I don't want it...

Madison's new phrase. I mean, seriously? That's a long sentence for my not yet 2 yr old. Her IQ must be off the charts! :) she said it yesterday in the car. I was fixing the rear ac to blow on her and she said she didn't want it. So I closed the vent. She said it a few more times. It's so much better hearing her use words vs just obnoxiously whining ab it and getting mad. Progress!!!

Stomach bug alert! She also got the stomach bug last week. It was fairly minor but still scary bc she was throwing up instead of any diarrhea. She's so funny though-every time she threw up, she'd look at it and say "eeww." She threw up a total for 5 times (4:30pm, 12am, 1am, 4:30 am and finally 8:30).

I took Madison to her first pet shop yesterday! I'm thinking ab getting her a goldfish as her bday present since she's having a Sesame Street/Elmo party and Elmo has a pet goldfish named Dorothy. She loved the store. Pointed at the fish and said fish and water. Saw the parakeets. Wasn't a fan at first but once I showed her we could touch the glass and they couldn't do anything, she liked them. The mice were the funniest. She kept calling them cats and she'd point to their food bowl and say "eat it cat!" She was very adamant ab it but no "cat" listened to her.

Side story: last week I went to put Madison down and she was wired! As I was putting her down in her crib she playfully told me to "go away." Another fun saying she says. I told her I loved her and closed the door and walked into the kitchen. As I was standing there, all of a sudden I hear "mommy, love you!" Trey looked at me and I was just melting into a puddle right then and there. Oh, she has me so wrapped around her adorable little pudgy finger.

Other randoms: new development-we can actually go out to dinner with Madison!! We've gone three times and she's been wonderful! The last time we went was months ago and it was awful!! It was at mellow mushroom and she wanted to be in my lap and wouldn't let me eat and had a meltdown. This is a great stage! Woohoo for going out to eat and not having to cook. Treys parents took us to rendezvous Friday night and it was awesome. Madison tore up some cheese and sausage plates and loved looking at all the people. Also, they have her some graham crackers that I mostly ate-a win for mommy!

Ok-need to go back to work...

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy valentines day everyone! I feel very lucky that I get to spend today with my very sweet and thoughtful husband and my sweet, beautiful daughter. I woke up this morning and hopped in the shower and trey took care of Madison. When I was done getting ready, he had a sweet card and candy for me. Please don't ask what I got him bc I'm a terrible wife and didn't get him anything. I felt awful. We're not doing anything special tonight. Trey is going to cook a pork tenderloin for dinner... And we'll probably watch The Walking Dead-romantic, I know!

Madison story of the day:
I had to pick up doughnuts for her class and their V-day party. So we go and I order a dozen and then some donut holes. She’s all about helping (I have to give her a piece of mail to carry when I check it). She wanted to hold the bag and I should have known to take it from her but it was folded over. I look up on our way to daycare and she’s going to town on a donut hole!!! The store is right by school, so after her second I made her drink her juice and I was able to make the donut eating monster only eat two and she chugged her juice while we walked to class. It was so funny and too adorable.

Also, I love the blogger phone app!! Yes, I promise, I'm a great employee!!

The Walking Dead

So, I'm doing thus on my phone at work...yes, I'm a model employee!! 😉 Anyway, I just wanted to let you know why I haven't posted lately. The culprit is the show The Walking Dead. Trey had recorded the marathon of the 3 seasons and I almost deleted them bc they were taking up way too much space on my DVR but he was quick to tell me no and instead we watched an episode that turned into three episodes and midnight!!! So now we have finishes season 1 and I think we only have 5 more episodes of season 2 and then the full season 3. Who knew zombies could be so captivating!?!? Oh it is though. I highly recommend the show. The only problem is that I haven't been able to catch up on my other shows but I have Monday off (woohoo bank holidays) and I'll catch up on my pretty little liars and the following then. I'll try and write ab Christmas soon. I would do it during lunch but I'm going to Ash Wednesday service at noon today. Watch out for zombies!

Where was I?

