About Me

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After being told I would never be able to have children, I am now a stay-at-home Mommy to Maddie who happens to have Down Syndrome. I've been married 16 years to my best friend, having the time of my life. Thanks for stopping by and sharing in our little journey through life.

Monday, June 20, 2011

In the Garden

We've been busy in our garden lately.  Our carrots, beets, kale, and chard are doing great.  
We've also harvested our garlic...lots and lots of garlic! 
Still waiting on our tomatoes to ripen...it's so hard to wait!!
Maddie has loved her time in the garden...

Clean up is pretty fun too!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Just Peachy!

Maddie gets things given to her quite a bit when we are out and about.  At the Farmer's Market the other day, a man offered her a peach.  She ate the whole thing! So, of course we had to buy more. 


MMMMMM......Good!
Happy Friday!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Confessions of an Adoring Mom

It's true I adore being a Mom and I absolutely adore Maddie, but I have to confess I can't wait for the day when:
1)  I will no longer be used as a napkin! (it would be really nice to be able to wear a pair of pants more than once before washing)

2) I can complete an entire meal at the dinner table and not have to share ANY of it. (it's the same food - I don't get why it's so much more appealing when taken from my plate!)

3) My hands will not have to be exposed to any poop. (coming into to contact with too much poop in one day really taunts one's dignity!)

This age will certainly be remembered for many, many things!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Hair Cuts, I Mean Hair "Trims"

I got my hair cut yesterday.  We decided it was time to get Maddie used to the idea of getting her hair cut (breath in- breath out).  I really don't know why that's a big deal to me...so weird.  But anyway, we brought along our little booster seat and sat her in the chair.  She was not impressed.  Kelly, my hairdresser suggested she sit on my lap instead.  A little better.  I kept saying, "cut hair, cut hair" and one of the other hairdresser suggested we use the word "trim" instead because if they know the word cut, it makes sense why they would be so frightened!  Brilliant! 
Anyway, it was good practice to get her used to the idea.  Maybe we can find an Elmo video of getting hair "trimmed".  In the meantime, I guess we'll by putting up a lot of pigtails for the summer heat!
that's just cheese on her chin and nose   

Here's my new hair cut...I always have to take a picture of it after Kelly has fixed it so I know what's possible.  I can never re-create the style like he does it, but I'm going to try!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Celebrating Twelve Years!

Kyle and I just celebrated our 12th anniversary!  We decided to take a little family trip to Dallas to celebrate and go to the IKEA store.  We had a blast!  After we checked into our hotel, we found a great little sushi restaurant.  Maddie loved the udon noodles!  She slurped them up, in true toddler-fashion, which cracked us up.
Then we went to a nature preserve for a little hike.  
Maddie really enjoyed greeting everyone who passed by.
And she picked up a couple of "treasures"...

She used them to "sweep up" the path.  
The next day was IKEA day!!  I was so excited.  I've been perusing the catalog, making a wish list but looking through the catalog can never prepare you for the IKEA experience.  The place is H.U.G.E.!!!!
The top floor has everything displayed and set up just like it would be in your home.  The living rooms have everything in them down to the books on the shelves.  You follow along a path and when you see something in a setting you like you write down the aisle and bin number.
Or, if your too lazy to write it all down, you can take pictures like I did!  
It took us about two hours to make it through the path.  The end of the path leads you to the cafeteria.  The food was delicious and cheap!  Kyle had the Swedish meatballs and I had the stuffed salmon.  Maddie liked both of them, but she especially loved the meatballs!
After you finish with the top floor, you go downstairs to the "Market Place."  This is where you pick up all of little things...curtains, dishes, organizing bins, artwork, etc.  TONS of goodies, waiting to be claimed as yours!

We shopped and shopped and shopped!  Maddie literally shopped 'till she dropped.

She was out!
We ended up getting a lot of things to finish the playroom, but of all the things we found, I think these are one of my favorites!
They are wall hooks so Maddie can hang up her coat and mittens in the winter! : ) 

I would highly recommend a trip to IKEA if you haven't ever been before.  The place is amazing and so much fun!

Friday, June 10, 2011

EEEK! A Bobcat!

This guy was hanging out right next door!  Gracie (our pug)  is not allowed to go outside by herself anymore.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Maddie's Playroom, Part 2

Here's Maddie's reaction to seeing the playroom for the first time!