Happy Halloween 2009

A ladybug.

A warning sign.

Elle Belle

Little Elle Belle is getting so big. Time has been going so quickly I forgot to post her 1 year stats. In fact it has been so long, I am not even sure where the papers are that give you the breakdown of percentiles. All I really remember is, Weight and Height were somewhere in the 10-15% range and her Head was a SOLID 85%. Ha! Way to keep the Madsen tradition alive!

Elle Belle is talking A LOT! Though, she really isn't saying anything comprehensible, she is confident that she is talking. The only word she can really say without any doubt is, "Da-da." Sometimes I think she is saying, "hello" or, "what's that?" but I think that is because I am her Mom, and Moms can typically decode baby babel. Everything else she communicates is a serious of, "oooouuuuh, oooh, ohhh," OR, "AHHH, ah, ahhh." Very monkey like. She points to something she wants, looks at me and says, "DADA, oouh, ooouh, oouh!" Translation: Mommy, get my Blue. Blue is a stuffed dog that she has. It used to be Max's. She LOVES it. It's filthy and she carries it around everywhere. It probably is carrying a variety of diseases.

She is a very contented baby. She continues to cuss everyone out with her eyebrows. We've learned if we just tap her on the forehead and say, "Don't give me that look," she'll instantly smile.

She is a TOTAL Daddy's girl. He is her favorite. She loves grabbing a book and scooting back into his lap.

Max and Elle are getting along better. This is mostly a function of Max's increasing maturity and tolerance with her. Instead of steamrolling her into a tantrum, he'll now gently play kitchen with her her. He's the Dad. She's the Baby.

Speaking of that baby, did I mention she LOVES to climb?

Road Trip

Recently we took a road trip.

Dad was gone on a work trip, and so we got our of dodge! We first stopped in Vegas to see Grandpa Wayne and check out the furniture show.

Auntie Linda met us in Vegas. We rendezvoused and then continued our trek to California.

Though our Cali stay lasted only a few days, it was nice to get away.

Though when we left Utah, it was still summer.

When we came back it was fall. I am not sure I am ready for cold weather just yet.

Maxisms

Last night for dinner Dad made a Mexican feast featuring quesadillas. After dinner, Max retired to the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet, with the door open, he exclaimed, "Thanks for the quesadilla poo, Dad!"

My Babies

Today was Fast and Testimony meeting at my church. This means you are asked to fast for two meals and donate the money you would have spent on food for those meals. When dinner time came, this Mom was famished! Later that evening, after the gorging had ceased, Max asked Mom, "Mom, what is in your belly?" Ha, ha! Guess I shouldn't have eaten that ENTIRE pint of Haagen Das' Chocolate Chocolate Chip?

Blue Steel

Elle Belle has quite the personality these days. This girl has some serious attitude. She has this look she gives everyone, all of the time. we've coined it her "Blue Steel." Those who have witnessed it call it a scowl. Take her toy, scowl. Feed her yogurt, scowl. Change her diaper, scowl. Play peekaboo, scowl. You get the idea.

I tried to capture it on film. But, you know how babies are, they seem to never perform when you want them to. Though I didn't capture the look in its entirety, I would say it is a cross between these two shots.

Naughty pet.

Deck Envy No More!

Yeah! The deck is done. My life is now complete.

See, all it takes is a little deck to make me happy. And the husband thinks I am hard to please? Ha.

For the last 2 years, this Mom has had some SERIOUS deck envy. I go over to friend's homes who have decks, not necessarily to see them, but to visit their decks. I've been known to show up with a tape measure and ask if I could measure their deck so I could get a feel for its size ... it's been quite the disease. My friends with decks surely think I am quite odd.

When we did our backyard last year, I had to decide rather quickly whether we would build a deck, pour concrete, put in pavers ... that sort of thing. For reasons fuzzy in my head now, I decided to pour concrete - it was the practical choice. The estimates I was getting to build a deck out of a composite material and of moderate size, were in the 10 thousand range ... no thanks. After all, I am still a recovering starving college student.

To make a long story short, after the concrete patio was poured, my deck envy just continued to grow. I started showing up on the steps of my friend's deck while they weren't home, just sit on their patio furniture and enjoy the ambiance. Dad thought I was nuts. He was also tired of hearing me daydream about decks. Thus, my dream became a reality.

Thanks, Dad.

Let Me Tell You a Maxy Story

So we don't forget ...

The other day was Tessy's 3rd birthday. She had a Dora party. Max was excited. Mom was upstairs folding laundry when she heard the front door slam. She raced downstairs to find Max, NAKED, across the street, walking to Tess' house holding her present, slung over his shoulder.

Mom: Max, what are you doing?!
Max: I am going to Tessy's party.
Mom: Max, you come back here. You don't even have shoes or underwear on! It's not time to go to the party yet.
Max: OKAY!

Minutes later Max was at home. Mom was upstairs changing Elle's diaper. Again, Mom heard the front door slam. This time, she raced downstairs to find Max, wearing only his Spiderman undies and his navy Crocs, crossing the street yet again, present in hand, on his way to Tessy's.

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Here's another one ...
Dad took care of the kids tonight while Mom was at a Young Women's activity. While she was gone, Max and Dad watched a bit of a Peter Pan movie.

Dad: Okay Max, the movie is over.
Max: I'll go put my pajamas on.

Max comes out and plops next to Dad on the couch, shirt and pants both on backward.

Max: Dad, I want to watch more Peter Pan.
Dad: But son, we just watched it.
Max: Hmmm, are there any bonus features?

No More Tears in Heaven

One day, Max, Elle and I were driving home from a Bear Lake camping trip. It was a Sunday. I felt guilty just listening to any 'ole music, it being the Sabbath and all. BUT, there was no churchesque music on the ipod. Doh! Mom needed to listen to something so she wouldn't fall asleep. (She has issues at the wheel.) Solution: Listen to softer songs with gentle lyrics.

First in the Que: Eric Clapton's, Tears in Heaven. I picked that song because I remember Dad once telling me the the story behind it. That Clapton had written it about his son, Connor, who tumbled to his death after falling out of a 53rd story window of a New York Apartment. Connor was only 4. At the time of the car ride home, we had problems with Maxy opening the window of his two-story bedroom. I thought the story might encourage him to leave his window alone. ANYWAY, Max took the story to heart. He told everyone about Connor and wanted to listen to Tears in Heaven on repeat, nonstop. Very concerned, he would ask me, "But Mama, does Eric have any other children?"

When we were taking pictures today of Max rocking out, I asked him if he would play Tears in Heaven. He did.He has a soft spot for little Connor.

Dad Says

Dad says the Mohawk has to go. What do you think?

I think it's cute even without product in it. Perhaps it could stay a little bit longer?