Madison's 1st Race for the Cure

Madison has about 50 pairs of socks that are too little for her, and I'm really not exaggerating. She has 50 pairs of newborn socks. I've tried to force them onto her feet the past couple of days, but it's just not working. They end up falling off somewhere in the house. So...today we made a trip to JC Penney's because I really like their socks. The elastic in them is very tight and they always stay on. I bought Madison some new white socks-because white goes with everything and I also found her this cute sweatsuit to wear for the Race for the Cure.

Gabe's clinic sponsors the RVT Girls each year. The race is in Little Rock on October 17th. We always drive up the night before, eat dinner at Mike's Place in Conway, and then spend the night in a hotel in LR since we have to be at the race early in the morning. This will be Madison's 1st race...and she is excited. We always get a t-shirt made to wear at the race, and this year we had to get a few onesies made since there have been three very young additions to our group. We'll see how it goes. Since I've been training for the half-marathon, I'm going to run the race this year. I've walked it in the past years. I hope Madison does great in the stroller. Below you will see how excited she is about her new sweatsuit.

"Hmm...what's this? It cost how much?"

(Just kidding- it was super cheap!)

"I'm supposed to wear it? Nah- I'll just eat it."

Pretty cute, huh?

Close up of the RVT onesie

She's going to look so cute! As you can tell, I'm pretty excited about the race- I mean, dressing Madison up for the race.

Today, Madison started sticking out her tongue like a little lizard. I have to say, she's the cutest little lizard I've ever seen! She also blew raspberries the entire time we were in Penney's. Funny girl.

Tents & Teeth

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to the church to run. We ran three miles again this week. Next week we will be kicking it up to 4 miles...yikes. Madison did great in the stroller.

After we ran, we starting getting everything ready for Gabe's clinic picnic at Lake Dardanelle State Park. We ate burgers and all the fixings. One of his employees brought sugar cookies (razorbacks & footballs) from Ed's Bakery in Conway. YUM! If you've never had a treat from Ed's, you should! After everyone ate, a few went out on the lake. It was a gorgeous day Saturday- a perfect day for a picnic.

River Valley Therapy & Sports Medicine

8 Year Anniversary

Great food...

Madison's Grandma & Grandpa (my parents)

Madison & Beckett

(and...me & my good friend, Melissa)

Madison's Grammy


Madison laughing at her Papa
(notice the RVT t-shirt)

Last, but certainly not least, (DRUM ROLL PLEASE.................................................)

MADISON CUT HER VERY 1ST TOOTH ON SATURDAY! My mom was feeling her gums and she said, "Madison has a tooth!" You can't really see it, but you can feel it. She has been running a fever for several days and has been drooling a little more, so we were wondering... Isn't it so exciting???

Madison's Photo Album, #1

Make a Smilebox photobook

Razorback Red!

Gabe & I went to the Razorback game on Saturday...but without Madison. We went with another couple. We ate at Noodles (a lot like Macaroni Grill) and shopped a bit at the mall.

Saturday morning we ran 3 miles with our training group at church. Madison didn't whine a bit. She watched everyone running around us.

Before we left for the game, Madison and I took a few pics out in the yard. I dressed her to match me! :) Although pink is her favorite color, she looks pretty good in red, as well!

MOMs

At FBC Russellville, we have a ministry called MOMs, mirrored after MOPS. MOMs stands for Mothers of Miracles, while MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschooolers. We meet once a month to be refreshed and encouraged. There is a guest speaker/devotional, craft, helpful parenting hints, and best of all...a meal! What a wonderful time of fellowship. Our previous director just went back to teach this year. All of her "preschoolers" are now in grade school. She did a wonderful job with MOMs. I am now trying to do half as good of a job as she did with MOMs. I'm the new director and I'm loving it! Isn't it so much fun to be a mom? It's a lot of work, but at the end of the day I'm still so glad I'm a mom.

Because of the quick switch in leadership, we are having playdates for the Fall semester.We will meet the 3rd Friday of each month, but will bring our kiddos along. We will be kicking off the year with our first MOMs playdate tomorrow! So, if you are from the Russellville area, I hope you can make it. Our playdate was originally scheduled to be at the FBC playground at 10:30am, however, we have had lots of rain this week. If the playground is too wet tomorrow morning, we will move our playdate to the FBC gym. There is all sorts of fun equipment in the gym for the kids to play with.

MOMs Playdates for the remainder of the semester:
October 16 @ 9:00- trip to Johnston's Pumpkin Patch in Greenbriar. Kids get to go on a hayride and pick a pumpkin! B.Y.O.L.
November 13 @ 10:30- FBC playground/Thanksgiving Potluck in Fellowship Hall
December 4 @ 10:30-ornament exchange for moms/ornament craft for kids. B.Y.O.L. & 2 dozen cookies for cookie swap. Details TBA.

