Potty Time

Today was officially our first day of potty training. We have been doing pre stuff for a few months. She has gone 3-4 times during that time.
Today we went cold turkey no diapers all cloth. We got some special prizes at the store thanks to Nana and Daddy.The morning started with 5 accidents right off the bat. I think she would start to go and stop herself multiple times. By lunch we were finally have successes and even dry through nap. Overall for the day we had 6 successes in the potty. She got a prize each time which was very fun. She is definitely getting it and so proud of herself. I wasn't expecting her to have any successes right away so today was such a great surprise and blessing. I know she is ready and I am so glad that we are moving forward. She is no longer a baby. Such a big girl. I hope tomorrow goes just as well.

cake cake cake...

We have had an over abundance of cake in our house since starting my cake decorating class. This week was our last class of the first course and our finale cake. I have to say that our cakes both turned out better than I think we expected. Here are our finished pieces.

Dara's

Mine

My Roses

Madison's Big News!

And for those who did not get the above picture.


Yes its true. Marteney Baby #2 is on the way. We found out yesterday morning and after 5positive tests I decided we could announce it to the world. You know we are not the type to keep it to ourselves. I am due sometime around June 4th. We are overjoyed that the Lord is blessing us with another little miracle in our lives.

While I am a bit nervous at the thought of having two, I am also excited that our family is growing. I know Madison will be a great big sister. She is already talking about the baby in mommy's tummy and saying "Out Baby". It could be a long 9months.

The day I found out I was pregnant with Madison I bought a cuddly soft classic pooh to have as a keepsake of the day. Today Madison and I went to by the new baby an Eeyore. It is very soft and of course special since picked by Madison.

Please keep us in your prayers over the next nine months for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and baby.

21 months

Madison is now 21months. It is amazing to me how she has becoming such a big girl. She has learned how to take her shoes off and put them back on(mostly in the car), Count to 4, walk down steps alone (still makes mommy nervous), and unzip and peel off her jammies. All important skills for an almost 2year old.
She continues to crack me up with the things she says. She is putting 3-4words together all the time. Like did it, Woo-Hoo! She loves to hide things and say Where'd Go? And then when we find it say very excitedly "There It Is!". She is very interested with the sky and all things in it. Planes, the moon, and her newest find "Sushine". If you ask her where something is that is now gone her answer is Home. One of her latest words is funny or silly. I told her it was not funny as she was laughing throwing her food off her highchair and she says "Funny Mommy". Ugh!
I think my favorite words though are the names of some of her favorite friends. Ickey, Ninnie, Dudo, Duck, Aisy, Foofy, and Tootles. Madison is a big fan of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse which we normally watch during breakfast each morning. As each character shows up through the opening theme song she says all their names. If you couldn't interpret the above Madison versions, that is Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, and Tootles. There is also the Hot Dog song and dance at the end that she dances to. So stinkin' cute!

I have included a few you tube videos. The first is a video we watched on our friend's the Lee's blog. Madison loved it. It in honor of Madison counting to 4.



Of course the Hot Dog Dance. I swear she dances like Goofy.


And last but most important, Pictures of Madison from our fun month of September.

Cake Mamas & Sisters

3weeks ago Dara and I started taking a Wilton's cake decorating class. The first week was informational learning how to make, level, fill, and ice a cake. Each week we bring an iced cake to decorate. The first hour is learning a new technique then we put it into practice on the cake we brought. It has been so much fun. We have learned a lot in just a few short weeks.
There are 12 students total. Some very interesting people to say the least. I think our favorites we call "The Sisters". They actually call each other sister and are sister in laws. They are so funny and quite opposite in personality from each other. They sit across the table from us. There is a grandmother and granddaughter, and several sets of friends. It is a blast getting to spend so much time with Dara. We get together on Wednesdays and do our base cakes. We have gone though alot of shortening and powdered sugar to make MANY batches of icing each week. We have also made a complete disaster of my kitchen many times. Then Thursdays for 2hrs we leave the girls with their Daddy's and have some sticky fun working with icing. I had no idea it could be such a nice Mommy break. We have spent much of our time laughing.
Our goal is to get through all 4courses to the fondant level. We both have cake ideas in mind for upcoming events we would like to make. Mine is a fondant Minnie Mouse cake for Madison's birthday party.
Here are some pictures of our cake experience. There is quite the progression of icing stages. The cupcakes in the pics I made for my friend and coworker Mandy's birthday last week.

Go Ducks!

We took Madison to her first Duck Game today. We went with Poppy, Nana, Bubba, Katie, Ally, and Haley. She had a blast clapping and cheering. She was looking way to cute with her green and yellow hair bows. The game was right during nap but she did great. She amazingly stayed awake the whole ride home. We enjoyed all the extra snuggle time she was willing to give as she got more and more tired. We met with Gma Dolly(Madison' name for her) and Papa at Red Robin on the way home.
And of course and an important note the Ducks won big time.

Splish Splash

Ok, not in a bath. But in a water fountain. Our new neighbors invited Madison and I to go to a new park near by to play in the water this Friday. Ella and Madison had a great time. Madison was a little timid with the water but had no problem climbing to the top of the slide.
We can't wait to get to know our new friends even better. We feel blessed to have a family with a girl so close to Madison's age right across the street.

The Great Outdoors

We went on our annual family camping trip to Odell Lake over Labor Day weekend. I(Melissa) have been there every since since I was born. It is such a fun time to visit with all of our family. There were 25+ of us. As the family keeps growing the more fun it gets. Madison loved getting to know all of my family even more and learning how to say many new names. She also got to play with my cousins daughter for the first time. She is 11months younger than Madison. It was so weird to think about Madison being that small camping last year. She has grown so much.
This year was by far the coldest we have experienced. It is normally cold at night but this year it was still in the low 40's during the day. Needless to day we spent most of our time by the fire. Madison didn't seem phased by it. I kept trying to take her into our trailer (Thank you John & Molly) to warm up but she would look out the window saying "outside" until we went back out. I luckily brought her snow suit that kept her plenty warm. The last night it rained and those in tents went home. The morning we left it was sunny and warming up of course. Overall we had a wonderful but cold time.
I know the slide show is long but I wanted all of those who were with us to get to see their pics with Madison.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game...

Last week the whole MPK Gang and families went to a Portland Beavers Baseball Game. We all had a great time. We of course enjoyed many of the baseball favorites, cotton candy, cracker jack, greasy fries, etc. Enjoy!