Did You Know Madison means "Daughter of a Mighty Warrior"?

It was a few years before baby plans when we decided that if we ever had a girl her name would be Madison.  Since there hadn't been any girls born to the Pratt family in 4 generations, we didn't actually think it would happen.  I remember being 8 months pregnant, walking into Barnes and Noble and looking up the meaning of "Madison".  It was then that the final piece clicked and I knew that would indeed be her name.

In my many years of knowing Andrew, he has proved in countless ways to be a mighty warrior, but it wasn't until the last couple of months that he embodied the literal meaning.  Yes, Andrew has become a hunter and a really great one at that.  In October, he shot a 4 point (8 point in OK) buck, and in November he brought home a 400 lb elk cow.  We've been eating as royalty, Elk Filet Mignon and venison jerky.  Another fun note is that Madison also loves the taste of it!  Yeah, That's My Man!

Some Madison updates: We really could not ask for a happier little girl.  She absolutely loves being around people, pets and any kind of foliage.  Besides making us beam with pride by skillfully clapping, waving and standing for up to 15 seconds at a time, she also has become quite the comedian with her delayed laugh.  You can't help but try to get her to do it over and over again.  She likes to have food on the tray to feed herself while being fed with a spoon, yes, a very good eater.  She is very mobile now, cruising and crawling all over the house.  At different times she has said, "Momma, Dada" and a tongue sticking out version of "Daddy".  Parenthood is an incredible blessing and we are doing our best to soak it in. 

Angela update:  For the last couple of months, I've been exploring starting a small business making stretch headbands.  Thanks to all of those that love them and have encouraged me, I've started a Stretch Headband shop on etsy.  It's called, "Classies A little flair for everyday wear, Where all proceeds go to kids' college fund and your satisfaction is the top priority".  It has already blessed me in the times at home when I've missed work and allowed me to find a style of headband that works for both me and Madison.  It has been a fun thing so far and I am totally open handed with it.  His will be done.  Feel free to check it out:   http://www.etsy.com/shop/ClassiesAlittleFlair

October & November

Daddy's Little Girl

 Standing with Daddy

 

Looking at Daddy

Flying with Daddy

Just hangin' with Daddy

August & September

Camping season is slowing down and we are welcoming the calmer life fall and winter bring.  In fact, Andrew went this morning for his first Buck hunt which really makes it feel like fall.  We are enjoying the cooler weather in the canyon, more time with friends and of course... OU football!

September especially seemed to be a milestone month for Madison.  I almost wish they were spread out a little bit more and have become a cliche advocate in that "they really do grow up so fast".  Her first two teeth came in within a couple of days of each other, she is not only rolling both ways, but is now also becoming quite mobile in her scrawling (scooting/crawling), coined by Pops Rigsby), her conversations have become much more elaborate and the delightful milestone of feeding herself cheerios (a HUGE blessing for us!)

For your enjoyment, Madison on the mixing board...

June & July

Summer Time

Today is the first day of the last "summer" week of camping at Creekside. It has been such a wonderful season. As my first summer as a "camp mom", I have beamed with admiration and pride over what Andrew and the rest of his crew have pulled off. Thousands of middle school kids have heard the 'greatest news' in an awesome atmosphere.

As you can see from the slideshow above, we couldn't have asked for a more vibrant summer. Back in June, Darin, Jeanne and Lindsay flew in from Kansas and in July Madison and I made a trip to Oklahoma followed by a trip to Texas where Eric and Elise got married! We celebrate all of the new meetings and memories made and are pumped to have another Pratt lady in the family.

Madison continues to be such a delight! She's well into solid foods, prunes are her favorite, and sits independently. She has mastered rolling front to back, but has only conquered the reverse once. It's fun to hear her squeal in delight as she lunges for dad or giggles as I kiss her belly. She is very observant and seems to focused on learning constantly. At this rate she'll be mobile in a couple of months!

April and May

The Life of Madison in April and May

Madison continues to experience quite a few firsts; it's so fun!  She reminds me all the time of the freshness of life.  In the last couple of months she met her Baier Great Grandparents, really enjoyed Rufus and his kisses, rolled over tummy to back, laughed and even attended a wedding!

Bob and Charlotte Baier, Andrew's grandparents came up from Kansas at the beginning of April.  They have always loved and spoiled Rufus like their great grandson so it was fun to see a ten-fold of that with our little girl!  We, of course, played dirty rummy and Rufus got his exercise (thanks again Grandpa!).  Another fun discovery was Madison's love of the fish tank, I beamed with joy seeing her delight in one of my favorite pass times.  Needless to say, we have since enjoyed many fish watching moments together.  We are so excited to see Grandma and Grandpa Baier again along with a lot of the rest of our family at Eric's (Andrew's brother) wedding in July!
 

 Since the beginning, there has been no question of Rufus' affection for Madison.  The days of our parade (Rufus would follow whoever was holding Madison step by step around the house) have past and now she's also hungry for his.  It has been quite a gift for us in the evening fussy hour.  All she needs is Rufus to show her attention and maybe kiss her hand and it's all good again.

On the rolling over and laughing update, believe me I have tried to get some live footage.  She is just video camera shy.  One fun fact about her laugh is that it was on Mother's Day.  It along with a recording of her sweet coos were wonderful gifts. 

A couple of our dear ranch friends, John and Sarah Gastineau were married April 30th.  It was a beautiful wedding and an honor to share in the celebration!  It also turned into a 2005 intern reunion which was another delight.  Madison discovered bright sunlight and cold wind for the first time, but we got through it and she's enjoying the outdoors more and more everyday.