No where in particular.  Sorry for the very long and overdue break.  Just decided to relax and not worry about updating the blog.  Lots have gone on and I felt better just keeping to myself.  With that said, I'm back and hopefully will be much better about posting.

SOOOO, lets back up all the way to Thanksgiving.

We had a WONDEFUL Thanksgiving.  My sister and her family came down Tuesday night.  Wednesday morning all of (minus Trey - he worked) headed to the The Memphis zoo bright and early. It was a beautiful sunny day and the interstate was completely empty.  However, while we're driving down, we notice a ton of police cars by the Shelby Drive bridge off of I-55.  My sister and I are being nosy and expecting a car accident.  The closer we get we realize that there are no other cars except the cops.  Once we are upon the commotion, my sister and I see a dead body lying on the rocks at the bottom of the bridge!  We freaked out and made sure the kids didn't look out the window aka Mia.  No one else noticed but it definitely wasn't the way you wanted to start a day.

Anyway, after that traumatic experience, we arrived at the zoo!  It was sooo much fun and so nice.  The zoo was practically empty and the kids were having so much fun!  Here are some pics:

That night we headed over to Eric's brother's house for some yummy red beans and rice.  Thanksgiving Day was fun and we had a TON of food...well, everyone except Madison.  She had absolutely NO food.  I think she was just overwhelmed and out of her comfort zone.  But leave it to Pawpaw...he made sure she had lots of desserts/sugar.

Friday, we headed to CMOM Children's Museum of Memphis.  This was Madison's first time and she had a good time.  She was a fan of the Grocery Store but what kid isn't?

After CMOM, we headed to Central BBQ for some yummy BBQ Nachos.  The kids had chicken nuggets and hot dogs.

Madison was worn out after her big day at CMOM and Central and decided to take a nap.  Slept for an hour in her crib and than another hour on daddy.  :)

Saturday we headed to the Pink Palace for the Enchanted Forest.  It was a really cute display...very old but still interesting.  The had a great Christmas Tree display and awesome Gingerbread Houses with a sign stating to not eat the candy (goodness, you know that the sign was there because some poor soul decided to try it).  Anyway, at the end of the Forest, Santa was there so you could take a picture with him.  I was super excited to try and get a pic of Madison on Santa's lap.  However, when I went to try and unbuckle her from her stroller, she grabbed the buckle and refused to get out.  Needless to say, no pic of her and Santa this year.  :(  Evan also was not game.  The only brave person was Mia.  I was trying to get Madison out of her stroller, my sister and her husband were trying to coax Evan to go by Santa and when we turn back around, Mia had hopped up on Santa's lap and was having a deep conversation with him.  It was sooo cute and her picture came out precious.  I wish I had a copy of it but it was really sweet.

Then Thanksgiving was over and we waited anxiously for Christmas to come...

Day #15 - ROAD TRIP

Day #15

I'm so thankful for road trips.  This past weekend Lauren and I road tripped it up to Nashville to visit Claire.  Lauren and I talked the WHOLE way up and the WHOLE way down.  That's what I love about our friendship...we can just talk and know we're not being judged.  Believe me, some of our conversation people would have judged me in a heartbeat but not Lauren!  Anyway, we got to Nashville around 4:30 and we hung out a little bit and then went to dinner at Chuy's.  I had a yummy margarita and a delicious Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom chicken enchilada.  DELICIOUS!

After dinner we went to the grocery store to pick up some ingredients for the yummy chili that Claire made for dinner on Saturday.  We got back to the apartment, chatted a bit and we all went to bed by 9:30.  However, before I went to bed, Trey sent me photographic evidence that Madison was alive and he remembered to feed her.

