lots to catch up on, but never forget:
life is beautiful.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
visit to granny's
way back in june, we visited granny & papa's house. brad and mason drove over the day before madison and i flew, and i received a few text messages with photos along the way. wednesday night, brad wanted to be sure that i knew about the delicious pizza he and mason devoured at johnny's pizza (along with our good friend will who lives in ruston).
you're in big trouble, boys. no puppies allowed! thankfully, they were just visiting aunt jeannie at work (in a vet office). oh those two. always trying to get mommy riled up!
once madison and i arrived, we enjoyed some wet and wild family time!
after making a big splash on friday, we followed it up with a trip to eagle lake on saturday.
definitely better than the bowl of cereal i had... :)
the next day's photo was even more alarming adorable. the caption was "welcome the new family member sandy" with the following photo:
once madison and i arrived, we enjoyed some wet and wild family time!
after making a big splash on friday, we followed it up with a trip to eagle lake on saturday.
princess madison was tutu cute
spiderman is ready for an adventure...
a driving adventure!
checking out some rings with granny
faster! faster!
it's always mason's turn!
some of us had WAY too much fun.
overall it was a fun, albeit way too short visit. come see us soon granny & papa!
Monday, June 18, 2012
little bit's first airplane adventure
it had been six long months since we had seen granny and papa in the flesh. way too long. so we took advantage of brad's long weekend and headed to tallulah. brad and mason drove over on wednesday night and due to a work event on thursday, madison and i caught a flight to meet them thursday evening.
and as typically happens when you plan a trip, at least one kid spikes a fever. this time it was madison and while i was at another work event across town on wednesday (it was quite the busy week for me), i received a phone call from madison's school letting me know that she was running fever and needed to be picked up. perfect. i'm an hour and 15 minutes away and sweating my tail off in a chemical plant while wearing frc's (fire retardant clothing aka the really cute blue jumpsuit with my name on it).
i finished up quickly and headed back to the woodz to pick up little bit. i could instantly tell she didn't feel well and although her fever wasn't high (100.6 - just barely enough to be sent home from school), it was clear that alternate arrangements would need to be made for thursday morning. miss maggie to the rescue. miss maggie was one of mason's first teachers who now works at our church nursery. we adore her. she's so sweet and simply adores the kiddos. she happened to be free thursday morning, so madison could hang out at home and i could help run the "take your child to work day" event at the office. don't let anyone fool you... this whole working mother business is tough!
i made it home by 2 pm, madison was clearly feeling much better and hadn't run temperature since the night before, so we headed to the airport to catch our 5 pm flight. brad graciously took all our luggage and the pack 'n play in the truck with him, so all i was responsible for was madison, my purse, her diaper bag and the car seat.
we checked in and headed to the gate, which was conveniently located (ha!) at the furthest point of the airport. terminal b, gate 84. basically the bowels of IAH where the air conditioning is minimal and you have to walk outside to the planes and climb the tiny stairs to board. i huffed and puffed my way with 40+ pounds of gear and settled into the waiting area at 3:45 pm. and we waited...
originally scheduled for 5:08 pm, i watched at it was bumped to 5:19, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, and finally 7 pm. all the while, we had infrequent updates telling us that the plane was there, the crew was ready, they were fueling up, and we should be boarding soon. but we didn't.
at 6:40-ish, united announced that our flight was cancelled. what??!! we were to report to the (really long and slow moving) customer service counter to be rescheduled. so we did. and stood there for 20 minutes while a mere 3 people were helped. then wonder of all wonders, a united representative walked over to where we were in line and announced "the flight to jackson has been reinstated!" again, what??!!
we hustle back over (again with the 40+ pounds of gear) to the boarding area, board the plane and await take-off. one of the world's nicest people was sitting next to me on the plane who told me that he was there to help me with whatever i needed. he knew what it was like to fly with small children and he didn't want me to worry about madison fussing, crying, kicking, touching, or otherwise invading his space. truly incredible. and he was probably 6'5", so he was already crammed into the tiny seat as it was.
we sat on the plane for another 20 minutes when horror of all horrors, the pilot announces that the flight is cancelled. i thought i was going to cry.
meanwhile, brad has driven an hour and a half to jackson to pick me up, arriving at 6:30, my original landing time. he turned around to head home after the first cancellation, turned back around when it was reinstated, and i now had to tell him that once again, we were not coming. unbelievable. we were also supposed to have dinner with my dear friend and college roommate jennifer who was also put through the ringer by the ever-changing itinerary.
back to the customer service line. it was now 7:30-ish and madison has slept a total of 10 minutes since 11 am. she's exhausted (but still happy), i'm exhausted (not that happy), and there is no end in sight. i asked if i could just call united to get rescheduled to avoid the long line, but alas, it is their policy to torture innocent passengers and make them suffer by standing in lines that hardly move.
another 20 minutes later (we were closer to the front this time), we finally made it to the counter where i asked if we could go to monroe tomorrow instead of jackson since it was closer to my final destination.