Washington Family Ranch Creekside

 

Creekside, WFR's new camp is now up and running!  As of April 1st, Andrew officially became the Guest Services Coordinator for the newest Young Life camp, Creekside.  Last weekend was its dedication and first time use of campers.  It was one of those sweet rewarding moments to watch as these middle school campers got off the bus and laid their eyes on camp for the first time.  Some kids went straight for the water slides while others just stopped and took in the first class buildings, landscape, rides, really everything that was built just for them.    

It has been especially sweet for me (Angela) to watch Andrew take on this new huge responsibility.  From hiring his team for the summer to building the adventure course, Andrew has been earnest and mindful with every decision.  He really has a gift for seeing people's strengths and placing them in a role where both they and camp will thrive.  I am continually impressed with the man he is in not only the way he serves others, but also in the way he serves when no one is looking.

This last week, Andrew took Madison and I around the camp to play.  We played a round of miniature golf and he had Madison in the front pack while I went through the adventure course.  What a fun place for her to grow up!  Andrew's just itching to take her down a water slide, but don't worry grandmas it's not happening anytime soon...

February & March

Madison's First Impression

Our little girl celebrates 2 months today!  It has already been a sweet journey, one we are so honored to be on.  During her first 2 months we had 10 people in our home that spent most of their visit either loving on Madison or Rufus (of course us too!).  We couldn’t be more thankful for the family and friends in our life.

Round one was Pops and Gramma Rigsby.  Pops spent his days walking Rufus and eating up all of those brief moments when Madison would actually be awake (she was still only 2 weeks old).  Gramma sewed up several changing pad covers, re-embraced the beauty of cloth diapering and grasped Madison every chance she could.  Together they took care of both ladies with lots of hugs, sleep time and a clean house.  

 

 

Next were Grandpa and Grandma Pratt.  Madison was awake a little bit more this round just turning 1 month old, but Grandpa had an uncanny gift of putting Madison asleep (it was amazing!).  He also spent much of his time helping Andrew build storage shelves for Creekside.   Grandma, along with sweet porch sitting time with Madison and Rufus, helped sift through a horrendous medicine cabinet.    We had sweet times of watching Madison’s funny faces, playing the game Railways of the World and eating some incredible dinners!

In the last couple of weeks Andrew's cousin, Alissa (she beat her Dad, mom and sister here by over a week!), a couple of our Canyon friends, Nick and Stacy Graves and Andrew's Uncle, Aunt and Cousin, Steve, Noel and Brianne came to visit.  They all helped us discover one of our new favorite joys:  watching other people enjoy Madison.   

Saturday, January 29th "Our Lives Will Never Be The Same"

As we went to bed on Friday night, Angela's mucus plug broke.  After spending some time on google, Andrew learned that is not the same as a water break.  All the information we could get told us that labor was going to come between a couple hours and several weeks.  Needless to say we went right to sleep and did not think anything about the mucus plug.

2:00 am: First contraction
2:30 am: we called the hospital, that is 1 hour away, as the contractions were about 7 minutes apart
2:35 am: we decide we are going to the hospital
2:45 am: Angela decided to take a bath
3:00 am: Andrew asked his neighbor to watch Rufus and started the car
3:45 am: Car was warm and we left our house
4:45 am: After a very adventurous ride to the hospital that included Angela rolling around in the middle of the road during a contraction, we arrived at the hospital. 


As we walked into the hospital, the lady at the ER desk was nowhere to be found.  Now we took the tour of the hospital in our birthing class so we knew where the OB wing is.  Andrew thought about grabbing a wheel chair at the entrance to the hospital (for Angela) but he didn't, big mistake.  Angela made it about half-way to the OB wing before another contraction hits which put her on the hallway floor.  Andrew ran down to the OB wing and noticed that all the lights are off, so he was stuck standing at the doorway ringing the buzzer.  A couple minutes later, Angela made it to the OB wing and again had to lie on the ground during contractions on the wrong side of a locked door.  Eventually a nurse from the other end of the hospital saw Andrew and came running to Angela's rescue with a couple of her nurse friends.  Of course when they arrive Angela was between contractions and so she casually strolled down the hallway chatting with the nurses like only Angela does.  As we got into our room Angela goes into the bathroom while Andrew was getting the nurses up to speed on Angela.  Andrew didn't get very far before the bathroom door flies open and Angela yelled out, "I want an epidural!"  The nurse looked at Andrew with this look that this lady is in trouble if she already needs an epidural (remember the nurse at this point has only seen between contractions, bubbly Angela).  The nurse asked Angela to hop up on the bed so she could see how far along Angela is.  Needless to say this nurse says that she needs to get a 2nd nurse because she could not find the cervix, because it was all baby.  Side note, this is very far along in labor.  The 2nd nurse comes in and guest-imates that Angela is dilated between an 8 and a 10, we were way past the opportunities for an epidural.  Angela was going Natural (which was our pre-contraction thought)!  Dr. El-Attar arrived shortly there after and around 6:38 am Madison Rae Pratt came into this world.

We feel so blessed to have had a short labor, dry roads to get to the hospital and a baby that picked up nursing very quickly.

Preparing The Dad

Thursday January 27th, 2011

Andrew's buddy Brandon Combs surprised him with a guys night out.  Brandon and some of the other fathers out at the ranch had planned a night to prepare Andrew for the journey ahead of him.  The evening was kick-started with a kidnapping of Andrew then an unknown road trip to the Tumalo Steakhouse (Andrew's favorite place).  Brandon Combs, Kory Brown, Mark Lofdahl and Nate Dimock all have a combined experience of 10 babies.  Curtis Calvert, Carter Fronsman, Andrew Piper, Kyle Kuiper and Peter Grubb were there for moral support and will probably not be having kids anytime soon after hearing everything from the experienced guys.  The evening was a blast, filled with steaks, baby carriers, dolls and lots of laughter.  Andrew feels very fortunate to be surrounded by such quality guys.