update from Nashville!

I thought I needed to give everyone an update.  I will share our Christmas and post pictures as soon as we get back from Nashville.

Maddie and I flew to Nashville last Monday.  Maddie showed off her skills while we drove home from the airport.  She said Poppa!  We worked on it during the flight!  I knew she could do it because she says Pap (short for Papaw- my grandfather). 

Maddie was great on the plane.  She has flown before but not being this active so I was a little nervous.  It was a   full flight and not much room for anyone.  I have to confess that after going through security I did call Chris in tears (tears of stress) and declare that I wasn't ever doing this again by myself!  Don't get me wrong it had nothing to do with her but traveling with a little one and all that the airline requires of you plus keeping up with an 18 mo old and all of your stuff is just too much!  

We are having a great time and had a wonderful Christmas with my Dad and Lisa.  (Maddie's fourth christmas this season!)  

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and has a great New Year!  I will be sharing our Christmas memories from this year soon!

Number 2

Everyone told me this was going to happen it was just a matter of time.  Well we went 16 months without Madelyn pooping in the tub so I think we did pretty well!  Yep it happened!  It just so happen to be the night we were having a slumber party with Claire.  Yep you guessed it...Claire and Madelyn were in the tub together!  I was in the kitchen when Claire started screaming, "She is pooping!!!"  I ran in there and poor Claire was sitting in brown bath water!  She was such a good sport about it.  After everyone got clean and the bath toys and tub got disinfected we laughed about it.  It will be a great story some day for Claire to tell Madelyn.  Making memories is sure fun!
Other than the poop filled bath our slumber party was a great night.  We did christmas crafts, played, ate pizza, and did a little shopping!  We sure love our girl time! 

Thankful November

okay still playing catch up!  Let me finish with what I am thankful for.

13. My MOPS group!  Such an amazing group of ladies.

14. Prissy.  My nine and 1/2 year old maltese.  She has been the best dog, roomate, and friend a girl could ask for. 

15. Shalac nail polish system!  Nail polish last for 2 weeks:)  need I say more!

16. My Girls!  Angela, Sheri, Jodi and Lindsey!  We have all been friends for a VERY long time!!  We have all gone our separate ways but still try and find time for each other.  We have so much fun when we are together.  These girls are like my sisters!

17. Forgiveness...I have done many things in need of forgiveness

18. Hair Dryer..yep have you seen this mop with out it?

19. The Health of my Grandparents.  They are 79 and 80 and still full of life.  For that I am Thankful!  They are an active part of Madelyn's life and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

20.  Skpe and American Airlines...They both make the many miles between my Dad and my little family seem not so far.

21. My Mom instilling in me how important it is to be well rounded.  From ballet to football and hunting to shopping...I appreciate it all.  I may enjoy some things more than other but have an appreciation  for it all and can hold a conversation about football to politics.  I hope to pass this on to Madelyn.  Thanks Mom!

22.  Teething Tablets...we wouldn't have survived without them :)

23.  I am thankful that most of my family live close.  I have been blessed to watch my nieces, nephews, and cousins grow up!

24.  My Aunt Melba.  She passed away not long ago but left me with wonderful memories.  She taught me the art of listening.  She never interupted, always made me feel like I was the most important one in the room and always was there to listen.  I hope to master the sweet art of listening like she. 

25.  Chiropractic!  My life and that of my family wouldn't be the same without it!  It has taught me what true health is all about!

26.  Michelle Chesley.  She has been the best aunt I could ask for.  She listens, gives great advice, and has always been there for me!  Thank you for being the big sister I never had.

27.  My mother in law and father in law for having one more child.  Chris is number four.  Thank you for not stopping at three. 

28.  Hair color:)  As I get older/wiser my hair gets gray...but you will never know :)

29. online shopping ...who has time to go to a mall?

30.  last but not least...Unconditional LOVE..
from my husband, daughter, family ...it truly is a blessing!

November a month of thankfulness!

I saw this idea going around facebook and thought it was brilliant!  For everyday in November you say something that you are thankful for.  I am about 15 days behind but I am catching up NOW!

