Kisses From Daddy

Madeline loves getting kisses from Daddy......

I'm a Big Girl Now...

Madeline is a big girl (3 months) and is official (got her social sercurity card in the mail the other day).

Now that she is a big girl she can.......

1. Ride facing forward in her kangaroo pouch.
Today was her first day to ride looking forward and she enjoyed looking around while I did some things around the house this morning. This was right when I put her in it and her arms were tucked in. I made some adjustments and she was higer up and her shoulders and arms were outside of the sling.

2. Almost roll from her back to stomach. Please excuse her diapers. I did not have her bloomers on and grabbed my camera as soon as I saw her starting to roll.

3. Yell. We went to Tim's Pizza East for lunch and she was mesmorized by a Budweiser sign on the wall with a fluorescent light. She literally started yelling at it. I thought she was about to start crying so I started shhhing her but Ben said not to because she looked happy and was just talking. It was her baby talk in an outside voice. There were not many people  there and it did not seem to bother anyone so I let her do it and she carried on for a minute or two. We were in the back of Tim's and I bet people could here her if they were checking out in the front.

4. spit up big time. She does not spit up very often but if she does it is a pretty big one. I remember the first time she spit up, I paniced and was ready to rush her to the emergency room. We had just gotten home from a Razorback baseball game. We gave her a bottle at the game so I was very full and she must have gotten two dinner servings from me and spit up one of them up. Ben calmed me down and said she was just spitting up, but I called my mom and had her ask Rick if she was okay and if I should take her to the ER.

Well, today she had a pretty big spit up. Ben was carrying her around and said I think she spit  up a little bit. He said he felt something warm on his shoulder. When he turned around, there was a huge wet area from his shoulder to waist. I started dying out laughing!! It was hilarious.

T.G.I.F.

Madeline had so much fun yesterday. She had a great time on the floor and then she went to her first firework stand. We stopped by Sonic happy hour to get Karrie and Michelle a drink and then we took it to them at the firework stand. We did not get a picture because they were not totally set up, but we will before the firework season is over.

We met Ben for dinner at SCC. I wanted to go because they are grilling steaks on the outside grill on Fridays during the summer. I usually do not order steaks out because I think Ben can cook a better one at home, but I am so glad I ordered a steak because it was delicious. It was one of the best filets that I have had in a long time(probably since our rehearsal dinner and that was over three years ago!) Madeline fell  asleep about 10 minutes before our food arrived so Ben and I were able to have a wonderful meal without having to hold Madeline. She fell asleep while her dad was taking  her around to show her off. One of the Penix family friends was about to take her from Ben and they noticed she was sound asleep.

This may be too much information, but I am going to post it anyway. One of my least favorite things to do it get a little booger out of Madeline's nose. Her nostrils are so little, which makes it hard. I would much rather change a dirty diaper. Never thought that comment would ever come out of my mouth, considering the first diaper I changed was Madeline's right before we left the hospital. Well, yesterday I was trying to get a booger out of her nose and she was dying out laughing. She has never laugh so hard.   I was either making a weird face, which I do when I concentrate according to Ben or she knows I hate getting boogers and thought it was very entertaining!

Her favorite thing to do: Show us her hands and tongue.

Celebrating

Thursday night we went out to celebrate Gran Dad Jay's birthday at Crabby's. It was delicious and we had a lot of fun! Madeline was so sleepy, but did not want to miss a beat so she would not let herself go to sleep. She only takes a pacifier right before she falls asleep, she took it at one point at dinner but would not give up the sleepy fight. As soon as we pulled out of the parking lot, she was sound asleep.

Madeline thinks that her hand is way cooler than looking at the camera.

Uncle Judd- you are way too tall compared to the other Penix boys, sorry I cut the top of your head off in the picture!

Beauty In The World

I wish I could protect Madeline from all the harmful things that take place in this world. Sometimes I  worry about what this world holds for her as she grows up. The other night at our small group bible study we were making our prayer list and there are so many sick children put on the list and watching the catastropic oil spill in the gulf makes me sick to my stomach. Casey sent us an email yesterday and said one of the children we have been praying for went to be with with our father in heaven. My heart broke for that family and I felt overwhelming sadness. I looked over at Madeline sleeping in her swing and thaked God for a healthy baby girl. I hope and pray that Ben and I are here long enough to see Madeline experience the love you feel for your own child one day.

I was on the internet today and heard a song by Macy Gray and it put a smile on my face and it made me very happy!   Madeline and I danced to it together, lulu joined in on the action too.
Listen to the song here

Gotta go! Sleeping Beauty is waking up. I love being a mother!!!!


