Sunday, February 27, 2011

Maddy is 26 months old

Maddy is still growing at a rapid rate. She gained a pound and an inch this past month. She is now 36 inches tall and 29 pounds. Maddy and Debbie did some baking together this month. We made heart shaped cookies with pink royal icing on them. Then we had fun baking and decorating cupcakes for Valentines Day. Madeline is such a good helper in the kitchen. She even helps unload the dishwasher already! Her favorite task is "mixing" eggs. If a recipe needs a whisked egg, she will always be ready with whisk in hand.

Maddy keeps trying to ride her trike from Grandma Huseby, but still can't quite push the pedals hard enough to move herself. She had "Ants on a Log" for snack for the first time this month and loved them. She also received a new toy this month. We bought her a "Bounce a Lean" which is an inflatable trampoline with walls. She has really been enthralled with it. It is so good for her to exercise on and release some energy. It has been a much needed source of entertainment in late winter. As an additional note from last month, Maddy still loves her twin bed. She has adapted wonderfully to it and is content to stay in it which is a huge relief to us.

We hope the luck of the Irish comes to your household in the form of whatever you wish for the most. We are still hoping for warmer weather and a sale of the house that Grandma Huseby vacated. The market here is slowly recovering and sales usually increase as the spring weather brings the snowbirds back to our area. Happy St. Patrick's Day from the O'Huseby's!

Valentines day gifts.



Learning to ride the trike. Maddy using her ball like an exercise ball.


New toy - the Bounce O Lean! (AKA safe trampoline)

Ants on a log - Yummy!

Grandma at the door.

Somersault...

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Madeline is 25 months old

Maddy is now 35" tall and 28 pounds. She can get into many new things vertically that were challenging before her growth spurt. On New Year's Eve, Maddy stayed up until midnight to bring in 2011. She had her own fancy glass filled with apple juice and toasted with everyone yelling Happy New Year! She also helped Grandpa celebrate his birthday. Anytime she sees a lit candle she has to blow it out and Grandpa's birthday cake was no exception. One thing is for sure; the girl LOVES chocolate! She ate a huge slice of birthday cake. On another day, she tried chocolate mousse for the 1st time and licked the bowl clean. Wow! I guess apples really don't "fall too far from the tree". Tee hee. Besides singing "Happy Birthday", she serenades us often with favorites like, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "Rock a by Baby", "Where is Thumbkin", and the quintessential, "Alphabet Song". She even knows the Edelweiss song from the "Sound of Music". The big news this month is that Maddy moved from her crib to a twin sized bed on Sunday, January 30th. She calls it her big girl bed. She hasn't tried to get out of it yet, but we placed a baby gate at her doorway so she can't roam around the house at night. She jumps on it and laughs when we tell her, no more monkeys jumping on the bed. The move has been a really positive experience for her so fingers crossed that it stays that way.
We are busy getting our Valentines ready for Valentine's Day. We hope you have a happy heart day and can feel the love we send to you. XOXO's too!


Maddy's high fashion moments.


PlayDoh is the newest fascination. "Maddy in the box"


Maddy showing off her pigtails and her new chair.


The bay window provides opportunities to "rabbit watch".
Maddy tried chocolate mousse for the 1st time and loved it!

Ready to bake cookies.


Madeline helped Grandpa blow out his candles. Maddy in her "big girl bed".


Monday, January 3, 2011

December 2010

We tried to see how many pictures this website would let us upload. It was too many and we got tired! Let's just say we went a little crazy with the pictures this month. It has been an extremely snowy month here. Before the last 2 storms, freezing rain put a layer of ice on the roads that has yet to be thawed. Mother Nature takes Minnesota winters very seriously and, apparently, doesn't want to disappoint us.

We started a new tradition this year. We adopted a scout elf and named him Ollie. This elf arrived at our home the day after Thanksgiving. It would fly to the North Pole every night to report on Maddy's daily efforts to be nice. Every morning when Maddy woke up Ollie was in a new location inside our home. She delighted in finding Ollie every morning, but woke up on Christmas to find that Ollie had not returned from the North Pole. We assured her that Ollie would return next year before Christmas after spending time with Santa.

Speaking of Santa, Maddy's Uncle Byron plays Santa to many area children. On one of his many outings, he made a special trip to our house to see Maddy. She didn't cry and was happy to show "Santa" her playroom. They played in her tent and had a wonderful time.

Honestly, Christmas was less jolly than we had hoped for because Maddy was sick. She ended up with both ears infected. This was a first. She has been feeling much better after 10 days on amoxicillian. She even stayed up until midnight to celebrate the new year. She had her own little fancy plastic glass and toasted to a happy 2011 with the rest of us.

Cheers to you and yours for a healthy and happy new year!


Getting ready for bed.


Smiling during meatloaf? Snow bunny.


Tea time. Daddy makes Mickey Mouse pancakes.


Maddy cuddling with Grandpa. Thank you for the Zoobie Jerry & Donna!

Waffles at our house! Maddy crawling through her new tunnel.


BlakeLynn may never forgive us.


Maddy at Huseby party. Uncle Byron, A.K.A. Santa Claus, visits Maddy.


Redneck Retirement fund (scratch off tickets). Maddy with her new doll and bottles.


Maddy & Debbie sporting the newest holiday fashion.


Cookies for Santa.


Maddy didn't touch the cookies, but kept eating the carrots. Auntie Renee playing with Maddy.


Happy New Year!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Maddy's 2nd Birthday!

Madeline Eva Huseby celebrated her golden birthday this year. She turned 2 yrs old on Dec. 2, 2010. A small party to celebrate was held on Sat. Dec. 4, 2010 at our home. We had salad, lasagna, & garlic toast for supper. Then, cake and ice cream for dessert. She received many wonderful gifts. She had a fantastic time playing with the balloons and loved all the attention.
For the next several days her favorite words to repeat over and over again were party, balloons, cake, candle, and pizza because she kept calling the lasagna pizza.

On Dec. 8, 2010 Maddy had her 24 month "wellness" check. Our family doctor gave her a clean bill of health. He said the average number of words that a 2 year old knows is 50. Maddy is around the 175 word mark at this point which puts her above average. Her height and weight are above average too. She is 34 1/2 inches tall and weighs 28 1/2 pounds. We are trying to keep shoes and socks on Maddy because she is pigeon-toed and would like to help her self- correct it. Dr Larson said that it is current practice to see if children grow out of being pigeon- toed by 3 yrs old. If Maddy is still having issues with this after she turns 3 yrs old, then options will be considered. We are very happy that she is healthy and developing well.

We hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and cheers to 2011!


Madeline Eva turned 2 yrs old on Dec. 2, 2010.


Gold bar cake. Blow out the candle.

Reading a birthday card. Maddy waiting to open presents with Grandma E.

Opening presents.


Glamour girl. New Elmo movie!

When caterpillars attack! Listening to a Minnie Mouse singing card.

Froggie bath towel and new books!



Here's a video of the Happy Birthday song and blowing out the candles: