So, Miss Madison, almost two weeks ago your mom dropped the bomb (well, that is what it felt like in my heart when it exploded from the pain) that she got into grad school (don't get me wrong, that is awesome). The not so awesome part for your Grammy (and Uncle Tyler and your Pop-Pop) is that you will be moving away.

My heart was so broken and I have a million and one questions about how all of this will work out for your mommy with a baby and you, your daddy potentially living down here, or wherever the Army sends him (if they ever quit dragging their feet and he leaves any time soon), and what happens with your sister. The devil is doing his utmost to make me so very sad and filled with so many mixed emotions.

While my heart knows that God has it all in control, I just can't imagine what I will ever do not being able to see you and your siblings for the next two years as much as I have so far. I am sooooo worried, and that is not from God, because His word says to not worry. Seems I am fighting it on a regular basis, however.

So in the interim I am holding on to memories, spending as much time with you as I can, and taking lots of pictures.
I am sure I will cry a river the weekend you finally move up to the mountains for good (well, the next two years, at least). I just can't bear the thought, but Pop-Pop assures me we will be able to visit, and when I am "off" (though work is not certain at all at this point) that I will be allowed to come up and visit, and your mommy keeps telling me she will be home often, though I have my doubts. See, that old devil is at it again!!

Your mommy got a new job so maybe I will see you more in the next few months, which should make me feel better, but I know it will just make your leaving me even more difficult. :(

We have done some fun things in the past few weeks- museum, playground trips, the zoo with your mommy and Uncle Tyler, and today, as a matter of fact, we went to Pullen Park with your sister, mommy, and Aaden. Finally the rain stopped enough to enjoy a day of beautiful sunshine. Yes, I took quite a few pictures. :) I can only hope we have more to come in the next few months.

So, if my posts over the next few months are mildly depressing...lol...you can understand why. :) I love you so much that I just don't know how I will keep my mind focused on other things while you are away from me. I have a few "projects" I want to accomplish, and of course your brother will be here for only a short while before you go up Ithere, but I can only hope your mommy is true to her word and comes home often.

As for your daddy, I know he is still uncertain where all this puts him- other than driving up and down the mountain, so it appears. It seems the military is a hurry up -and- wait sort of thing. The longer they drag along, the less likely he will even get to be here to see his son born, if they keep it up at this rate. Then there is all the training time, etc. I just would feel a whole lot better if he were with you, your brother, and you mommy while you are away. :(

Saturday is a big day for your mommy- she is graduating. Though you have no concept of that- let's just say ---- after all your mommy has overcome in the past 2.5 years--- it is a VERY big deal!!! So we will all be trucking over to Raleigh on Saturday late afternoon to celebrate this big event in your mommy's life. Your mommy has a lot of goals she wants to reach, and I know she will do her utmost to accomplish them.

Closing for now. Love you bunches.

~Grammy

___Well, look what I found!!!!! I have removed portions that had the same information as the last post. :)


If intentions got things accomplished, dear girl, this blog would be overrun with new posts regularly. But, alas, your Grammy is a tad of a procrastinator when it comes to this thing. :)

Nineteen months yesterday!!! Wow!!

Let's see...you have had a busy few months and a lot has gone on in my life and yours. The winter was unkind to most of us - giving us bouts of ear and sinus infections, and a few had flu-like issues (fevers, chills, etc.), but all are well just in time for pollen season. Oh, goody.

______ deleted portion

(Continuation of portion regarding your new impending addition to your little family.)

We shall see. Your mommy can get pretty set on things, so she may not change it, but it will certainly make Grammy and "Aunt" Renie's conversations very confusing. You are so cute trying to learn how to say his name. Right now it is somewhere between No-nan, or No-no. LOL.

Spring has finally arrived- pollen and all, so that definitely will mean you and Grammy will be outdoors more, going to the playground (although we have taken you most of the winter regardless), and just finding new things to discover in your world.

I will close with some of the pictures over the past couple of months. Love you bunches, sweet girl. You are the bright spot in my days.


___ Addendum-- well, this is where it went to pot and the computer acted up-- so, see- I really had started it...lol. :)

Well, like blogging isn't a difficult enough commitment, throw in the computer deciding to freeze up, or declare you need more virtual memory, and then eats the entire blog. Oh, just ducky. Ah, best laid plans of mice and men. Oh, well, God is just teaching me something else. :)

Madi, Madi, Madi- what a busy two months it has been. No, I still have not gotten all of your fall events added to the last entry, but such is life. Between, busyness, sickness, and just flat out procrastination, often it takes a village it seems, to do things.

