Steamroller...

Being 1st time parents, we are always looking for new things and worried when they seem to be a bit behind "schedule." Maddie gets plenty of tummy time, but really didn't find any interest in rolling over...until the last couple of weeks. Now, she has realized that by rolling, she can travel the world. She started with the occasional roll, which came at the least expected times. However, her steamrolling happened at about the most opportune time one can imagine. Here is a quick version of the story:

Jeff was sitting at the breakfast bar in our kitchen working at the laptop (a MacBook Pro, which we love!) grading National History Day projects. I was working a 12 (7:00-19:30), and because I was finishing my orientation at the NICU, I was still on days. Jeff tends to listen to more mellow music while working on schoolwork, so James Taylor happened to be playing...specifically, "Steamroller Blues." Apparently very inspired, Maddie heard the following lyrics while playing on a blanket:

"Well, I'm a steamroller, baby
I'm bound to roll all over you
Yes, I'm a steamroller, baby
I'm bound to roll all over you"

AND started to roll STEAMROLL across the blanket she was playing on! Ok, so Jeff tells this story, and while I am sure he was playing James Taylor, Steamroller Blues may have been clicked after the fact. For Maddie's sake...we will just go with it:) Check out some of her rolling escapades pics below:

She has blessed our nest...

She is a SASSY girl!

We had to get her a cell phone because she loves playing with ours...however, a fake one just never seems to be as much fun.

We've got a "drooler" on our hands.

Maddie is 5 1/2 months...it is crazy to believe! She is eating fruits and veggies and loving it. Ok, mostly just loving the fruits :) Her two new things this week are talking screaming in a deep man voice, and sticking her tongue out. I am pretty sure she got my tongue genes, because it doesn't look like she will be able to roll it. Poor girl, I always got get made fun of...still. Oh, and yes her hair is coming in SLOWLY but surely :)

Sign up now for Kari's Dream Team...

Click on the picture above and it will direct you to the registration page for the Eastern Washington Race for the Cure 2009. Please join "Kari's Dream Team." Thank you so much for your support. I will keep in touch with the blog and email for updates about our team. We are creating T-shirts, so not only will you get T-shirts for the race but also T-shirts to support Kari! If you would like to help with the T-shirt effort, let me know. It is still a work in progress :)

Race For The Cure (and a team name)...

I am sure most of you know at least part of the story; however, in case you haven't heard, my mom (Kari) has been battling breast cancer for the better part of this last year. She has had two lumpectomies and will have a bilateral mastectomy this coming June. She will need as much support as we can give her, both physical and emotional. We are looking for a couple of things: (1) We would like to get a list of people interested in either walking/jogging/running in the race on April 19, 2009, so leave a quick comment (2) Ideas for a team name, and (3) prayers for my mom's healing! My goal is to register a team name by next Friday, February 6th.

In case you are a reader or friend who doesn't know my mom, here is a quick background. She has been battling cancer ever since the love of her life, my dad, passed away when he was only 33 years old (I was 3). He had an inoperable brain tumor. Before he was sick, he was a beloved PE teacher at Farwell Elementary. After he died, my mom raised 3 kids as a single, working parent. She also helped raise my little sister Krystianna and two step brothers. She teaches 2nd grade, and is the most devoted teacher I have ever seen. After teaching for 20 years, she was led back to Farwell to continue with her calling. Her class is called "The Dream Team," and she inspires them to have a "99.9% positive attitude" (my dad's motto) and "reach for the starts." She is extremely selfless, which is shown in so many ways. I would love to be able to turn the tables on her and get a team of support behind her.

Our main goals: Get a team name, start the registration process, create shirts, raise money, and race for the cure. Even if you are unable to make the race, we would love to see you or hear your input at any point in the process. Your prayers are definitely felt!

Thanks so much for getting on board with this!