New Years Eve!

I remember days on New Years Ever running around trying to find the perfect outfit to wear to a New Years party.. this year I have on my husband's t-shirt and gym shorts! Taylor is home on a run out from work and already announced he doesn't know if he can stay up until 12. But Miss Lacey is napping so I am sure she'll be ready to party at midnight!

My New Years resolutions are fairly simple.

1. Play with Madeline. Don't get caught up on my computer, cleaning, talking on the phone, etc. I have time to do that while she is in school and at night.

2. Snuggle Lacey. Lots.

3. Exercise atleast 3-4 days a week.

4. Be nicer to my husband. Say I love you more.

5. Get more pedicures. I don't think I even had one in 2010.

6. Acquire a pair of Frye cowboy boots.

7. Cook dinners at home for my family. Make eating out a special occasion!

Christmas 2010

Christmas this year was so much fun! Madeline was old enough to understand what was going on so she had a blast! While opening presents she just kept saying "I want more!" After she was all done she got to sit down and look at all of her goodies. She loved her piggies and a Dora guitar Taylor's aunt gave her. She also got a brand new swingset in the backyard! It has been very cold and snowed here so she only got to play on it one day so far! But I am sure it will get LOTS of use! Madeline is growing so fast. She is a little girl now, not a baby. Her favorite word is "no." She says it constantly. When the baby cries she says "awww baaaaby" and is very concerned if she is hungry or needs her "pa-tee" (pacifier.) Lacey has these adorable chubby cheeks and a head full of fluffy hair. The color looks different every day! My girls are such a blessing!

Taylor went back to work for 10 days yesterday. My mom has come to stay with me for the first few days. She helps me a lot with keeping Madeline entertained. I wish my parents could live closer to us and knowing there is really no way we will ever be this close to them again makes me sad. My mom is going to leave Thursday or Friday and then it will be just me and the girls! The only real concern I have is that I have gotten used to staying up until about 2 or 3 and sleeping in, so getting Madeline to preschool at 9 may be hard to do!

Two Weeks

Tomorrow my Lacebug will be two weeks old! Where did the two weeks go?! It is so crazy for me to think that my little girl has only breathing air for two weeks! Madeline has been a little outrageous today, we are hoping for a better day tomorrow! Last Monday Lacey had dropped in weight down to 7lb 10oz, but today she weighed 8lb 12oz! It was hard to believe she had gained a pound, but I suppose the scale doesn't lie?! Madeline was over six months old when she weighed between 8 and 9 pounds! It is amazing to me with Madeline I would be praying for her just to be on the charts with her weight because she was so tiny and with Lacey she is on the larger percentile! The experience has been so different and it goes way past their birth. With Madeline I was alone with her most of the time. Taylor was in Yorktown, Virginia and would come in most weekends. During the week my mom would usually come by in the mornings and bring me dinner at night while my dad walked my dogs. Other than that I was home alone (afraid my tiny baby might get germs!) With Lacey I have Taylor and Madeline here. I can take her to the store if I feel like going to the store. Lacey is a cuddle bug. Madeline was such (and still is) a self soother. From being in an isolette for the first six weeks of her life, Madeline didn't care if she was held and didn't need a pacifier or anything to sooth her. Lacey loves to be held at all times and if she is in her bouncer is looking around to make sure I am near. I love both of my girls so much! No pictures today because our camera is broken, but we have one on the way from Best Buy! Wohoo!

Lacebug and Madeline

Lacey is 10 days old! It is hard to believe how fast time has flown by! She is so calm and sweet! I thought because Madeline was a dream infant we would get our payback with baby number two, but so far I have been wrong. Since night two she has slept 4-5 hours at night so we still have had no sleepless nights. She sleeps most of the time except for an awake period in the morning, afternoon and goes to bed around 12 or 1am when Taylor and I do. Being able to sleep is such a blessing! I was afraid to come back to North Carolina without my mom, but Taylor has done a great job with Madeline. Since being home he has done all of the laundry and bottle washing. He goes back to work on the 27th for 10 days straight and I am scared to be on my own with my two angels! Madeline hasn't been jealous but she is very active and needs my full attention! Both of my girls are so laid back so hopefully we all will be able to roll with it! Madeline loves to help with the baby, covering her up, attempting to pick her up and giving her "baba" (although the bottle usually pokes Lacey in the eye instead of the mouth!) Lacey has been such a wonderful addition to our family and I can't wait to see as her personality comes out even more!