"monroe?" the agent asked. "hold on a second." the next thing i know she's asking over the radio if the flight to monroe had left yet and five minutes later we are running to the plane with the final boarding call echoing over the loud speaker.
a saint dressed as a cart driver gave this weary momma and her baby a lift to the gate and helped us gate check the carseat and climb the stairs. as i walked down the narrow aisle to the back of the plane where our seats were, i realized that we were about to take off and brad didn't know we were coming, much less headed to monroe!
i frantically tried to call him with no luck, sent two text messages that didn't go through and as we taxied toward the runway after they had already ordered phones to be turned off, i tried him one last time. he answered on the third ring. "we're on a flight to monroe, leaving now. i can't talk, but PLEASE meet us there. we'll wait for you until you have a chance to get there," i whispered fervently into the phone while ducking down so the flight attendant couldn't see me.
"what?," brad said.
"please just meet us in monroe. we'll explain later," i said. "gotta go!"
the world's perfect baby sat happily in my lap for the ride, drank a little milk to help her ears pop, and played with my water glass for the remainder of the flight.
she was so good, in fact, that the woman sitting across the aisle from us commented that she had never seen a baby act so well.
mommy beams.
at 9 pm, we touched down in monroe. miraculously (and i really don't want to know just how fast he was going), brad arrived in ouchita parish at the same time. madison and i made our way to the airport exit and were promptly picked up by brad, mason, and granny. we were equally tired and frustrated by the day's events.
and that, my friends, is the long-winded and quite adventurous tale of madison's first airplane ride. thank goodness the rest of our trip was relaxing and fun!
and as typically happens when you plan a trip, at least one kid spikes a fever. this time it was madison and while i was at another work event across town on wednesday (it was quite the busy week for me), i received a phone call from madison's school letting me know that she was running fever and needed to be picked up. perfect. i'm an hour and 15 minutes away and sweating my tail off in a chemical plant while wearing frc's (fire retardant clothing aka the really cute blue jumpsuit with my name on it).
i finished up quickly and headed back to the woodz to pick up little bit. i could instantly tell she didn't feel well and although her fever wasn't high (100.6 - just barely enough to be sent home from school), it was clear that alternate arrangements would need to be made for thursday morning. miss maggie to the rescue. miss maggie was one of mason's first teachers who now works at our church nursery. we adore her. she's so sweet and simply adores the kiddos. she happened to be free thursday morning, so madison could hang out at home and i could help run the "take your child to work day" event at the office. don't let anyone fool you... this whole working mother business is tough!
i made it home by 2 pm, madison was clearly feeling much better and hadn't run temperature since the night before, so we headed to the airport to catch our 5 pm flight. brad graciously took all our luggage and the pack 'n play in the truck with him, so all i was responsible for was madison, my purse, her diaper bag and the car seat.
we checked in and headed to the gate, which was conveniently located (ha!) at the furthest point of the airport. terminal b, gate 84. basically the bowels of IAH where the air conditioning is minimal and you have to walk outside to the planes and climb the tiny stairs to board. i huffed and puffed my way with 40+ pounds of gear and settled into the waiting area at 3:45 pm. and we waited...
 |
| such a happy girl as we waited (and the only photo from our adventure) |
at 6:40-ish, united announced that our flight was cancelled. what??!! we were to report to the (really long and slow moving) customer service counter to be rescheduled. so we did. and stood there for 20 minutes while a mere 3 people were helped. then wonder of all wonders, a united representative walked over to where we were in line and announced "the flight to jackson has been reinstated!" again, what??!!
we hustle back over (again with the 40+ pounds of gear) to the boarding area, board the plane and await take-off. one of the world's nicest people was sitting next to me on the plane who told me that he was there to help me with whatever i needed. he knew what it was like to fly with small children and he didn't want me to worry about madison fussing, crying, kicking, touching, or otherwise invading his space. truly incredible. and he was probably 6'5", so he was already crammed into the tiny seat as it was.
we sat on the plane for another 20 minutes when horror of all horrors, the pilot announces that the flight is cancelled. i thought i was going to cry.