1.  My little M&M (Mary Madelyn Thiem)  she is truly an answered prayer!

2. My amazing family!  I know some people find it strange that we all LOVE spending time together and that we do spend so much time together but I think it is a blessing!

3.  That God gave his one and only son for MY Salvation! 

4. I know this falls under family but ...My Husband.  He keeps me balanced and makes me feel like his Queen daily. :)  He is also the most AMAZING father to M&M.

5. Smart phones...Go ahead and laugh!  But my iphone keeps me organized and I have email, music, internet and EVERYTHING at my finger or in my purse!

6. My friend Randi Jones!!  We are so different but yet so much a like.  Motherhood has boned us into a whole new depth of friendship.  We do not live close but we make an effort to text, TALK (yes Talk does anyone do that anymore?), send encourgaging cards, and see each other as much as possible.  I call her aleast once a week to laugh, cry, vent or tell her I feel like a rock star!  Our friendship is not competitive, judgemental, nor shallow.  Thank you Randi for being my friend!!  I love you!

7.  I am thankful for all of our soliders who have made the sacrifice to be away from there families to fight for our country.  GOD BLESS the USA!

8.  video baby monitors.  Can't image hearing her cry and not being able to see if something is REALLY wronge and sometimes I just like to watch her sleep:)

9.  I am thankful that Chris and I both have jobs we love!

10. DVR.  I promise I am not all about electronics but I can't remember life without it. 

11.  Trinity Mother Frances NICU.  It wasn't that long ago that Tyler didn't have a NICU.  ( just a few years)  If it wasn't for the NICU at Trinity Mother Frances on July 1st 2010, then Maddie would have been taken to Dallas or Shreveport when she was born.  It was hard enough having her down the hall and not bringing her home when I was released but I CAN NOT image having her so many miles away!

12. Facebook...yep crazy but I feel like it is such a great way to keep up with everyone with such ease.

okay ill continue catching up later...this is much harder than you think!  I dare you to try it!

Baked Apples-Fall Family Traditions

Well it is fall and that inspires me to blog again.  This is a very busy time of year for us but I am going to make the effort anyway. I am not making any promises about how often I will update but I will try my best to keep yall in the loop of our sweet family of three.   It is just that time of year that I find a smile on face and want to share my happiness with everyone!  Fall...I LOVE it all.. football, hunting, the colors, leaves, pumpkins, camp fires and the smells!
Growing up my mom always made baked apples the first cool morning of the fall.  It didn't matter if it was a school morning or not we woke up to the smell of baked apples.  After I got married she even sent them home with Chris so he could surprise me and have them in the oven when I woke up.  This morning wasn't the first cool morning of fall (so I was a little late) but my family woke up to the smell of baked apples in our house.  Maddie had her first taste and loved it!  I used my mom's recipe for the most part with adding a few of my own touches like using the crockpot instead of the oven.  I also cooked pumpkin pancakes for my family this morning.  Although it was one of the warmest days we have had in a while the Thiems kicked off fall this morning!

we are still here!

Wow It has been a while since I have blogged!  We have a lot to catch up on!  Things have been very busy this past month.  I wrote a check today and thought,"really how can March be almost over!"  I have tons of pictures to share from this month but haven't had a chance to download them but I promise they will come soon!
Maddie hasn't been feeling well this week so my focus is taking care of her. 
I just wanted to let everyone know I haven't forgotten you!  Stay tuned because we have a lot to catch up on!  I hope everyone has a great week.

A Bloody Mess!

Thursday morning we had our first accident that involved blood. Maddie was playing in the floor and she had her paci in her mouth. You know just a normal morning around the Thiem house. She suddenly started crying…real tears not fake ones. I wasn’t sure what happened. I figured she must of hit herself rolling over or something. I picked her up to console her. For some reason I pulled out her paci and when I did it was like I opened the flood gates! Blood started pouring out of her mouth. It look like a hockey accident! I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself from fainting! I don’t do blood. My Mom was already on her way because she was coming to pick Maddie up for the morning. I wiped the blood and found that it was coming from one of her front top teeth. My Mom arrived shortly and we decided it would be best to take her in to the dentist to have it checked out. I wasn’t prepared to take her to a dentist yet. I haven’t researched pediatric dentist and picked one. She knew of one so I called him. They told me to bring her on in. We arrive at the dentist and she did great! He said no permanent damage had been done and that a very slight chance of discoloration may occur in that tooth. I was very relieved! Although this wasn’t how I envisioned her first trip to the dentist. We didn’t take pictures and she wasn’t wearing a cute outfit. In fact she still had on her pjs that had blood on them and NO BOW in her hair! Oh well, this just goes to show that we are not in control! I was just relieved that she didn’t bit the poor man! I also just have to toot my horn! I didn’t cry, panic or pass out from the blood! Yep Yep I think I did well!

