All terrain walker

He's getting good.  Going off road and stuff.  

It's a Frankenstein walk, but it's amazing the progress that he's made in just one week.

 Gearing up to cruise....

 and he's off.  A little wobbly in the rocks with just socks on, but doing great.

 Oops!  Starting to lose some footing.

 "Hey!  That guy looks familiar."

Found Daddy's racquetballs in the garage and now he's carrying them everywhere.

Remembering Maddie

My tears won't stop flowing.  I am crying a river about Maddie and her death but it feels really good to cry.  I can't remember the last time I felt this much sadness.  I also have feelings of anger and guilt.  I know that all these emotions are normal but it's been a rough couple of days.  There is a huge hole in my heart that is going to take a very long time to heal.  Our kids are a really nice distraction, otherwise I would probably lay in bed all day and cry.

Maddie was the most wonderful dog in every possible way.  She loved us all unconditionally and all she ever wanted was for us to hold her, snuggle her, or sleep with her.  She would chase after us every time we tried to leave and would jump into the car.  She loved sitting on the girls laps when they were in their car seats.  Maddie would snuggle up with Muffin in the dog bed together but her favorite spot was resting on Cory's head while he was sleeping.  If it was really cold out we'd put her doggie sweater on to warm her up.  I'm so sad that Ryder will never know Maddie because he really loved her.  He would point to her and say 'dog'.  He also loved grabbing her tail and she never once got angry with him.  Maddie wouldn't use our doggie door.  She would go to it, scratch the door, and wait for us to open it for her.  We used to joke that she was never really housebroken, but she was, she just was so small I think it was hard for her little body to open the dog door. 

We found Maddie from an ad in the San Diego newspaper.  I was in town for a girls weekend with my friends and Cory was there the same weekend but staying at his old house.  I woke up early Saturday morning and was browsing the classifieds and saw the ad about a male and female Malti-poo for sale.  I called Cory and told him to call the guy and check it out.  He went over and called me when he was there.  He said that the female puppy was so adorable.  Cory sat at the guy's house for over an hour and Maddie was in his hand and on his lap the entire time.  She felt at home right away and the bond was built.  He brought her back to AZ and she rode the entire way home on his lap.  When he arrived home with her I couldn't believe how small and adorable she was.  We tried to put her in the laundry room that first night to sleep but she was crying out for us so we let her sleep in our bed and that's where she slept from that day forward.  She was our first 'baby' and a huge step in our relationship.  Cory and I were still somewhat of a new couple but when we bought Maddie together it seemed like a really big commitment.  It was like saying, "Okay, we love each other so much and we know we're going to be together for the long haul.  We're ready to get a dog and start our life together."  It was an exciting time in our lives and I'm so grateful that we have those wonderful memories of Maddie to remember. 

Maddie, we love you so much and miss you more than you will ever know.  I know we'll see you in heaven someday soon and we'll find you for a good snuggle session.

 Her most favorite spot in the entire world.

Keeping watch over baby Ryan as she sleeps.

Look at that scruffy little face.  These were taken at the girls' newborn photo shoot in Nov. 2006.

Reese & Maddie together.

Muffin and Maddie together in their dog bed.  October 2005.  Just a little puppy.

 

Spring 2008.  The girls loved taking Maddie & Muffin for 'walks'.

This one below was taken the first week we had her.  I think she weighed about 2 lbs. 

More snuggles with Daddy.

Smooches with Mommy.  This was Christmas 2005.

Ryder, the girls, and Maddie in Feb. 2010.  She was always right by our side.

Sweet Maddie

Our sweet little Maddie went to heaven this evening.  It happened so suddenly and I am still numb.  The sadness we are feeling right now is crushing.

She was attacked by a German Shepherd at the groomer today.  The groomer rushed her straight to the animal hospital by us and they were working hard to revive her.  They had her hooked up to a ventilator when we got there and her heart was beating but she wasn't breathing on her own.  Cory and I were sobbing and trying to figure out the best plan for her with the doctors and staff.  Two staff members offered to transport her to the 24 hour animal hospital in north Chandler.  We followed behind and when we arrived they updated us on her status.  They determined that she had a spinal fracture and her vital signs were not good.  They let us stay with her for awhile before they gave her the euthanasia.  I was sobbing uncontrollably and had a feeling of sadness that is hard to put into words.  Cory and I came home to the kids and had to explain what happened and we were all crying together.  Both girls were so upset and seeing our kids so sad made it even harder.  We are all so devastated about losing our little Maddie.

I know that a few of my friends that read this blog have pets and can understand how they become a part of your family.  Maddie was our baby before we had babies.  Cory and I were only dating when we got her.  She came to us when she was only 8 weeks old and was the cutest darn puppy you have ever seen.  All she ever wanted to do was to snuggle and be held.  She loved us all so much and I am going to miss her with all my heart.  Rest in peace, my sweet little dog.  We love you, Maddie.

13 months

Ryder is 13 months old today.  I blinked my eyes and January is gone, so now I sit here writing about our 13 month old baby toddler boy.  Here are some highlights:

• He is walking all over the place.  Crawling some of the time but walking about 90% of the time.
• He has a mouthful of teeth, 10 to be exact.  Two more molars came in.
  
