My Running Buddy

We've been running every morning and she loves it.

Bundle me up and plop me in a stroller to be pushed around and I'm pretty sure I'd be happy too.

But, really, I have enjoyed getting into this routine of eating breakfast and then going for a run with her.

The cold weather's slowly, but surely making it's way to us, 

so it is pretty chilly in the mornings and we have to bundle up for sure.

Here's M all bundled up and happy after our run.

She keeps her hat, mittens, and blanket on the whole time.

Thank goodness.

A Whole Lot of Outside Time

I love to be outside.

She loves to be outside.

We love to be outside.

I should write a song.

But, really...

it's Winter right now and we definitely have been lucky 

enough to not have very cold weather yet.

I say lucky because

1. Our heater downstairs is broken...we are waiting on it to be fixed.

2.  Did I mention we love being outside?

We've been swinging, sliding, walking, park playing,

climbing, holding hands, running, dog watching...

We've had a lot of fun enjoying this beautiful Winter weather we've not been having.

Copycat and Big Accomplishment

I think we have begun the Copycat stage.

Matt and I now need to be very conscious about the things we do and say.

It started with simply trying to stand the way we do or do what we do...

Like folding her arms.

Lately she's been talking up a storm too.

And just by listening to her you know she knows exactly what she's saying.

She looks you directly in the eyes and everything when she's saying it.

She's jabbering when she 'reads' her books on her own.

And she's beginning to try to say more things when we ask her too.

The Big Accomplishment to hit our home this past week is:

(drum roll, please)

The word PLEASE!!!

We have been trying what seems like forever to get her to stop whining and use the word please,

we know she can say it

We've heard it before and she says it at nana's house.

Well, we got the whole kit and caboodle now.
Not only does she finally ask please (it's really just 'ssssss'), but she rubs her chest too (sign language).

One

You ask M how old she is...

she'll tell you.

Me: Madelyn, how old are you?

M: Un (holding out her finger really quickly).

Picking out our Christmas Tree

We went with a real tree this year, and boy am I glad we did.

It smells good.

It looks good.

It tastes good.

Okay, not really...no one really tasted it.

We actually found the perfect, little tree for our house in a matter of a couple of minutes.

I guess he knew we were coming.

And just in case you couldn't tell by M's face -
she thought blow up Santa was pretty cool. 
Maybe I'll just get a picture of her sitting on blow up Santa's lap this year...

Thankful

I have so many things to be thankful for in my life right now.  It's hard to even begin.

In no order and I am a random thought type person, so...

1.  Family- Parents, siblings, in-laws, extended family.
Whoever it may be I absolutely love spending time with my family.

2.  Bebe Girl- I cannot believe we were blessed with such a beautiful soul.

3.  Choices- Good, Bad, or The Ugly!

4.  The Great Outdoors- There's something about the outdoors that lightens my shoulders and lifts my heart.

5.  Friendships- old, new, broken, or haven't even met you yet.  
I have been lucky enough to have some great friends when I needed them most in my life.

6.  The opportunity to be a stay at home momma-  I was sick to my stomach almost everyday having to leave my little one, even though I knew she was in GREAT hands.

7.  My Husband.  He is my best friend and a great daddy.
He has been a part of my life for such a long time, I don't know what I'd do without him.
He is the person I look forward to sharing stories with and creating stories with. 

8.  My Curls.  Although sometimes I'm a hater, they've always been a conversation starter
and I'm slowly learning to love.

9.  Very thankful that Madelyn still lets me rock her to sleep at least once a day.
I will miss the day when she won't let me do this anymore.

10.  Food!  It brings people together, it awakens my taste buds, it brings back memories.

11.  Music.  Period.

12. My Sisters-  I've always only had a select few friends in my life and I know it's because I had the two best friends in the world already.  I didn't need much more than that.  We got to share clothes...whether we wanted to or not.  We got to hang out whenever we wanted to or not. 

13.  My Home- We are lucky enough to have a beautiful place we call home.
We have created many memories in this home.

14. My mom and dad- they have always been there for us and truly want us to be happy.

15.  The family I've married in to-  I know I am awkward.
I think it's got something to do with the whole being left handed thing.
I am so very thankful they have accepted me into their family.

I could truly go on and on, but I know I am one lucky girl to have such wonderful 'Thankfuls' in my life!

What can I say...

There are no words.

LOVE HER.