Another week

DONE! Week three back is really been long and tiring. I added to my stress this time by having a play start as soon as I got back from maternity. This week I have started to collect everything, and that means I am putting the program together. The days fly by and there are not enough hours to get everything done. (and I have to take anything home to work on) But only three more weeks left until show time, so the stress levels are just going to go up from here.

Here are some pictures of Maddie over the last month. It is amazing how animated she is becoming.

The two pictures above are from the first of Feb

Love this look

She has so much head control now. And she is starting to like tummy time.

Well maybe not like, she is learning how to outsmart us.
Mom says she has been rolling over. She is trying to roll over here.

This is pretty much where Ellie is at every minute of the night

And this explains how Maddie feels about thatIn every picture Maddie has a wet spot on her because she slobbers ALL the timeI love this face

PARTY

Two weeks complete back to work, and I am exhausted. Last week was not too bad, but geez this week is really kicking me. A couple of weeks ago Janet called Bob and wanted to get his input on having a dinner to celebrate his three uncles birthdays in February. Bob agreed that is was a good idea and suggested we have it at the house. (Our barn is becoming the "party room" as Ellie calls it.)

We did not really have any idea who was coming, but nearly the whole Zollman family was invited. So when car after car pulled in, we were quite shocked (but in a good way). It was so nice to catch up with everybody. And not to mention that Janet make plenty of food to feed the entire Zollman family. All of Bob's uncles except for two were there. It was also nice actually getting to sit down and visit with some of the family we don't see very often. I am directly Charlotte's Web at school this spring, and I found out that my Wilbur is Bob's third cousin. Also I have taught several of his other 2nd and 3rd cousins.

Six hours after the party began, I think everyone started leaving. It was so nice seeing everyone happy and pleasant. I think that this is probably going to become a regular event.

The 3 brothers who all had birthdays in February

This is everyone in the family who had a birthday in January or February

Ellie was up way past her bedtime and did not fight to get into bed

Maddie on the other hand was wide awake at Midnight,
but looking for her Mommy whom she had not seen all night.

Eme's Pics

I really LOVE my new camera. I have been taking pictures and editing them quite a bit lately. I am no pro, but I believe I am getting quite acceptable. Meghan asked me earlier in the week to come over and take some pictures for Eme's 2nd year. As soon as Eme saw Ellie she was not having pictures at all. But patience is the key with a two year old and here are some cute ones I snapped while she was not intentionally posing.

2 months

These past two months have both flown by and also been the longest 60 days ever--if that is possible. I think a lot of the reason why it has been so long is due to the fact that I was at home the entire month of January, and it snow most of those days. I felt like a prisoner in my own home.

Here is what's new this month with my baby Maddie:

* You hate tummy time, but the doctor wants you to get at least 20-30 minutes a day (in 10 minute intervals)
* You are now drinking formula during the day, but still have Mommy time at night. When you started with the bottle a few weeks ago-you took right too it. You would guzzle it down in less than 5 minutes, I had to slow you down or else you would make yourself sick.
* You are a smiling baby and you are starting to make a lot more noise and sounds.
* Morning is your favorite time and you put your Mommy and Daddy in such a good mood, but on the flip side, night time is not so fun. Sometimes you cry and it takes a while to console you.
* You "normally" only wake up once during the night--but the past few nights you have slept until at least 5:00 which is just an hour before Mommy's alarm goes off (let's hope this is a new pattern).
* You are starting to fill out and have moved from your newborn clothes into 0-3 months and some 3 months. Because of your length things look so big on you. Some pants fix you in the length, but when you are held up they fall right off.
* You are adjusting well to Memaw's, but Mommy still does miss you.
* When you went for your 2 month check up on Monday you weighted in at 8 lbs 15oz and 22 inches long. You have grown 2 inches in one months (yikes you are gonna be tall too).

We look forward to the next month of your precious life.

Love My New Camera

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Sick

I thought I was going to by-pass the girls' cold. WRONG. I felt awful today, but I had to get up and go in to school. It is almost time to start back. Which I am very glad about. But today I had to start rehearsal for our Spring Performance of "Charlotte's Web."

I am glad I got sick this week instead of next. I don't want to be sick on my first week back.

Fun Saturday

I love Saturdays that we really don't have anything planned, but they just seem to work out really nice.

Today started out with Bob letting me sleep in. (LOVE him). Then we headed to town to get a new recliner (or two). We now have bought our third and fourth pieces of furniture since we have been married. We love hand me downs, and I can not see justification in spending so much money on furniture when we can get perfectly good stuff for free. But we got such a good deal on one recliner, that we could not pass the deal up they were offering for two. But it did take a while for me to figure out how I wanted to arrange the living room with our added pieces. But it is done, and it looks pretty good.

