Sugar and Spice...

I've been meaning to post this precious picture for a few days, but somehow I never got around to it.  This is one of the first photos of Madison with her new baby cousin, Gabriella!  Gabby was born about six weeks ago, and she is the second grandchild of Madison's other set of grandparents.

Madison is absolutely thrilled to have another cousin!  I think it's nice that she now has a girl cousin, in addition to her boy cousin, Cade.  Madison also has another boy cousin on the way, (Cade's baby brother) due to arrive in December.  I say, "the more, the merrier!"

Since the arrival of baby Gabriella, Madison has been asking for a baby brother or sister.  Little does she know that her parents have been trying to have her one for nearly two years.  It just doesn't seem to be God's will at this time.  In fact, Madison is somewhat of a miracle baby herself.

I think Madison would make a great big sister, if the Lord ever decided to bless her family with another baby.  If not, she'll still make a great big cousin to her younger cousins.  She sure is growing up fast!

Memories of Sprinklers, Tootsie Rolls...and Me

I wish I had a picture of what I saw on Wednesday.  I was riding by Cade's house when I spotted two little boys outside in the yard, in their underwear, playing under the water sprinkler!  The sight was precious!

Christina, Caden's mother, sometimes keeps another little boy named Jayden, who is just a few months younger than Caden.  The two boys are nearly the same size, and could pass for twins.  The two boys have played together off and on for ages, so they've grown up together.

The boys were oblivious to everything as they were running around in the yard, and ducking in and out of the sprinkler.  I noticed a toy tractor parked up next to the sprinkler, so I'm assuming they were riding in and out of the water at some point.

By the time I stopped my car, and walked up to them, the little boys had moved on to climbing the sliding board.  I had a brief conversation with them, gave each one a "tootsie roll", then  headed back to my car to continue my journey home.

As I was leaving the two boys, I couldn't help but remember similar good times during my own childhood.  I still remember how exciting it was to get my parents' permission to play under the garden hose!  It's nice to know that a few things haven't changed. 

As I watched the boys happily chewing their "tootsie rolls", I smiled.  I recalled another happy memory from my own childhood. .  I loved nothing better than eating candy, but these days something's changed!  It's the size of those "tootsie rolls"...They keep getting smaller and smaller!

The Timer...

Just when I think I'd seen it all, I saw something new last night!  Granddaughter, Madison, surprised me again, with another "first".

It was around eight o'clock in the evening, and my husband and I were about to settle in to watch a little television before calling it a day.  We heard the familiar footsteps of Madison on our front porch. 

Madison opened the front door to come inside, but this time she had something in her hands--a ticking kitchen timer!  Madison explained to us that she had come over to play, but that her mama said she had to go home when the timer rang.  I looked at the timer, Madison had 29 minutes to play!

Madison and "E" settled into their usual routine of playing in the living room floor.  They played with an assortment of small toys that I keep in a plastic box.  After 29 minutes, the timer rang.  Madison stood up and announced, "It's time for me to clean up and go home!"  That's just what she did, too!

Tonight Madison returned, timer in hand.  She and "E" played with Barbies this time.  In the middle of the visit, I finished getting supper ready.  Madison asked if she could eat supper with us, so Ed called her parents and got permission for Madison to eat with us.

In the middle of supper the timer rang again.  Madison said "Uh Oh!", and started to get upset because she thought she had to get up in the middle of her meal and go home.  We assured her that she could finish eating first, and she did.  After supper, Madison took her kitchen timer and went home, without even being told to!  Wow, the power of a kitchen timer! 

Presenting...The First Video of Caden

Now that I have discovered that digital movies really do upload and play on my computers, I'm using the video mode of my camera a little more.

You know from previous posts what a tough time I have photographing grandson, Caden.  He's never still these days--and getting him to look at the camera?  Forget that!

On Friday afternoon, Cade came over to play with Madison for a little while.  I grabbed my camera and began filming.  I think Cade thinks I'm crazy sometimes, because I'm always following him with a camera. Ha! Ha!  He usually just ignores me.  Have I ever mentioned that Cade's a lot like his daddy?! 

Anyway, here's a peak at one of the pieces of footage that I captured.  It may not seem like much right now, but in a few years it will be priceless, especially to Cade!

Look Who Was Talkin' and Showin' Her Attitude...

I'm still in the midst of tagging and organizing thousands of photographs.  I've decided that no one should have this many photographs!  I have deleted some, and now have my collection of digital photos down to only 12,000! 

I've also discovered that I have more photographs of Madison than most grandparents have of all grandchildren combined!  I have approximately 1500 photos of the child!  I couldn't help myself...she was a great subject--right up until the time she decided that she didn't like having her picture taken! 

I have about half as many photos of Caden, simply because I don't see him as often--and he won't be still long enough to get a picture of him!  We'll have to see how it goes with little boy number three when he arrives. 

In the pile of unorganized mess of my photo gallery, I discovered a couple of cute movie clips of Madison learning to talk.  I laughed when I saw them.  Even a very young Maddie was exerting her independent streak!

A comment was made just yesterday,  about how Brandy and Madison are always battling it out  to see who the boss is.  Maddie's mom quickly replied, "Oh, I already know who the boss it, I'm just waiting for Madison to figure it out!"

Here are the movie clips, rolled into one little movie:

Trying So Hard...To Break This Habit

 It wasn't long into little Maddie's young life before it became evident that she was going to be a "thumb

sucker". 

Well, not actually a thumb sucker--more like a finger sucker, although she did start out sucking her thumb for

a short while.

Of course, one finger just wouldn't do the job, so pretty soon it became evident that Maddie would suck not

one, but two of her fingers!

Thumb and finger sucking has never really bothered us.

All three of our children sucked either their finger or their thumbs, and all of them stopped eventually.

However, lately, Maddie has been sucking her fingers more than ever before.

With the start of preschool right around the corner, Maddie's mom began thinking...about all of those germs

that will be lurking in the classroom.

It's time to give up this comforting habit--for the sake of health and teeth!

Maddie's mom gave her some helpful incentive to stop sucking her fingers.


If Madison can stop sucking her fingers, she will get to go to Disney on Ice in a few weeks.

So far, so good.

Madison is really trying hard.

I hope she's successful...and gets to go to Disney On Ice.

Go Maddie!  MiMi's rooting for ya'!

Sad Eyes...

Last week, Caden's mom posted this picture of him on Facebook--after he'd just finished getting his hair cut!  His eyes are all "sad" from crying during his haircut. 

Yes, it's true, the boy still hates to get his hair cut--after eighteen months of having it done!  Christina says that at least he sat in the chair this time, and agreed to wear the cape--so he's making progress.

Looking at this picture makes me have sad eyes...Gone is our little "babyish-looking" Caden.  He's been replaced by an older, more "boyish-looking" Caden...and believe me, he's all boy! 

Trucks, tractors, trains, tools, rocks, and running...that's what Caden's "into" these days...and growing up, of course!