Rib Cookout...Happy Memorial Day!

I spent the day today preparing for our rib cookout this evening. We had several couples and babies over from church and work and enjoy a great spread of food...ribs, baked beans, potato salad, deviled eggs, and Sister Schubert's rolls. YUM! It was pretty good.

We topped it all off with homemade vanilla and butterfinger ice cream. YUM!

I meant to take pictures tonight, but there was just too much going on to even stop and think about it. One of my friends from high school stopped by with her newborn baby and I got to hold him. I had to freshen up on my baby skills. I'm looking forward to having a little one again. Although, Madison about had a meltdown when she saw me holding the baby. She didn't want me holding him one bit. Oh dear! She's going to be in for a real treat. I may have to lock myself in a room just so I can nurse our next one. Hmm...

Hope you all had a great holiday weekend!

A Day on the Lake

Happy Memorial Day! Madison wore this little dress to church yesterday. I thought she looked cute in her red, white, and blue.

Yesterday, we took Madison out on the boat with my family for the first time this summer. She was not so thrilled about her life jacket, but got used to it after about the first hour or so. She was a little scared/fussy in the water too.

She loved sitting on my brother's jet ski (pretending to drive), and she loved sitting in daddy's seat.

"the gang"

little miss

Madison and Uncle Ryan-later in the afternoon Madison was getting a little sleepy. She was finally content with her life jacket on and enjoyed getting held while riding on the boat. The sun went down and it got a bit chilly.

Joanna, Madison, Ryan, Gabe, Kristy, Ryan C., & Melissa

Dad got off the boat early and cooked hamburgers for us. Yum!

With the fresh blueberries that we picked the other day, I made this yummy blueberry cobbler. It was soo good.

And, yesterday morning before church I made these blueberry muffins.

Did I mention that Gabe would be a happy man?

A Pickin' We Will Go...

Madison and I went blueberry pickin' this morning with Grandma and Grandpa at Renee's Berry Garden in London. Mom, Melissa, and I have been before. I like to go because the garden is very clean and well kept! Blueberries have got to be the easiest fruit to pick. We picked from 9:30-11:00 and it was HOT! I got a nice tan, but we were dripping with sweat.

Grandma brought Madison her own little bucket.

Us before we set off to pick...

Madison did pretty good. She stayed by Grandma's side. She ate a few berries, (even the green ones) but spit them out pretty quick. I think she is getting used to textures. She hasn't really enjoyed eating any fruit yet. After a little while, Grandpa took Madison to go see the sheep that they have back behind the garden. They also visited a little swing in the shade.

After we finally finished picking, we stopped for a break in the shade and cooled off with some water.

Madison with all her berries! HA!

In goes the berry!

Out goes the berry!

Help-it's falling out!

Mama and Madison. Yes- I'm very pregnant, hot, and my mascara is running!

Walking to the check out station...berries in hand.

On our way home...berry pickin' is fun stuff!

Grandpa gave Madison a drink from the water hose once we got home.

Then, came the bucket...

Then, came the swimming pool...

AHH...grandchildren sure do love their grandparents. Madison sacked out on the way home. Grandma and Grandpa wore her plum out!!! Thanks for a great time! I'm sure we will do this again soon with Grammy, Poppa, Mema, Becca, and William!

I'll be making homeade blueberry muffins and cobbler in the days to come...Gabe is one happy man!

27 Weeks...

Tomorrow I will be 27 weeks along. Almost to the 30 week mark! Can't wait to be in my thirties. Ha! (For all you male readers...a baby is usually done "cooking" at 40 weeks. Just didn't want to leave you out in the dark.)

Baby weighs almost 2 pounds, like a head of cauliflower, and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. We have our 28 week ultrasound scheduled for next Friday! Can't wait to see this baby boy. His is a mover! I'm not sure if he's practicing his kicks for football season or what, but he is definately an active little boogar! I can't wait to find out if he looks like his dad or me. I hope he looks and acts just like his dad. I can't handle another strong willed child. I'm really hoping for an easy going, laid back, normal baby. One that will enjoy the swing, bouncy seat, etc.

We'll see...

Such a Good Girl!

In case you haven't noticed, it's gotten HOT! Yesterday morning, we missed our morning walk and it was just too hot to fit it in later in the day. I decided that we would be going a little earlier this morning. We left about 8:30 this morning for our walk and that was just about the right time. A little earlier wouldn't hurt! It started out somewhat cool (and muggy), but the sun was still out. By the last half of our walk, I was sweating! But at least I was getting a tan. That's what motivates me. When we got back to the house, we stayed outside for a bit and Madison played with her car. We pushed the car up and down the street. She loves that thing. She fell a few times and scraped her knee, and after the third time she fell she started saying "ow." I would say, "Oh, let's go inside and put some medicine on your boo-boo," and she would say, "NO!" That girl kills me because she loves to play outside so much.

Later on, we headed to Wal-Mart to get a few things...

