Sunday

Well, Sunday we went to church again, and again we LOVED it! Maddox did good in the nursery and Brad and I really enjoyed the message (its amazing how God knows exactly what you need to hear and prepares your heart for it in advance)
I finally feel at peace when I walk into a church, to be honest, I never thought the day would come again!

Later that day Brad had a work picnic at a local park and we had a really good time. Maddox did great and enjoyed the people and especially watching the other kids. Papa gave him his first "piggy-back-ride" and helped him bounce in the big bouncy thing. It was a great time of fellowship and I'm so glad we went!!

When we got home Sunday Brad's mom called with the dreadful news that his grandma had passed away. Please keep the Kalivoda family in your prayers as they are needing peace and strength from our Lord and Savior!! We will be traveling to Oklahoma City sometime this week for the service and to be with family!!

Here are the pics from this weekend!!!

Brad and Maddox before church!! Oh how handsome!!!




Having fun at the picnic

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Fun

We had a terrific weekend. We hung out with our friends friday, watched Tech stomp all over SMU Saturday evening(thanks Sarah for watching Maddox for me and taking such cute pictures!!), went to church Sunday morning (okay, this was the first time we took Maddox to church and the first time I have ever left him with anyone that wasn't a close friend or family, and I have to say it was a terrific experience for all of us. There weren't too many kids in Maddox's class, so he got a lot of attention and they were all very friendly.) Brad and I both loved the church...Experience Life is the name...and we plan on going back again next week. Oh what a peace my heart has knowing we are getting back in the swing of things. I know that church "doesn't make you any more of a Christian than standing in your garage makes you a car" but I definately miss the spiritual encouragement you receive from going. It has been years since I have felt that comfortable in a church setting. I cannot wait for next Sunday. Maddox was a little angle on Sunday, he took a little nap before we went to church at 11, then we went to eat at Taco Bueno and Maddox enjoyed his yummy yummy carrots, then we went to Best Buy and Gander Mountain and Maddox didn't fuss at all even though it was long past nap time. He took a good nap at the house then we loaded back up and went to Dusty and Sarah's house for a little fun and cook out. It was just a wonderful day!!
What did YOU do this weekend???


Maddox trying to pull up in his crib and making his new silly face



Maddox and Sarah enjoying a good "Peek-a-Boo" Book

Life is GR8 (Great)

Hooray for Maddox...he turned 8 months old on the 8Th!!! (which coincidentally was the same day as my step dad and my dad's birthdays...happy birthday Papa and Pop Pop!!!)
The night of Maddox's 8 month birthday he....*Drum Roll Please*....SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, our sweet big boy finally slept through the entire night, I did not have to get up with him a single time!!! Oh this is something I have been praying for for a very long time now. The Lord heard my cries and provided us with a full nights rest!!!

8 GR8 (Great) things about our 8 month old

*he holds his own bottle and doesn't get milk everywhere now!
*he takes great naps (not always long naps, but goes down for naps very easily)
*he laughs a lot these days
*he is starting to pull up when sitting in his crib
*he is crawling backwards (more of a scoot backwards)
*he has great hand eye coordination, mastering that "pincher"
*recognizes voices (searches the entire room for you when he hears you talking)
*babble babble babble babble (getting closer to "Mama")

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens.....

These are a few of my favorite things:

Maddox's squinty face when he smiles or babbles

The way Maddox's face lights up when Brad comes into a room

The sweet expression on Maddox's face when he is sleeping

The new voices Maddox discovers on a daily basis

The way Maddox tracks people with his eyes. He will move his head side to side just to follow you if you walk out of the room or out of his sight. It is adorable.

Maddox's sweet sweet smile

The way he smells after bath time

Babble Babble Babble

The way he looks at me when I go to get him out of his crib

The eagerness of Maddox's eating. He will NEVER miss a meal.

The toothless grin

All the inquiry in his eyes. He can be such a serious boy as he attempts to discover this strange world

Great time with the Voda's

Wow what a weekend. The Voda Grandparents (Brad's parents) came into town Thursday evening and were able to stay until Tuesday morning. We had a wonderful time with them, Maddox was a complete joy...it was great!!! Saturday Brad, Grandpa Voda and I went to the Tech game while Grandmom Voda and Maddox spent some much needed quality time together, I believe we all had a good time! Sunday we had a cook out at my mom's house and Monday we drove to Lake Allen Henry and just looked around. Maddox loved all the play time he got with grandpa and he is still loving the new toys! We were so blessed to have them here and we cherished every moment!


This week God has tought me some amazing things and provided me with a new perspective on the life we live. Here is a little background info so just stick with me.....This week we decided it was time wean Maddox off of the nightime feedings and help him discover a way to sleep through the night. We just had to let him cry-it-out and that is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do (although I know it is what is best for him and me as well, it is just so hard to listen to him give that huge sobbing cry and look into those eyes that are saying "why aren't you doing anything for me"). Luckily he is doing so well with it and the nighttime feedings are offically gone (I am still having to get up a couple times during the night to give him the pacifier; however, it only took a few days to eliminate the feedings and he is doing better and better every night and sleeping longer, thus making all of us happy)
Ok, so here is where the Lord has really spoken to me. The hardest part for me letting Maddox cry-it-out, was the fear that he would think I was ignoring him or I did not love him because I was not coming to him while he was crying. God has shown me that He has to do the same thing to us sometimes. We sit there and cry and cry and cry to Him, sobbing for Him to provide for us the things that we think we "need" We look to Him with those eyes as if to say "why are you ignoring me....do you NOT hear my cry" However, the Lord is calmly saying, "my child, I hear your cry and it hurts me so badly to know that you are hurting so much, but I know what is best for you and I promise you will be better off in the long run. I am NOT ignoring you and I love you more that you will ever know." How many times do we feel the Lord has simply turned His back on us and He is ignoring our cries; however, He is letting us cry-it-out as He is strengthening us and making us wait for what He has in store. OH I am so thankful the Lord does not give into our cries when He knows there is something so much better for us!!!

Happy Labor Day (the pregnancy kind)

I found this on my new blog friend, Amanda's site and I thought it was fun! Play along if you want!


***It's generally pretty quiet around the blogosphere on holidays. Just for fun, I thought I'd pull out this meme (chain letter) I found. In honor of Labor Day, it's about...well, labor. And not the kind you get a day off for, either.



How long were your labors?


Well the actual labor process was about 5 hours max; however, I was in the hospital the night before Maddox was delivered (January 7, 2008), they put me on cervidil to help the labor process the proceeding day. They next morning they gave me pitocine at about 7am to get the contractions going and I was given my epidural. My body took over and Maddox was delivered at 12:35pm on January 8, 2008. It was a super easy delivery....God certainly blessed me with a wonderful pregnancy and labor/delivery.

How did you know you were in labor?

I was induced, so the monitors showing the contractions showed that I was in labor. Like I said, super easy delivery.

Where did you delivery?

Covenant Lakeside


Drugs?

Oh yes.....loved them!!!



C-section?

not for this gal....Maddox was ready and did great...there was no need for one...but I certainly was not opposed to it....I just wanted Maddox to be healthy and I would do whatever that would take!!!

Who delivered?

Dr. Burkholder. He did a great job, Maddox was born healthy and there weren't any problems along the way!!! (He is the one in the picture below with Brad and baby Maddox)