Box of Fun

 Who needs fancy toys when you can play with a box?  This weekend I had an empty box of diapers sitting on top of the trash can to be thrown away. Well, having a 16 month old, nothing is safe unless it's out of her reach, and right now, she can stand on her tip toes or climb and get just about anything she wants.  She got the box off the trash can and brought it into the kitchen and the next thing I know she was sitting inside the box.  Since then she has played and played with this box.  I would like to find a really big box and make a playhouse for her, but I'm not sure where to find one. 

Madalyn reading her farm book

Madalyn and her puppy watching TV 

Prayer Update: Harper Nicole Berry

"Harper" Nicole Berry is here! She was born mid-morning, they got a later start that planned.  Dave was allowed to go back with them, but the doctor warned him that if something started going wrong he would have to leave.  When Harper came out she was crying and took her first breath on her own, which the doctor said was a good sign.  They didn't have to rush Harper to the NICU right away, so Dave was allowed to touch her.  They do have Harper hooked up to oxygen but there is very little flowing from a medicine right now, because she is able to breath pretty well on her own right now. Tara is coming out of recovery and is doing well. Her blood pressure has started to go down.  She had had a very rough night and it was getting more and more dangerous for Tara as this week has gone on.  Dave has seen Harper two different times in the NICU.  Harper was 1.13 pounds and 13 inches long.  As of right now, Tara will be coming home in four days and Little Miss  Harper will be staying until her official due date October 25th unless something changes.  Thank you for praying for this family and please continue to pray for Harper to gain weight and grow stronger every day.  Also pray for Tara to continue to improve and to get well quickly.  Pray for both Dave and Tara as they will have to come home from the hospital without their baby girl and will have the next few months of traveling back and forth to the hospital to see her.  God is Good!

A Call to Prayer

Family and Friends I am calling you to pray now, and specifically at 8:00am in the morning, and in the next few months that follow each day for a special family.  Dave (Dave is Kevin's cousin), Tara, and Baby Harper Berry.  Tara is 27 weeks almost 28 weeks pregnant with "Harper" Nicole Berry.  She is due October 25th.  However, this past Monday and week has led to some unexpected changes.  Tara was admitted to the hospital Monday due to sky high blood pressure.  That has led to finding out that she has preeclampsia.  Tara is at the University Hospital in Georgia and is currently not allowed visitors due to they can't keep her blood pressure under control.  We have learned this evening that in the morning at 8:00am they will begin a C-Section on Tara and at just 1.9 pounds, Harper will be born.  I have been praying for this family all week and I have sent out text messages and calls to those that I knew would join me in praying for this family and especially for Harper.  (If I have left anyone out, I am sorry, but please join us now. ) She has a fight on her hands and the family, extended family, etc. we are praying for God to show out big time and give us a miracle with this precious baby girl.  So, please join me in praying for Tara, Harper, the doctors and nurses now and continue tomorrow.  This family has a long road ahead of them and I thank you in advance for your prayers.

Matthew 18:20 "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I will be with them."

Madalyn 16 Months

This past weekend we had a family reunion to attend in Greenville. On Saturday, Madalyn was 16 months old, so I got a few pictures of her at the reunion.

Wingo at Play

Wingo is such a happy dog. He loves to run and play around, after all he's still a puppy. Here he is having the best time with his rope toy.

A New Seat

Madalyn found out that she can climb over the arm of the couch and sit on the end table.

A Great Good Morning Song

If you follow my blog, you know that I'm a huge Mandisa fan. Those of you that know me well, know that I am not a morning person at all.  I am a night owl, when allowed (meaning if I don't have to get up for school the next day), and can be fully awake at any time during the night. Once I get up out of bed, give me about 10-20 minutes before speaking to me. Haha! But I think that if I could wake up to this song every morning or have this playing during my morning routine, it would be very hard not to leave the house in such a great mood! :0)

Last Week

Madalyn has started some "new" things since last week.  She was standing on head when she got mad or you told her "no". Now she will hit herself in the head. (I'm trying really hard to break her of this one.) She will also cover her mouth with both hands and scream into her hands. We currently do not have any lamps in our living room, our 3 end tables are empty, and working on getting child proof locks on the cabinets. 

