Fall

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

This is the most delicious way to eat sweet potatoes. Larry's wife Laura made them for Thanksgiving last year and since we're staying in Tennessee this year I had to ask for the recipe. I did a test run last night to make sure it'd work and they're WONDERFUL!!! I can't believe that there are only 2 Tbsp. of butter in the whole thing. Of course there is half and half and a lot of sugar, but don't you think it is lower calorie than the really buttery ones? (either way, it is so yummy it is worth it!) It was really easy and pretty cheap-I just used canned sweet potatoes instead of fresh and it made it even easier, and didn't change the flavor. I guess I'm done raving about this recipe, but TRY IT!! It is really more like a dessert than a side. Ahhhhhhhhhh, well, now Raymey and I are going to take the kiddo on a walk to burn it off:)

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1545713

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

I know I already posted about this site, but you really do have to watch a cartoon Bono, President Bush, the Pope, Oprah, and Tony Blair on stage doing the head and shoulders song. I must admit, I actually like the song! It really cracks us up and Madeline likes it too.
http://www.mothergooserocks.com/animations/head_and_shoulders.html

Mad about Mad'Donna

Madeline is mad about Mad'Donna's "Wheels on the Bus" (cartoon imitation of Madonna). I've been singing the song to her all day and she's been really into it saying "roun roun roun" and "babies, sh sh sh." She's got it a little mixed up, but I love it! Tonight we were hanging out and I was singing that song and all I had to show her was a little yellow bus picture from one of her books. I did a search and found some versions. My favorite was this one, and Madeline must have liked it too because she sat still for about 10 minutes on my lap (which is a record for this little girl!) and we watched it over and over. You know, if you're going to listen to "Wheels on the Bus" this is a version that might not make you so crazy!

http://www.mothergooserocks.com/animations/wheels_on_the_bus.html

You really have to go to "home" on this page and check out the other top 20 songs by made up artists, they are pretty weird and funny. I watched "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" U2 style, Frere Jacque Dave Matthews style, and there are a lot of others. Too Strange!

Under the weather

Yesterday I was quite sick. I couldn't really get up to feed Madeline, so I gave her some teddy grahams and milk for breakfast while I sat on the floor. I kept thinking it would pass, but I kept having sharper pains in my upper stomach. I was really nauseous also, but eating or um, throwing up (sorry that's gross), didn't make it better. My mom finally convinced me to call a friend because Madeline was a little freaked out that I wasn't myself and couldn't take care of her. My sweet friend Tammy came over for 3 hours and brought her son to play with Madeline. She finally convinced me to go to the doctor and she drove me there in the afternoon. From what I told her the doctor said that my stomach problems were likely due to medicine (I started some daily migraine medicine a month ago, and it is great for migraines, but maybe not so good for stomachs) and could have been aggravated by some bug that Raymey and I had on Saturday. They gave me a nausea medicine that helped some and made me sleep. It also let me eat a little, and that helped the pains decrease.
So now I'm not taking anything except my super expensive nausea medicine (that insurance pays for) and heartburn medicine. I've only eaten goldfish crackers, gatorade, bananas (and I don't even like bananas), and bread for the last day and a half. I'm feeling better than yesterday, but still have some burning in my stomach. I'm hoping I'll get back to normal quickly so I can eat something delicious and do Zumba soon! That's my interesting story for the week!

Video Crazy

I guess we're getting all of our blogging in at once! I have Raymey's computer for a couple of hours so I had to post some of our videos. Madeline is afraid of bubblegum. She is reminding me more and more of Monk (the show on USA network). She has a fear of bubble baths, slinky toys, rubber chickens, bubblegum, and sometimes of talking toys. It is really funny, and we can't stop ourselves from testing the fears a few times. I really wonder what is going on in her head!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Big Smackaroo!

Raymey and I have been waiting a good two years for this moment. It is kinda funny that it took so long. Madeline has finally learned to give us kisses of her own free will and choice. We have to ask for a kiss, but she'll walk over and open her mouth for a kiss (it looks pretty funny and is extremely slobbery--I think mine was mingled with a little nose-run today...eeeeeeeeww). She also sometimes actually makes a kissing noise, and may blow kisses. Up until a couple of days ago she'd squirm and try to escape whenever we tried to kiss her. It was a little sad! I guess she just had space issues! Now she knows that we are proud of her when she gives us kisses. What a sweetheart!!!
P.S. I don't know if I can do a p.s. on a blog, but Madeline actually hugged me for a full 5 minutes after a nap today. This is also a truly momentous occasion. We have a loving baby, but she is so very wiggly! Maybe she's learning to slow down sometimes:)