You, my sweet girl, have had a very busy time, however. You have a new baby cousin, Megan, born February 18, to your Uncle Brad and Aunt Jen-Jen (as you sweet girls call her), you have added more to your ever growing vocabulary, you added a few more teeth, have had a few ear infections, and, because of a relatively mild winter, have had many trips to the park, playground, and museum.

Easter was quite the event. Your mom planned a lot of fun things for you and London. You were able to attend a helicopter drop egg hunt on a very miserably (unseasonably so) cold day. Eh, you got the gist of it, at least, but it was not spectacular. :)

 London was able to have "early" Easter with a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt at your house. You both loved it.

The day before Easter your mommy and I took you two to Lazy Five Ranch for yet another helicopter drop egg hunt. That was a great day. You both played with bunnies, hunted for your six different colored eggs, got faces painted, did a scavenger hunt, and took a wagon ride to see all the animals. What a long, busy event.  We had pizza for dinner, and then had an outdoor glow-in the dark egg hunt at my house. You were both exhausted.

On Easter Sunday we all attended church service (even your Daddy came- well, he was very, very sleep, but he was there..lol), and you and London were in the nursery. Then Mommy made an Easter lunch, and we held another Easter egg hunt after Daddy left for work. You both got your Easter gifts from Grammy and then went home. Another long, tiring day.

We had your pictures taken just a tad late for your eighteen month marker. You were so stinking cute. You see the picture in the house now and say, "Madi dancin', Madi dancin'." Cracks me up. I am including a few here- you will see the one I am talking about.

The most important thing in the past two months is that you are going to be a big sister to a BROTHER!!! His name is to be Nolan Armstrong, unless Mommy changes it. Grammy's best friend's (Aunt Renie) daughter (Malia) is having a baby this week and her baby will be Nolan Alexandra. That is why it might get changed. I am not holding my breath because your mom has her mind pretty set. We are halfway there to his arrival.  I hope you will adjust to his being here well. I have noticed you have been clingier to your mommy lately- not sure if it is because she is working more, or because you know you have competition in the works. :)

Well, I am closing for now and not pressing my luck with the computer. :) Love you bunches, sweet girl. You and your sister are my joy. I know your brother will have competition in my heart - I am certain the Lord will find another hole I did not know was empty to fill with love for him. :)

Oh, my word!!!! I know I have blogged in less than a year as I noticed it says on a fellow blogger's blog, but for Pete's sake, where did the time go???? Goodness, Madison....Grammy has been busy, busy, busy, and yet, often not so much. :) Life just seems to get away from me many days.

I feel so behind, I am not sure where to even start. So...let's recap from your birthday, how about that? :) In case I failed to mention it in my last post- you began walking about a week before your birthday, and you really took off. Running, walking backwards, sideways, you are just full of yourself. :) Your personality is just bubbly, and very mischievous, and full of fun.

You had a really cute bumblebee cake which I think I failed to get a picture of, dadburnit. Oh, well. Mommy and Daddy baked and decorated it for you. :) A friend of ours took some lovely pictures of you (and some that were pretty crazy...lol) at Duke Gardens the day after your birthday at Duke Gardens. :)

What a cutie patootie. I have some pictures as well, but they were not nearly as good because taking pictures of you these days is like trying to nail down Jello. :)

In October we took you to the fair, where you decided that you had had enough of the stroller, and spent quite a bit of time maneuvering around folks, or just walking about like they were not even in the way. To say you wore your Pop Pop out is an understatement. Especially since you had only been walking about 6 weeks at that point. Busy, busy little gal.

The picture below was the day your mommy and daddy had their engagement pictures made. The photographer was quite smitten with you. :)

We also took you and your sister to Hill Ridge Farms. Though the day was not as sunny as we had hoped, it was a good day. Looking back at the pictures from your first trip there and now was quite interesting. :)

Halloween you made the cutest little Minnie Mouse (though Mommy called you Madi Mouse) and you sported a cute little Madimobile created by your mom and dad. So stinking cute.

Grammy was in full wedding mode in preparation for the wedding in November. Your mother made a beautiful bride, and you and your sister were beautiful little flower girls who acted as if they had done it before. :) You really enjoyed your goldfish crackers during the ceremony, and lots of dancing at the reception. You had a busy, busy day. It was a very beautiful day and I think everyone would agree, a good one.

You enjoyed spending the night at Grammy's with your family and having Thanksgiving dinner of which you were most impressed with the yumminess of sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. :)

Christmas was lots of fun as well and you were most intrigued with all of the decorations. Although you did not touch my tree at all, your mommy's was less fortunate, and took a couple of spills during the holidays. :) Ah, you will do better next year. :) Tinsel the Elf on a shelf entered your life this year, and though you may not have gotten much out of it this year, London thoroughly enjoyed it. It may be a bit before you totally understand it all, but you did enjoy the video.

