summertime & the livin' is easy...

We have been soaking up every bit of this summer that we can. We spent the weekend of the 4th at the lake at Frank's dad's lakehouse...between going out on the boat, swimming in the lake, Miles tubing (for real!), fishing, going to a fish fry, watching fireworks & sidewalk chalk...it was a great weekend! Miles has so much fun doing just about anything outdoors and Madeline Jane is the best little sport while we tote her all over the place. Sweet Madeline Jane is literally drugged by the rocking of the boat and she cannot stay awake when she's out on the water, which makes being out for a couple hours at a time so nice for me (& everyone else,  cause who really wants to be stuck on a boat with a screaming baby?!?! NOT ME!)

The past few weekends have been full of spending time with our families & friends. It has just been so stinkin' hot here the past almost 2 wks it's gotten harder to take the girls outside until it's so late that it's their bedtimes... I am ready for the weather to cool off a little! These 100+ temps are a little ridiculous! You get cleaned up, walk outside and start sweating (which is not my thing)

Miles will be starting school- that's right, KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!!! in about 2 weeks. I am so excited for her to begin this phase in her little life, but I am sad that my sweet girl is getting so grown. We got her school supply list this week and she got an invite to a "Dive into Kindergarten" party...it's been a bittersweet week for me. I know she is ready for school and there are about 6-8 kids that will be starting at her school with her that she already knows. Hopefully, that will make the transition easier for us all. She has been at the same pre-school for the past 3 yrs and has formed such great bonds with the kids and teachers...we will miss them all! But, Madeline Jane will be going there when she gets big enough. ;) 

Madeline Jane's growing like a little weed, she is scooting everywhere, rolling all over and sitting up like a little pro. She is still such a sweet baby and loves to laugh at her sister. Her roll-y neck is super ticklish and she loves for you to blow raspberries on her tummy. She is still looking so much like Miles, but has a much different little personality. She is assertive when she has to be, but is overall pretty laid back and as long as she can talk to/ see you, she's happy. She is always entertained by Miles and loves her Daddy, but is already a mama's girl.

Well, that's all for now...I'm going to leave with a picture of the girls that we had made about a month ago. Hopefully soon I will upload pictures I have taken recently.

Look at this face...

When Madeline Jane was first born I was sure she was going to look like Frank. Just sure of it, a mother just knows these things, right?! Well, she did...for a minute. The more she grows, the more she looks like her sister. She has the biggest blue eyes, which like Miles, I have NO clue where they came from but I am in love with them. Her hair is the same golden brown and she is going to tan just like Miles (which they get from Frank, cause my freckles just conjoin to give the illusion of a tan). She is also a TALKER like her big sister. I love to talk to her and she will tell you some stories. She especially loves to get going in the middle of church each Sunday. ;) I swear she just knows that it is really time to be quiet and decided that she will have no part of that. Madeline Jane is now 6 months old and weighed 14lb, 12oz and was 25in. long at her checkup! She is loving getting to eat and has decided that sweet potatoes are her favorite food. She detests green peas and every time I cook them for her she gags on each bite until it falls out of her mouth, so I think we will hold off on making those for a while. She is a great baby and is still sleeping pretty well (she gets up about once a night- which is totally do-able) and goes to bed about 7:30 and gets us about 7am. She is army crawling and rolling everywhere! She is my wild child and is busy, busy all the time. She's a cuddler and the sweetest little body to hold and love on.

Below are a few of her 6 month pictures...

Invites...for the big 5!

Pool Party Girl Birthday Invitation

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I just ordered Miles' birthday invites!!! I cannot believe my baby girl is going to be 5 soon! It has flown by...the time, that is. It makes me so sad but so happy and proud of the young girl she has become.

I love shutterfly, they have the cutest things and I cannot wait to get her invites in the mail!

Molly got LOTS of new outfits!

The week after surgery one of my very best & closest friends came to see me Miles & Madeline & brought Miles the most amazing gift, an American Girl doll, Molly!!!!!!!

Emily has been one of the dearest people to me since we met in college and I am beyond blessed to have had her as a friend for all these years. She has been there with me through AXO days at MTSU, all our college fun & not as fun times, getting married, having Miles, her getting married, us moving back to West TN, having Madeline Jane and the list goes on.

Miles has played and played with Molly and her baking set that Jena (Emily's amazing sister) sent. Some of Frank's grandparents dear friends sent Miles the American Girl wheelchair as well. Molly has been so mcuh fun for Miles and really brightened her spirits right after surgery.

Emily's Mom is an amazing seamstress (notice the amazing-ness theme that is their entire family?! they are all really so fun, loving, thoughtful and just all around great!). Mrs. Anita made Molly about 6-8 outfits that are out of this world! From skirts, dresses, blouses, vests, hats to go with the outfits, to the most adorable cardigan set!!!! She also sent the Molly's puppy dog & a get well set for Molly that has two CASTS. Needless to say, Miles was excited & Molly and ALL of her accessories have been going everywhere Miles goes. She has been taking them from our house, to Mimi's house, to Nana's house to play with each day.

Here are Miles and Molly (modelling a new outfit!)

better late than never, right?!?

