Going out in style

Today is such a special day! We say goodbye to 2009 AND celebrate Madison's 6 Month Birthday!! Happy Half birthday my love.

We are CRAZY first time parents that celebrate EVERY little thing...and make a BIG deal out of doing it:) When my first nephew, Cameron, was born almost 8 years ago my mom would get a special cupcake every month until he was 1 year old. She continued this tradition with each of my other two nephews. After Madi was born, we told her she had to get a different flavor of cheesecake from the cheesecake Factory each month, because she was the first and only granddaughter/neice. (See 'Birthday Cheesecake' post).We took it up a notch for her 6 month celebration and got a little cake made special for her!! I got Madison a birthday cake from Nibbles and roses. Pictures from Madison's 6 month photo session.

It's my birthday. YAY!

Ohhhhh...this spells trouble! Mama should have known better!

I wanted her to have fun and be 'interactive' with her cake. Poor baby didn't get to try any of her yummy cake however, because I have not introduced foods to her yet. She is still exclusively breast fed. But she did seem to have fun putting her hand in it! This did require another outfit change for the day, however.

Cake aftermath. Still tasted yummy later that night:) lol

What we did today~

I took Madi shopping for her birthday this morning. I had to pick up her cake and run to the grocery store to pick up some last minute things for the New Years dinner I was going to cook for Grant and I. Usually, we would have gone out to a fancy smanshy restaurant with friends, having drinks first and enjoy a leisurely long dinner. Since I have never left Madi with a babysitter or for that matter, for a period longer than 1 hour (I know...attachment issues/seperation anxiety...A whole other discussion that I will post about) I decided to cook. Plus I love to cook and have not been able to get into the kitchen since Madison was born. Have you ever tried cooking with a child under 6 months?! Darn near impossible and nerve wrecking. Another post:)

Can't forget the OJ for my mimosas I will be enjoying tonight!!

Here's a picture of Madison this morning before we left to run our errands.

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New Years Eve~

We went to New Years Eve Mass. Madison is pretty good and only starts to figget after 30 minutes or so. Of course, we always go with my parents and usually my brother and his family, so there are plenty of willing and eager people to hold and walk around with Madison!

After we got home, I put dinner in the oven and we all changed into our pajamas for the night. Mimosa me daddy! I always enjoy a nice glass of wine or a cocktail to sip on when I am cooking!

New Years Eve Feast~

Sesame Soy Pork Tenderloin
Roasted green beans with baby grape tomatoes and garlic
Parmesan and garlic mashed potatoes (my specialty)
Avocado pineapple relish
*look for recipes under my page titled Recipes

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It was so wonderful to spend the evening at home with the two loves in my life. We watched all the New Years specials on television and played games. Both Grant and I had to admit, of all the New Years we have celebrated together over the past 8 years, this was the BEST one yet!! We used to get all dressed up and go to parties and get hotel rooms and go on vacations...but this year was quiet, calm and just right:) Best of all...we celebrate our little ladybug's half b-day!!!

This cake was soooo good. It was a lemon cake with raspberry filling. Nibbles in Tulsa, people. Good stuff! One of my top 3 bakeries. http://www.grandeuraffaires.com/

My indulgence for the evening.

Madison is the cutest little ladybug!! She is belly crawling all over the place.

Birthday Cheesecake

Birthdays are nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.

~Author Unknown


In our family, we L-O-V-E celebrations! We celebrate everything...from holidays to birthdays and beyond. My mom is party planner extraordinaire, and I am no exception:) She made our birthday cakes growing up. And these were no ordinary cakes...they could easily rival your local bakery cakes today! She spent days creating her masterpieces. I remember one year my brother had a Pac-Man themed party. She cut a perfect wedge out of a round cake to create Pac-Man's mouth. She then created the dots by baking cupcakes and frosting them different colors. She even managed to make a Ghost shape too.

Of course, the cake matched the invitations, the decor...right down to plates/napkins/silverware and presents. Yes! There was/is always a theme to our celebrations:) lol

So it is only natural that the cheesecake birthday tradition came to be.

A little history....

The first year of a baby's life is so remarkable and it goes by so quickly. In an attempt to slow things down and enjoy each new month to the fullest, we traditionally celebrate these monthly birthdays with a little cake or cupcake.

8 years ago the first grandchild was born and mom would buy a different flavored and decorated cupcake (usually reflecting whatever holiday/season) for each month of his first year. She continued with the next two. They were all boys.