Letters from Jesus about Christmas..

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are talking my name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed by children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. I want you to celebrate My birth and just get along and love on another.

Now having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of the couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me at anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15:1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in rememberance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up.. it will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can'y afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down there. Hold them in your arms and remind them I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. The stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary - especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whome you love and remember.

I love you,

Jesus

December 9, 2010

Beautiful Lacey was born!

First Snow!

This afternoon we had the first snow in Lynchburg for 2010! Madeline and I went to the Bedford Christmas parade and got flurried on while we froze. Then the snow came down and she got to dig, knock snow off leaves and make mini snowballs. She had a great time but then it got dark so we came in for hot chocolate!

9 Days Until Baby!

I was hoping picking up my parent's house and wrapping some presents might put me in labor.. But no such luck. Our little girl is still lodged under my right rib, which is where she has been the past six months. Sigh. So instead here is my adorable daughter screaming "cheeeese" tonight in her new boots!

Thanksgiving 2010

I have been wanting to write a blog about the black deep fried turkey my dad brought home for Thanksgiving or that my daughter got her two stuffed animals, ran to her Pottery Barn chair and said cheeeese for a picture. Butttt my pictures are on the other laptop and I haven't gotten around to getting them to write a post.

Two Weeks

Our baby girl already weighs 7lb 8oz! It is hard to believe in two weeks Madeline will be a big sister! I can't wait to see if they look alike!

Madeline and I have camped out in Lynchburg until baby arrives. We got moved into our new house last week but there is still lots to do there. I realized Madeline went from preemie size, to newborn, just about skipped 0-3 months and went into 3-6 months for a long time. So this baby will start in 0-3 so I had go buy some 0-3 month sleepers! It is amazing to me I am going to have such a big baby! Who would have thought?! Life is good!

Moving Weekend!

We started moving our things into the new house yesterday! Madeline is staying with my parents for the weekend which has been a huge help. I am not sure why I thought moving at 8 months pregnant was a good idea but we are almost done now! I am at the old house taking a break because my husband was having a mini breakdown so I decided to give him some space! The majority of things are at the new house so now it is just a matter of cleaning and sorting! Pictures to come soon!!

Changes

My "baby" girl is growing up! Our actual baby has a habit of acting up at my non stress tests, which I get every Monday and Friday. She has failed just about every single one so on Monday I wound up in the hospital monitoring the little stinker. She was just fine and I went home about two hours later, but while I was there I was thinking about how much EVERYTHING is changing for Madeline. We have been at my parents for about two weeks now and she loved it here. Papa and Gran are her favorite two people and I think she is going to be very distraught when we head back to North Carolina. Her favorite teacher at school, Ms Erin, had her last week this week and Madeline wasn't even there to say goodbye! I am very upset that when she returns to school Ms Erin won't be there and I hope Madeline handles it okay! Also we will be moving into a new house and she will obviously have a new baby sister! It is going to be a lot happening to her in a short amount of time! But I know Madeline is a very tough little girl so I just hope it won't bother her too much!!

Halloween 2010!

This was Madeline's first "real" Halloween! I used her same bee costume outfit from last year and it was just as adorable! We started the day off at MeMe's (Taylor's grandma's) house! We had lunch with his family. We then headed over to his dad's house to hang out with him for a little bit! Madeline got lots of sweet treats from those two stops! We went home and had dinner with my parents at Applebees. Then we went down Timberlake Rd making our visits! We stopped at Harriet's house, which was beautiful as always! She had fixed Madeline up a gift bag FULL of goodies. Madeline was SO excited about getting princess dress up, Goldfish and crayons! Then we went my mom's childhood best friend where Madeline scored candy and two little outfits. And ended the night at Taylor's grandparents and aunt and uncle's house. Margo got our girls adorable matching pj's (I can't wait to dress them up!) and our baby girl a Christmas outfit! We ended up getting home too late to do actual trick or treating (Madeline fell asleep in the car on the way home!) Once home my mom turned on our porch light (at 8:30!) and her and Madeline were able to hand out some candy to a few late night trick or treaters! We had a great day and I am so glad Taylor got to be home with us. We are so blessed with such amazing family members!

