery and recovery, I was literally planning it the day before.  Oye! And here are the photos.

For our BIG girl!! 2 Candles

Cupcakes for the party go-ers

Us with my parents. And no, she never stands still for photos. Haha!

Say a big welcome to our party guests:

Grandparents

More Grandparents

Bri and Paul

Bri and D!

One present was very difficult to wrap:

What is this?!?!?

Later in the afternoon, though, she got the hang of it and insisted on driving it all the way to the car. ((don't worry, we surrounded her on all sides to make sure there were no parking lot accidents))

And after brunch, it was time to open presents! She really had the hang of this this year.

A super Giant Card! She was amused by this.

Ripping the paper! Whoo!

What could possibly be next, but cake! And since it was brunch, I just did cupcakes. 10 am is too early for a full fledged cake.

Someone was nervous about the flame.

BLOW!

Ta da!!!

Yum! And this was the only bite she took. Ha! Not a sweets girl.

Thanks to those who were able to come celebrate with us!  Madeleine had a great time. And next year will have to be a big bash, planned well in advance, where she can run and romp and play.

2 Years Old!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our little girl! She’s no longer our baby – and is officially a little girl. Crazy how fast time flies. Apologies for the delayed birthday post. Between her surgery and my mom’s visit and then getting caught up at work and Halloween, it’s been a bit of a whirl wind!

We haven’t gotten in yet for her 2 year check up. We have it scheduled for a couple of weeks from now.  I need to stop referring people to M’s pediatrician! When I scheduled it he was scheduled a month and a half  out. Geez! That has never happened before – but the scheduler said he’s one of the really popular ones. I’m not surprised, he’s really great.

I do, however, have stats for her since she went to the doctor on her birthday for her eye surgery follow-up and on the 20th for her post-op from the most recent tumor re-section surgery. She was 24.6 lbs after the surgery. She lost about a pound and a half from the surgery, which isn’t surprising. She hardly ate at all for nearly a week, but I think she’s probably re-gained that by now. She’s about 33.5″ inches tall (I believe that’s what it was…I know it was 33.something…). It’s the first time they’ve measured her standing up instead of laying down! If the “double your height at 2″ trick works for her, she’ll be nearly 5′ 7″. I guess she’s not taking after her mommy with the petite jeans! Haha.

What has she accomplished developmentally at this point? A lot!!

