New Trick...

Miss Madison has a new trick. She can climb to the top of the stairs! I'm not a big fan of this trick, but she LOVES it. Always before she would go up maybe 4 or 5 stairs and come back down, but on Sunday she went to the top. I was in her room changing her sheets, and I heard some laughing. I came out and couldn't find her. I saw Nacho at the top of the stairs, but didn't see her. He moved, and there she was!! I was shocked!!! She is really into climbing things now, so I'm not too surprised. She's really fast at getting up them too! I have a few pics that aren't that good. I would like to get a video, but I don't know if that will happen.

In other news, she still isn't walking! Melissa is at a loss, and so are we. She said she really thought she would be walking a few weeks ago, and she doesn't see that there is a reason why she isn't. She would like a physical therapist to come and evaluate her just to make sure that there isn't anything else wrong. She also would like me to start taking her to Mother's Day Out or get involved in a play group. She was going to do some research for me and see what she could find. I would definitely do a play group, but I don't feel comfortable leaving her at a Mother's Day Out. Melissa thinks it would help to get her around other kids that were more her age. All our friends either have no kids or older kids (like 5ish). So, we will see what she comes up with.

And, I'm still in contractor HELL!!! The roof took 3 days (they told us 1), and our windows leaked again!!! We also discovered a soffit that they never put a vent cover on or painted! The window people came and did a water test on Monday, and we think they have fixed the problem. The other window people came today to replace the window that the solar screen people broke. In the meantime, the gutter people are on their way as we speak. Also, I'm supposed to have someone come today and do the vent and the painter is supposed to be here! WHEW!!! I keep thinking that we will be done with all this stuff. It's like everything we do or touch just breaks or something happens!!

Jeff is in Seattle and gets back tomorrow afternoon. He was without power yesterday at his hotel, and they still didn't have it this morning. In case you missed it, they are having a major heat wave up there. So, he ended up going to the office and sleeping on the floor!!! He said it was too hot to sleep at the hotel. I think I would have found somewhere else!! I'm ready for him to be home, and I know he is ready to be home too!

Art Niche

We have an art niche as you make your way into the master bedroom. We have never done anything with it. I've been looking for something for it since we moved in. We went to Pier 1 today because we had a gift card from our realtor in Tulsa that we needed to use. So, we found something that we both liked!!

I think it fits there perfectly, and it fits the rest of our decor. We are both very pleased with it.

And, as I was taking the photo of it, Miss Madison wanted to get her picture taken too! She LOVES to pose for the camera now. So, I thought I would post a few.

And, we got one of her pushing her stroller around. She just needs to start letting go!

Solar Screens

As I mentioned in the last post, we ordered solar screens. They were installed today. So far, we are VERY pleased. We could tell a difference immediately. It does make the inside seem a little darker, but I think that's the point. It does still let sun in for the cats. So, they should be happy. We got a cold front today, so we were a little disappointed that it isn't going to be 105 tomorrow!! It's only supposed to be 92. I still think we will be able to tell a difference. The only negative thing is that they cracked a window. It seems like this house is just doomed. One thing always leads to another. Jeff is going to call tomorrow and let them know. I'm not surprised that one broke. We knew it was a possibility. I'm sure they will fix it, but it's just yet another contractor to deal with!! Oh well. So, here are the pics...

They did the custom grid work where we had grids. We only had grids on the front portion of the house.

They also did a door cover for the back door.

You can't see in during the day, but at night if you have the lights on you will be able to see in. So, it should add a lot of privacy. Like I said, we are very pleased.

Big Girl

Miss Madison has been looking and acting like a little girl more and more lately. We got her a table and chairs for the playroom. She seems to like to color...even on the walls!! I hadn't realized how big she looked until after I took these pics.

And, yesterday at snack time we had a banana. I always cut it up for her in big chunks. Well, lately she's been wanting to hold the banana herself. So, I gave her half of the banana. She was sooo proud of herself. She laughed and laughed when I gave it to her, but then she started chowing down on it!

She's talking a lot now, and she tells you what she wants and doesn't want. She really wants to walk on her own, but she is really scared to let go. We walk her everywhere. She holds on to our hands and off we go. She's let go a few times here and there, but then the eyes get big and she immediately grabs back on. It won't be long until she's running circles around us!

In other news, we are supposed to be getting solar screens installed in the next several days. Our house faces West, and it gets sooo hot in here. Plus, the whole back of our house that faces East is just full of windows. I would say that there are 10 windows across the back of our house. So, we get it in the morning and evening! We are hoping they help and cut down on our electric bill. We are also finally getting our roof replaced from the hail storm. They are supposed to do that on Wednesday, and they are putting on full gutters. We only have gutters over the doors! So, between all of that and all of the stuff that has been wrong on the inside (it all required an electrician, drywaller, painter, carpenter, and a window person), I've been busy dealing with contractors! And, most of them have been out at least twice!! I'm ready to be done with dealing with stuff to be fixed on the house. Isn't this why we bought a new house??!!! Oh well!! It will all be over shortly...I hope!

Beach Cabana

We got Madison a tent for when we go down to Port Aransas. We wanted to make sure she had some shade on the beach. It has a zippered front with 3 mesh sides. And the fabric has an SPF rating of 30.

As soon as I put it up, she was in it. Everyone seems to like it, including the cats. They all play in it together. JJ especially likes it!!! So, I hope to get some good use out of the little beach cabana!!

***FYI--It's not a "real" tent. It is just designed to provide a little shelter from the sun and wind. It is not to be used to sleep in, etc. They even said not to leave it outside for any sort of extended time. It is from Pacific Play Tents, and it is called the Under the Sea Beach Cabana.

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Random Things...

Well, things here are just busy, busy, busy. I swear every time I sit down to do a post, something happens that needs my attention. We've had a lot of things going on with our house, so I've had a ton of repairmen here (or at least a lot of waiting!). Hopefully, in the next few days all our windows, window sills, and the doorbell will all be fixed! But, somehow I know something else will go wrong!

My parents came up last Thursday, and took care of Madison while we went shopping and to a movie. We had fun and then we went downtown to check into the hotel. The hotel was nice, but it was really crowded, and the walls were paper thin. We had never been to downtown Ft. Worth before, but it was really neat. Everything is around Sundance Square. We both thought we would definitely be going back. I think it would be really neat at Christmas. We ate at Del Frisco's. It was okay, but WAY overpriced. I highly doubt we will ever go back. We came home early Saturday morning. My parents left Sunday morning. We all had a nice time, and Miss Madison was great entertainment!

I have several random pics of her. So, here they are...

This is here trying to smile. She loves to "smile" for the camera!

And here she is with her favorite water table!

And here she is with her splash pad. She's not too sure of it, but Mommy likes it to get cooled off!

In other news, we got a sleeper sofa, cocktail ottoman, and 2 end tables for the game room/play room. Now, I'm on the hunt for Madison a play table for up there, and some sort of wall unit/storage unit for the TV and toys.

Here's Madison and her Daddy. By the way, Madison LOVES the couch!

And here's a close up...

I also FINALLY got a rug for the entryway. It ties in great with our living room furniture. JJ and Annie love it. There is white cat hair all over it, AND cat claws. They also love to use it as a scratching post! UGH! Like Jeff said, be glad it's that instead of the regular carpet!

We are hoping to have a lazy weekend, but I'm sure it won't be. They are doing some fireworks around here on Friday and Saturday nights. I really think we will be able to see them from our backyard. I hope everyone has an enjoyable 4th!