New friend

Last weekend we went to Beaumont and Madison and I got to meet up with Tiffany and Owen Ashcraft on Saturday afternoon. I have known Tiffany since middle school but when we all went our seperate ways for college, we lost touch. It had been waaaay too long (almost 8 years, I think!) since we had seen eachother, but we had a great time catching up. We met at Rao's and had some delicious desserts before heading to Barnes and Nobles and hanging out in the children's area, where the kiddos had free reign over any and all of the books/toys. Poor Barnes and Nobles employees....

Tiffany and I talked for hours and realized (even more than we already knew) that we still, even 8 years later, have a ton in common. It was really a fun afternoon - Madison got a new friend out of the deal too!

Here are Owen and Madison having a snack. Madison insisted that Owen share all of his snacks with her. Owen just sat back and politely shared. :) I wish I had better pictures, but I didn't have the setting right or something and the flash wouldn't come on. I am sure Tiffany got some better ones with their super fun and fancy camera! I may have to steal some from their blog...

Balance

I think I am beginning to figure it all out - how to balance everything in my life and realizing that as hard as it is to do at the time, taking time out for myself is good. Maybe you know what I mean about it being hard to do? Just lately have I started to feel like a break - even a short, yet uninterrupted nap - would be nice. When it comes down to it though - when I do have downtime, all I can think about is spending that time with Dylan and Madison, which is what I ultimately decide to do.

Last night, around 9, after Madison was in bed, I met Roxanne at the pool (our city pool, where I plan to spend the summer - SOOOOO different than anything I ever knew as a city pool...you know what I mean if you are from B-town) and we swam laps for about an hour. Don't get too excited, when I say laps, I just mean we went from one end of the pool to the other many times - this included walking, side-stroke, back-stroke, etc. It's all considered exercise though, right? We definitely exercised our mouths in that hour too! I was thrilled to get some exercise and I realized that I really do have enough energy leftover for myself after Madison goes to bed, but I can't lay on the couch or it is all over! I enjoyed Roxanne's company and the conversation so much too.

Then, tonight Roxanne invited me to a bible study at her church. It started at 7, so Madison had some daddy-only time before bed. The bible study was just what I needed. We haven't found a church that we feel fits us just yet and based on everything I saw at the bible study tonight and what Roxanne has told me about the church, I think it is definitely one we will visit soon. Again, Roxanne and I were able to have some time to sit and talk, which was so nice. It has really been awhile since I have sat down and had a good uninterrupted conversation with a friend.

In case you were wondering...I love every-single-thing about motherhood. I would absolutely NEVER trade it for anything else in the world. It is the most amazing gift. The irony in all of this is that if I weren't a mother, I may not have the same desires, may not have met some of the friends that I have now, including Roxanne, nor would I have the appreciation I have now for simple moments like these. To top it off, nothing is greater than coming home refreshed and eager to see the best husband and most amazing beautiful little girl in the world.

Notice anything new?

Maybe you noticed in some of the other recent pictures I have posted, but maybe not...? Madison has some new accessories - she got her ears pierced. I didn't blog about them at first because I know it is such a "controversial issue"... :) Anyway, I had mixed feelings about it, but went ahead and got them done now because I know at this age, she won't remember it later. Dylan agreed to it as long as he didn't have to go. He said I would just have to go and do it and not tell him about it (boy did I feel like a great mom for even considering it after he said that). It was rough and I felt horrible, but she was ok and I think she looks adorable. Look at her - she is still so happy! Can't you tell?

Mine were done when I was 6 months old and I turned out ok. :)

It won't be long

She'll be walking soon...and we'll be running.

Just look at that face. She has places to go! Watch out!

Must be cozy

Our satellite dish, that is. Our satellite dish has become a local dove family's home. I say it must be cozy because mamma dove has laid at least 3 sets of eggs in the nest she built there. I don't think she has any plan to relocate either.

Here is a picture of the latest additions to the family.

Whew!

Wow, last week just flew! Madison's virus ended with a yucky rash that covered her abdomen and back and then later started up her neck. Of course, we were wondering what we may have fed her that caused the reaction, or if she got into something, but later learned that it is not uncommon for children to develop a rash with a virus. So - we're through that now too and she is back to her silly little self...maybe even sillier than she was before she got sick. :)

The greatest investment

Dylan installed a doggie door for us and I am convinced it is the best $30 we have ever spent! The dogs have been SOOO good and it is nice not to have to let them in and out all the time too!

When the cat is gone...

this little mouse likes to play!

Ok, other than the fact that I took these videos of Madison the last time Dylan was working out of town, this really doesn't have anything to do with the cat aka daddy being gone - in fact, he would have LOVED this. ;)

Here's Madi-mouse determined to feed herself. I tried to regain control a couple of times, and she threw a fit, so I caved....

Went pretty well, don't you think? As you can imagine, I had a huge mess to clean up.

Things haven't really changed much either. She wants to feed herself, but more than that, she wants to eat what we are eating - not baby food. It doesn't matter when she ate last or how much she had to eat, if we start to eat something, she immediately starts fussing until we give her a bite of what we have!

New look

How cute is our jazzy new template???! The best part about it is that it is custom-made, so there isn't another out there like it! :) Thanks so much to Ashley - a friend of Kristy (Calvert) Erwin's - who helped turn my lonely "Mostly Madi" header into so much more! I now have a little more knowledge about digital scrapping too, which I have been dying to try. Thanks again, Ashley!

Another (unanticipated) long weekend

Tomorrow should be mine and Dylan's first full day back to work since last Friday. Madison woke up with fever Sunday morning and after two days of a high temp staying close to or at 102, we think it finally broke this afternoon. Hard to believe, huh? Probably not. Illness has become a common theme on this blog!

The doctor thought it looked viral - she had a really red throat, etc., but her ears were ok. She has been miserable though and there hasn't been much we can do to help except to hold her, which is all she has wanted the past couple of days. We didn't mind the extra time we got to cuddle with her though.

On a lighter note, I wanted to mention some of the fun things she did today as she started feeling better and a few other things she has done recently.

Madison is easily amused. She will throw her pacifier down, pick it up, throw it down, pick it up - over and over and laugh hysterically each time. She also does this head nod thing over and over and will stop to see if we are looking at her and then crack up. What a goof!

She has decided that she doesn't mind her daddy's scratchy face anymore and now lays the kisses on him thick. SO SWEET!

Speaking of kisses...tonight I was holding her on my hip and I looked over at her and said, "I Love You." She didn't really pay attention to me at first, but I said it again and she looked at me, leaned over and gave me a kiss! How sweet is that? And so smart!!

She knows what she is saying when she says, "Ma-Ma and Da-Da". I love that she knows I am her ma-ma and Dylan is her da-da and that those sounds mean something to her now.

Madison likes to share her treats with her brothers. She will sit next to them and hand them one after another. Tonight she pushed Brody out of the way so that she could give Cobber one instead!

I think most of you know that they teach sign language to the babies at Madison's school. The other day Madison pointed her wet finger toward an outlet, so, of course, I told her, "No" and moved her away. She went back a couple of times and by about the third time, she looked at me when I said, "NO", and then did the sign back at me! I was so impressed!

......anyway, we had a great weekend, Madison and I are so glad Dylan is home with us this week and Dylan and I are so glad Madison is feeling better!! I have some pictures and a video or two from last week to post - will try and get them up in the next couple of days.