• She has become quite the chatterbox. We hear lots of 3 word phrases and even some 4 word phrases. Things like “kitty doing here??” (what’s kitty doing here) “Brush teeth now” “wonn a wosie song?” (Ring around the Rosie Song) “Tiger says grrrrrrr” “Go dowtairs watch Mickey” (Go downstairs and watch Mickey) “Birdie fwy in cwouds” (Birdies fly in the clouds)
• Along with words comes counting. She is pretty amazing, if I do say so myself! She can count from 1-10, sometimes going to 11 and 12. We haven’t made it to the teens, yet. She’s been doing that for the last 2 months. September 3rd, to be exact. How do I know that? We were at my friend’s wedding reception and M just started counting. Now she loves to count everything! And she can identify numbers visually, too. From 1-10.
• We’re also working a lot on letters. She’s not identifying  very many of them, but she is quite comfortable with the ABC’s and we sing them often. When I say “we”, I mean, she actually sings along with me. It’s pretty darling.
• Next comes singing. We sing, a lot! And she’s learning words to songs. For example: Her teachers sing a certain song to her. She came home one day and started singing it and making hand motions and we had no idea what she was doing! We didn’t know where she came up with it until we asked her teachers, but she now calls it the Farah Song. That’s her lead teacher’s name. She also loves to sing Ring Around the Rosie and does the little dance/motions that go with that one as well. The Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (aka: wonn a wosie song), Daddy’s froggy song (aka: Froggy Song), The Marine Corps Hymn (aka:Daddy’s song), The Star Spangled Banner (aka: Pretty song).
• Her world of animated movies has expanded greatly since her hospital stay. They kept her entertained when she couldn’t be active like she normally is. Shrek and Tangled are her two favorites. She used to call Shrek the “Donkey movie” but now she asks for it by name. Tangled is still the “horsie movie”, however. Rio is another one she enjoys a lot, it’s known as the “Birdie movie”. We don’t watch anywhere near as much as we did when she was post-op, but we will generally have movie time on a Saturday or Sunday where she gets to pick one to watch.
• Mickey is still a huge obsession!! I let her watch an episode in the mornings before daycare while I’m gathering all of her things and getting her lunch put together for daycare. She can name all of the characters and sing the different songs.
• Books are still #1 in this house, in terms of repeated activity. They are in basically every room in the house and she reads them constantly. In fact, she has so many books that her book bin and shelves are overflowing. I need to come up with a better storage solution. She reads them to herself, though, if I’m busy. It’s quite cute to listen to her ramble on about what she sees on each page.
• She is learning about different animals and has all of their sounds pretty much mastered. She’s also learning about all sorts of different fruits and vegetables and what they look like/are called. We have been teaching her how to pick up after herself and how to take off her own shoes and put them on the shoe rack herself.  She also is quite good at identifying colors and shapes and has gone from not knowing quite what to do with some of her puzzles to being a master at them.
• The kitty is still her BFF. She loves to let the kitty in the house in the morning (kitty sleeps in the garage so she doesn’t keep us all awake at night) and she’s very good at being gentle with her these days. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t still get excited and squeal and shriek and chase her around…none of which Calliope is too fond of. She’s even got her name down “Kai-pee”.
• In the last 6 months she began daycare and is thriving. It has really shown what a sweet disposition she has. Other kids will be mean to her, take her toys, push her, whatever and she doesn’t retaliate. She’ll get upset, but she doesn’t retaliate. It makes me a little mad on the one hand, because I don’t want other kids to pick on her. But on the other it makes me proud that she is such a sweet girl. I foresee needing to teach her to stand up for herself a bit in the future.
• Her days at daycare are full of different activities. Today was picture day! She’s also been to an “Assembly” at which the Reptile Man did a show. She goes for walks, plays outside every day, does art projects, has singing time, reads, etc.
• Her “redhead” personality is still in full force. She is quite stubborn and will freak out if she doesn’t get what she wants when she wants it. For example, when I am getting her out of the car to walk up to her class, she will ask to walk, and if I’m running late and try to carry her so I can hurry – screaming ensues. LOL! Generally I try not to do that, but sometimes it’s necessary.
• As time goes on, she’s getting more and more snuggly. It is so awesome! I think it’s one thing to be snuggly as a newborn, but to have a little toddler that wants to snuggle with you and to know they mean it – that is awesome. I love her little hugs and kisses. In fact, in the hospital she couldn’t get enough of them – more than likely because she felt crummy, but she would grab my head with her little hands and pull it in towards her to get hugs and kisses.
• We have been gradually introducing her to the potty. She sits on it in the evenings before bath time, and sometimes now she asks during the day. Daycare is gradually introducing it as well – offering her the potty and letting her try. So far she has had a number of successful attempts with us here at home, but none at daycare. In fact, Alex thought that he’d try this weekend to see how she would do if he put her in her Minnie Mouse undies. It went horribly with no successful attempts on the potty and she didn’t seem that interested in trying, so we know she’s not ready to try full time, but at least now we know. We’ll try again in a month or so to see if she’s more ready, then. But she is telling us when she’s gone and she does know what the potty is and what it’s for. So…we’ll see!
• She is learning self-care. She rubs shampoo around on her hair and soap on her body during bath time. She’s also brushes her teeth and has a little stool at the sink which she stands on to get water on her toothbrush. Of course, I still have to help her with all of these things to make sure they’re correctly taken care of, but it’s fun to see her attempt and learn. Now she tells me that it’s time to brush her teeth, go potty and take a bath.
• We’re finally seeming to be back on track after her surgery with regard to sleep. I’m hoping that continues! We may even have to push her bed time back, because the earlier I put her to bed at night, the earlier she wakes up. And when I’ve put her to bed about 1/2 an hour to an hour later, she seems to sleep until a more normal/reasonable time. When I’ve been putting her to bed at her normal 7:30, she seems to be getting up way too early (think 4-5 am early).
• Madeleine is getting better with her manners. She knows to say please and thank you, although generally needs to be prompted because she doesn’t say it the first time. Right now we’re working on saying excuse me after any…gaseous emissions. She’s starting to get the hang of that, too. In fact, she said excuse me the other day when something was in her way while she tried to push her little grocery cart around the house.
• She’s getting to a point where she remembers people that aren’t every day people for her. That’s pretty exciting. For example, Uncle Paul came up and spent a couple of days with us and after he’d left, she kept asking about him. She always seems to be drawn to those that don’t gush over her. She likes people who play hard to get! Haha!
• In terms of things we’ve been doing as a family – she got to visit the pumpkin patch for Halloween (more on that in a later post), she had a long visit from my mom after her surgery since I needed help so that I could work effectively from home while she was recovering. More on that in another post. Alex has taken her to the boats at Bellevue Square. For those not from the area, these are in a children’s play area at the mall that kids can climb and play in. We have gone berry picking, taken a trip to the Puyallup Fair and for mommy daughter pedicures. But mostly, we’ve just been busy with work, daycare, surgery, doctor’s visits and trying to get back on schedule and some sleep.

Whaaa? You want me to look at the camera??

Still reading

Look at those pretty eyes!

