Maddie-isms

She is funny, this girl.

As I was taking her into her room for bedtime tonight, I told her " You are such a good girl, Maddie Pie"

She hugged me hard and said " You're such a good mommy, Mommy-pie"

I have friends in real life

Really I do. I feel compelled to mention that because everytime I write about one of my 'online' friends, or people whose blogs I read- I feel just a little bit like a loser- like I spend all my time getting emotionally involved in the lives of people whom most likey I will never meet. I can't help it though, I am an emotional person. My husband does not understand why I get so upset about people who I 'don't even know.' I disagree. I DO know them. Probably better than some of my real life friends. When you write, you reveal in words things that would take a much longer time to come out in real life.
Emilie's blog is one I have followed for quite some time. She has a 2 year old and a 7 month old. She was diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma while pregnant with her second, and has been undergoing all sorts of treatments. The prognosis was not good. You see where this is going, right? http://lemmondrops.blogspot.com/
One of the things that happens when you follow a story like this online is that it becomes kind of like reading a book or watching a movie. You see only what they show you. But because you read their thoughts, you know so much more than what any movie would tell you. You get , well, at least I get emotionally involved.
When Emilie wrote ( he second to last post- actually her last , as her husband wrote the last one) that she was entering home hospice, you don't know to brace yourself for what comes next. I think thats why when I read she had passed away, it was like being punched in the stomach. It hit me hard. And as a mother, forget it, I can't even imagine what it must feel like to know on some level you will not be there to watch your children grow up. That you will never hear their laughter again. That they might not remember you, the way you read to them every night, or how you kissed them every morning. The little Mommy Traditions: things that are important for you as a mother to do for your children( new PJs every Christmas eve, balloons in their room on every birthday morning)
What is it like for a father to explain to a 2 year old that mommy is gone ? I just can't even bring my mind or heart to imagine that.

some pictures

Maddie and her BFF Gianna making( and eating) a gingerbread house ( she wants to make one of these every. day now)

Our snowman ! He came out awesome, didn't he?

Enjoying her very first cup of hot chocolate. No surprise that she is a fan.

We got about 5 inches of snow and its still flurrying out right now.

There are so many captions for this picture...

" Nothing says " I've been good " like flipping Santa the Bird"

" I said I want a Dora doll, Big Guy. Make it happen"

" You're not going to get that Dora doll with that attitude, young lady"

I could go on ad on.

and look at Santa, he looks mad !

This was Saturday morning, at a local restaurant- Milk and Cookies with Santa. He's a good santa too, don't you think ? I had to cut myself out of the picture- my goofy smile detracted from the real shot of Maddie giving Santa the finger.

quick- before i forget...

I cleaned out Madeline's toy room to make room for the certain onslaught of new toys she'll get for Xmas. So she walked in there this morning looked around and said- really annoyed " Heeeeeey, where'd all my toys go?"
Then i was trying on a Christmas dress on her. I had to figure out ho to open it with the bow in the back and said to myself " How does this work?" and Maddie said ' Mommy, this doesn't have berries" ( berries are 'batteries')
I love her.

SNOW!!!

If you know me, you know I love snow. And all my life I have lived in an area where it does not snow. It gets cold here sure, and some areas get snow, but we were always in the pocket that didn't get any. Well, a 15 minute move to the north changed all that. So the other day when 3 blocks south of me got no snow at all, we got about an inch and a half. Thank god b/c Madeline has been asking to make a snowman for about a month now. She was really excited and so was I.

Making a snowman The almost finished snowman ( the carrot wouldn't stay on) - but look how proud she isNot quite understanding how to make a snowangel

Debbie- recognize the snowsuit? It fits her perfectly

On a different note, tomorrow December 11th, we welcome a new member into our family. Charlotte, my new neice will be born, and we can't wait to meet her. Good luck!!

*waving hi* I'm still here !

Its been busy- and we've been sick. Madeline and I took turns with various annoying illnesses, but knock on wood, we are on the mend. The Rx for wintertime colds and REALLY really cold weather was lots and lots of staying inside... so we had to get creative. Well, I had to get creative . I decided to make snowman cookies with Chef Maddie W. Cat
As Maddie would say " How'm I look?".Putting the 'finkles' on was her favorite part. Of course she opened the top and I had 9,000 tiny balls all over my kitchen floor, but she was happy. She had fun eating the cookies too!