Just Because

Just because...

...We think she is so cute.


...Madi took her first self portrait.


...She loves going to work with Mommy via bike trailer AND we are too excited for spring.



...She's a spazz with a lot of enthusiasm at dinner time.



(This next one is gross...you can skip it)
...we're so glad she isn't sick anymore and diarrhea is temporary!


...Everyone deserves to be happy like Madi


...if that last one didn't make you smile, we'll try one more time.


...Grandma wants to see these little teeth


Just because is an improvement over Update, right?

Training

Madi is such a good baby. She is so chill and just happy to hang out (most the time). But lately with everyone asking if she is crawling it has made me wonder if she's just a little too content. She rarely makes effort to crawl and although she can roll (has been able to since 4 months) she rarely does. So, I decided I would see if she would find crawling worthwhile if there was a reward.

She has excellent form:
And she likes to eat, but this is the best she could do.She would eat the first one and give up.
She wouldn't even go for M&Ms

This is Madi's typical tummy time. She looks like a fish out of water.


Can't I just enjoy her immobility? I put her on a blanket and I come back to find her still there, or at least close. Shouldn't I be counting my blessings?

Updates

I can't wait for the day when I actually stay on top of events so that I don't have to title every post "Updates" or "Catch-Up" or anything like that. But, it is what it is. Here is an update in reverse chron so you don't have to read beyond you're interest level...

• Utah Friend/Family Scavenger Hunt (last weekend in Jan):

We decided last minute that I couldn't wait any longer and I wanted to go see Andrew and Rachel (my bro & sis)'s new baby. We planned on waiting until the blessing in a few weeks, but I just couldn't wait. While we were there we tried to make as many stops and short visits as we could, but unfortunately we still missed many. So to the dear friends and family we missed, we're sorry! We're making another attempt in March.

So, for our scavenger hunt we decided we didn't have time to plan ahead and be organized, so instead we just showed up at peoples houses and made quick visits. While there we saw PV 1st ward (we love and miss you guys!), Jenn (my former roommate) and Clay and their new baby Cade, our dear friends the Madsens, Kyle (Kev's old mission comp) and Chelsi and their baby Whitli that was born after we moved, the Munz's and cute Keely that loves Madi. We also got to visit our old apartment, I mean our friends that moved into our old aprtment :o) and our great friends that own the home and live upstairs there, the Gleasons. Man, we had fun.

I hope no one is offended, but I must say the highlights were in the family visits. We got to spend an afternoon with Kevin's grandma Dora. She is 91 and still keeping US on OUR toes.
We played turbo Yatzee and laughed like the good old days :o)
And of course we got to see precious baby Kaili. She is so perfect and sweet. It was so fun to see Madi respond to her as well. Madi is 8 months old now and I figured she would be indifferent, but she was sooo excited. I was holding Madi in the rocker and Kaili was in the bassinet next to us and Madi was wiggling and trying to get out of my arms to Kaili. Madi still rarely reaches for us or for anything she wants, but boy was she reaching for her cousin. It was sooo cute. Then we posed them together for a picture and Madi would put her mouth on Kaili's head (like she does to anything she likes) and she would baby jabber at her. I wish we would have caught her excitement on camera, it was precious. Kaili was such a good sport through all of it. Kaili is a doll, it was so fun to hold such a tiny bundle and see her while she is still so new :o). Andrew and Rachel were good sports to let us crash on their floor and fill their home to the brim (as if there isn't enough going on in their lives already). Huge THANK YOU to Andrew & Rach. You guys are the best! (and I love your baby!)

Wow, whirlwind, but we sure had a good time.

(Side note: Can't wait to see you in March Judy, Rachel and Lauren!! You better be there or we'll come looking for you! :o)

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Yes, this post should end here because it is already a marathon post, but I MUST UPDATE...
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• Madi has 2 teeth. Cute little bottom ones. (pictures forthcoming)

• Kevin's Pharmacy School Applications are done and submitted. Now we wait....

• New Callings (as of Jan.11):

Kevin was called as the EQ 2nd Counselor
(to keep the old guys "in touch" :o)

I was called as the YW Secretary
(so that I can have personal interviews with each young woman
and eventually find a babysitter :o)

• I got a job, if I can use that term (as of Dec something, but started Jan. 6):

I work at the local YMCA coaching/teaching diving. We don't currently compete so we aren't officially a team nor am I a coach if we aren't a team, but I prefer coach to instructor so I am claiming it. The kids are awesome and we're having lots of fun. Madi hangs with me while I prepare my lessons and then for the actual pool time I take her to the Y daycare.
Since starting I've added Friday and Saturday to my work schedule so I can help with the Advanced divers too. (I'm head coach for beginners and assistant for Advanced.) So far I am having a great time, the only challenge is taking time out almost everyday. It's only a few hours, but it is Tuesday through Saturday. Some days it is very challenging, but overall I'm really glad to be employed and have a little structure in my life. But, that is enough about that.

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And perfect timing, Madi is letting me know she is awake with her squeall/shriek that if I don't respond to promply will turn into a cry and then a fit. Please overlook any typos or anything else because I don't get to read over this before I press POST.