meanwhile, brad has driven an hour and a half to jackson to pick me up, arriving at 6:30, my original landing time. he turned around to head home after the first cancellation, turned back around when it was reinstated, and i now had to tell him that once again, we were not coming. unbelievable. we were also supposed to have dinner with my dear friend and college roommate jennifer who was also put through the ringer by the ever-changing itinerary.
back to the customer service line. it was now 7:30-ish and madison has slept a total of 10 minutes since 11 am. she's exhausted (but still happy), i'm exhausted (not that happy), and there is no end in sight. i asked if i could just call united to get rescheduled to avoid the long line, but alas, it is their policy to torture innocent passengers and make them suffer by standing in lines that hardly move.
another 20 minutes later (we were closer to the front this time), we finally made it to the counter where i asked if we could go to monroe tomorrow instead of jackson since it was closer to my final destination.
"monroe?" the agent asked. "hold on a second." the next thing i know she's asking over the radio if the flight to monroe had left yet and five minutes later we are running to the plane with the final boarding call echoing over the loud speaker.
a saint dressed as a cart driver gave this weary momma and her baby a lift to the gate and helped us gate check the carseat and climb the stairs. as i walked down the narrow aisle to the back of the plane where our seats were, i realized that we were about to take off and brad didn't know we were coming, much less headed to monroe!
i frantically tried to call him with no luck, sent two text messages that didn't go through and as we taxied toward the runway after they had already ordered phones to be turned off, i tried him one last time. he answered on the third ring. "we're on a flight to monroe, leaving now. i can't talk, but PLEASE meet us there. we'll wait for you until you have a chance to get there," i whispered fervently into the phone while ducking down so the flight attendant couldn't see me.
"what?," brad said.
"please just meet us in monroe. we'll explain later," i said. "gotta go!"
the world's perfect baby sat happily in my lap for the ride, drank a little milk to help her ears pop, and played with my water glass for the remainder of the flight.
she was so good, in fact, that the woman sitting across the aisle from us commented that she had never seen a baby act so well.
mommy beams.
at 9 pm, we touched down in monroe. miraculously (and i really don't want to know just how fast he was going), brad arrived in ouchita parish at the same time. madison and i made our way to the airport exit and were promptly picked up by brad, mason, and granny. we were equally tired and frustrated by the day's events.
and that, my friends, is the long-winded and quite adventurous tale of madison's first airplane ride. thank goodness the rest of our trip was relaxing and fun!
Friday, June 15, 2012
1/2
as i type this, madison is laughing at her brother's antics while reaching and scoonching (not sure that's a word!) across the living room floor after her rattle. how on earth are we halfway through her first year?!
it seems so trite, but truly, i don't know where the time goes. a friend of mine told me the other day that the days are long but the years are short. how true.
at her six month appointment, madison still refused to eat cereal, so her doctor told us to move on to veggies. he's so smart. homegirl LOVES veggies. since i'm writing this late in her six months, she has now tried green beans, peas, squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes. green beans are her favorite, followed by sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots. not a huge fan of peas, but i've found that if i mix them with carrots, she'll gobble them up. she sleeps 10 hours a night, from 8 pm to 6 am.
baby girl is quite vocal making happy screeching sounds, giggling, and occasional cries (typically only one cry if it's time to eat... seriously, this is one happy girl!) her first word is uh oh, but we're pretty sure that it is just a coincidence that one of her noises sounds like a word.
much like her big brother, she is growing well and at the official appointment measured:
- 27 1/2 inches tall (96th percentile)
- 17 1/2 pounds (80th percentile)
- 41 1/2 centimeter head circumference (40th percentile)
for reference, at six months, mason weighed the exact same, but was an inch taller. crazy.
still no teeth, but the drooling has stepped up a notch, so we'll see how that develops. if history is any predictor, i'm sure a tooth or two will break through while we're on vacation in late july. we just seem to be lucky like that ;)
we remain in awe that we have the privilege of raising this little one and her brother. there are moments/days/weeks when we aren't sure we are up to the task, but we will never lose sight of the precious gift that has been entrusted to us. thank you, Lord. and in the words of an old sorority song... how could i ask for more?
Sunday, June 10, 2012
princess and the frog
i couldn't resist the headline and we only recently discovered what a cute movie it is! grammy gave mason this frog in his easter basket and madison got a little white doggie. mason's claimed the dog and (as you can see) madison loves the froggie. it's good to know that sharing IS possible!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
she sits
with little fanfare and no practice, madison revealed her latest trick:
on a whim, i sat her down in the living room last friday. she sat. for a LONG time. i had time to find my phone, take 5 photos, play with mason, take 5 more photos and play with her before she finally leaned forward to lay on her tummy. stop growing so fast madison. seriously.
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