Downhill slope + Morning legs + Flip-flops = Not so pretty face!

As the weather has started to turn hotter here, mornings are the best time for me to get out and get my gardening done. Saturday morning gardening was cut short. Actually, it never happened! After a quick breakfast, Madison and I headed outside. While I was pulling out all my tools for the day, Miss Lace was doing what she had been doing all week...walking up and down the sidewalk. Well, today ended a bit different. Her flip flop caught the concrete and the concrete caught the left side of her face :-( The tears were welling and the cry let all the neighbors know that the Sanford's were up and outside...and were now going back inside. It didn't take long to get her calmed down and cleaned up. The rest of the morning was a lot of snuggling and taking it easy. Let's just hope it heals before Mackenzie's birthday!

Summer is almost here...

Signs that Summer is just around the corner...

1. Turning on the AC to keep your cool
2. Itchy, watery eyes and the color yellow EVERYWHERE
3. Strawberry picking!

We missed out on picking last year because we kept putting it off. Next thing you know, the strawberries were all gone. Not this year...we were going to get Madison out there as soon as we could. On Friday, the weather was perfect. We packed Madison into the car and headed up the street for a little strawberry picking. It didn't take Madison long to figure out that the red ones were good and the green ones were not so good. Not only were the red ones good, they were VERY TASTY! She couldn't eat them fast enough. Thank goodness we didn't have to weigh her before and after, we would have had to pay for another bucket! In all seriousness, she didn't eat THAT many, but she would have if we let her. Madison had a blast and we'll have to go picking again real soon. I think we'll get our fill of strawberries this season and its so worth it to see Miss Lace's face all covered in strawberry juice and just having a great time!!!

This weekend Jeff and I have noticed that she really is walking more. Where she would used to take a few steps here and there she's really spending more time on her feet. Practice, practice, practice. She'll walk from the garage door to the couch (a good distance if you don't know) and then back to the garage door. Walk, walk, walk. She's even getting better at walking in our very unlevel lawn. Our neighbor, Mary, is enjoying Madison as much as we are. Yesterday everytime Madison saw Mary she would call out to her and want her attention. We've also made friends with the girls that live behind us...Madison wants to go over to visit with them every chance she gets. If there weren't all those trees, leaves and branches blocking her way she'd be over there in a heartbeat. She loves playing with the big girls! Madison sure is starting to become a little girl and at such an early age already showing her independence. Jeff and I are having a blast...everyday there is something new, you just have to take the time to spot it!

Earth Day!

It was VERY windy today and I really didn't want to work outside but with so many plants that still needed to be planted I needed to get out there and get it done. I made up a few containers but I know that I'm not very good at keeping up with watering in containers since beds are so much easier. With a few plants left over I really didn't want to put them in containers, I decided just to till up a new bed. What a great way to spend EARTH DAY! After a bit of compost and a couple good go arounds with the tiller the soil was ready for its new plants! Now that the annuals have been planted its time to start tackling my weed garden...turning into a veg garden. I'm SO GLAD the nice weather is finally here. Madison is enjoying as much time outside with me as she can. Today she didn't come outside as much since it was so windy but she sure will be outside this weekend with the weather being picture perfect!

A day of S's!

Yesterday Madison started her swimming classes. She was VERY cranky that morning and I just figured I didn't let her play in her crib long enough after she woke up and she was not happy with me. Fed her her breakfast, dressed her for swimming and out the door we went! Jeff met us there to be the official photographer for a momentous occasion. The pool was a MADHOUSE! Children and adults moving around in all different directions. Madison had so much to look at and I couldn't believe the mayhem. Miss Lace was a trooper and fought through the lesson...of what there was. I thought for sure she would sleep on the way home but since the car seat has been turned around, she doesn't sleep in the car as much. She fights it as long as she can! Got her home and put her down for her morning nap. When she woke up she still wasn't quite right and still VERY GRUMPY! Took her temperature and realized that that was the problem. I don't like when my little girl is sick but the snuggle time you get as a parent when they are sick is priceless. Most of the time she's up and down...all over the place. Yesterday all she wanted to do was snuggle! Gotta love that! Today she's feeling much better and almost back to her ol' self.

Yesterday, while Madison was taking her nap I was outside trying to get some planting and lawn work done. Ran along this little guy hiding out under the picnic table (the sun must have been hot yesterday!). Come to find out, this is a yellow ring neck snake and is mostly a nocturnal creature and rarely seen during the day (no wonder he didn't move so fast from under the table). I gotta tell you...I like nature but just can't get used to coming across snakes in the yard. Not my favorite. This one wasn't so bad since he was small and didn't move too fast! Just have to make sure that when working in the backyard that I pick up sticks and not snakes!

Madison's First Driving Experience

Jeff took Madison on her first driving lesson yesterday! We know she's young, but we figure if we start now, by the time she's old enough to drive, we should feel comfortable with her behind the wheel!

No, but seriously, Jeff was pulling the Jeep into the garage and letting Madison sit on his lap. As you can see in the picture she really enjoyed seeing everything from that perspective. What a
silly girl!

Easter Weekend

Mom and Dad came down to visit for the Easter weekend and I'm so glad they did. Having them here kept my mind off what was going on with my employment and they really seemed to enjoy watching Madison having a great time! Since Madison has started walking, she practices all the time, each time going a bit further. The look on her face while she's walking is priceless. She is so proud of herself, smiling and giggling the whole time. There have been a few stumbles but she does well at just bouncing back.

The weekend went very smooth and was quite relaxing. Saturday mom and dad got here in the afternoon and we went out to eat eliminating food prep and clean up, allowing more time with Miss Lace! Sunday was cool but beautiful and we were able to get some time outside in the swing, playing with her new chair and picnic table and getting a few pictures of everyone by Madison's dogwood tree. I'm really looking forward to when the weather stays warm so that we are able to spend more time outside. I've never seen a child who loves being outside as much as Madison. Between being outside and loving to swim I think I know where I'll be all summer....poolside, blow-up pool of course, in our backyard!

We just knew this day was around the corner...

But we just didn't know which corner!

YEAH! Tonight, Madison finally took her first steps without being coaxed by mom and dad!!!!! Madison had just finished eating dinner, I had just finished cleaning up her mess and was about to sit down and watch the news and then it happened. She let go of her popper and walked towards the kitchen taking quite a few steps. Once she hit the vinyl she got down but you could tell she was just as shocked as I was! I couldn't believe it!!! Of course I jumped up and hugged and hugged and giggled with her!

Hoping that she would do it again since I wasn't able to record her "first" steps, I grabbed the closest thing I could find which was my cell phone. I sent it out to a few of you in hopes that you would see it. For those of you who were not able to see it, this is the video from my phone that I recorded of her taking her "second" steps! I can't tell you how excited I was. She too was very excited tonight since she didn't want to go to bed. I think she was so proud of herself and she just wanted to stay up and keep practicing. But with no nap this afternoon and knowing she was very tired I put her down and let her know that tomorrow she will have to show dad in person. He too will be so proud!