Operation: SLEEP!!!!!

Two nights ago I dedcided after much research and advice to try the cry it out method to get Madelyn to sleep through the night.  At about 4 months of age she started sleeping from 9pm to 6:30 am.  Well after sickness and major teething that all came to an end.  (after only lasting about 2 weeks)  She now wakes around 3am for a bottle and then again around 5:45 am.  Getting her sleep for the night has never been the problem.  It is staying asleep that we need major help with.  Well I dedcide on Monday night that we were going to do it!  I was mentally and phyically prepared.  She had her night time diaper on, a full belly and it was showtime!  At 2:00am the whining started.  You know the one...the one where you are thinking she is about to blow!  This lasted for 15 min before full blow crying hit.  I sat in bed watching the video monitor with tears rolling down my face.  I had the volume all the way down (it has lights to tell you how loud the noise is) but I watched her keep looking at the door to her room waiting for someone to come get her.  Chris and Prissy were missing all the fun!  They both laid snoring right beside me!  I had a very strange need to kick him and wake him so he would experince this with me but I let me sleep.  After 20 to 30 min of full blown crying her head just hit the matress and fell asleep.  Those 20 to 30 mins felt like hours!  The next morning I was scared to go in her room...I was afraid that she was going to be mad at me. Yes I know how silly this sounds!  She wasn't, she was all smiles and we sang  "Rise and Shine and give God the Glory, Glory".  (This is our morning song!) 
Night #2 was better.  15 minutes of crying followed by 45 mins of whinning and she was out!  As hard as this is I know it will be worth it when we are not up at 3am every morning feeding! 
So tonight we go for night #3!  Pray for our strength (or I should say my strength since Chris sleeps through the whole event) and that after tonight we are done!

Valentines Day!

This year for Valentine's Day Chris and I went to Dallas for a little overnight getaway. Yep we left our little M&M at home! We had a nice overnight date in down town Dallas. We ate at the YO Steakhouse. This was right up Chris' alley. Although I think he was a little disapointed we had a good night anyway. On Sunday I had a meeting in Dallas for work and then I returned home to see our little angel! On Valentine's Day itself we stayed in and Chris cooked for his two loves! We gave Madelyn her Valentine and we were all in bed by 10! That is my kind of night!

These are some photos taken by Dawn Rockett in Tyler for a Valentine's Day Shoot!

 she just wanted to look at mommy..not the camera

 This was her first time to taste candy or anything with sugar.  You can tell by the look on her face that she doesn't know what to think!

 She was a good sport.  She wasn't feeling well this week.  She had 3 teeth come in in just a few days :(

This is my FAVORITE! 

