Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day a little early this year. Memaw and Pepaw came to visit the weekend before and took us to see the Razorbacks in the College World Series!!! We were so excited as was Madilynn to get to see the Razorbacks play near where we live. We had a great time! Here's Madilynn staying entertained in the car ride - she played with the cameras. We thought that maybe we were a little crazy taking a car trip in the first week of potty training, but Madilynn did great and stayed dry all day! Our secret...we took the potty chair along, so at any point we were prepared for her to be able to go, and it came in handy!

Just after we got seated here's Madilynn taking in everything...
Then it wasn't long before she was out, sleeping on Daddy, it was so cute!Then Daddy had to do a little re-positioning (it was really hot!). Then we hit a home run and Daddy wanted to yell so bad and it was so funny to see him just sit there and hold it all in while she was sleeping in his lap. I asked him to please give her just 30minutes and she'd be good.

Here we are

Madilynn calling the Hogs! She got lots of practice. And when we tell her to say Woo Pig Sooie, she would say, "Woo Pig Shooie" it was so funny!

And here they are Daddy and Madilynn on Father's Day after church, playing around as usual.

I love to watch them together! We love you Daddy, you're the best! - Love, your girls

Cloth Diapers = Potty Training Time!!

Well, we started last Monday (June 1st) on potty training Madilynn. We didn't get very far after the first couple of days, but we had been explaining that we weren't going to be buying anymore diapers and that they were almost gone. Last week she would just not tell us when she needed to go potty, and I thought okay she still needs to learn what it feels like before she needs to go - we had lots of accidents where she would go in the pull-up and then run and say she needed to go potty.

Meanwhile, we have decided to use cloth diapers for baby girl (less overall cost, better for environment - we realized all of the diapers we have gone through with Madilynn). Last week I ordered them. We decided to go with Bumgenius one-size diapers, they have adjustable snaps so they fit all sizes. I ordered 20 of them and that should be all we'll ever need. We decided to go ahead and order them now to try out on Madilynn and learn how they work before baby girl arrives.

They came in the mail this Tuesday:

I got all white ones. 20 = these +

all of these

I took this picture as I was getting them unpackaged for their first wash.

So Tuesday evening we got them out and Michael immediately put one on Madilynn. She didn't care for it much and said, "No, these are for the baby" and we reminded her that there were no more diapers. Well immediately after putting them on her she decided she needed to use the potty. WOW! That was some great motivation!! After going on the potty twice I put princess panties on her and she stayed dry all evening. We are calling these cloth diapers "big panties" for her now. She is using them to sleep in at nap time and at night.

Wednesday morning we had a couple of accidents, and then she did better last night. We went to Michael's first soccer game at the park and Madilynn wore her princess panties. We showed her where the potty was and told her when she needed to go to let us know. And she did!! We made a total of 4 trips to the potty while at the park and she stayed dry the entire time - we were there for 2 1/2 hours.

So, after two successful evenings we have officially started potty training. She has done well so far this morning with a couple of minor accidents just not quite making it to the potty on time! We are so excited and can't believe she is such a big girl!!

Sister

I have a couple of conversations to share between Madilynn and I about the baby in my belly. This morning Madilynn asked me if we were going to the doctor to look at mommy's belly. I said no we aren't going today, and then I asked her if she wanted to see a picture of what the baby looked like in my belly, and she said yes, so I headed to the computer to pull up a picture to show her, and she said, "Go see a baby's nap, not here yet" she was referring to the baby crib. She likes to look at it and in it, and I guess make sure if the baby is there yet or not. Anyway, so I pull up the picture and show her, and then I pointed to my belly and said that the baby is in mommy's belly like that, and she said, "My sister's coming, I like sisters" as she hugged my belly.

A couple of days ago we had a similar conversation that went like this. Madilynn and I were sitting in the baby's room looking at the crib. Madilynn said, "Baby go night night in there." I said, "yep, when she gets here that's where she'll sleep." Then I asked Madilynn, "Do you know what her name is?" and she quickly replied, "Yeah." I said what is her name, and Madilynn replied, "Sister, my sister".

I thought it was so cute! I think she is looking forward to having a sister. I can't believe how big she is getting, maybe she is starting to understand a little bit.

Great Weekend - Madilynn's First Fishing Trip!

We've had a great weekend together, with lots of great weather! Saturday morning started out with our yummy breakfast then we went and got all of the needed fishing gear (Daddy in fishing mode, and Madilynn has been talking about it a lot lately, even though she'd never been) - a pink fishing pole for Madilynn and some worms (or snakes as Madilynn called them).

Here's Daddy & Madilynn playing Saturday morning

So, after we got all of the gear we went home had lunch, then Madilynn got her nap while we got everything together and ready to go fishing when she woke up! She was excited and ready to go after her nap!