I know this is ridiculously late, but...well, I really don't have any fabulous reason other than I'm super busy these days. Memorial Day weekend we went to Frank's Dad's house at the river and had such a fun time! It was a few days after Miles got her cast off so I was worried swimming, running around and being out in the hot sun all day would be too much for her but after 12 weeks of confinement we could not think of anything she would love more. Frank's step-mother & Dad were so great with both girls, but really made the whole time so fun for Miles! We went out on the boats, she swam, tubed (without the boat actually moving, the water was so rough but she didn't really know she wasn't actually tubing) fished, relaxed in the hot tub, played with her aunts Shelby & Rachel and their friends, her cousins Patton & Lily (whom Miles adores), all the adults & sweet Madeline Jane. We ended the day with a sunset cruise on the boat and Frank's dad let Miles drive the boat! She was thrilled & felt like such a big girl.

Madeline Jane was a great sport all day and even went right to sleep on the boat after I put her lifejacket on. Sweet baby was incredible all day and even napped again in the bed while we all ate dinner. Mommy got to eat dinner at the table while the food was still hot!

We drove home late that night and the girls slept all the way home, which made for a peaceful drive for Frank & me.

Here are some pictures from that day... (thanks to Pam for sending me some of these, too!)

The Bitsy Girl

Why is it that time just seems to move into fast forward once you have a baby? If you don't have kids yet...be warned! Time literally FLIES! So, I am doing my best to soak up all the late nights, crying, spit-up, giggles, cuddles, hugs & kisses! It really does not seem like Miles could be ready for kindergarten, and yet she is! And my littlest girl is now 5 months old!

The Bitsy girl is looking alot like her big sissy these days and has the most cuddly, warm little body that I just cannot get enough of.  She is busy, busy and loves to roll all over the place. She is trying so hard to sit up on her own, but just cannot stay sitting up for more than a few seconds. She is chewing (slobbering) on EVERYTHING she can get her chunky little hands on and loves to play with her toys and pull Miles' hair. ;) Madeline Jane just cannot be looked at or talked to without her whole body wiggling and breaking out in the biggest smiles. Her entire body seems to smile, which is so fun. Miles can make her laugh more than anybody and she cannot get enough of all the attention she gets from her big sissy.  Madeline is also a big talker, bless her! She comes by it honestly, her mother and sister cannot be quiet (poor Frank!) and she is definitely following suit. She just babbles and babbles all the time and even talked through the last 10 minutes of church yesterday. Oh well, I honestly don't know what we would do with a quiet child.

playing in exersaucer for the 1st time

She's a Free Woman!!!!!

Miles is now spica cast free!!!! She got her cast off last Tuesday and is loving her regained freedom. We went to Campbell's Clinic for the cast removal and after x-rays and the Dr. looking at them to give the go ahead, we went to the cast room. Miles was not super-excited about the loud noise from the cast saw, but the girls who removed it were great and were quick! It was off in less than 10 minutes. Her legs were sore and pitiful looking, but she was FREE!!! Her skin was so scaly and we were able to really see her incisions for the 1st time, which made me so sad. She has 3 incisions, one little one (about 2 in. long) and 2 big ones (each about 4-5 in. long). Miles was not in the best mood, so the pictures that I asked Frank to take are pretty funny to me...she looks ticked. (and she was ;) )

Miles' Dr. said everything looks great and we go back for a follow-up appt in July. He said she can pretty much do whatever, but that she would have a pretty substantial limp for 3-4 months. Her leg was in the same position that it was in the cast, which is normal. Her little muscles and ligaments have literally shrunken over the past 12 weeks and are not able to totally straighten out/fully bend yet. She is walking better everyday and I know she will be back at it in no time.

We left the clinic, headed back home and stuck her little body in a BUBBLE BATH!!!! Miles played and soaked in the tub for about an hour that 1st day, and has had a bath every night since. ;) She sure missed her baths. She told us on the way home from getting her cast off that she was "Not having anymore counter baths, EVER!" I hope we don't, either. They were less than fun for all of us.

Here are some pictures from that day...


Waiting to go to the cast room!!



Excited to get her cast off!

she was less than impressed with the cast saw

almost off!

getting in the car to head home for the bubble bath, she was uber-grumpy as you can tell.

and the happiness set in as soon as we put her in the tub

sweet Miles

One last thing...when we were going to Memphis, I asked Miles if she was so excited to get her cast off. She responded "No, I like my cast & will miss it." Bless her, Frank said she had Stockholm syndrome. Haha, she did in a way...it was so awful and cumbersome to her (and all of us) at first, but over the past 12 weeks we learned how to manage with it and not it let her slow down one bit. It was a type of security for her. She was safe in it and it was with her day and night for 12 weeks. I am so thankful God has been with us; guiding us, watching over us and healing our sweet girl through this all. I cannot tell you how sad, angry & really scared I was going into this but God has been with us every step of the way. He has provided for us beyond our wildest dreams and has wrapped us close.

I keep this verse posted at my desk at work and I read it daily...Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

This verse has helped me so much through this all. To have a peace and comfort in knowing that someone greater than us is in control and will help us despite all of my sins and short-comings.