Madelyn update

I noticed I haven't given an update on our little M&M lately!  She will be 8 months in about a week and a half.  Her favorite things at the moment are playing in floor with her toys and she still loves bouncing in her bouncer!  She is not crawling ( I don't think it will be too long) but she log rolls everywhere she wants to go!  She can cross the living room by rolling!  She is trying to get in to EVERYTHING!  Yep that means we have started to have to use the word NO!  Yes she knows what this means and gets her feelings hurt if you get on to her.  Sad, I know!  Her bottom lip pops out!  She already knows how to work it! 
Baby proofing was on my long to do list this weekend but the Flu got the best of that!  It will have to be done soon because she is discovering the world around her!  She loves her Your Baby Can Read DVDs.  They have really started to capture her attention. 
She ate chicken for the first time this weekend and loved it!  I tasted it and have to admit that it was very good!  I will share the recipe later :)
She has 6 teeth and loves showing them off!  The top two look like they are going to have a nice little cap between them but she doens't care!  We brush them at night and she loves it!  I think it feels good on her gums. 
We seem to get more hair everyday!  This makes for a happy mommy :)  I was starting to worry! 
She can laugh out loud but chooses to scream!  She thinks it is funny to scream and let Chris scream.  They do this back and forth till Chris has a sore throat. 
Peak a boo is her favorite game.  She even pulls the blanket over her face when Prissy walks by!
Prissy....Those of you who know her know that she has been an only child for 8 years and she is not always the nicest!  I admit she can be very rude!  So I was worried at how she was going to handle it when Madelyn wasn't a lump on a log anymore!  Madelyn crabs her tail and pulls her hair but Prissy just looks up at me with sad eyes.  For the most part Prissy just stays away from her.

 Seven month birthday!

 Her first Valentine gift! 

The cutest M & M ever!!!  Thank you Nanny for my onesie from NYC!

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired!

Logging in today I noticed how long it has been since my last post.  My oh my I so sorry!  I am writting this blog in my pjs on a Sunday afternoon.  This is my 4th day straight in my pjs and I am starting to go a little crazy.  I have the Flu!!!  And to answer your question no I didn't get the flu shot.  I haven't recieved one in years and this is the first year I have been ill.  I also don't believe in the shot so take that for what it is worth.  Anyways  the last few days have been a rollercoaster.  Chris was sick at first with a head cold and Maddie has RSV.  Chris and Maddie are doing fine.  They both have runny noses but remain happy!  I haven't been this ill in a really long time.  I know no one likes being sick but being a mom and not being able to take care of your child is REALLY HARD!!!!   I hardly have the strength to hold my head up much less hold and take care of Maddie.  Chris took off work Friday to take care of her and has been Mr. Mom all weekend!  I have been mad at myself because I am sick and sad because I miss my angel!  Today I just started crying!  Yep I had my own little pitty party! 
I have talked a lot in past post about guilt well this is one of those times when I am flooded with it!  Why?!  I know it is not my fault I am ill and I am doing the best I can to get well but yet I still feel quilty!  I know Chris is perfectly capable of taking care of her but I miss it!  I love taking care of her and I feel quilty that I can't.  I know this to shall pass but until then pray for a healthy Thiem Family :)

Resolution Update!

Since yesterday was Feb 1st I decided to update everyone on my New Years Resolutions. I honestly can’t remember when I have stuck with my resolutions this long. So I guess I am off to a good start.


1. Be open and honest (to not care about what others think)
This is a daily struggle that I ask God for help with every day but I do think I have come a long way. I have recently voiced my option on my blog about friendship and the other day a lady at Sams commented on how Maddie didn’t have shoes on. She had the cute socks on that looked like shoes and it was 70 degrees outside! I normally would have let this bother me so that I would have gone out shoe shopping for her and never left the house again without shoes on her feet but I blew it off!

2. Loss weight
I have started a new lifestyle of eating healthy and natural! I don’t want to say diet it is more of a life style. I started this lifestyle 2 weeks ago and so far I have lost 6.5 lbs. It is pretty simple really…I became as picky about what I put in my mouth as I am what I put in Maddie’s. ( As natural and pure as possible) It is not just about the weight it is about health and I want to set a great example for my daughter. I am embarrassed to say that I have not exercised but I haven’t that is on the to list . I want to find something I love that I can fit into my schedule.

3. To Update the blog twice a week
Well I haven’t gone back and checked but I do know it is more frequent than ever….but you all are still not helping me! I need comments or followers so I know I am writing this for someone!

4.To Relax and be present in every moment
God and I are working on this. Lately I have had many of reasons not to relax. This has been a crazy month but I am working on relying God for peace of mind and letting what I can’t control go. Being present in every moment is something I make a conscience effort to do every day. When I find my mind drifting to all the things that need to be done I have tried to write them down and put it on the schedule for another day and enjoy what is in front of me!

