Another year, another blog entry...

Madeleine is in love with dance class!

Welcoming a new kitty to our home

**UPDATE:  Her name is Miss Kiki the Cat
We don't yet have a name, but here is the newest addition.....

Spending a moment being thankful

The last day of Thanksgiving weekend and the holiday weekend flew by even more quickly than usual. I've spent more time going, doing, seeing, shopping, cooking, playing, and socializing and not enough time pondering every reason I have to be thankful.

I'm thankful for finding Steve and having Madeleine. I'm thankful that Madeleine is healthy and such a sweet girl. I'm thankful that Steve and I are healthy and active. I'm thankful that we have so much we love to do together, and for Steve's support in everything I do on my own.

I'm thankful for my loving family who all live close so we don't have to travel to see them or miss out on seeing them because travel is so expensive these days. That I get to spend so much quality time with Phillip, Lorie, Katherine and Kristen and with James, Laurie, Cessaley and Payton; and that I'm getting to spend more time with Lillie, Ted and Allie. For Steve's supportive and loving family.

That we have a nice house that we've made into our home. That my cat is still around to enjoy another holiday season even as her health is declining and she enters her twilight years. That my husband caters to my Christmas decorating fetish and my Thanksgiving Trot tradition. For our amazing nanny who goes with the flow of my very hectic schedule.

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For good friends who love and support me. For Deana's loving eye that captures our family so well in her photography. For April being there for me even when she's nearly 2000 miles away. For Rachel being there at a moment's notice. For Supper Club. For close friends near (Lisa, Sharon, Cheryl, Carrie, Iris, Abby and Kristin) and far (Natascha, Lora). For Van, Pat and Adam. For Wine Group. For Kreinitar. For Michael and Jane. For Steve's fraternity brothers and their wives. For Section D. For PHECPTA, my new mommy friends, and Madeleine's new playgroup friends. For the e-mentoring group for becoming good friends and for having their hearts in the right place.

For a good and stable job working with really amazing people who share similar values. For being able to enjoy good wine and good food. For being able to buy toys and clothes for Madeleine. For all the traveling we've done and all we have to look forward to.

...

For having the patience not to trash blogspot even when it is refusing to format my blog post the way I want!!!

We live a wonderful life and I don't spend enough time basking in the warmth of what I have. Today is a great time to sink into the comfort of everything good that is in my life, especially the everyday things that make life so great.

Almost a year old!?

Madeleine is 11 months, 2 weeks old - seriously. It was this time last year when I believed that the clock could not move more slowly and I could not wait to finally have Madeleine. Here we are a year later and the clock could not move more quickly. She's grown so much this past year, is nearly walking and loves to talk and sing (though we have little clue what she's saying). She does have "da-da" down.

5 months later...

It seems like just yesterday when I last posted during the last days of my pregnancy. Now here I am with a 5 month old daughter! The memories of the discomfort of pregnancy have faded. I'm enjoying every moment of being a mother and here are pictures from birth to nearly 5 months old:


Go here to see the slideshow.



The slideshow speed is controlled on the bottom left corner.

Babymoon

Prior to July, neither Steve nor I had ever heard the term, "Babymoon." Fortunately, Steve did some web surfing for trip ideas when we first thought about taking a pre-baby trip. He learned that this is an actual term used to describe trips taken by a couple before the birth of their first child. Brilliant! Now it was mandatory that we have a few days to ourselves...



We first discussed going to San Antonio, since Steve has never been, and going to Seaworld for a day. My brother and sister-in-law told me I was crazy. Of course, at the time I wasn't nearly as big as I am now - who knew I would blossom so quickly and that the changes from then and now would be so drastic. Comically, I also considered an overnight trail ride at a dude ranch outside San Antonio. My doctor didn't seem to like that idea either.


So, where DID we do the apparently mandatory "Babymoon?" Vail! The morning after Laura's wedding, we hit the road and headed to Vail. Frankly, Steve was not excited about being in Vail without snow on the ground and wasn't convinced that this was going to be such a great time. He agreed to go anyway, but complained that the drive up there would probably not be that great.