Saturday we woke up, made and ate blueberry muffins and I face-timed with Madison and Trey.  It was so sad though.  Madison didn't really react to seeing me at first but I started being playful and she started interacting more.  Then all of a sudden she takes the phone from Trey's hands and walks me over to her toys.  Trey thinks she assumed if she put me there, that she could go back and see me when she wanted.  Of course when that didn't happen and Trey took the phone back, she started crying and it broke my heart.  Trey texted me reassuring me that it didn't take him long at all to comfort her.  After all that, we headed to Opry Mills - the outlet mall in Nashville.  Wow...we shopped til we dropped!!  So much fun.  I got most of my Christmas shopping done in one day!!  I also indulged in some clothes for myself.  We also went to another mall (not sure what it was) and did some more shopping.  Here's Claire's trunk with all our goodies:

Trey texted me some more pics of his time with Madison.  The first one is Madison staring at all the kids at the Apple Store kids section.  The other pics are of Madison putting her daddy's South Carolina hat on.

After shopping we came to an apartment that smelled so delicious from the chili that had been cooking all day in the crockpot.  Jeffrey, Claire's boyfriend, came over and I was able to finally meet him.  He definitely won me over and received my approval.  We watched the LSU v. MS State game.  Felt bad for Jeffrey because he was not saying "Geaux Tigers."  He was a gracious loser though.  :)  After the game, Jeffrey went back to his place, Lauren went to bed and Claire and I got sucked into The Last Song.  The movie where it all started for Miley and Liam.  We started it in the middle, so now I'm itching to start it from the beginning.

Sunday we woke up bright and early to go eat at the Pancake Pantry.  On Saturday the line was RIDICULOUSLY long.  We got there around 7:30.  Taylor Swift was actually pictured eating here a few times with Jake Gyllenhaal when they were dating.  Anyway...it was so delicious!!!

Mine - YUMMY

Lauren's

Claire's - I don't think she was taking a pic of her food

After breakfast I was itching to go to the Opry Hotel.  It was sooo beautiful!  All their Christmas decorations were up.  It's definitely some place that I want to go next year when Madison can enjoy it more.  They also have ICE where they pick a theme and everything is made out of ice.  This year it's Shrek.  Anyway...amazing!!

After we left the hotel, Claire took us to Franklin in search of famous people and their homes.  We drove around for a bit and returned back to the apartment and Lauren and I hit the road back.  I was definitely anxious to get home to see Madison.  We finally get home and I run inside to see Madison.  She's out back being pushed around in her Cozy Coupe by Trey.  I stood by the door and Trey pushed her to the door so she could see me.  At first it was so sweet...her mouth dropped wide open, she kicked the door open and seemed like she was going to run to me.  Then I guess it clicked for her and all of a sudden she gets back in her car, slams the door shut and yells no!  I was heartbroken.  She was so mad at me.  I pushed her around a bit but then I sat on the patio furniture and just looked at her.  She just stared back at me and then started crying, kicked the door open and finally came to me.  It was so sad and sweet.  I hate leaving her because she always gets upset with me when I get back.  It's a good think I don't plan on leaving to go out of town any time soon.

By the way - so proud of myself...just wrote this blog yesterday (aka today is Wednesday).  I'm doing much better with this blog.  This is the most posts I've written in any month.  Hopefully I'm starting to get the hang of this blogging thing.  Baby steps...

Lots of Thankful for...

I'm way behind in saying what I'm thankful for...so this will just be me trying to catch up on some:

Day #8
I'm thankful for all our current and retired armed forces.  I know that living in a free democratic country is not actually for free.  Thank you for all you do!  I wish I had the courage and strength to even think about enlisting...but I don't.  THANKS!  Here's a pic of my cousin Jose who is in the army and has served two tours in Afghanistan.

Day #9

I'm thankful for Trey's Aunt Linda!!  She has been one of our best babysitter since we moved to Memphis.  Not only has she babysat Madison numerous times BUT she babysits Bennett & Buster!!  She is so sweet.  I was really nervous about her liking me when Trey and I first got married.  Now, she's definitely my favorite aunt.  I absolutely love her.  Two years ago she and I got season tickets to the Orpheum and went together to watch all these musicals.  She's absolutely amazing and I love her.  Once again, I'm so glad I married into such a wonderful family!  Here we are after eating dinner at Blue Fin and before South Pacific musical with Linda (middle) and Trey's other great aunt, Allene.

