Tribute to the Swing

Thank you for always being there, rocking me, soothing my tummy, playing "great" music for me, growing with me, comforting me, letting me sleep with you and providing an ease to my aching body.....thank you my ever so faithful, lifesaving, nap giving, sleep providing, tummy soothing SWING!!! You provided me with 26 weeks, 182 days, 2,184 hours, 131,040 minutes, 7,862, 400 seconds of comfort!! I grew through 3 head rests and wore out 2 motors! Thank you beloved swing for always being with us, even from the very beginning!

The first picture below is the day we brought Maddox home from the hospital. (Can anyone believe he was ever that little, and look at the hair on his head, crazy!)

We have officially transitioned from the swing, all sleeping is done in the bed. All naps, and the entire night! The Madd-man was 7 pounds away from being "kicked" out of the swing for safety reasons and the time was right to make the switch. After we got back home from Oklahoma I told Maddox he had one full week left in the swing (I wanted to get him regulated back on his schedule since we were out of town for two weekends in a row) therefore, last Sunday marked our first day on our new bed sleeping adventure! We have had some long nights and making adjustments to our napping, but over all he has taken the change like a champ! Way to go Maddox! I am so proud of you!!!

On July 9th, Brad and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary!! I cannot believe it has been 3 years already (however, this year in itself has felt like a life time...hahah) There are so many things I love about my amazing husband and the bond that we share!!

I love his smile and his since of humor! He is always making me laugh

I love his gorgeous blue eyes and the way they can calm my spirit with just a simple glance

I love his work ethic! He honestly is the hardest worker I know (at everything he attempts)

I love watching him turn into a Daddy!

I love sharing things with him....shampoo, toothpaste, sodas from Sonic, etc.

I love his ability to figure things out (like laying tile and our new wood floor...he does such an amazing job!)

I love how he always makes sure Maddox and I are taken care of

I love how he loves his family and takes great pride in his parents

I love his passion for life and making sure he finds things to enjoy about every single day

I love that he works hard so he can play harder

I love my sweet husband and I am so blessed to have him in my life!!!

Happy 4th of July

Happy belated Independence day to everyone!! Hope you all enjoyed some time with your families. Brad, Maddox, and I traveled to Oklahoma City for the holiday weekend and spent some time with Brad's family. It was a well needed trip and we enjoyed being able to see everyone (although, it was not nearly enough time, but we take what we can get at this point). Maddox traveled really well and I discovered new and unusual ways to "entertain" him in the car. It cracks me up the things that will amuse him and the things that he just looks blankly at you as if to say "are you serious? Did you really think that was funny?" Oh my sweet sweet boy!


We enjoyed a nice scorching hot picnic at Grandma Jo's and then spent some time in the hotel pool (thanks Kim, Austin and Brandon for joining us for a swim, we enjoyed the company!!)


From our hotel window we could see all the wonderful fireworks shows and it was great. Maddox was sleeping away in his swing (yes we packed it and brought it with us everywhere, Dennis and Murlon's house, Grandma Jo's and the hotel, it was a life saver!!) and we were watching the fireworks from our balcony window with Brandon. We had a wonderful time!! What did everyone else do for the holiday???


Moving on, today is Maddox's 6th month birthday....I know, I can't believe it either. He is getting so big so fast!! Not a day goes by that someone doesn't comment on my "lack" of feeding the poor baby...hahahah...everyone is amazed by how big he is!! I am too!!! I am anxious to see how much he weighs and how tall he is (we don't go back to the doctor until August).


I am amazed at all the new things my little one is able to do. He is eating stage one and stage two Gerber baby foods. He can have juice (we have attempted a Sippy cup, he is not fond of the idea of him having to hold the cup. He believes that is MY job...hahaha) He sits up all by himself. He talks and smiles. He knows his name and responds when it is spoken to him. He rolls over (he is still not fond of his tummy, so he remains on his back, but at least we know he can do it if he ever wanted to). He is amazed at other people's hands, he loves to hold them and watch how each finger moves, it is precious to watch him discover new things. I could go on and on but I don't want to bore all of you will my rambling, so I will move on to the important part....PICTURES!!

Please get me out of this car!!! Are we there YET???

Happy 4th of July everyone! I sure am pooped!!!

Maddox and his sweet Aunt Kim!!!

Loving the cool water and his car floaty! He is way too cool, he drives his car backwards!!!

Getting all warmed up after the swim!

Maddox grandma and great-grandma, telling stories!!

Maddox and Grandpa going for a walk!

Baby Sitter

We have a baby sitter, no, not someone to watch our child, we have a baby who sits!!! Maddox can sit up on his own and he LOVES it! One day the Madd-man decided he would sit up by himself and he has done it ever since. He reaches for things and is trying so hard to find a way to move on his little bottom (I do believe we will have a scooter soon).




















This past weekend we had the opportunity to travel to Arlington, TX for our first annual Malone Family Reunion (my mom's side) It was a lot of fun and it was great getting to see the family! I wish we could have stayed longer, but we enjoyed the time we had! Maddox traveled well, he was definitely ready to get out of the car when we arrived at the Macaroni Grill in Louisville. (I was tempted to start crying like he does because I too was ready to get out of the car; however, it is frowned upon to see a 25 year old woman throwing a fit simply because I am antsy. Something about being a mature adult or something...overrated...hahahah)





















The big secret is finally out...drum roll please.....Jason and Kameron (my bro and sis-in-law) are expecting their first baby!!! Yippee...I will be an aunt, Brad will be an uncle, and Maddox will be and will have a cousin!!! Congrats you two!!! I pray that we will be as great to your little bundle of joy as you are to our little Maddox!! Thank you for your love and support and if there is anything we can do for the two of you, please let us know!!!


The vacation was fun fun. We were able to go to Hurricane Harbor on Saturday while my mom kept Maddox. He went swimming loved his car floaty so much he almost feel asleep in it!!! Saturday evening we went to a Texas Rangers baseball game. We had a wonderful time, despite the rainy weather, Maddox was bored about the 3rd inning, but everything turned out fine. I was able to have some good cuddle time with the little man in the Baby Bjorn frontal carrier. We had a wonderful time seeing our family. We are now doing laundry and preparing to hit the road again. We are going to Oklahoma City to visit Brad's family for the 4th of July.
On the way home from Dallas, I was reading the billboards and there was one that said "Relax, I am in charge-God." This simple statement has hit my heart at its core. I get so worked up, over analyze and allow myself to be consumed with things that don't even matter. I need to step back and RELAX and realize, I am not in charge and I never will be. The Lord will provide and take care of everything, I simply need to be obedient and allow Him to take the lead!!! What an amazing feeling!