My aunt and uncle came up for lunch/dinner. I made potato soup. When I might add that my recipe is pretty amazing and I haven't tasted better. We had a nice visit with them.

Kasey drove up for a few minutes to say hello

This evening I left to go to CHS Homecoming. My little cousin Kristi was on court. Plus I wanted to check out this new gym everyone has been talking about. Boy was it nice. I feel a little short changed from when I was in school. Maddie got the opportunity to meet my Aunt Gina and Kristi. She was so good and enjoyed watching and listening to the game. I would like to go back to watch another game again in the future.

Kristi and Gina

Snow

I thought that since I was out on maternity leave and it did not really matter that I would feel indifferent to snow days. Well, nope, I still hate them just the same. I would rather be enjoying my days off with temperatures in the 80s, not the 20s. I know it was my fault having my child in the winter, but geez-I feel like I am a captive in my own home. I was off in the winter with Ellie too but it was not near this bad.

I just hope and pray that at the end of February we are all complaining about how hot it was for the month (well I won't be complaining).

Our last round of snow yesterday brought us about 4.5 inches. Bob took off yesterday, and it was nice to have him around-even though we did not see much of him because he mostly stayed in the garage.

Ellie has had a mild cold for the last few days. I have tried so hard to keep her away from Madelyn so she does not get it either. But my efforts failed-my little one is snot nosed and can't breathe. Last night was no fun. She had to be held all night by one of us.

Bundled up to go check on Daddy and Ellie in the garage

Uncle Joe

Today God took home a very special guy. Mom called me this evening to let me know that my dad's cousin found my Great Uncle Joe unresponsive at his house. This was very sudden and completely unexpected. My Nanny (her brother) is pretty upset and could sure use your prayers. She was very close to him and will miss him dearly.

Here he is with my aunt and uncle at my Nanny's 70th birthday party in 2009.

Some things I want my girls to remember about him:

*He had a show truck and it was beautiful. One of his greatest joys in life was going to car
shows.
*He never really ever learned to read or write, but that did not stop him from being a very
smart man.
*He really did not like animals, but he loved Chloe. Every time he saw her, he would play with
her forever. And when she was not around he was telling us how great of a dog she was and
that he was going to get her and take her home with him :)
*He would definitely speak his mind. He was not ashamed or cautious with his words. You
always knew how he felt about something.
*His pride and joy was his granddaughter Rachel (his son James's daughter). She is the same
age as Tyler and he absolutely adored her.
*Ellie-he came to your 3rd birthday party and really enjoyed himself.

Joe was a unique guy but was a servant of God. It made me proud to be part of his family to hear all the great words that was spoken about him from his pastor. He always put others before himself (even if he was telling you what he felt about you while he was helping you out). He will be greatly missed, and I know he will be waiting for us all in Heaven.

Christmas with the Pierces

Finally! It seems like every year we celebrate later. I hate that our lives are so busy that this is the outcome.

The day started out great. We got up and went to church. The service was really good. I am glad that I go to a church that is focused on teaching the word of God, not what is politically correct or what we want to hear. After church we came home and the girls and I settled down with some football and a nap. I just did not realize that it would be almost 5 when we woke up. YIKES. We had to be at the Pierce's for dinner at 5. That was the quickest to date that we got up, ready, and out the door.

Melissa made a great dinner. And then it was time for the kids to open up their gifts. Ellie loved the Barbie's and necklace she got from Lissa and Sissy. Maddie just laid there and looked cute :)

Maddie was content with Uncle Scott

Maddie's new hat from Aunt Lissa

Eme's 2nd Birthday

Today we celebrated Eme's 2nd birthday. We had so much fun watching her enjoy her party. Ellie loved spending time with her best friend.

Mommy and Eme

The cake was so cute, and yummy too!

Ellie loves her Meg

These kids really ran around in a circle for about an hour with these balloons

Best friends

Eme loves Maddie too!

Happy Birthdays

Happy birthday to my bestie Melissa and my other bestie's baby Eme.

Here are a few pictures of the day.

Happy Birthday Love

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband. The kids have been coming down with a cold and it has been freezing outside, so when Bob came home all he wanted to do was rest. So I ordered a pizza, made him a pineapple upside down cake, and the edible arrangement above. That was my first arrangement to make, and I am pretty impressed with myself. Needless to say that most of it was gone within a few hours of him getting home.

Snow Day

Today is Catherine's funeral, so Bob took off. He let Maddie and I slept to almost 11:30 (God bless him). I was awaken to the sound of the sweetest shivering laughter.