Our photographer friend was able to capture some of your craziness in your family photo sessions in December as well. You are so nuts!!! But then, he caught your angelic side as well. :) There were some technical difficulties occurring at the time of this blog so a few of the pictures refused to load.

So, as you can see there are quite a few pictures missing from this blog. Primarily because I had been too busy to load them onto my computer, and also because the camera was inoperable for a while after the wedding. :) But- I will come back and add them at a later date. (If you are reading this- and they are there- I made it happen. ;)  If not, to be continued...lol)

The New Year proves to offer even more interesting and intriguing things to come. You will become a big sister soon!!! You will have experienced all of the birth order positions, perhaps unbeknown to you. You are the only child when London is at her mom's, you are the baby sister when she is not, you will be the older sister when London is away, and you will be the middle child when she is at your house. Wow- lots of variables on your personality will no doubt arise in due time. :)

You are the most loving little thing. Your doctor is very impressed with your being able to count to 3- and sometimes to 5- since you were about 13 mos., the fact that you have  a very extensive vocabulary, that you 'pretend' read,  and your petite little frame. You are, however, starting to also exhibit your war of wills (aka- terrible twos), but hopefully it will be short lived. You are doing some of the cutest stuff, learning by leaps and bounds, and are just a real joy.

I have not kept you as much since Mommy finished school, and I find I miss you terribly some days. :(  I also cannot even fathom how I will love your impending sister/brother as much as I do you. I know God will open my heart even more and make room, so that is not an issue, I am guessing. :)

So, Miss Madi- 2013 will be an adventure for us both. :) I am so happy to share it with you. Love you bunches, sweet girl. :)

Pre-birthday musings

Wow! Here I find myself realizing it has been yet more months since I have blogged. This is apparently not a habit I can seem to form yet. :)

Madison, dear precious girl- you will be one in just a few days! Unbelievable! You are walking, mimicking sounds, saying a few words. We all love to hear you saying your version of Tyler over and over again. :) You are funny, have a wonderful sense of humor, and are testing your boundaries. I imagine some things are going to crop up you will no doubt not like the reaction to, but it is part of training a child, and must be done. :) Does not mean you are any less loved, but that you are loved enough to make sure you are staying safe, doing the right thing, and learning. :)

I spent hours upon hours last week making a photo book to just capture a small part of the many pictures of you over this past year.The changes are only magnified when put into a book! Hopefully it will become something you will grow to appreciate when you are older. Maybe, just maybe, it is something I can do yearly. One can hope.

I look forward to watching you become a toddler. Yes, with all the challenges that accompany that part of your little life. Your mother is in for a ride! She was a handful, and turn about is apparently considered fair play in the game of parenting. Haha.  So..Mama better hold on to her boots! It is going to be a bumpy ride. :)

In just a few short months your mom, dad, and sister will officially become a family, and hopefully in a few short months after that the Lord will bless you all with a home of your own. Lots of changes. Lots of challenges. Lots of blessings to come. Then your mommy will have hopefully finished school, and begin a life with some semblance of normalcy - meaning one job, no crazy hours, and more time to spend with you. :) She has sacrificed a lot in the past two years, and much of it to better herself so that she can strive to give you a good life. It has not been easy, but, most things worthwhile don't come easy in this life.

I pray for you as you face this world. It is a hard world, but if you keep your heart open, you will find kindness, love, and much to learn. I pray you will be a person of compassion, passion, and unconditional love.

Recently we were faced with a public display of the lack of unconditional love and acceptance by a family member. Wow, how sad that someone can be so malicious and unaccepting to a member of his/her own family. Especially in a time when so many families are blended, have adopted children, or are not conventional families. May God forgive that person and may they come to realize the error of their way, ask for forgiveness, and receive it. God loves us where we are, unconditionally, if we come to Him asking for forgiveness, and striving to do better. My mind still plays that reel over and over and I am appalled, and ashamed, of that person, but I will forgive them, but not forget. It is what I am called to do in Him, Madison. Not easy- but expected. I pray you will learn to love and forgive in life as well. Pop Pop is not ready yet to let that display of hate go yet, but in time, he will as well. I know it is harder for him because he has faced that sort of thing most of his life.



those eyes...so pretty



loves her daddy, no doubt

so sweet

sleeping babies are just so beautiful

Three more days of being a baby - then a toddler you will be. :) I have no doubt I will not blog again for a while, so I have added a few pictures of you at this point. May your second year of life be filled with even more love than the first. Sweet, sweet girl, I love you. :)

Photographic reflections of last four months.







 

4 months and looking so big and angelic. 



so sweet and sleepy



May adventures 2012

Wow! I cannot believe I have not blogged since just after Easter. Time is such a funny concept- drags and flies by all at the same time. Well, for me it seems to.

