My Sweet, Happy Boy!

Marek is getting so big! He's already almost 18 lbs and in 6 to 12 month clothes at 5 months old!

My little guy has been teething for over a month! He's drooling and chewing on everything in sight!

He likes to suck his thumb between chewing on his toys!

Neighborhood Christmas Party

Richard and Mary hosted a beautiful Christmas party last Saturday - we only stayed for a short time with the kids but we had so much fun.

Mary gave Madelyn a handmade family heirloom Nativity Story book - we will cherish this always! Thank you, Mary!

Through the Years

Nana and Papa begged us for YEARS to give them some grandchildren. Remember to watch what you wish for!
The three of us sisters were all pregnant at the same time, due January, February and March.

(Y Miss Madelyn Grace came early Y).

This was the last time we were all pregnant together. Stephanie was about to deliver! Look how HUGE I was!!

(l-r: Kelly, Stephanie, Jacque)

The Cousins very first picture together at the end of February 2004.

Madelyn was only 2 weeks old! Ashlynn was 2 years, Chase 1.5 months, Dylan 3 weeks.

(l-r: Chase, Madelyn, Ashlynn, Dylan)

Great Grandma Zieminski (Momzee) and Great Aunt Sandy visited in late March 2004. Ashlynn is the mother hen! (Maddie - 5 weeks)

Ashlynn
Chase, Madelyn, Dylan

We thought this would be a great tradition - at every get-together take a picture of all the cousins on Nana and Papa's couch - HA! Once they were mobile - forget it!

Here they all are for Easter of 2004 (mid April). Maddie was 8 weeks old.

Here we all are visiting at Auntie Stephanie's in October of 2004. Kelly was expecting baby #2! Madelyn was 7 1/2 months.

Here are all the kiddos in late November 2004 at the Dallas World Aquarium. Madelyn was 9 months and it was the introduction of the BIG BOW HEAD!

Madelyn, Chase, and Dylan at Thanksgiving 2004. This is when we started calling them "The Triplets!" They were all mobile!

Christmas 2004. Madelyn was just over 10 months.

By the Grace of God, we were able to get a few pictures with everyone looking at the camera and everyone's eyes open! Even Tommy's! This was Nana and Papa's Christmas photo.

Madelyn's 1 year birthday! We spent it at the park with her cousins. My precious little Valentine.

February 14, 2005.

(l-r: Ashlynn, Madelyn, Dylan, Chase)

At Aunt Kelly's house in late July. The first group photo with Landon! He was about 5 months old here. Madelyn was 17 months (and finally growing hair!).

(l-r: Dylan, Landon, Ashlynn, Madelyn, Chase)

Another "couch" group photo this time at our house. This was late September. Madelyn was 19 1/2 months.(l-r: Dylan, Chase, Landon, Ashlynn, Madelyn)

Everyone in the bath! Except for Landon, of course - he was too little!(l-r: Ashlynn, Chase, Madelyn, Dylan)

Halloween 2005(l-r: Madelyn, Chase, Landon, Ashlynn, Dylan)

These kids love to go to parks! This was mid November 2005. I had just found out I was 1 month pregnant! Madelyn is on the far right - the only one in a single stroller! She was almost 21 months.

Mid December 2005. (Maddie: 22 months) This ended up being Nana and Papa's Christmas card. Their Fab 5 in 2005!

Here they are Christmas Day 2005 at Nana and Papa's house. You can buy them anything in the world and they have the most fun with a box! God has definitely given us some great gifts.

This Picture was taken at the end of May 2006. Nana's retirement from American Airlines! Madelyn was 27 months!

This was early June 2006. Almost 28 months old and just about to be a big sister!
(l-r: Madelyn, Dylan, Ashlynn, Landon, Chase)

Thanksgiving 2006. Marek makes his big debut!

(Madelyn - 33 months, Marek - 4.5 months)

(l-r: Landon, Ashlynn, Marek, Madelyn, Chase, Dylan)

They grow so very fast.

Marek eating 1st food - Squash!

Marek ate his first real food on Monday, December 4th. He loved it! He sucks his thumb between bites - it's too cute.

1st Real Food!

Besides cereal . . .

Marek got to try squash on Monday! He loved it!

The first bite . . .

He sucked his thumb between bites!

Apparently I wasn't going fast enough - he took the spoon from me!

Waiting for his next bite . . .

One happy baby boy!

Madelyn telling Santa what she wants for Christmas

Madelyn sat next to Santa and was so shy. You can barely hear her ask for her pink "puter" (computer) and pink "cramera" (camera). But you can read her little lips. Precious child.

Santa Clause

Last Saturday I had the day off from the mall (yeah!) so we went downtown to visit Santa Clause. We had a melt down in the morning and then a long morning nap so the rest of the day was open! The past two years we went to see Santa on Christmas Eve at the mall - very poor planning on our part. We waited in line for 2 hours and 45 minutes both times! This year we planned ahead!

We parked about 50 feet from Santa and his sleigh and there was NO line! After a $5 donation - they took a picture of our kids with Santa, we told him what we wanted, and we were off!

Look how close we were able to park!

Madelyn knows exactly what she wants for Christmas - a pink 'puter (computer) and a pink "cramera" (camera). She had practiced asking Santa. Of course, she got very shy when sitting next to him . . .

It was beautiful day in downtown Fort Worth!

Next we visited daddy's office downtown.

We walked to Jamba Juice and had some smoothies and Pirates Bootie! No - Marek did NOT taked a sip of the juice - bad daddy!

Besides playing on the computer and taking pictures, Madelyn loves books and going to the library. We walked to the downtown public library. On the way, we saw some cute little dogs with matching sweaters. Madelyn loves dogs so I asked if she could pet them and they just loved her!

We arrived at the library with smooties and kids in hand!

Madelyn was picking out books left and right!

She found the kids area and started rearranging furniture and props!

I was grateful that she walked part of the way back to the car by herself - my arms and back had had enough!

What a PERFECT day off with the family!

It's Official

He's a thumb sucker! The first one of the "Zieminski" babies to suck his thumb! Yikes. . .

Advantages:

• He has a constant, readily available source for comfort and soothing,
• No lost paci's and crying child
• Don't have to wake up all night and stick a paci in his mouth
• Don't have to take away paci someday (The Easter bunny took Maddie's this year!)

Disadvantages:

• Can't take his thumb away . . .
• I don't want a 7 year old thumb sucker!