When Madison was born she was the first granddaughter. So DH told my mother that since she was a girl, she deserved something way better than a measly little cupcake! LOL

"How about a different flavored slice of cheesecake each month from the Cheesecake Factory?!" was his suggestion....and so it was!

Each 16th day of every month Madi is honored with a yummy slice of cheescake...never the same flavor
twice.

When Madi turned 6 months old we really celebrated BIG (hey it was her 1/2 birthday!) I had a special little cake made by a local bakery in Tulsa, Nibbles. I decided she needed something even better than cheesecake from then on...so I started buying her specialty little cakes from yummy local beakeries.

These monthly celebrations have really become a nice way to enjoy all the amazing new discoveries and milestones Madi is learning so quickly with our family!

2 Month Lemon Raspberry Cream

3Month Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake

4 Month Tiramisu Cheesecake

5 Month Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake

Madison's First Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

Madison's first Thanksgiving was wonderful! We enjoyed two seperate celebrations this year.  Thursday was spent with hubby's entire extended family who made it down this year, traveling from Dallas, OKC, Edmond and Houston. It has been almost 5 years since we were all together. Being the first grandbaby in the family, she got lots of attention:) Also meant lots of willing arms to hold Madison which gave me a much needed break!

Me and Madi.

Friday we celebrated with my parents and brother's family. Below ore some pictures of all the grandkids. Madison is the FIRST and only granddaughter! She is very, very spoiled and has all the guys in our family wrapped around her finger. I can't say that I blame them...she is the cutest baby in the universe:) lol.

Cam is so careful with Madi.

Look how Em stares at Madi. They are buddies!

Playing with her Papa

Oma & Madi

Today I am thankful for so many of the blessings that have been bestowed upon me. Instead of rattling off the many usual things I thought I would concentrate on Madison, who I am most thankful for this year. She has brought so much joy into our lives and has really completed our family.

*Today you sat upright all by yourself for 5 whole seconds!! You had to prop yourself up with your arms, but you held your balance. You may not be strong enough yet to pull yourself into a sitting position but yoy are learning fast. We are so very proud of you!!!

*Your smile hardly ever leaves your gorgeous little face and brings happiness to all that see you.

*You are growing up so very quickly and are learning so many new things.

She's so excited about sitting, she's drooling!

Trendy Tuesday - Are Baby Pedi/Mani's Worth It???

...today...

Today I went for a pedi and mani at my fave local spa and Miss Madi accompanied me. It was too cute!! All the techs kept saying, "she's a spa baby!"

But...they wanted to paint her nails!

I really wanted to indulge my want for our little princess in the making to be all cutesy...I asked...is it worth it?!?

Little girls need their beauty fix, too...right!?

But...I am a bit conflicted.....

I mean M puts her hands and her feet in her mouth ALL the time! How will she possibly NOT ingest nasty toxic paint chemicals from the polish!!!

Well...

Just so happens, some FAB people came up with some natural, organic nail polish:)


"Piggy Paint™ is specially formulated from God’s natural ingredients and dries to a hard, durable finish. There are no toxic chemicals; it’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, Bisphenol A, ethyl acetate and acetone. "

Shop for the non-toxic nail polish and removers from the Piggy Paint website.


...tomorrow...

TGIF

Madison Today...

~Woke around 10:30 AM this morning.

~Belly Button stump fell off.

~Smiled sveral times today and held for a few seconds! Biggest smile yet:)

~You are starting to react when you hear my voice.

~Looking around a lot.

~Very alert.

~Starting to roll from back to stomach position.

~Sleeping on your right side.

Today Madison had a lot of visitors. Her Great Aunt Lore and Uncle Marty came infrom OKC just to meether! My parents came over as well and even my Oma, Madi's Great Great Grandmother made it over!

Proud Papa

Aunt Lore

Uncle Marty

My little drooler!

I swear she slept like this in the womb!

There is only one pretty child in the world...

Today I had to go for my two-week post natal check-up. Grant and Madi came with me. My stitches are almost all the way dissolved and I am healing well. I had torn pretty badly during delivery (ouch!)


On the downside of the visit, I have gained an extra 5 pounds!! I now weigh even more than when I was pregnant!! And I am nursing ALL the time. Must be all the carbs I keep grabbing for lately. lol

Madison slept throughout the night in 3 hour intervals without waking longer than 1 hour in between. She is making a lot more sleep noises and tosses and turns quite a bit.

~She is discovering her voice and her tongue.

~In the morning, she sneezes 2 or 3 times.

~Really alert and looking around a lot.

~Really likes our bedroom and bright colors.

I love my little Ladybug!

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~Chinese Proverb