Sewing Project...

Last Friday I finished my first BIG sewing project! I decided to recover Madilynn's bumper pad for baby girl (thinking this would be easier than making an all new bumper pad). It was still a lot of work, but I have definately improved my sewing skills and now have more confidence to attempt other projects. After we found out we were having a girl, I began looking for the fabrics, and with my mom's help found some that I love!

So, here is the finished product already in the crib!

Mother's Day

To all those special people in my life,

It’s me again. I haven’t posted in a while so here goes.
You might want to grab a box of tissue. This might be a tear jerker.

The passage that speaks to me this mother’s day is 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

“Love is patient and kind: love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong-doing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things; believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” ESV.


Yet, when you read this passage what does that really look like?



Growing up I thought, I know what it means to love. I can remember saying I love this or that, but I really didn’t understand.


Looking at Christ’s example, I read and believe that God so loved the world that he gave his ONLY son so that whoever believes may have eternal life.


But on a day to day basis, I sometimes can’t truly wrap my mind around how this might look and feel.


How is this represented in this sometimes dark and scary world?


Paul writes that we are to be shining lights. Where and when do we see these lights?


Take a walk with me down memory lane and then you might find who they might be.


Love smells like chocolate chip cookies and it’s as sweet as Jell-o pudding or a Flintstone push-up. Love is being rocked to sleep. It even sweeps the boogers out of the house so they don’t get you.


Love gives you the courage and inspiration to chase your dreams.


Love is the rebel that steals your heart. Love might not look like you thought it would but you know it when you see it.



Love sacrifices. Love gently moves mountains. Love won’t leave you, even if it knows who you really are.

It makes you cry when you don’t want to. It’s a cozy bed for a mid-morning nap.



Love lets you water the plants with daddy knowing good and well what will happen.


Love is a miracle.
Love is a mother.


Thank you moms, you have shown me love even when I didn’t deserve it.

I couldn’t be the man I am today without you. You are a burning light of hope and compassion. May every day be your mother’s day.

It's a....

GIRL!!

The ultrasound went really well. Baby girl measured just perfect for her age. With a heartbeat again in the 150's and a weight of 372 grams (less than a pound, but more than 1/2 a pound). We got to see a bit of her personality as well. She was all curled in a ball the entire time and mostly kept her face burried in her legs. Everytime the lady would try to get a picture of her face she would just turn her head and bury it deeper. She didn't move a whole lot (compared to Madilynn), and preferred her ball position. Here are a couple of pictures from today's ultrasound. The first is a front view of her face and abdomen, and the second is her feet crossed at the ankle. She pretty much kept her feet crossed most of the time, I just thought that was so cute!

So....let the naming begin. We are going to be keeping the name secret until she's born, but in the meantime we need a little help with name ideas. Please feel free to offer any suggestions in the comments!

A little bit of Independence...

Madilynn picked out her own clothes today and put them on herself! ( I helped with the socks) This morning she informed me that she wanted clothes on, so she went to get them herself. I decided it was a good day for whatever she picked out since we would be hanging out and doing laundry most of the day. Also, today she pronounced the "L" in clothes, which used to be pronounced cwothes. And then later she said the color black correctly instead of saying "back". She is just talking more and more everyday, with new words added daily!

20 Weeks

We made it to the half-way mark last Friday - 20 weeks. Here's my current picture taken yesterday. I have been feeling great except for some cold/allergy symptoms which I think are finally going away! We are so excited for the ultrasound tomorrow...can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl!!

Easter

First Egg Hunt
The weekend before Easter Madilynn got to do her first egg hunt. Our small group girls got together for an egg hunt. It was a little chilly. Madilynn did really well. I thought she would get caught up after finding each egg to see what was inside, but she didn't at all. She would pick up an egg and go straight for another.

Easter Weekend
We traveled back to Arkansas to spend Easter with family, and we had a great visit! On Saturday we dyed eggs with Memaw and Devin. This was Madilynn's first time to dye eggs she did a good job, but only lasted for about 6 eggs before she was done.

"See, Daddy!"

All finished!

All dressed up...

I loved the hat on her, it ended up working out well since it rained Sunday.

Our Family

Spring Break!!

First Day - Madilynn already playing in the sand! After 3 days of traveling in the car I'm sure she wondered if we'd ever get to the beach. She did really well traveling as long as she had a "moonie" (movie) playing!

The next day was cloudy and rainy so we all enjoyed catching up on rest. Madilynn enjoyed reading her books...

and kissing piggy...

The warm & sunny weather returned...

Daddy and Papa taking Madilynn to the ocean that's as far as she got before she turned around and went back to playing in the sand!

Madilynn helping Mommy build a sand castle
Here are the results... I had to get a quick picture because Madilynn's favorite thing to do was step on them.
Beach Girl!!

I interupted Daddy and Madilynn time watching the sunset for a picture...

So cute...look how curly her hair is!! Somebody went swimming that day!

One day Michael went Deep Sea Fishing on a 6 hour trip. He caught this baby sand shark...pretty cool!

Michael with his fish. They were white snapper and lady fish, he caught 5 and someone gave him theirs. So that night we grilled fish and burgers at the hotel!
Madilynn really loved swimming in the pool... or at least getting out and jumping back in. She also went under for the first time. Daddy showed her how to hold her breath and she did it and he dunked her.

We tried to get a few pictures before dinner, still a little sunny!

Nana and Madilynn
Last, but not least here are some cute pictures of Madilynn on our last night when we all went out for dinner....