• He is still breastfeeding like a champ, no signs of slowing down or quitting soon.  This is when it starts getting uncomfortable for other people when they find out you're still nursing.  I think it's hilarious.
• Major separation issues have developed.  He doesn't want anyone but Mommy or Daddy.  When Mimi walks in the door he starts fussing because he thinks I'm leaving.  We've been paged out of church 2 weeks in a row because the nursery staff said he was crying uncontrollably.  He's okay with Bogusia, but that's about it right now.
• He's getting a bit pickier with food but we still try new stuff.  Mangoes are a favorite right now.
• Still a skinny guy and had to go buy some 6-12 month pants for him the other day.  Wearing 12-18 or 18-24 month tops.
• Saying new words every day.  It took awhile to say 'Mama' but now he says it all the time.  Another new one is 'bubbles' and it sounds so cute when he says it.
• Loves playing with his sisters.  He's learning lots from them and wants to be wherever they are.
• Bath time is another favorite.  He likes playing with animals in the tub and doesn't want to get out until R&R are out.
• LOVES cars and trucks and doesn't want to share the ones he has.  He's lucky the girls aren't really too interested.
• Likes Sesame Street and Blues Clues on the TV.
  
• As much as he loves to be on the go, he really loves being held.  He's usually in my arms or on my lap when I'm at home.  I'm getting to be an expert at cooking and pouring liquids one handed.  It's an acquired skill for sure.
• And last of all--he's a great little napper (on the go and in his crib) and he always starts off in his crib for bedtime, but he seems really at home sleeping in our bed.  He's so snuggly and warm.  It just feels right.

Boom Boom Pow

We loved the Super Bowl halftime show.  Big fans of Black Eyed Peas.  They have so many great songs and the kids were having a blast dancing.  It was the highlight of Super Bowl Sunday, that and the Darth Vader commercial.

 Ryder boy got in on the action too.  I love the look of a brand new walker.

Attire

Would you let your children wear these outfits to the park? Probably not.

Ryan wore a skirt with slingback heels and a scarf. Reese wore sweatpants tucked into black boots. I would say their outfits were the definition of a hot mess, especially at the park. They both insisted on wearing their different fancy shoes and were supposed to bring 'park' shoes to play in, but they were left at home.  I didn't really have it in me to fight the good fight.


On another note, Ryder wore the cutest Adidas shoes that Auntie Casey bought him.  I was bummed that they kept coming untied but it's just because the laces are short.  He looked pretty adorable.

Room for one more?

I think not.  This morning I woke up and found all 3 kids in our bed.  That blank spot on the left is my sliver of space.  Ryder is next to me, Ryan next to him, Reese, and Cory is that white lump on the right, about to fall out of the bed.  Reese nuzzles up right next to him and doesn't move. 

 It's rare that Ryan comes in but we're guaranteed that we'll see Reese almost every single night, around 3am, and Ryder has been waking up for a midnight feed.  I'm lazy so I just go get him and bring him into bed with us.  I should just let him cry it out but it seems SO loud in the middle of the night. 

And then there's Maddie & Muffin.  Maddie sleeps on top of Cory's pillows and Muffin is at our feet.  It's just a wee bit crowded. 

 

It's really stinks.....

being sick.  Our poor little Reesie.

Ready to run

 Today was a big day for Ryder boy.  I would say he's officially walking.  He was all over the family room today.  He's still getting his fancy footwork under control but he's definitely ready to run.  We have all been the biggest cheerleaders for him.  It's pure excitement for us.  He seems less than thrilled with the process, especially in these photos I took right before bedtime.  Maybe he'll decide to keep crawling and I can feel like he's still a baby instead of the walking, talking, teething toddler he's turning into. 

'Quit taking photos, Mom, and put me to bed!'

Too cold to play outside.....

so we went to the library after dance class.  We picked out books, a DVD, and enjoyed a snack in the cafe area.  The girls were really excited about the new books we found.

Then we got home and made playdough.  We made 4 different colors and had a blast creating characters.  It was fun pretending with the girls and they wanted to save our characters to show daddy.

 I'd like to introduce you to: 

Angela the Alien Butterfly, Gerry the Giraffe, Bert the Butterfly, & Barney the Bird. 

  We gave them all names and different voices and the girls thought this was hysterical.  

We could have gone all day with this little bit of pretend play.

Happy February

I love this month for many reasons:

1) My hubby was born on the 12th and I love celebrating his birthday.
2) My dad's birthday is the 9th and we get all the family together for dinner.  I love being with my family.
3) Valentine's Day is a great excuse to tell people how much you love them.
4) The weather is amazing in Arizona.
5) The colors pink and red seem to be everywhere and they are two of my favorites.
6) There are hearts everywhere and hearts make me oh so happy.  See below.
7) I can tell Spring is right around the corner and this excites me.

Reese traced her hands and I helped her cut out the tracings.  She glued them together and made a heart shape for me.

Oatmeal and CTC

Every day the girls ask for the same thing for breakfast.  Ryan wants oatmeal and Reese wants Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or CTC as we like to call it.  I'm okay with Ryan's choice but I cringe when Reese asks for CTC every morning (and sometimes for dinner).  It all started when I discovered that this cereal was one of Cory's favorites.  I bought a box at the store and he ate it every day for breakfast that week.  He also shared some with Reese and that's all it took.  She was not going back to plain ol' Cheerios.  Well, don't you worry, I'm putting a stop to our child eating this sugary cereal.  I just stopped buying it.  She keeps asking for it and I tell her we're out of it.  This is when she proceeds to tell me that I need to go to the store.

Here are the new breakfast choices for the week:

• Oatmeal (always on the menu)
• French Toast made with whole wheat bread & organic maple syrup
• Pancakes with ground flax mixed in
• Fruit and yogurt
• Cheerios--honey nut or plain

That's their choices and if Reese doesn't like it then she can wait for lunch, but that girl is not getting her CTC any time soon.