Day #10

I'm thankful for Bennett and Buster.  These dogs drive me crazy but there were my first babies and I'll never forget that.  They're pretty good with Madison.  Granted, they have their moments...especially when she's eating, they just won't leave her alone!  Otherwise, they're wonderful.  Madison now loves yelling at them to get in their kennels (while I'm actually telling them to kennel - she tries to say kennel - too cute) and once they get in their kennel, she slams their door and then opens it again, pokes her head in and giggles at them.  If that was me, I would have bite that nose.  haha  Anyway, I love them and give them a hard time but I can't imagine life without them.  Crazy dogs playing with a rogue crawfish.

Day #11

I'm quite thankful for the education I was able to receive.  School was never anything that I thought I would look back on and appreciate.  However, I really do...especially Millsaps.  When I started Millsaps, I was an extremely shy, insecure (and really skinny) 17 year old.  I really grew into myself and found such a variety of people there.  I felt so welcomed and able to just be myself without being judged.  However, my freshman year wasn't the greatest but that was just a roommate situation that was corrected Sophomore year.  Anywho...I love that place and definitely miss it at times but so grateful that it got me to where I am in life right now.

Day #12
I am extremely grateful and thankful for my job at First Tennessee Bank.  I started out at a public accounting firm.  I enjoyed working there mostly due to the amazing people that I met there and I'm lucky to say that I still keep in touch with a ton of people from my first job (i.e. Sarah).  However, my last tax season there I was bullied into working 7 days a week even though I had met my hours...I knew right then and there that I could never be a mommy and work there.  So I jumped ship and landed in paradise at First Tennessee.  Yeah, work is work but I really do enjoy it there.  I worked there for a year and then got pregnant right before my one year anniversary.  It's such a wonderful place.  I work from 8-5 and absolutely no overttime or weekends.  I get to spend optimal time with my beautiful Madison and no one makes me feel guilty for leaving at 5.  There are times where I think about how much more money I would be making at TD but at this point in my life money isn't the main factor for me (I mean, it's still important and up there but my time is definitely more important).  They also offer flex-time and I am DEFINITELY planning on utilizing that some time in the hopefully near future.

Day #13

I'm thankful for tv.  I know that sounds awful but I just love watching tv.  I'm thankful for my trashy reality tv (i.e. Jersey Shore, The Challenge), Reality Competition shows (i.e. The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance), Comedies (i.e. Awkward, Inbetweeners, New Girl), Teen Dramas (Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries) and Dramas (Grey's Anatomy, Homeland, True Blood).  The few moments I get to just lay on the couch and watch tv make me so happy.  Don't judge.  

Day #14

I'm thankful for social media.  Yeah it can be creepy and stalkerish but I love being able to keep up with friends past, present and future.  Also, I love seeing pics of my niece and nephew and my cousin's kids.  I feel like I'm not missing out on as much since I live all the way up North (in TN).  It's also great to be able to reconnect with your friends from when you were in 2nd grade and to see that they now live in LA as a fairly successful model/actress (true story).  I guess this blog is considered social media...so thanks for that.  Anyway, it's great that we have such great minds in this current day that they come with this.  Why can't I be smart and come up with a small but genius idea that would make me a millionaire.  One day...