The Pumpkin Patch

Madeline and I went to the Grandy Pumpkin Patch twice last week! The first time we went with Mommy and Me then we went with her preschool class! We got a total of 5 pumpkinds, she ran on the hay, had cider and frozen yogurt! She has a blast and we are loving this crisp fall air!!

We are Moving.. Hopefully!

Back in September we looked at a rental property in Manteo. It has just about everything we have wanted.. a HUGE FENCED back yard (which already has a little play house for Madeline,) four bedrooms PLUS a play room, nicely done kitchen (with an ice maker and four burner stove, which I have lived without for too long,) an actual main floor laundry ROOM and it isn't on stilts. These houses are hard to find around here on the rental market! So we immediately put in our application (even though it is about double what we pay now, in life sometimes you just have to go for it!) So we didn't hear back for like 3 weeks and finally they got in touch with us and said if we were interested we could move in November 15th.. So we haven't signed a lease but our fingers are crossed!! SO EXCITING!

Colors

Madeline now knows most of her colors. However if she happens to forget one or doesn't know a color, it is automatically pink! So cute!

Thrift Stores

A lot of blogs that I read regularly are thrifty moms. They go into a thrift store and find Pottery Barn beds, $500 shoes for $2 or a great dresser for little to nothing. I for some reason manage to walk into a store and fall in love with the most expensive thing they have. The only good things I find are things I already own. For example, last Christmas I wanted to get Madeline the Rose Petal Cottage. I searched craigslist for a good 6 months. Never found one so I finally broke down and spent $150 dollars on the Cottage and accessories. Not even two weeks later I found the cottage at a thrift store for $6.. I was literally sick.
Madeline is in preschool now every Tuesday and Thursday. Today Taylor was off work so he went with me to drop her off and we hit up some of the close thrift stores. Madeline just got a toddler bed and about a month ago we went to Target and got her a new bedding set. Today at the Goodwill we found the exact blanket, barely used for $5. I was so angry and bought it because I figured maybe both girls would use them.. Probably not, but maybe. I also picked up a nearly new booster (we had just looked at it in Walmart for $30 and we paid $3 for it, no signs of wear!) so we put Madeline's highchair in the basement. Atleast I don't have to look at the bulky highchair anymore! Maybe now that her preschool is close to the thrift stores and I have nothing but time on my hands I can become a thriftier shopper?? ..maybe

First Day of School

Yesterday Madeline started her first day of two year old preschool! She did MUCH better than I ever imagined! She is going every Tuesday and Thursday. I am so proud of her! One day down, twenty more years of school to go!

Big Girl Bed

My baby is officially in a toddler bed.. like completely. As in we got rid of her crib.

My camera has died, hopefully pictures will be back soon though!

Hurricane Earl

We were evacuated to Rocky Mount to escape the wrath of Hurricane Earl last night.. Needless to say Earl turned out pretty weak and we are already back home.

"Cause Earl had to die, nah nah nah nahhh.." Haha the Dixie Chick song has been in my head the past few days.

Self Pity

My daughter was born at 29 weeks. For some reason people who had a child born at 36/37 weeks completely healthy feel the need to tell me how horrible their experience was. It has been that way even before Madeline got out of the NICU. Someone will say "Oh yeah, "insert name" was born at 37 weeks.. two hours after she was born she had to go to the nursery for a while for observation and it was the worst hour of my life.." I try to smile, while inside I am thinking my child was in the NICU for 6 weeks, couldn't breath, eat, do anything on her own. Your child was "preterm" and mine was "premature." There is a major difference.

Here I am once again 25 weeks pregant. I am so grateful to have made it to a point in pregnanct that I know my child, if born early, would most likely survive. And as things are possibly unraveling in my body I am getting things at home ready for if I end up in a similar situation I did with Madeline.

