Oh my...

I just wrote a huge update on all of the things we've been up to this summer and I guess i didn't save it and lost it all!!! That really stinks and makes me really sad. I don't have time to write it all over again...so I guess I'll have to write more later. :( Wow, I'm disappointed!

For now, I'll just post a few more pictures. Madeline is almost nine months already! She is a joy - busy scooting around (not crawling) and walking around, holding onto the furniture. She's taken a few steps on her own....very exciting! She is understanding some words - like mommy, daddy, clock, eat, kisses, and puppy. She continues to be the most smiley baby I've ever seen. She is a joy and I continue to praise God for allowing me to be at home with her every day, seeing these huge milestones! I love it!

Madeline is 6 Months Old

It's crazy to believe how fast time flies and how quickly Maddie is growing! She is officially 6 months old and is such a fun and happy baby. We just can't get enough of her. Enjoy these photos that a friend of mine took down at Canal Park last week. She's a doll! :)

A fun weekend in North Dakota

We had a wonderful weekend - spending time with friends and family in Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota. As we were driving into Fargo on Friday night, I was feeling a bit of sadness - because I kinda miss the place! I mean, I love being here in Duluth - but it has been hard being away from our good friends there in North Dakota. I also realized how much I missed being involved in ministry with the Crowleys.

We headed out there Friday night after Brandon got off work. We stayed at our good friend's apartment in Fargo. Krisanne and Paul were awesome hosts to us - and Krisanne is an amazing cook, so we ate really well! Krisanne and I painted Maddie's nails for the first time, sitting on their deck outside. She has very pretty pink toenails now! The Emch's invited our other good friends, David and Amy - who are expecting a baby girl in September! - over for dinner Saturday night. We had a great visit with them, and we learned how to play Settlers of the Catan. On Sunday, after church, we went out for lunch with Greg, Mari Lynn, and the kids - it was so good to see them. We miss them!!

After lunch, we traveled to Mayville, where Brandon's sis, Heather, was having a band concert. After spending time with her, we drove over to Grand Forks, where we stayed with Danae, Jeramy, and Mattea. (and all of the animals!) They had baby goats, a lamb, and 2 dogs running around. It was so cute! Maddie loved the "kids" - she wasn't afraid of them at all. We stayed with them until Monday, when we headed home. So it was quite the packed weekend, but it was a lot of fun!

Now, it seems like Maddie may be getting some of her first teeth. She has had a bit of a fever, a runny nose, and has been very fussy. Hasn't been quite her happy self! I feel so bad for her. I pray this goes fast!

Spring is finally here now...I think the weather is beginning to shape up! Yea! Time to go for a walk!

Spring is here!

It is so wonderful that spring is finally here...I guess it hasn't really felt like it the last few days, but at least I am starting to see green grass and have been able to take Maddie outside for some walks lately. It was a long, hard winter! Being cooped up in the house just made it into a long one.

We just finished up a very busy weekend - with it being Brandon's 24th birthday, (Happy Birthday to him!), 2 bridal showers, Nav meetings and events, and time with family, celebrating Brandon's day. I am feeling pretty tired from it all - but it was a good one.

Madeline is 5 months old now - crazy how fast she is growing. She is a lot more fun now - much more personality. She still doesn't take very good naps during the day, which leaves little time for myself and trying to get things done. This definitly has been a stretching thing for me. A couple, who has three young children, was telling us that the first is the hardest - because you really realize how selfish you are with your time. You have to learn that whole "sacrificing" thing - which is really a hard thing to learn, I am finding! Being a mom can be such a thankless job at times - yet at the same time so rewarding. Makes me realize how much I need to keep telling my mom and dad how much I appreciate all they did for me, growing up. I see now how much I took them for granted! Anyways, I have been struggling through some of that lately. I haven't been able to take part in as much of the Nav ministry, as most events are at night, and Madeline is just too tired. We always try to go - but end up leaving, due to a crabby and fussy baby. I get annoyed with her in a way - but then I realize, it's not fair of me to be keeping her up that late! So, there is that sacrifice thing again....I just need to step back I am realizing, and make her the priority. Brandon will tell you that I've been having a hard time with this, but at the same time, I couldn't be happier for this role that God has given me. I do love being a mom. Hey - I get to celebrate my first mother's day this year! :)

Brandon and I did get a much needed date night on Friday. A woman in our ministry offered to babysit - so we got to go out to dinner and a movie. It was wonderful! Having a child can really take away that time we need as a couple - we are seeing how vital those regular date nights are to our relationship. Brandon has been such a great husband and dad - I am so thankful for him! We had a fun weekend, celebrating his birthday. I cannot stop thanking God for how much He has blessed me!