SO one month down and I am feeling like I have a new lifestyle of physical health and mental health that is going to make me a better person for my family. I don’t think I set unrealistic goal and I didn’t want to. I wanted to make a lifestyle change not just a resolution that would last a month or two.

Trial and Error

Last Friday was a very busy day for Maddie and I.  I worked that morning and then had serveral errands to run.  That night was my night to cook dinner for my grandparents.  Since my grandmother's surgery we have all been taking turns cooking dinner.  Maddie and I got home at 4:00 with a car full of grocerys and it was time for Maddie to eat.  I needed to leave the house in an hour to take dinner to my grandparents house because older people eat EARLY!!!  Well I decided to try something new!  I put Maddie in her high chair and made her bottle.  I sat the bottle in front her and walked away.  I figured that she is a smart child she should be able to figure this out!  She seems advanced to me...this should be a breeze!  She just stared at me.  I walked in the kitchen and started to cook.  I looked back at her and she had her mouth wide open trying to bend her head down and get it.  She was not using her hands.  I thought I would give her a few more minutes because she wasn't fussing.  A minute or two later I guess she got frusterated because she knocked the bottle to the floor!  Luckly Daddy came to the rescue.  He got home and feed her. 
Sorry Maddie...Your just so smart I thought you had this!
I think she thought I was just teasing her :(  Poor Baby!!!
Dinner did get delievered and all was well at the Thiem household.  We had a relaxing Friday night in.

True Friendship

The other day I was talking to a very wise woman about some things that I had been experiencing during my journey of motherhood. I was telling her about my struggle with guilt. I struggle like most moms with guilt along with many other emotions that have seem to consume me lately. I feel guilty when I am not with Madelyn every second, take a nap on Sunday afternoon, and different things like that. She told me that it is perfectly normal to feel that way and assured me that it is Satan himself putting these feelings and thoughts in my head. This got me to thinking…I don’t understand why we as women/mothers are so hard on ourselves as well as each other! I had a great friend call me the other day and she was nearly in tears because she didn’t think she was measuring up as a mom and a wife. She said, “I am struggling, I just can’t do it all like I feel I should.” I told her that EVERYONE feels that way! She said, “I don’t know how you do it. You work, have an organized and clean house, you’re a mom, you make homemade baby food, you cook dinner every night, etc.” I couldn’t help but laugh!!!! I know she was having a melt down but it was so funny to me that she had ME on a pedestal. Little did she know my house was a wreck, you couldn’t even see the top of my kitchen table and the only laundry that had been done all week was Maddie’s. After I got home that day I sent her a picture of my so called clean/organized house to show her that nobody is perfect and we all struggle!

We as friends and women need to quit putting on a front for each other! We need to be real about our struggles and feelings and lift each other up. I value my friendship with this girl so much that I feel like I can tell her what I am struggling with and it makes me feel better to hear that she is in the same boat at times. We need more friends like that…not ones that we compete with her put on a front for. I personally don’t have the time nor the energy to waste on friendships that are less than this.
I had one of my best friends come by my house on Sunday. I have not seen her in quite some time but we always pick right back up where we left off. We are both guilty of not staying in touch or getting together as often as we should but we love each other and we have always been very real towards one another.
I value my true friends and you all know who you are. I do sometimes think we all need to make more of an effort to get together more because I value all of you so much and get so much out of our time together!

6 Months/ New Years Day!

New Years Day was Madelyn's 6 month birthday.  Wow time has flown by.  I can't believe 2010 is gone and left me with a 6 month old!  I absolutely LOVE this age!  She is so much fun and interactive right now.  On New Years Day we went over to my grandparents house to watch football and eat greens for wealth and black eyed peas for health.  These are just a few pictures we took of Madelyn that day to remember New Years and her 6 month birthday. 

 Please notice that she has a bow in her hair without a headband!  Yes this is big for us!  Her hair is growing.

I can't believe my little M&M has gotten so tall!  That following monday we had her 6 month wellness check.  Everything was perfect.  She has reached the milestones that are expected for her age.  Her teeth are early but everything else is just right!  She weighed 16.3 LB and was 26.5 inches long.  This puts her in the 53rd percentile for weight and 76th for length.  We also had to turn in her 3rd poop sample for her final check on salmonella.  A few days later we got the call that it was negitive!  It takes 2 negitive samples to say she is clear and yes thats means she is CLEAR!!!!  Praise God!