Macy Gray - Beauty In The World Lyrics




I know you’re fed up

Like a lead up for us

All they talk about is

What is going down?

What’s been messed up for us?

When I look around I see blue skies

I see butterflies for us



Listen to the sound and lose it

Its sweet music and dance with me

There is beauty in the world

So much beauty in the world

Always beauty in the world

So much beauty in the world

Shake your booty boys and girls for the beauty in the world

Pick your diamond pick your pearl there is beauty in the world

All together now



We need more lovin’

We need more money, they say

Change is gonna come

Like the weather

They say forever

They say

When they’re in between

Notice the blue skies

Notice the butterflies

Notice me



Stop and smell the flowers

And lose it the sweet music and dance with me

There is beauty in the world

So much beauty in the world

Always beauty in the world

There is beauty in the world

Shake your booty boys and girls for the beauty in the world

Pick your diamond pick your pearl there is beauty in the world

All together now



Heya throw your hands up and holla

Throw your hands up and holla

When you don’t know what to do

Don’t know if you’ll make it through

Remember god is giving you beauty in the world

So love (Beauty in the world)

Yeah love (Beauty in the world)



There is beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)

Beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)

Shake your booty boys and girls (Boys and Girls)

All the beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)

Pick your diamond pick your pearl (Pick your pearl)

There is beauty in the world (Beauty in the world)

All together now

Yeah love

Yeah love

Oh love

All together now



Hey baby when I’m looking at you

I know it’s fact is true

There is hope for love

There is beauty in the world

Hey baby

Hey baby when I’m looking at you

I know this vibe is true

There’s love

There’s hope for love

There’s beauty in the world

Madeline turned 3 Months Old

My sweet little girl turned three months old yesterday! Man, time flies!! She is getting so much cuter and more fun, which I did not think was possible. I have been giving her toys to play with lately, and yesterday morning while I was emptying the dishwasher she actually grabbed the toy and looked at it and started to put it in her mouth, but she changed her mind before it actually made it in her mouth. She decided that her four fingers would probably taste better.

Mom stop taking my picture!

I think we may be in the beginning stages of teething. I hope I am wrong, especially for me since I feed her (ouch!). She is drooling a lot and chews on her fingers a lot. My brother and I teethed very early and I know their teething time schedule is hereditary. I am starting to research tips for teething. If you have any pointers, let me know!! I would prefer a more natural approach and do not want to go the baby tylenol/motrin/orajel route, but I have all of them just in case teething gets bad enough. Medicines scare me. I feel like they are always being recalled and I know they can be harsh on their little livers (orajel can numb throat and cause choking).

Thanks Olivia Baker for my toy! I love to play with it while mom does household chores in the morning! Madeline also loves to show us her hands and fingers.

Happy Birthday Gran Dad

Yesterday was my Gran Dad Jay's Birthday! I hope it was his best birthday ever!! I had so much fun when you came over to visit me yesterday and I look forward to celebrating your birthday tonight. You are so cool and I know we will have lots of fun together as I grow up. I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many people that are crazy about me and love me so much!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Love,
Madeline

Mani/Pedi

I wanted to document what Ben just said so I can show him this post in a couple of years. He was cutting Madeline's nails tonight and made the mistake of saying that he will never complain about Madeline getting Mani and Pedis since he hates cutting her nails so much. After cutting the tip of her finger the first time, it stresses him out! How old do you have to be to get a manicure and pedicure???? I can't wait for her to be my spa buddy!

Busy Week

We had a busy week last week. I helped with VBS at our church, which was a lot of fun (all the kids were very sweet and adorable).  I helped with the 5 year olds last Monday and then was a crew leader for the 3 year old tug boats on Thursday and Friday. Madeline went to the church nursery while I volunteered last Monday. I felt guilty waking her up early Monday, but she was fine. Monday was her first time to stay in a nursery and the ladies took great care of her. I called Ben on our way to the church and he left work to meet us there (you would have thought it was  her first day of school). When Ben and I walked into the room and placed Madeline's carrier on the floor, all the little ones started crawling towards her to check her out.

 I was going to check on her at one point and noticed that Ben's mom was in there holding her. I went to get her at noon and the ladies said they rocked her to sleep and then tried to put her in the crib on her back, but she did not like it so they held and rocked her the entire time. They took her and Cooper into the other room to rock them in a quiet and dark room since the older kids were playing. The ladies in the nursery were wonderful and I appreciate them taking such good care of our sweet little girl. Madeline was so relaxed and happy, she did not even wake up when I was trying to put her into her carseat carrier.