Ever floated on one of these? They are great. It's a spring recliner float by Swim Ways. We purchased two a while back, but both of them got tears in them. We had hardly used them, so I took them back to Wal-Mart today and got some more. They are great if you have babies because you can just put them in your lap and they still get a little wet.
Kroger has the best corn on the cob right now. It is soo sweet. I don't know about you, but I LOVE fresh summer veggies. It's my favorite time of year. I could eat a whole meal of just fresh veggies and no meat. Gabe on the other hand...not so much! I've been cooking some in the microwave for lunch or a snack and decided to grab a few more ears. I hope Wal-Mart's corn is just as good. (Just leave the corn in the shuck and microwave for 5 minutes. So Yummy!)

Since we were out and about, and I had promised Madison in Wal-Mart that if she was a good girl and stayed in the shopping cart that we would get a snowcone afterwards, I had to carry through and keep my word! ;) She was such a good girl and this is huge deal! She normally does not want to sit in the cart, but she has done good that last couple of times. I wonder if the sno cone bribery is working? It's definately fun for momma!

Tonight we are going to watch William's ball game. (Madison's cousin) Madison loves William so much. They play so well together! I wonder what kind of snack we will find at the ball field???

"Boppa!"

I was a smart woman and froze half of the chocolate chip cookies that Grammy made for Madison last time. Madison enjoyed a few today.

"More cookies, please!"
"Don't make me get ugly. Just bake me some more cookies, please."

"See...mmm, good. I love your cookies, Grammy!"

Well, it was just a matter of time. Yesterday afternoon, I was feeding Madison in her highchair when we heard a knock at the door. Gabe opened the door and there was Poppa! The moment he spoke, Madison said "Boppa!" and about jumped out of her highchair. Now Poppa, don't get cocky. You do realize that you have the EASIEST name! Grammy, Grandma, and Grandpa are all quite hard to say. But once she gets the "gr" down, she should be able to call you all by name.

It was so cute once "Boppa" left left because she kept saying his name while playing in her car outside.

Me: Madison, say Poppa!
Madison: Boppa!

The Olive Eater & The Bachelorette

Gabe was feeding Madison olives tonight during supper and started sticking them on her finger. He said he just had to take a picture because he used to eat them this way when he was little.

I took Madison swimming this afternoon for the first time this summer. She didn't seem too excited about it. We stayed less than an hour. Afterwards, we stopped for a snowcone. I didn't want to stay at the stand and eat it, so I ate it on the way home while she screamed bloody murder. I shared a bite with her at every stop sign, but that just wasn't enough. :) She ate plenty more bites once we got home.

Ali- NBC's New Bachelorette

I'm watching the Bachelorette right now as I post. I think I spend more time making fun of the guys. I always start off watching the Bachelorette, but then end up bored as the season goes on. I'm really not a huge fan of Ali. Didn't like her last season, and am not any crazier about her this season. We'll see who she picks...

15 Months...From Sweet to Sour!

"Grammy had a great time dressing me up with her glasses!"
"NO!!! (my favorite word) Not the bow again!"
"Seriously, Mom. I said, NOT the bow!"
"Fine, just hurry and take the picture, but I'm not going to face the camera."

Madison's favorite Aunt Phyllis (from TX) sent Madison this car! You should have seen her face light up when she first saw it sitting in the garage. The girl LOVES this thing. She could play with it for hours. Gabe and I got tired of standing outside while she played in it, so we brought it inside the garage, shut the garage door, left the door to the house open and just let her play in the garage. She thinks she is SUCH a big girl with this car. She is SUCH a Miss Priss!

Getting a ride from Daddy

"Wee! Oops, I'm falling..."

"Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" Remind you of Dorothy, anyone? ;) Notice her hands are still gripped firmly on the steering wheel. Did I mention she's strong willed?

So, what has Madison been up to now that she is 15 months old??? I'm so glad you asked! As I've mentioned before, Madison is a strong willed child. So much so, I realized it when she was just an infant. I was a strong willed child, independent, ornery, etc, so I really already knew before Madison was born that she would be JUST like me. Well, it just so turned out that she is. When Madison is sweet, she is VERY sweet. She really is a loving baby. She likes to be held and likes to give hugs, kisses, and blow kisses. But...when Madison is SOUR, she is VERY SOUR! She has developed into an even strongER willed child in just the last week. I have spent more time in prayer this week...praying that God will give me the knowledge and wisdom to know how to parent Madison. It's actually very hard. Instead of just getting through the feedings, naps, and diaper changes, I'm now actually having to discipline constantly and teach! I've realized what a huge and overwhelming responsibility this "parenting" thing is.

*Madison says the following words- NO, mama, dada, quack quack, ruff, panting noise, thank you

*She loves bathtime

*She LOVES to play outside

*She still loves her walks in the stroller

*She likes to read books...well, for a short period of time

*She loves her Daddy. She gets so excited when she sees him. She plays hard to get at first, but then goes on the hunt to find him in the house and always cries when he leaves for work.

*Madison loves older kids

*She wears size 12-18 months clothes

*Still in size 3 diaper, but won't be for much longer

*Has had NO earaches since her tubes were put in. Yea!

On a totally different note, I told Gabe it had been a while since I'd made homeade chicken and dumplings and blackberry cobbler. So, he got it tonight. It was yummy!