tales from a far-land

Here is a picture of Madilyn this morning playing at daycare (photo provided by Yolanda).  I wish that my life was as simple and uncomplicated. Yolanda's Photo Caption:  "The best toys are always free.  Having fun with an empty box :)"

Baby is the size of: An avocado Projected Due Date: August 12th Total Weight Gained: 0 pounds Baby's Heartbeat: 155 beats/min Development Tidbits:  Tiny bones are forming in the baby's ears.  Also, eyebrows, lashes, and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. I had my sixteen week doctor's appointment this past week and, per the doctor, everything looks good and the baby is developing normally.  Personally, I am feeling pretty good.  A little more tired than my first pregnancy, but I am also chasing around a one year old!  I am beginning to feel the baby move.  At this stage, this is called "quickening" and feels more like popcorn popping than kicking.  Very strange.  I cannot remember when I first started to feel Madilyn move, but I feel like this time it is earlier than the first time around.  As for food cravings, I am not having any weird ones.  However, I do tend to want sweets more this time than last.  I still fit in all of my regular cl

Today, Madilyn officially turns "1".  Our baby is now a toddler.  We cannot believe how fast the year has flown.  This is a bittersweet transition -- we will miss our little baby even as we delight in watching our amazing child reach each new milestone ahead of her.  What a fun ride awaits!  We love you, Madi!     As a special part of her birthday celebration, we visited the pediatrician for her 12 month check-up.  How could I schedule a doctor's visit on her birthday!?!  Well, it just happen to fit into our schedule.  Plus, why not?  The visit went well and Madi is progressing in her childhood very nicely.  She received a couple more vaccinations which only made her cry for a short bit. Madilyn's stats as of this visit were: Head circumference - 17.5" (37th percentile) Height - 29.25" (54th percentile) Weight - 21.21 pounds (78th percentile) Here is the only photo she allowed me to take at the pediatrician's office and that was only after I enti

A couple of years ago, both Josh and I were highlighted in West Valley Magazine as one of their West Valley 24 Movers.  "Movers" are people in the West Valley who are positioned to become the major difference makers in our community for years to come.  We were very honored to be selected by this organization to join such an elite group of leaders in the West Valley. December '08 February '09  Well, we are honored to announce that we have been featured in the West Valley Magazine , yet again.  Their February issue honors the month of romance.  Josh and myself were lucky to have been highlighted in two separate articles in this month's issue.  The first article, we are highlighted in, discusses how we use our True Colors personality types to navigate through our relationship.  According to the True Colors method, there are four personality type colors.  It just so happens that our color types are on opposite spectrums of the personality continuum, which, as yo

We celebrated Madilyn's first birthday this past weekend.  The theme was "ladybug" and we made sure to decorate appropriately.  Madi was so blessed to be surrounded by much of her family and very close family friends.  Josh's family from California were also even able to attend.  We know that she may not remember this special day, but we will.  We still cannot believe that she will be turning one!  Our little ladybug seemed to enjoy herself even though she had not taken a nap all day.  And, boy, did she enjoy her birthday cake!  I still cannot believe the red dye didn't permanently stain her face.  Here is a photo slideshow of first birthday party.

So, it's official ... our little baby girl took her first steps this past weekend.  Only a couple of days before her first birthday.  Josh and I believe that she waited for her entourage of relatives to visit her so she could "perform" for them.  What ever the case may be, she is upright.  And now she becomes upstoppable.  Take a look at the video we were able to capture of her first steps.

I just wanted to share the special Valentine's Day story my husband and baby girl sent to me this morning via text message since I am away from them on a business trip on this holiday.  Such a cute way to wish me a "Happy Valentine's Day".  Love and miss you both! "My First Valentine's Day" "Where, oh, where is my valentine?" "It's not here." "It's not in here either" "Where could my Valentine be? "Here she is ... XOXOXOXO." (And yes, Daddy didn't even comb out my bedhead before taking my photo this morning.)

That's right!  Madilyn is going to be a big sister.  Doesn't she look so excited!  We are expecting Baby Landers #2 in August.  That will make them about 18 months apart.  Yes, for those of you out there, that means two in diapers and two under the age of two.  But, we love a good challenge and are ready to embrace this new adventure.  As of this week, I am 14 weeks pregnant.  Yay, I have made it through the first trimester.  Only two more to go.  So far, my pregnancy has been going pretty well.  I haven't been too sick or nauseous.  Mostly, I have just been a little more tired than the first time around.  I am guessing it is due to the fact that we have our hands full with an 11 month old.  Here is the ultrasound from my 12 week visit a couple of weeks ago.  It is too early to determine the gender, but I think that we are going to make it a surprise, just like last time.  There are just not that many surprises left in the world ... so why not enjoy one when you can.

Can you believe that I have been blogging for over a year now?  I cannot, but I can say that it is one of the most fulfilling hobbies I have ever started.  I love being able to update my family and friends on the happenings of our life.  Plus, this is a wonderful family scrapbook and memory keeper.  I know that if I had to write all of this down and actually print pictures to place in an album, it would never get done.  I definitely do not have that kind of time.  However, using this type of digital format, for me, is much more doable and enjoyable.  Plus, it gives me the opportunity to increase my blogging and photography skills.  As some of you may have noticed, our blog has gone through a couple transformations in the past year already.  I enjoy changing my blogging style as I learn and discover new techniques.  Thank you for following my posts and I look forward to keeping you updated on our family's stories.

We concluded our holiday season by celebrating "Chrismukkah".  For us, Chrismukkah is the ultimate holiday -- a combination of Christmas and Hannukah. Who could ask for a better holiday!  Hannukah arrived first this year.  Madilyn enjoyed watching the candles being lit each night.  And more importantlly, she enjoyed unwrapping a gift each evening.  We know conceptually she didn't really understand the holiday, but we still enjoyed beginning the tradition with her.  To bridge Hannukah and Christmas, we decided to host our first annual "Chrismukkah" party.  It was a fun evening full of family, friends and traditional Jewish and Christian appetizers, including the ever popular latkes. Josh and Greg did an outstanding job "manning" the latkes bar.  (I cannot believe I didn't take any pictures of them.)  Everyone enjoyed the latkes immensly and know of several people who indulged in more than one.  Our party also included the reading of The Grinch Wh