Obviously, he quickly changed his mind on the ride out there. The weather was perfect for a pregnant woman (though a tad chilly for the husband) at 45-60 during the day and 30's at night. We had to wear coats Sunday night. I didn't have to do much but eat, walk/rest, and sight-see, but that made for a relaxing, stress-free weekend for both of us. Here is a great picture overlooking Vail village and mountain:


Steve booked as at a gorgeous hotel (the Arrabelle) and our friend, Sharon (she used to live in Vail, poor thing), told us where to have a fabulous dinner (Russell's). Fortunately for Steve, we also got to Vail just in time for the last afternoon of their annual Oktoberfest! Polka dancing, beer (for Steve), streudel (for me) - it was fantastic:





What a great Babymoon!

My cousin is old enough to get married?!

Steve and I went to Denver last weekend for my cousin, Laura's, wedding. We spent the day sightseeing in Denver, at Sixth Street Mall primarily. The weather was almost perfect for a hot-blooded pregnant woman. Sunny, 70's with a slight breeze.

The wedding was in DTC, the tech center of Denver, about 15 minutes from downtown at the popular Hyatt Regency. People came from all over the country. Laura was stunning, just gorgeous. She and her sister, Leann, are both beautiful women - it is just hard to believe that they are women - weren't they just born?! I think I was in high school or close to it when they were born - am I really that old?! My Uncle John and Laura had a dramatic entrance in a glass-enclosed elevator from the top of a hotel down to the 2nd floor where the wedding was held in a dramatic atrium. At wedding's I'm all about the dress, the cake and the flowers. Laura's were all perfect.

Here is a great picture of Laura with her husband, Robert.

Here is a picture of me with Laura's sister, Leann. I have a feeling I'm going to be making a trip in the not-too-distant future to Seattle for another family wedding soon. I can't imagine Leann's boyfriend letting my beautiful cousin stay single for much longer.

Here is the cake:

After the wedding and a fabulous dinner, the DJ started playing all the great wedding dance music - like the electric slide and the twist. Steve talked me into doing the twist by myself on the dance floor.

Oh MY - Am I really that big?! I'm starting to enjoy the pregnancy look. Which is a good thing because - Look At That Belly! Little Baby GoodNix was dancing around all night, too. She must have enjoyed the cake and the music.

Speaking of dance moves - My mom has the moves... and way more energy than me. Impressive!

My Mom and her brother (father of the Bride):

My parents - the energizer bunnies:

There was almost a full moon - which might explain why my mom and cousin, Drew, were dancing to Thriller.

What a wonderful event! Congratulations to Laura and Robert! I wish you all the happiness your hearts can imagine and a long marriage full of love and admiration for each other.

Update to Previous 4D Post - Pictures of Feet Reveal that Baby is a GoodNix

My sister-in-law aptly pointed out, in response to my 4D post, that we hadn't provided proof of whether our daughter was going to be blessed with the famous GoodNix toes. For those of you who don't know about the toes, feel free to look down the next time you see me, my brother or my sister. We all have them. They are unique to say the least. Unfortunately for our child, Steve also has long and thin toes. So did she get them? Well, of course! But, don't take my word for it. The proof is in the pudding - or the pictures anyway:

I was hoping that my child wouldn't have to go through what I've suffered all my life - difficulty buying shoes (think 3-4 hour shopping trips and leaving with nothing), and longing for the beautiful shoes that everyone else gets to wear (think Sarah Jessica Parker's fetish without the ability to wear those gorgeous shoes). Unfortunately, our daughter appears to have the same long skinny foot as her mom, with long toes and skinny heels. If she turns out to be a shoe lover like me, just hope that Stuart Weitzman doesn't go out of business anytime soon. Lucky for her, I'm a patient shoe shopper. Hopefully turn into the same mandatory mother-daughter bonding experience of my youth.

Lillie's Morning Visit

Lillie came over to have breakfast with me and Steve this morning. Haven't seen her all Summer because she's been in Boston (lucky!) avoiding the 100 degree heat here. She's headed back today (wonder why?) and so she made time for us to have breakfast and see my big growing belly.

Steve's First Father's Day

The Good side of the family celebrated father's day Saturday. Steve got his first Father's Day card and Baby GoodNix got her first present from her grandparents.







Steve's parents also gave him a card and the perfect father's day gift - a gift certificate to Home Depot!

Mary and Mom in New York