Snow Day 2011

Well if you live in East Texas you know snow is VERY rare!  So when it snows the town seems to stop.  Well this year we had our first snow of the season which may also be the only snow for the next few years so I had to capture it!  This was Maddie's first snow so I had to bundle her up and let her experience it just a bit!  She had a runny nose that week so we only stayed out about 10 mins, long enough for me to get some pictures.  I waited till it warmed up a bit to take her out so some of the snow had already melted.  She didn't seem to impressed!  She hates her snow suite because she can't sit up in it.  She reminds me of the kid in the movie The Christmas Story when his mom bundles him up so much that he can't put his arms down!  She was a good sport for mommy!

 Snow Day 2011

 She is not a fan!

 She can't move in her suite but she looks cute!

She seemed to like it once prissy came out!  Wow sister you blend in!!

Christmas 2010

Christmas this year was the best christmas ever!  Christmas is my favorite holiday.  It is full of tradition and memories.  Every year I love to start off christmas by decorating my tree.  It is not a chore to me it is a trip down memory lane.  Every vacation we go on I buy an ornament so my tree is filled with memories of places we have been together.  I also get new ornaments each year that represent what we have gone through that year.  For example our first christmas together, our new home, we are expecting, etc.  So unwraping the ornaments and hanging them on the tree is a very special time.  Any who I am a huge fan of traditions and this year we embraced old traditions and started some of our own with our own little family.  Yes I know Maddie will never remember her first christmas but one day when she looks back at the home video she will see how much she was loved and how special we tried to make it for her.  I hope everyone had a wonderful christmas!!!!

 Claire, Cade and Maddie with Santa at the Mall in Tyler

 Christmas Eve at Mamaw and Papaw's house after church

 Our Tree

Next year we may have to add another tree!  This one can't hold many more memories!

Maddie had her own tree this year in her room.  It was full of her baby's first christmas ornaments.

 Maddie baking holiday treats with Mimi.  My Mom and I have always gotten together to bake for the holidays but this year we had a Jr. Chef join the fun!  We love making christmas treats for friends, customers and family!

 Christmas morning at my Mom's house.  Chris and I have always spent the night at her house on christmas eve since we have been married.  This year we got to wake up and do santa!  My Mom has always given Chris and I pj's on christmas eve.  This year we got matching pj's and Maddie got some too!

 This was just for fun!

Maddie with Santa at the Gaylord Texan.  She pulled his beard with all her might!



Eating Adventures

Well I wanted to give everyone an update on eating solids.  After trying and hating rice and oatmel we found a cereal she will eat.  She loves barley.  She must get that from her father!  So she likes the barley and she likes all the fruits and vegtables that we have tried.  I got a baby food maker for christmas and I LOVE it!!!  I love to cook anyways but knowing that I am giving my daughter a healthy start with homemade food made from fresh produce makes me smile!  It is also a lot cheaper which means my money can go to cute bows and clothes instead of jared food!  I am not saying that there is anything wrong with jared food!  Maddie has eaten it and I am sure she will again.  Here are some pictures of our eating adventures.

 I am not sure how the peas got on her nose!

 She LOVES yams!

She looks so tiny in her high chair!

I need a do over!

We all have those days when we think we should just crawl back in bed and start over. Well last week I had a few of those days. Monday Maddie and I came home from the grocery store and I put her down for a nap and then unloaded the groceries. I then went into the bedroom to change clothes. I took my wedding set off and went to the other hand to take off the ring Chris gave me for Christmas and nothing! The hand was bear! The ring is a little big and I need to get it sized. But as all of you girls know when you get a new ring you don’t want to give it up for a few days to have it sized. Well that being said, It was gone!! My heart sank and then panic set in!!!! I ran through the house searching for the ring. I found it in the trash can in an empty Wal-Mart sack! Yep I quickly composed myself so when Chris got home he would never know!!!!


