The many faces of Madeline Kate

"Look what I did!"

"So big!"

The eye roll: "You want me to do what???"


Just like my daddy--always a book in my hand!


"Have you read this book?"

3-month-old pics--Trying to get a Christmas-card picture

On the last night of our Christmas musical at church, I decided it was time to get a Christmas picture (while they were all actually looking decent at the same time!). I felt like I was pulling teeth to get all three kids looking at the camera simultaneously. Here are just a few. Some show exactly why I was sweating and frustrated by, oh, two pictures in. I probably snapped 50 pics altogether, but I'll spare you that.

Our sweet friends, Jed and Alyssa

4-month-old pictures--Thanksgiving

So I finally uploaded a whole bunch of pictures, and I hope to get some of them blogged in the next few days (weeks? months?). We celebrated Thanksgiving at my lovely cousin Melanie's lovely new home. Grandma and Granddad, Mom, Aunt Pam and Uncle RB, and Emily were all there, so with kids there was a grand total of 16.

Great Granddad got lots of cuddle time in with Madeline Kate

My beautiful and crazy cousin Emily

Too many cooks in the kitchen makes a yummy Thanksgiving Feast

Kid's place setting

Place setting. Each candle had our name and a verse on it.

Beautiful table. I wish I would have remembered to take a picture before we started to load on the food. The centerpieces Melanie made were gorgeous.

Ah.

Granny and Maddy love each other a bushel and a peck

Progress report for Speech Therapy

Thought you would enjoy hearing Madeline's progress report for her 18-month review. This was written over a month ago, so even since then we've seen progress!

"Madeline continued to demonstrate tremendous progress with her communication skills over the past couple of months. She was observed to imitate some basic signs seen in play (i.e. more, ball, bunny, monkey, cow, elephant, apple, dog, fish, car, baby, etc), and she was observed to use gestures/signs independently in response to verbalizations (i.e. Give me a five, Give baby a kiss; So big, dog, fish, Good girl, Mommy, Hi, Daddy, etc.). Madeline held her hands up high while therapist sang "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and she was observed to participate in movements/gestures of some other familiar songs/finger plays (i.e. "One little fishy swimming in the water" and "Pat-a-cake") Madeline has been observed to spontaneously sign ball and monkey. She tolerated hand-over-hand assistance to sign labels to familiar objects, and she was noted to intently watch the speaker's mouth during communication exchanges. Madeline also attended to picture books as therapist labeled pictures and talked about actions in pictures."

Today's speech therapy report says that she imitated these signs while looking at a book: train, horse, thank you, car. She also "was observed to blow raspberries to obtain therapist's attention in play." She signed "star" in response to verbalization of the word. "She also appeared to say 'thank you.'"

Music of the heart

I just added two songs to my playlist that we sang in church yesterday, one as a congregational and the other as a choir. Pastor Liz (worship pastor) introduced "I will sing praise" by reminding us that one of the most important choices we make is the choice to praise God, regardless of the circumstances of the moment.

Fingerprints of God

Glen pulled out a Steven Curtis Chapman CD that we haven't listened to in a while. Truth be told, I don't think I remember this song at all, but it's already wound its way around my heart. I'm going to save this one for Madeline Kate as she gets older.

Fingerprints of God

I can see the tears filling your eyes

And I know where they're coming from

They're coming from a heart that's broken in two

By what you don't see

The person in the mirror

Doesn't look like a magazine

Oh but when I look at you

It's clear to me

That I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know it's true

You're a masterpiece that all creation

Quietly applauds

And you're covered with

The fingerprints of God

Never has there been and never again

Will there be another you

Fashioned by God's hand and perfectly planned

To be just who you are

And what He's been creating

Since the first beat of your heart

Is a living, breathing

Priceless work of art

And I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know it's true

You're a masterpiece that all creation

Quietly applauds

And you're covered with

The fingerprints of God

Just look at you

You're a wonder in the making

And God's not through

In fact, He's just getting started!

Giveaway!

Head on over to Jen's blog, http://massingalefamily.blogspot.com, to enter an awesome giveaway for an electric super pot & grill!