Our official MOMs meetings will pick up the 3rd Friday in January. Registration is $5.00 and will begin in November. Hope to see you there!

PASTA GRILL

PASTA GRILL

Located in Clarksville, AR

So, I ran into Suzanne Hall, former owner of Italian Gardens in Russellville. I used to work for Suzanne back in the day when I was a waitress at the I.G. She told me they opened an Italian restaurant in Clarksville called Pasta Grill. She said the menu was pretty much the same, but the restaurant was decorated with a Pottery Barn twist instead of a memorable twist. So...you know how I am with food. We decided to check it out. We ate there last night and really liked it. The food really is pretty much the same, except the pasta was different. I got a dish called Crunchy Shrimp, but changed it to grilled shrimp instead. The pasta was a little different. It was a thick, curly pasta called cellentani. Same bread, same sauce, different atmosphere. You should check it out. Take the first Clarksville exit and take a right up the hill. It sits on the hill right next to Best Western hotel. Hope you enjoy!

Pretty Lil' Thang

Well, we did it! We ran three miles this morning with the church training group. Madison only whined a little. We were done at 8:00. It was kind of strange being up and at 'em so early on a Saturday morning.

Aren't these pics precious? My friend, Megon, watched Madison the other day to return a favor and took some really great pics of her! I especially love the first two because they look so professional.

Snot Rockets!

Madison went to Mother's Day Out twice this week. She usually only goes on Tuesdays, but this week she went on Thursday as well. I had a sitter lined up for a couple of hours on Thursday so I could get my hair done, but she got sick! So...thankfully, there was a temporary spot open for Madison. After I got my hair done, I stopped by Flowers, Etc. (a home decor/gift shop here in town) just to browse. I ended up getting this wooden sign. I have always wanted some type of sign or plaque in my house some day with the following verse...

I like it a lot. I plan on hanging it above a door in the kitchen.

Last night, Madison was a hungry little beaver. She ate TWO whole jars of baby food...carrots (her favorite) and green beans (her not so favorite.) You'll eat anything when you're starving.

Well, as I mentioned before, Madison has been sick for quite some time now. Two weeks ago, she had cold-like symptoms- congested nose, runny nose, hoarseness, watery eyes, etc. The doc said it was allergies. She took Allegra for a week...no major changes, then switched over to Claritin, and dried up a little. The doc said to let it run its course. Yesterday, however, the child started sneezing snot rockets and if you're not sure what those are, you probably don't want to know! Gabe and I have both already been shot in the face! Gross! I love my baby girl, but I'm ready for the snot to go! I took Madison back to the doc this morning to get an antibiotic. He said she has a sinus infection and prescribed her Amoxil. Do any of you remember taking this yummy pink refrigerated medicine. I have very fond memories of it. I remember that is was pink (my favorite color), refrigerated, and tasted like bubblegum. Madison seems to be quite fond of it as well. She guzzles it out of her dropper.

Oh, we have used up a LOT of tissues. I need to go buy some kleenex with lotion in them because her nose is becoming raw. Poor baby!

Here she is...not looking her best.

No bow. Watery eyes. Red nose.

I just laid her down for a little nap before bedtime. She is worn out. Tomorrow morning we have to wake up early and go run with the half-marathon training group from church. We will be running 3 miles. I have stuck with my weekly training schedule, so...BRING IT!!!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a long weekend packed full of fun! Madison had one of her friends over

Friday night. They played and went on a stroller ride.

Madison really likes to play with her stuffed bunnies. She loves to grab them and jostle them.

Madison tried peaches for the first time this weekend. As you can tell, she thought they were pretty tasty. She gets her appetite from her daddy. :)

Gabe and I went to the razorback game on Saturday in Little Rock. We ate at PF Chang's...

one of my favorite restaurants. I'm not real crazy about football..okay, I kinda hate football, but getting to shop and eat out is always fun on game day!

Sunday, we drove down to Lake Ouachita to spend the day camping with my parents, Madison's Grandma and Grandpa. We ate two fabulous meals and enjoyed some time out on the lake. Isn't this picture precious of Madison and her Daddy? She loves him so much!

Gabe and I on the tube. I would have kicked him off the tube like I traditionally do every year, but I just didn't have the energy on this particular day. The water was cold, and I didn't want to get wet. Ha!

Uncle Ryan (my brother) and Madison

Madison and Daddy- wearing Daddy's hat

Madison lovin' on Grandma

Family pic on the lake

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Melissa (my sister and brother-in-law)

Sittin' on Grandpa's knee

Swingin' on the hammock with Grandpa

Dream on... We ended the weekend with a great meal cooked by Gabe's mom. She's a great cook! She even made her famous chocolate chip cookies...that Madison NEEDED!