Pretty in Pearls

This is my pretty 16 month old little lady.

Happy 16 Months Mady! 

Love You.

Mady, M.D.

Meet Kentucky's newest Physician,

Dr. Mady.

Her specialty is in the medical treatment of animals. 

Particularly in pigs, bears and dogs.

This particular case involved a pig (who shall remain nameless due to HIPAA guidelines and regulations) with a wounded ear.

Dr. Mady is administering a temperature diagnostic analysis. 

Shown below.

Now, an ear impact test. 

Procedure only preformed in Dr. Mady's clinic.

Better take that temperature one more time, just to be safe.

You know those insurance providers like accurate charts.

Yep, heart is still beating. 

One final ear impact test should do it.

Well, it was a close call, but Dr. Mady has saved another portly, porky friend. 

After a strict regimen of kisses, hugs and snuggles this pig will be 

back to building houses out of straw, sticks and brick in no time.

Dr. Mady can be seen by appointment only. 

If you'd like to make an appointment please call our 

Playdate Clinic answering service at

1-800-mom-&dad

Puppy

A dear family friend, Mrs. Hamper...who has known me since I was born gave Mady this little dalmatian dog when we visited Maryland when Mady was 6 months old. Mady has grown to love this dog and carries it around the house. Its so sweet, she even has asked to sleep with it!

He loves to sit and watch Mady cook.

   

He's always asking for kisses. 

Sometimes he feels left out.

but Mady always remembers

to play ball with him.

The only problem is....
he's not that good at it.








Another family friend, Mrs. Kim ( I grew up watching her kids) gave Mady this dog. She also loves him. He is very soft and makes a great pillow. She likes to play a game with him where she pretends she is sleeping (snooring and all) and then pops her head up to say "awake!".  Daddy taught her this game.

These puppy's make the perfect snuggle buddies. 

They are extra special because two very special people gave them to Mady.

She takes great care of them.
Lots of kisses, pats and aahhhs to go around.

What a great Mommy she'll be one day.

all while have a great time!

Adventures in Potty-training!

Yes, you read that correctly. We are potty training Mady.
Let me explain....
Normally, I am in the camp of people who really aren't a huge fan of pushing your kids to do things that they aren't ready to do. Case in point, Mady walked at 14 months, not 12 (like the average age). Mady also crawled at 9 months (not 6ish, like the average age).
Ever kid advances at their own rate.
Let them be kids. That is my motto.

However.

When your (very verbal) little girl tells you "poo-poo" and then proceeds to walk into the bathroom shut the door and come out a few minutes later with a rather smelly back side.....you have to re-consider the whole idea of when you will begin potty training. Which might I add, wasn't even on my radar until 2 yrs. (Or so I thought).

Yes, I know. 

This isn't right. I shouldn't be posting a picture of her on the potty....but I just couldn't resist. She will hate this one day, and please know Mady, as you read this, I am sorry....but I will remind you of this when you call me all excited to tell me that my grand baby had his or her first successful poo-poo on the potty! 

Mady's 'How-To' guide, for inquiring minds:

Ok. So we went from her sneaking off to go and me verbally telling her what she was doing: "Are you going poo-poo?" and her agreeing with me....to her following me into the bathroom (at all times, yes I did just say that) and then to her having to know what is going on (at all times and while in the bathroom with me). She figured it out. I even would sit her on her potty, while we were in there together (great mother daughter time, by the way). The wheels in her head were a-turnin'.  When she was walking into the bathroom and going in her diaper I starting thinking of all the money I could save us if she was in fact "ready".

So we tried it. The first time took 20+ minutes and she didn't go. That's ok, I thought. We'll try again in a few months when she's really ready....and then ten minutes later. She comes up to me (in a panic) "Poo-poo, poo-poo!" I immediately race to the bathroom, while stripping off the layers as we go and place her on the potty. She loved looking at the pictures in the pottery barn kids catalog. So thankful its easter time, lots of bunnies and ducks to find on each page! This time it only took about 5 to 10 minutes.  After she was done we had a poo-poo party and she received a cookie. Way to go Mady!

Every day, for a week she went on her potty! Amazing, I thought. No accidents. She even went at church on a child size real potty in the nursery. I was thrilled.

We had two weeks with only 4 accidents. One of which was while she was sleeping, does that even count? So maybe only 3 accidents. Half of the time she was telling me she had to go and the other half I was timing it right to her usual schedule. That part being half the battle. Even my little talker has trouble sometimes pulling herself away to tell me she needs to "take care of business".

Now before you start praising me, don't. First of all. I am not sharing to get a pat on the back. I am sharing because a few reasons. A.) I have the worst memory. I would totally forget this had happened at 15 1/2 months if I hadn't just now recorded it in said Blog. and
B.) We are having major regression.

I was warned this might happen....over the past two days the potty has become a fun game.  Mady enjoys telling me and then sitting on it (mind you after I have pulled off her pants, unsnapped her onesy and taken her diaper off) and 3 seconds later pops off and says "All done!"....oh but she's not all done, there is nothing in that potty! She has also stopped telling me when she has to go. So I am trying my best to watch her and get her used to going on her potty again. The past two days each poo-poo has been in her diaper and I have had so many mad-dashes to the bathroom with her that I am ready to give up. However, I am not a quitter and I really do think she was/ is ready.