 The night she was born, she had to stay in the nursery because  her body temperature was a little low. The next morning the nurses told us that Madeline was a baby that wants to be held all the time. She was held the entire time she was in the hospital nursery on her birth night and this has continued for almost three months now. She enjoys time in her bounce seat, swing, crib or stretched out on the floor or sofa, but she loves to be held too. It may be inconvenient sometimes, but I am cherishing every moment she wants to be held because I know it is only for a short period of time. Before long, she will be crawling/walking and will want to become more independent.

This is why I felt bad waking her up last Monday. Sleeping Beauty looks so peaceful!!

Big Momma arrived Monday afternoon and kept Madeline the rest of the week. They had a lot of fun. One day they had a photo shoot and my mom took like 200 photos!!! Madeline looked adorable in all of them, but I am sure she was probably sick of the flash by the end of the day. I will post some pictures once I download them from my mom's camera.

Tuesday evening Ben's parents treated us and  my mom to Theo's.

Wednesday eveing we went to Target with my mom and Aunt Brenda and Thursday night Ben and I went out for a little bit to celebrate John and Coy's 30th bithday. This was our first evening out together since Madeline was born. We got home a little before ten o'clock and Madeline was sound asleep. My mom had her in only a diaper when we got home. Ben said she is naked and quickly put her in pajamas. I have explained to him that babies like to only wear a diaper and it is not like an adult being naked. It got so hot this weekend he left her in only a diaper a time or two when we were home this weekend.  

Saturday we went to the pool to visit friends and Ben wanted to check on how people were doing in the golf tournament.

Showing us her hand.

Saturday evening the Reed's and Michelle came over for dinner. Miss Addison is adorable and we cannot wait to meet the newest addition when he is born in November!!! I remember when Addison was born. It is hard to believe she is turning into a little lady. We were too busy visiting and did not get our camera out.

Sunday, Ben's parents cooked and we went over there to celebrate Father's Day!

Fox, Bella and Madeline

Happy Father's Day

Happy 1st Father's Day to the best Dad a girl (and two dogs) could ask for!! You bring so much love, joy and laughter into our lives.

My Dad was visiting a couple of weeks ago and we all went out to eat. Ben was walking around the restaurant talking to people and was carrying Madeline around with him. While they were gone from the table, my Dad mentioned how wonderful he is with Madeline and that he is a great father. She is so blessed to have a Dad that is so active in her life. Since it was Father's Day yesterday, I told Ben he did not have to change one diaper and I would take over bath time so he could relax. He looked at me like I was crazy and politely declined my offer!!

We also want to wish our Dads/ Madeline's Grandfathers, her Great Grandfather and Great Uncle a Happy Father's Day! We are so lucky to have you in our lives. Ben and I are very close to our families and we appreciate all the support you have given us throughout the years. We love you!

Chick a Tee and Father's Day Weekend

This is daddy's first post so everyone bear with me.  Well, this weekend was the Chick A Tee at Springdale CC and we took you to the pool for your first swim.  We also wanted to check on all your Uncles and make sure they were posting scores in the 100s like I would.  Uncle Brandon and Uncle John and Uncle Bo all did pretty well.  I think that Bo went on to win his flight or get second and I have to see how the other guys did.

You were a natural in the pool although I felt as though your super absorbed diaper was hindering your performance.  I had no clue that those things could suck up half the pool when you put one in the water.  I felt like you weighed 3 times what you should when I got you out of the water.

 The new inflatable needs some adjustments to fit your needs.  My mind is already working on solving the problem of the two huge leg holes that need to be plugged.

We ended up ditching the inflatable and just going swimming ourselves with no help from that silly frog.

This was also my first Fathers Day and it couldn't have been more perfect.  We went to my parents house in Springdale and had pot roast with Mom, Dad, Judd, Lee, Shaggy, Paige, Fox, Bella, Pucci, and Lulu.  I will let the pictures do the talking and why the heck is my Mom signalling a touchdown?  What a weirdo.

Kidding.

Your dress was awesome!

Touchdown Madeline!  I guess Fox and Dad saw it too.  Nice pose Shaggy.

This is what Madeline got me for my first Father's Day:

I can't wait to read it to you!And now the perfect end to my day before I go watch this European win the US Open at Pebble Beach.  Curse you Graeme McDowell!

Happy Father's Day to me and I love you Madeline and Leslie!  My life is wonderful and gets better every day.

Love Dad