A visit from Momo and Mop

Momo and Mop came to see us for a few days and we had so much fun! Maddie started off the mornings catching up with the business news with Mop. Then spent the rest of the day enjoying the extra attention. I always love seeing them, but this time their timing was perfect because Miss Maddie has gone on a sleeping strike. She takes little cat naps and wakes up a LOT during the night, so we're exhausted. Momo and Mop babysat while I slept in and took a few naps myself! We were sad to see them go, but the count down is on until our next trip to TX. We'll be down in just a week and a half! YEAH!

Watching TV with Mop

Learning the latest news about our nations housing market.

After her intense business studies, Momo lightened the mood.

Our First "BIG" Snow and the DEMO mode!

Yesterday we were supposed to get our first big snow; they were predicting 1-3" of accumulation but we only ended up with about an 1/8". What a bummer! It was pretty to watch, though, and as a bonus it snowed all day today, too. So in order to properly capture the moment I got Maddie all bundled up in her super cute hat and mittens and stuck her out in the snow, in her car seat with a blanket of course, and started clicking away. Much later when I was playing with my super cool new camera inside, I suddenly realized that it kept saying "Demo Mode." Duh! No camera card! With every other camera I've ever operated, they don't actually let you take pictures without the card. Live and learn. At least this wasn't some super special, one of kind moment we can never get back. So, I stuffed Maddie back into her outdoor wear, made sure we had a card, and tried again! If you look close, you can see the flakes.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! We got to ring in the New Year with our amazing friends, Jen and Rogelio! They drove all the way from Houston in inclement weather to spend the holiday with us, surely rescuing me from being depressed over our lack of local friends! We had a great time eating, drinking, being merry, and enjoying some seriously competive games! Just in case anyone is keeping count, and I am, that would make Jen and Rogelio visiting us in TN - 3, some other people reading this blog - 0!!

The Group Shot - Counting it Down!

Jen and Maddie counting down to 2010.

Rogelio and Maddie in 2010!

We had little snow around dawn on Saturday. Why were we up at dawn, you ask? John and Rogelio were attemping to go fishing, but as you might guess from the weather, it was a little on the cold side!

4 Months!

Maddie is 4 months old today! My how time flies when you're having fun! She still hasn't rolled all the way over like I thought she would by now, but we did celebrate 4 months with the start of rice cereal. She wasn't really impressed, but we do love our stylish new highchair!

We're going to do what, Mom??

I'm not actually sure any of it got swallowed.

She also took her first spin in this thing. For the life of me, I can't think what it is called. This was a bigger hit than the rice cereal, obviously.

We were reminded how much she has grown while trying to find an outfit for the all important, 4 month photo. These pants are 3-6 months and when I put them on her, they looked a little more like capris.

I know, how about the new outfit Daddy got for Christmas?

Um, I don't know, why do you think he bought the shirt in 18 months?

You're right, it's pretty cute, but do you think you fix the shoulders?

In the end, we decided you can't beat our Christmas photo, so we're going to recycle!

Merry Christmas!

We have had a wonderful first Christmas with our baby girl! We opened presents at home then we were off to Gigi and Papa's house to celebrate with the family! Here are some pictures from the big day.

"I'm ready, bring on the presents!"

Dressing up for the party. Oh my gosh, I think she's SO cute!

Wishing Gigi a Merry Christmas.

Helping Uncle Josh open his present. Both in their "special" Christmas outfits.

Big Cousins Skye.......

...and River, showing off what Santa brought them.

Then, it came a full-on flurry! You have to look close, but those were snow flakes folks! Maddie missed it, she was blinking. :)

Me and Ryan

John and his Mom

Ending the day with Daddy.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

We are set for Santa at the McPherson house. Maddie is all tucked in with her Christmas jammies on with visions of sugar plums dancing in her head. But before we tucked her in we let her open one present for Christmas Eve because she just couldn't wait! This one was from Aunt Bob and Uncle Keith, so we were all excited to see what it was. I think she's a natural at the gift opening! Hope you all have a Merry, Merry Christmas! I know everything I asked for is smiling back at me in these photos!

Almost a Milestone

She's almost there. Maddie is really close to rolling over all the way. She can roll onto her side completely. I know it won't be long at all before she makes it all the way over. She has gotten really good at scooting around on her back. It's funny to take my eyes off her for a second and then find her in a completely different spot than I put her. Here she is practicing her moves under the Christmas tree.


And here's a shot of our other "babies." I was trying to get a good picture of the two of them together and this was the best one. I thought it was just too funny to pass up; I felt like Kristi trying to get both the girls to smile and look at the same time!