Someone who had a 36 week child, for them was traumatic. For me my 29 week old child was traumatic. But there are people who can't have biological children. There are people who try for years and years to have children. There are people who lose children. I think I am realizing that no matter what, there is always someone who has it worse. So as I sit here and start to pity myself, I know that I am so incredibly blessed to have a healthy two year old and a healthy little girl who hasn't been born yet. And it doesn't matter if she is born tomorrow, in a week or two weeks past her due date. I am blessed to have her at all.

The Diving Board.

Today Madeline jumped off a diving board onto my head! I almost drown and her hair didn't even get wet! Haha crazy child!!

Lindsey..

Is having farmhouse dreams..



..sigh why must we be a military family who moves around?!

Yesterday..

the love of my life turned two..

On August 12, 2008 I had probably the worst day of my life. I wasn't able to breath on my own, couldn't eat, couldn't do anything. I had surgery to deliver a two pound baby and I had no clue what that meant for me or her.

Six weeks later, on September 22, 2008 I had the best day of my life when I brought my little girl home to our empty condo. I had my pug, yorkie and a four and a half pound baby. I was scared to death.

Two years later we survived and I am so blessed to have her every single second.

Madeline was the first person I ever loved more than myself. She taught me how to love my husband, parents, family and friends. I could never begin to express how grateful I am that she came into the world, no matter how crazy it seemed at the time. She is more than I ever deserved or ever dreamed of.

I hope you had a great second birthday Madeline and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life watching you grow!

Wild Child and Beautiful Weather

Today was a good day. My last pregnancy I battled high blood pressure. So far this pregnancy I am having low blood pressure. Strange huh?! So in attempt to raise my blood pressure and get my blood pumping, I have been dragging my friend Erin to water aerobics classes! The main problem with this is that when Taylor is at work Madeline HATES (and I mean strongly hates) the YMCA nursery. Sigh. So today towards the end of my class I look over to see the daycare worker walking along side of the pool with my snotty little hysterical girl. She grabbed me so tight I thought she would never let go. Haha all I can do is laugh (and get extremely nervouse how she is going to handle preschool for three hours twice a week starting next month!!)

The weather here the past few days has been in the 80's and it is perfect. Today Madeline and I went on a walk and played with all of her toy cars outside. It was a great evening! It makes me think I would enjoy living up north where the summer time isn't quite so hot! When we spent a day in Savanah (which is on the top of our list) last month it was topping 100 and I could barely breath!!

I am enjoying these last few months where it is just Madeline and I. Even when she is cranky and being awful, I am so thankful to have such a beautiful and healthy angel who constantly makes me smile.

We just got home from Daytona, Florida with my parents and brother Kaleb. We had a great trip with lots of fun in the sun, Aunt Catfish's and a manatee cruise! We saw dolphins everyday!

Madeline is growing up so fast. It seems most days words are just pouring from her mouth! Next week she turns two, I can hardly believe it! Taylor and I are headed home on the 11th (also Taylor's birthday!) to have Madeline's birthday party! We are all so excited about it!

Taylor and I are also busy thinking about things we need for the baby, thinking about what we could possibly want for Christmas and planning a romantic cruise for next year! We were planning to go in the spring, but that would probably be a little much with a new baby! So we are looking to go at the end of next summer or the fall! I can't wait! We had booked a trip to Hawaii for May 2010, but we were pregnant so decided to just be happy with Daytona for this year!

The Dreaded Potty

I am pretty sure my child will not be potty trained before she turns 5..

She will be two August 12 and has absolutely no interest in peeing in the potty. She will sit on the potty, play in the potty, she even says potty.. but has yet to "tinkle" it the potty.

I was really hopeful we could have potty training down before preschool starts in September and before baby girl number two gets here. I suppose I was wrong..

Two in diapers.. sigh.

Enjoying Paradise

Our family is lucky enough to live on the beautiful Outer Banks. This summer I have been determined to take full advantage of it! On the days that Taylor is at work Madeline and I go to the pool from 11-1. When he is off I drag us all to the beach until 1. Madeline is such a fish! She loves the water, it doesn't matter if it is the pool, ocean or the canal behind our house! She puts on her 'kini and is ready to go!