On Wednesday I was taking Maddie to her Caregivers house (AKA Nanny) and I ran out of gas! First of all, when I take her and drop her off I am not dressed for the day! I am usually in my pj’s and have on the first pair of shoes I can find. On this lovely day I had on pink caprice pj’s, a pink hoodie, and ugg boots. Yep that right! Well there is a lot of traffic on Old Jacksonville at 8:oo am. I was at a red light and could see the gas station from the car. I put my flashers on but cars still came up behind me and honked their horns. A sweet couple finally came and offered to push me out of the way. I didn’t know if that would be possible in my SUV but they did it! As I sat there waiting on Lavonda to bring me gas I could just here Chris saying, “ I told you so! You should never let it get below a fourth of a tank!” I sat and talked to Maddie and begged her to never remember this! I felt like a bad mom and most of all I dreaded telling Chris. I did tell him that night and he didn’t say I told you so but it was written all over his face! I hate when I can tell him he is right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Lavonda for saving the day! I have 5 years of free road side assistance that came with my car but I didn’t remember that at the right time.
 
I hope this week is better than the last!

Milestone for Mommy

Well New Years eve was a HUGE milestone for me! Maddie spent the night at her Mimi’s house! Until then the longest time I had spent away from her was 12 hours. Those 12 hours were only because I have to go to Dallas for meetings. Most days I am only away from her about 5 to 6 hours. I know most of you are thinking it took 6 months to have a night away from her. Yes it did! Don’t judge me!!! Chris and I have a dates but they have only been for a few hours so this was very special. We dropped her off about 6 and picked her up the next day around noon. So yes it still wasn’t even 24 hours but it was a big deal to me! I prefer to take baby steps! She did amazing and slept all night for Mimi! I did pretty good too! I only cried twice and Chris assured me we could go get her anytime! My next goal 24 hours! It is not that I don’t trust my mom with her, I just don’t want to miss a thing! But I know it is healthy for our marriage to have time alone together and having a healthy marriage is good for Maddie!
Chris and I had a great night out and enjoyed sleeping in the next morning!  The next day we celebrated New years day and Maddie's 6 month birthday.  Wow I can't believe she is already a 1/2 a year old.  Time flies when your having the time of your life.

2011 Bring it on!!!

Well it is a new year! It is a time for self evaluation and a time for changes to be made. As I sat down to think about my resolutions I couldn’t help but think that it is crazy that we need a new year to make changes in our lives but if that is what it takes than so be it. I also started thinking about this past year and the changes that have already taken place in my life. This year has been the BIGGEST year for change. Hello…I had a baby!! That really shakes things up!

It has been six months to the day since Maddie was born and I think I am starting to get the hang of things. Now that I feel like I am getting the hang of things I feel like I can sit down and make new goals and resolutions for myself. I decided to share my resolutions with all of you as a step towards my first resolution…(these are in no particular order)

1. To be more open and honest and not worry about what other think!

2. Lose weight…yep I figure this is on most people list. I have lost all of my Prego weight but now the 30 lbs that I gained before getting pregnant needs to come off. This is an overall resolution to be healthier.

3. To update my blog at least twice a week! I need your help with this. When I get comments or know people are reading this I am motivated to keep writing.

4. To RELAX!

This is some what hard for me. I tend to be up tight! But I think by relaxing it will make me a better mom, wife, friend, and overall person! I don’t think Maddie will hold it against me (if she even knows) that her homemade baby food doesn’t have typed labels or if I forgot to sprinkle the Reindeer food I had made out for her first Christmas. I am going to try and give myself a break.

5. Be present in every moment!

This goes hand in hand with relaxing. I don’t need to be worrying about what I need to be doing around the house when I am playing with Maddie or talking to Chris about his day. That is not fair to them. I need to give full attention to what, who, and where I am at THAT MOMENT!
I hope this may inspire you to make a few resolutions for yourself.

Happy NEW YEAR! I hope everyone has a blessed 2011.

I am very excited about 2011. We have a lot of big things going on this year.

1. Chris turns 30!

2. My grandparents 60th wedding anniversary

3. Our 5th anniversary.

4. A friend of ours has a baby!

5. A few friends/family are getting married

6.Maddie turns 1

2011 Bring it on!!