Madalyn's visit from Santa

Madalyn LOVED her first Christmas! On Sunday we went to see Brian for a little while and he was super excited to see Maddie. Then we left for Jenna and Brad's and arrived early evening. Madalyn hadnt seen Savannah since Halloween, long before she could crawl! As soon as she got there Savannah said she was "scared of Maddie!" and Savannah refused to get off of the couch. Poor Madalyn... she was so excited to "play" with Savannah and she wouldnt play with her. (Not that I blame her... Madalyn loves to pull hair and yell really loudly!)

After awhile Savannah warmed up to Madalyn and they seemed to interact rather well. We had to keep Maddie away from the presents under the tree (she wanted to practice unwrapping Uncle Brad and Aunt Jenna's presents just like she had Mommy and Daddy's!)

Monday morning, Christmas Eve, Madalyn was up early and ready to go. Shawn and Brad worked outside building a play area for Savannah's sandbox and her playhouse that Santa was bringing her. Then her Gigi and Papa came to visit her and she was so excited to see them.

That evening Madalyn had her first church experience. When the singing started with the organ she was absolutely mesmorized. Towards the end of the sermon she was starting to get alittle fussy so we gave her a candycane that Brad and Jenna had brought... she made a mess but had a good time doing it.

Christmas day Madalyn woke up to see that Santa had come and brought her lots of toys. Even though we had practiced unwrappig for weeks, once she got her first present she was done and just wanted to play with that one. Savannah bought her a Noahs Ark toy that sings and has lots of animals, which was a lot of fun to play with. She also got some clothes, a tickle me elmo, a shape sorter and a baby leapster reading toy. She also got a few books and a walk behind toy, as well as a play kitchen/living room which she has had a lot of fun playing with. Gigi and Papa also bought her a toybench so she can play construction with Daddy (though so far the hammer has hit everything she can bang on BUT the toy nails on the toolbench!)

Madalyn also got to play with Savannah's grandparents, her Uncle Kevin and her great grandmother. Savannah loved the Cabbage Patch baby that Madalyn had picked out for her. Savannah also got a Mr. Potato Head that came with lots of toys to put on it. Maddie loved this sword piece and kept trying to borrow it to chew on. I think she was trying to make her Noahs Ark a pirate ship!

Christmas dinner was wonderful.... Jenna did an amazing job of playing hostess to everyone. For someone in her last trimester of pregnancy who is technically on bedrest she did a beautiful job of hosting Christmas at her house. Shawn had lots of projects to do while he was at Brad and Jenna's (they always have a honey-do list for him, which he loves to help with!)

I was lucky enough to get the first half of work off on Wednesday, so I was able to unpack and do some laundry and organize Madalyn's new toys.

Santa was good to Mommy and Daddy as well! We got our new living room set for Christmas, though we got it early and we LOVE it! I got a new silverware set which is gorgeous, and Shawn got a new 20" flat screen monitor for his computer. (Which is the gift that keeps on giving.... now I have lots of room to use for my scrapbooking!) For our gifts for each other I bought Shawn a new drill (the best drill money can buy I am told) and I got some scrapbooking organizers for the office and some scrapbooking papers.

Christmas was wonderful.... spending time with family and friends and having the babies together.... cant wait until next year when Landon/Emerson Martin will be here, and Madalyn will be talking... and Savannah will be almost 3! It is amazing how time flies!