Madeline's Second Independence Day!

Last year for the 4th we have a big cookout, but this year it seemed most people were out of town! So we decided to have a family day! We started off at the beach, it took us like 30 minutes to find a parking spot! Madeline is such a fish, she is going to be an Olympic swimmer! I don't have many pictures at the beach because we spent most of it in the ocean. She spent the entire time trying to get Taylor to let go of her but the waves were HUGE!

We came home and made BLTs and took naps! Got up at 5:30 and grilled some steaks, yum! Then we headed to downtown Manteo to join the celebrations! We started out with a funnel cake and lemonade!

And then we were lucky enough to stumble onto two wooden seats right on the pier.

By the sailboats!

Madeline loved being in the middle of the action!

However she got bored so we had to entertain her with things like counting dollars.

And playing tug with a bendy straw.

Finally the fireworks started. Madeline laughed, clapped and screamed "whoaaa!"

But she was just too tired to make it so we headed home.

We are..

excited to say we are expecting a little girl!!

No names picked out yet. That may take a while. I am sorta in love with the name Carter for her, but Taylor isn't yet sold! We still have a while to figure it out though!

Anyone who personally knows me knows I have been wanting another little girl for a LONG time and it is so surreal she is going to be here! Poor Taylor was hoping for a boy so he wouldn't be completely out numbered, but I told him maybe the next one! We are so happy!

The Red Baron and Beach

My friend Brittany was able to come down and stay with us for the weekend! We started off our Saturday by going on a ride on the Red Baron. As you can see from this picture it had no roof! It was amazing flying through the air with the wind literally blowing through our hair!

This is Andy Griffith's house! It was so beautiful!

Jockey's ridge, you can see both the ocean and the sound in this picture! Beautiful!

Our pilot!

Landing!

Today we spent most of the day by the beach. We saw beautiful dolphins five different time and the last hour or so they just played and swam right in front of us! We must have had all of the good fish in that area because there were a lot of pelicans diving there too! Madeline loved the ocean even though it was freezing! She would run right into it and it would just about sweep her away. Next time I will know to keep her in a life jacket just in case, because when she is wet she just about slips out of your hands because the current is so strong.

It was an amazing few days and I am bummed that Brit has to leave tomorrow! But she will be going to do a summer program at UVA so I know that she has got to go! I love having friends come visit and can't wait until she can come again!

Such a Bad Blooger

I haven't been blogging like I should be. Today was a long day, the longest in a while. My morning started with Madeline smearing poop all over her clean, white shirt. She wrecked my house and poured pudding all over my silk upholstered headboard. We went to the pool with some of our fellow Coastie wives, where she insisted on running and fell three times. She had no nap to top it off. She is the light of my life and an occasional pain in my butt, ha!

Tomorrow my good friend Brittany is coming down for a visit and Taylor is taking me to Japanese for lunch, so I am hoping for a better day!

ABR

A few weeks ago Madeline had to have an ABR done to check her hearing. We had been referred to this procedure by three different specialist because at 20 months, Madeline isn't talking as well as she is developing in other areas. So it became a question if maybe she had a slight hearing problem. I was most afraid of her getting the IV and the anesthesia, but I handled both better than I expected.
Here Madeline is in the waiting room waiting for her procedure. I had this exact table (not the chairs) when I was little! Notice her pug by her side!

While waiting Madeline and Daddy blew LOTS of bubbles!

Her she is having a meltdown because she hadn't had anything to eat for almost 15 hours and we had to wait 3 hours in that tiny room!

After the IV was put in.

After that ordeal Madeline was so worn out she fell asleep naturally. It was nice because they just hooked up the anesthesia to the IV while she was sleeping, so she was already out and didn't pull on the tubing.

After the procedure in the recovery room.

Just waking up, out of it still!

Barely awake walking to the car.

And she was out the rest of the ride.

The trip turned out not to be as stressful as I had thought it would be. I am thankful her results were normal and we never have to go through it again!