Be in prayer for the Navigators ministry at UMD. It has been a different year - and we have lost a lot of interest. We are praying really hard for a fresh start in the fall. Be praying for a load of new freshman students that can re-energize the ministry once again. I am excited to see what God has in store for us! We are in the planning stages right now, of what Navs is going to look like at UMD in the fall.

Once again, I'll post some new photos of Madeline. It has been a really long time since I've written! Time just flies around here! Thinking of all of you, my dear friends and family!

A Boring day....

Today has been a long day! Maddie just won't take a nap - just little 5-10 minute cat naps. It starts to drive me nuts after awhile, because I'd love to get in a little nap myself! :) But she has been happy, so I can't complain. She is such a blessing. She has been smiling and laughing so much more and more each day. I am so blessed to be able to stay at home and see all of these changes taking place each day. Because she is always changing!! She is growing up fast. Last night, Brandon and I tried putting her in her "johnny jump-up." It was hilarious - as she can't really figure it out yet! We of course got it on tape, so she can see it someday and hear her parents laughing uncontrollably at her! :) Haha!





Last week was wonderful. My parents paid for a three-day stay for our family, out at Bluefin Bay, up the north shore. It was an amazing three, relaxing days. It was just good to be away from the house and to have lots of arms to hold Maddie. Brandon and I got some awesome cross country skiing in. It was so beautiful. It really got me in the mood for some more of it! Just wish I had some more time.





Brandon and I joined a small group through church. It has been great fellowship for us - meeting with other couples at similar places in life as us -lots of little babies! Maddie is making lots of new friends. We are reading a book by Chuck Swindol that is called "So You Want to Be Like Christ." I read the first chapter and can tell it's going to be a good one for me! It was on intimacy with God and having discipline. (Something I have not had since Maddie came along.) I hardly get any time in the Word - and I can feel it! The chapter really encouraged me to MAKE time for it - even if it is just for 5 minutes a day. I get so caught up in getting things done around my home before digging into God's word, but I'm realizing how much more I need to make God the priority in my life. Then He'll help me accomplish all of the tasks of the day!





I'm looking at Maddie - she is wearing a shirt that says "I stole my mommy's heart" - that is so true! She is a sweetie. God is good - I feel blessed!

Madeline is so much fun!

Madeline is 2 and a half months now - and is doing so much more interatcting, smiling, and talking! It's so much fun! Check out the latest photos! But I can't write more...she is crying for me to come get her. :)

A New Year with New Beginnings!

I find I have so little time to get anything done, having a little baby! But I surely am not complaining, because she continues to be such a joy! :) We had a blessed Christmas with lots of family - many meeting Madeline for the first time. Our Christmas was so special, reflecting on the birth of Jesus Christ, after we just had our own little one. What a blessing and such a gift! On January 1st, we weren't just celebrating a new year - but we also celebrated our 3 year anniversary! Brandon and I reflected on our 3 wonderful years together and praised God for all of the blessings - which are too many to count! I love being married to him. What a guy! We celebrated by going out for dinner and to a movie. Brandon's mom and sister babysat. (One thing we have found is we are not without lots of free babysitters!)

Madeline continues to grow by leaps and bounds. I can't believe how big she has gotten already. She is 6 and a half weeks old now. She is more alert and is even starting to smile at us! My favorite times with her are when she is alert and kicking and moving her arms all over the place. She gets very excited - it's so cute! I see her change a little bit more each day. I am so blessed to be able to stay at home and watch all of these changes. I have been told they grow up fast - so I am enjoying every minute. I enjoy the moments when I am feeding her - as I often use it as a time to pray and put her in the hands of God.

Well, happy 2008 to you all! Praying that you all trust God more and more as you go through a new year. (I know that is what I am praying for myself!)