Complete Mobility

So I know it's been a while and it's about time to write a little update.  About three weeks ago, Madeline went from a step and tumble for a couple days to walking circles around the house!  The transition from crawling to walking is fantastic, amazing, and trouble!  Our house isn't the most "baby-proof" kind of house, if that even exists, and we constantly have to monitor Madeline.  She is a very curious girl and wants to get into everything, always!  She is really good, though, with finding out how to crawl up into her favorite chair in her playroom and getting down stairs.  Of course, she does have an occasional spill but rebounds almost immediately most of the time.  It is such a blessing to see her grow into this little person but it is sad at the same time to see our baby growing up.  More to come...Happy Halloween!

Homecoming

Sorry all you Madeline followers, for once it's not about her :)

We went to homecoming at Hope College last weekend.  Todd played in the alumni game for men's soccer and Madeline and I came along.  As I was walking her around campus and downtown, trying to get her to FALL ASLEEP!, memories rushed back.  Some of you reading this might not have known me in my college days, please try not to think of me as crazy after this!

The first place I walked past was the railroad tracks.  They run right on the edge of campus.  Many a new freshmen can remember the train those first two weeks coming through at 2 a.m.  After that, you sleep right through it!  I also jumped through a (motionless) train so I wouldn't be late to soccer practice one day...no extra running for me!  Good thing the train never started up!!

Then past Dykstra, the girl's freshmen dorm.  I met my good friend, Erin, in Dykstra.  We had some great memories there!!  We used to yell at the people below us to "GET OFF THE GRASS!" while they were walking.  Only she could understand.  I am laughing right now just thinking about it.  Strangely enough, right as I walked past the dorm, I saw my R.A. from freshmen year.  I said, "you were my pod R.A.!!"  Well, they weren't called pods, but clusters.  Silly me.  She just looked at my like I had lost it.  

On past J.P.'s, Holland's infamous coffee joint.  Way too much money spent there on caffeine buzzes I probably didn't need.  I DID learn to appreciate coffee there, when it wasn't drenched in mocha java caramel extra whip cream (or something like that).  When you left there, you smelled like coffee for days.  

I then circled on past Durfee, the men's dorm where Erin and I had to live one May Term.  Our room had just been vacated by the boys for the summer and it smelled like socks and raw sewage.  I'm not sure what they had been doing in there all year, but it was pretty stinky!  I abandoned Erin many nights there because I had some new boyfriend at the time (not worth it) and I always felt bad about that.  We were taking a history class that May and it was SO BORING.  So was our job.  We had to call people and ask for money for the college.  I pretended to call, but really did homework.  I didn't feel bad about that.

I then swung past the Dow.  Well, there are many memories there.  However, the best memory was when Erin, big football players from our hall and I played on an inner-tube water polo team.  That's right, pretty crazy!  It was a blast!  We won all the time.  After the games, we would go back to the dorm room, order pizza and drink cherry cokes.  I think we both gained some weight that semester!

Well, really, I could go on and on.  College East, Phelps, Pine Grove, Chapel, 13th and Central, blah, blah blah...but I didn't walk past those places, so it will have to be another time.  

Happy Birthday!

Here is the birthday girl, telling you how old she will be on Sunday....ONE!

I cannot believe a year has passed since Madeline Jean was born.  She has blessed us in ways I can't describe.  Every day is a gift with her.  This year has been full of fun, joy, happiness and learning, for all of us. 

Below is a list of things I will never forget:

1.  Having a baby is a lot of work, worthy of a gold medal!

2.  Babies sleep and cry for the first couple months, they are kind of boring.  However, after that, you'll never be bored again.  

3.  You never realized you could love something so much.  

4.  You never realized you would do anything, and I mean anything, for your baby. 

5.  Even if you were Babysitter of the Year growing up, it is completely different to have your own child.  

6.  Sometimes your neighbors are up at 4 a.m. too.  

7.  No matter what, you are the mom, and you know what's best for your baby.  

8.  Babies are more fun than going to the bar!

9.  A sleeping baby is the most peaceful sight, for many reasons.  

10.  You need your baby just as much as your baby needs you.  

Well, enough of this baby business, we're off to toddlerhood!

Please Pray

If you are reading this, please pray for my cousins, the VandenBosch family.  They recently lost their beloved son rather quickly and unexpectedly.  Here is a picture of Jake, my Madeline and Jake's twin sister Maddie, held by my Uncle Jim, taken around Christmas.  Please pray for Jake's mom, dad, sister and immediate family.  

College Game Day

Since today is the opening day for college football, Madeline decided to get geared up and support her team.  Go Big Red!

Officially a...

TALKER!

Well, we're pretty sure anyways.  Madeline loves to look at babies and say "babeeeeeeee."  She has a little friend, Helen, who is only a couple months old, and calls her baby.  She points to her pictures around the house and says baby.  She points to her dolls and says baby.  Yes, occasionally she points to the chair and calls it baby.  But, we're pretty sure it's her first word, so who cares!  

P.S. We are close to walking.  This getting bigger business is exhausting!

Experiment

My Aunt Maria threw a going-away party for her son and daughter-in-law and their twins, Madeline and Jacob that we attended yesterday. The twins are about 18 months and my Madeline was just enamored with them. This is all beside the point, but I thought I would just give a little background. The other Madeline had a baby doll that she brought to the party, which my Madeline promptly picked up, thinking it was hers (of course, because what isn't??). So, we told her that was "baby". She then kissed baby, made me kiss baby and made everyone around her kiss baby. As you can tell, she loves kisses. She then said what sounded like "baby" several times. I think we witnessed a first word! Todd is a little skeptical. So, today we are going to Wal-Mart to get a baby to see if it happens again. I'll keep everyone updated on our experiment! Hopefully it works!