Be prepared for a picture overload. I wanted to put a lot more, but decided not too. This last week, we were able to go to Arizona for Christmas. We haven't been home for the last 2 Christmas's so it was really fun to finally be able to make it home this year. My brother from Michigan also got to come home, which was really fun. The first Sunday we were there, he blessed his son Jet. Family on my Dad's side came down for it.  I hadn't a most of them in several years, so it was so nice to be able to reunite for the special occasion.

Santa made a visit to my moms house while we were down. All the girls dressed in there Christmas jammies! I love how Madi is laying here!

Madi and Santa didn't hit off too well at first...

 Here is some of the fam that came for the blessing, My Grandma Leavitt, Aunt Leann and cousin Megan

 Madi also got to have a B-day party thanks to Kelly for suggesting the good idea. I can't believe she is almost ONE!!

 We also went to ride the Polar Express!!! It was the cutest thing ever. You get on a train, they give you cookies and hot chocolate, they read the Polar express, you go to the North pole, see Santa, and then sing Christmas Carols all the way back. Madi loved it! This is what we got my parents and grandparents this year for their Christmas gift.

 All the girls ready to go on the train at the Hotel!

 Here is all the kids looking out the window at the North Pole

 Here is Madi poking cousin Jet on the train

 The whole fam!

 Then we had the Christmas Eve eve with Bryan's family where we had a  game of white elephant, great food, and Joker.

 Christmas eve we went and sang and passed out gifts at a homeless shelter, and then came back to my parents house to open presents, and watch Christmas Vacation. Madi got the hang of opening her presents. It was so cute!

We are so happy we were able to spend this special season with friends and family.

Here she is STANDING all by herself!

She is getting way to big WAY to fast. She melts my heart every day.

 Madi on a train ride at the mall. She waved to everyone she saw as we drove by.

 Hmmm I wonder what Santa will bring you this year Madi?

 Here is another standing one.

We had the wonderful opportunity to go home for Thanksgiving this year, and we had so much fun visiting with family, enjoying perfect weather, and eating amazing food.  

 Here is Madison, Ranie, and Tessa helping put candy stockings together for the homeless. Tessa was an all star helper, and Ranie helped babysit Madison. Madison loved the suckers and the nerds. It was so cute to see how much she loved the candy, and her cousins!

The whole White side of the family was in town, so family pictures were taken. Here are all the Grand Kids, and below is the immediate White family. They are a good looking little group!

 Guess which one is the in-law!

 Madi is so happy here!

 I love this one of Madi looking out the plane window, even though it is a bad picture.

Lastly, Madison has been taking a few steps, I need to get pictures of it, it is so cute. I can't believe she is old enough to be walking!!!

These last few weeks have been great. Bryan had a particularly good week, because he was the head resident for a week, while the others were out of town. He got to cut a bunch of cases, and loved it! Me and Madi have been busy having play dates, going to story times, parks, swimming, reading books, and eating. She has 4 teeth coming in up top, and she got Mastitis, a breast infection, which is really weird and sad. She is on an antibiotic now though and doing much better. She also LOVES Dora the explorer. If I put it on she squeals in delight.

Our friends let us borrow this walker for Madi, and she is a huge fan!

 Here is Madi with her friends in the little cubby hole in our entertainment center.

And a cute and cuddly daddy daughter moment.

CNN came to our ward a few times to get an idea of who the LDS are, because of the 2 presidential nominations who are Mormon. Our ward has been such a great experience, and one that we will never get again. It isn't always easy, but it is definitely wonderful! Here is there blog entry on it.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/02/with-im-a-mormon-campaign-church-counters-lily-white-image/?hpt=hp_c1

Here are some the YW this week at mutual. We were able to make 5 blankets in one night, to give to the homeless. Aren't they adorable?!

 And this I had to throw in there. I was in the kitchen getting something out of the fridge and turned around to find this. No smile, just sitting there, proud. It startled me at first, and then I just had to laugh (and help her down!)



There is no mistaking that Bryan is her Dad! I think she looks so much like him here.

Me and Madison went to Michigan last week to visit my brother and sister-in-law. Well, my brother is a general surgery resident, and so basically we didn't see much of each other but what we did see was great. We hadn't seen each other in over a year. They work him to the bone. Me and Mandy got to have a lot of fun though. I got to meet their new son Jet. We went to a fun pumpkin patch type thing where we got AMAZING pumpkin donuts and apple cider. Madison did not sit still once on the plane. She is a wiggle worm. She also decided to scream from 1:20 to 4 the first night. Yes, Scream. It was nice for everyone. I then noticed that she was cutting a tooth the next day, hopefully that was why! Regardless, it was a fabulous trip!

Madison deep in thought

Such a cutie!!

 Here is Madison and Nyah getting ready for a walk. Madison loved playing with Nyah.

Here is me and little Jet. He is such a cute baby.

And me and Bryan on a Saturday outing up by Mt. Vernon for a walk and some football. We love family time!

This has been a big week. Madison said goodbye to her daycare friend, and I FINALLY finished NURSING SCHOOL!

 

 Here is Madison outside of her daycare she went too. It ended up being the perfect situation. She was flexible with my schedule, conveniently located, and super sweet.  It am grateful I found her.

 Isn't she so cute??? She is getting so much spunk and cuteness to her.

Here she is on our patio playing and getting some beautiful fresh fall air. It has been in the 70's and all the leaves are changing!

 This is Madi's new thing. She puckers her lips and squinches her nose, and then breathes really hard out of her nose. It is so funny and cute.

 This was a night where Bryan was so cute. I had quickly made spaghetti,so we could both get back to work. Madison was taking a snooze, and Bryan says " Can we please wake up Madi to have her eat with us. Kids love spagetti, and I know she is going to love it, I just want her to try it. So he runs in there all excited to get her up and have her try spagetti. She did love it. Bryan loves his Maddles!

It feels like a lot has been happening lately. Madison had her first real sickness, which has been sad to see. Our usual bubbly and active baby has been so lethargic and sleepy with high fevers. We didn't want to take her to daycare so Bryan got home in the morning after working all night and not sleeping at all to care for her while I went to school. He is the best and loves his maddles!  I finish nursing school next Friday. Crazy right?  It went by soo fast! We are thinking my next step is to get my RN to BSN out here, so it's all done when we move. Bryan is on the ICU (intensive care unit) and it has been long hours, but is going fast.

 Also Madison is 9 months now!!! She has experienced every month but November and December now, and I think she is going to like them! Here we are on a typical day downtown again. As you may have noticed it is a go to thing we love to do.

 Last weekend it got cold, so Madi got to bundle up all cute in her snugly clothes and hat! This was during conference weekend, which happens to be one of our favorites!

 Every night before Madi goes to bed we like to read her stories. It is such a fun time, because she sits still on my lap for like 2 minutes! a rarity with her.

Madison has had a very busy schedule. On top of growing, learning new things, eating new foods, napping, laughing, and jabbering she has found time to enjoy the National Zoo.

She has also learned how to clap. This is something she likes to do a lot, and takes this skill very seriously.

She is a frequent park visitor, and has a special spot in her heart for the swing, and for those wood chips she is constantly putting in her mouth.

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What is it about kids in winter clothes? Even though it's like 80 degrees outside I couldn't pass it up!

 She also went to her friends birthday party.  I love how they all gathered around while she got ready to eat her very own cake!

 She has also been having a love for stuffed animals.  She likes to go up to them and tackle them. Its super cute.