February 2015, "Madelyn's Big Announcement"

Madelyn, when people ask me what kind of a little girl you are and how you are at this age this is how I describe you:

You're silly; you love to just run around and around, and purposefully fall down yelling, "whoaaa," and giggling as you make other people laugh.  You like to splash in the tub and yell, "oh noooo," while water flies.  Not only do you like to be tickled, but, you also have started to tickle yourself and laugh while you do it, tickling your next saying, tickle, tickle, tickle, to make Daddy and I laugh.  You love to put your socks on your hands, which we don't understand, and last night I even caught you with mittens on your feet and socks on your hands!

You're talented; your dance skills continue to improve as you learn and develop new moves and gain rhythm.  You will dance alone but prefer a partner, so even if Mama is cooking in the kitchen or Daddy is eating at the table, you will walk over, reach out saying, "hold hands?" and invite us to the dance floor with you.  Your singing is also impressive; sometimes you will sing through a whole meal, dinner and a show!

You're compassionate and affectionate; in the middle of running around giggling and screaming you will run over to Daddy or I for a quick hug or a kiss, then back to playing!  Your teachers at day care tell me that you don't like it when your friends are upset, and when a friend is crying you try to go over and cheer them up but giving them a hug, or holding their hand trying to get them to play.  

You're smart; you like to count, (one, two three started out as, "two, two, teeee," which was ADORABLE). You can now count to 10, sing ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle. Thanks to Daddy you have the book Goodnight Moon almost memorized; you go through it pointing at everything almost like you're reading it to us!

There are so many things about you that just amaze us every day.  Don't get me wrong though, even with all these sweet wonderful qualities you can still be a stinker.  Sometimes when you don't want to do something you will shake your finger at me saying, "NO THANK YOU."  Getting dressed can be a battle too, there are times you don't want to put clothes on because you're too busy.  You love to refuse to food I make you, and instead will point at the cupboards crying for apple sauce, or a cookie, 

We love you Madelyn!!!!

And there he or she is!  Baby Hergott #2 is on their way!!  Due August 12th, 2015, we are so excited to welcome our new addition and we know Madelyn will be a huge help and a great big sister!  When Mama is pregnant she LOVES breakfast for dinner, luckily that's your favorite type of food Madelyn.  Lots of eggs, waffles and pancakes in our house lately, poor Daddy...

We have been BUSY BUSY BUSY since we moved into our new home!  Lots of projects, and making the house into our very own has kept us on the go, we went from, one thing at a time, to two things at a time!   Lots to do before baby #2!

You were so excited to meet Elmo at the library, as long as Mama was close by.

Sweet girl, even when you splash us you're still sweet

Madelyn you're going to be a fantastic big sister, you've already been practicing and you take great care of all your dolls and stuffed animals.

Cousins Kenny and Lilly!  You have fun chasing them, so far Kenny is, "Nenny!"

Adventures at the mall with your cousins Evan and Tyler!  We got to visit a new aquarium and you loved watching the fish, sharks and sting rays!   You even get to touch a star fish, you're brave!

Merry Christmas! It's been an exciting December!

It's official!  December 15, 2014 Mama and Dada bought you a new house!!!  Get excited, the next few weeks will be packing and moving!!  We are thrilled to start our lives in our new family home :)

Happy birthday Daddy!!!  Madelyn sang, and helped Daddy open up his gift.

Santa's back!!! You got to see Santa again at school and he brought you a present!!

"SMILE!"  This is the cute face we get when we tell you to smile for us :)

Santa likes Frozen too!! He even read your Olaf book with you!

Merry Christmas Eve! We celebrated at the Kotenkos house, you got to play with Kenny and Lilly, Uncle Mike brought his guitar and you got to sing and dance to Christmas carols, we had lots of fun and good food!

You did a great job showing Aunt Lisa how to open up presents!! You got so much nice, fun stuff from your family!  You are such a lucky girl!

12/25/14 SANTA CAME!!!!! You were a great girl all year round, and Santa definitely noticed.  It has been a crazy busy year for our family and you couldn't have been a better sport Madelyn.  We are so lucky to have such a sweet, easy going, loving daughter.  Merry Christmas sweetheart.

It was a Frozen Christmas!  Filled with Frozen books, and even 2 Olaf's for you!! You love putting the Olaf's in your new baby stroller and giving them rides around the house!

Your baby got all sorts of accessories, you love caring for her, feeding her a bottle and covering her up with blankets.

Charlie Brown even got to take a spin in the new stroller!

Merry Christmas!!  You got a lot of nice presents and did a great job opening them; it was a bit overwhelming but you go the hang of it!

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Dans 

More presents?!?

Kids table, complete with entertainment and some food throwing

It's been a long, exciting day.  Great way to finish it off, Frozen with your cousin all snuggled on a blanket.

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/1/14  Now this is how you fix a sink.  Madelyn keeps it classy while learning how to be a handy women. 

Family outing!  We like to take you out on the town once and awhile Madelyn, we are trying to teach you manners and how to act appropriately in a restaurant... certain things you do at home; IE, feet on the table, standing on your chair, slamming your cup on the table, are not acceptable behavior.  We are working on it, half the battle is not laughing when you do it!

Hard to belive it's almost winter, we are still having some great days to get outside and go to the park!

My helper, you love to help me vacuum, your also like to load the washer, help Daddy empty his cooler after work, dust your room and fold the laundry.  What would we do without you!?

Family movie night!!!!

Happy birthday Grandpa Dan!!  You all had fun singing to Grandpa and blowing out the candles.

November 18, 2014 was a very sad day for our family.  Our family said goodbye to our sweet, loving, loyal, spunky family member, Izzie.  We will always remember this loyal girl and how devoted she was to our family and she will be missed. 

WE GOT SNOW!!! Finally!! Of course we had to venture out and explore, you enjoyed helping me shovel, of course little helper :)

Happy Thanksgiving 2014!!  We enjoyed a nice turkey dinner at Aunt Mary Kay and Uncle Mikes house with the family!

Having fun with her cousins and Aunt Darcie playing after dinner! 

It's that time of year!  Ready to decorate and set up the tree for the holiday season.

Madelyn you loved hanging the ornaments on the tree once you figured it out.

Heading to see Santa!!! 12/6/14

After seeing her big cousin Evan sit and talk with Santa, Madelyn was eager for her turn to chat with the big guy!

 Look at this cutie.  Madelyn you LOVE the Christmas tree, you wake up every morning and head out to the tree saying, "teeeee," and pointing at it until we turn it on.  A few other fun facts:
*You love hiding, the shower curtain, or the curtain in your closet are your favorite spots
*You are so affectionate, you grab mommy and daddy around the neck and pull us in for big kisses, often, and usually out of no where.
*You started saying, "I love you," which just melts our hearts
*You sing, "Let it Go," from your favorite movie, Frozen.  Your teacher at school says almost daily you start singing it and dancing with your friends!

Cousin fun on a mild December day, collecting pine cones!