What I Love About Summer

Well, this is the first time in many years that I have actually got to really enjoy summer. Here are a few of the things that I love and will miss.

Fingerpainting on the back patio.



Hanging out on our (finally) finished back patio.

Playing horseshoes (or at least begging Lincoln to share them with us).

Going to the zoo.

Pretty pots of flowers (this one was unfortunately ravaged by hungry caterpillars).

Setting up a makeshift waterpark for our 2 year old.

Going to the pool and the cold shivers that you get when you get out.

Sleeping in and having pancakes for breakfast even when it's almost lunchtime.

And, last but not least, getting to wear whatever you want, whenever you want!

2 Months Old

Madden is officially 11 weeks old today but since I can only find time to blog either in the wee hours of the morning or late hours of the night, here is his 2 month update.

We finally made it to the Dr. Jones for his 2-month check-up after my first failed attempt. He weighed in at 11 lbs. 2 1/2 oz. and was 23 1/2 inches long. Well, our little plumpy, is not really that plumpy. He is 50th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for length. I think he just carries it in his cheeks and I don't mean the ones under his diaper.

He is starting to smile, laugh, and coo at us and his personality is really starting to emerge. As one friend described him, he's pretty "chill". He pretty much will just hang out and only cries when he's hungry.

He is doing good at keeping that little head up which is starting to make for much cuter picture taking.

No matter what we do, there is no way to tame that hair. I have to admit I like it all wild, it gives him personality. The other day his Nana wet it to get it to lay down and he didn't even look like the same baby.

We don't have much to complain about with this one (not that we would). He is a sweet, precious little guy. It also doesn't hurt that he sleeps from 9:30 until almost 7:00. He's going to be a good sleeper unlike his big brother who sleeps from 11:00 until 10:00 if he could. With all that sleep that Madden is letting me have, I'm still exhausted, go figure. I think it's the nursing. Like someone said, they're sucking the nutrients right out of you. It's all worth it though, I gotta keep those chubby cheeks fed!

When They're Ready.....

When they're ready, they'll let you know. We heard that plenty of times, but who doesn't push just a little to get their little ones out of diapers. Well, we prodded and with no success, until one day....he decided he was ready. About 5 days ago he started going in the potty and has been pretty good at not having any accidents unless we just don't quite get there in time. We are still having trouble with #2's so we have been trying to get him to sit on the potty and just relax and hope that it will happen. I know I shouldn't have snuck in on him with the camera but I couldn't resist. He'll appreciate this one day (or at least a future girlfriend will).

Unfortunately, his success did not happen on the potty but a little later in his room. Let's just say we have been doing a lot of laundry lately. Oh, and by the way, I missed Madden's 2-mth checkup because I got my days confused, so that update is now re-scheduled for next week (bad mommy moment).

More of Madden

Nothing really new going on so I thought I would share some cute pics of our little plumpy guy. We go in next week for his 2 month check up so I will be able to report his official weight. Here he is flexing for the fans.


He is getting very good at keeping his head up. As soon as he gets a little stronger we'll be putting him in his bumbo.


Doesn't the shirt just say it all.

I'll have a better post once I get his official stats, thanks for checking in!

Fireworks, Food, Family and Friends

The 4th is the holiday that is designated for our house. We have all of our family and friends over for lots of food and LOTS of fireworks. Ryan went a little overboard this year with all the big fireworks. Our neighborhood also went a little crazy and there were fireworks everywhere you looked. We try to get the kids together for a picture. I decided that it's easier to get a picture and have them act silly because that's pretty much how it's going to turn out anyways.


Cute little cousin Ethan, look at those pretty blue eyes.

Madden didn't mind the fireworks at all. He pretty much just sat with whoever would hold him.

Lincoln also didn't mind the fireworks. He wasn't really too interested in sparklers so I got no fun sparkler pics.

All the men set up little shows for us, they are quite impressive but not always the safest.


The weather was nice, the food was good, and there were fireworks a plenty. There's nothing that I love more than to sit and watch a good show with my favorite people. I leave you with a picture of Madden in the special commemorative bib that his Pa got him. I think we are going to have another boy who loves his pat-pat.

Lake Trip

A few weeks ago, we were able to make it out to the lake with Pa and Ryan's sister's family. My dear, sweet friend Debi agreed to watch Madden for us since her house is on the way to the lake. We didn't think he was quite ready for tubing.

Here is Aunt Jeannie and Cousin Ethan.



This was Lincoln's first time on the tube when it was actually moving. I was pretty impressed by how brave he was, he even got up on the middle of the tube by himself. The boat wasn't going too fast and I think he was hoping it would go faster. His cousins weren't too sure about the ride and didn't last too long out in the water.

After his 2nd round on the tube he was pretty wiped out. He cried when we made him come in but then was too tired to go back out. It's amazing the conditions that little kids can fall asleep in.

Pa lets them drive the boat, Lincoln was the worst driver of all of them. He kept going back and forth and back and forth.

I think this will probably be one of the few trips that I will get to take to the lake this summer. Madden and I prefer the clean waters of the pool anyways.

Father's Day (a month later)

There were some special occasions that I failed to blog about when they happened but were very important to our family. One was Ryan's first Father's Day as a daddy of 2. Here he is with his 2 boys. As you can see picture cooperation is not one of their strong suits.

Here is Lincoln working on his Father's Day card. We got a card that you could record a message on and Lincoln made the cutest recording. Ryan only got to listen to it once before Lincoln erased it and recorded another not so nice message.

One of the main reasons that I blog is for us to be able to remember some of the stories and things that go on in our lives that we will probably one day forget. For this Father's Day, remember that Madden was just 4 weeks old and how much you love to hold him. You think that he's pretty cute and you say that he looks like a cartoon character with his big brown eyes.

Remember that Lincoln loves for you to play trains with him and how excited he gets when you build him a great big track. Remember how much he thanks you for fixing his trains when all you do is replace the batteries. Remember how he says, "Daddy, you play cars with me?" and how you can't say no as you are dragged into his room.

Remember that we think that you are a wonderful daddy and that we love you very much. I could not have asked for a better father for our 2 sons. Happy Father's Day!!