The story of our lamps;
We had 4 lamps in our living room.   I was cooking and Kevin was suppose to be watching Madalyn and the next thing I know, there goes a lamp, pulled off the end table. Thankfully and amazingly the bulb didn't break. That was about 2 months ago. About a 3 months ago, we unplugged a lamp and removed it because Madalyn kept on playing with the cord and plug.  Last week, I was talking to my mom on the phone, and Madalyn got a  hold of another lamp, I was trying to hang on to the lamp and Madalyn at the same time while still on the phone and CRASH! There goes the lamp, and the bulb busted all to pieces, and the bulb broke off in the lamp.  The final lamp was moved this weekend. Madalyn may not be able to completely put shapes into the correct hole, but she can plug and unplug a lamp with no problems.  So Kevin said, "let's just stop fighting her on it." So within another month, our living room, may be completely empty. Ha Ha! :0)

So far this week and the middle to the end of last week we are hives free.  At Madalyn's 15 month check up she got her MMR and Chicken pox shots.  8 days later she had a reaction to both. She was running a fever, had a rash, and chicken pox looking bumps on her back, chest, and stomach.  That took about a week to clear up.  She is also up to 16 teeth in her mouth and has been teething again lately, so the diapers are nasty, messy. In fact, she had her first church accident yesterday. They said she had a dirty diaper and it ended up running down her legs. Kevin said I'm glad you guys had to change it instead of me. :0)

I had taken Wingo to the vet last week for his last puppy shot and for him to get "fixed". Boy they sure have changed the way they put animals to sleep these days.  He came bouncing out of the vet's office like nothing had happened.  He is doing well.  So, that's what's been going on with us the past week.  So thankful for the rain we have been having. It has kept things cool for the chickens and it was nice with Wingo having surgery for it to be cooler on him as well.

Sweet Peach Paperie

I ran across this website today "Sweet Peach Paperie" it has some really cute ideas! The owner also has a facebook page.  Great ideas for parties, etc! Check it out.

Also, if you have a facebook page, and you want cute ideas or to purchase cute, personalized clothing, etc. check out "Southern Hands" out of barnwell, South Carolina.  The owner, Emily, has made some really cute things for Madalyn and my neices and nephews.

July Party

My birthday is in July and so is Kevin's grandma, Mrs. Kitty.  Last night when we got back from the lake, we had a pizza get together for the July birthdays.

Madalyn and Mrs. Kitty

Kevin, Madalyn, and Mrs. Kitty

Madalyn with her newest cousin: Carleigh Davis



The Crew

Happy Birthday to Me!

On Friday, Madalyn woke up at 5:00 am and Kevin was kind to at 6:00 take her out of the room and and told me that I can sleep as late as I want to.  So I went back to sleep and sleep in until 10:30.  Since Madalyn was born I haven't had the chance to just stay in bed and sleep as late as I want to without being bothered. That was one of the nicest birthday presents I got.  Some of my family came down on Friday and some came down on Saturday to the lake.  It was a nice birthday weekend. 

My Birthday Cake: Chocolate Ganache from Publix: Yummy!

Kevin Skiing-He loves to ski

This was how Madalyn liked to ride in the boat, standing up.

Kevin and Madalyn trying to get the trucks to blow their horns as we cross under the bridge.

Madalyn liked the trucks.

Madalyn loves playing in the water.

A great lake weekend of relaxing!

Happy Belated 4th of July!

Sorry this post is a bit late, but we went out of town on the 4th and just returned today. We went to the lake with my parents and I got to see some of my other family that I haven't seen in 3 months.  I didn't take my lab top with me this vacation so I'm just now blogging.  Here's Madalyn celebrating the 4th. Thank you to all that have served and still serve to give us our freedom!

Madalyn's Favorite Accessory

Madalyn loves to play in the laundry, especially the clean clothes before I am able to get them folded and put away.  Something she does every time is she will pick up my underwear and put it around her neck and wear it around the house.  She has done this for months now and it just makes me laugh.  So I finally took a picture of her, (I didn't want to take one at first to show a picture of my underwear which is why I haven't blogged about this before now, but it's just too funny.  And we never showed her how to do this.  Sometimes she will get a pair of Kevin's boxers and wear them but she mostly prefers my underwear.)  I tried to get a smiley picture but she was took busy jumping on the couch to sit still long enough. Also, something new Madalyn has discovered is the water and ice dispenser on the outside of the refrigerator.  Oh boy, and yes that makes a mess! What will she do next? :0)