May was a very fun time. We packed up 8 people and headed to Florida. More specifically, Disney World. Was a very busy week, and the girls were just awesome. I know Madison won't remember it at all, but, hopefully, London will. She had a great time meeting all of her princesses throughout the week.
The one touching moment was when Rachel gave up her own shirt to London. Rach had previously, on impulse, ran London through a water sprinkler. London became very withdrawn and, upon questioning her, we discovered she was upset because she was all wet and did not want to get Snow White wet. Awww. So, Rachel felt bad, took of her shirt, leaving her in only her sports bra, post pregnancy scarring, and recipienet of a few ugly passing comments by those who knew not why she was dressed as she was. She was giving what she had to give, not tryng to flaunt her body for anyone to see. She gave her shirt in love. And London was, though looking pretty sadsack in the make-do outfit, elated to be able to hug Snow White and Aurora. So- though I was hurt by the sneers and jeers, I held my head high in pride knowing my daughter loved this child enough to make that sacrifice. Afterall, not like we will ever see any of those folks again, right?

So, we returned home, exhausted, needing a vacation, and with a camera filled with way too many pictures, :), and a head full of great memories.

Here are three of my favorite pictures from the week. Rach had me take 'family pics' of them before we left. Love them. The most beautiful princesses in Florida that week. :)

My first Easter with Madison

Well, the plan was for Madison's mommy to go to church with us, but an unfinished project for school took precedence, so off the three of us went (Pop Pop in the count). It was her first day at the church nursery, though I could not bear to leave her there through Sunday School as well. :)

After church we loaded up with Mommy to go to Duke Gardens for our 7th month/Easter pictures. We got a lot of great pictures. Took more in the neighbors' yards when I got home. Then it was dinner with my sister, her boyfriend, son, and Madison's daddy at mommy's workplace.

A great day. So beautfiul out and to have the freedom to worship a risen Savior, spend the day where we wanted to, and do pretty much whatever we had planned was just a bit of heaven on earth. :)

Spoke too soon about the teeth not causing problems- but still no sign of that little tooth. Just before she approached her 7th month she had her first ear infection, fevers, allergy/cold issues, and endless drool. That pincer grip made its appearance as well. Weighing in at 16.11 lbs. of joy. :) Was a hard week on the little cutie patootie, but probaby won't be the last of its kind.

At least by Easter she was feeling better with exception of the drool, runny nose, and lingering cough. :) Honestly- that just tells one how bad Monday- Friday must have been. LOL.

Definitely not a face only a mother could love. People kept stopping just to watch us taking pictures of her. LOL. She was standing up holding onto potted flowers, trees, sitting in a tree, sitting in flowers- guess they were intrigued. :)
Love this kiddo. Wish I had more pictures of London, but getting pictures of her sitting still is like nailing Jello to the wall. Hope Madison doesn't get that bad. LOL. Maybe in Disney World at month 8 we can get more of the two of them. Hope so.

Almost April Already????

Oh, goodness. Blogging is not in my daily routine yet, can you tell? I find I skip huge chunks of time. Oh, well.

So- February- Missypoo has had quite the month. Sitting up at 4.5 months was quite a surprise, but the biggest surprise was that her mommy and daddy got engaged. Date to be determined. Is leaning towards May 2013 after Mommy graduates in December. That way we can focus on getting things done. Oh, and we have decided to take the girls to Disney World in May in spite of the probability neither will remember it. LOL. But- I hope it will be fun, regardless.

Doing my best to keep up with the Photo a Day Challenge. So far, so good. March was more difficult. I just downloaded April, however. So not giving up yet. :)

Now- here March is just about over and she is 6 months old already .Time sure did fly by. This month heralded the arrival of more hair , baby food, and two teeth! Thankfully with no diaper issues, fevers, or too much fussiness. Just a bit of sleeplessness at night for about two nights while they emerged from the darkness. Such a bubbly, curious, and quite loud and vocal these days, little bundle of joy. Now weighing in at sixteen pounds.

Personally I have started yet another exercise routine - which is relatively doable, but results - well, that remains to be seen. :) However, I have not given up. I have to make a few modifications with my bad knee issue, but at least I have stuck to it. :)

Unseasonably warm weather has kicked in the spring fever and I have gotten a few procrastination items off of my list. I have also sold two diaper cakes over the past few months, have a request for one, made a couple for baby showers/gifts, made a kitchen towel cake for someone free, and have a car kit project in the works. I also have someone interested in putting my products in his store, so that is somewhat exciting. :)

Well, much to do today, sort of. :) Baby to play with- ranks higher than that grass that needs mowing, don't you agree? :)