toys, toys, and more toys

“hugs” for santa


Maddie and Gamma trying to balance blocks


…and a new jumper

New Bath Toys!

Remember those new bath toys I told you about?? Well here they are, and, Uncle Rick joined in for the fun. Literally.




one more, just for good measure….

And yes, I think Rick may have had more fun than Maddie.  And next time we need a bigger tub.

Look at me, I can crawl!

That’s right, we’re a movin’. I know I told you she has been crawling for a little over two weeks now, but I didn’t really have any great pictures to prove it. I do have a video of her taking her first few “movements.” She has improved so much so far because she can now move on the hardwood floor too. Bless her heart it was like a slip-n-slide watching her try to move around our house. She is also what we joke as a very deliberate crawler, each hand slap being carefully placed. She’s also pretty loud, you can definitely hear her a comin’.


Hey, I’m stuck!

And, back off, less one sock.

A Maddified Christmas

I only have about a thousand pictures from Christmas. So, I will just do a little montage and less writing. No one reads what I write anyways, right?

Maddie got her very own singin and dancin Santa!

Her very own kitchen….

…and other such presents.

Maddie got some really cool bath toys from Gamma too. Those will be posted later.

Now, equally important was Christmas dinner. It was just us for dinner – Mom, Dad, Donny, Melinda, Rick, Maddie and myself – so obviously we needed to have 10lbs of filet and 5lbs of potatoes, our own jello mold, etc. I have been tinkering with trying to learn about my camera, so here is what we captured.
Mom+Jello

Dad+Filet

Lin+Bernaise
(typical angry cooking face – hahaha)
seriously though . . .

and the tables . . .



and for a little dessert

Happy Birthday Gamma!

This year we were fortunate enough to be able to be up in town for Gamma’s birthday and Christmas all at once! She picked out this dress for Maddie to wear to her birthday dinner. Maddie also gave her a very appropriate sign for her house, “what happens and grandmas stays at grandmas!”




Maddie loves some smock-a-dot! If you can’t tell it’s shoes and handbags!

Pictures that will embarrass you, only found here!

Hahaha is all I can say. We survived the 11 hour drive up to Boston and Maddie was really a champ! We got on I-81 by 4am, stopped in PA at 7ish for a bottle and breakfast. At this time Donny and I switched driving and I rode in the back with Maddie. We stopped around 12ish for lunch in CT and switched back. We made it to Gamma’s work by 3ish for our next bottle and a rest.

That night we went to “Fire & Ice,” Donny’s favorite place to eat, truly in downtown Boston. Upon our return, as we do every year, we celebrated Jesse’s birthday – our family dog. Quick summary – the first time we ever did this we gave him a cupcake to celebrate, he ate the whole thing in one bite. I know what you’re thinking – big deal! Well, Jesse is an 18lb terrier, so it kinda is a big deal. So, since then we always try and do the same. There are some losers in the pack who don’t like to participate for the own “reasons.” Gamma complains of some kind of “lockjaw,” like you could actually choke on a cupcake? And Donny thinks that frosting may actually touch his skin and he will break out like a thirteen year old teenage girl, so he doesn’t touch it either. So that just leaves us troopers – here is what we got. And of course Maddie tried some too.

Did I mention ours have frosting . . .













Round 2 anyone??


So, that’s what us Sykes’ do to celebrate. Every year.

Perhaps I forgot to mention . . . .

with the hustle and bustle of everything holiday – Maddie is crawling!! That’s right folks she is off for the race. A child after my own heart, she loves to crawl for food! She started a little over a week ago, just got up and off she went. And of course by off I mean slow and steady, but she is definitely moving. She is a very deliberate crawler, she hand slaps the ground and each move is very precise. So precious! She is growing up so fast.

I don’t have a picture of her “in action” but these cowgirl pix will suffice. And yes, I did bribe her to wear it with a cracker.

Christmas with Mimi & Dr. Pop

Since we were going to be in Boston for Christmas we did presents with Donny’s parents the Saturday before we left. Maddie didn’t quite know what to do with herself – there was tissue paper, wrapping paper and no shortage of presents – for sure! Here is some of the great stuff that Maddie got!!

Standard stair picture – every year we do this. And, we do it at the Smith’s house too with all the grandkids – all 20 of us – it’s a lot of stairs.

And then it began . . . .

Maddie got a pony!!

ohhh socks and PJs!



And . . . just a few toys






Yum, a caterpillar





Maddie lovin on Gran

….and Mimi

….and Dr. Pop….did I mention the cowgirl hat? Don’s nurse made him a “saddle” that he wears as a backpack so Maddie can ride around on his back, when she is a little older. Maddie got the hat to complete the package, it was so so cute and she loved it!

After all of this we went down to Maddie’s great-grandparents, (the Smith’s), Bobbie and Pop to spend some time with them too. Maddie loved their tree – and what’s not to love, it’s only about 12’ tall!



Maddie lovin on Bobbie & Pop too!!



…..and then we all came home and half unpacked the car and took a well deserved and overdue nap! Phew!