Flash back!

So I've been looking through all of Madilyn's baby pictures and cannot beleive how time has flown by so fast! She's no longer this little itty bitty baby she was when she was born. Just thought I'd share some of my favorites. I love the picture of her sleeping with her hands abover her head and one leg out of the swaddle blanket. I'll never forget the first time I saw her sleeping like this and I thought....she sleeps just like me!! I always have to have one leg hanging out of my blanket.....who knows why! But from that day foward she would always wiggle her leg out of her swaddle for a little bit of freedom. I also love the picture of her and Lola laying on the floor together. This happened all the time! As we all know, Lola always has to be center of attention. Whenever Maddie was laying on the floor Lola had to come lay right up next to her.....and of course, on her back. AHHHHH, memories!!!

FINALLY!!!!

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments and well wishes! I apoligize that it has taken me this long to post again, but we've been without internet for about 2 1/2 weeks during the move and transition. We are FINALLY in our own home and trying to get settled. With the help of our good friend Sean and some of our family we were able to all of our stuff out of storage and into the house about 3 Saturdays ago. We've just been spending all of our time unpacking boxes and trying to get settled. We're almost there, but not quite yet. We still have a few boxes to unpack....stuff that we're not really sure where it will go yet. We still have to paint the dining room and hallway and then get Maddie's new room ready for her to move into. Anyway, here's the pregnancy update: I've been really nauseous in the mornings, until about noon. THis has been going on since we got back from Myrtle Beach. I'm blessed that it didnt start until AFTER our vacation. Last week I started with Evening Nausea....thats lots of fun! However, as of yesterday, my morning nausea seems to be slowly but surely decreasing. I dont want to jinx it, but hopefully its on its way out. We had our first doc appt last thursday and I measured 8 weeks and 3 days. THey set my due date for Feb 18th based on my last period (ya know how that works) but if its based on my measurement (and from when I know I got pregnant) then it would be Feb 16th.....not that much of a difference. We saw a little tiny peanut with a really strong heart beat. My doctor said seeing that strong of heart beat is a wonderful thing and that it just dropped our chance of a miscarriage to less than 5%! So all good news here. Our next appt is August 7th.
Now that I have internet back, I have a ton of catching up to do on everyones blogs!!!!!

WE'RE PREGNANT!!!

Yep, that's right! Madilyn is going to be a big sister! We found out 2 days before we left for Myrtle Beach. It was really hard to keep it a secret, but we wanted to be able to tell everyone when we got back. And, just as before, Dave thought it was too good to be true and wanted me to take another pregnancy test!! So we went to Myrtle Beach and had a wonderful relaxing vacation. Madilyn loved the beach and kept wanting to go back in the ocean to "find Nemo." My Uncle Kevin, Aunt Denise and cousin Michelle were there the same week we were. Michelle, who is 8 just loved playing with Madilyn and really kept her occupied. Maddie is very fond of "Shell." Here is the link to our Myrtle Beach pics.... http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=234014951/a=39246617_39246617/fromupload=true/imagecount=69/videocount=0/t_=39246617

So we came back on Saturday night, I took another test on Sunday morning and told our parents on Sunday afternoon. They were so excited and we all feel completely blessed! I don't think Maddie really understands it yet, but she's been around several babies and seems to love them all! When she met baby Colin she was always so concerned when he would cry and loved to rock him when he was in his carrier. Then, when she met baby Maya, she was so excited and so impressed that "baby Maya has toes too!" I'm sure she'll start to realize (at least a little) as time goes on and mommies belly gets bigger. I'm 6 weeks along and I have my first doctor's appointment on July 10th. I got through vacation feeling good, and yesterday was my first day with nausea.......I forgot how "GREAT" pregnancy can be! :-) I started my morning off (yesterday and today) with ginger ale and a preggie pop! YUM!

2 sets of best friends....

We were finally able to meet sweet baby Maya! She is absolutly adorable and was in such a good mood the entire time we were there! The first thing Maddie said was, "Maya has toes." The funny thing is....Maya had socks on! So Aunty A took them off so Maddie could see Maya's toes...that look just like her daddy's! For some reason Maddie is absolutly obsessed with feet. Alissa was feeding Maya and used one of those covers so she could breast feed. Maddie kept asking, "where did baby Maya go?" She talked a lot with Maya and Aunty A and also warmed up quickly to Alissa's mom and sister Erin. However, she moved out of the way every time Uncle B walked past. Ever since she turned 2, Maddie has had this weird fear of men. (Dave would like to continue until she's 30!!!) Anyway, before we left she finally waved to him and blew him a kiss but still wouldnt go near him. THEN.....the whole way home all she talked about was Uncle B! "Uncle B playing ball. Maddie like Uncle B. Uncle B go to zoo. Uncle B buy ice cream." Uncle B promised Maddie that when we come down to Cinci to visit at the end of summer and we all go to the zoo that he will buy her an ice cream cone. Doesnt seem as though she's going to forget that promise!!!! :-)

Maddie, Dave and I went to Isabelle and Grace McKoon's 4th bday party on Saturday. Susie went all out and had 2 pony's there that the kids were able to ride. Boy am I glad that Maddie's bday is before the girls', so Maddie doesnt have high expectations for her parties!! :-) Maddie had a blast jumping in the bouncy house, which is where she stayed almost the entire time! She wouldnt go near the pony rides! It was a great day and Maddie came home and slept 2 1/2 hours!



The house is almost done!! The painters finished up this week, so now all they have left is the guy to come and install the carpet, which is happening this week and then the plumber to install the toilets which is also happening this week. The plan is to move next weekend....starting on the 13th. Dave, Madilyn and I leave for Myrtle Beach on the 13th, so unfortunately we wont be here to help them move, but we're hoping that we'll be coming home to an empty house! :-) The original plan was to be moving this weekend in which we would have been able to help, but the painters got delayed which caused everything else to be moved back. They had their first major problem yesterday. The appliances were delivered and apparently the carpenter did not leave enough room for the refrigerator. So they also have to figure that out this week. I have no idea what the solution would be....other than to buy a new fridge.

Big Girl!

Yesterday Maddie and I went to get our hair cut. I've had Linda trim her hair 3 times before. I'd only let her trim it because I was so worried about losing the curl. However, her hair has been looking much like a mullet lately. It has grown so long, but its growing like a V so the middle back part of her hair is the longest. I finally decided yesterday to have Linda even it out in the back. She looks like such a big girl with her official "big girl" hair cut. Its now like a little bob. She looks so cute, but I have to say I really miss my "little girl." Best of all.....she still has some curl!!!!

An Angel is born.....

Maya Frances Helwig was born this afternoon weighing in at 7 lbs 2 ozs. She's absolutly beautiful and I think she looks a lot like her Aunt Erin. However, Dave thinks she looks like her daddy. I can't even begin to describe my happiness for my best friend and the journy she is just beginning. I know that her and Bryan will be wonderful parents and Maya will be a happy little girl! Parenthood is the best gift that we could ever be blessed with. GOD is good! We are looking foward to our trip down to Cinci to visit and to meet little Maya......it can't come soon enough!!!