Day #7 - South Carolina

DAY #7

I am so very thankful for my friends.  They're definitely my support group.  They all mean so much to me.  We'll start with the left.  Jennifer - probably one of the most amazing person/woman I have ever met.  She's the strongest and most inspiring person I know.  She keeps me grounded and was really there for me the first few weeks of Madison's life.  She let me cry to her and was so understanding and made me feel better.  She was definitely my life support.  Thanks Yennifer - I love you!  Next: Lauren. What to say about Lauren.  She's more than just a friend to me.  She's definitely a sister.  My best friend, my partner in crime, my confidante.  She knows everything about me.  She's having a little girl (6 days before Madison's 2nd birthday), Sidney, and I just know her and Madison will grow up and be best friends just like their mommies.  :)  Moving on...Sarah!  I feel like we're the same person.  I found my soulmate in her.  We are just so similar but different at the same time.  She's been my person (she's my Christina and I'm her Meredith) since I moved to Memphis and we sat next to each other at our first big girl job.  I don't know what I would have done if she wasn't there at TD!  She made work bearable!  I miss seeing her every day but I just LOVE the fact that we're still best friends and don't need to see each other to still be so close.  I think that truly defines a great friendship.  Two left...Helen.  Moving to Memphis I knew NO ONE.  I was really scared and had no friends up here.  The first couple of weeks Trey decides to play soccer and we meet up with a guy he grew up with and went to college with (yes, I went to college with them as well but they were older and Helen lived off campus) and his wife tagged along.  I had met Helen a few times beforehand but she was pretty reserved and quiet and I didn't know what to think of her.  However, on the soccer field we just bonded!  She was pregnant with Stephen and it was so much fun getting to experience that with her.  She really made me like Memphis and feel welcomed here.  Our daughters are literally 2 weeks apart and I hope they get to become good friends as well.  Finally, Claire.  Claire and I went to college together and I feel like we just knew each other.  We have so much fun together.  She's so sweet and driven and always gives out great advice on life and relationships.  I definitely miss having her around in Memphis but I'm SOOO proud of her moving to Nashville and becoming a pediatric dentist!  How awesome is that!?!?!  She's also more like a sister to me.  We don't talk often but whenever we see each other, it's like no time ever passed.  Lauren and I are actually taking a road trip this weekend to see her!  I CAN'T WAIT.  I could say so much but I was planning on writing about my trip to South Carolina...so I will cut this with this last thing: No matter how often we talk or see each other, y'all mean the world to me and I'm a firm believer in that it's the quality of friends vs. the quantity of friends.  All I need is you 5 for the rest of my life and I'll feel like the most popular girl in the whole wide world!!!  LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!!

Well, this is going to be a long post but mostly because I have a ton of pictures to show from our trip.  Thursday we flew out and Madison did great on the first flight.  A small tantrum where she threw her box of crayons and they flew out but was quickly avoided by handing her some chocolate.  The flight was during her nap so I was hoping she'd sleep on the flight - WRONG.  Awake the whole time.  There was a baby behind us that was noisy, which made Madison look like an angel.  We literally walked off the plane and Madison passed out in my arms!

Playing on plane

Mmmm...chocolate

Nap time for Madison

Nap time for Pawpaw

While waiting for our second flight, Papaw bought Madison an ice cream sandwich and definitely felt the love after that.  She let him carry her on the plane and she rode with her grandparents the whole time which allowed mommy and daddy to nap.  Got to South Carolina and it was crazy hot!!!  Not what I was expecting.  Anyway, headed to Trey's aunt and uncle's house so Madison could meet her Great Great Grandmother.  It was very sweet.  I wish I had a picture but his aunt took one of four generations (Madison's Great Grandmother did not make the trip) and I will post if I ever receive it.  It was a great picture.  Friday I pretty much got to babysit Madison and Trey's cousin's daughter with my mother-in-law.  It was fantastic...

The girls playing on Friday

Friday night we had a Low Country Boil aka a Shrimp Boil.  It was yummy.  Madison had fun walking around and chomping on some corn on the cobb.

Saturday we went to the South Carolina vs. Tennessee game.  SO MUCH FUN!!!  That game was so worth the trip over there.  However, it was the game that Marcus Lattimore severely injured his leg and is now gone for the rest of this season and next season and hopefully will play again in 2014.  Here are some pictures:

Marcus Lattimore

Some big football players

Trey and me in our SC gear (well, I'm wearing Trey's hat)

Um...hello Darius Rucker.  He went to SC and also sang the national anthem but before the game gave an impromptu concert and even sang a Hootie and the Blowfish song...AMAZING!

Trey trying to scalp a ticket while telling me not to take a picture

Inside the stadium

Where's Waldo??