The White House: January 2015

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Happy New Year!

It is hard to believe this time last year we were starting the big decision process of should we move to Maryland or not as well as trying to prepare for Gabe! It is safe to say 2014 was a pretty crazy year for us and full changes. We are ok it 2015 is a little less eventful :)

Last week Derek had to go away for a week long conference and we were lucky to have Grandpa come for the week to spend time and help us out while Derek was gone. Madelyn has been working very hard on potty training and has successfully been going out into public with her big girl underwear!!She filled up her first potty chart while Grandpa was here and got to go to the toy store! We still of course have accidents here and there but for the most part think we are finally potty trained!!! Madelyn has also moved to the next level of swim lessons and it is amazing what a good swimmer she has become.

As for Mr. Gabe he has become very active, he isn't crawling yet but can get around by scooting, rolling or any other way he finds possible. He has been up on all 4 , rocking and even moving his hands forward but hasn't actually crawled yet. He is almost impossible to hold now because he won't sit still and changing his diaper is a work-out itself. He also still has NO teeth. I think the boy might be gumming it to eat his first birthday cake, lol! Madelyn crawled at 9 months and walked at 11, so maybe he is following in her footsteps! He is an excellent eater so far, and since starting food developed some adorable chunky cheeks! His favorite thing by far right now is the bathtub. You can't even walk into the bathroom with him unless you plan to give him a bath or break his heart!

Love when they nap together, precious!

Really Mom, I am over these pics!

Coffee date with Grandpa!

First potty chart filled!

Off to work with Daddy!

Family Pictures we got taken in Iowa, weren't easy with 4 kids under 3 but love how they turned out!

Christmas 2014

Each Christmas gets more special as Madelyn really gets into the Christmas spirit and excitement. It was also a big year because nobody cried when meeting Santa. This year Madelyn asked Santa for a princess and pink roller skates. We tried to do all the fun Christmas things this season, bake cookies, make gingerbread houses, carriage rides, see Christmas lights, crafts, etc.
We headed to Virginia on Derek's birthday (December 23rd) and stayed for 5 days. It was a fun Christmas week with family and Madelyn loved spending a week with her cousin Tate. After we came back Mom and Richard flew to Maryland so we could have Christmas with them. It is always more fun when you get to spread Christmas out over a few weeks. We all were very spoiled this year and received tons of nice gifts. Just the other day Mads said to me "Mom, where did Christmas go?" lol, I could relate to her pain, always sad when it is all over for the year.
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