I though this was good...

We didn't catch any fish on Saturday, it was pretty windy and we hadn't found just the right spot. Madilynn kept saying, "C'mon fish, c'mon fish, where's the fish?"

Afterwards we went home and she got to play in her little pool - she had a big time!

Sunday morning after church, giving Daddy hugs

After naptime we decided to go fishing again. Madilynn was excited. We found a better spot today, and it wasn't as windy.

First fish -Madilynn was in her chair enjoying her juice and she wasn't so sure about the fish at first...

Then she came over by Daddy and touched the fish. She kept saying, "Put it back in the water".

2nd fish...

3rd fish...

After the third fish Daddy asked her if she was ready to go home, and she said, "No, I wanna catch more fish!" I couldn't believe it she is so cute! So we hung around and caught some more. And Mommy even caught 2.

Mommy's bass - I told Daddy and Madilynn I was going to catch it and I did!
Then Daddy finished us off with one last bluegill. For a total of 7 fish!! No fish fry today, we put them all back in the water - as Madilynn said.

When we got back home we came inside the house, then a few minutes later Madilynn said to her Daddy, "Daddy, you check the matos, and I swing?" She's such a smarty, she wanted him to go outside and check on the tomato plant, so that she could swing, we just laughed. He took her out and she got to water the plants and play! Then we had baked salmon for supper, and homemade vanilla pudding w/wafers for dessert - yummy!!

26 Weeks

I can't believe I'm 26 weeks already, it has gone by so fast. I had a Doctor's appt. this week and everything is going well. Baby girl's heartbeat is still in the 150's. My c-section has been scheduled for September 1st, if I make it that far...that's just 3 days before the due date and Madilynn came 4 days early, we'll have to wait and see!
Some things to note:

• Baby girl has been moving a lot more in the last week - definately stronger/bigger
• Michael felt her move on Sat. May 9th for the first time
• Madilynn was able to feel her move tonight (after supper) for the first time - she' s not sure what to think about it yet!
• I've noticed she moves most often around mealtimes - before, during, and after, this includes even waking me up in the morning, like telling me it's time to eat.
• I've been pretty much set on Honey Nut Chex cereal in the mornings (with Madilynn it was Captain crunch), and on Saturdays- gravy & biscuits bacon & eggs (made by my wonderful husband)
• I've gained 12lbs. so far...
• I have been feeling great and have remained pretty active (chasing Madilynn around)
• I can't believe how small my belly looks in this picture, I feel like it's much bigger than that...just wait, right?

Madilynn's First Haircut!

While we were in Arkansas we also had Madilynn's hair cut for the first time! She was so excited to get her hair done like Mommy's. When I told her we were going to have it done I made sure to tell her not short like Daddy's, but just a little bit cut off the ends and she said okay. We saved the litttle curls in her baby book. Taylor, a friend of mine from school, does my hair so I wanted her to do Madilynn's hair too for the first time. Madilynn wanted me to hold her she wasn't sure about sitting in the chair by herself.

All finished. So pretty!

Then Taylor even gave her a braid to hold her hair back out of her face. It was so cute! Madilynn wore it for a couple of days...Mommy's going to have to practice more with the braids, so she can wear it like that more often!

Thank you Taylor...we had so much fun!

She told everyone about her haircut for several days afterwards.

Our week in Arkansas....

A couple of weeks ago we went to Arkansas, our last trip before baby girl arrives. While we were there Michael and I were able to attend Family Life's Weekend to Remember marriage conference. We had a great weekend together and we had a date night that Saturday night. Michael took me to Ruth's Chris steakhouse and it was wonderful!! Here we are at the restaurant.

Madilynn spent the weekend with Memaw and Pepaw, while we were away, and she had lots of fun. They went to the last Razorback baseball game with fireworks included. Madilynn has seriously talked about the baseball game everyday since, and she can't wait until we get to go again. Here she is showing off the Hog hat and calling the Hogs!

On Tuesday, Daddy left for a conference in KY, and Madilynn and I stayed with Nana, Papa, and Ashlee.

Cooking breakfast with Nana!

Tuesday night we were able to catch up with my aunt Melanie and cousin Brianna, and went to watch Brianna's softball game. The pics I took of Brianna at the game didn't turn out, they were all blury:(

Here's me and Madilynn at the game

Madilynn tickling Mommy...

Hey, one picture of me and Madilynn with my eyes open!

On Thursday we celebrated my sister Ashlee's high school graduation.

We got to visit with Daddy Gene and Ladonna, they were in town for the graduation.

Madilynn in her pretty dress for the graduation

Mama and Madilynn

Then Friday we got together with my cousin Asten and her daughter Madison. We took them to the park to play and they had a big time!