If there is any encouraging news in this whole regression. She has learned more about how to pee-pee on her potty. I was nervous about how to teach this or even get her to tell me she had to go. So I wasn't going to even try yet, but every time we have made the mad dash to the potty to only be let down by no number two she has had a little number one, sometimes. She gets a little surprised by it and smiles as she goes. Hilarious!

We are sticking with it. With prayer and friends support, we will one day be without diapers! I am putting no time line on it. In the meantime, I am happy to be changing less poopy diapers and saving us some money. The day she doesn't wear a diaper may be in a few months or next year. Either way, I can promise she won't be going to school in diapers! Ha.

"Religion that is.....

...pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

The Call

Every call has a beginning...

A quiet moment when God whispers a promise to a mother's heart

A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts the journey set before him.

A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns...

Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.

A gentle knock...a closed door opens.

A sacred invitation sent by the Father...

Leads to the other side of the world.

Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows

Praying for someone to care.

And then one morning...

On an ordinary day

An orphan's life changes...

God sends them a second chance...

Through you.

-Author Unknown

  

Found this on a friends blog. Great poem and reminder that we are all called to care for orphans. This looks different for everyone, but we are still called to care for "the least of them". 

Special Delivery

Uncle Christopher, also known as my big brother came for a visit last week. 

We had a great time having him in our home.

Mady really enjoyed having him, he made her laugh, a lot.

She called him Kiss.

Here we are on his first full day doing what he loves best, eating. 

The man runs 6+ miles a day so he can eat like a pig. I love it.

I think this was his favorite meal. Spicy Italian beef on hoagies with spicy crispy french fries. 

As you can tell, he enjoys spicy foods.

 

 Here he is with Mady. He was rocking her to sleep before her nap. 

 

She loved him...even though this picture says otherwise (she was sleepy).

Uncle Christopher is the goofiest guy you'll ever meet. Always laughing and getting a laugh. 

Everyone enjoys his company; we certainly did....but I think Mady liked it best!

He made sure to smile the way that my grandmother "loves"! 

"Loves" being spoken sarcastically. 

He even said, while taking the pictures:

"Lets make sure I do the smile grandma hates!" 

Just kidding. Maybe. 

Two goofy grins on two goofy characters.

Bye-Bye for now Uncle Kiss.

We will miss you until our next visit....

hopefully soon! 

 

I would also like to add, for the record. 

That I beat my brother in every hand of Gin Rummy we played while he was here!

(He will hate to read that)

Ok, so maybe he won one game....the very last game on the very last night he was here.

I love you big brother. 

You are welcome here anytime. 

Thank you for all of your help and please come back soon....

and with some more gift cards we can spend. 

Haha. Just kidding.

 

Happy Valentines Day to my love.

Almost five years later and you are still my only love. 

We've been through many good times and some bad, but together we've grown.

I am so over joyed at the thought that we grew up together (still growing)

and will grow old together. 

I love to think about our family and what they will be like. 

How many kids we will have; grand-kids. Lord willing, great grand-kids.

I wonder about what they will think about when we are gone as they look at pictures of us like this.

I love to think about our legacy left behind us and know that it all started on a Valentines Day.

I love to imagine life, 5 years from now, 15 years, 30, and even 60 years from now.

I love to think about our ministry together and how the Lord will use us. 

Use our broken pieces to help make someone else whole. 

I love to think about who you will become

and watch in amazement

at how the Lord is growing you far beyond what I could have even hoped for. 

We are blessed. Our love is wonderful and

you

truly are God's perfect provision for me.

In good times and bad.

For richer or for poorer,

sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish,

in 

everyday (not just on Valentines Day) until death do us part.

I love you Bryan!

Chef Mady

Mady received a Kitchen this past Christmas from Pops and Mimi. She loves it!!
I have to say, pretend was my FAVORITE childhood game and cooking is my FAVORITE adult game....so its WIN-WIN! Really, it was a gift meant for me ;)

Mady is an excellent cook.
She always experiments with different ingredients. She isn't afraid to try new combinations like:
Butter and Orange Juice.
Waffles and Ice cream.
and her favorite,
Bologna and Milk.

She isn't selfish either, always wants to share a taste with everyone!

The poor thing can barely reach the microwave and all the burners, but she presses on. 

There are many hungry dollies 

and bears to feed in this house.

Not to mention Calvin.

but first, a little taste for the Chef....

"Mmmmmm!" She says with each pretend bite.

and don't worry, if you forget to say "Mmmmm",

the Chef will say it for you.

She is very confident in her cooking skills.

Opps....just a little more pepper and it will be perfect!

Sous Chef Mommy makes sure to clean up the mess after Master Chef Mady is finished :)

 

So far, Calvin is our most frequent diner. 

He just cannot get enough.

Here you go Buck!

Mmmmm!!

Bon Appetit!

Love,

Chef Mady

Daddy Snuggles

are the best!!

Bathtime Giggles

Something was so FUNNY!

and

something

was so

CUTE, 

because

something was

so

FUNNY!