My sweet girl had come in from round one of sledding and ready for more

She is definitely her Daddy's daughter

Sad Day

About a month ago, Bob's aunt Catherine Baxter began to get really sick. She was having trouble remembering things and just didn't feel well. Bob's mom Janet took her to the doctor where they soon found a large mass that would later be labeled as brain cancer. She opted to have surgery right around the 1st of December. She came through the surgery ok, but never really was herself again. We got the phone call today that her battle was over, and she went home to meet her Lord.

Even though I just got the opportunity to really get to know her the last few years, it is still sad to see Janet and her brother's go through this lose. She was like a mother to many of her brothers and recently became her sister's best friend.

Please pray for the Zollman family as they go through this tough time.

Here is a picture of Ellie and Catherine back in the summer

Memories to share with her great-nieces:

* She loved going to the boat. She never spent much money, but just loved the atmosphere
* She always had a smile on her face. She was soft spoken but her words were always heard loud and clear
* Every Saturday night she would go to the Scottsburg Jamboree with Grandma Jenkins
* Every August (it never failed-the hottest day of the year) she would organize a Zollman family reunion.
* The day before her surgery she got the opportunity to meet and hold Madelyn. She did not want to give her up.
* She lived a full life and would have been 81 this April.

Catherine Louise Baxter, 80

Funeral Services for Catherine Louise Baxter of Lexington, IN were held on Wednesday January 12th, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Grayson Funeral Home in Charlestown. Burial took place at the Silver Creek Cemetery. Visitation was on Tuesday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and after 9:00 AM on Wednesday. Catherine Louise Baxter, 80, passed away Sunday, January 9, 2011 at Sellersburg Health & Rehab. She was born on April 1, 1930 to William and Leona Raab Zollman in Clark Co., IN. She was a retired line person for Reliance Electric in Madison, IN. She is a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers, and a member of the Lexington Presbyterian Church. Survivors include her son, James W. Baxter of Lexington, IN; daughters, Brenda B. Cole of Lexington, IN, and Barbara Bieghler of Scottsburg, IN; brothers, William Zollman of Charlestown, IN, Don Zollman of Charlestown, IN, Melvin Zollman of Charlestown, IN, Wayne Zollman of Charlestown, IN, Herman Zollman of Marysville, IN, Charles Zollman of Scottsburg, IN, and Glenn Zollman of Scottsburg, IN; sister, Janet Jenkins of Charlestown, IN; 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 2pm at the Grayson Funeral Home in Charlestown, with burial in the Silver Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4pm to 8pm and after 9am on Wednesday

Daddy and his girls

Just Dance

Last week I bought some new Wii games (I really need to get moving and get this baby weight off). Just Dance was one of them, and boy does it give you a workout. Ellie loves to dance and this game is perfect for her. I can not wait until next summer to get her started in dance classes.

Monster Mash is her favorite song to dance to

This is what Madelyn's choice of activity is

Then it was time for another fashion show.

Love the tutu with scarf

She smiles more each day (I has two cute dimples)

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my beautiful cousin Kasey. 18 years ago God blessed our family with her bright eyes and smiling face. I have watched her grow from a tiny baby to an adult (tear). I know that God has great things in store for her, and I can not wait to watch her future unfold.

One Month

I can not believe that my baby girl is already a month old. The time has flown by already.

Maddie:

*You are well aware of your surroundings.
*You love to stare at fans (they are never on and not interesting--you will be amazed when it is warm enough for them to move)
*You are starting to smile and you have two cute dimples
*Your hair is still minimal, but a lot thicker than your sisters.
*Your eyes are still blue but getting a little darker everyday-so we are still waiting on the final color.
*At your check-up today you weighted 7.3lbs (which is up from your week check-up of 5.12lbs), the doctors think you should be bigger--also you got your Hep B Shot and was quite fussy, but no fever or knots.
*You eat (still) every two hours during the day, and you are starting to sleep 3, maybe 4, hours at a time during the night.
*You sleep in your own bed and most of the time we can just lay you down in bed and you fall right to sleep.
*You are starting to warm up-you do not constantly have to be wrapped in five blankets and you don't shiver anymore.
*You love riding in the car and sleep your best in your carrier.
*You are a calm nature baby and don't cry unless you are hungry or provoked (when Mommy wakes you up to eat or change your diaper).
*You are still in Newborn clothes but are starting to maybe outgrow them because of your height. (We don't know if you are going to be tall like your sister, however).
*You can recognize Mommy's and Ellie's voice.
*You can sleep on Daddy's chest for hours (longer than anywhere else-besides you car seat).
*You like having your Ninny-but it is not a necessity (yet).
*Your sister loves you-touching you, kissing you, playing with your toys--but you stare at her with amazement and love.

We are so blessed and thankful for the first month of your life. We can not wait to see what God has in store for you in 2011.