You want me to do what?? Smile? Huh!

"Away!"

"You, pink Bear, you stay right there!"

 

I love this picture, because it's such a classic Madeleine face.

Hangin' out post-op.

I love this little outfit.

Ready to play outside!

One of her many birthday gifts. She loves that thing!

Her cutie little rain jacket! Out for a walk.

Ready to brush her teeth!

Time for mommy to help!

At the fair, checking out a fire truck!

Petting the miniature horses at the fair

"Cow say moooo!"

Hope you enjoyed! I’ll try to catch up on posting about the last month or so.

Our very own Minnie Mouse!

This is officially Madeleine’s 3rd Halloween. She was only a couple of weeks old for her first Halloween. Then, her second Halloween was right before she had surgery last year, so it was lower key, as well. This year she got to go trick or treating for the very first time!! We’re still working on actually saying trick or treat, but she certainly got a lot of  ”awwwww!!” comments and “what a cute Minnie!!” exclamations.

Getting her to let us put the ears on was quite the chore, but eventually she loved them so much that she would get upset any time they fell off. Such a goof! Husband had to go to class tonight, so it was just me and the mini-Minnie out for trick or treating.

So, here we go – Pictures!

With daddy trying to keep me from pulling my ears off. LOL!

And pulling her ears off became a game! haha!

Being silly!

About to go!

Off we go!

Are you coming, mama??

Then we came to a house that had a perfectly themed pumpkin!

Can you tell who this pumpkin is?

See who we found sauntering down our street?? Crazy!

:D She was thrilled with our little pumpkin family.

Her loot!

Happy Halloween everyone! Madeleine had a great time, we hope you did, too.

2 years ago I was a very scared mama, in the hospital while you were making one heck of a dramatic entrance. I should have known at that point that you’d have the fiery personality of the little red head that you are. Once you arrived, it was like nothing else mattered but making sure you were ok.

Today, you turned 2. It’s amazing that it’s been 2 years since that morning in the hospital. I think of the tiny, helpless little baby that you were. So little and sweet. I remember your first giggles. The first time you smiled at me and it lit up my entire day. Taking you for walks in your stroller. Seeing your dad get wrapped more and more tightly around your little finger as each day passes. The first time you rolled over and your first “real” food. The first trip we took as a family, your first Christmas and holiday season. Celebrating each month and each milestone as they came. Watching you learn to walk, learn to speak and telling us which animal makes which sounds. We have had so many firsts and so many amazing memories already, in your 2 years of life.

And then, my world was shattered on July 23rd, 2010. My sweet baby girl was diagnosed with cancer. You had lost all strength from the torso down and we were eventually told you would probably never walk. We started your chemo. Had your surgery to have your port implanted. Biopsies were taken and you started physical therapy. Not all in that order, but it was a whirlwind of blood tests and doctor’s visits with several different specialists. All I could do was focus on each day. Each hour. Each minute. Which appointment was next and when did you need your next dose of which medication? I was so sleep deprived I literally kept medication logs and notes of when you slept last and for how long so I would know when to put you down for a nap again and when to give you your next dose of each type of medicine. But I was ready. Ready to fight.

I have never felt so helpless, but also so determined in my entire life. It was my job to fight for you. To be your voice, since you didn’t have the ability to tell us what was going on. And speak I did. I called those doctors all the time. Your oncologist just loves to tease me about that! I asked so many questions. I fought. I fought for you. Because I knew then, just as I know now, that you deserve the chance to walk and run and play like every other child. I cannot even explain to you how incredibly in awe I am that everything has worked out in the way that it has. You are our miracle baby. You are so determined. You are so amazingly strong. You are so resilient.  You bounce back from everything as though nothing ever happened. Even this last surgery – we’re only 2 weeks out and you are already running around again, playing and acting as though nothing has happened – except when you see your incision and tell me about your boo boos.

Because of you, your daddy and I have a whole new appreciation for life. For health and happiness. We know who our true friends are. Who truly supports us and who is just here for the attention that a family or friend with cancer brings. It’s brought a whole new clarity to our lives about what is really important and who is really there for us at the end of the day. Because of you, we’ve seen who we can trust.

On this, your birthday, I want you to know how incredibly special you are. You are the light in our lives and always know how to bring a smile to our faces. So fun to be around, so funny, so smart and so sweet.  Really, I could not ask for a better child. So – Happy 2nd Birthday! I hope you had a great day, and I hope you forever know how much we love and adore you. We are so incredibly grateful for your amazing outcome from your treatments and we cannot be happier to watch you walk, run and play every single day.

Keep learning, keep loving and keep being the sweet, amazing girl that you are! You have a strength and stubbornness about you that is so difficult to find. It will serve you well – it already has!

Love you so much,

Mommy